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Category: Sport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £5.5 million for ‘Extra Time’ partnership with Scottish Football Association

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding boost for activities clubs for children from low income families.

    Funding of £5.5 million for the Extra Time programme, which provides free activities clubs before school, after school and during the school holidays for primary age pupils, will support families on low incomes outwith school.

    On a visit to the St Mirren Charitable Foundation’s Extra Time service at Kirklandneuk Primary School in Renfrew, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville saw how the programme is helping parents to get into and stay in work or training, or increase their working hours.

    The 2025 Extra Time Evaluation Report, published today by the Scottish FA, highlights the potential for the scheme to support the Scottish Government’s priorities of growing the economy and eradicating child poverty.

    Ms Somerville said:

    “The Extra Time programme is helping us to better understand how providing activities clubs before school, after school and during the holidays can improve outcomes for families on low incomes by supporting parents into work, training, studying or providing respite.

    “We are increasing our funding by £1.5 million to invest £5.5 million this year to expand the Extra Time Programme – increasing the number of football clubs and trusts we are working with from 31 to 53. This national programme will provide around 5,000 children and their families on low incomes with access to vital services.

    “The evaluation demonstrates that, as well as helping realise our priorities in growing the economy and eradicating child poverty, the Extra Time programme is supporting kids with their school attendance and attainment, helping tackle food insecurity and improving children’s health and wellbeing.”

    Ian Maxwell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association, said: “Today’s announcement of increased funding for the Extra Time programme is a significant boost, and testament to the success of the initiative and the impact it continues to have on families across the country.

    “While this may be a football-based programme, with obvious health and education benefits to children who participate, the positive effects of Extra Time are felt throughout the entire family and it is another example of how the power of football makes a tangible difference across Scotland.

    “We are grateful to the Scottish Government for this additional investment which will allow clubs to continue to bring Extra Time to life. It’s a hugely worthwhile programme and something we’re delighted to be involved in.”

    Background:

    Scottish FA Extra Time impact report

    Football clubs and trusts are taking a variety of approaches to test and deliver provision that suits the needs of families in their communities.

    This includes working with local schools and other community partners to deliver breakfast clubs, after school clubs, weekend provision and holiday clubs. Some clubs are also considering the impact of in-service days and school closures on families to provide full day activity sessions.

    Many of the clubs have been considering how to best support parents and carers as part of their projects – for example, working in partnership with local services to deliver employability courses, and offering Scottish FA coaching qualifications.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Swimming-Canadian teen McIntosh shatters 400 metres freestyle record

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Canadian three-times Olympic champion Summer McIntosh set a world record in the women’s 400 metres freestyle at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday.

    The 18-year-old clocked 3:54.18 to better Australian Ariarne Titmus’ mark of 3:55.38 set at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

    “Going into tonight, I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special,” McIntosh told public broadcaster CBC.

    “So being able to input my training in doing that – I didn’t think my training would be 54.1 but I’m really happy with that.”

    At the Paris Olympics, McIntosh became the first athlete from Canada to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

    In Paris, the four-times World Aquatics champion won gold in the 400 metres individual medley, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley, as well as taking silver in the 400 freestyle.

    But things felt different at the Canada trials.

    “I just felt so strong throughout, and that’s never been the case in the 400 freestyle for me. That last 100, I’m always really, really hurting.

    “But I flipped at the 200 and I was just cruising, so I knew that I was having a strong swim. I could tell by the crowd and knew the way they were cheering that I was probably close to the world record.

    “So I really tried to push that last part for them.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Basketball betting finds support

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak affirmed today that the Government will continue to take a multi-pronged approach towards tackling illegal gambling.

     

    Miss Mak was commenting ahead of a Legislative Council panel meeting tomorrow at which she will present the results of a public consultation on the formulation of a regulatory regime for betting on basketball and the steps the Government proposes to take next.

     

    She told reporters that over 90% of the views gathered the consultation, conducted some months ago, support the formulation of a basketball gambling regime modelled on the current football gambling regime.

     

    She also reiterated that the Government does not encourage any kind of gambling and has taken a multi-pronged approach to combating the issue of illegal gambling.

     

    “The first and the most important one is law enforcement, so through law enforcement we will take serious actions against those illegal gambling organisations and people involved in illegal gambling (which) is in fact a criminal offense and can be subject to a penalty of $50,000 and also nine months in jail.

     

    “The second one is public education; this is very important that we need to let Hong Kong people know the consequences of illegal gambling and we will encourage people to understand how to avoid illegal gambling and in fact gambling. We will take a series of measures and put in more efforts and resources in enhancing public education.

     

    “Thirdly, for those who already have gambling problems, we will provide counselling services. Currently, we have four counselling centres carrying out these counselling services.

     

    “The fourth and last one, we can see it as a last resort. When the illegal gambling problem is so serious, we need to channel the illegal gambling to a regulated gambling regime. With illegal basketball gambling, we are also taking these four approaches.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Football stadium built with Chinese support opens in Minsk

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

    The Belarusian National Football Stadium, a landmark project built with Chinese support, officially opened here on Saturday evening, with President Alexander Lukashenko attending the inauguration ceremony.

    In his speech, Lukashenko expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese leadership and Chinese partners. He said the stadium reflects both Belarusian national traditions and advanced engineering technology.

    As the largest and most modern football stadium in Belarus, it meets the highest international standards. With a seating capacity of over 33,000， the stadium was constructed under a general contract by Beijing Urban Construction Group, said the president.

    It has become another landmark building in Minsk, symbolizing the solid friendship between Belarus and China, he added.

    Zhang Jiasheng, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said in his remarks that the completion of the stadium is not only a major accomplishment among China’s technical and economic assistance projects, but also a vivid reflection of the political mutual trust, pragmatic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Filmmakers gear up for China’s summer film season

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

    The China Film Administration gathered domestic and international filmmakers at a Beijing launch event on June 6 to promote upcoming summer releases, aiming to boost audience interest and inject new vitality into China’s film market.

    Film authorities and industry executives announce the summer film lineup and new initiatives at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

    The summer season, the year’s longest film release window, draws major attention from industry professionals and audiences nationwide. More than 60 domestic and international films are slated for release during the season.

    Domestic films this summer span a range of genres, including historical dramas, suspense thrillers, action films, comedies and animated features, offering a variety of choices for audiences.

    Among the most anticipated projects is “Dong Ji Island,” which tells the story of fishermen from the Dongji Islands who resisted Japanese invaders during World War II while undertaking a perilous international maritime rescue mission inspired by the Lisbon Maru incident. Another highly awaited title is “The Lychee Road,” which follows a minor Tang dynasty official’s arduous journey to deliver lychees to the imperial court as a royal fruit envoy.

    Chinese filmmakers introduce their summer releases at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

    The lineup also includes “She’s Got No Name,” which is based on a high-profile Shanghai murder case. Meanwhile, the romantic drama “Love List” follows the relationships and personal development of three couples. Suspense titles such as “Malice” and “Unspoken” offer psychological thrills with intricate, mind-bending narratives.

    Several animated films are set to debut this summer. Titles include Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s “Nobody,” adapted from a popular web series, and Light Chaser Animation’s “Curious Tales of a Temple,” inspired by Pu Songling’s “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.” Franchise sequels such as “The Legend of Hei 2” and “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Bright New Dawn” are also scheduled for release, targeting younger audiences.

    Executives from the Chinese branches of major Hollywood studios also unveiled their summer film lineup. High-profile imported titles include upcoming tentpoles such as “Superman,” “F1: The Movie,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” “Elio,” “The Smurfs” and “Better Man.” Current theatrical releases include “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “The Karate Kid: Legends.”

    Hollywood studio representatives present their summer releases at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

    The event also introduced initiatives to promote summer moviegoing and film-themed cultural tourism. The China Movie Channel launched a nationwide “Film Week” campaign under the guidance of the China Film Administration, appointing directors Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, along with actors Wu Jing and Zhang Yi, as ambassadors. Thirty-four filmmakers representing all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, shared stories about their cinemas to kick off the tour.

    Marking the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema, the campaign seeks to promote film culture and strengthen local economies through tailored strategies in each province. Under the “one province, one week, one plan” approach, filmmakers and communities will connect through film screenings, special events and creative collaborations.

    Additional initiatives include field trips for filmmakers across China to conduct creative research. The event also introduced new activities as part of the ongoing “China Film Consumption Year” campaign, rolling out summer-specific public-benefit measures such as discounted tickets and expanded audience benefits.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: National Football Stadium Built with Chinese Support Opens in Belarus

    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

    MINSK, June 8 (Xinhua) — A friendly match between the youth teams of China and Belarus in Minsk on Saturday marked the official opening of the National Football Stadium built with the support of China. The opening ceremony was attended by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

    As A. Lukashenko noted in his speech, the National Football Stadium will become a symbol of strong Belarusian-Chinese friendship. “We are officially opening the greatest “monument”. We are opening this grandiose structure. For Belarus, this is the greatest event. The magnificent arena, as well as the new international-level swimming pool, were designed and built by our friends from the People’s Republic of China,” the Belarusian president noted.

    The head of the Belarusian state expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, as well as all Chinese partners for the construction of the National Football Stadium, which is the largest and most modern football stadium in Belarus and was built with the support of China. “I hope that in the near future, along with friendly games, national championship matches, we will be able to host official international meetings here and enjoy the performance of the best football players in the world,” A. Lukashenko noted.

    Deputy Director General of the General Administration of Physical Culture and Sports of the People’s Republic of China, Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee Zhang Jiasheng said that the completion of the stadium construction was not only a significant project of technical and economic Chinese-Belarusian cooperation, but also a clear indication of political trust, practical cooperation and rapprochement between the peoples of the two countries. He expressed hope that the stadium would become a platform for the dreams of the youth of China and Belarus to come true, as well as a bridge for deepening humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

    The National Football Stadium of Belarus is a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is located in the industrial district of Minsk and covers an area of 12.43 hectares, with a total construction area of 48,000 square meters. The stadium is designed for 33,145 spectators and meets international standards for a professional football field, and is also a multifunctional sports and cultural complex.

    The stadium’s design is dominated by white and red colors, symbolizing the cultural characteristics of Belarus and friendship with China. The facade consists of 472 curved steel slats, creating the effect of dynamic lines when the viewing angle changes. The roof is decorated with 1,860 different types of patterned glass, reflecting elements of the Belarusian flag.

    The central field lawn is equipped with an intelligent turf system, combining natural grass and artificial fibers, which ensures its green appearance all year round. Automatic drainage, soil heating, ventilation and irrigation systems create optimal conditions for players.

    In an interview with Xinhua, Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk expressed deep gratitude to the Chinese people for building a stadium of the highest standards, which will allow Belarus to host international competitions. He noted that Belarusian athletes, coaches and experts highly appreciate the quality of sports facilities built with China’s support.

    The general contractor for the project was Beijing Urban Construction Group. Sha Yi, head of the technical team for the project, said that the company had mobilized key resources, overcome difficulties, and ensured progress in implementing the project, contributing to the development of sports infrastructure in Belarus. “This stadium has also become an important platform for strengthening sports and cultural exchanges between the two countries,” Sha Yi noted.

    In a friendly match, the youth teams of Belarus /U-21/ and China /U-22/ played to a 1:1 draw. Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan and S. Kovalichuk presented awards to athletes from both countries. Young footballer from Belarus Arseny Skopets noted that the new stadium impressed him with its beauty and comfort. He expressed joy from the game with the Chinese team and hope for further development of sports and friendly cooperation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for football match at Kai Tak Sports Park on June 10 and enhanced taxi pick-up/drop-off during dispersal

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic and transport arrangements for football match at Kai Tak Sports Park on June 10 and enhanced taxi pick-up/drop-off during dispersal 

    Location(from 4pm to 8pm)for special bus routes only(from 4pm to 8pm)     Relevant bureaux/departments and the KTSP Limited have arranged site visit and meeting with and issued letters to the taxi trade to facilitate its familiarisation of the new arrangements and routes concerned. Additional signage will also be put up on site for identification. During dispersal, the expected waiting time will be longer amid an outflux of spectators and passengers’ patience is appreciated.

         Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:38

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China U-22 Team Draws With Belarus U-21 Team in Friendly Match

    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

    MINSK, June 8 (Xinhua) — China’s U-22 men’s youth team played a 1-1 draw with Belarus’ U-21 team in a friendly match on Saturday. The game was held at the new National Football Stadium of Belarus, built with China’s support. The football arena, which can accommodate 33,000 spectators, was almost full, with fans actively supporting both teams.

    At the beginning of the match, the Belarusian team, using the home advantage, actively attacked. Already in the first 10 minutes, they earned several corners, but were unable to convert them into goals. In the 13th minute, the Chinese team carried out a counterattack: midfielder Mutellip Iminkari went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the ball hit the post.

    The Belarusians relied on aerial play, using their height, and the Chinese responded with quick attacks, creating several dangerous moments. However, the first half ended goalless.

    In the second half, already in the 1st minute, a Chinese defender committed a foul in his penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty. Player number 22 from the Belarusian team, Nikita Baranov, confidently converted the kick, opening the score – 1:0.

    The Chinese did not give up and continued to attack. In the 65th minute, the coaching staff made substitutions, and in the 74th minute, M. Iminkari effectively finished off a corner kick, leveling the score – 1:1.

    The Belarusians actively pressed until the end of the match, but the Chinese defense held out, and the game ended in a draw.

    China U-22 goalkeeper Li Hao noted after the match that “even though it was a friendly match, the atmosphere at the new stadium felt like a serious tournament. The Belarusians created a lot of problems for us, but we showed a decent level.”

    Arseny Skopets, goalkeeper for the Belarus U-21 team, said he was generally pleased with his performance. “China is a strong opponent. I hope we will have more matches like this,” he said.

    According to the China Football Association, the U-22 team is holding a training camp in Dalian, Liaoning Province, from May 23 to June 10 to prepare for the 2026 U-23 AFC Asian Cup and the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games. As part of the preparation, the team traveled to Belarus to play friendly matches. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Winna Named Leading Crypto Casino 2025 by Reddit Community for Instant Withdrawals & Bonuses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e92c4ead-02f2-4017-8aea-9b859a1308d8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: New Betting Sites for UK Players – BetFoxx Leads Recommendations as Most Exciting New UK Sportsbook

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, June 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Welcome to our comprehensive betting review of BetFoxx, a brand new betting site making waves in the UK’s dynamic online betting landscape. Tailored specifically for UK customers, BetFoxx brings a host of innovative features designed to enhance your British sports betting experience.

    JOIN THE MOST TRUSTED NEW BETTING SITE AND ONLINE CASINO: BETFOXX

    BetFoxx is part of the ever-evolving UK betting scene and stands out as one of the newest betting sites to launch in the UK. 

    In this review, we’ll delve into what makes BetFoxx shine among the newest UK betting sites, highlighting its user-friendly interface, unique offerings, and dependable reliability. Join us as we uncover why BetFoxx is quickly becoming one of the best betting sites in the UK.

    Getting Started at BetFoxx

    Diving into the world of new betting sites in the UK has never been easier! Creating a new betting account at BetFoxx is quick and straightforward. Your betting account, also referred to as a sports betting account, gives you access to all features, bonuses, and promotions. 

    BetFoxx offers a streamlined, user-friendly approach to starting your betting journey. Here’s how you can get set up and start enjoying the multitude of betting options available.

    1. Visit the Official BetFoxx Website

    To begin your adventure with BetFoxx, simply visit their official BetFoxx’s website. It is designed to be intuitive, making it easy to locate all the essential features and navigate through the site seamlessly.

    2. Create Your Account in Minutes

    Once on the website, look for the ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Join Now’ button. This will take you to a registration page where you will be asked to fill out some basic information. Providing your name, email address, and choosing a secure password only takes a couple of minutes.

    3. Verify Your Identity to Start Playing

    In compliance with UK gambling regulations, online sportsbooks and betting companies require identity verification. To complete this step, have your identification documents ready, such as a passport or a driver’s licence. This process ensures the security and fairness of the platform.

    4. Deposit Funds and Explore Your Betting Options

    After verifying your identity, you’re ready to deposit funds. BetFoxx supports a variety of payment methods to suit different preferences. Once funded, you can explore a vast range of betting options available on the site. Whether you’re into sports betting or casino games, the array of choices guarantees something for every punter.

    Go to the BetFoxx sign-up page

    What British Punters Should Know About New Online Betting Sites

    The landscape of new online betting sites in the UK has seen rapid evolution. These platforms offer fresh opportunities, advanced technology, and often better odds compared to traditional bookmakers.

    Exploring the World of New Betting Sites in the UK

    British punters are now presented with a vast array of new online bookies, each vying for attention through unique offerings and innovative features. Online bookmakers are regulated and offer secure payment methods, making them a reliable choice for punters concerned about safety and trust. 

    Punters are always searching for the best new betting sites that provide the best odds and a wide range of sports betting markets. Unlike established bookmakers, new platforms are more adaptable and often introduce cutting-edge technologies, providing a more dynamic betting experience.

    Feature New Online Betting Sites Traditional Bookmakers
    Odds and Payouts Frequently higher returns Standardised odds
    Technology Advanced interfaces, mobile-friendly Basic navigational tools
    Promotions Regular offers, welcome bonuses Limited special offers
    Market Variety Broader range, niche markets included Focused on mainstream markets

    The variety of betting market options is a key factor in choosing the best betting site, as it allows punters to access both pre-event and in-play markets, as well as specialized categories like accumulators.

    Why British Punters Are Turning to New Online Bookies

    The shift towards new online betting sites among British punters can be attributed to several key benefits.

    Firstly, these new online bookies often provide better odds, and their competitive betting odds are a major draw for new customers seeking value.

    Secondly, their use of advanced technology ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience, from fast loading times to intuitive interfaces.

    Lastly, the ample promotions and incentives offered by new betting sites make them an enticing choice for punters looking to maximise their betting potential. New betting sites attract punters with generous free bet offers, bonus bets, and the chance to claim free bet tokens as part of their welcome packages. For many new customers, a free bet offer is often a deciding factor when choosing a bookmaker. These free bet offers typically require placing qualifying bets, which must meet certain criteria, to unlock the bonus.

    What Makes BetFoxx One of the Best New Sports Betting Sites

    BetFoxx has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best new sports betting sites in the United Kingdom, thanks to its innovative features and user-centric design. Every element of the platform is crafted with the UK bettor in mind, offering an engaging and seamless gambling experience.

    Fresh Features That Set It Apart from Other New Online Betting Sites

    BetFoxx sets itself apart from other new sports betting sites with its array of cutting-edge features. It boasts an extensive range of sports markets, live in-play betting, and highly competitive odds that cater to both casual punters and serious bettors. 

    BetFoxx also offers bet builders for creating custom wagers and provides a wide selection of sportsbook markets to enhance your betting experience. A free bet token is available as part of their promotional features, giving users the chance to place bets without risking their own money.

    The site’s interface is intuitive, ensuring quick navigation and a user-friendly experience. Moreover, it includes advanced stats and analytics tools, allowing you to make informed betting decisions.

    Designed with the UK Bettor in Mind

    As a new betting site, BetFoxx’s platform is thoughtfully designed with the needs of UK bettors in mind, offering customisation options tailored to local preferences. You’ll find currency support in GBP and region-specific payment methods like PayPal and PaySafeCard. 

    The thematic focus on popular UK sports, including football, rugby, and cricket, ensures you have access to the nation’s most beloved events. Furthermore, the responsible gambling features are robust, providing tools to help you set limits and manage your wagering activities responsibly.

    Licensing, Security & Fair Play

    When choosing among the best online betting sites, it’s crucial to ensure they operate under stringent regulations and uphold high standards of security and fairness. Choosing a licensed online bookmaker is essential for safety and trust. BetFoxx provides a secure environment for betting online, fully adhering to all regulatory standards.

    BetFoxx stands out by adhering to the robust regulatory framework set by the UK Gambling Commission, making it one of the most reliable UK bookmakers, alongside trusted brands like William Hill.

    Is BetFoxx Safe? A Look at UK Regulation and Licences

    BetFoxx is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, ensuring it complies with the highest standards in the industry. 

    This regulatory body is renowned for its rigorous guidelines, aimed at protecting players and promoting fair play across all betting websites. The UK Gambling Commission’s oversight guarantees that BetFoxx conducts its operations transparently and fairly, providing a safe environment for all users.

    Secure Betting Websites: What BetFoxx Gets Right

    Security is a top priority at BetFoxx. The platform employs state-of-the-art encryption technology to safeguard your personal and financial data. This commitment to security places BetFoxx among the best online betting sites. 

    The implemented protocols ensure that all transactions and activities on the site are protected, giving you peace of mind while you engage with one of the most trusted UK bookmakers. Moreover, BetFoxx’s dedication to fair play is evident in its transparent gaming practices and continual auditing by independent agencies.

    Sports, Games & Markets Available at BetFoxx

    BetFoxx offers an extensive range of options for every betting enthusiast. The platform features a wide variety of sportsbook markets and betting market options, covering everything from pre-event to in-play categories. If you’re looking for diverse betting markets and game choices, this platform ensures a comprehensive experience for British punters by covering every major sportsbook market for UK punters.

    New Sports Betting Site with Broad Market Coverage

    One of the standout features of BetFoxx is its inclusive sports betting site. The platform caters to an array of sports, offering everything from football and cricket to tennis and horse racing. 

    This broad market coverage allows you to place bets on your favourite sports efficiently and conveniently.

    From Slots to Live Dealers: The Casino Side of BetFoxx

    Beyond sports, this new betting site, BetFoxx, shines with its multifaceted casino offerings. Delve into a vast selection of slots games, ranging from classic three-reel slots to modern video slots with immersive graphics. 

    Additionally, the live dealers section brings the pulsating energy of a real casino to your fingertips, providing an authentic and interactive experience without leaving your home.

    Unique Game Options and Player Favourites

    BetFoxx continues to innovate by offering unique game options that appeal to a wide audience. Whether you are into traditional table games like blackjack and roulette or seeking the thrill of progressive jackpots, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. 

    The platform is designed to keep you engaged, introducing new and trending games that quickly become user favourites.

    Playing Across All Devices

    The world of mobile betting has evolved, offering a seamless and flexible experience for users. As a new betting site, BetFoxx stands out with its exceptional mobile compatibility. 

    Whether you’re at home or on the move, the platform delivers smooth performance across various devices, ensuring you can enjoy online betting on the go without a hitch.

    Mobile-Friendly Design for British Bettors on the Go

    BetFoxx has embraced a user-centred design approach, making it easy for British punters to access their favourite betting options. 

    The site is optimised for both Android and iOS devices, providing a smooth and intuitive interface that adapts well to different screen sizes. You’ll find it effortless to place bets, explore games, and manage your account from your smartphone or tablet.

    Fast Loading, Easy Navigation: A User-Centred Experience

    Speed and simplicity are at the core of BetFoxx. The platform’s fast loading times mean you spend more time enjoying your betting experience and less time waiting for pages to load.

    Designed with user-centred design principles, the easy-to-navigate layout ensures that even newcomers can quickly find their way around. Whether you’re indulging in some quick mobile betting or enjoying in-depth sessions, the site’s responsive nature guarantees a hassle-free experience every time.

    Bonuses & Promotions

    BetFoxx prides itself on offering some of the best betting promotions in the UK. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned bettor, there’s always something to enhance your gaming experience.

    The max free bet and maximum free bet amounts available as part of these promotions are clearly stated in the terms and conditions, ensuring you know the upper limit you can receive. 

    Please note that free bets exclude virtuals, so virtual sports are not eligible for these free bet promotions. Free bets are valid for a limited period and free bets expire if not used within that timeframe, so be sure to use them before they become invalid.

    Welcome Bonuses at One of the Best Betting Sites for New Players

    The welcome bonuses at BetFoxx are designed to give new players a strong start. By placing your initial bet, you can take advantage of a free bet offer where you may get 20 in free or even get 30 in free, depending on the promotion. 

    As you sign up, you can expect generous bonuses that match your initial deposits, boosting your account balance right away. Such incentives not only extend your playtime but also increase your chances of winning.

    Weekly Offers and Cashback for Loyal Customers

    Loyalty is highly rewarded at BetFoxx. Regular players can take advantage of weekly offers that keep the excitement going. 

    Moreover, cashback offers are available to help you recover a portion of your losses, turning your bets into even more valuable opportunities. These ongoing promotions demonstrate the casino’s commitment to providing a superior betting experience.

    JOIN BETFOXX AND CLAIM YOUR WELCOME BONUS NOW!

    Always remember to check the terms and conditions for each promotion on the site (wagering requirements, game eligibility, time limits, etc.), but rest assured that BetFoxx’s offers are designed to be player-friendly. The combination of a lucrative welcome bonus, ongoing cashback, and fun promotions makes this platform stand out in the promotions department.

    Payment Options at BetFoxx

    When it comes to managing your funds at BetFoxx, you have access to an array of reliable payment options tailored specifically for UK players. The casino prioritises both speed and flexibility, ensuring that you can start playing your favourite games without delay.

    Fast, Flexible Payment Methods for UK Players

    BetFoxx supports an extensive variety of payment options, allowing you to choose the method that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer traditional bank transfers, debit cards, or modern e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, the process is designed for maximum convenience. Here is a detailed overview of available methods:

    Payment Method Processing Time Deposit Fee
    Bank Transfer 1-3 Business Days Free
    Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard) Instant Free
    PayPal Instant Free
    Skrill Instant Free

    Easy Withdrawals and Transparent Processing Times

    As new betting site, at BetFoxx, easy withdrawals and transparent processing times are a top priority. The withdrawal process is designed to be hassle-free, with clear timelines provided for each payment method. This ensures that you know exactly when you can access your winnings, enhancing overall user satisfaction. With commitments to transparent processing, there are no hidden fees, and information about all transactions is readily available within your account dashboard.

    Thanks to the casino’s focus on user convenience, you can expect a seamless and efficient financial experience. Whether you’re depositing funds to enjoy the wide array of games or withdrawing your winnings, BetFoxx’s robust payment infrastructure ensures a secure and straightforward process.

    Support When You Need It

    One of the pivotal aspects of any remarkable betting experience—especially when exploring a new betting site—is the availability of robust customer support. BetFoxx understands this necessity and offers comprehensive assistance to its users.

    24/7 Customer Support from a Trusted UK Betting Site

    At BetFoxx, you’ll find 24/7 support through various channels, ensuring that help is always at hand. Whether you are a novice bettor or an experienced punter, their dedicated team is ready to assist you at any hour of the day.

    • Live Chat: Connect instantly with a customer support representative for real-time solutions.
    • Email: Send your queries anytime, and expect prompt responses.
    • Phone: Speak directly with a support agent for immediate assistance.

    Being a trusted UK betting site, BetFoxx places high importance on customer satisfaction. This commitment manifests in their well-trained support team, who are adept at addressing a wide range of betting-related queries.

    Effective customer support not only builds trust but also enhances the overall betting experience. You can be assured that any issues or queries you have will be resolved efficiently, allowing you more time to enjoy your betting journey at BetFoxx.

    Support Channel Availability Response Time
    Live Chat 24/7 Instant
    Email 24/7 Within 24 hours
    Phone 24/7 Immediate

    Playing Responsibly with BetFoxx

    At BetFoxx, the focus is not just on providing a thrilling gaming experience but also on promoting the importance of gambling responsibly. To ensure you enjoy your time while maintaining control, the site offers a variety of tools and tips for managing your betting safely online.

    Budgeting Tips for British Punters

    Creating a budget is fundamental to safer gambling. Begin by setting a specific amount of money you are comfortable spending and stick to it. Do not exceed this limit, regardless of wins or losses. By having a clear idea of your budget, you can enjoy gambling responsibly without financial strain.

    Tools for Safer Gambling and Self-Control

    As a responsible new betting site, BetFoxx is dedicated to helping you stay in control with several built-in tools. 

    Set deposit limits to prevent overspending, use reality checks to monitor your time spent playing, and take advantage of cool-off periods or self-exclusion options if you ever need a break. These features are designed with your well-being in mind, making betting safely online a priority.

    Legal Notice & Transparency Statement

    At BetFoxx, we take our responsibility to provide a fair and secure gambling environment very seriously. Our commitment to maintaining strict legal notices and upholding the highest standards of transparency in betting is unwavering.

    As a new betting site operating under a licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission, BetFoxx adheres to some of the most rigorous standards in the industry. This ensures that our gaming practices are not only fair but also transparent and accountable.

    We strictly follow all legal notices required by the UKGC, and our operations are regularly reviewed to ensure full compliance. This includes verifying player identities, promoting responsible gambling, and maintaining robust security measures to protect your personal and financial information.

    For additional clarity, we have provided an overview of key policies and standards below:

    Aspect Details
    Licensing Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
    Transparency Clear display of terms and betting conditions
    Compliance Regular audits to ensure adherence to UKGC guidelines
    Responsible Gambling Tools and resources for players to manage their betting behaviours
    Security Advanced encryption technology to safeguard data

    By reinforcing these practices, BetFoxx reaffirms its dedication to creating a trustworthy and enjoyable gambling experience. We appreciate your trust and strive to continue offering transparent, compliant, and secure services.

    Final Thoughts: Is BetFoxx One of the Top New Betting Sites in the UK?

    BetFoxx stands out among the newest UK betting sites, offering a seamless experience for both new and seasoned punters. With a user-friendly interface, quick sign-up, and secure identity verification, getting started is effortless.

    The platform features a wide range of sports betting and casino options, making it one of the most versatile new betting sites in the UK. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, it guarantees a safe, fair, and encrypted environment.

    Mobile compatibility is a highlight—BetFoxx works smoothly across devices, letting you bet on the go. Generous welcome bonuses, regular promotions, flexible payment methods, and 24/7 customer support round out its appeal, confirming its place as a top contender in the market.

    Feature BetFoxx Coin Casino WSM Casino
    Welcome Bonus £100 + 50 Free Spins £50 £75 + 25 Free Bets
    Payment Options Visa, MasterCard, PayPal Visa, Skrill MasterCard, Neteller
    Customer Support 24/7 Live Chat, Email 9am-5pm Email Support 24/7 Live Chat

    In conclusion, it’s easy to see why BetFoxx is gaining popularity amongst UK bettors. With the right mix of features, security, and customer-centric services, it adequately meets the needs of modern bettors, placing it firmly among the newest UK betting sites worth watching. BetFoxx is recognized as one of the best new betting sites and is quickly becoming a best betting site for UK punters due to its innovative features, attractive promotions, and reliable service.

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Best New UK Betting Sites

    How do I start betting at BetFoxx?

    To begin betting at BetFoxx, you need to first visit their official website and create an account, which only takes a few minutes. Once your account is set up, you’ll need to verify your identity, a standard procedure at all licensed betting sites. After successful verification, deposit funds using the various secure payment methods available, and you’re ready to explore an array of betting options.

    What makes BetFoxx different from other new online bookies?

    BetFoxx stands out among new betting sites thanks to its innovative features tailored specifically for the UK market. It offers extensive sports market coverage and a plethora of casino games, including slots and live dealer options. The site’s mobile-friendly design ensures you can enjoy a seamless betting experience on the go, making it a favourite among British punters.

    Are there bonuses for new British punters?

    Indeed, BetFoxx offers a range of lucrative bonuses for new British punters. Upon signing up, you can take advantage of welcome bonuses designed to give your betting a substantial boost.

    Additionally, there are regular promotions, including weekly offers and cashback incentives, rewarding you for your loyalty and enhancing your overall betting experience.

    Is BetFoxx safe and licensed in the UK?

    Yes, BetFoxx is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and follows stringent security protocols to ensure safe and fair play for its users.

    Media Contact

    Project name: BetFoxx

    Company Website: betfoxx.com

    Email: support@betfoxx.com

    Contact person name: Guido

    Contact person email: guido@betfoxx.com

    Addreess: Floor 4 Viettel Building, No.9, Vo Thi Sau Street, Nha Trang City , Khanh Hoa, Vietnam

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney announces new parliamentary secretary team

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced a new parliamentary secretary team focused on building Canada strong.

    Canadians elected this new government with a mandate to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build a stronger economy, to bring down costs, and to keep our communities safe. Parliamentary secretaries will support their respective cabinet ministers and secretaries of state to deliver on this mandate.

    The new parliamentary secretary team is appointed as follows:

    • Karim Bardeesy becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
    • Jaime Battiste becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
    • Rachel Bendayan becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
    • Kody Blois becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
    • Sean Casey becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
    • Sophie Chatel becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Madeleine Chenette becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Sport)
    • Maggie Chi becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
    • Leslie Church becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)
    • Caroline Desrochers becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
    • Ali Ehsassi becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy (Canada-U.S. Trade)
    • Mona Fortier becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
    • Peter Fragiskatos becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
    • Vince Gasparro becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)
    • Wade Grant becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    • Claude Guay becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    • Brendan Hanley becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs
    • Corey Hogan becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    • Anthony Housefather becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience
    • Mike Kelloway becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
    • Ernie Klassen becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries
    • Annie Koutrakis becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Jobs and Families
    • Kevin Lamoureux becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
    • Patricia Lattanzio becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
    • Ginette Lavack becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
    • Carlos Leitao becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
    • Tim Louis becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy (Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy)
    • Jennifer McKelvie becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
    • Marie-Gabrielle Ménard becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
    • David Myles becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Nature)
    • Yasir Naqvi becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (International Development)
    • Taleeb Noormohamed becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation
    • Rob Oliphant becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
    • Tom Osborne becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
    • Jacques Ramsay becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
    • Pauline Rochefort becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Rural Development)
    • Sherry Romanado becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
    • Jenna Sudds becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
    • Ryan Turnbull becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)

    Prime Minister Carney also announced that Élisabeth Brière will serve as Deputy Chief Government Whip, and Arielle Kayabaga will serve as Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

    Quote

    “Canada’s new parliamentary secretary team will deliver on the government’s mandate for change, working collaboratively with all parties in Parliament to build the strongest economy in the G7, advance a new security and economic partnership with the United States, and help Canadians get ahead.”

    Quick Fact

    • Parliamentary secretaries are chosen by the Prime Minister to assist ministers and secretaries of state.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • Shubman Gill-led Indian team lands in London for Test series against England

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • MIL-OSI China: Saving young eyes: China’s multifaceted approach to curbing myopia

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

    At a primary school in Jinan, east China’s Shandong Province, students are undergoing routine vision checks with the help of an innovative tool, namely a headphone-like smart monitoring device powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

    This device collects real-time data concerning students’ reading distance, sitting posture, light exposure and screen time, and then generates systematic evaluations and personalized recommendations. This technology not only tracks vision changes but also promotes healthier eye habits.

    “This is a dynamic monitoring process that is more objective and direct than traditional questionnaires,” said Huo Huanhuan, a doctor with the Shandong Prevention and Control Center for Child and Adolescent Myopia, as she scrolled through her phone to display trend analysis charts produced by the device.

    So far, more than 200 schools in Shandong have partnered with the center — leveraging big data and AI to enhance early monitoring and myopia prevention.

    This effort comes as China strives to address its pressing public health challenge of high myopia rates among children and adolescents. According to the latest official statistics, 51.9 percent of Chinese children and adolescents are nearsighted, despite a slight decline in recent years.

    To combat this challenge, China has set ambitious targets — by 2030, the country aims to keep the myopia rate among 6-year-olds at around 3 percent and ensure that no more than 38 percent of primary school students develop myopia. Achieving these goals requires a multipronged approach.

    A key strategy involves increasing outdoor time. A 2024 government document mandates that primary schools organize outdoor recess and ensure at least one hour of daily physical activity for students.

    Scientifically, sunlight exposure during outdoor play stimulates the retinas to release more dopamine, a chemical that helps slow excessive eyeball elongation — a major contributor to myopia.

    Leading the way is Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province. This city rolled out a groundbreaking policy at the end of 2023, which stipulates that all its primary and middle schools must offer one physical education (PE) class a day. A year later, Shenzhen’s myopia rate among children and adolescents had dropped by 1.2 percentage points, meaning that over 20,000 students were prevented from needing glasses.

    “One year of implementation has proven that the ‘one-PE-class-a-day’ policy significantly boosts the physical and mental health of students,” said Zheng Xiuyu, director of the Shenzhen Education Bureau.

    Inspired by Shenzhen’s success, provincial-level regions like Yunnan, Anhui and Tianjin have introduced similar policies. Meanwhile, other regions, including Beijing, Shandong and Fujian in east China, have extended school break times from 10 to 15 minutes to encourage more physical activity.

    At 9 a.m., upon hearing the bell, Wang Jiahui, a fifth-grade student in Shandong, picked up a football and immediately rushed toward the playground. “With five more minutes, we can organize a small match or do some specialized football skills practice.”

    “Longer breaks give students more opportunities to exercise, leading to better fitness levels,” said Liu Shansong, an official from Licang District in Shandong’s Qingdao city, where the extended recess policy was piloted.

    The results speak for themselves. In 2024, the district saw an 8-percentage-point increase in the “excellent” and “good” physical fitness rates among primary school students, alongside a 4-percentage-point drop in myopia rates.

    In addition to promoting physical activity, education authorities nationwide are also upgrading school facilities to support eye health. Adjustable desks and chairs, along with lighting equipment beneficial to eye health, are being introduced to create vision-friendly learning environments.

    Notably, in central China’s Hubei Province, primary schools have installed an intelligent prompt system in teachers’ electronic whiteboards, setting a 12-minute usage limit per class session. Once the time limit is reached, an eye-protection reminder automatically pops up, prompting teachers to discontinue electronic device usage.

    Huo Pengfei, parent of a fourth-grade student at one of the schools, is delighted with the restriction on electronic screen use.

    “This significantly alleviates children’s eye strain — and we sincerely applaud and support this initiative,” said Huo.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: From smog to sunshine: Beijing’s decade-long clean air campaign pays off

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

    These days, Beijing resident Xie Xiaoyang frequently shares photo collages of the city’s blue skies on his WeChat Moments — a stark contrast to the smoggy environment he remembers from his student days in the Chinese capital over 10 years ago.

    “Social media was still in its infancy in China back then, with everyone eagerly sharing glimpses of their everyday routines,” Xie recalled. “Yet as autumn leaves fell and winter set in, the world outside dissolved into a murky haze. Posting enthusiasm waned, giving way to a citywide yearning for crisp blue skies.”

    Beihai Park is decorated with lanterns in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19, 2025. (Photo by Li Menglan/Xinhua)

    Over the past decades, air pollution has persisted as a major environmental challenge for China amid its rapid urbanization and economic development. In a landmark response, the Chinese government declared war against air pollution in 2013, launching its Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) — a comprehensive national policy framework targeting air quality improvement — and sought to find a better balance between economic growth and environment protection.

    Following the introduction of the APPCAP, China became the first developing country in the world to impose large-scale efforts to reduce PM2.5 density, with Beijing taking the lead across Chinese cities by adopting scientific governance, institutional innovation and regional collaboration, contributing a new approach to global air pollution control. The United Nations Environment Programme has hailed the megacity’s achievements in improving air quality as the “Beijing Miracle.”

    According to the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, the capital reported steady progress in air quality in 2024. The average density of PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, during the year was 30.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down 6.2 percent year on year. The number of days with good air quality reached 290, an increase of 114 days compared with 2013 and the highest number on record. Notably, the number of heavily polluted days dropped from 58 in 2013 to just two in 2024, which was a reduction of 96.6 percent.

    ARDUOUS CAMPAIGN

    At this year’s “two sessions,” Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu presented two filter membranes collected from Beijing’s atmospheric environment monitors. The sample from 2015 exhibited a grayish-black hue, while last year’s counterpart showed a grayish-white coloration.

    “That grayish-black sample brings back memories of the days when my air purifier was working overtime,” Xie said, voicing a collective memory shared by Beijing residents who lived through the city’s smog-choked years.

    “Beijing was then facing an acute air pollution crisis, making rigorous anti-smog measures an urgent imperative,” said Li Xiang, an official of the local ecological environment protection’s law enforcement authorities.

    Building on the APPCAP, Beijing rolled out its clean air action plan from 2013 to 2017, launching a targeted campaign across four key battlefronts, including coal combustion control, vehicle emissions management, industrial pollution abatement and dust suppression.

    “All relevant municipal authorities solemnly signed responsibility pledges, vowing to secure victory in this crucial pollution control campaign,” said Xie Jinkai, director of the atmospheric environment department of the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.

    This photo taken on Aug. 12, 2024 shows a view of the Shougang Park, a 3-square-kilometer industrial heritage site and a previous venue of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

    Beijing used to rely primarily on coal for winter heating. The first PM2.5 source analysis conducted in the capital — spanning 2012 to 2013 — identified coal combustion as one of the dominant contributors to local air pollution, said Wang Zifa, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    The megacity therefore made a resolute decision to launch a wide-ranging initiative to switch from coal to electricity for winter heating. Wang Yu, a senior engineer at the ecological environment bureau of Beijing’s Xicheng District who participated in the conversion project, recalled that the task was both complicated and arduous.

    Environmental protection authorities and power supply companies conducted door-to-door surveys in target neighborhoods, addressing key challenges based on residents’ actual conditions while carrying out various tasks, including upgrading external power supply facilities.

    By the end of 2015, the downtown Xicheng District became Beijing’s pioneer in achieving complete coal-free heating, a landmark transition that liberated residents from smoke-filled winters fueled by honeycomb briquettes. “Now our homes are warm and clean throughout winter. What a remarkable change,” said a longtime resident surnamed Bai who lives in the Niujie neighborhood of Xicheng District.

    Beijing also established a rigorous regulatory framework to accelerate coal reduction. The municipal government has successively implemented emissions standards for various facilities, including stationary gas turbines and boilers, setting stringent new limits on pollutants. Meanwhile, authorities have intensified their work against violations such as excessive emissions and abnormal operations of facilities. Key coal-consuming enterprises now face enhanced supervision to ensure compliance, with mandatory requirements for continuous green upgrades.

    Through coordinated actions from authorities, industries and communities, the capital’s plains achieved the fundamental status of being coal-free by the end of 2018, with coal-fired boilers virtually eliminated citywide.

    According to Wang, Beijing’s follow-up PM2.5 source studies revealed that coal combustion’s contribution to PM2.5 dropped from 22.4 percent in 2013 to just 3 percent in 2017, eliminating its status as a major pollution source. And after five years of sustained efforts, Beijing saw its average annual density of PM2.5 decrease from nearly 90 micrograms per cubic meter to 58 micrograms per cubic meter, achieving its phased goal in curbing pollution.

    PRECISION GOVERNANCE

    In 2018, Beijing launched a “1 microgram initiative” to continuously improve air quality, shifting greater focus to sectors like vehicle emissions and fugitive dust, which demand refined control measures, and striving for even single microgram-per-cubic-meter improvements.

    The year of 2021 marked a milestone in Beijing’s decade-long “blue skies” campaign, with its annual average PM2.5 concentration dropping to 33 micrograms per cubic meter — the lowest level since records began in 2013. The capital has since maintained compliant air quality standards for three consecutive years.

    “‘Beijing blue’ has gradually become our new normal,” Huang Runqiu said at a press conference.

    Thanks to aggressive renewable energy adoption and coal-replacement policies, Beijing’s energy mix has undergone a historic transformation. Its coal consumption plummeted from 21.8 million tonnes in 2012 to under 600,000 tonnes in 2024, now accounting for less than 1 percent of its total energy consumption, Yang Xiuling, director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said recently.

    Furthermore, Beijing has implemented structural optimization processes in its industrial and transport sectors. The city has closed over 3,000 manufacturing or polluting enterprises and rectified more than 12,000 scattered, disorganized or polluting businesses through categorized remediation. A total of over 3 million high-pollution vehicles have been phased out.

    With its air quality having improved significantly, Beijing now faces more challenging pollution control targets that require increasingly scientific and refined measures. In 2025, the city elevated its air pollution governance to a new level of precision: its “0.1 microgram initiative.”

    This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows new energy vehicle model SU7 produced by Chinese tech firm Xiaomi displayed during the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

    “For instance, we will vigorously expand the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs), aiming for NEVs to comprise half of all registered vehicles by 2025,” Xie Jinkai said. “Through meticulous governance, we aim to consolidate and sustain emissions reduction achievements.”

    According to the municipal government work report this year, the number of NEVs in the city has exceeded 1 million, and the proportion of green electricity in the city’s energy mix has reached 26 percent.

    MULTI-LEVEL COOPERATION

    According to Li Xiang, an illegal sand and gravel plant in Dashiwo Town of Beijing’s Fangshan District, which borders Zhuozhou City in Hebei Province, had once caused severe fugitive dust pollution in the local area.

    “At that time, with Beijing and Hebei conducting separate law enforcement operations, the plant utilized vehicle-mounted mobile production equipment to shuttle across the provincial boundary, allowing the illegal operations to persist unchecked for an extended period,” Li said.

    Since 2015, the ecological and environmental law enforcement agencies of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have formally established and continuously improved a joint environmental enforcement mechanism, creating coordinated systems that involve regular consultations, joint operations and collaborative inspections to collectively combat cross-regional environmental violations.

    After three years, the plant was officially shut down through a joint enforcement operation conducted by Beijing and Hebei authorities. In 2019, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region expanded its joint law enforcement mechanism to cover district and county levels.

    Tourists visit the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, June 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

    Beijing has broadened its air quality governance collaboration from a domestic level to an international level in recent years. Beyond hosting an annual international forum on clean air and climate to facilitate exchanges among environmental experts, policymakers and businesses globally, the city also took a significant step earlier this year, when the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau signed a memorandum of understanding with the Environment Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to boost air quality monitoring and management cooperation.

    Over the next three years, Beijing will share its proven expertise in air pollution control — particularly its PM2.5 monitoring and mitigation strategies — with Bangkok to support the Thai capital’s air quality improvement efforts.

    However, Xie Jinkai noted that Beijing’s current air quality improvements remain fragile, with regional pollution spikes likely to recur during unfavorable meteorological conditions.

    “Air quality improvement remains a long-term, complex and challenging mission. Beijing’s pollution control efforts will continue advancing to deeper, more precise stages,” Xie said.

    “Our shared goal is to maintain lasting blue skies and fresh air, continuously meeting the people’s growing expectations for a beautiful environment,” she added.  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Update 2: Alberta wildfire update (June 6, 4 p.m.)

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Purpose. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America’s leadership in global innovation.  But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland.  Drug cartels use UAS to smuggle fentanyl across our borders, deliver contraband into prisons, surveil law enforcement, and otherwise endanger the public.  Mass gatherings are vulnerable to disruptions and threats by unauthorized UAS flights.  Critical infrastructure, including military bases, is subject to frequent — and often unidentified — UAS incursions.  Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and that its airspace remains safe and secure.
    Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:
    (a)  the term “unmanned aircraft systems” or “UAS” has the meaning given in 49 U.S.C. 44801;
    (b)  the term “critical infrastructure” has the meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e), and includes systems and assets in all of the designated critical infrastructure sectors identified in National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience) (NSM-22); and
    (c)  the term Sector Risk Management Agency or “SRMA” has the same meaning given in 6 U.S.C. 650 and as further described in NSM-22.
    Sec. 3.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS.
    Sec. 4.  Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty.  To assist in ensuring control over our national airspace, there is hereby established the Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty (Task Force).  The Task Force shall be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) or a designee, and include principals, or their designees, from appropriate executive departments and agencies as identified by the APNSA.  The Task Force shall review relevant operational, technical, and regulatory frameworks and develop and propose solutions to UAS threats, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, and shall make recommendations on the implementation of all actions identified in this order.
    Sec. 5.  Airspace Regulations to Protect the Public.  The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall:
    (a)  with respect to the rulemaking required by section 2209(f) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, as amended:
    (i)   promptly submit a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Task Force establishing the statutorily required process for restricting drone flights over fixed site facilities, and interpreting, to the extent appropriate, critical infrastructure consistent with the definition of that term in this order; and
    (ii)  promulgate a final rule as soon as practicable after publication of the NPRM;
    (b)  make national security and homeland security assessments under section 2209 in coordination with Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs), the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, as appropriate, and whenever military installations or operations are implicated, with the Secretary of Defense; and
    (c)  within 180 days of the date of this order, make freely available online Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in an open format easily accepted for drone geofencing and Aircraft Navigation and Guidance system purposes.  This online availability should supplement, but not replace, existing NOTAMs and TFR promulgation methods.
    Sec. 6.  Enhancing Airspace Sovereignty.  (a)  the Attorney General, in coordination with the Administrator of the FAA, shall take appropriate steps to ensure full enforcement of applicable civil and criminal laws when drone operators endanger the public, violate established airspace restrictions, or operate a drone in furtherance of an element of another crime;
    (b)  on a recurring basis, the Attorney General shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, legislative proposals that would revise criminal penalties for violations of restricted airspace; and
    (c)  within 30 days of the date of this order, and to the extent allowed by law, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that their respective departments’ grant programs permit otherwise eligible State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies to receive grants to purchase UAS or equipment or services for the detection, tracking, or identification of drones and drone signals, consistent with the legal authorities of those SLTTs.
    Sec. 7.  Detection, Tracking, and Identification of Drones and Drone Signals.  (a)  To the extent permitted by law and consistent with the Fourth Amendment, executive departments and agencies shall use all available existing authorities to employ equipment to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals.
    (b)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission shall revise the August 2020 “Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems” to reflect relevant developments in Federal law and regulations addressing drones.
    (c)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of the FAA shall provide, to the extent permitted by law, including the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), automated real-time access to personal identifying information associated with UAS remote identification signals to appropriate executive departments and agencies and SLTT agencies for the purposes of enforcing applicable Federal or State law, with appropriate national security and privacy safeguards.
    (d)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the FAA, in coordination with the heads of other SRMAs as appropriate, shall publish guidance to aid private critical infrastructure owners or operators in employing technologies to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals.
    Sec. 8.  Enhancing General Protections.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit a recommendation to the President, through the APNSA, using risk-based assessment as defined in 6 U.S.C. 124n(k)(8), on whether the northern and southern land borders; large airports; Federal facilities; critical infrastructure; and military installations, facilities, and assets should be designated as covered facilities or assets under 6 U.S.C. 124n and 10 U.S.C. 130i and whether any changes to law would be necessary relating to such designation.  
    Sec. 9.  Building Counter-UAS Capacity.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall explore integrating counter-UAS operational responses as part of Joint Terrorism Task Forces for the purpose of protecting mass gathering events.
    (b)  The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the FAA; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Director of OMB; and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, shall promptly take all appropriate steps to implement the recommendations of the March 2022 Feasibility Report to Congress with regard to the creation of the National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Center), and, upon establishment of the Center, focus initial training provided by the Center on development of Federal and SLTT capabilities to secure major upcoming national and international sporting events held in the United States, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
    Sec. 10.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Transportation.
    DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        June 6, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Cheers on Vermont Athletes at Special Olympics Statewide Summer Games 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    COLCHESTER, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) helped kick off the 2025 Special Olympics Statewide Summer Games today at St. Michael’s College. Senator Welch joined Vermonters from across the state to cheer on athletes at the Vermont Unified Basketball Exhibition Game and provided the ceremonial tip-off to start the game. 
    “It was an honor to join folks from across the state to cheer on Vermont athletes in the 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games,” said Senator Welch. “Everyone should have the opportunity to compete in the sports they love. The skills, determination, and passion of these athletes make Vermont proud.” 
    View photos from the event below: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The fourth season of the University Shifts project has started.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The fourth season of the University Shifts project has started. This year, more than 100 Russian universities have joined the project.

    “University Shifts” is a career guidance project, within the framework of which schoolchildren and college students get a unique opportunity to experience student life, see the structure of universities from the inside and get acquainted with the educational program and opportunities of higher education institutions. Universities create an environment for the children that is as close as possible to a student environment, immerse them in the educational process and introduce them to the scientific potential of the university, including through visits to specialized enterprises – potential employers and university laboratories. During the shifts, the children live on university campuses and country camps. To implement the principle of harmonious personal development, the career guidance program is combined with cultural and leisure activities: visits to museums and theaters, excursions, participation in interactive classes on the history and culture of Russia, as well as meetings with students, university teachers, government officials, athletes, and cultural figures.

    “Our President Vladimir Putin spoke about the importance of choosing a job that you love and realizing your calling. The University Shifts project allows the younger generation to choose a profession and a future university at an early age. In the fourth season, children aged 14 to 17 will be able to participate, including those from new regions. This year, the program’s capabilities have been expanded thanks to the decision of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that during his working trips he visited organizations that are project sites. For example, the Mariupol State University named after A.I. Kuindzhi.

    Among the participants of the first shift of this season are 570 children from the Donetsk People’s Republic, Zaporizhzhya and Belgorod regions. In total, nine shifts are planned for the summer season.

    “The first groups will go to universities in Rostov-on-Don, Kostroma, Arkhangelsk, Tambov, Nalchik, Ryazan and Moscow. It is important that this year, in addition to career guidance and cultural and leisure events, the shifts will integrate a program dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry in Russia. Thus, children will learn more about the great deeds of the heroes and scientists of our country,” said the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov.

    It is planned that over 16 thousand children aged 14 to 17, including those from new regions, will be able to participate in the fourth season.

    Over three years, more than 44 thousand children went to the “University Shifts”, in 2024 alone, 107 universities of the country accepted more than 15 thousand schoolchildren and students of secondary vocational education. The children were able to visit the most remote corners of the country, and discovered Kamchatka.

    Let us recall that since 2023 the project has been implemented jointly with the “Movement of the First”. The All-Russian Children’s Movement has developed methodological recommendations for conducting educational, cultural, educational and career guidance events of the shifts.

    “University shifts are an excellent opportunity for the participants of the “Movement of the First”, schoolchildren and students of professional educational organizations of all regions of Russia to get acquainted with domestic universities, their scientific base and areas of professional training. Career guidance programs will cover more than 100 universities and will be held in eight areas: technical, humanitarian, medical, creative, sports, pedagogical, agricultural and information technology. Immersing yourself in student life for 10 days is the best way to shape your future professional trajectory,” emphasized the chairman of the board of the “Movement of the First” Artur Orlov.

    The University Shifts project has been implemented since 2022. It is both a social support measure and a form of encouragement for talented youth. Young people from new regions, border territories and families of SVO participants take part in it within a separate quota. Participants of the Movement of the First from all over Russia get into the program as a result of a competitive selection, within which they complete tasks in the areas of professional training that interest them.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Discusses Importance of Protecting Women’s Sports, Boosting School Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with several of President Trump’s nominees, including Penny Schwinn, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Education at the Department of Education, Kimberly Richey, nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and Daniel Aronowitz, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration at the Department of Labor. They discussed the importance of protecting Title IX and promoting school choice.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON PROMOTING SCHOOL CHOICE:

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for all of you [being] willing to serve. It’s a privilege to have you all here. Doctor Schwinn, I wonder if people can give the definition of ‘national emergency.’ That’s what we have in our education system. It’s pitiful. I’ve been in it 35 years and it’s getting worse. The last four years, we just brushed over the problems, didn’t try to correct any. I would hope that you would be really involved in this. Our kids can’t read and write, [the] majority of them. It’s a disaster. It’s a shame. It’s criminal, to be honest with you.

    [Holds up cellphone] would you please get that out of the classroom? Because kids can’t learn when they’re looking at a text. I’m sick of hearing about ‘we need those in the classroom.’ Let’s take our schools back. We’ve given it over to the people who actually don’t want to educate our kids.

    So, thanks for your background in educational agencies. If confirmed, I hope you would assist Secretary McMahon in executing at the more local level. Can you address that?”

    SCHWINN: “Absolutely, and thank you for that. I couldn’t agree more as the parent of a thirteen-year-old. So, absolutely, one of the things that we did in Tennessee that I think was the secret sauce and has been over a long period of time is that locals know what’s best for their communities and their students. Memphis, Tennessee and Lake County, Tennessee are three to four hours apart and could not be more different. My home state of California and my adopted home state of Tennessee could not be more different. We need to make sure that locals are empowered to make the best decisions for their students. And when the money is closest to the child, when the decisions are closest to the child, we can best serve the child. And I am completely aligned with Secretary McMahon to ensure that we can help our states and our local communities to make the best decisions for their students in their communities.”

    TUBERVILLE: “School choice should be an option. I’ve been in many inner-city schools. For some reason, a lot of my colleagues do not want to educate kids in inner cities. School choice should be mandatory in a lot of our inner cities because they can’t read and write. If you can’t read and write, you can’t take advantage of the greatest country ever.”

    ON PROTECTING TITLE IX:

    TUBERVILLE: “Ms. Richey, Title IX, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, is what I’ve been trying to get passed for years. It makes no sense to me what’s going on. I mean, we’ve got a huge problem. We can’t define the difference of men playing in women’s sports. It’s dangerous. We all know that. I mean, it’s something that we’d better get straight because little girls aren’t going to get into sports and we’re not going to have women’s sports 10, 15years from now. We’ve got entire high school teams that are made now of transgender boys that can’t figure out that they’re not supposed to be in that—that it’s for women. But what are your thoughts on that?”

    RICHEY: “Yes, sir. Thank you, Senator, for the question. I grew up playing basketball, and played into college. I could not have competed against biological men. It just was not something that I would have been able to do. One of the things I’m really proud of under the first term is that [the] OCR investigated and took to enforcement one of the very first cases initiated by the federal government, which actually determined that policies that allow students to participate based on sexual orientation or gender identity actually violated Title IX because they deprive women and girls of the opportunity to participate in athletics. I’m very proud of that. I’m very proud of the way that the Secretary and the President have prioritized this issue, and I’m certainly committed to vigorously enforcing it and continuing to pursue these cases.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. We’ve got the Olympics here in a couple of years—[in] a few years in LA. We’re going be a joke if we allow that to happen on the world stage. So, hopefully we come to our senses by that time and show little girls that, ‘yes, you do have an opportunity.’”

    ON THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACT:

    TUBERVILLE: “[The] Financial Freedom Act. I think you, Mr. Aronowitz, are familiar with that. The Biden administration pretty much prohibited being able to put your finances where you wanted to, at the end of the day. I’ve been trying to get that passed. Would you commit to supporting legislation that would provide Americans the freedom to invest their own money how they see fit?”

    ARONOWITZ: “Absolutely, Senator. I believe that fiduciaries should decide what’s in retirement plans, not government bureaucrats, not plaintiff lawyers, no one else. Fiduciaries know what’s best, and I am committed to that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Airspace Sovereignty

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    ENSURING AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS SKIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and a safe and secure airspace.
    Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, pose a growing threat as criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors increasingly weaponize these technologies to endanger public safety and national security. 
    The Order establishes the Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty to review and propose solutions to UAS threats.
    It directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a process to restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure and other public facilities.  
    It instructs the FAA Administrator to make Notices to Airmen and Temporary Flight Restrictions freely available online for drone geofencing and Aircraft Navigation and Guidance system purposes.
    The Order requires the Attorney General and FAA Administrator to increase enforcement of civil and criminal laws against drone operators endangering the public, violating airspace restrictions, or committing a crime.
    It authorizes Federal agencies to use existing authorities to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals, and enables state, local, tribal, and territorial  law enforcement agencies to access grant programs for similar equipment.
    The Order mandates the publication of guidance to help private critical infrastructure owners and operators employ drone detection technologies.
    It calls for a risk-based assessment to designate borders, large airports, Federal facilities, critical infrastructure, and military installations as protected areas.
    The Order directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to explore integrating counter-UAS operation responses as part of Joint Terrorism Task Forces that are stood up for mass gathering events.
    It also directs the Administration to create a National Training Center for Counter-UAS to build the needed counter-UAS capacity to secure major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.  
    ADDRESSING GROWING DRONE THREATS: President Trump is taking decisive action to counter the escalating misuse of drones.
    Criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of drone technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland.
    Drug cartels use drones to smuggle fentanyl across our borders, deliver contraband into prisons, surveil law enforcement, and otherwise endanger the public.
    Mass gatherings are vulnerable to disruptions and threats by unauthorized drone flights.
    Critical infrastructure, including military bases, is subject to frequent—and often unidentified—drone incursions.
    ADVANCING NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trumphas consistently prioritized making America safe and secure. 
    Immediately upon taking office, President Trump fulfilled his promise to address the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey by clarifying that these were FAA-authorized flights, not a national security threat.
    President Trump has deployed drones to patrol the southern border, strengthening national security through advanced surveillance and monitoring capabilities.
    President Trump has advanced cutting-edge drone technologies through smart, targeted regulation, unlocking economic growth while strengthening safety, security, and innovation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reprioritizes Cybersecurity Efforts to Protect America

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    STRENGTHENING THE NATION’S CYBERSECURITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity by focusing on critical protections against foreign cyber threats and enhancing secure technology practices.
    The Order amends problematic elements of Obama and Biden-era Executive Orders (14144 and 13694).
    The Order directs the Federal government to advance secure software development.
    It directs department and agency level action on border gateway security to defeat hijacking of network interconnections.
    The Order directs department and agency level actions on post-quantum cryptography to ensure protection against threats that may leverage next generation compute architectures.
    The Order directs adoption of the latest encryption protocols.
    It refocuses artificial intelligence (AI) cybersecurity efforts towards identifying and managing vulnerabilities, rather than censorship.
    The Order directs technical measures to promulgate cybersecurity policy, including machine readable policy standards and formal trust designations for “Internet of Things” as a way to ensure that Americans can know that their personal and home devices meet basic security engineering principles.
    It limits the application of cyber sanctions only to foreign malicious actors, preventing misuse against domestic political opponents and clarifying that sanctions do not apply to election-related activities.
    The Order strips away inappropriate measures outside of core cybersecurity focus, including removing a mandate for U.S. government issued digital IDs for illegal aliens that would have facilitated entitlement fraud and other abuse.
    REPRIORITIZING CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS: President Trump is taking decisive action to address real technical challenges and enduring cyber security threats.
    Just days before President Trump took office, the Biden Administration attempted to sneak problematic and distracting issues into cybersecurity policy. This included:
    Introducing digital identity mandates that risked widespread abuse by enabling illegal immigrants to improperly access public benefits.
    Imposing unproven and burdensome software accounting processes that prioritized compliance checklists over genuine security investments.
    Micromanaging technical cybersecurity decisions better handled at the department and agency level, where budget tradeoffs and innovative solutions can be more effectively evaluated and implemented.

    Cybersecurity is too important to be reduced to a mere political football.
    Adversaries routinely threaten our critical infrastructure, personal devices, and the fabrics of our digital lives.
    ADVANCING NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY: President Trump is advancing cybersecurity for the safety of all Americans.
    President Trump has made it clear that this Administration will do what it takes to make America cyber secure—including focusing relentlessly on technical and organizational professionalism to improve the security and resilience of the nation’s information systems and networks.
    Since the first day he entered office, President Trump has been steadfast in his commitment to eliminate fraud and abuse across the Federal Government.
    President Trump has already taken action to remove barriers to AI innovation, ensuring that our technology sector remains competitive at the cutting edge of new developments and free from ideological bias.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Pushes for the Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Stadium and Airport Concession Prices for Potential Price Gouging

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Stadium and Airport Concessions Charge New York Captive Audiences Double the Street Price, Despite Receiving Tens of Millions in Public Subsidies Every Year 

      

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) led nine House Democrats in urging the House Appropriations Committee to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate stadium and airport concession prices to increase transparency and prevent potential price gouging practices. 

    New Yorkers are paying some of the highest concession prices in the country at publicly subsidized sports venues. At Madison Square Garden, the average price of a beer is $16—more than twice the citywide average—making it the third most expensive among NBA arenas. At Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, beer costs $10 on average, double the price fans would pay elsewhere. These costs come despite substantial public support. Madison Square Garden receives an estimated $42 million annually from New York City through a property tax exemption, while 60% of the Bills’ new stadium is being financed with public funds from the state. 

    “Despite the significant public investment into airports and sports venues, through direct grants, state and local tax credits, economic development incentives, and tax-exempt bonds, the cost of concessions at a ballgame or an airport remains unaffordable for the average American family,” the Members wrote. 

    Some stadiums have seen great success in implementing so-called “street pricing”, which pegs concessions prices to the average cost of food and drink to the average cost in the surrounding area. The Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz stadium specifically lowered concession costs by 50% and saw a 30% increase in sales after implementing street pricing. The members request that the FTC survey stadiums across the country to determine what sustainable, affordable practices work best. 

    “A nationwide survey of concession prices and street pricing practices at these venues would allow the FTC, lawmakers, and most importantly, fans and travelers, to gain more transparency into potential price gouging by venues and determine what sustainable, affordable practices work best. We urge you to include the report language below to direct the FTC conduct such a survey and provide a report to Congress on its findings,” the Members wrote. 

    Read the full letter here or below:  

    Dear Chairman Joyce and Ranking Member Hoyer,  

    As you begin to work on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Financial Services and General 

    Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill, we write to request that you include report language to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a survey of concession prices and affordable pricing practices across major airports and sports stadiums. 

    In 1985, the average fan at the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game in Minneapolis spent about $5 on beer and other concessions (a little less than $15 in 2025 dollars). Today, this does not even cover the cost of a single beer at Nationals Park. Inside the stadium, fans across major sports, including at National Basketball League (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and National Hockey League (NHL) games, face exorbitant prices for concessions after paying high ticket fees. While serving very different purposes, airports share many of the same dynamics as sports stadiums. Travelers often arrive at airports hours before departure and face 

    restrictions on bringing in outside food and beverages. With few options, travelers face extreme markups for drinks and food before their flights. Despite the significant public investment into airports and sports venues, through direct grants, state and local tax credits, economic development incentives, and tax-exempt bonds, the cost of concessions at a ballgame or an airport remains unaffordable for the average American family. 

    According to a recent report by the Groundwork Collaborative, most large U.S. airports 

    implement some policies to seek to curb excessive pricing. Even then, the most common approach, known as “street pricing plus,” allows vendors to charge 10 to 18 percent more than off-airport prices. Set by state and local transit authorities, these policies vary widely across airports and leave high prices to compound the already high costs of air travel. Similarly, several individual sports teams have begun introducing “value deals,” offering a handful of basic items (such as bottled water, pretzels, and hot dogs) at lower prices. Following their move to Mercedes-Benz stadium in 2017, the Atlanta Falcons implemented significant concession price cuts – about 50 percent – aligning their prices with what fans may pay on the street. After this cut, the Falcons saw a 30 percent increase in overall transactions, a 20 percent increase in merchandise sales, and a 20 percent increase in the number of items per transaction. The Falcons’ move and other case studies, including Portland International Airport and Salt Lake City Airport, reveal that these “street pricing” practices can be a win-win for businesses and consumers. 

    With housing, food, and other everyday costs already so high, families visiting airports or sports stadiums – venues supported by their tax dollars – should not have to worry about drastic price markups. It’s clear that some form of street pricing is effective to make concessions more affordable while remaining sensible for businesses at these venues.  

    A nationwide survey of concession prices and street pricing practices at these venues would allow the FTC, lawmakers, and most importantly, fans and travelers, to gain more transparency into potential price gouging by venues and determine what sustainable, affordable practices work best. We urge you to include the report language below to direct the FTC conduct such a survey and provide a report to Congress on its findings. 

    “Airport and Sports Stadium Concessions.–The Committee is concerned about the high cost of concessions at airports and sports stadiums that receive public financing. While the Committee is pleased to see some venues make certain concessions more affordable through street pricing practices (i.e. aligning vendor prices inside the venue with prices that one may pay across the street), travel and sports remain unaffordable for most families. The Committee directs the FTC to conduct a survey of concession prices and street pricing practices across airports and major stadiums. The FTC shall provide a report to the Committee no later than 180 days of enactment of this act on its findings.” 

    Thank you for your consideration of this important request. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding to Support Francophone Artists and Promote French Language in Saskatchewan Continues

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 6, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $60,000 to support professional development of Francophone artists and strengthen French-language arts and culture across the province. 

    The Conseil culturel fransaskois (CCF) will receive the funds to deliver seven workshops to singers, musicians, writers and visual artists. This is the second year of the funding with more than 55 artists benefitting from the program in 2024-25.

    “These workshops provide valuable opportunities for Francophone artists to hone their craft, share ideas and grow professionally,” Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Alana Ross said. “The Conseil culturel fransaskois plays a vital role in preserving and promoting our province’s rich cultural heritage. This investment supports artists while delivering for our Francophone communities.” 

    The workshops will focus on a variety of areas for professional development such as marketing, promotion and mentorship. 

    This funding is part of the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on French-language Services, a five-year initiative that enhances the delivery of French-language programs and services across the province. 

    Like last year, the 2025-26 Provincial Budget includes several initiatives focused on Saskatchewan’s Francophone communities and French language in the province, including:

    • Two key health programs for Saskatchewan’s French speaking citizens: a patient accompaniment program operated by the Réseau santé en français de la Saskatchewan and a French-language mental health support telephone line offered through TAO Tel-Aide.
    • Improving the provision of French language services to Saskatchewan residents, by developing interactive government services in French and improving the availability of bilingual services for residents when doing business with government.

    “Access to services in French, whether for health care, culture or business support, is essential to building an inclusive and equitable Canada,” Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister Responsible for Official Languages Steven Guilbeault said. “Through strong collaboration between the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, these important investments will help meet the needs of the Fransaskois community. Thanks to the Conseil culturel fransaskois for continuing to make a real difference in the lives of French-speaking communities in Saskatchewan by strengthening their cultural and social vitality.”

    The CCF has been the province’s leading organization for the development and promotion of Francophone culture for over 50 years. 

    “The biggest impact of this renewed and increased funding will be felt in the continuation of initiatives launched last year,” CCF President Anne Brochu Lambert said. “It is a recognition of both the value of these initiatives and the importance of thoughtful long term professional development for our artists.”

    To learn more about the CCF’s programs and events, visit: www.culturel.ca. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    Maintien du financement visant à soutenir les artistes francophones et à promouvoir la langue française en Saskatchewan

    Le gouvernement de la Saskatchewan offre un appui financier de 60 000 $ afin de soutenir le développement professionnel des artistes francophones et de renforcer la présence des arts et de la culture en langue française dans toute la province.

    Le Conseil culturel fransaskois (CCF) recevra les fonds à distribuer aux chanteuses et chanteurs, aux musiciennes et musiciens, aux écrivaines et écrivains ainsi qu’aux artistes visuels. Ce financement est offert pour une deuxième année consécutive, permettant ainsi à plus de 55 artistes de bénéficier du programme pour l’année 2024-2025.

    « Ces ateliers offrent aux artistes francophones de précieuses occasions de perfectionner leur art, d’échanger des idées et d’évoluer sur le plan professionnel, déclare Alana Ross, la ministre responsable des Affaires francophones. Le Conseil culturel fransaskois joue un rôle essentiel dans la préservation et la promotion du riche héritage culturel de notre province. Cet investissement soutient les artistes tout en répondant aux attentes de la communauté francophone. »

    Les ateliers s’attarderont sur plusieurs domaines du perfectionnement professionnel tels que le marketing, la promotion et le mentorat.

    Le financement est prévu dans l’Entente Canada-Saskatchewan pour les services en français, une initiative de cinq ans qui permet de fournir plus de prestations de programmes et de services en langue française dans toute la province.

    Comme l’année dernière, le budget provincial 2025-2026 comprend plusieurs initiatives axées sur les communautés francophones de la Saskatchewan et sur la langue française dans la province, y compris :

    • Deux programmes importants en matière de santé pour les citoyennes et citoyens francophones en Saskatchewan : un programme d’accompagnement pour patients géré par le Réseau santé en français de la Saskatchewan et une ligne d’écoute téléphonique de soutien en santé mentale en français offerte par TAO Tel-Aide.
    • L’amélioration de prestations de services en français aux résidants de la Saskatchewan grâce au développement de services gouvernementaux interactifs en français et l’amélioration de l’accès aux services bilingues pour les résidants lors des discussions d’affaires avec le gouvernement.

    « Accéder à des services en français, que ce soit en matière de santé, de culture ou de soutien aux entreprises, est essentiel à l’édification d’un Canada inclusif et équitable. Grâce à une collaboration étroite entre les gouvernements du Canada et de la Saskatchewan, ces investissements importants contribuent à répondre aux besoins de la communauté fransaskoise. Je remercie le Conseil culturel fransaskois de continuer à faire une réelle différence dans la vie des communautés francophones de la Saskatchewan en renforçant leur vitalité culturelle et sociale. »

    – L’honorable Steven Guilbeault, ministre de l’Identité et de la Culture canadiennes et ministre responsable des Langues officielles

    Depuis plus de 50 ans, le CCF est l’organisme phare de la province en ce qui concerne le développement et la promotion de la culture francophone.

    « Nous saluons le renouvellement de ce financement ainsi que l’augmentation accordée, affirme Anne Brochu Lambert, présidente du CCF. Cet appui s’inscrit dans la continuité. C’est une reconnaissance de la valeur des jalons posés l’an dernier et de l’importance de soutenir le développement professionnel de nos artistes sur le long terme. »

    Pour en apprendre davantage sur les programmes et les événements du CCF, visitez le www.culturel.ca.

    -30-

    Pour plus d’information, contactez :

    PCS Media
    Ministère des Parcs, de la Culture et du Sport
    Regina
    Téléphone : 306-798-1020
    Courriel : pcsmedia@gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Puts Spotlight on Affiliate Program, Turning Influence Into Income for Crypto Creators

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is drawing attention to its affiliate program as a streamlined path for creators, educators, and crypto communities to turn engagement into earnings. Built on the spirit of Web3, the program dishes out generous commissions, layered rewards, and handy tools to help partners grow their clout—and their crypto. Supporting everyone, from solo content creators to large-scale Web3 communities, the affiliate program offers a smart, scalable model for monetizing crypto influence.

    Affiliates can earn up to 50% commission on trading fees from referred users, with extra bonuses available for milestones and high-performing partners. The program is built to scale, whether for individual content creators or larger crypto-focused communities. Real-time tracking, dedicated support, and marketing resources give affiliates tools to expand their reach and monetize effectively.

    In a first for centralized exchanges, Bitget launched an on-chain affiliate program in 2025—ushering in a new level of transparency and control. The system leverages on-chain data to verify referrals and track payouts, eliminating guesswork and giving partners greater confidence in their earnings. Affiliates can monitor everything from wallet engagement to payouts in real time, all powered by smart contracts.

    The affiliate program aligns with Bitget’s broader ecosystem, which includes copy trading, high-liquidity markets, advanced API integrations, and localized support. This makes it easier for partners to tailor campaigns, engage their audiences, and grow with the platform.

    “The creator economy in crypto is growing fast, but monetization hasn’t always kept pace,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO at Bitget. “By bringing affiliate rewards on-chain and designing tools for creators of all sizes, Bitget is turning influence into a real, scalable revenue stream, with no smoke and mirrors.”

    With top-tier rewards, transparent tracking, and on-chain infrastructure, Bitget’s affiliate program offers a fresh take on crypto monetization. Built for those who drive conversations, shape communities, and grow the space from the ground up.

    For more information, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd38e9a6-0f58-495e-b04a-3d10c64d5b52

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Thousands to take part in European youth event

    Source: European Union 2

    On 13 and 14 June in Strasbourg, around 8,500 16 to 30-year-olds from all over the world will take part in a series of activities centred on the future of Europe.

    EYE2025 (European Youth Event) will be opened by Parliament Vice-president Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) on Friday 13 June at 10:00 in the EYE village. Vice-president Nicolae Ştefănuță (Greens/EFA, RO) will take part in a session dedicated to the next long-term budget, on Saturday at 15:00. The closing session, with Vice-president Pina Picierno (S&D, IT), will take place on Saturday at 16:45.

    Over the two days, there will be panel discussions with MEPs and other EU decision-makers, as well as with experts, activists and content creators. Debates between MEPs and the young participants will cover climate justice, skills for the future, the EU’s next long-term budget, and freedom of speech and media, among many other topics.

    Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef will lead a Youth Policy Dialogue on Friday at 11:00, and take part in a panel discussion on young people’s mental health that afternoon. Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Henna Virkkunen will join in a conversation on how technology can strengthen democracy, on Friday at 15:00.

    Other guest speakers are democracy activist Daria Navalnya, the Kayapo Amazonian tribal leader Chief Tau Metuktire and the Mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian.

    The programme also includes workshops on a wide range of issues that concern young people, from disinformation to housing and migration. Quizzes, tours, artistic performances, storytelling workshops and concerts are other options among more than 450 activities organised for the sixth edition of EYE.

    All sessions in the hemicycle will be streamed live on the EYE2025 Facebook page and via Parliament’s Multimedia Centre. More details about the schedule, speakers and activities are available on the European Youth Event website.

    Press briefing

    On Friday 13 June at 16:30, there will be a press briefing with Vice-president Verheyen on media freedom in the EU, in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room. You can follow it live here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Six TV moments that changed British LGBTQ+ history – and what we can learn from them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kate McNicholas Smith, Lecturer in Television Theory, University of Westminster

    The past two decades have seen a notable rise in LGBTQ+ representation on TV. Recent shifts, however, seem to threaten that progress. LGBTQ+ characters continue to meet tragic ends on screen – while off-screen, queer shows are being cancelled, media companies in the US have joined others in rolling back DEI initiatives and anti-LGBTQ+ violence is on the rise.

    At this critical moment, it feels apt to take a look back at some of the moments that made British LGBTQ+ TV history, exploring why they mattered and what we can learn from them.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    1. Man Alive (1967)

    In June 1967, the BBC documentary and current affairs series Man Alive focused two episodes on homosexuality. These episodes featured interviews with gay men and lesbian women about their lives and experiences, and how society treats them.

    The episode on “the women” featured an interview set in The Gateways club, a long-running lesbian nightclub on the Kings Road in west London (it closed in 1985). The Gateways also appeared in 1968 film, The Killing of Sister George, one of the first mainstream film representations of lesbian characters.

    ‘The Women’ episode of Man Alive.

    The month after the Man Alive documentaries aired, the Sexual Offences Act legalised homosexual acts between men over the age of 21 in England and Wales, so long as they took place consensually and in private.

    Documentaries such as these took an outside-looking-in approach to the subject matter, but nonetheless addressed the significant (albeit limited) shifts seen in this period.

    2. Girl (1974)

    In 1974, an episode of BBC Birmingham’s anthology series Second City Firsts featured the first kiss between two women on British television. The post-watershed television play portrayed a past relationship between Myra Francis’ army corporal, Chrissie, and Alison Steadman’s recruit Jackie. While this is no happily-ever-after romance, happier flashbacks do show the two women in bed together – a brief, but radical for its time, representation of queer intimacy.

    The broadcast was, unsurprisingly, controversial and was preceded by a special announcement from the controller of BBC. The rights of LGBTQ+ people in the military later became a major campaign, with the ban on openly gay and lesbian people serving lifted in the UK in 2000.

    Notably, fights for LGBTQ+ rights in the military demand equality, but also raise questions around the kinds of inclusions LGBTQ+ people are fighting for. As many activists and writers have argued, LGBTQ+ rights can be co-opted in ways that include some but exclude others, or justify other oppressive forces (for example in what is often referred to as pinkwashing).

    3. Lesbian activists protest Section 28 on the six o’clock news (1988)

    In May 1988, Margeret Thatcher’s Conservative government brought in Section 28: legislation that prohibited local authorities and schools from “promoting” homosexuality, reflecting the powerful anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice of the period.

    The lesbian protestors remember the moment they stormed the studio.

    The evening before the legislation was passed in parliament, a group of lesbian activists interrupted the live broadcast of the six o’clock news. As one of the protesters, Booan Temple, reflected: “By getting on the news, we would be the news.”

    The bill still passed, and Section 28 remained in place until 2000 in Scotland, and 2003 in England and Wales, but the power of LGBTQ+ resistance was palpable. Looking back today, there are worrying echoes of the moral panics of the 1980s to be found in the current climate.

    4. The Brookside kiss (1994)

    In 1985, Gordan Collins (Mark Burgess) came out on Channel 4’s popular soap opera, Brookside – making him the first openly gay character on a British television series. Five years later the soap featured the first pre-watershed kiss between two women, when Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) kissed Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson).

    Anna Friel looks back on her lesbian kiss scene from Brookside.

    The kiss was so culturally significant that it later featured in Danny Boyle’s 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Just one year after the episode, however, Beth died off screen in prison, an example of the “bury your gays” trope (where LGBTQ+ characters are frequently killed off in TV and film).

    Meanwhile, 1994 also saw Eastenders introduce Della Alexander (Michelle Joseph), the soap’s first lesbian and one of the first Black LGBTQ+ characters on British television. Della and girlfriend Binnie departed the soap a year later.

    Bisexual actor Pam St Clement, who played Eastenders matriarch Pat Butcher reflected: “Having given themselves that brief, they didn’t know what the fuck to do with it.”

    5. Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper (1998)

    In 1998 it was Coronation Street’s turn to make LGBTQ+ TV history, when the ITV soap introduced Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh), a transgender woman initially intended for a comic “bad date” storyline.

    Julie Hesmondhalgh reflecting on Hayley Cropper’s ‘coming out’ scene many years later.

    Following criticism from trans activists, ITV recruited trans actress Annie Wallace as a research assistant to work with Hesmondhalgh on the role. In 2015, Wallace joined Hollyoaks, becoming the first transgender person to play a regular transgender character on a British soap opera.

    Hayley went on to exceed her problematic origins and win the hearts of audiences, educating them, as she did so, on the prejudices and legal barriers trans people faced. Hesmondhalgh, a trans ally and supporter of the charity Trans Media Watch, has, however, reflected that, as a cis actor, she “definitely wouldn’t take it” if the role was offered to her today.

    6. Queer as Folk (1999)

    Back on Channel 4, 1999 saw the broadcast of another groundbreaking show: Queer as Folk, written by Russell T Davies. Based around Manchester’s gay village, Queer as Folk broke boundaries with an unapologetic portrayal of the lives, loves and lusts of a group of queer characters.

    From explicit sex scenes to queer family making, the series’ represented LGBTQ+ lives in previously unseen ways. This radical visibility was, however, largely limited to white gay male characters – reflecting longstanding inequalities in media representation.

    The trailer for Queer as Folk.

    In later work, Davies has represented a more diverse spectrum of LGBTQ+ experience. Returning to Manchester’s queer scene again in 2015, anthology series Banana (2015) began with the story of Dean, a young Black gay man portrayed by British Nigerian actor Fisayo Akinade, and featured Bethany Black as the first trans actor to play a trans role in a British series (a few months before Annie Wallace joined Hollyoaks).

    The following years have seen more, and more diverse, examples of LGBTQ+ representation on TV. But tired tropes and exclusions continue, and the power of representation to shape possibilities, protections and prejudices is more pressing than ever.

    Kate McNicholas Smith 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. Six TV moments that changed British LGBTQ+ history – and what we can learn from them – https://theconversation.com/six-tv-moments-that-changed-british-lgbtq-history-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them-258126

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UEFA must ban Belarus from competitions

    Source: Scottish Greens

    06 Jun 2025 External Affairs Sport

    UEFA must use their platform to condemn human rights violators.

    More in External Affairs

    Belarus should not be allowed to compete in UEFA competitions while enabling war and violating human rights, say the Scottish Greens.

    Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP has written to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin urging the football body to ban Belarus from all competitions. His call comes ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers, including two fixtures between Scotland’s Men’s National Team and Belarus.

    In his letter, Mr Harvie highlights serious concerns over Belarus’ support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. He describes Belarus as a key enabler of the war, pointing to its role in allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory to launch attacks on Ukraine.

    The Green MSP also draws attention to the human rights crisis within Belarus itself. Since leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed to win 80% of the vote in the widely disputed 2020 presidential elections, the country has seen a steep decline in civil liberties, with reports of political prisoners, torture, and violent crackdowns on peaceful protests.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “Belarus is not just failing to uphold basic human rights at home – it is actively participating in a senseless war abroad. Lukashenko is a brutal authoritarian leader, he must be held to account, not given the platform to sports-wash his horrific humanitarian crimes.

    “UEFA rightly banned Russia for their criminal domestic and international record. As a close ally helping to wage the same wars at home and abroad, why should Belarus be treated any differently?

    “The continued participation of Belarusian sports teams in UEFA competitions flies in the face of the organisation’s own supposed values, particularly its RESPECT campaign, which promotes fairness, dignity and human rights in football.

    “Football doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It sends a message to the world. Now is the time for UEFA to show leadership and ensure that the message is one of peace, an end to complicity and an adherence to human rights.

    “Now is the time to take a stand, Belarus must follow Russia, as well as other nations committing unspeakable crimes, and be made a sporting pariah state until international law is restored.”

    Text of Letter from Patrick Harvie to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin

    Dear Mr. Čeferin,
     
    I hope this letter finds you well.
     
    I write today as a concerned citizen and Member of the Scottish Parliament with significant concerns relating to continued Belarusian involvement in UEFA football competitions and the subsequent threat that their inclusion poses to UEFA’s values of unity, fair play and respect within football.
     
    In light of Scotland’s Men’s team drawing Belarus in the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, I believe it is imperative for Scotland’s political representatives to speak out about the hugely problematic inclusion of Belarus given its complicity in Russian aggression and its troubling human rights record.
     
    I urge UEFA to reconsider Belarus’s participation in its competitions, in light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Belarus’s complicity in Russia’s unlawful war of aggression.
     
    As I am sure you are aware, Belarus has become a key enabler of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The Belarusian regime, under President Alexander Lukashenko, has allowed its territory to be used as a launchpad for Russian forces, contributing directly to the suffering and destruction in Ukraine. This ongoing support for Russia’s aggression is a clear and unacceptable violation of international law and the fundamental principles of peace and human rights.
     
    Furthermore, Belarus’s domestic human rights record continues to be appalling. Since the contested presidential elections of 2020, the Belarusian government has consistently violated the rights of its citizens, including the suppression of peaceful protest, arbitrary detention, and the torture of political opponents and dissidents. Numerous international organisations, including the United Nations and the European Union, have condemned the actions of the Belarusian government in the strongest terms.
     
    The ongoing abuse of human rights in Belarus must force a re-evaluation of the country’s eligibility to participate in international sporting events, where respect for human dignity should be paramount. 

    Indeed, a month after Russia resumed its invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022, UEFA announced it was imposing specific restrictions on Belarus with immediate effect. UEFA banned the nation from hosting any international matches, either at club or national team level, as well as barring any spectators from attending games. It does not seem logical that UEFA are willing to take decisive action to remove Russia entirely from its competitions yet invite a key Russian ally which is complicit in the ongoing murder of innocent Ukrainians to continue as a UEFA member nation. It is morally incomprehensible that UEFA continues to promote its very laudable RESPECT campaign whilst allowing a nation that is stationing Putin’s ballistic missiles to compete.
     
    In this context, I urge UEFA to take a strong and decisive stance by excluding Belarus from its competitions until such time as the country ceases its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and takes substantial steps to address its widespread human rights violations. Belarus’s continued participation not only tarnishes the credibility of UEFA but also undermines the organisation’s commitment to promoting peace and respect in the footballing community.
     
    We have already seen the importance of sports sending a message about human rights and justice. UEFA’s previous decision to suspend Russian teams and clubs from its competitions in response to the war in Ukraine was a positive and necessary step in aligning sports with ethical values. It is crucial that Belarus, which shares complicity in these actions, is held to the same standards.
     
    UEFA must, as an organisation committed to the values of peace, respect and fairness, take this opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the face of global crises and ensure that its competitions strive to be a platform for moral integrity.
     
    Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. I look forward to your response and hope that UEFA will take meaningful action in this regard.
     
    Yours sincerely,
    Patrick Harvie
    Member of the Scottish Parliament
    Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EYE2025 (European Youth Event): thousands to celebrate the power of democracy

    Source: European Parliament 3

    On 13 and 14 June in Strasbourg, around 8,500 16 to 30-year-olds from all over the world will take part in a series of activities centred on the future of Europe.

    EYE2025 (European Youth Event) will be opened by Parliament Vice-president Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) on Friday 13 June at 10:00 in the EYE village. Vice-president Nicolae Ştefănuță (Greens/EFA, RO) will take part in a session dedicated to the next long-term budget, on Saturday at 15:00. The closing session, with Vice-president Pina Picierno (S&D, IT), will take place on Saturday at 16:45.

    Over the two days, there will be panel discussions with MEPs and other EU decision-makers, as well as with experts, activists and content creators. Debates between MEPs and the young participants will cover climate justice, skills for the future, the EU’s next long-term budget, and freedom of speech and media, among many other topics.

    Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef will lead a Youth Policy Dialogue on Friday at 11:00, and take part in a panel discussion on young people’s mental health that afternoon. Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Henna Virkkunen will join in a conversation on how technology can strengthen democracy, on Friday at 15:00.

    Other guest speakers are democracy activist Daria Navalnya, the Kayapo Amazonian tribal leader Chief Tau Metuktire and the Mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian.

    The programme also includes workshops on a wide range of issues that concern young people, from disinformation to housing and migration. Quizzes, tours, artistic performances, storytelling workshops and concerts are other options among more than 450 activities organised for the sixth edition of EYE.

    All sessions in the hemicycle will be streamed live on the EYE2025 Facebook page and via Parliament’s Multimedia Centre. More details about the schedule, speakers and activities are available on the European Youth Event website.

    Press briefing

    On Friday 13 June at 16:30, there will be a press briefing with Vice-president Verheyen on media freedom in the EU, in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room. You can follow it live here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem Ends Politicized TSA Watchlist Program That Has Failed to Prevent a Single Terrorist Attack in its Existence; Calls for Congressional Investigation

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Secretary Noem Ends Politicized TSA Watchlist Program That Has Failed to Prevent a Single Terrorist Attack in its Existence; Calls for Congressional Investigation

    lass=”text-align-center”>The Quiet Skies Program is a redundant, corrupted program that costs US taxpayers $200 million a year
    WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced it is ending the Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year

    The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies

    TSA will continue performing important vetting functions tied to legitimate commercial aviation security threats to both ensure the safety of the American traveler and uphold its statutory obligations

    REAL ID, implemented on May 7 of this year, will further help bolster TSA security

     
    DHS and TSA have uncovered documents, correspondence, and timelines that clearly highlight the inconsistent application of Quiet Skies and watchlisting programs, circumventing security policies to benefit politically aligned friends and family at the expense of the American people

    In addition to its own internal investigation, DHS’s Secretary Kristi Noem is calling for a Congressional investigation to uncover further corruption through this program

    “It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration—weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends

    I am calling for a Congressional investigation to unearth further corruption at the expense of the American people and the undermining of US national security,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

    “TSA’s critical aviation and security vetting functions will be maintained, and the Trump Administration will return TSA to its true mission of being laser-focused on the safety and security of the traveling public

    This includes restoring the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans

    ” 
    DHS revealed earlier this week evidence detailing the politicization of TSA’s watchlisting program under the previous administration

    This includes William “Billy” Shaheen, spouse of fellow Democrat and sitting U

    S

    New Hampshire Senator, Jeanne Shaheen, being given blanket exemptions from review, while non-politically aligned members like then-Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard received additional screening and monitoring by Federal Air Marshalls

    Despite William Shaheen traveling with a known or suspected terrorist three times, then TSA Administrator Pekoske gave explicit direction to exclude Shaheen from the Silent Partner Quiet Skies list

    After Senator Shaheen directly lobbied then former Administrator Pekoske, on her husband’s behalf, Pekoske granted Billy Shaheen a blanket Quiet Skies exemption

     
    Shaheen was not the only high-profile individual that was placed on this exclusion list: this list also included members of foreign royal families, political elites, professional athletes, and favored journalists

    For more information on TSA security screening protocols, click here

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 3 things Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o taught me: language matters, stories are universal, Africa can thrive

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Charles Cantalupo, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English, Comparative Literature, and African Studies, Penn State

    Ngũgi wa Thiong’o reads from his work in Mexico in 2017. He wrote across a huge variety of genres. Tania Victoria/Secretaría de Cultura CDMX/Flickr, CC BY-SA

    Celebrated Kenyan writer and decolonial scholar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o passed away on 28 May at the age of 87. Many tributes and obituaries have appeared across the world, but we wanted to know more about Thiong’o the man and his thought processes. So we asked Charles Cantalupo, a leading scholar of his work, to tell us more.

    Who was Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o – and who was he to you?

    When I heard that Ngũgĩ had died, one of my first thoughts was about how far he had come in his life. No African writer has as many major, lasting creative achievements in such a wide range of genres as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. His books include novels, plays, short stories, essays and scholarship, criticism, poetry, memoirs and children’s books.



    Read more:
    Five things you should know about Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s greatest writers of all time

    His fiction, nonfiction and plays from the early 1960s until today are frequently reprinted. Furthermore, Ngũgĩ’s monumental oeuvre is in two languages, English and Gĩkũyũ, and his works have been translated into many other languages.

    From a large family in rural Kenya and a son of his father’s third wife, he was saved by his mother’s pushing him to be educated. This included a British high school in Kenya and Makerere University in Uganda.

    When the brilliant young writer had his first big breakthrough at a 1962 meeting in Kampala, the Conference of African Writers of English Expression, he called himself “James Ngũgi”. This was also the name on the cover his first three novels. He had achieved fame already as an African writer but, as is often said, the best was yet to come.

    Not until he co-wrote the play I Will Marry When I Want with Ngũgĩ wa Mirii was the name “Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o” on the cover of his books, including on the first modern novel written in Gĩkũyũ, Devil on the Cross (Caitaani Mũtharaba-inĩ).

    I Will Marry When I Want was performed in 1977 in Gĩkũyũ in a local community centre. It was banned and Ngũgĩ was imprisoned for a year.

    And still so much more was to come: exile from Kenya, professorships in the UK and US, book after book, fiction and nonfiction, myriad invited lectures and conferences all over the world, a stunning collection of literary awards (with the notable exception of the Nobel Prize for Literature), honorary degrees, and the most distinguished academic appointments in the US, from the east coast to the west.

    Yet besides his mother’s influence and no doubt his own aptitude and determination, if one factor could be said to have fuelled his intellectual and literary evolution – from the red clay of Kenya into the firmament of world literary history – it was the language of his birth: Gĩkũyũ. From the stories his mother told him as a child to his own writing in Gĩkũyũ for a local, pan-African and international readership. He provided every reason why he should choose this path in his books of criticism and theory.

    Ngũgĩ was also my friend for over three decades – through his US professorships, to Eritrea, to South Africa, to his finally moving to the US to live with his children. We had an ongoing conversation – in person, during many literary projects, over the phone and the internet.

    Our friendship started in 1993, when I first interviewed him. He was living in exile from Kenya in Orange, New Jersey, where I was born. We both felt at home at the start of our working together. We felt the same way together through the conferences, books, translations, interviews and the many more literary projects that followed.

    What are his most important works?

    Since Ngũgĩ was such a voluminous and highly varied writer, he has many different important works. His earliest and historical novels like A Grain of Wheat and The River Between. His regime-shaking plays.

    His critical and controversial novels like Devil on the Cross and Petals of Blood. His more experimental and absolutely modern novels like Matigari and Wizard of the Crow.

    His epoch-making literary criticism like Decolonising the Mind. His informal and captivating three volumes of memoirs written later in life. His retelling in poetry of a Gĩkũyũ epic, The Perfect Nine, his last great book. A reader of Ngũgĩ can have many a heart’s desire.

    My book, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: Texts and Contexts, was based on the three-day conference of the same name that I organised in the US. At the time, it was the largest conference ever held on an African writer anywhere in the world.

    What I learned back then applies now more than ever. There are no limits to the interest that Ngũgĩ’s work can generate anytime anywhere and in any form. I saw it happen in 1994 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and I see it now 30 years later in the outpouring of interest and recognition all over the world at Ngũgĩ’s death.

    In 1993, he had published a book of essays titled Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms. Focusing on Ngũgĩ’s work, the conference and the book were “moving the centre” in Ngũgĩ’s words, “to real creative centres among the working people in conditions of gender, racial, and religious equality”.

    What are your takeaways from your discussions with him?

    First, African languages are the key to African development, including African literature. Ngũgĩ comprehensively explored and advocated this fundamental premise in over 40 years of teaching, lectures, interviews, conversations and throughout his many books of literary criticism and theory. Also, he epitomised it, writing his later novels in Gĩkũyũ, including his magnum opus, Wizard of the Crow.

    Moreover, he codified his declaration of African language independence in co-writing The Asmara Declaration, which has been widely translated. It advocates for the importance and recognition of African languages and literatures.

    Second, literature and writing are a world and not a country. Every single place and language can be omnicentric: translation can overcome any border, boundary, or geography and make understanding universal. Be it Shakespeare’s English, Dante’s Italian, Ngugi’s Gĩkũyũ, the Bible’s Hebrew and Aramaic, or anything else, big or small.

    Third, on a more personal level, when I first met Ngũgĩ, I was a European American literary scholar and a poet with little knowledge of Africa and its literature and languages, much less of Ngũgĩ himself. He was its favourite son. But this didn’t stop him from giving me the idea and making me understand how African languages contained the seeds of an African Renaissance if only they were allowed to grow.

    I knew that the historical European Renaissance rooted, grew, flourished and blossomed through its writers in European vernacular languages. English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and more took the place of Latin in expressing the best that was being thought and said in their countries. Yet translation between and among these languages as well as from classical Latin and Greek culture, plus biblical texts and cultures, made them ever more widely shared and understood.



    Read more:
    Drama that shaped Ngũgĩ’s writing and activism comes home to Kenya

    From Ngũgĩ discussing African languages I took away a sense that African writers, storytellers, people, arts, and cultures could create a similar paradigm and overcome colonialism, colonial languages, neocolonialism and anything else that might prevent greatness.

    Charles Cantalupo 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. 3 things Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o taught me: language matters, stories are universal, Africa can thrive – https://theconversation.com/3-things-ngugi-wa-thiongo-taught-me-language-matters-stories-are-universal-africa-can-thrive-258074

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –