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Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI USA: Outlining Turmoil Created in First 100 Days Under Trump

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today outlined the turmoil created under President Trump’s first 100 days in office, warning that his administration’s retaliatory policies, deep federal cuts and unilateral tariffs are poised to negatively impact New York’s economy, the environment and hard working families. Last week, New York State joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s global tariffs. According to independent estimates, Trump’s tariffs will cost the State’s economy more than $7 billion, result in more than 280,000 jobs lost and hit New York families with an average cost increase of $6,400. New York has also led the fight to protect federal funding from cuts and disruptions that are impacting more than $1.3 billion in federal funding for New York and has successfully challenged in court the Trump Administration’s global funding freeze, as well as cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other critical federal agencies.

    “The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been rife with chaos and uncertainty, from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts to vital programs, New Yorkers are paying the price,” Governor Hochul said. “President Trump promised relief from inflation and his policies are making life harder, chaotic and more expensive for working class New Yorkers while slashing the very services they rely on.”

    Implications for New Yorkers during President Trump’s First 100 Days Include:

    • More than $1.3 billion in cuts to funding for State programs so far with more expected, in addition to the funding cuts to local governments, universities and other organizations delivering critical services to New Yorkers
    • Massive fluctuation in the stock market from ever changing tariff policies has shrunk 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans, and is expected to increase cost of living for New Yorkers by thousands of dollars
    • Manufacturers and small businesses are reeling from severe cost hikes on some products due to tariffs, leading them to leave shipments in customs or cancel orders
    • Canadian and European travel to New York has dropped and hotel stays and trips in regions such as the North Country and Western New York have been cancelled
    • The pause of construction of Empire Wind, which will have a profound impact on jobs and energy production
    • Cutting millions in funding that allows school districts and food banks to buy produce from local farmers who rely on their purchases
    • Three Social Security Administration offices closed in New York
    • Eliminated every person in the office that manages a program helping over 1 million New Yorkers pay their heating and cooling bills
    • Cuts to the NIH paused the critical research of a New York Scientist on Alzheimer’s treatments
    • Cut over $300 million in infrastructure funding for New York communities, threatening our public safety
    • Cutting the majority of federal AmeriCorps funding in New York, which supports approximately 1,500 AmeriCorps members working for non-profits and in low-income communities across the State

    PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION

    The Trump administration has revoked more than $325 million in vital resiliency funding from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and put $56 million more at risk, which will impact several critical infrastructure and community resilience projects in New York State.

    Additionally, DOGE is planning to cut up to 84 percent of staff from their Office of Community Planning and Development, which helps pay to rebuild homes and other recovery efforts after the country’s worst disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene.

    The Albany National Weather Service (NWS) Office was forced to suspend weather balloon launches due to staff shortages and budget constraints. This has impacted the ability of the NWS to provide twice-daily balloon launches, impacting the accuracy of weather forecasts.

    After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a Sackets Harbor mom and her children, Governor Hochul took action, engaging with the White House, Border Czar Tom Homan and local officials in an effort to bring the family back home. After 11 days in detention, the family was returned to Sackets Harbor.

    ECONOMY AND TOURISM

    The stock market has been unstable due to President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policy. This has caused retirees’ 401(k)s and students’ 529 savings plans to shrink. Additionally, consumer confidence plunged, to 50.8 percent in April from 71.7 percent in January. The dollar has weakened, falling to a three month low in April.

    The Governor has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the State who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada. In the Southern Tier, the Cortland Standard, which was in business for more than a century, has closed its doors, citing the expected 25 percent tariffs on paper as part of the decision.

    The Trump administration is cancelling the successful Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP) in several states. In New York, NY MEP centers generated $1.25 billion in economic impact, supported the creation or retention of nearly 6,300 jobs and served over 700 companies during the 2023 calendar year. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers.

    Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, total bridge crossings between Eastern Ontario and New York State for March are down 23,000 compared to 2024, and at the lowest level since 2022. Additionally, Niagara River bridges traffic for February is down 14 percent and Thousand Islands Bridge crossings are down 19 percent.

    A survey of local businesses in the North Country found that 66 percent have already experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025, and that 26 percent have already adjusted staffing levels in response to the decline.

    TRANSPORTATION

    President Trump’s Department of Transportation vowed to kill congestion pricing from day one of his administration, despite clear evidence that the program is working. The MTA reported that in March, traffic is down 13 percent, travel times have improved in key corridors within the Central Business District and it has increased revenue for the MTA that will result in improvements in the system.

    IMPACTS ON HARD WORKING FAMILIES

    President Trump has reduced the federal workforce by more than 120,000 people nationwide according to data compiled from CNN. In New York more than 1,200 federal workers have been forced to file for unemployment.

    The Trump administration has pledged to cancel the successful and free Direct File tax filing program. This program has already begun to make an impact in its first full year, with many New Yorkers saving nearly $300 per household in tax prep fees that could instead go toward groceries, gas, child care or rent.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that helped schools buy food from local farms. The program sought to bring local produce to schools and child care facilities, giving schools the opportunities to purchase fresh foods and use smaller producers rather than rely on large corporations.

    The Trump Administration announced that half of all food shipments through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would be canceled, resulting in a $500 million reduction in funding for food banks across the country. New York State could see a loss of around 16 million pounds of USDA foods in 2025 due to the TEFAP funding cuts, according to Feeding New York State.

    SSA field offices are closing, wait times for deserving seniors are increasing and sensitive and private personal data is in danger of being insecure.

    ENERGY

    The Trump Administration stopped construction on Empire Wind, putting thousands of construction jobs at risk and threatening to dismantle a project that when complete, will generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes in New York State.

    Funding has been suspended for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Funds. The NEVI program — passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, which, if implemented, will lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and create construction jobs nationwide.

    President Trump has also threatened to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and repeal its tax credits. NYSERDA estimates a full repeal of the clean energy incentives could result in more than $20 billion in increased project costs and could cause significant project attrition.

    HOUSING

    At the direction of President Trump and DOGE, HUD staff has been decimated, imperiling the core functions of the agency that serve our communities, manage federally funded housing programs and assist housing development at a time of national crisis for housing. Funding has also been cut for organizations that fight housing discrimination across the country, while rolling back federal protections to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.

    HUD has further announced it was ending four years early the Emergency Housing Voucher Program, a successful federal program to combat homelessness for more than 9,500 households across the State. The federal administration imperiling this funding will force these families, at last stably housed, back onto the street.

    The $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program that helps preserve affordable housing is being paused, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans.

    HEALTH CARE

    The actions of the current administration threaten the health and safety of New Yorkers. New York State remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and promoting health equity.

    President Trump has endorsed the House’s budget resolution which includes over $1 trillion in cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Nearly 7 million qualifying New Yorkers are covered under Medicaid, including 2.5 million children, and 636,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. 2.9 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP for healthy food, including over 800,000 children.

    The Trump administration’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has cut grant funding to SUNY used to conduct research to cure diseases, keep our nation safe and grow our economy. The NIH’s sudden budget cuts will cost SUNY research an estimated $79 million on current grants, including more than $21 million over just the next five months that will immediately imperil the work of SUNY’s dedicated researchers by decimating the equipment, staff and services they rely on.

    The Trump Administration picked a top health official who has questioned the safety of vaccines and the use of fluoride in drinking water and claimed that autism was preventable. These views go against proven science and could lead to more diseases by making people doubt public health advice.

    The Administration has taken back important public health funding. This includes money for tracking disease, supporting vaccinations and helping vulnerable communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Without this funding, local health services must cut staff and scale back programs, especially in areas that need the most help.

    Hundreds of federal health workers have lost jobs, making it harder for both the federal government and states like New York to respond to health threats and deliver services like maternal care and disease control.

    New executive orders have removed federal support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, harming efforts to ensure fair health care for women, LGBTQ+ people and communities of color. These actions affirm that the needs of these communities no longer matter to the federal government.

    In addition, with massive arbitrary cuts to federal agencies, the future of federal programs to help combat substance use disorder, heating and cooling assistance for low-income New Yorkers, and early childhood investment programs like Head Start remain in jeopardy.

    New York State remains committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to affordable, quality health care. Accordingly, the State rejects thinly veiled attacks on anyone who may not comport with the Trump Administration’s limited views of who is a person.

    EDUCATION

    President Trump vowed to eliminate the Department of Education, a crucial part of the federal government that supports kids, teachers and administrators right here in New York State. New York receives $5.5 billion annually from the Department of Education. Approximately $3.2 billion is routed through the State Budget and $2.3 billion is sent directly to local entities, primarily colleges and universities. This crucial funding supports Pell Grants for college students, money for kids with disabilities, programs that are supporting kids’ mental health, crucial research at our public higher education institutions and much more

    ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

    The Trump administration has taken aim through Executive Order at dismantling New York State’s strong environmental protections.

    Additionally, funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program has been slashed. While the Biden administration had indicated that $24 million would be available under the LFPA program (New York Food for New York Families), the Trump administration (USDA) has reversed and this next round of funding will no longer be available.

    More recently, New York State’s $60 million award for the New York Connects: Climate Smart Farms and Forests Program, which funds climate smart agriculture and forestry practices, was cancelled by USDA.

    USDA staff that assist farmers with implementing conservation programs, loans and other resources for their farms, have been laid off.

    Over 80 percent of agrochemical imports and 70 percent of farm machinery imports come from countries facing tariffs of 10 percent or more. Tariffs may slow down or halt on-farm expansion and modernization due to projected increases in equipment costs, with much of the stainless steel coming from abroad.

    Trade issues are having a compounding effect for dairy farmers — input costs are going up and the milk price relies on export markets. Tariffs and threats of trade disputes result in lost markets and lower milk prices. For example, the budget for a building project went from $85,000 to $106,000, due to tariffs on steel and aluminum, one farm had a $2,200 fee added to their bill for grain because it came from a Canadian feed mill and another farm is anticipating their bottom line to be 7-10 percent lower this year due to lower milk prices and tariffs on inputs, including feed, energy and building supplies.

    The ability of West Coast apple producers to export their product will play a key role in the price and demand for New York apples. If West Coast producers are not able to expand overseas markets, they will continue to flood East Coast markets and displace New York State fresh apples where they can undercut prices.

    Tariffs placed on equipment, largely coming from Canada, would increase producers’ costs of maple syrup production significantly and negatively impact profitability in the maple industry.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Urges White House and DOT to Overrule Amtrak’s Planned 3-Year Closure of East River Tunnel

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 4/29/2025… Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) blasted Amtrak’s drastic and unnecessary cuts to service in New York, demanding the railroad immediately reverse course before causing massive, long-term disruptions to travelers across New York. Beginning today, Amtrak is canceling 25% of daily Empire Service trains between Penn Station and Albany and slashing 10% of peak Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service into Penn.

    While citing the need for full tunnel closures to complete a $1.6 billion federally funded project to address damage from Hurricane Sandy and deterioration on the over 100 year old tunnels, Amtrak has refused to adopt proven methods used around the world to maintain service during repairs, instead choosing to sideline thousands of New Yorkers for years.

    “This plan is a total disaster for New York travelers, and it’s completely avoidable,” wrote Congressman Lawler. “Amtrak has alternatives that would keep service running during nights and weekends, but instead, they’re choosing to negatively impact service during peak travel times, hurting working families, students, businesses, and tourists.”

    “I urge the Trump Administration and Secretary Duffy to overrule Amtrak and force them to keep the East River tunnel open during the day,” Lawler concluded in his letter. “We cannot allow Amtrak to sideline tens of thousands of travelers for years to come when there is a clear alternative.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    The full letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape residents urged to comment on proposed vehicle licence fee increases

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Western Cape Government (WCG) is inviting residents to provide feedback on the proposed increases to motor vehicle licence (MVL) fees. 

    These proposals were published in the Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 9057 on 17 April 2025.

    The proposed fee increases are set to take effect on 1 August 2025 and are open for public comment until Saturday, 17 May 2025.

    “The Western Cape is home to over two million registered vehicles, and the condition of our roads is consistently rated among the best in the country.

    “This is largely due to the provincial government’s commitment to ringfencing MVL revenue to maintain, upgrade, and expand our road network,” the WCG said in a statement.  

    According to the Western Cape Mobility Department, paying vehicle licence fees is not just a legal requirement — it is an important contribution to keeping roads safe, efficient, and reliable for everyone. 

    “These fees are directly reinvested into the Western Cape’s road infrastructure, helping to build and maintain the roads that connect our communities, support economic activity, and enable daily life,” the department explained. 

    MVL fees are primarily used to build, upgrade, and maintain the provincially owned road network. They also assist municipalities in maintaining their more strategic roads and ensure continued safe mobility for all road users, including residents, freight operators, tourists, and public transport passengers.

    “The Western Cape’s road network is a vital provincial asset that supports commerce, tourism, service delivery and job creation. By ensuring that our roads remain in optimal condition, the province safeguards economic competitiveness and enhances quality of life,” the WCG said.

    The draft regulation is available on this link: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/mobility/files/wcg-blob-files?file=2025-04/9057-wc-registration-licence-fees-2025-1.pdf&type=file  

    Western Cape residents are encouraged to review the draft regulation and submit comments before the closing date.

    Email, post, or deliver comments to:
    •    Email – Robyn.Titus@westerncape.gov.za.
    •    Post – Mr Darryl Jacobs, Head of Department, Attention Ms Robyn Titus, Western Cape Mobility Department, PO Box 2603, Cape Town 8000. 
    •    Deliver – Mr Darryl Jacobs, Head of Department, Attention Ms Robyn Titus, Western Cape Mobility Department, Ground Floor, 34 Roeland Street, Cape Town. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Kashmir: Catholics pray for peace between India and Pakistan

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 29 April 2025

    WikiCommons – Nichalp

    Jammu (Fides Agency) – “The Catholic faithful of Kashmir are praying incessantly for peace in Kashmir. They pray in churches and homes. And they are marching the streets alongside other people of good will, carrying lit torches to shine the light of God and the flame of reconciliation and peace,” said Bishop Ivan Pereira of the Indian diocese of Jammu-Srinagar in an interview with Fides Agency. The small Catholic community (about 9,000 faithful out of a population of 13 million) carries its message of peace in the only Indian state with a Muslim majority, the state of Jammu and Kashmir, where, on April 22, a serious attack was carried out by Pakistani extremist groups, killing 26 Indian tourists. The attack caused a political crisis between India and Pakistan, the neighboring nations that have been fighting over the Kashmir region since 1947, when they went to war three times.“We are experiencing a moment of tension and fear that is affecting the entire population,” the bishop told Fides. ‘We know that there are violations of the ceasefire in the border area. And according to widespread reports, the Indian police have destroyed several houses belonging to militants and terrorists. This is not an easy time for us here, and many are reliving the nightmare of conflict,’ he said, expressing his concern.“The massacre,” the bishop continued, ”has truly shocked us. It was a serious and cowardly attack on the sanctity of life, perpetrated against innocent people who were enjoying their vacation. It was terrible. We are convinced that justice must be done, and we believe that the government will work even harder to dismantle terrorist organizations.”Monsignor Pereira condemns “the attempt by those who want to destabilise the situation and relations between India and Pakistan,” and recalls the mission of the Catholic community in the northwestern Indian state: “To bring peace, harmony, brotherhood, and promote the dignity of every human being, regardless of culture or religion.”The various Christian denominations are also actively involved, particularly through the schools that have existed in India for over a century and which welcome 99% Muslim students. Founded in 1893, the Catholic Institute of the Church of the Holy Family in Srinagar is one of around 40 Catholic schools in the state that continue to provide an education inspired by Christian values and promote brotherhood and social harmony.“Our community,” Bishop Pereira concluded, ”is celebrating this jubilee of hope and placing its hope in God’s work. Today, therefore, at this truly special time, we feel in full communion with the universal Church, which is praying for and electing the new successor of Peter through the work of the cardinals. In this troubled region, we are and feel ourselves to be part of the one Church. This spiritual communion gives us the strength to move forward.”(PA) (Fides Agency 29/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Florida panthers and black bears need a literal path for survival – here’s how the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides it in one of the fastest-growing US states

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Thomas Hoctor, Research Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida

    Florida panthers are a federally endangered species. Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    Imagine a Florida panther slinking its way 400 miles (645 kilometers) from the Big Cypress Swamp, in the southwest part of the state, to Okefenokee Swamp, on Florida’s northern border with Georgia, without ever being spotted by a human.

    No one has yet documented a panther making this journey. But evidence suggests it happens.

    Florida panthers were once distributed throughout most of the southeast U.S., but now their number is tiny – maybe 200 or so – and their known breeding range has greatly shrunk, now concentrated in southwest Florida.

    They do show up in north Florida and Georgia on occasion when young males travel north looking to escape social pressure from adult males. Biologists have found their tracks not far south of Okefenokee. One panther made it almost to Atlanta before it was shot by a hunter.

    Large mammals such as the Florida panther and black bear literally need room to roam in order to hunt, breed and thrive. Such journeys across the state of Florida are possible thanks to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide system of interconnected wildlife habitat that turns 15 this year.

    The Florida Wildlife Corridor built on conservation efforts that date back to the 1980s and 1990s, when researchers from the University of Florida, including the two of us and our mentor Larry Harris, created maps of existing and proposed conservation areas that interlinked across the state.

    A family of Florida black bears scratches on a log in the dry season.
    Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    Today, the Florida Wildlife Corridor spans 18 million acres – about half of the state.

    Ten million of these acres are protected from development. They are either local, state, regional or federal public conservation lands or they are private conservation easements. These easements restrict the landowners’ uses of the land to activities compatible with wildlife conservation, such as ranching, timber production and other sustainable activities.

    The other 8 million acres are the focus of state-funded land protection efforts to close the unprotected gaps. For now, these lands could be converted to intensive residential, commercial or industrial development.

    The corridor is an ambitious conservation project. It provides sufficient habitat to sustain healthy wildlife populations while also protecting Florida’s key ecosystem services, including water quality and flood storage. Ecosystem services refers to the benefits that ecosystems provide humans.

    The corridor is also a unique example of how conservationists can combine science with public education and outreach to protect important natural habitats – even in regions like Florida that face burgeoning population growth.

    Florida’s population boom

    Until the early 20th century, Florida was the most remote and undeveloped state on the East Coast.

    After World War II and the introduction of affordable home air conditioning, Florida transformed from a sleepy winter holiday destination to the third-most-populated state in the nation.

    Currently, about 300,000 new residents move to Florida each year.

    With this population growth came a rapid loss of natural habitat and rural landscapes. Using federal land use data, we calculate that approximately 60,000 acres of Florida habitat are lost each year.

    Florida’s development was initially concentrated along the coasts, especially in areas with extensive beaches. With the opening of tourist attractions such as Disney World near Orlando in 1971, central Florida also became a hub of rapid growth.

    It became clear to concerned Floridians that virtually all land not protected by permanent conservation designations could eventually be lost to urban and suburban sprawl.

    Responding to these concerns, Florida became a leader in land protection, which has generally been popular and bipartisan in the Sunshine State.

    Since the 1970s, Florida has protected millions of acres of conservation lands through programs including the Florida Preservation 2000 Act of 1990, the Florida Forever acquisition program that replaced it in 2001, and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, also created in 2001.

    The authors estimate that approximately 60,000 acres of Florida habitat are lost each year to development.
    Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    Scientists identify key areas to protect

    Wildlife biologists since the 1930s have observed how birds and mammals use wooded fencerows, hedgerows, streamsides and other natural corridors to travel through agricultural regions in the U.S. and Canada.

    When corridors are protected, they allow animals to travel safely across landscapes and they can save animals from extinction. They also provide people with ecosystem services such as clean water and flood protection.

    Since 1995, the Florida Ecological Greenways Network, or FEGN, has identified a statewide system of large, intact natural areas and connecting green spaces. It is now part of the state-legislated Florida Greenways and Trails System, a statewide network of recreational trails and ecological corridors.

    As conservation scientists who are deeply involved with the FEGN, we were able to make use of the state’s early investment in geographic information systems. GIS produces digital maps and other high-quality data on the locations of wildlife habitat and other conservation priorities.

    The Florida Wildlife Corridor covers nearly 18 million acres of Florida. A little over half of the acres, pictured in dark green, are conserved lands while the rest, pictured in light green, are considered opportunity areas for future conservation.
    University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning

    We continue to work with state agencies and other partners to continually update the FEGN as land use changes and as better data and tools become available to identify conservation priority areas.

    Getting the public on board

    While the FEGN proved fundamental for supporting state conservation programs, it was not widely known by Floridians or visitors to the state.

    In 2010, conservation photographer Carlton Ward and colleagues proposed a simple, unified map and a public campaign to promote protection of the top-priority lands in the Florida Ecological Greenways Network.

    Ward called it the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

    He organized a team of photographers, videographers and scientists who trekked across large swaths of the corridor to document Florida’s natural ecosystems and native species that were threatened by development.

    The expeditioners highlighted species like the Florida panther, Florida black bear and Florida grasshopper sparrow. They raised awareness about the corridor’s connection to water conservation, lands managed by ranchers and foresters, and recreational opportunities. And they produced documentary films, media and social media coverage, and public talks and events to educate the public on the importance of protecting the corridor.

    Photographer Carlton Ward Jr. paddles to set up cameras at a site in the Fakahatchee Strand in southwest Florida.
    Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    Bipartisan support continues

    In June 2021, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act into law. The legislation, which had unanimous support from the state Legislature, officially recognized the corridor’s critical role in Florida’s economy, cultural and natural heritage, and protection of imperiled species and ecosystems.

    The law also reenergized legislative support and funding to acquire land directly for conservation and to establish conservation easements on private lands.

    Ranchers with the Seminole Tribe of Florida steer cattle through wooden sorting pens at the Big Cypress Reservation in southern Florida.
    Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    The 2025-2026 Florida budget, which is still under negotiation, earmarks US$300 million to $450 million for land protection programs.

    And on April 23, 2025, the Florida Senate passed a resolution to proclaim April 22 as Florida Wildlife Corridor Day. The resolution affirmed the corridor’s importance as “a unique natural resource” that is essential for “preserving the green infrastructure that is the foundation of this state’s economy and quality of life.”

    There is a lot of land protection work left to be done in a race against a burgeoning human population. But Florida has proved ready to implement science-based strategies and work with willing landowners to protect a statewide wildlife corridor as a key element of Florida’s future.

    The Florida Wildlife Corridor is also a potential model for other states and regions that want to protect viable wildlife populations and ecosystem services.

    Uplands and wetlands east of Fort Myers, in the core of Florida panther territory, are part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
    Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

    Thomas Hoctor receives funding from state government related to working on the science and planning associated with the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

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

    – ref. Florida panthers and black bears need a literal path for survival – here’s how the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides it in one of the fastest-growing US states – https://theconversation.com/florida-panthers-and-black-bears-need-a-literal-path-for-survival-heres-how-the-florida-wildlife-corridor-provides-it-in-one-of-the-fastest-growing-us-states-251790

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: From cats and dogs to penguins and llamas, treating animals with acupuncture has become mainstream in veterinary medicine

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joe Smith, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee

    Kevin, a King Charles spaniel, receives acupuncture treatment at a Washington, D.C. animal hospital. Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images

    A perentie lizard in Dallas, an African penguin in Boston and an Oberhasli goat in Chicago are just a few recent examples of animals at zoos and aquariums benefiting recently from acupuncture therapy. As acupuncture has gained wide use in human medicine in the U.S., it also has become increasingly common in veterinary practice, especially for pain management.

    The Conversation U.S. interviewed University of Tennessee Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine Joe Smith, a specialist in farm animal medicine and veterinary clinical pharmacology, about this trend. He describes acupuncture’s current uses for treating many species, from household dogs and cats to large animals like horses, cows and llamas:

    Is veterinary acupuncture modeled on the traditional Chinese version?

    There are two schools of thought about veterinary acupuncture. The original form of acupuncture, which has been practiced for thousands of years, follows principles of traditional Chinese medicine. It views the patient through a lens of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

    Each element is associated with a different type of energy. Practitioners work to maintain balance between those energies, which they believe is essential for a healthy body to function.

    Another approach focuses on anatomical effects on the body. Practitioners place needles to achieve specific effects by stimulating muscles or nerves.

    Both versions of acupuncture can help veterinary patients. They use very small, flexible needles, about two-tenths of a millimeter wide – less than one-hundredth of an inch. The needles are placed at various parts of the body to elicit specific responses from connective tissues, muscles and nerves.

    The needles can be used by themselves, or with low levels of electrical current – a process called electroacupuncture. Both approaches are effective, but research suggests that benefits from electroacupunture last longer.

    Veterinary acupuncturists can treat nearly any animal, from a bear to a porcupine, a dog or a sea turtle.

    What does research show about using acupuncture on animals?

    Acupuncture and electroacupuncture both increase the body’s levels of compounds called endogenous opioids. These are pain-relieving substances that the body produces naturally. They work similarly to pharmaceutical opioids, such as fentanyl and morphine.

    Acupuncture increases these compounds so dramatically that the effect can be reversed with opioid antidotes, such as Narcan.

    Studies in small animal medicine show that using acupuncture can speed up healing from nerve injuries, such as spinal cord damage from herniated disks. This is a condition in which material from the disks in between the vertebra of the spinal cord is damaged, and puts pressure on the spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system.

    Herniated disks can be very painful for animals. A 2023 study found that when dogs with this condition were treated with acupuncture, nearly 80% recovered, compared with 60% of animals whose cases were managed conservatively without acupuncture. Acupuncture can also make other techniques, such as epidural nerve blocks, more effective when both methods are used together.

    Many vets are using acupuncture creatively for other purposes, such as increasing sick animals’ appetites, improving their digestion and accelerating healing from injuries.

    How does your veterinary medicine group use acupuncture?

    Our practice at the University of Tennessee has used acupuncture most extensively to help rehabilitate animals recovering from conditions like radial nerve paralysis and femoral nerve injury. We can use acupuncture to stimulate muscles or to provide pain relief, either by itself or combined with other therapies.

    In our Farm Animal Hospital, we regularly use acupuncture for recumbent or “down” animals. That’s a veterinary term for animals that have been unable to stand for extended periods of time.

    With acupuncture, and occasionally electroacupuncture, we can stimulate muscles and nerves that aren’t functioning normally. This help to prevent atrophy, or wasting and thinning of muscle mass.

    For every day that a large animal is down, its muscles atrophy and fluid builds up around injured limbs or joints. These effects can prolong their recovery, or even make it less likely that they will recover.

    By using acupuncture to stimulate atrophied muscles, veterinarians can start to reverse this process. We have used acupuncture extensively on large animals, including cattle, horses, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, pigs and even camels.

    One example is goats that have spinal cord injuries caused by parasite migration – a condition called cerebrospinal nematodiasis, or “meningeal worm.” Worm larvae that normally are parasites of white tail deer infect goats through the animals’ digestive tracts, then migrate to the spinal cord and nervous system. They get lost and die there, causing inflammation that can do significant damage.

    We use acupuncture and electroacupuncture to stimulate the goats’ large and accessory spinal nerves and the muscles in the animals’ legs and backs. This gives the goats more muscle function when the inflammation clears, and we believe it helps reduce their pain.

    We’ve also had good results with acupuncture treatment for llamas and alpacas, which are widely used in Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains to carry tourists’ gear up- and downhill. As large animals like these age, they can develop osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that’s incredibly painful and debilitating for them. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture can help keep them moving.

    Our equine services mainly use acupuncture for rehabilitation, helping horses recover from injuries.

    One advantage of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in large animals is that they don’t have many adverse effects. Drugs can have side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and may cause potentially serious complications. An acupuncture needle placed by a trained veterinarian has few to no adverse effects when it’s done correctly.

    A crow and an opossum at the Nashville Zoo receive acupuncture treatment for mobility issues.

    Can pet owners be confident if their vet recommends acupuncture?

    If there is a nerve or muscle involved, there is probably a veterinary treatment option using acupuncture or electroacupuncture. New studies regularly add to our understanding of the neurology and biochemistry that underlie these therapies.

    Although we’re still learning, if your vet recommends acupuncture for an aging dog or cat – especially for chronic pain – you can be confident that it’s not a fringe treatment. As long as the person treating your pet is a licensed veterinarian, and is certified by a professional organization like Curacore, Chi University or the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, acupuncture should make your pet more comfortable and improve its quality of life.

    Joe Smith has attended attended Curacore Inc’s Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians course.

    – ref. From cats and dogs to penguins and llamas, treating animals with acupuncture has become mainstream in veterinary medicine – https://theconversation.com/from-cats-and-dogs-to-penguins-and-llamas-treating-animals-with-acupuncture-has-become-mainstream-in-veterinary-medicine-226451

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tonga: Building infrastructure resilience in an isolated, hazardous world

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Tonga: Building infrastructure resilience in an isolated, hazardous world

    (In collaboration with UNDRR and CDRI)

    When an underwater volcano erupted about 65 kilometres north of Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu, in January 2022, it sent ash high into the atmosphere and triggered a tsunami that struck the archipelago nation with waves as high as 15 metres. While the waves killed four people directly in Tonga, the eruption and consequent tsunami smashed into residential and non-residential buildings alike, damaged other infrastructure such as submarine cables, and contaminated water supplies with ashfall.

    Tonga

    is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.

    85,000 people

    in Tonga affected by the 2022 volcano eruption.

    The event also highlighted how Tonga must quickly build more resilience into its infrastructure and economy if it wants to improve the quality of life for its roughly 100,000 population.

    The country is a lower-middle income nation, constrained by its geographic isolation, small market size, and high cost of basic services. A Pacific archipelago of 172 islands, whose nearest neighbours – Fiji and Samoa – are more than 700 kilometres away, Tonga is highly dependent on climate sensitive-sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. Its economy is sensitive to external shocks. 

    Cyclones, tsunamis, and volcanoes cause serious damage every time they hit Tonga, and yet – in recent years – the Pacific nation has experienced more extreme weather events than usual. Cyclone Gita, a category 4 tropical cyclone which hit Tonga in February 2018, was one of the most powerful storms to hit Tonga in decades, killing two, destroying at least 171 homes, and damaging more than 1,100 others. 

    This immense vulnerability to multiple natural hazards – and the dangers of cascading impacts – led Tonga to become one of four countries – together with Bhutan, Chile, and Madagascar – pioneering the Global Methodology for Infrastructure Resilience Review. Developed by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the methodology helps countries to identify and prioritise the strategies that will build their infrastructure resilience through a five-step approach.

    1

    Stakeholder mapping

    • Key ministries, regulators and operators in infrastructure development
    • Cross-sector coordination mechanisms

    Review of existing policies and regulations

    • Policies and regulations shaping infrastructure resilience
    • Integration of disaster risks in national plans and strategies

    Identification of vulnerabilities (Stress Testing)

    • Data collection on hazards and vulnerabilities
    • Multi-hazard resilience testing of infrastructure systems

    Principles for resilient infrastructure

    • Infrastructure resilience assessment using the UNDRR Resilience Principles
    • Identification of resilience-building interventions

    Development of an Implementation plan

    • Results validation and prioritization
    • Implementation plan with assigned responsibilities

    “The infrastructure resilience review process is already helping us to do that,” he said.

    Advancing Infrastructure Resilience in Tonga

    • The process

    • The process

      In 2021, Tonga enacted the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) 2021 Act, replacing the Emergency Management Act 2007, signaling a new ambition to manage risk instead of reacting to disaster. 

      After the 2022 volcano eruption, it also connected quickly with international partners. With World Bank support, it upgraded its ports, roads, and an airport, making them more resilient to storm surges, floods, and high winds. The Asian Development Bank has also helped with grants to help the country recover from disasters and health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

      The infrastructure resilience assessment approach in the Global Methodology, provided Tonga with the opportunity to take a holistic look at their infrastructure and risk, identify the gaps, and then fill them.

      Stress-testing of Critical Infrastructure against Identified Hazard, Tonga

      In the first phase, a technical working group was set up with representatives from 21 departments and agencies across six ministries. Supported by this working group, the review process began with a kick-off meeting that included key stakeholders for infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction, and sectoral operations. Next, in phase two, it reviewed existing policies and regulations, assessing the extent to which they address disaster risks and support infrastructure resilience.

      In the third phase, stakeholders conducted stress tests and gap analysis on ten critical infrastructure functions against a range of hazards, including cyclones, droughts, underground water / seawater intrusion, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, non-communicable diseases, land degradation and erosion, floods, sea level rises, and cybersecurity breaches. By identifying these vulnerabilities, interdependences, and cascading risks, the participants were able to seriously consider the economic impacts and interdependences of different hazards throughout. 

      Fourth, Tonga’s current resilient infrastructure practices were assessed against the UNDRR Principles for Resilient Infrastructure. These six principles set out the key conditions for sustainable infrastructure resilience. They support the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the G20 Principles for Investing in Quality Infrastructure. 

      Finally, stakeholders drafted an implementation plan, consolidating the findings and providing a road map for enhancing infrastructure resilience.

      “By prioritising resilience, the country can support sustainable economic growth, adapt to climate change, and protect communities, while minimising economic and human losses.”

    • Water sector

    • Water sector

      One of the sectors examined was the water sector, including a deep dive analysis. Water is everywhere in a small island development state (SIDS) like Tonga, of course, but securing a stable supply remains difficult. Water in Tonga comes from ground water and rainwater, which are both vulnerable to impacts from climate change. 

      Rising sea-levels mean that many assets are at risk of flooding, while soil erosion is also a threat. When sea levels rise, salt water can enter some freshwater supplies, reducing the available water for drinking. 

      Funding the necessary upgrades, however, is a challenge. The Tonga Water Board (TWB) operates without subsidies, making capital investment difficult.

      Meanwhile, the lack of a centralised infrastructure database complicates the assessment and management of existing resources. Multiple institutions manage water resources across the archipelago’s 45 or so inhabited islands, doing so with varying levels of expertise. While integrated planning and coordination should be essential for efficiency, the system is fragmented. Integrated planning and management are urgently needed to ensure resilience in the water sector. Equally as importantly, there’s a need for more data and information, and for a better understanding of how to use the already available data, which does not capture all boreholes and rainwater harvesting.

      Challenges are even greater on the outer islands. Most villages lack a formalised tariff system, complicating the collection of revenue for repairs and maintenance. Composed of local residents, Village Water Committees (VWCs) play a crucial role, but they often lack financial and other supporting skills. Without structured regulations and trained personnel, infrastructure upkeep is inconsistent.

      “But at the same time, it takes four or five hours by boat to reach some of these communities,” he said. “It is not an easy job.” The support system for water infrastructure needs to be planned, designed, and monitored more effectively to become more resilient to hazards, which is an area of need for VWC.

      Finally, the water pumping stations are dependent on electricity. This means that if a cyclone damages the power lines and impacts electricity supply, then water supply would also be affected. The disaster responses are complicated by limited standard operating procedures (SOPs) as cyclones, volcanoes, and tsunamis all affect the water infrastructure in different ways. Take a look at how some of the most recent events have affected Tonga’s water infrastructure:

      Hazard-related disruptions in Tonga’s water sector

      TROPICAL CYCLONES:

      Cyclone Gita (2018) damaged water distribution systems and rainwater tanks, while other cyclones have led to extensive system failures.

      VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND ASHFALL:

      The 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai severely impacted water punps and contaminated rainwater tanks, leading to supply disruptions.

      DROUGHTS:

      Prolonged droughts in 2023 have affected rainwater collection systems, exacerbating water shortages.

      TSUNAMIS:

      The 2022 tsunami contamined groundwater sources in southern islands and destroyed coastal water infrastructure.

      Several resilience measures do exist. Desalination units provide emergency water, even if their maintenance or repairs sometimes fall on untrained community members, causing delays and potential safety issues. Overall, however, these are uneven and insufficient.

      Some development support has been provided, but the projects are also unevenly distributed. They tend to focus mostly on the main island, leaving outer islands underserved. 

      From the Infrastructure Resilience Review, several recommendations emerged:

      • Build Village Water Committee capacity by developing management manuals, training, and emergency water plans for climate and disaster events.  
      • Establish standard procedures for Village Water Committees to capture and share water data, linking it into a centralised system. Procure and distribute the necessary hardware, then train the VWCs in its use.
      • Set up processes to coordinate donor projects across the water sector.
      • Review the complete water sector for exposure to hazards, including its dependencies on other sectors such as transport, ICT and energy.
      • Find ways to improve the management of both rainwater and groundwater.
      • Improve water security on the outer islands by increasing water storage volumes, testing new solutions such as hydro panels and mobile desalination units. 
    • Transport

    • Transport

      The Infrastructure Resilience Review also looked at transport, given the importance and vulnerabilities of Tonga’s ports, airports, and roads. 

      On the one hand, Tonga’s geographic isolation makes it highly dependent on its ports and airports for imports of food, fuel, and spare parts. In 2000, the last available energy balance showed that 75 percent of the country’s energy depends on imported petroleum products. Over 98 percent of Tonga’s grid-supplied electricity is generated using imported diesel. 

      On the other hand, those ports and airports are highly vulnerable to disruption of the other critical infrastructure functions, including transport. The ports and airports both depend on Tonga’s roads, for example, to connect them with the rest of the country.

      Multi Hazards Disaster Risk Assessment, ARUP 2021

      However, while Tonga’s climate is already tropical, climate change is expected to bring heavier and more frequent rainfall, damaging roads in the low-lying areas. Inadequate drainage will compound this damage, disrupting transport and mobility to the ports and airports. 

      In turn, this could also disrupt Tonga’s electricity, which relies heavily on diesel imports, as well as the delivery of clean water to remote areas or even – in case of emergencies – access to evacuation centres. 

      The Roadmap for Infrastructure Resilience has multiple recommendations for improving road transport resilience, including the following: 

      • Improve data on infrastructure quality to understand better which rural and urban roads are exposed to flooding. 
      • Produce geohazard maps to enable monitoring of infrastructure resilience and vulnerability.
      • Develop mitigation measures based on assessments of the road quality.
      • Integrate climate safety factors into road design.

      Additionally, the Roadmap for Infrastructure Resilience in the Kingdom of Tonga makes specific priority recommendations for individual sectors, including the development of a national resilient critical infrastructure strategy, the establishment of a critical infrastructure working group, and the establishment of a central disaster data centre. 

      “The infrastructure resilience review reminds us that we are not passive actors, but that to a much greater extent we are masters of our own destiny,” said Sione Pulotu ‘Akau’ola, CEO for Ministry of MEIDECC.

      “In the long run, building resilience into our infrastructure will save us lives, destruction, and economic damage,” he said.

    Download the full report:
    Roadmap for Infrastructure Resilience in the Kingdom of Tonga

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and Egypt deliberate to strengthen ties through avenues of strategic collaboration in skill development

    Source: Government of India

    India and Egypt deliberate to strengthen ties through avenues of strategic collaboration in skill development

    Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce

    Posted On: 29 APR 2025 1:15PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, hosted a high-level Egyptian delegation led by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ayman Bahaa El Din, Deputy Minister of Technical Education, for a pivotal round of deliberations at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi on 28th April, 2025. This engagement marks another milestone in the ever-strengthening India-Egypt relationship, building on the momentum of the 2023 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the recent recognition of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with Egypt’s highest civilian honour.

    Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, highlighted the enduring people-to-people and institutional linkages between the two nations. He emphasized India’s vision to become the “Skill Capital of the World” through the Skill India Mission, under which already close to 400,000 individuals have already been trained in advanced domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data, while nurturing over 1.3 million entrepreneurs.

    India’s efforts to align its vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem with global standards, and the establishment of world-class Skill India International Centres, were presented as models for international collaboration.

    The Egyptian delegation shared insights into Egypt’s comprehensive TVET reforms, including the EU-supported TVET Egypt Reform Programme and the establishment of Sector Skill Councils, which resonate with India’s scalable and affordable skilling models. Both sides acknowledged the success of ongoing collaborations, such as the 2024 MoU between India’s NIELIT and Egypt’s Information Technology Institute, the El-Sewedy Group’s partnership with Amity University, and the Indian-supported Vocational Training Centre in Cairo.

    Looking ahead, the two countries identified several promising avenues for future cooperation. These include joint certification programmes, faculty and student exchanges, digital skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives, and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors like information technology, agriculture, tourism, and green skills. Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce and to using their partnership as a template for broader South-South cooperation.

    ***

    Beena Yadav/Shahbaz Hasibi

    (Release ID: 2125101) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCST begins visit to UAE (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SCST begins visit to UAE  
    In the morning, Miss Law had a fruitful exchange with the UAE Minister of Sports, HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, where they shared their visions and identified common ground in advancing their cities as global hubs for major international sporting events, professionalising the sports industry, leveraging sports as a key economic driver, and fostering unity among community through sports participation. Miss Law introduced Hong Kong’s commitment to nurturing elite sports talents by providing comprehensive support and professional training for local athletes. Miss Law also highlighted the vibrant horse racing culture in Hong Kong. HE Dr Al Falasi shared similar efforts made and policies implemented by the government of the UAE to develop sports in the country. Miss Law extended her invitation to HE Dr Al Falasi to visit Hong Kong to explore further opportunities for sports co-operation and exchange.
     
    Miss Law then paid a courtesy call on the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, Ms Ou Boqian. During the meeting, she reported on the recent work of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and outlined plans to fostering collaboration and building stronger connections between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Ms Ou shared her insights into the UAE’s cultural and tourism landscape, highlighting potential opportunities for cooperation between the two regions. She emphasised that Hong Kong has competitive advantages in high-end tourism, horse racing tourism, and yacht tourism, which presented significant potential for further development.
     
    In the afternoon, Miss Law attended the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, a leading international event for the Middle East’s hospitality industry. She toured various pavilions, engaged with local trade representatives, and explored potential collaborations between Hong Kong’s tourism sector and the Middle East market. During the event, Miss Law witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding at the Hong Kong Pavilion between the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and two major travel agents in the Middle East, Musafi.com and Almosafer International Travel and Tourism Company, which aimed to establish a framework for future co-operation.
     
    Miss Law also met with the Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, Mr Engr Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, and the Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of the Emirates, Mr Adnan Kazim, in the pavilion at the ATM. They discussed strengthening partnerships to promote Hong Kong as a premier travel destination for Middle East markets.
     
    In the evening, a dinner reception was co-organised by the CSTB, the HKTB, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai. The event welcomed around 70 guests, including key partners from the Middle East’s tourism industry, along with distinguished travel trade leaders and industry representatives from Hong Kong. In her opening remarks, Miss Law highlighted Hong Kong’s multifaceted tourism offerings, which catered to visitors of all ages and interests. She also pointed to the new Kai Tak Sports Park as an exciting development that will host world-class sports and entertainment events. She underscored Hong Kong’s commitment to becoming a Muslim-friendly destination, reiterated Hong Kong’s eagerness to deepen ties with the Middle East, not only by welcoming visitors from the region but also by encouraging more Hong Kong people to explore the Middle East for both leisure and business.
     
    Miss Law will continue her visit to the UAE today (April 29, Dubai time).
    Issued at HKT 2:48

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: India and Pakistan are on war footing. Can they be brought back from the brink?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University; and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University

    India and Pakistan are once again at a standoff over Kashmir. A terror attack last week in the disputed region that killed 26 tourists – mostly Indian – has brought the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals close to a devastating conflict.

    India claims the incident was an act of cross-border terrorism supported by Pakistan and has vowed to hunt down and punish the perpetrators. In retaliation, it has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty to deprive Pakistan of water from the Indus River, which runs through the Indian-controlled region of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Pakistan has condemned India’s action as an “act of war”.

    Both sides have put their forces on alert as low-level clashes have broken out along the “Line of Control”, the de facto border established in the region following the first Indo-Pakistan war in 1947–48.

    Pakistan’s defence minister now says a “military incursion” by India is imminent. Can all-out war between the two sides be averted?

    A long-simmering dispute

    At the time of the painful partition of British India in the 1940s, the country’s Muslim minority were given the option of joining the newly created state of Pakistan. Kashmir’s Hindu ruler initially wanted independence for the region, but in fear of invaders from Pakistan, decided to join India.

    This laid the foundations for an enduring, bitter dispute over control of the Muslim-majority region. Attempts at a resolution have been hard to come by.

    The dispute has also become intrinsically linked to the political and strategic postures of the two protagonists.

    New Delhi has vehemently opposed any nationalist demands for independence in Jammu and Kashmir. It fears this would set a precedent for many other minorities who want autonomy in multi-ethnic India.

    Initially, the region was given a special autonomous status under Article 370 of the Indian constitution. But since 2014, the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has forcefully sought to bring Jammu and Kashmir under New Delhi’s control.

    In 2019, it revoked Article 370 and isolated the region from the rest of India and the outside world.

    Modi’s government argued this was necessary to bring progress and prosperity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In reality, it was aimed at squashing separatist movements and easing the way for more Hindus to move to the territory.

    Pakistan condemned the scrapping of Article 370, exacerbating the tensions between the two regional powers.

    New Delhi has also accused Pakistan of involvement in cross-border terrorist acts over the years. Islamabad has refuted New Delhi’s claims and castigated it for human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and for denying the people their right to self-determination.

    Nuclear deterrence has been effective

    India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1965 and 1971, the latter resulting in the dismemberment of Pakistan and creation of the state of Bangladesh.

    In 1999, the two rivals came very close to a nuclear exchange in the limited Kargil War in Kashmir, but pulled back from the brink. As I wrote at the time, the consequences of a nuclear war played a crucial role in both sides eventually backing down.

    This is also the main reason the protagonists have not fought another all-out war in five decades, notwithstanding periodic clashes along the Line of Control and the Kargil conflict. And nuclear deterrence may once more prove effective in preventing the two sides from escalating the current conflict.

    Pakistan is also going through a very politically, economically and socially fragile period in its history.

    The country has been in political turmoil since the ousting and arrest of popular Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2023. The economy is in the doldrums. And the government faces a renewed threat from the Pakistani Taliban, amid growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    The main force holding Pakistan together is the military and the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

    India is facing its own challenges, despite being in a more stable position. The Modi government’s Hindu nationalism has marginalised minority groups, in particular the country’s Muslim population. And income inequality is growing, with the richest 1% of the country holding 58% of the wealth.

    Neither country can afford a war right now – particularly one with potentially catastrophic consequences.

    Amin Saikal 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. India and Pakistan are on war footing. Can they be brought back from the brink? – https://theconversation.com/india-and-pakistan-are-on-war-footing-can-they-be-brought-back-from-the-brink-255504

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rosanna Law meets UAE sports chief

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law yesterday met Emirati officials and attended Arabian Travel Market 2025, a trade show, as she began a visit to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

    In the morning, Miss Law met the UAE’s Minister of Sports HE Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi. The two discussed the development of Hong Kong and the UAE as global hubs for major international sporting events, professionalising the sports industry in both places, leveraging sports as a key economic driver, and fostering unity in society through sports participation.

    Miss Law spoke of Hong Kong’s commitment to nurturing elite sports talent by providing comprehensive support and professional training. She also highlighted the city’s vibrant horse racing culture. HE Al Falasi outlined the policies being implemented to develop sports in the UAE.

    Miss Law also extended an invitation to the minister to visit Hong Kong to explore further opportunities for sports co-operation.

    After the meeting, Miss Law paid a courtesy call on Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai Ou Boqian. She reported on the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau’s recent work and outlined plans to foster collaboration between Hong Kong and the Middle East.

    In the afternoon, Miss Law attended Arabian Travel Market 2025, a leading international event for the Middle East’s hospitality industry.

    At the expo, she witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding at the Hong Kong Pavilion between the Hong Kong Tourism Board and two major travel agents in the Middle East, aimed at establishing a framework for future co-operation.

    Additionally, she met senior management from two airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates, to discuss strengthening partnerships to promote Hong Kong as a premier travel destination for Middle East markets.

    In the evening, a dinner reception was co-hosted by the bureau, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Dubai, with around 70 guests attending.

    In her opening remarks, Miss Law described Hong Kong’s multifaceted tourism offerings, which she said can cater to visitors of all ages and interests. She also pointed to the new Kai Tak Sports Park as an exciting development that will host world-class sports and entertainment events.

    In addition, Miss Law underscored Hong Kong’s commitment to becoming a Muslim-friendly destination, and reiterated the city’s eagerness to deepen ties with the Middle East, not only by welcoming visitors from the region but also by encouraging more Hong Kong people to explore the Middle East for both leisure and business purposes.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota’s Top Tourism Event Arrives in Minot

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    North Dakota’s $5.7 billion tourism industry will take center stage in Minot April 28-30, as hundreds of professionals gather for the 2025 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference. Co-hosted by Visit Minot, DMAND, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce, this annual event drives tourism education, collaboration, and innovation statewide.

    Tourism is one of North Dakota’s largest industries, supporting over 43,000 jobs and more than 3,000 businesses across the state. The conference brings together destination marketers, small businesses, attractions, and hospitality professionals to strengthen connections, spark new ideas, and build momentum for future growth.

    This year’s agenda focuses on top industry priorities like AI in marketing, rural workforce challenges, and accessible travel. Attendees will also take part in immersive city tours, high-impact networking, and Gov. Kelly Armstrong will present the Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism at the luncheon on Wednesday.

    Keynote speakers include Hunter Pinke, Josiah Brown, Cory Hepola, and Jennifer Stoll—bringing fresh insight on mindset, branding, rural storytelling, and the economic power of tourism.

    With a focus on real-world solutions and statewide collaboration, the 2025 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference is a chance to learn, share, and shape what’s next for tourism in the state. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this event offers fresh ideas and meaningful connections that last well beyond the closing session.

    To learn more and register for the conference, visit https://ndgov.link/NDTIC.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mexico

    Source:

    We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Sonora, Colima and Chiapas. There are lower levels within some of these locations. See our advice level summary for details.

    Plan your travel carefully. Don’t travel at night outside major cities. Use major toll roads wherever possible or access cities directly by air travel. Other travel options and routes may have higher security risks (see ‘Safety).

    If you have an ordinary passport with a chip, you can use the e-gates located at the airports of Mexico City, San Jose del Cabo, and Cancun. You’ll receive your FMM (Multiple Immigration Form) printed, which authorises Australians to stay for 180 days exclusively for tourism purposes.

    If you don’t have an ordinary passport with a chip, and you’re visiting for 180 days or less as a tourist, you’ll receive a visa on arrival. Mexican authorities advise to avoid being detained or deported, you must complete an online Multiple Immigration Form (FMM) and obtain a QR code (see ‘Travel’).

    MIL OSI News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Community safety in the alps

    Source:

    The 2019-20 fires were the catalyst for Steve Belli’s interest in community resilience and recovery.

    At the time, Steve lived part-time in Dinner Plain but wasn’t a CFA member. 

    “My interest really gathered momentum during those fires. I could see there was a need for more resources, more equipment and better communication between the emergency services and the community,” Steve said.

    “As the president of the Mount Hotham Chamber of Commerce, I initiated fundraising for Mount Hotham-Dinner Plain brigade and we raised more than $100,000 thanks to our generous community and people from afar.”

    Steve has been a local resident and business owner at Mount Hotham since 2012. He set up a snow park for families to do activities other than skiing and snowboarding, he does tours on snowmobiles and has a café and distillery at Dinner Plain.

    Steve believed the public and businesses at Mount Hotham needed more information during a fire and have a stronger voice in the recovery stage. He participated in a Victorian Government initiative that asked locals for feedback about safety, and this led 
    to the formation of the Alpine Community Recovery Committee (ACRC) in 2020.

    Community recovery committees ensure grants and programs are relevant to a particular community through a community-led approach to recovery. Steve was asked to join the ACRC.

    “The ACRC is a voice for the community to the government to discuss grants, programs for mental wellbeing, and infrastructure that needs to be replaced,” Steve said. “It also encourages emergency services to talk to the community.

    “We helped to open a communication channel between emergency services personnel and the community so that the emergency services had a really good understanding of the issues in this area.”

    Historically, alpine resorts couldn’t apply for recovery funding through the local funding and federal funding authority. Steve was instrumental in changing that.

    “The resorts, lift companies, Chamber of Commerce and community members campaigned for change. Previously, alpine resorts couldn’t access 90 per cent of grants. Now we can access 90 per cent and we have received about $17 million funding for things like new water tanks, tourism initiatives and new infrastructure. That was a big win.”

    Steve is also a member of two municipal emergency management planning committees (MEMPC). All emergency services are represented on the committees, including direct representation of locals through the Chamber of Commerce or through the Alpine Resilience Partnership.

    “When we surveyed our community, we found that many people didn’t know where to get correct information during a fire and recovery, or who they should talk to,” Steve said. “Emergency services produce a lot of information, yet the community said they didn’t know where to find it.

    “To combat this, we created The Loop – a community communications network. When emergency services want to reach the community, they send the information to the Loop. It is then passed onto community members through community connectors – they could be a hairdresser, a guy in the pub or someone of standing in the community.

    “The crucial information is passed onto locals in a way that makes sense and that the community understands. It’s much more powerful than putting up a poster that might not be read.”  

    An administrator is in contact with the emergency services to make sure information is added to The Loop. Official messaging for emergency incidents is not submitted to The Loop – community members are referred to the VicEmergency website and app for information about current incidents.  

    As well as improving community safety through his committee work, Steve also enjoys doing face-to-face engagement.

    “I want people to have a great and safe experience in the mountains. I became a CFA member in 2024 and I’m happy to sit on a truck and answer questions to the best of my ability,” Steve said. “I help with community-based events such as barbecues and I enjoy giving people accurate information.

    “I also explain why cars need chains on their tyres. Some people don’t understand their importance and we want to keep people safe. There are two checkpoints on our mountain and a significant number of cars are turned around for not having chains.”

    When asked why he spends so much time protecting community members, Steve simply said, “if it’s not you, who is it?” 

    Submitted by News and Media

    MIL OSI News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BusinessNZ – Regulatory roadblock to be removed

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Swift action to remove a regulatory roadblock in the way of medical innovation, global events and tourism has been applauded by BusinessNZ.
    A ‘nonsensical’ ruling by Medsafe effectively prevents major international medical conferences from being held in New Zealand because displaying new products or sharing the latest research with medics in trade shows is deemed to be “advertising” and therefore prohibited – but now the Government intends to fix the regulations concerned to allow these major global conferences to come here.
    The announced changes means more global organisations can consider New Zealand as a conference destination, and our tourism sector will benefit from the flow on effect of post-conference travel.
    BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it’s a good example of the Government taking action to remove regulatory barriers to economic growth.
    “New Zealand has been locked out of the multi-billion-dollar global medical conference market because Medsafe’s stance prohibits the trade shows and expos that are usually a valuable part of global medical conferences.
    “But the economics of running a large international conference often depend on there being a major expo or trade show associated with the event, where companies can share information about their latest products and medical research.
    “Medsafe’s ruling makes it uneconomic for large medical conferences to be held here, meaning multi-million-dollar lost opportunities for New Zealand and our medics have to travel to conferences outside of New Zealand to hear about the latest drugs, devices and procedures.
    “Over the years many professional associations and medical organisations with annual conferences on a global circuit have wanted to come to New Zealand, but have had to rule out coming here because of the financial hit of not being able to hold a world-class trade show to support their event.
    “New Zealand’s unique stance is nonsensical. Sharing information and new research with medical experts in a closed setting is in no way unsafe. We know of no other country that has taken the same stance, but we do know this is why New Zealand conference centres and our local economy regularly lose out to Australia when global conference circuits rotate to the Southern Hemisphere.
    “It’s excellent news that the Government plans to fix the regulations to make clear that global medical conferences are welcome in New Zealand.
    “New Zealand stands to gain an estimated $90 million in revenue over the next few years with the dismantling of this roadblock to economic growth.”
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Brisbane’s Olympic Boom: Why Thousands of Kiwis Are Making the Move to the Sunshine State

    Source: Robert Walters

    • Migration Surge: 42% of New Zealanders are planning to move to Australia, with Brisbane a top destination. 
    • Key Motivators for Relocation: Better salaries (48%), improved job prospects (22%), and more affordable living (13%). 
    • Brisbane’s Growth: The city was voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024 and is already one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the country. 
    • Queensland’s Competitive Advantage: More affordable living compared to Sydney and Melbourne, making it attractive for skilled workers. 
    • Business Recruitment Efforts: Companies are accelerating hiring and offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to attract talent. 
    • Economic Transformation: The 2032 Olympics are positioning Brisbane as a major employment hub. 

    With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, Brisbane is gearing up for an economic and employment surge that’s already attracting thousands of skilled workers – including a growing number of New Zealanders.

    Recent research from global recruitment firm Robert Walters reveals that 42% of New Zealanders are considering relocating to Australia in the next 12 months, with Brisbane emerging as a top destination over traditional hotspots like Sydney and Melbourne due to more affordable living.

    With tens of thousands of jobs expected to be created in the lead-up to the Games, Kiwis looking for better salaries, career opportunities, and a lower cost of living are increasingly turning their sights to Queensland’s capital.

    Why Kiwis Are Choosing Brisbane

    New Zealanders have long been drawn to Australia for work, but the 2032 Olympics are accelerating this trend. Brisbane offers key advantages over other major cities, including:

    Job Creation: The Games are expected to generate over 91,600 jobs across construction, infrastructure, tourism, hospitality, and event management.

    Higher Salaries: Better pay remains the number one reason for relocation, with 48% of job seekers prioritising increased earnings when considering a move.

    Affordable Living: Brisbane’s cost of living is significantly lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, making it an attractive choice for professionals and families heading to Australia.

    Lifestyle Benefits: Voted Australia’s happiest city in 2024, Brisbane offers great weather, outdoor activities, and a strong sense of community.

    Brisbane’s Growing Appeal for Kiwi Talent

    According to Robert Walters, businesses across Queensland are ramping up hiring efforts, offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and flexible work policies to secure top talent.  

    Jane Lowney, Senior Director at Robert Walters Queensland, says, “Brisbane is at the centre of a once-in-a-generation economic transformation. We’re already seeing a surge in demand for skilled workers, and this is just the beginning. Now is the perfect time for New Zealand professionals to consider making the move.”

    New Zealand is currently experiencing record-high migration departures, with Stats NZ reporting 122,800 departures in the year to January 2025 – the highest annual figure on record. While Kiwis have traditionally favoured Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane is now emerging as a strong alternative due to its job opportunities and affordability.

    Whilst there has historically been a trend of New Zealanders moving to Australia, they have often favoured cities like Sydney and Melbourne. However, Robert Walters has observed an increasing number opting for Brisbane.  

    “We’re seeing more Kiwis than usual seeking work specifically in Brisbane and we do have the jobs for them due to the Olympics. The cost of living and amount of job opportunities is a big pull for them.” Lowney added.  

    How to Make the Move

    For New Zealanders considering relocation, now is the time to explore opportunities in Brisbane. With increasing demand for skilled workers, businesses are actively seeking talent from across the Tasman and are offering relocation incentives to attract the right candidates.

    “The 2032 Olympics are a game-changer for Brisbane’s job market,” says Lowney. “For Kiwis thinking about moving, this presents a rare chance to secure career growth in a thriving, dynamic city.”

    With Queensland’s economy set to soar, Brisbane is positioning itself as the ultimate destination for professionals looking to advance their careers while enjoying an enviable lifestyle. You can utilise recruitment companies to make the move.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Huge benefits available from medical conferences

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Outdated regulations stopping trained medical professionals from learning about new medicines through trade show advertising are out of step with other countries and disadvantage New Zealanders, Regulation Minister David Seymour, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.
    “New Zealand’s prohibition on advertising medicines yet to be consented by Medsafe is a barrier to New Zealand’s ability to host medical conferences and trade shows. The opportunity cost of New Zealand missing out on these is huge,” Mr Seymour says.
    These laws will be reformed so medicines yet to be consented by Medsafe can be advertised at medical conferences in New Zealand, instead of New Zealand health professionals needing to travel overseas.
    “Prohibition was introduced in response to the perceived risk that pharmaceutical companies may attempt to circumvent formal medicine approval processes. The Ministry for Regulation has investigated and found this overly cautious approach is out of step with other recognised jurisdictions and is not proportionate to the perceived risk,” Mr Seymour says.
    “Other nations like Australia, Canada, and the European Union allow advertising to generate revenue and provide medical professionals with information on cutting edge medicines. New Zealand doesn’t need to be left behind because of outdated red tape.
    “This change is estimated to generate $90 million in associated revenue over the next few years.
    “Prohibition also contradicts this Government’s efforts to increase medicines access. Allowing these products to be advertised would upskill doctors and give them the knowledge and skills to prescribe these treatments safely to Kiwis who need them.”
    “This Government is committed to removing regulatory barriers so that we can drive economic growth. Removing the red tape around medical conferences will make New Zealand a better destination for conference organisers, while also making it easier for our own healthcare professionals to keep up with the latest innovations in health products and medicines,” Mr Brown says.
    “New Zealand’s current health regulations can be overly bureaucratic, and this is slowing down access to care, increasing costs, and making it harder for patients to get the services they need.
    “Our regulations can also make it harder to attract, train and retain healthcare workers. Workers want to work with top class treatments and patients want to be able to access them.
    “Medical conferences are a great way to expand the collective knowledge and skill of the health workforce through the transfer of ideas and technologies.
    “The Government is investing more than ever into our health system – a record $30 billion each year – and we expect it to deliver more for patients as a result.”
    “Removing these barriers will also give us an opportunity to showcase our new conference facilities, fantastic hotels, and experiences, and pitch New Zealand as a world class location for business events like medical conferences,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
    “Business event participants spend an average of $175 more per day than other visitors, and often travel during the off-peak season, boosting tourism and economic activity year-round.
    “Our message is clear, New Zealand is open for business. We are looking forward to welcoming more medical conferences to New Zealand, and we have great facilities to host them.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Bill to Promote Cost Transparency Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hotel Fees Transparency Act (H.R. 1479), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) to improve cost transparency for stays in short-term lodging, such as hotels, motels, and inns.  

    The Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025 prohibits unfair or misleading price advertising for places of short-term lodging and requires accurate price listings that include all mandatory and resort fees.  

    Rep. Kim introduced this bill in the 118th Congress, which passed the House in June 2024.  

    Watch Rep. Kim speak on the House floor in support of H.R. 1479 HERE or read her remarks below. 

    Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, for yielding. I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1479, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act.  

    Hidden fees on short-term lodging, whether at hotels, motels, inns, resorts, or rentals, make it harder for families to plan for a trip.  

    Too often, what looks like an affordable overnight stay online turns out to be far more expensive once these deceptive charges are added.  

    Additionally, the way these prices are advertised are fragmented and not uniform.  

    Americans deserve price transparency so that they can appropriately budget for their travels.  

    The Hotel Fees Transparency Act requires providers of short-term lodging to disclose upfront the full cost of a stay, including all mandatory and service fees. 

    It would also require the lodging and booking industries to clearly display the final price of a stay, providing transparency for consumers and improving American tourism and hospitality.  

    I want to thank Representatives Castor, Fry, and Mullin for their collaboration on this bipartisan, commonsense pro-consumer legislation.   

    I urge my colleagues to support the Hotel Fees Transparency Act.   

    Thank you, and I yield back.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: American Music Tourism Act PASSES House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger’s bipartisan American Music Tourism Act passed the House Floor on suspension with bipartisan support.

    This legislation would require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors. The Act would also require the Assistant Secretary to report to Congress on the success and challenges related to achieving these tourism goals.

    Notably, this bill will not require any additional taxpayer dollars to implement.

    Congresswoman Harshbarger issued the following statement.

    “We’ve been working longer than nine to five to get this legislation passed through the House, and I’m thrilled that it passed with such overwhelming support. This legislation will have a direct impact on Tennessee’s First Congressional District. As home to iconic destinations like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, we play a vital role in the music tourism industry.

    “I’m thankful to my colleague and co-lead Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), as well as all of the members who voted to support this bill. I look forward to this legislation making its way through the Senate, where it’s sponsored by Senator Blackburn, with the ultimate goal of having it signed into law by President Trump.”

    View the bill text HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Bloomsbury Farm

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: April 28, 2025
    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Bloomsbury Farm of Benton County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “From its Bunny Bash to the inaugural Iowa Tulip Festival, Bloomsbury Farm plants memories and captures smiles with their family-centered seasonal events,” said Chair Ernst. “Welcoming over 75,000 visitors annually, the Petersen family continues to grow Bloomsbury Farm into a premier agritourism destination!”
    In 1995, Karen and Dave Petersen opened Bloomsbury Farm on their 2,000 acres, primarily farming soybeans and corn and selling floral arrangements. When their daughter Sammy’s first-grade class visited the farm on a field trip, the couple was inspired to transform the farm into an agritourism destination. After a devastating tornado in 2004, the Petersens pivoted and renovated the farm to become a family-centered destination dedicated to agriculture, fun, and education. Today, Bloomsbury Farm welcomes over 75,000 people annually to experience their seasonal events. The second generation of Petersens became partners in January 2024. This year, Bloomsbury Farm will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Iowa. 
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Youth Mobility Scheme for Uruguayan and British citizens: 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Youth Mobility Scheme for Uruguayan and British citizens: 2025

    • English
    • Español de América Latina

    The Youth Mobility Scheme allows 500 visas, both for Uruguayan and British nationals, to live, study, work and travel in the UK and Uruguay respectively.

    In 2025, 500 British and 500 Uruguayan nationals aged 18 to 30 years old will be able to experience life and culture in each other’s country for up to 2 years, as established in the agreement that came into effect in both countries on 31 January 2024.

    Uruguayan citizens who would like to travel to the UK under this scheme need to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa. British citizens who would like to travel to Uruguay should apply for a Working Holiday temporary residency.

    The scheme desires to foster close relations between British and Uruguayan nationals, intending to promote and facilitate access to opportunities that enable youth to gain a better understanding of the other participant’s culture, society, and languages through travel, work, and life experience abroad.

    This is the first YMS between the UK and a South American Country. The agreement was signed in August 2023 at the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the visit of FCDO Minister for the Americas and Caribbean David Rutley MP to Uruguay.

    UK has YMS agreements in place with Andorra, Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Taiwan and Uruguay.

    Uruguay has Working Holiday programmes with Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

    Find below information about the scheme and how to apply, for British and Uruguayan nationals.

    Information for British nationals

    British citizens interested in applying for a Working Holiday temporary residency must attend the Uruguayan Consulate in London and submit the following documents:

    • valid passport in good condition, with an expiry date at least one year in the future
    • a medical certificate from the country of residence where it states that you do not have medical conditions that would make it impossible for you to reside in Uruguay
    • evidence of a Police Certificate from the country of origin and from any country that you have lived in for the past 5 years. This should be apostilled or legalised, whichever is appropriate. In the UK you can apply for this at: http://www.gov.uk/copy-of-police-records. The six must have been issued within the 6 months prior to the filing of the application
    • documents that demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to meet their needs (such as salary payslips, bank statements, pensions, etc.) issued within 30 days of the application date
    • declaration of the intended time they will remain in Uruguay, which will be up to 2 years
    • apostille or legalised birth certificate (whichever is the case, if the person was born outside the UK) and translated (by a certified Uruguayan translator, by Consul or by consular intervention, depending on the case) will be required in Uruguay in order to obtain the Uruguayan National Identity card

    Once the documentation is submitted, the Consulate will inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Migration Direction, which will notify the National Migration Office. A decision will be made within a maximum of 15 working days.

    If the application is successful, the Consulate will let you will know. You will then need to enter Uruguay within 180 days from the notification day. If you need a visa, the Consulate will issue a tourist visa without consulting with the National Migration Office, referring to the temporary residency granted.

    Once you are in Uruguay, you will need to go in person to the National Migration Office and the National Civil Identification Office to apply for the National Identity card and pay the required fees. If youneed more information, please contact the Uruguayan Consulate or Uruguayan Embassy: cdlondres@mrree.gub.uy or urureinounido@mree.gub.uy, or call: +44 (0)207 584 4200

    Information for Uruguayan nationals:

    • applications to the Youth Mobility Scheme are online. You can apply from any country in the world, except from the UK
    • you can apply if you are a Uruguayan National aged 18-30 years old and hold a Uruguayan passport
    • you can spend up to 2 years in the UK, with multiple entries
    • you can work but it is not compulsory. You can travel, study short courses or volunteer
    • you do not need any language, job or skill requirements
    • you must apply for a visa and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge
    • you need to demonstrate you have the equivalent to £2,530 in a bank account for at least the past 28 days before applying
    • you need to get a Criminal Record Certificate. Please request it for Consulate- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the British Embassy
    • you cannot apply if you have any dependants living with you or who are financially dependent on you at the time of application
    • you must not have not previously taken part in the scheme

    Applicants will usually get a decision on their visa within 3 weeks.

    For more information, please go to Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview – GOV.UK or contact: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 28 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: How ICE is becoming a secret police force under the Trump administration

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University

    Secret police are a quintessential feature of authoritarian regimes. From Azerbaijan’s State Security Service to Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation, these agencies typically target political opponents and dissidents through covert surveillance, imprisonment and physical violence.

    In contrast to the regular police and armed forces, secret police primarily use preemptive repression to thwart threats to the government.

    In Nazi Germany, for example, Gestapo informants penetrated all levels of society, producing an atmosphere of distrust among those against Adolf Hitler. In Uganda, Idi Amin’s State Research Bureau employed sophisticated spying equipment and intercepted mail at the post office to root out supposed saboteurs.

    In Syria, Bashar al-Assad relied on the General Intelligence Directorate to oversee a network of torture centres. And in Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has used the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) to spy on opponents overseas, often running operations out of diplomatic missions.

    Since US President Donald Trump took power in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a far more visible and fearsome force on American streets.

    Though ICE is ostensibly still bound by constitutional limits, the way it has been operating bears the hallmarks of a secret police force in the making.

    As an expert on authoritarian regimes, I’ve studied historical and contemporary secret police forces extensively across Africa, Asia and Europe. They typically meet five criteria:

    • they’re a police force targeting political opponents and dissidents

    • they’re not controlled by other security agencies and answer directly to the dictator

    • the identity of their members and their operations are secret

    • they specialise in political intelligence and surveillance operations

    • they carry out arbitrary searches, arrests, interrogations, indefinite detentions, disappearances and torture.

    How close is ICE to becoming a secret police force? Let’s consider each of these criteria.

    Targeting dissidents

    ICE has used the pretext of combating antisemitism to target dissidents. A branch of the agency previously used to target drug smugglers and human traffickers has reportedly been directed to scan social media for posts sympathetic to Hamas.

    On March 8, ICE arrested the prominent pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal resident. It was a similar story for Rumeysa Ozturk, a university student grabbed off the street on March 25 by ICE agents.

    Trump has cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as the legal pretext for ICE’s actions in these cases and others. The law allows the US government to deport anyone whose presence has “adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country.

    Because Khalil and others are being targeted for their activism, legal scholars say the government appears to be “retaliating” against constitutionally protected free speech it disagrees with.

    Directly controlled by a dictator

    While ICE does not report directly to Trump, the agency is controlled by people who have shown intense loyalty to him.

    ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security, which is overseen by stalwart Trump ally Kristi Noem. She is supported by Tom Homan, a former ICE director who Trump appointed as his “border czar” in November 2024.

    Despite a court order barring the deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador, Homan has remained defiant:

    We are not stopping. I don’t care what the judges think.

    The pertinent question now is whether Noem or Homan would refuse to follow a dictate from Trump in the face of a direct court order.

    Opaque operations

    ICE agents are increasingly operating in secret. The individuals who took Ozturk off the street in a widely shared video claimed to be police officers, even though they were in plain clothes and face marks.

    Similarly, ICE agents in plain clothes detained two men during a raid on a courthouse in Charlottesville, Virginia, on April 22. When two bystanders asked to see a warrant, they were ordered not to “impede” the agents’ lawful duties. ICE later said the two women would be prosecuted.

    Also last week, ICE agents attempted to arrest a man at a Wisconsin courthouse without a warrant. After a judge intervened, she was arrested herself by the FBI and charged with two felonies.

    This shroud of opacity has been accompanied by an end to local agency liaison meetings aimed at helping people seek answers to ICE’s actions.

    Surveillance capabilities

    ICE is organised into two distinct law enforcement components, giving it both political intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities.

    Its Homeland Security Investigations arm includes an intelligence division, while its Enforcement and Removal Operations arm uses third-party companies such as Geo Group, Giant Oak, and Palantir to conduct mass surveillance.

    Most worryingly, ICE is trying to procure greater intelligence and surveillance capabilities by soliciting pitches from private companies to monitor threats across the internet.

    According to a procurement document, contractors would be directed to focus on the backgrounds of social media users and use facial recognition capabilities to gather information on people. Criticisms of ICE itself would be monitored, too.

    Unlawful policing

    There has been a stream of reports exposing how ICE is conducting arbitrary searches, arrests, interrogations, and indefinite detentions.

    Some of the most egregious reported examples include:

    • entering primary schools under false pretences in search of undocumented students

    • carrying out “collateral arrests”, that is detaining people not previously identified as targets during operations

    • detaining tourists and visa holders for weeks for unknown reasons

    • and disappearing US citizens without any meaningful process.

    Since Trump’s inauguration, at least three people have died in ICE detention facilities, the latest in a string of fatalities in recent years.

    Prolonged solitary confinement is reportedly widespread. UN experts say this can amount to torture.

    Potentially expanded scope

    Overall, the evidence shows ICE meets most of the criteria for being a secret police force. It has yet to target political opponents, which I define narrowly as members of the Democratic Party. And it is not directly controlled by Trump, although the current structure provides him with plausible deniability.

    While the agency is far from resembling history’s most feared secret police forces, there have so far been few constraints on how it operates.

    The worst may be yet to come. A budget bill making its way through Congress would provide ICE with up to US$175 billion (A$274 billion) in funding over the next decade. (Its current annual budget is US$9 billion, or A$14 billion.) This would supercharge its use of surveillance, imprisonment and physical violence.

    When combined with a potential shift towards targeting US citizens for dissent and disobedience, ICE is fast becoming a key piece in the repressive apparatus of American authoritarianism.

    Lee Morgenbesser 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. How ICE is becoming a secret police force under the Trump administration – https://theconversation.com/how-ice-is-becoming-a-secret-police-force-under-the-trump-administration-255019

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SCST at dinner reception (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the dinner reception today (April 28):
     
    Thank you, Glenn (Emcee of the dinner reception). I hope that you agree with me that the best part of Hong Kong is about the people. And we brought quite a number of people from Hong Kong tonight so that we will be in for a joyful and enjoyable evening. And again, I would like to really express our sincere gratitude. As Glenn has said, we personally were at the ATM (Arabian Travel Market) this afternoon. We saw how busy and how vibrant it was. We understand fully that each and everyone of you here at this dinner have a lot of important initiatives tonight but you choose to honour us with your presence and that makes it even more important and special for us all. From the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of the hearts of our delegation, a big, big thank you very much. Here comes the official opening statement but again it is also from the bottom of my heart.
     
    Good evening, distinguished guests, friends from the trade, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this special evening where I could meet key partners from the Middle East’s tourism industry, alongside distinguished travel trade leaders, industry representatives from Hong Kong, and of course, the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and their team.
     
    I am the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. And I took office about five months ago. This visit marks my debut overseas visit outside of China and I am glad to have picked the Middle East as the first destination of this tour. I am truly honoured to be able to play an important role in forging stronger tourism ties between the Middle East and Hong Kong, and I indeed look forward to exchanging views with you on how we can collaborate to bring more visitors to Hong Kong. 
     
    Let me start by saying how keen we are to receive friends from the Middle East. Last year, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region outlined the vision in his Policy Address to establish Hong Kong as a welcoming destination for the Middle East travellers. Following this, my Bureau promulgated the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 which sets out the roadmap for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry from 2025 to 2030. A key focus in this Blueprint is expanding our visitor base with the Middle East at the forefront. The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing markets globally. By 2028, it is estimated that there will be 250 million Muslim visitors worldwide, generating US$225 billion in tourism revenues. That’s why I am here to share with you that Hong Kong, as the Pearl of the Orient, and a unique fusion of the East and the West, is more than ready and happy to welcome you from the Middle East to enjoy the all-in-one experiences in the city. 
     
    But that is not all. It is not about business. It is not just about business. It is about establishing friendship between us in Hong Kong and you all in the Middle East and for those who come from Dubai locally, I enjoy the city very much and I hope that in the rest of my journey, I will be enjoying the other cities that I will be visiting as much as I do here.
     
    Hong Kong also has its unique appeal in a wide spectrum, offering multifaceted tourism products and experiences that fit for visitors of all ages and with different interests. First, we offer a myriad of possibilities and experiences by presenting world-class tourist attractions such as the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Ocean Park which is home for six adorable pandas, among others, the very iconic Peak Tram which brings you to the Victoria Peak to enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the heart of Hong Kong, or the Ngong Ping 360 cable car that takes you to the tranquil Po Lin Monastery and the famous Big Buddha. For arts and culture lovers, we have unmissable experiences at world-class landmarks like the M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which carry an exciting array of exhibitions on East and West cultural themes. Apart from attractions, we are also promoting mega events tourism, island tourism and horse-racing tourism which offer tourists unforgettable and unique experiences. Last month, we commissioned the largest state-of-the-art sports infrastructure in Hong Kong, the Kai Tak Sports Park, which marked a thrilling new era and would see lots of great sports and entertainment events being held in Hong Kong. In addition to staging our signature Hong Kong Sevens rugby matches for the first time in end March this year, the new venue, the Kai Tak Sports Park, will play host to the Hong Kong Football Festival featuring four world-renowned football clubs, including Liverpool which just secured its champion on the English Premier League for the 20th time. And also we will have Arsenal, AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur this July. Horse racing has a history of 140 years in Hong Kong and our racecourses are well-known tourist hotspots. The new racing season of Hong Kong usually starts in September, climaxing on the Hong Kong International Races in early December with world-class jockeys and horses competing fiercely for the world championships. The magnificent green and blue from our green landscape, the beautiful beaches and outlying islands are also the hidden gems of the city awaiting you to explore.
     
    We are indeed dedicated to making Hong Kong a welcoming home for Middle East visitors. Our 60 hotels and 170 restaurants in Hong Kong are halal-certified, and many attractions and venues provide prayer facilities and cultural training for their staff. Not only do we have strong and keen enthusiasm in joining the Arabian Travel Market and setting up a Hong Kong pavilion again to showcase the city’s novel experiences like what we did this afternoon and the coming days, we have also arranged familiarisation visits for trade partners from the Middle East to go to Hong Kong to experience our various offerings, and we also partnered with major Middle East airline and online travel agents to promote Hong Kong as an ideal tourism destination across the region.  
     
    Looking ahead, we are eager to build even closer ties with the Middle East – not just welcoming you as visitors to Hong Kong but also inspiring more Hong Kong people to explore the incredible destinations for both business and leisure in the Middle East.
     
    So, thank you all once again for joining us tonight. May I take this opportunity to wish you all good health and many good returns. Have an enjoyable evening. And thank you again.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: A robot that you ride like a horse is being developed. It will stretch current limits of engineering

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matías Mattamala, Postdoctoral Researcher, Oxford Robotics Institute, University of Oxford

    Kawasaki has recently revealed its computer-generated concept for the Corleo, a “robotic horse”. The video shows the automated equine galloping through valleys, crossing rivers, climbing mountains and jumping over crevasses.

    The Corleo promises a high-end robotic solution to provide a revolutionary mobility experience. Kawasaki’s current motorbikes are constrained to roads, paths and trails, but a machine with legs has no boundaries – it can reach places no other vehicles can go.

    But in the case of the Corleo, how feasible is it to achieve such a level of agility and balance, while safely carrying a human through natural environments? Let’s discuss what would be needed to achieve this.

    A robot is a complex machine with two main components: a body and an information processing unit. The body has a particular morphology that determines the robot’s function, and carries actuators (devices that convert energy into physical motion) and sensors to act in the world and understand it, respectively.

    Kawasaki’s Corleo robotic horse concept.

    The information processing unit is usually a computer, which implements algorithms to process data from the sensors, build representations of the world and determine the actions to be executed, subject to a specific task of interest.

    Simple robots, such as robotic vacuum cleaners satisfy these requirements. They have a suitable body for going under furniture and not getting stuck (their flat top is also useful to give your cats a ride).

    The actuators are the motors that spin the wheels and the vacuum system. It has impact sensors to detect collisions, and some even have cameras for understanding the environment. Owners can set a cleaning routine, and the vacuum’s computer will determine the best way to execute it.

    The Corleo is a quadruped robot, one of the most stable legged robot configurations. The four legs seem strong and capable of flexing forward and backward to run and jump.

    But they seem limited in movements known as abduction and adduction. If I push you on your right side, you will open your left leg – this is the abduction motion helping you keep balance.

    Adduction is the opposite motion – a movement towards the midline of the body. Perhaps this is just a limitation of the concept design but, either way, the Corleo needs this articulation to ensure a safe and smooth ride.

    Next comes actuators. Legged robots, in comparison to wheeled vehicles, need to continuously balance and support their own weight. They also provide a level of suspension that provides cushioning for the rider.

    They need to be strong enough to push the robot’s body forward. On top of that, the Corleo will also carry a person. While this is currently possible, such as with the the Barry robot or Unitree wheeled robots, the Corleo also aims to gallop and jump over gaps. This requires even more dynamic and stronger actuators than the previous examples.

    A manually driven car or motorcycle doesn’t need sensors or a processing unit, because the driver steers the car depending on what they see. But a robotic horse does need more sophisticated control systems to determine how to move the legs, otherwise we would need both hands and even our feet to drive it.

    Locomotion control has been an active area of legged robotics research since the 1940s. Researchers have shown that a legged machine can walk down a slope without motors or sensors (which is called “passive” locomotion).

    If only “proprioceptive” sensors – the types of sensors that tell your phone when to rotate the screen – are used to control balance, it’s called “blind” locomotion because it doesn’t rely on information from the external environment. When a robot also uses “exteroceptive” sensors to determine how to walk, which refers to sensors that pick up information about the environment, it’s called “perceptive” locomotion. This is what Corleo shows.

    From the pictures released, I could not spot any visible cameras or Lidars – laser range finders. They could be hidden, but it would be reassuring to know that the Corleo has a way to “see” what’s in front of it while walking.

    While it will be manually steered (so that it doesn’t need to navigate autonomously), its locomotion system needs sensor data to determine how to step on rocks, or detect if the terrain is slippery. Its sensors should also be reliable under different environmental conditions. This is already a huge challenge for autonomous cars.

    Challenges ahead

    The Corleo is a concept, it does not exist – yet. As a product, it promises to be a more capable version of a quad bike. This can open new opportunities for transportation in remote areas, tourism businesses, new hobbies (for those who can afford it), and even sports.

    But I’m more excited about the technological advances that the achievement of such a platform implies. Legged robots do not necessarily need to look like quadrupeds or humanoids.

    Self balancing exoskeletons, such as Wandercraft’s Personal exoskeleton or Human in Motion Robotics’ XoMotion, are legged robots that are revolutionising the lives of people with mobility impairments. The technological advances implied by the Corleo could have be of major benefit to the development of assistive devices for disabled users, enabling them to achieve independence.

    Current progress in legged robotics suggests that many features proposed by Kawasaki are feasible. But others pose challenges: Corleo will need the endurance to walk in the wild, run effective locomotion algorithms and also implement the safety standards required for a vehicle.

    These are all major hurdles for a reasonably sized robot. If you ask me today, I’d be unsure if this can be achieved as a whole. I hope they prove me wrong.

    Matias Mattamala is currently funded by an EPSRC C2C Grant at the University of Oxford in collaboration with ETH Zurich. He 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 his academic appointment.

    – ref. A robot that you ride like a horse is being developed. It will stretch current limits of engineering – https://theconversation.com/a-robot-that-you-ride-like-a-horse-is-being-developed-it-will-stretch-current-limits-of-engineering-254483

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Huffman, Pallone, and Castor Introduce Bills to Permanently Protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling

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

    April 22, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – On Earth Day, Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), along with Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), announced a package of legislation to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. This package includes Rep. Huffman’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act, Rep. Pallone’s Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, and Rep. Castor’s Florida Coast Protection Act. 

    This legislation comes days after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.  

    “It’s clear that in the 15 years since the most catastrophic oil spill disaster in history, Republicans in the pocket of Big Oil have learned nothing. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to our public health, coastal economies, and marine life. The science is clear, and so is the public sentiment: we need to speed up our transition to a clean energy future, not lock ourselves into another generation of fossil fuel fealty,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “We cannot let history repeat itself. My Democratic colleagues aren’t standing idly by as the Trump administration tries to reverse all of our progress so they can give handouts to Big Oil. Our legislation will cut pollution and ramp up clean energy, ensuring our coasts remain safe, clean, and open to all Americans— not turned into open season for fossil fuel billionaires looking to drill, spill, and cash in.”

    “We must end offshore oil drilling in coastal waters once and for all,” said Senator Padilla. “Over 50 years ago, after a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, Californians rose up and demanded environmental protections, spurring the modern environmental movement and creating the very first Earth Day. As the Trump Administration threatens to recklessly open our coasts to new drilling, California and the West Coast need permanent safeguards to protect our communities from the devastation of fossil fuels and disastrous oil spills. We must act now to fulfill the promises we made to our children and our constituents to meet the urgency of this environmental crisis with bold action.” 

    “This week marks both Earth Day and the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster,” said Senator Booker. “I’m standing alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our communities and our environment. Offshore drilling endangers our coastal communities – both their lives and their livelihoods – and threatens marine species and ecosystems. The COAST Act, along with this critical package of legislation, will ensure that marine seascapes along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the wildlife, industries, and communities that rely on them, are protected from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. 

    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean would open up the eastern seaboard to considerable risk, and we have seen the destruction that an accident can cause. This legislation is about more than simply protecting the environment, it’s also about protecting the tourism and fishing industries that create jobs and help power Rhode Island’s economy,” said Senator Reed.

    “For decades, I’ve fought to protect our coasts from the dangers of oil and gas development, and this legislative package reaffirms that commitment. Offshore drilling risks devastating spills, accelerates climate change, and threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities like those in New Jersey. On Earth Day and every day, we must stand up to Big Oil and prioritize renewable energy that actually protects our planet,” Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

    “Florida is a beautiful but fragile place, and we depend on clean water and healthy beaches,” said Rep. Castor. “I’m proud to lead the Florida Coastal Protection Act as part of this larger package to stop dangerous oil drilling near our coasts for good. The Deepwater Horizon disaster served as a wake-up call, as the blowout hurt people, our environment and our economy. We can’t let that happen again. Our beaches, fishing, and tourism are too important to risk. We must protect our oceans, our way of life and our future.”

    These bills reaffirm vital protections for America’s coastal communities and ecosystems. Under President Biden, more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters—including the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea—were permanently protected from offshore oil and gas drilling. President Trump wasted no time trying to rollback those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those same areas to drilling on day one of his second term. His record speaks for itself: during his first administration, the Interior Department proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.

    Congressional Democrats are taking a stand to protect coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems. U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to our public health, coastal economies, and marine life. Our oceans are home to diverse marine wildlife, including the California sea lion, North Atlantic right whale, yellowtail flounder, and countless other economically, ecologically, and culturally important species. There is a long history of bipartisan efforts to protect U.S. coasts from offshore drilling to safeguard our oceans’ enormous environmental, economic, and cultural values, safeguard coastal communities, restore ecosystems, and defend against climate change. 

    Rep. Huffman’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act prohibits new oil and gas leases off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. Companion legislation was introduced today by Sen. Padilla.

    Rep. Pallone’s COAST Anti-Drilling Act permanently prohibits the U.S. Department of Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Companion legislation was introduced by Sen. Booker and Sen. Reed.

    Rep. Castor’s Florida Coast Protection Act places a permanent moratorium on oil and natural gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities off Florida’s coast. 

    Other offshore drilling legislation introduced by House Democrats include: 

    • New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025 (Rep. Magaziner)
    • Defend our Coast Act (Rep. Ross)
    • California Clean Coast Act of 2025 (Rep. Carbajal)
    • Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act (Rep. Levin)
    • Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025 (Rep. Panetta)

    Original cosponsors of the West Coast Ocean Protection Act

    House: Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), 

    Senate: Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Original cosponsors of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act 

    House: Representatives Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Thomas Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Robyn McIver (D-N.C.), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), David Scott (D-Ga.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

    Senate: Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Original cosponsors of the Florida Coast Protection Act 

    House: Representatives Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

    Read Statements of Support

    Supporters of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act include Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Earthjustice, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, Food & Water Watch, Waterspirit, Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic, Clean Ocean Action, Jersey Coast Anglers Association (NJ), American Littoral Society, Save Coastal Wildlife, Environmental Protection Information Center, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, National Aquarium, American Bird Conservancy, and Hispanic Access Foundation.

    Supporters of the West Coast Protection Act include Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.

    Supporters of the Florida Coastal Protection Act include Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Healthy Gulf, League of Conservation Voters, Environment America, Surfrider Foundation, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, Ocean Conservancy, Food & Water Watch, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Longhu Mountain boosts tourism with taoist culture, ecological conservation in E China

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

    Longhu Mountain boosts tourism with taoist culture, ecological conservation in E China

    Updated: April 28, 2025 20:48 Xinhua
    Tourists visit a Taoist temple at the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 6, 2025. Titled UNESCO Global Geopark, Longhu Mountain of Jiangxi Province is a natural site on World Heritage List and one of the birthplaces of Taoism in China. Taoism, or Daoism, is a 2,000-year-old religion that originated from Laozi’s philosophy. Its key doctrines include seeking harmony with the eternal cosmic order known as “Dao” and cherishing one’s life. In recent years, the Longhu Mountain scenic area has pioneered innovative mechanisms integrating culture and tourism, such as staging on-site performances and establishing Taoism-themed homestays, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of Taoist culture and the Danxia landform, characterized by reddish sandstone features. The scenic area has also balanced tourism development with ecological conservation by setting up 112 environmental monitoring points and reviving traditional manual poling for over 200 bamboo rafts, reducing pollution while enhancing the touring experience. Currently, the forest coverage rate in the scenic area has increased to 69.9 percent. Rare bird species such as the Chinese merganser have reappeared in the mountains, showcasing a positive interaction between ecological preservation and sustainable tourism development. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit a Taoist temple at the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Staff members monitor the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows tourists touring the Longhu Mountain scenic area on bamboo rafts in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists enjoy an on-site performance at the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists enjoy a performance at the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows tourists touring the Longhu Mountain scenic area on bamboo rafts in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Longhu Mountain scenic area in Yingtan, east China’s Jiangxi Province, March 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School Alums Take Their Teaching Skills Abroad, Changing Students’ Lives Around the World

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Neag School of Education alumni Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA; Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA; Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA; and Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA; have each embarked on remarkable journeys as educators, spanning continents and cultures. From their foundations at UConn to classrooms across the world, their careers highlight the transformative power of teaching beyond borders.

    “Time after time, our UConn participants have told me that studying and teaching abroad has been one of the most profound experiences of their lives,” says Doug Kaufman, the Neag School’s director of global education and an associate professor of curriculum and instruction. “I see it, too. Moving away from familiar and comfortable contexts has taught them how to recognize the diverse and powerful gifts that their students at home bring into the classroom.

    “Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all.”

    Stargardter’s passion for gifted education led her from Connecticut to Panama, Singapore, and Finland, shaping her global perspective. She says her experiences reinforce her belief in education as a universal force for change, transcending cultural and linguistic differences.

    Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all. &#8212 Doug Kaufman, Neag School’s director of global education

    Castro’s path to teaching went from Puerto Rico to Colombia, Costa Rica, and Taiwan, and he has embraced each opportunity with curiosity and openness. His teaching philosophy is rooted in adaptation and connection, ensuring meaningful relationships with students regardless of geography. As he prepares for fatherhood, he looks forward to the next chapter of his journey.

    For Kew, London became home. A study abroad trip led to a life-changing move across the Atlantic, where she has spent over a decade teaching and raising a family. Balancing work and her personal life, she cherishes her role as an educator in a diverse, evolving community.

    Emmenegger’s love for language and culture brought her from Connecticut to France, Portugal, and Switzerland. Teaching French and German in international schools, she exemplifies resilience and adaptability, proving that a commitment to education can create opportunities in unexpected places.

    Together, their stories illustrate the boundless impact of teaching, and the unique paths educators take to inspire students worldwide.

    Reconnecting with Family Roots

    From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of Gabriel Castro’s ’14 (ED), ’15 MA journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Castro)

    Education wasn’t Castro’s first choice — he entered UConn as a psychology major, uncertain of his career path. However, a mentorship role in a First-Year Experience course changed everything. Standing before a classroom, guiding new college students, he realized teaching was what he was meant to do.

    After graduating from the Neag School, he took his first teaching position in Puerto Rico, reconnecting with his roots. His mother had spent much of her childhood moving between Puerto Rico and Connecticut, and teaching at a K-12 school immersed him in a close-knit community.

    Three years in Puerto Rico deepened his love for international teaching and inspired him to explore the other half of his heritage. His father had emigrated from Colombia, and Castro wanted to experience the country firsthand. Moving to Colombia, he found a vibrant culture, rich with music festivals, soccer, and breathtaking landscapes. It was there he met his wife, Kismeth, a fellow international teacher from New York. He says their shared passion for education and adventure brought them together.

    They had intended to take a sabbatical year traveling through South America, but the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped their plans. With borders closing, they found temporary teaching positions in Costa Rica. Castro stepped in as a last-minute math teacher, navigating virtual classes, hybrid schedules, and masked interactions. Despite the challenges, Costa Rica was a paradise.

    My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well. &#8212 Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA

    “With tourism at a standstill, nature thrived,” he says. “Sloths and monkeys roamed undisturbed, and sunsets painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson.”

    As the world reopened, they faced their next big decision. Asia had always intrigued them, and Taiwan offered everything they wanted — an excellent school, a safe environment, and a strong culture of hiking, cycling, and running.

    Moving to Taiwan was a leap of faith but quickly felt like home. While the language barrier existed outside the classroom, Castro found his ability to connect with students transcended words.

    “My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well,” he says.

    From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of his journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. His classroom now extends beyond four walls, spanning countries, cultures, and languages, and he is preparing for an exciting new personal chapter: fatherhood.

    “I have an 11-month-old puppy, so I feel like I’ve been practicing in a way,” he says. “It’s a steep learning curve! But I’m excited to see how we can continue traveling with a baby and incorporating her into our adventures.”

    Finding Love While Abroad

    “It’s the children, really. Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special,” says Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Holland Kew)

    Fourteen years into her teaching career — first in Connecticut and then in London — Kew still finds joy in watching her students grow.

    “It’s the children, really,” she says. “Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special.”

    Having spent 10 years at the same London school, she has become deeply embedded in the community. She gets to know families, watches siblings pass through her classroom, and shares their triumphs and struggles.

    “Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others,” she says.

    Her path to teaching began in high school when she worked at an after-school program at her former elementary school in Connecticut. Later, as a camp director at a nature center, she solidified her love for mentoring. Her mother had always dreamed of being a teacher but never pursued it.

    Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others. &#8212 Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA

    “Maybe in a way, I was fulfilling that dream for both of us,” Kew says.

    A single decision changed her trajectory. Studying abroad in London while at the Neag School was supposed to be an adventure — an opportunity to explore a city she had loved since a family trip at 13. She hadn’t expected to meet her future husband just weeks into the program.

    They met in a pub, a chance encounter that turned into a long-distance relationship. After navigating time zones and transatlantic flights, they decided to marry. With her husband’s career established in London and the UK actively recruiting teachers, it made sense for Kew to move.

    Adjusting to teaching in England came with challenges. In Connecticut, Kew had more autonomy in her teaching, while curriculum and behavior management were standardized in London. Leadership opportunities came more readily, and she briefly considered administration but loved being in the classroom too much.

    Balancing work and family was another challenge. With four children — two daughters, 6 and 4, and toddler twins — her hands are full.

    “Honestly,” she says, “going to work feels like a break compared to being home!”

    London has become home in ways she never expected. During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband considered moving to the U.S. to be closer to her family, but something always held them back. London has given her a life she cherishes, a career she loves, a community she belongs to, and — most importantly — a family she has built from the ground up.

    Focused on All Things French

    Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons help her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence. (Photo courtesy of Yurah Robidas Emmenegger)

    Emmenegger, who taught for 15 years in Connecticut and now teaches in France, first became interested in education while teaching piano and tutoring in high school. With a mother who was also a teacher, it felt natural.

    “It just made sense that I would become a teacher,” she says.

    Growing up in Bristol and Plainville, Emmenegger developed a love for French through her mother, who had lived in Switzerland and Portugal.

    “She sang to us in French as kids,” Emmenegger says. “In high school, I jumped at the chance to study it.”

    A summer program in France in 2007 and the Neag School’s study abroad program in London during her master’s year of the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s teacher education program deepened her passion for language and curriculum planning.

    My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey. While I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be. &#8212 Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA

    After graduating, she taught French in Ellington, for three years but longed to live in France. She joined the French government’s teaching assistant program and was placed in Monté, where she lived with international assistants and did a weekly language exchange with another teacher. She spoke in English for half an hour for the language exchange to help the other teacher improve his English communication skills. Then, the other half specifically worked on improving her grammar.

    Since she couldn’t teach French in France, Emmenegger explored other opportunities. Her mother’s past in Portugal led her there for Christmas, where she fell in love with the country and found a teaching job. But her journey took an unexpected turn — she met her future husband in Switzerland. When the world shut down in 2020, they spent months apart. Determined to be together, they married in May 2021, and, by July, she had moved to Switzerland.

    Finding a teaching job there was challenging. She took a role at a private school, but it wasn’t the right fit.

    She joined the International School of Basel (ISB), but no French positions were available. Expanding her search, she took a six-month role at a Swiss public school, but left after half a year.

    ISB welcomed her back with an unexpected offer: teaching beginner German. Having learned German just two years earlier through Duolingo and night classes, she thought the interview offer was a joke. But ISB encouraged her. She took the leap and found herself in a supportive, engaging environment. ISB promised her priority for the next French opening, but no one wanted to leave — a testament to the school’s quality.

    Despite career uncertainties, Emmenegger and her husband were building a life together. He was teaching while finishing his studies, and they navigated the challenges of being an international couple.

    “You have to be open to moving,” she says. “Each time I relocated, I rebuilt my support system, making me appreciate my deep connections back home even more.”

    She says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons helped her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence.

    For those who love studying abroad, Emmenegger encourages taking the next step and teaching internationally, as she has no regrets.

    “My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey,” she says. “And while I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.”

    From UConn to Global Classrooms

    Jessica Stargardter’s ’16 (ED), ’17 MA teaching journey included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Stargardter)

    Stargardter’s journey as an educator has been extraordinary, spanning continents and shaping her perspective on the transformative power of teaching. After graduating from the Neag School, she began her career in Connecticut, teaching in Greenwich Public Schools before moving to Norwalk. There, she discovered her passion for gifted and talented education, an interest sparked during her time at UConn, where she worked at the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development.

    “I started filing papers at first, but then I received a grant to conduct research,” she says, which ignited a lifelong commitment to student potential.

    Stargardter’s dedication led her to teach abroad at the International School of Panama.

    “It was my first experience in a traditional classroom after working across grade levels,” she says. “I felt like a first-year teacher again, but it taught me so much about myself and the world.”

    She later moved to Singapore, where she found a more manageable cultural transition.

    “I was in a classroom with students from all over the world, each bringing something unique,” she says. “It was challenging but incredibly rewarding.”

    Teaching is more than just a profession. It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach. &#8212 Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA

    Teaching abroad reinforced her belief in education’s universal impact, transcending borders and backgrounds. Reflecting on what initially drew her to teaching, Stargardter credits her third-grade teacher, Mr. Simeone.

    “He gamified everything,” she says. “Learning was fun and engaging. I remember thinking I wanted to do the same for my students.”

    Her teaching journey also included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. Initially considering a career in academia, she realized how much she missed teaching, leading her back to the classroom and eventually to her move to Panama.

    Stargardter’s foundation for success was built at the Neag School, where extensive classroom experiences prepared her for any teaching environment.

    “Neag gave me the tools to step into my first classroom ready to succeed,” she says, crediting the program’s diverse placements for shaping her adaptable teaching philosophy.

    During her master’s year, Stargardter interned in London through one of the Neag School’s study abroad programs, working at a school for adolescents with mental health challenges. She says this experience reshaped her understanding of education, teaching her that learning extends beyond traditional classrooms.

    Her journey abroad has reinforced her belief in cross-cultural education’s power to broaden perspectives.

    “Teaching is more than just a profession,” she says. “It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach.”

    To learn more about the Neag School’s teacher education programs, visit teachered.education.uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Tension between India and Pakistan after attack in Kashmir: a Catholic among the victims

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Srinagar (Fides Agency) – The Parliament of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir passed a resolution today, April 28, expressing its dismay at the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam (Kashmir), which killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. The resolution pledges to resolutely combat “plans to disrupt harmony between communities and hinder progress.” Meanwhile, tensions remain high on the border between India and Pakistan following the attack by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, which India has described as an “act of war.” Violations of the ceasefire were reported for the fourth consecutive day along the Line of Control (LoC), the temporary border dividing Indian-controlled and Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir.Meanwhile, the Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative content and disinformation against India.On the Pakistani side, the government in Islamabad banned Indian airlines from using its airspace due to escalating tensions between the two countries. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that Pakistan “seeks peace in the region”: “Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism and has nothing to do with the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir,” he said. He reiterated that Pakistan was ready to “cooperate in a transparent and impartial investigation into the terrorist attack.” He recalled that the Pakistani people themselves had been victims of terrorism over the past two decades, with thousands of their citizens losing their lives. Commenting on India’s decision to suspend cooperation with Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, he said, “Using water as a weapon is unacceptable.”There is only one Catholic diocese (with about 7,000 faithful) in the Indian state of Kashmir, which covers the entire territory. The Bishop of Jammu-Srinagar, Ivan Pereira, expressed his deep shock and condemned the “horrific terrorist attack against innocent tourists.” “This senseless act of violence,” said Bishop Pereira, ‘casts a dark shadow on our collective conscience’ and constitutes ‘an attack on the sanctity of human life and a betrayal of the values we hold dear as a nation: peace, harmony, and the dignity of every human being.’ He assured that he would pray unceasingly for peace.Meanwhile, in central India, the Catholic community of the Diocese of Indore paid their respects and celebrated the funeral of Sushil Nathaniel, a 57-year-old Catholic who was one of the tourists killed in Kashmir. Nathaniel, regional director of an insurance company, was on vacation in Kashmir with his wife and two children, who managed to escape. According to his wife Jennifer, the terrorists stopped Nathaniel and asked him what his faith was. Nathaniel admitted he was Catholic. They then asked him to kneel and recite the “Kalima” (the six phrases that are the foundation of the Islamic faith, a declaration of loyalty to Allah), and Nathaniel confessed he did not know them. So they shot him in the head in cold blood. The Bishop of Indore, Monsignor Thomas Kuttimackal, celebrating the funeral, praised Nathaniel’s “courage in not hiding his faith even under threat of arms,” calling him “a martyr.” (PA) (Fides Agency 28/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Applications are being accepted for the seventh stream of the “Architects.rf” program

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The professional development program “Architects.rf”, launched in 2018 on behalf of the President, is being implemented by “DOM.RF” with the support of the Government and the Ministry of Construction of Russia. Since 2025, it has become part of the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”. On April 28, the selection stage for the new stream began, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

    “The President has set ambitious goals for the construction industry – not just to build a lot, but to do it well, with soul, creating a comfortable and beautiful environment for people to live in. Architecture is the face of our communities, and it is important that talented, courageous specialists who are able to combine functionality, aesthetics and modern technologies work in the country. The Architects.rf program helps to form a new generation of professionals who will change the face of Russia for the better. Today, about half of the graduates of previous streams work in government agencies and subordinate organizations. Applications for the seventh stream will be accepted until May 18. 100 specialists from different regions of Russia will again become participants in the program,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Not only qualified architects and urban planners, but also sociologists, ecologists, geographers, cultural scientists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists, lawyers and specialists in the field of tourism and communications are invited to participate in the competitive selection.

    “Over the past six years, the Architects.rf program has united more than 600 professionals working on the development of Russian cities – architects, urbanists, sociologists – all those who thoughtfully create a high-quality and modern urban environment for the residents of our country and future generations. By decision of the President, the deficit of specialists who are tasked with implementing strategies for the development of cities and agglomerations is being filled. Today, Architects.rf is both a platform for career growth and a springboard for realizing the ambitions of city managers, urban planners, and urbanists. Together, they are creating a new architectural culture for Russia while preserving the heritage of the past. Our educational program is an important tool for the high-quality and long-term development of territories: from dynamic megacities to small villages in the Far North,” said Vitaly Mutko, CEO of DOM.RF.

    At the first stage of the competitive selection, candidates will need to fill out a questionnaire and send a professional portfolio. Successful contestants will be offered a video interview. The final stage of the selection will be a meeting of the expert commission, which will determine the composition of the seventh stream of the leadership program.

    The finalists will undergo an educational program lasting approximately eight months, consisting of four full-time modules. It includes various training formats, including research trips around Russia and abroad, lectures, meetings with experts, and work in project groups. The students of the program will become part of a professional interdisciplinary community of graduates.

    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 –

    April 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed guesthouses during Easter holidays and before Labour Day holidays (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed guesthouses during Easter holidays and before Labour Day holidays (with photo) 
    A spokesman for the OLA said, “Based on intelligence gathered, the OLA carried out surprise inspections on 12 premises. Ten premises were suspected of operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses. The OLA will initiate prosecution on cases with sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation.”
     
    The spokesman stressed, “Operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses is a criminal offence, and such an offence leads to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel or guesthouse involved in a repeated offence.”
     
    Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc, to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information of unlicensed guesthouses advertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong to enable tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.
     
    Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA’s website to check whether the hotel or guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel or guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:00

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 28, 2025
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