NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Canada: LaSalle Causeway: Temporary closures for marine openings

    Source: Government of Canada News

    For immediate release

    Kingston, Ontario, April 11, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise the public that the LaSalle Causeway will be fully closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians to allow for the temporary opening of the main marine navigation channel during the following periods:

    • Saturday, April 19, from 6 am to 8 pm
    • Saturday, May 3, from 6 am to 8 pm
    • Saturday, May 17, from 6 am to 8 pm
    • Saturday, May 31, from 6 am to 8 pm

    During these periods, the removal of the modular bridge will begin at 6 am, with the marine channel expected to be open by 9 am. The marine channel will be closed at 5 pm to reinstall the bridge. The causeway is expected to reopen to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians by 8 pm.

    The full marine opening schedule for 2025 has not yet been confirmed. We continue to follow Transport Canada’s application process under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act.

    PSPC remains committed to sharing information as it becomes available. We encourage users to consult our public notices and social media channels for updates, along with the LaSalle Causeway page for any schedule changes after business hours.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Lagoons, Estuaries, and Enhance Coastal Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    April 11, 2025

    Washington, D.C.- Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Brian Mast (FL-21), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Jen Kiggans (VA-2) reintroduced the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act, which would revitalize federal efforts to strengthen and protect lagoons and estuaries. This bill would reauthorize and enhance the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) and require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work toward designating five new National Estuarine Research Reserves and to enhance the Reserve System.

    Congress established the CELCP to provide grants to state and local governments to protect coastal and estuarine areas deemed to have conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic value. This program supports locally driven efforts to protect coastal and estuarine lands for conservation, research, and recreation. CELCP’s authorization expired in fiscal year 2013 and other federal funding mechanisms ran out in 2017.

    The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would revive funding for CELCP at $60 million per year and expand the eligibility for program to include nongovernmental organizations. The bill would prioritize funding for projects in communities that lack resources for coastal hazards, areas threatened by climate change, and areas that might help mitigate the effects of environmental changes through blue carbon storage.

    The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would also support and expand the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), which the Tijuana River Estuarine Research Reserve is a part of. The NERRS is a network of 30 coastal sites covering 1.4 million acres designated to protect and study estuarine systems. The Reserves specialize in research and data monitoring to support conservation and management efforts locally and around the country.

    “As the proud representative of a coastal community, I know the critical role lagoons and estuaries play in safeguarding against environmental hazards and enhancing our local economy,” said Rep. Levin. “This bill restores a common-sense measure to protect coastal and estuary habitats. As we continue to find creative solutions to combat coastal erosion and rising sea levels, and protect our environment, I’m eager to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to advance this priority for our communities.”

    “Healthy estuaries are important to thriving coastal communities and a robust economy,” said Rep. Bonamici. “This bipartisan effort to conserve and rehabilitate these vital ecosystems will improve resilience along our country’s waterways and coasts, and I thank my co-sponsors for their support.”

    “Coastal Virginia is blessed to be home to a large network of estuaries and other wetlands that act as critical barriers against hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “Through this important legislation, we can provide state and local governments the resources they need ensure these lands in southeast Virginia and around the country are protected. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort to preserve our wetlands and support our coastal communities!”

    “Estuaries are an essential part of our community. The problems facing the Indian River Lagoon, Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie, and Lake Worth Lagoon have shown repeatedly that our work to protect and restore our waterways is not over,” said Rep. Brian Mast. “I’m proud to support the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act to reauthorize a successful program that allows us to better safeguard our coastal environments for future generations to come.”

    “With over 80 percent of America’s population living in coastal states, millions of hunters and anglers rely on coastal habitats to support recreational passions and economies. The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System have provided vital state and local stewardship for these habitats, safeguarding at-risk ecosystems and promoting public access for all. The TRCP is proud to support the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act, and we commend Reps. Levin, Mast, Bonamici, and Kiggans for working to reauthorize common-sense conservation funding,” said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

    “Surfrider applauds Representative Levin and the introduction of this bill to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program. For too long our shorelines and coastal wetlands have been overlooked as critical natural defenses against climate change. This bill will help bolster the resilience of vulnerable coastal ecosystems and communities from the impacts of sea level rise and climate change while protecting the rich habitats and wildlife that they support,” said Zach Plopper, Sr, Environmental Director, Surfrider Foundation

    “We welcome the reintroduction of the Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act which reauthorizes critical programs that will increase conservation of coastal land, improve estuarine data and research, and provide more public access and recreational opportunities in an era of massive coastal change. By balancing the protection, conservation, responsible use, and sustainable economic development of America’s coasts and ensuring every state can manage its own coastal zone, coastal communities and habitats can thrive into the future.” said Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of Coastal States Organization.

    “Thank you to Representatives Levin, Mast, Bonamici and Kiggans for their leadership; they know that as the challenges facing our coasts intensify, we need strong, effective programs that protect people, places, and economies,” said Rebecca Roth, director of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA). “The National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program are time tested initiatives that consistently meet coastal community needs with training, science, data, education, land protection and more. Reauthorization of these programs will ensure they remain a cornerstone of our national policy, a value added for states, and a direct benefit to local communities and economies for generations to come.”

    “Healthy estuaries support our coastal communities and serve as nurseries and feeding grounds for birds, fish, and other wildlife,” said Romaric Moncrieffe, marine conservation policy manager at the National Audubon Society. “The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act will fund the essential federal programs that protect coastal habitats from threats like sea-level rise, flooding, and erosion.”

    The bill would provide support for several estuary habitats in the 49th District and Southern California, including the San Mateo Lagoon, San Luis Rey River, and San Elijo Lagoon. Additionally, the bill would provide support to the Tijuana River Estuarine Research Reserve, which supports ecosystem management and the cleanup of the Tijuana River Valley.

    The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act is endorsed by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coastal States Organization, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation, Oceana, National Audubon Society, American Sportsfishing Association, National Wildlife Federation, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), American Shore & Beach Preservation Association, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), American Fisheries Society, North American Falconers Association, International Game Fish Association, Land Trust Alliance, Wild Salmon Center, and Angler Action Foundation.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GLOBE Mission Earth Supports Career Technical Education

    Source: NASA

    The NASA Science Activation program’s GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME) project is forging powerful connections between career technical education (CTE) programs and real-world science, inspiring students across the United States to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
    GME is a collaborative effort between NASA scientists, educators, and schools that brings NASA Earth science and the GLOBE Program into classrooms to support hands-on, inquiry-based learning. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international science and education program that provides students and the public with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system.
    By connecting students directly to environmental research and NASA data, GME helps make science more relevant, engaging, and applicable to students’ futures. In CTE programs—where project-based and work-based learning are key instructional strategies—GME’s integration of GLOBE protocols offers students the chance to develop not only technical skills, but also essential data literacy and professional competencies like collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. These cross-cutting skills are valuable across a wide range of industries, from agriculture and advanced manufacturing to natural resources and public safety.
    The real-world, hands-on approach of CTE makes it an ideal setting for implementing GLOBE to support STEM learning across industries. At Skyline High School in Oakland, California, for example, GLOBE has been embedded in multiple courses within the school’s Green Energy Pathway, originally launched by GLOBE partner Tracy Ostrom. Over the past decade, nearly 1,000 students have participated in GLOBE activities at Skyline. Many of these students describe their experiences with environmental data collection and interactions with NASA scientists as inspiring and transformative. Similarly, at Toledo Technology Academy, GME is connecting students with NASA science and renewable energy projects—allowing them to study how solar panels impact their local environment and how weather conditions affect wind energy generation.
    To expand awareness of how GLOBE can enhance CTE learning and career preparation, WestEd staff Svetlana Darche and Nico Janik presented at the Educating for Careers Conference on March 3, 2025, in Sacramento, California. This event, sponsored by the California chapter of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), brought together over 2,600 educators dedicated to equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in an evolving job market. Darche and Janik’s session, titled “Developing STEM Skills While Contributing to Science,” showcased GLOBE’s role in work-based learning and introduced new federal definitions from the Carl D. Perkins Act (Perkins V) that emphasize:

    Interactions with industry professionals
    A direct link to curriculum and instruction
    First-hand engagement with real-world tasks in a given career field

    GLOBE’s approach to scientific data collection aligns perfectly with these criteria. Janik led 40 educators through a hands-on experience using the GLOBE Surface Temperature Protocol, demonstrating how students investigate the Urban Heat Island Effect while learning critical technical and analytical skills. By collecting and analyzing real-world data, students gain firsthand experience with the tools and methods used by scientists, bridging the gap between classroom learning and future career opportunities.
    Through GME’s work with CTE programs, students are not only learning science—they are doing science. These authentic experiences inspire, empower, and prepare students for careers where data literacy, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving are essential. With ongoing collaborations between GLOBE, NASA, and educators nationwide, the next generation of STEM professionals is already taking shape—one real-world investigation at a time.
    GME is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC54A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem Reminds Foreign Nationals to Register or Face Legal Penalties

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Secretary Noem Reminds Foreign Nationals to Register or Face Legal Penalties

    ASHINGTON – Today, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reminded all foreign nationals present in the United Stated longer than 30 days that the deadline to register under the Alien Registration Act is coming up on April 11

      
    This law requires all aliens in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the federal government

    Failure to comply is a crime, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both

     
    “President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now

    If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” said Secretary Noem

    “The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws—we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce

    We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans

    ”
    BACKGROUND: 
    On January 20, 2025, President Donald J

    Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore order and accountability to our immigration system

    This includes enforcing the long-ignored Alien Registration Act

     
    COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS: 
    On or by April 11, 2025, the following will apply to all noncitizens, regardless of status: 

    Present in the U

    S

    for 30 days or more as of April 11, 2025, without registration evidence: Register immediately via USCIS

    Entering on or after April 11, 2025, without registration evidence: Register within 30 days of arrival

    Turning 14 in the U

    S

    : Re-register and submit fingerprints within 30 days of your 14th birthday, even if previously registered

    Parents or guardians of minors under 14: Register minors if they remain in the U

    S

    for 30 days or longer

    Upon registration and fingerprinting, DHS will issue proof of registration

    All noncitizens 18 and older must carry this documentation at all times

    This administration has directed DHS to prioritize enforcement, there will be no sanctuary for noncompliance

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s IMAP Arrives at NASA Marshall For Testing in XRCF  

    Source: NASA

    On March 18, NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) arrived at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for thermal vacuum testing at the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility, which simulates the harsh conditions of space.
    The IMAP mission is a modern-day celestial cartographer that will map the solar system by studying the heliosphere, a giant bubble created by the Sun’s solar wind that surrounds our solar system and protects it from harmful interstellar radiation. 

    Testing performed in the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility will help to assess the spacecraft before its journey toward the Sun. The IMAP mission will orbit the Sun at a location called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), which is about one million miles from Earth towards the Sun. From this location, IMAP can measure the local solar wind and scan the distant heliosphere without background from planets and their magnetic fields. The mission will use its suite of ten instruments to map the boundary of the heliosphere, analyze the composition of interstellar particles that make it through, and investigate how particles change as they move through the solar system. 
    Furthermore, IMAP will maintain a continuous broadcast of near real-time space weather data from five instruments aboard IMAP that will be used to test new space weather prediction models and improve our understanding of effects impacting our human exploration of space. 

    While inside the Marshall facility, the spacecraft will undergo dramatic temperature changes to simulate the environment during launch, on the journey toward the Sun, and at its final orbiting point. The testing facility has multiple capabilities including a large thermal vacuum chamber which simulates the harsh conditions of space such as extreme temperatures and the near-total absence of an atmosphere. Simulating these conditions before launch allow scientists and engineers to identify successes and potential failures in the design of the spacecraft. 

    “The X-ray and Cryogenic Facility was an ideal testing location for IMAP given the chamber’s size, availability, and ability to meet or exceed the required test parameters including strict contamination control, shroud temperature, and vacuum level,” said Jeff Kegley, chief of Marshall’s Science Test Branch. 
    The facility’s main chamber is 20 feet in diameter and 60 feet long, making it the 5th largest thermal vacuum chamber at NASA. It’s the only chamber that is adjoined to an ISO 6 cleanroom — a controlled environment that limits the number and size of airborne particles to minimize contamination. 
    The IMAP mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, no earlier than September. 

    Media Contact:
    Lane FigueroaMarshall Space Flight CenterHuntsville, Alabama256.544.0034lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Developed Tools at Marshall Support Operations to Station

    Source: NASA

    Two new automation tools developed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are geared toward improving operations for flight controllers working with the International Space Station from the Huntsville Operations Support Center.
    The tools, called AutoDump and Permanently Missing Intervals Checker, will free the flight control team to focus on situational awareness, anomaly response, and real-time coordination.
    The space station experiences routine loss-of-signal periods based on communication coverage as the space station orbits the Earth. When signal is lost, an onboard buffer records data that could not be downlinked during that period. Following acquisition of signal, flight controllers previously had to send a command to downlink, or “dump,” the stored data.
    The AutoDump tool streamlines a repetitive data downlinking command from flight controllers by detecting a routine loss-of-signal, and then autonomously sending the command to downlink data stored in the onboard buffer when the signal is acquired again. Once the data has been downlinked, the tool will automatically make an entry in the console log to confirm the downlink took place.
    “Reliably and quickly sending these dump commands is important to ensure that space station payload developers can operate from the most current data,” said Michael Zekoff, manager of Space Systems Operations at Marshall.

    Michael Zekoff
    Space Systems Operations Manager

    AutoDump was successfully deployed on Feb. 4 in support of the orbiting laboratory.
    The other tool, known as the Permanently Missing Intervals Checker, is another automated process coming online that will improve team efficiency.
    Permanently missing intervals are gaps in the data stream where data can be lost due to a variety of reasons, including network fluctuations. The missing intervals are generally short but are documented so the scientific community and other users have confirmation that the missing data is unable to be recovered.
    “The process of checking for and documenting permanently missing intervals is challenging and incredibly time-consuming to make sure we capture all the payload impacts,” said Nathan Walkenhorst, a NASA contractor with Bailey Collaborative Solutions who serves as a flight controller specialist.
    The checker will allow NASA to quickly gather and assess payload impacts, reduce disruptions to operations, and allow researchers to get better returns on their science investigations. It is expected to be deployed later this year.
    In addition to Walkenhorst, Zekoff also credited Ramon Pedoto, a software architect, and Tyrell Jemison, a NASA contractor and data management coordinator with Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc, for their work in developing the automation tools. The development of the tools also requires coordination between flight control and software teams at Marshall, followed by extensive testing in both simulated and flight environments, including spacecraft operations, communications coverage, onboard anomalies, and other unexpected conditions.
    “The team solicited broad review to ensure that the tool would integrate correctly with other station systems,” Zekoff said. “Automated tools are evaluated carefully to prevent unintended commanding or other consequences. Analysis of the tools included thorough characterization of the impacts, risk mitigation strategies, and approval by stakeholders across the International Space Station program.”
    The Huntsville Operations Support Center provides payload, engineering, and mission operations support to the space station, the Commercial Crew Program, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. The Payload Operations Integration Center within the Huntsville Operations Support Center operates, plans, and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
    For more information on the International Space Station, visit:
    www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Multistate Coalition in Opposing Tennessee Anti-Abortion Law

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in support of a challenge to Tennessee’s “abortion trafficking” law, which threatens to punish medical providers and residents alike for providing information or assistance to certain patients within Tennessee seeking to access lawful abortion care outside of Tennessee. In the brief, filed in Welty v. Dunaway, the coalition writes in support of plaintiffs-appellees, arguing that the law will chill the free flow of information and threaten access to safe and effective abortion care within their borders.  

    “Tennessee’s abortion laws are among the most restrictive in the nation. There are no exceptions for victims of rape or incest, despite the overwhelming support for those exceptions among Democrats and Republicans alike,” said Attorney General Bonta. “My fellow attorneys general and I are supporting the challenge to Tennessee’s so-called ‘abortion trafficking’ law because we have a sovereign interest in protecting access to safe and legal abortion care within our borders and preserving the free flow of information about that care. We will not be bullied by Tennessee or any other state.”

    Tennessee’s law, which took effect on July 1, 2024, purports to impose criminal and civil penalties on anyone who “recruits” a minor for the purpose of procuring an abortion, obtaining abortion medication, or concealing an abortion from the minor’s parents or legal guardian — even if the abortion at issue is accessed legally out of state. The plaintiffs-appellees in Welty v. Dunaway successfully obtained a preliminary injunction from a federal district court, blocking enforcement of this provision. Tennessee appealed and the case is now pending in the Sixth Circuit. 

    In their amicus brief, the attorneys general urge the Sixth Circuit to affirm the lower court’s injunction, writing that: 

    • Their States have chosen to preserve access to abortion care within their borders by enacting statutes that protect abortion access and by amending their constitutions to expressly guarantee the right to access abortion care. California’s Constitution, for example, explains that “[t]he state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion.”
    • Their States have received a surge of out-of-state patients, including patients from Tennessee, seeking reproductive care that they cannot access in their home states. Indeed, interstate travel for abortion care in the United States has nearly doubled since 2020.  
    • In light of the prohibitions on abortion care in Tennessee and other States, more and more individuals are turning to organizations, helplines, abortion funds, and other forms of assistance to secure abortion care. But these trusted individuals and organizations may choose to significantly limit their communications, or even to not speak at all, when threatened with harsh civil and criminal liability under laws like Tennessee’s. 
    • If medical providers and other residents of their States are not able to counsel individuals within Tennessee about their ability to obtain legal abortion care, those individuals — and especially minors — will face increased barriers to accessing safe care. This can result in delays in patients’ ability to access care, leading to increased health risks, lifelong complications, and death.  
    • By hampering the flow of information about lawful abortion care, Tennessee’s law increases the risks associated with such care, thus impairing their States’ commitment to ensuring safe and effective abortion care is available within their own borders. The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized that a State has no authority to prevent its residents from accessing abortion care in other States where it is legal — much less from accessing and sharing information about such care.

    Attorney General Bonta has joined two multistate amicus briefs challenging a similar Idaho law in Matsumoto v. Labrador when that case was before the district court in 2023 and the Ninth Circuit in 2024.

    In filing today’s amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bel Fuse Schedules First Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST ORANGE, N.J., April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB), a designer, manufacturer, and provider of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits, today announced plans to release preliminary financial results for the first quarter after market close on Thursday, April 24, 2025. An earnings conference call has been scheduled as follows:

    When: Friday, April 25, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET
    Dial in: 877.407.0784, or international: 201.689.8560
    Online: https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations
    How: Live over the internet – Simply log on to the web at the address above
    Replay: 844.512.2921, or international: 412.317.6671
      Conference ID: 13753007
       

    A replay will be available after 12:30 p.m. ET for 30 days following the call.

    About Bel
    Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the defense, commercial aerospace, networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel’s product groups include Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies), and Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components). The Company operates facilities around the world.

    Contacts:

    Bel Fuse Inc.

    Lynn Hutkin, VP Financial Reporting & Investor Relations
    ir@belf.com

    Three Part Advisors
    Jean Marie Young, Managing Director
    Steven Hooser, Partner
    jyoung@threepa.com
    shooser@threepa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In trade war with the US, China holds a lot more cards than Trump may think − in fact, it might have a winning hand

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Linggong Kong, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Auburn University

    When Donald Trump pulled back on his plan to impose eye-watering tariffs on trading partners across the world, there was one key exception: China.

    While the rest of the world would be given a 90-day reprieve on additional duties beyond the new 10% tariffs on all U.S. trade partners, China would feel the squeeze even more. On April 9, 2025, Trump raised the tariff on Chinese goods to 125%.

    The move, in Trump’s telling, was prompted by Beijing’s “lack of respect for global markets.” But the U.S. president may well have been smarting from Beijing’s apparent willingness to confront U.S. tariffs head on.

    While many countries opted not to retaliate against Trump’s now-delayed reciprocal tariff hikes, instead favoring negotiation and dialogue, Beijing took a different tack. It responded with swift and firm countermeasures. On April 11, China dismissed Trump’s moves as a “joke” and raised its own tariff against the U.S. to 125%.

    The two economies are now locked in an all-out, high-intensity trade standoff. And China is showing no signs of backing down.

    And as an expert on U.S.-China relations, I wouldn’t expect China to. Unlike the first U.S.-China trade war during Trump’s initial term, when Beijing eagerly sought to negotiate with the U.S., China now holds far more leverage.

    Indeed, Beijing believes it can inflict at least as much damage on the U.S. as vice versa, while at the same time expanding its global position.

    A changed calculus for China

    There’s no doubt that the consequences of tariffs are severe for China’s export-oriented manufacturers – especially those in the coastal regions producing furniture, clothing, toys and home appliances for American consumers.

    Amid tariffs, China’s President Xi Jinping senses a historic opportunity.
    Carlos Barria/AFP via Getty Images

    But since Trump first launched a tariff increase on China in 2018, a number of underlying economic factors have significantly shifted Beijing’s calculus.

    Crucially, the importance of the U.S. market to China’s export-driven economy has declined significantly. In 2018, at the start of the first trade war, U.S.-bound exports accounted for 19.8% of China’s total exports. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 12.8%. The tariffs may further prompt China to accelerate its “domestic demand expansion” strategy, unleashing the spending power of its consumers and strengthening its domestic economy.

    And while China entered the 2018 trade war in a phase of strong economic growth, the current situation is quite different. Sluggish real estate markets, capital flight and Western “decoupling” have pushed the Chinese economy into a period of persistent slowdown.

    Perhaps counterintuitively, this prolonged downturn may have made the Chinese economy more resilient to shocks. It has pushed businesses and policymakers to come to factor in the existing harsh economic realities, even before the impact of Trump’s tariffs.

    Trump’s tariff policy against China may also allow Beijing a useful external scapegoat, allowing it to rally public sentiment and shift blame for the economic slowdown onto U.S. aggression.

    China also understands that the U.S. cannot easily replace its dependency on Chinese goods, particularly through its supply chains. While direct U.S. imports from China have decreased, many goods now imported from third countries still rely on Chinese-made components or raw materials.

    By 2022, the U.S. relied on China for 532 key product categories – nearly four times the level in 2000 – while China’s reliance on U.S. products was cut by half in the same period.

    There’s a related public opinion calculation: Rising tariffs are expected to drive up prices, something that could stir discontent among American consumers, particularly blue-collar voters. Indeed, Beijing believes Trump’s tariffs risk pushing the previously strong U.S. economy toward a recession.

    U.S. President Donald Trump looks at Chinese President Xi Jinping during the plenary session at the G20 Summit on July 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany.
    Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

    Potent tools for retaliation

    Alongside the changed economic environments, China also holds a number of strategic tools for retaliation against the U.S.

    It dominates the global rare earth supply chain – critical to military and high-tech industries – supplying roughly 72% of U.S. rare earth imports, by some estimates. On March 4, China placed 15 American entities on its export control list, followed by another 12 on April 9. Many were U.S. defense contractors or high-tech firms reliant on rare earth elements for their products.

    China also retains the ability to target key U.S. agricultural export sectors such as poultry and soybeans – industries heavily dependent on Chinese demand and concentrated in Republican-leaning states. China accounts for about half of U.S. soybean exports and nearly 10% of American poultry exports. On March 4, Beijing revoked import approvals for three major U.S. soybean exporters.

    And on the tech side, many U.S. companies – such as Apple and Tesla – remain deeply tied to Chinese manufacturing. Tariffs threaten to shrink their profit margins significantly, something Beijing believes can be used as a source of leverage against the Trump administration. Already, Beijing is reportedly planning to strike back through regulatory pressure on U.S. companies operating in China.

    Meanwhile, the fact that Elon Musk, a senior Trump insider who has clashed with U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro against tariffs, has major business interests in China is a particularly strong wedge that Beijing could yet exploit in an attempt to divide the Trump administration.

    Chinese and U.S. flags fly at a booth during the first China International Import Expo on Nov. 6, 2018, in Shanghai.
    Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

    A strategic opening for China?

    While Beijing thinks it can weather Trump’s sweeping tariffs on a bilateral basis, it also believes the U.S. broadside against its own trading partners has created a generational strategic opportunity to displace American hegemony.

    Close to home, this shift could significantly reshape the geopolitical landscape of East Asia. Already on March 30 – after Trump had first raised tariffs on Beijing – China, Japan and South Korea hosted their first economic dialogue in five years and pledged to advance a trilateral free trade agreement. The move was particularly remarkable given how carefully the U.S. had worked to cultivate its Japanese and South Korean allies during the Biden administration as part of its strategy to counter Chinese regional influence. From Beijing’s perspective, Trump’s actions offer an opportunity to directly erode U.S. sway in the Indo-Pacific.

    Could China’s dragon economy slay Trump’s tariffs?
    Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

    Similarly, Trump’s steep tariffs on Southeast Asian countries, which were also a major strategic regional priority during the Biden administration, may push those nations closer to China. Chinese state media announced on April 11 that President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14-18, aiming to deepen “all-round cooperation” with neighboring countries. Notably, all three Southeast Asian nations were targeted with now-paused reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration – 49% on Cambodian goods, 46% on Vietnamese exports and 24% on products from Malaysia.

    Farther away from China lies an even more promising strategic opportunity. Trump’s tariff strategy has already prompted China and officials from the European Union to contemplate strengthening their own previously strained trade ties, something that could weaken the transatlantic alliance that had sought to decouple from China.

    On April 8, the president of the European Commission held a call with China’s premier, during which both sides jointly condemned U.S. trade protectionism and advocated for free and open trade. Coincidentally, on April 9, the day China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 84%, the EU also announced its first wave of retaliatory measures – imposing a 25% tariff on selected U.S. imports worth over €20 billion – but delayed implementation following Trump’s 90-day pause.

    Now, EU and Chinese officials are holding talks over existing trade barriers and considering a full-fledged summit in China in July.

    Finally, China sees in Trump’s tariff policy a potential weakening of the international standing of the U.S. dollar. Widespread tariffs imposed on multiple countries have shaken investor confidence in the U.S. economy, contributing to a decline in the dollar’s value.

    Traditionally, the dollar and U.S. Treasury bonds have been viewed as haven assets, but recent market turmoil has cast doubt on that status. At the same time, steep tariffs have raised concerns about the health of the U.S. economy and the sustainability of its debt, undermining trust in both the dollar and U.S. Treasurys.

    While Trump’s tariffs will inevitably hurt parts of the Chinese economy, Beijing appears to have far more cards to play this time around. It has the tools to inflict meaningful damage on U.S. interests – and perhaps more importantly, Trump’s all-out tariff war is providing China with a rare and unprecedented strategic opportunity.

    Linggong Kong 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. In trade war with the US, China holds a lot more cards than Trump may think − in fact, it might have a winning hand – https://theconversation.com/in-trade-war-with-the-us-china-holds-a-lot-more-cards-than-trump-may-think-in-fact-it-might-have-a-winning-hand-254173

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Myanmar, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (11 April 2025)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    People of African Descent
    Myanmar
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Syria
    Sudan
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Gabon
    Colombia
    International Maritime Organization
    Passover
    International Day of Human Space Flight
    Financial Contributions

    PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT
    On Monday at 10 am, the 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent that will kick off here at Headquarters under the theme “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence”. We will have the Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray will deliver the Secretary-General’s remarks.
    Over one thousand participants have registered to attend the session which will continue until Thursday next week. There will be discussions on reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent; human rights of women and girls of African descent; policymaking and systemic racism; digital justice, as well as on the bicentennial of the “Haitian independence debt.” Side events and cultural performances are also planned.
    A report on the Forum will be presented both to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly later this year. As usual, the meetings will all be broadcast on the UN webcast platform.

    MYANMAR
    In Myanmar – and just two weeks after the country was hit by two earthquakes, we and our partners have launched a $275 million appeal, which is an addendum to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to reach 1.1 million people with urgent aid and assistance.
    The earthquakes have pushed 2 million human beings into critical need of assistance and protection – that’s in addition to the 19.9 million people who were estimated to need humanitarian aid prior to this disaster.
    UN agencies, partners and Member States, have rapidly mobilized aid – including medical care, shelter, safe water, hygiene kits, and food.
    To further strengthen efforts on the ground, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated an additional $5 million for the earthquake response, on top of the $5 million already provided a few weeks ago.
    And the UN Human Rights Office today said civilians are continuing to suffer as military operations persist, despite ceasefires declared after last month’s tragic earthquake.
    At a moment when the sole focus should be on ensuring humanitarian aid gets to disaster zones, the military is instead launching attacks, that was what our human rights colleagues said. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the military to remove any and all obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to of course cease military operations.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    Moving to the situation in Gaza, our humanitarian colleagues tells us that earlier today, Israeli authorities issued two new displacement orders covering vast areas in northern and southern Gaza. Together, these areas span more than 24 square kilometres – roughly the size of everything south of Central Park here in Manhattan.
    Several medical facilities and storage sites containing critical supplies are located within the newly designated displacement zones. And OCHA warns that this could have life-threatening consequences for people in urgent need of care.
    With this latest development, OCHA reports that more than two thirds of the Gaza Strip is either under active displacement orders or designated as “no-go” zones – that’s areas where humanitarian teams are required to coordinate their movements with Israeli authorities.
    This leaves Palestinians with less than a third of Gaza’s area to live in – and that remaining space is fragmented, it’s unsafe and it’s barely livable following 18 months of hostilities, which are ongoing. Overcrowded shelters which are in terrible conditions, service providers are struggling to operate, and resources are being depleted.
    The UN Human Rights Office today said that the nature and scope of the Israeli evacuation orders in Gaza raise serious concerns that Israel intends permanently to remove the civilian population from these areas in order to create a “buffer zone.”
    OCHA reminds us that today marks 40 days since Israeli authorities imposed a full closure on the entry of cargo into Gaza. Since then, no one – including we and our humanitarian partners – have been permitted to bring in supplies, regardless of how critically needed those items may be.
    Everything is running extremely low: Bakeries have shut down, life-saving medicines have run out, and water production has been drastically reduced.
    Israel, as the occupying power, as the Secretary-General said earlier this week, has clear obligations under international law, and these include ensuring food, medical care and public health services are available.

    Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=11%20April%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQlHmFk0Euc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Sudan: World’s largest humanitarian crisis in terms of displacement – Presser | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Press Conference by Shaun Hughes, World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Emergency Coordinator for the Sudan Crisis, on the situation in Sudan.

    ————————————-

    Senior World Food Programme (WFP) official in Sudan Shaun Hughes said, “By any metric, this is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in terms of displacement,” adding that “four out of every five people displaced are women and children.”

    Hughes briefed reporters remotely from Nairobi today (10 Apr) on the situation in Sudan.

    He said, “12.7 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Over eight million people displaced internally, and four million across borders arriving to countries that are already facing high levels of hunger and humanitarian needs.”

    In terms of hunger, the WFP official said, “this is the only place in the world where famine is currently confirmed, and only the third famine to be classified this century.”

    Hughes continued, “The scale of what is unfolding in Sudan threatens to dwarf much of what we’ve seen over previous decades. In the Zamzam camp alone, which has been under siege for several months. There are over 400,000 people.”

    The Regional Emergency Coordinator added, “Across the country, nearly 25 million people, or half the population, face extreme hunger. Nearly five million children and mothers are acutely malnourished.”

    “This is a man-made crisis, man-made because it is driven by conflict, not by drought or floods or earthquakes, and man-made because of the obstruction of access to humanitarian assistance by parties to the conflict,” the WFP official stressed.

    Hughes highlighted that WFP’s goal is to scale up to reach seven million people by mid-year, “focusing primarily on those 27 areas that are classified as in famine or risk of famine.”

    He continued, “we need to be able to quickly move humanitarian assistance to where it is needed, including through frontlines, across borders, within contested areas, and without lengthy bureaucratic processes.”

    “We need to re-establish offices and staff presence across all areas of the country, including the Darfur and Kordofan states, so that we can be close to the people we serve and monitor assistance and the situation as it unfolds. We need to be able to obtain visas for staff and custom clearances for goods and equipment,” the WFP official added.

    He stressed that humanitarian agencies alone don’t have the influence to negotiate this, “it requires the world to pay attention and coherent and tenacious engagement from the international community, particularly countries that have influence on those waging war.”

    The Regional Emergency Coordinator for Sudan Crisis, World Food Programme (WFP):
    For the next six months in Sudan, in order to reach the objective of assisting seven million people, WFP has an 80 percent funding gap amounting to $650 million and another $150 million shortfall to take care of people that are fleeing across borders into Chad, into South Sudan, into the Central African Republic and elsewhere.

    “Without funding, we’re faced with the choice to either cut the number of people receiving assistance, or to cut the amount of assistance that people receive,” Hughes said.

    He explained that the cut is already happening. “This month, we’ve reduced rations in famine areas to 70 percent of what people need, and in areas that are at risk of famine to 50 percent. The funding we need is not only for food assistance, but also for the joint services that we provide to the broader humanitarian response, including humanitarian air services and logistics services,” Hughes said.

    Asked about the funding gap, the WFP official said, “none can be attributed to the broader cuts in US foreign assistance. Fortunately, all allocations that the US government has made to Sudan remain effective, for which we are grateful.”

    “I think more broadly that the outlook globally for funding of humanitarian assistance is quite disastrous due to a number of changes in the approach by donors,” he concluded.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: I AM VA: Brandy Goodwin bridges care gap for Native American Veterans in Oklahoma

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Brandy Goodwin, a dedicated nurse with deep roots in the Native American and Veteran communities, is bridging health care gaps for tribal Veterans in Eastern Oklahoma.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-lpOL4F_qY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Pfluger Joins Punchbowl News to Discuss Investing in America

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

    Rep. Pfluger on the budget resolution in the House:

    “Any bill that we get to, has to be deficit-reducing. We have to look the American public in the eye and give them the confidence that we care about this, that we actually care about extending those tax cuts and doing the things for our children, for our grandchildren, that we leave them a better country. So I can get there. I’m hopeful that we move this process along because look, winning is fun. We’ve gotten a taste of winning with a couple of different things lately. Let’s keep that going.”

    Rep. Pfluger on why private equity, private business, and private enterprise are so attractive in Texas:

    “I love Texas. I love being from there. It’s pro-business. It’s pro-family. The regulatory nature goes back to us being a nation, and that is like, just leave us alone. We can do this.And I think that is true today. People see that environment and they know whether you’re a semiconductor company, an oil and gas company, or any of the new tech startups – I mean, look at the AI data centers that are coming into West Texas to harness the energy we have – so I think it’s a business environment, it’s an attitude, it’s an ability to raise your family. You know, these, these folks that are looking at it going, oh yeah, that’s that’s a really nice place to go be and raise a family. So I think it has to do with all that. But I think the most important thing is that when companies come to Texas and they start or they continue operations, they succeed. They make money for their investors, they make money for their company. They add to our GDP, and it’s because of those factors that I just outlined, and success just breeds this desire to be there.

    Rep. Pfluger on private investment and carried interest in Texas:

    “Private investment, especially in energy, in the last six to seven years has been the name of the game. The banks left the energy sector for the most part because of ESG and because of other factors. So all these private investors got together, and they realized that they could do it quicker. They could do it with less regulations. They could skip the government regulatory nature, and there’s provisions like carried interest and other things that are really important to these guys, because they want to see activity. They want to see the demand that they are servicing continue. So these are big provisions that we’re working through that I’m incredibly in favor of…

    “I think that this [carried interest] has been fundamental to the energy sector. It’s been fundamental to the investment we’ve seen the fact that we are now energy dominant, and I get where they [those who oppose carried interests] are coming from. I understand that. That’s a long-standing point of view. But for us, I think we just need an educational moment to talk about what has happened in the Permian Basin, and what has happened in the energy sector. I think with that education, my colleagues could really get to the point where they understand it.”

    Watch the full interview HERE.

    Read a recap of the event from Punchbowl News HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Salazar Introduces the NO FAKES Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Maria Salazar (FL-27) introduced the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act along with Reps. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), and Joe Morelle (NY-25). The legislation protects the voice and likeness of all individuals from unauthorized, computer-generated recreations from generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.

    The Senate version of the bill is being introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

    “In this new era of AI, we need real laws to protect real people,” said Rep. Salazar. “The NO FAKES Act is simple and sacred: you own your identity—not Big Tech, not scammers, not algorithms. Deepfakes are digital lies that ruin real lives, and it’s time to fight back.”

    “The NO FAKES Act works to tackle the risk that AI poses to artists, content creators, and the victims of deep fakes. The realities of new AI technology breakthroughs mean we must establish a clear right to control digital replicas of one’s own voice and image. And this is a common sense, bipartisan proposal. I’m grateful to work with Representatives Dean and Salazar to safeguard America’s artists and creators, ensuring that AI’s potential is harnessed for good,” saidRep. Balint.

    “A.I. deepfakes are a serious threat to privacy and intellectual property—and if we don’t act, the damage will only grow,” said Rep. Morelle. “That’s why I’m backing the bipartisan NO FAKES Act to modernize our laws, promote innovation, and keep people safe.”

    From the biggest entertainers to everyday Americans, non-consensual voice and image clones can ruin careers, deceive families and friends, and traumatize victims. The American people need clear rules that empower individuals to control their own faces and voices while encouraging innovation and ensuring that the United States remains the world leader on artificial intelligence.

    “While AI has opened the door to countless innovations, it has also exposed creators and other vulnerable individuals to online harms,” said Senator Blackburn. “Tennessee’s creative community is recognized around the globe, and the NO FAKES Act would help protect these individuals from the misuse and abuse of generative AI by holding those responsible for deepfake content to account.”

    “Nobody—whether they’re Tom Hanks or an 8th grader just trying to be a kid—should worry about someone stealing their voice and likeness,” said Senator Coons. “Incredible technology like AI can help us push the limits of human creativity, but only if we protect Americans from those who would use it to harm our communities. I am grateful for the bipartisan partnership of Senators Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis, the support of colleagues in the House, and the endorsements of leaders in the entertainment industry, the labor community, and firms at the cutting edge of AI technology.”

    “While AI presents extraordinary opportunities for technological advancement, it also poses some new problems, including the unauthorized replication of the voice and visual likeness of individuals, such as artists,” said Senator Tillis. “We must protect against such misuse, and I’m proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation to create safeguards from AI, which will result in greater protections for individuals and that which defines them.”

    “Americans from all walks of life are increasingly seeing AI being used to create deepfakes in ads, images, music, and videos without their consent,” said Senator Klobuchar. “We need our laws to be as sophisticated as this quickly advancing technology. The bipartisan NO FAKES Act will establish rules of the road to protect people from having their voice and likeness replicated through AI without their permission.”

    “As AI’s prevalence grows, federal law must catch up—we must support technological innovation while preserving the privacy, safety, and dignity of all Americans,” said Representative Dean. “By granting everyone a clear, federal right to control digital replicas of their own voice and likeness, the NO FAKES Act will empower victims of deep fakes; safeguard human creativity and artistic expression; and defend against sexually explicit deepfakes. I’m grateful to work with a bipartisan group of colleagues on common sense, common ground regulations of this new frontier of AI.”

    The NO FAKES Act will:

    • Recognize that every individual has a federal intellectual property right to their own voice and likeness—including an extension of that right for the families of individuals after they pass away;

    • Empower individuals to take action against bad actors who knowingly create, post, or profit from unauthorized digital copies of them;

    • Protect responsible media platforms from liability if they take down offending materials when they discover them;

    • Ensure innovation and free speech are protected; and

    • Provide a nationwide solution to a patchwork of state laws and regulations by January 2, 2025.

     

    ENDORSEMENTS

    This legislation is endorsed by the Recording Industry Association of America; Motion Picture Association; SAG-AFTRA; YouTube; Recording Academy; OpenAI; Warner Music Group; Universal Music Group; Sony Music; The Walt Disney Company; IBM; Vermillio; Hive; Independent Film & Television Alliance; WME; Creative Artists Agency; Human Artistry Campaign; National Association of Broadcasters; the Model Alliance; ASCAP; Nashville Songwriters Association International; the Authors Guild; the National Center on Sexual Exploitation; Television Academy; Enough is Enough; American Association of Independent Music; and more.

    “This bill proves that we can prioritize the growth of AI and protecting American creativity at the same time. We applaud the Senate and House sponsors driving this legislation that provides balanced and effective protections for all individuals against exploitative uses of their voice and likeness while supporting free speech, reducing litigation and achieving the promise of AI technology,” said Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman & CEO.

    “The NO FAKES Act thoughtfully establishes federal protections for performers from generative AI abuse while also respecting creators’ First Amendment rights and freedoms,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA). “The MPA thanks Senators Blackburn, Coons, Klobuchar, and Tillis for re-introducing this bill. Specifically, we appreciate the inclusion of safeguards intended to prevent the chilling of constitutionally protected speech such as biopics, docudramas, parody, and satire. This is necessary for any new law to be durable. The MPA will continue to work closely with the bill’s sponsors as the NO FAKES Act makes its way into law.”

    “In the age of digital clones, deepfakes can be devastating,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, SAG-AFTRA. “We all deserve the right to demand platforms remove illegal voice and image clones, and to seek damages from those who intentionally cause harm. Thank you Senators Blackburn, Coons, Klobuchar, and Tillis for reintroducing the NO FAKES Act. As innovation continues to rapidly evolve, it’s time for commonsense legislation that defends individual rights.”

    “For nearly two decades, YouTube has been at the forefront of handling rights management at scale, and we understand the importance of collaborating with partners to tackle these issues proactively. Now, we’re applying that expertise and dedication to partnership to ensure the responsible deployment of innovative AI tools. We thank Senators Coons and Blackburn, and Representatives Salazar and Dean, for their leadership on the NO FAKES Act, which is consistent with our ongoing efforts to protect creators and viewers, and reflects our commitment to shaping a future where AI is used responsibly,” said Leslie Miller, VP of Public Policy, YouTube. 

    “The Academy is proud to represent and serve creators, and for decades, GRAMMYs on the Hill has brought music makers to our nation’s capital to elevate the policy issues affecting our industry. Today’s reintroduction of the NO FAKES Act underscores our members’ commitment to advocating for the music community, and as we enter a new era of technology, we must create guardrails around AI and ensure it enhances – not replaces – human creativity. We thank Senators Blackburn and Coons, and Representatives Dean and Salazar for their unwavering support on this issue, and we look forward to working alongside them to pass the NO FAKES Act this Congress,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO, Recording Academy. 

    “OpenAI is happy to once again support the NO FAKES Act, which supports creators and artists. We applaud Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis for their leadership, and we look forward to working with the sponsors and fellow supporters as this legislation moves forward,” said OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane.  

    “I applaud Senators Blackburn and Coons and Representatives Salazar and Dean for their leadership in introducing the NO FAKES Act. This bill reflects what can happen when tech and creative industries come together – foster cutting edge innovation while protecting human identity and artistry. We look forward to working with key members of the US Senate and House to help pass the NO FAKES Act this year,” said Robert Kyncl, Warner Music Group CEO.

    “Universal Music Group applauds the reintroduction of the NO FAKES Act – landmark, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address ‘deepfakes’ and other threats to individuals’ rights to control their own voice and visual likeness,” said Universal Music Group. “At once, this legislation secures First Amendment protections and takes a critical step to ensure all Americans can protect and control their own persona. We are grateful to the bill’s sponsors for their thoughtful leadership on this important issue.”

    “Sony Music is proud to support the No FAKES Act to promote the ethical use of AI and give artists more control over their identity and creative expression,” said Sony Music. “Thank you to the Senate and House sponsors for continuing to champion this bipartisan legislation, which will provide meaningful protections against the unauthorized use of an artist’s voice and image. We look forward to working towards passage of this legislation allowing AI innovation and creativity to flourish.” 

    “Disney is pleased to support the reintroduction of the NO FAKES Act. We look forward to working with the sponsors to see this legislation enacted to ensure important and meaningful protections for individuals against misuse of their image and voice through AI while maintaining critical speech protections for legitimate storytelling rooted in the First Amendment,” said the Walt Disney Company.

    “AI is now widely used across sectors, and as advancements continue, it’s vital to protect creators and individuals from potential deepfake risks,” said Mike Harney, Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs, IBM. “IBM supports the NO FAKES Act, which safeguards individuals from unauthorized AI replication of their images, voices, or likenesses. We thank Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis for their leadership on this important bipartisan legislation.”

    “The NO FAKES Act makes a critical stride towards establishing NIL protections that deliver consent, credit, compensation, and control to all Americans,” said Dan Neely, Co-Founder and CEO, Vermillio. “With deepfakes representing only one piece of a much larger battle against unauthorized content, the entertainment industry must implement robust AI safeguards to protect American creativity, one of our most valuable assets. We appreciate the leadership Senators Coons, Blackburn, Tillis, and Klobuchar, who recognize the essential role of cutting-edge technologies in delivering national security, protecting all citizens, and closing vulnerabilities that allow bad actors to misuse AI.”

    “The development of AI-generated media and AI detection technologies must evolve in parallel,” said Kevin Guo, CEO and cofounder of Hive. “We envision a future where AI-generated media is created with permission, clearly identified, and appropriately credited. We stand firmly behind the NO FAKES Act as a fundamental step in establishing oversight while keeping pace with advancements in artificial intelligence to protect public trust and creative industries alike.”

    “The Independent Film & Television Alliance® supports the NO FAKES Act and thanks lead sponsors Senators Coons and Blackburn, and sponsors Senators Klobuchar and Tillis, for their ongoing efforts to enact this bill,” said Jean Prewitt, President and CEO, IFTA. “This essential legislation establishes a standardized federal solution to prevent the unauthorized exploitation of an individual’s voice, image and likeness, upholds crucial First Amendment safeguards to protect free speech, and includes an important preemption clause.”

    “We view technology as a complement, not a substitute, for human artistry,” said Christian Muirhead, Co-Chairman, WME. “Guardrails must be put into place that ensure continued innovation while protecting our clients’ name, image, likeness, and voice. We thank Senators Coons, Blackburn, Tillis, and Klobuchar for recognizing the urgency of this issue, and will continue to work with them to ensure all artists and our clients remain at the center of this vital legislation.”

    “As advancements in AI continue to move at an unprecedented pace, so too must our legal frameworks. We thank Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis for creating this legislation that ensures artists maintain control over how their name, image, likenesses, voice, and IP are used. These forward-thinking policies are an essential first step to navigating this new digital era, striking a critical balance between innovation and strong protections,” said Bryan Lourd, CEO and Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

    “The Human Artistry Campaign stands for preserving essential qualities of all individuals – beginning with a right to your own voice and image. The NO FAKES Act is an important step towards necessary protections that also support free speech and AI development. The Human Artistry Campaign commends Senators Blackburn and Coons and Representatives Salazar, Dean, Moran, and Balint for shepherding bipartisan support for this landmark legislation, a necessity for every American to have a right to their own identity as highly realistic voice clones and deepfakes become more pervasive,” said Dr. Moiya McTier, Human Artistry Campaign Senior Advisor.

    “NAB applauds Senators Blackburn and Coons for reintroducing the NO FAKES Act, which takes an important step toward protecting trusted broadcast journalists, local radio hosts and other on-air personalities from the unauthorized use of their voice, image or likeness. Broadcasters play a vital role in keeping communities informed, and the spread of deceptive deepfakes undermines both individual rights and public trust. This bipartisan bill offers meaningful safeguards while respecting First Amendment protections, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance it,” said the National Association of Broadcasters. 

    “As AI adoption grows, workers whose livelihoods depend on their image face a new frontier of exploitation: their digital replica being used without consent. That’s why the Model Alliance is proud to endorse the NO FAKES Act, which will empower individuals to control their digital likeness,” said Sara Ziff, Founding Director of Model Alliance. “As image-based workers who lack union protection, models are the canary in the coal mine. Federal standards for AI use are urgently needed to protect all individuals, particularly those whose image is their livelihood.”

    “American songwriters and other music creators need Congress to put human beings first and pass laws that ensure transparency, consent, compensation, credit, and global consistency when it comes to generative AI. ASCAP commends this bipartisan group of leaders for introducing legislation that recognizes the value of human creativity to AI development,” said Elizabeth Matthews, CEO of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

    “NMPA is proud to support the reintroduction of the No Fakes Act. In an era where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the creative landscape, it is critical that we protect the rights of creators from exploitation, fraud, and misuse. We commend Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis for their leadership in protecting songwriters and artists from illicit theft of their work. By establishing new protections against the harmful use of digital replicas, the No Fakes Act will provide the necessary framework to ensure that AI serves as a tool to enhance creativity rather than undermine the rights of those who create it. We urge the Senate to move swiftly in passing this critical legislation and securing the protections the creative community deserves,” said David Israelite, President and CEO, The National Music Publishers Association. 

    “The NO FAKES Act is an extremely important part of the puzzle in protecting human creators in the age of generative Artificial Intelligence. We applaud Senators Blackburn and Coons for introducing this bill in recognition that it should be a person’s right to protect their own voice and likeness and use it in only the ways they see fit. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) strongly supports the NO FAKES Act and urges Congress to pass and enact this legislation expeditiously in the interest of protecting our creators,” said Jennifer Purdon Turnbow, COO of Nashville Songwriters Association International. 

    “The Authors Guild thanks Senators Chris Coons, Marsha Blackburn, Thom Tillis, and Amy Klobuchar for introducing the NO FAKES Act,” said Mary Rasenberger, CEO, Authors Guild. “It marks a significant step in protecting creators’ rights to their own persona. By prohibiting the unauthorized use of AI-generated replicas in audiovisual and sound recordings and establishing clear legal guidelines and liability for misuse, this bill helps safeguard creators from unauthorized and unpaid uses of their images and voices.”

    “Imagine waking up one morning to find your face or the face of someone you love manipulated into sexually explicit imagery—distributed online for the world to see. This is now the reality we face. The proliferation of nonconsensual digital depictions has exploded online: 98% of deepfake videos online today are pornographic, and 99% of these deepfakes explicitly target women. The NO FAKES Act offers vital relief for victims by providing a path to seek justice through civil remedies,” said Haley McNamara, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Programs, National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

    “Representing nearly 30,000 members across all disciplines of the television industry, the Television Academy supports the NO FAKES Act and applauds Senators Coons and Blackburn for working on this important bill. Television is built on the talent, creativity, and hard work of real people – writers, producers, and TV executives to camera operators and cinematographers who bring stories to life. As artificial intelligence and digital replication technologies evolve, it is essential to put in place meaningful protections that prevent the unauthorized and exploitative use of performers’ voices, likenesses, and creative expressions. The Television Academy supports the NO FAKES Act to establish clear federal protections that uphold the rights of television professionals and the creative foundation of the television industry,” said the Television Academy.

    “Senator Blackburn (R) has long been a champion of protecting children and families from the harms of online exploitation and abuse and we proudly support her efforts, as well as her co-sponsor Senator Coons (D) in introducing the bi-partisan NO FAKES Act. As technology evolves exponentially, so do those who exploit these technologies at the expense of others. While artificial intelligence is increasingly relied upon to educate, inform, and create, it can also be used by bad actors to harm through the growing problem of ‘deepfakes’ and fraudulent unauthorized computer generated recreations of an individual’s voice or visual likeness. The NO FAKES Act would protect against such nonconsensual digital replications by providing harmed individuals with the ability to hold civilly liable those responsible for producing and distributing such content as well as the platforms who knowingly host such unauthorized content. AI can be a wonderful tool with vast benefits, but we must guard against its misuse to produce nonconsensual voice or visual replicas! No one is immune and we encourage Congress to move thoughtfully and aggressively forward to pass bi-partisan laws that prioritize the safety of both children and adults in the digital world,” said Donna Rice Hughes, CEO/President of Enough Is Enough.

    “GenerativeAI development is moving at lightning speed, without the guardrails needed to make sure that artists who spend lifetimes developing their art don’t see their livelihoods eaten along with untold harm to America’s creative culture. The NO FAKES Act would arm our community of over 550 independent labels with a new tool to combat the egregious theft of artists’ professional identities by big tech behemoths intent on winning at all costs. We are so thankful to our champions in the House and Senate for introducing the NO FAKES Act today,” said Dr. Richard James Burgess, President and CEO of the American Association of Independent Music. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ramirez, CHC Chair Espaillat, 26 Members of Congress Demand DHS Ends its Immigration Registry

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    In a letter to DHS, Ramirez is demanding the Administration rescind the registry and abandon plans to develop any new registration process

    Washington, DC — Today, as Trump’s immigration registry program starts, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Hispanic Caucus Chair Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led 26 members of Congress in condemning the administration’s unconstitutional and racially discriminatory registration rule. The “Alien Registration Form and Evidence of Registration,” takes effect today, April 11, 2025, and requires some undocumented migrants to register with the federal government. The Trump administration has signaled it will use registry information to advance their mass deportation agenda.

    Ramirez, Espaillat, Members of Congress, and experts are raising the alarm that the policy would “create essentially a nation-wide ‘show-me-your-papers’ regime.” In a detailed letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Acting Director Kika Scott, the members of Congress oppose the rule because:

    • Undermines constitutional protections and will lead to racial profiling of legal residents
    • Impacts the economic and workforce participation in communities
    • Enforces an outdated policy in contradiction to current immigration law and policy
    • Lacks meaningful feedback from community members and experts

    “The rule, as written, raises serious constitutional concerns, fails to adequately address privacy protections, and does not seriously consider the costs imposed on federal, state, and local governments as a result of its implementation and enforcement,” wrote the members of Congress. “We highly condemn this Interim Final Rule and aim to work with our colleagues to establish adequate guardrails to ensure the rights and liberties afforded to every individual in the U.S. by the Constitution are protected and respected […] We call on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately rescind this IFR and abandon plans to develop a new registration process.”

    While Congressional offices cannot provide legal counsel or advice, Ramirez encourages immigrants to consult with a trusted immigration attorney to understand the risks registration might present for them. They can reach out to Immigrant Rights Groups, like ICIRR at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY and learn more about their rights at NILC.org (Know Your Rights: Trump’s Registration Requirement for Immigrants – NILC).

    For the full letter, CLICK HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salazar, Díaz-Balart, Giménez Applaud President Daniel Noboa’s Leadership, U.S.-Ecuador Security Cooperation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), House Appropriations Vice Chair and Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee; and Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security issued the following joint statement commending Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s leadership as a valued and key partner in the region: 

    “We commend President Daniel Noboa’s leadership and continued commitment to advancing regional security and stability. Under his Administration, Ecuador has become a valued partner in combatting transnational drug trafficking, countering Communist China’s malign influence, and addressing the illegal and damaging fishing activities near the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

    “As the people of Ecuador prepare to cast their votes in this crucial election on Sunday, April 13, it is imperative that Ecuador continue strengthening its democratic institutions and deepening its commitment to transparency and the rule of law. We look forward to our countries continuing to expand our defense and security cooperation, which will enhance joint efforts to address critical challenges in the region while upholding our shared democratic values.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Catering to kids in the Emergency Department

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Nurses Maddie, John and Alison in the new Canberra Hospital Emergency Department children’s area, which opens on 17 August.

    When Canberra Hospital’s new, larger Emergency Department (ED) opens this month, it will include a dedicated emergency area for children.

    This special unit’s design has children and families front of mind.

    There, children, families and carers can stay together in an area separate to the rest of the ED.

    This will help meet patients’ medical and psychosocial needs, as well as those of their families and carers.

    The children’s emergency area will have a separate triage and waiting area.

    In addition, an interactive display and access to an outdoor play courtyard will offer kids a welcoming, positive environment while they wait for treatment.

    Treatment rooms will be equipped with distraction therapies. There will also be a sensory room – a calming, reassuring space for neurodiverse patients and those with other special needs.

    “The emergency department can be an overwhelming place for paediatric patients,” Alison, an Emergency Department nurse, said.

    “Having such welcoming space and activities to do while waiting will make a big difference for them,” she said.

    The ED is planned to move to the new Critical Services Building – Building 5 at Canberra Hospital – on 17 August.

    Find out more at Built for CBR.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Participate in Love Our NY Lands Stewardship Days

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State agencies and partners will celebrate a series of stewardship events to help enhance parks, historic sites, environmental education centers, campgrounds, state forests, wildlife management areas, and a variety of public lands as part of the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days. Service projects hosted during these events will raise awareness and visibility of the State’s expansive outdoor recreation assets and provide opportunities for volunteers to plant trees, restore habitats, and engage with their local communities throughout the year.

    “New York’s natural beauty is unmatched, and with a record number of visitors continuing to take advantage of the world-class outdoor recreation opportunities our state has to offer, we have a responsibility to preserve these outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all New Yorkers to get offline and get outside – to connect in person, give back, and help protect the lands we love while strengthening the environmental and cultural legacy of our state.”

    The 2025 Love Our New York Lands days kicks off with Canal Clean Sweep from April 18 through 20, followed by I Love My Park Day on May 3, Adirondack and Catskill Park Day on September 6, and Wildlife Day on October 4. This volunteer initiative is operated in partnership with Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Canal Corporation.

    Love Our New York Lands encourages year-round stewardship and provides visitors with the knowledge to reduce their impact, engages users to practice sustainable and safe recreation, and helps all visitors feel welcome while visiting state lands. To help achieve Governor Hochul’s initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033, up to 2,500 tree seedlings from the DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery will be made available to plant at I Love My Park Day this year. These efforts will invigorate tree planting efforts and help achieve the many benefits of trees in New York’s communities. The public can track and record tree plantings and find other community-based tree planting events through the DEC Tree Tracker Dashboard.

    Registration is currently open for the 20th annual Canal Clean Sweep taking place April 18-20. Volunteers can choose from nearly 100 events across the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail. Help celebrate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal by joining thousands of volunteers to clean up our state’s greenways and canalways in preparation for the summer season. Visit www.ptny.org/canalsweep for more information and to sign up for an event.

    Registration is also open for the 14th annual I Love My Park Day on May 3. This is the largest single-day statewide volunteer event that enhances our State Park system, and DEC public lands, with volunteers participating by cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects. Visit https://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark to sign up and participate.

    Additional opportunities will be available at Adirondack and Catskill Park Day on September 6 and at Wildlife Day on October 4. These events will highlight the state’s uniquely protected Forest Preserve lands in the Catskills and Adirondacks and wildlife conservation efforts and wildlife-associated recreation. More information will be available at https://www.ptny.org/lovenylands.

    Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “State Parks are welcoming more visitors each year–88 million visits across 250+ sites in 2024 alone. If only a fraction of those visitors attend a Love Our New York Lands volunteer event, we can make a real difference. Stewardship helps park goers feel connected to their environment and their community. PTNY is encouraged to work alongside agency partners committed to making their sites more enjoyable, accessible, and inviting to people of all backgrounds. We’ll see you out there!”

    Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “Our volunteers are crucial in making our state park system the very best in the nation and thanks to our partners at Parks & Trails New York, we are continuing to expand the opportunities to give back and promote responsible stewardship. We look forward to welcoming new and returning volunteers for these events and inspiring the next generation of visitors to help maintain and preserve our amazing public lands.”

    New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “The Canal Clean Sweep, co-hosted with our partners at Parks & Trails New York, is a perfect way to get people connecting with each other, their communities and the Canalway Trail. Working together, these stewardship days make a real difference in creating spaces that are more inviting and welcoming for visitors from near and far. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and joining our volunteers for the Canal Clean Sweep in just a few short weeks.”

    Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “New York State’s unparalleled environmental and recreational assets draw millions of people each year. Thanks to the many volunteers and environmental stewards, the Love Our New York Lands days and ongoing educational campaign continue to encourage visitors to plan ahead, visit responsibly, and practice Leave No Trace™ principles to collectively preserve and continue sharing our public lands. We hope you can join Parks & Trails New York and our State agency partners to steward public lands and promote safe, sustainable, and responsible recreation all year round.”

    Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “Since the pandemic, New Yorkers have learned that our state parks are not only a wonderful way to get out and enjoy the amazing nature our beautiful state has to offer, but also to give back. Love Our New York Lands is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to get outside, enjoy our beautiful parks, and reduce their impact on the climate, and I hope many of us will participate.”

    The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by DEC and State Parks, encourages all users of state-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by ALL of us, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them. The campaign includes guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that visitors can do their part to help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. Love Our New York Lands encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found them for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations. More information is available on DEC’s website.

    Governor Hochul is committed to expanding access to outdoor recreation. The FY25 Enacted Budget included $300 million in capital funding to invest in park improvements, which includes $100 million for the celebration of the New York State Parks’ Centennial. The Governor also launched a new $150 million NY SWIMS capital grant program to expand access to safe swimming opportunities for New Yorkers, address equity gaps, and provide resources for communities facing extreme heat.

    Additionally, the FY26 Executive Budget proposes $200 million for State Parks to invest in and aid the ongoing transformation of New York’s flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system. The Governor’s new Unplug and Play initiative also earmarks $100 million for construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $50 million for the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities.

    About Parks & Trails New York

    Parks & Trails New York is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space for all. With thousands of members and supporters across the state, PTNY is a leading voice in the protection of New York’s magnificent state park system and the creation and promotion of more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, river walks and trails. More information can be found here.

    About New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

    The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 88 million visits in 2024. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app  or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on  Facebook,  Instagram, X, LinkedIn the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.

    About New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

    The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation manages five million acres of public lands, including three million acres in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, 55 campgrounds and day-use areas, more than 5,000 miles of formal trails and hundreds of trailheads, boat launches, and fishing piers. Plan your next outdoor adventure and connect with @NYSDEC on social media.

    About the New York State Canal System

    New York’s Canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga – Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique communities. The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority. Like Canals on Facebook at NYS Canal Corporation and follow Canals on X (formerly Twitter) at @NYSCanalCorp.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Millbrook — RCMP continues to seek tips on 2024 disappearance of Zachery Kellock

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit (NEN MCU) continues to seek information from the public regarding the suspicious disappearance of Zachery Kellock.

    On January 14, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m., Kellock left his home in Truro in a vehicle with two other people. When he had not returned two days later, his family reported him missing to the Truro Police Service. And when officers learned that Kellock was last seen on Millbrook First Nation, the RCMP took over the investigation.

    “Zach’s disappearance was considered suspicious from day one,” says Cpl. Jennifer Tichonchuk, NEN MCU. “And we’ve been investigating his disappearance as a homicide.”

    Since Kellock’s disappearance, investigators have continued to follow up on leads, with assistance from Colchester County District RCMP, RCMP Forensic Identification Services, and the Truro Police Service.

    At the time of his disappearance, 23-year-old Kellock was described as 5-foot-10, 159 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark grey leather jacket.

    “We know there are people out there who have information about Zach’s suspicious disappearance – information that will help us find answers for Zach’s loved ones,” says Cpl. Tichonchuk. “We’re asking them to come forward and share what they know; even the smallest detail could help our investigation.”

    Anyone with information about Zachery Kellock’s disappearance is asked to contact the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or use the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 2024-67453

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prosecutors Charge This Week 21 Defendants with Being Illegal Aliens Found in the United States Following Removal

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors working alongside with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners have filed charges against 21 defendants in the last week who allegedly were found in the U.S. following removal, the Justice Department announced today.   

    Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including alien smuggling, burglary, grand theft, and assault with a deadly weapon.

    The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

    Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below:

    • David Casas-Herrera, 45, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. Casas-Herrera was removed from the U.S. in 1997, 2001, twice in 2003, twice in 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2022. His criminal history includes convictions in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California in 2006 and 2022 of alien smuggling, for which he was sentenced to 15 months and 21 months in federal prison, respectively. He also has two prior convictions for being an illegal alien found in the U.S. following removal: in Arizona federal court in 2003 and in San Diego federal court 2010 for which he was sentenced to terms of 60 days in prison each time. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Scally of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.
    • Marta Stoican, 40, of Romania, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. Stoican, who was removed from the U.S. in 2022, was charged after being arrested by the Baldwin Park Police Department on suspicion of burglary on April 5. Stoican has a criminal history that includes convictions in 2017 for grand theft, possession of shoplifting gear, and theft. Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Bisland of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
    • Juan Solorzano Reyes, 40, of Mexico, who was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal.  Reyes, who was removed from the U.S. in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2020, was charged after being convicted in Orange County Superior Court in 2011 of possession for sale of methamphetamine, for which he was sentenced to four years in California state prison, and in 2022 of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and vandalism, for which he was sentenced to 180 days in California state prison. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Staples of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.

    Criminal complaints contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).      

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Keystone oil spill shows need to protect rights to protest and free speech

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA (April 11, 2025)–In response to a reported 3,500 barrels of oil spilling from the Keystone pipeline this week in North Dakota, Sushma Raman, Interim Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, said: “We know fossil fuels are unhealthy at every stage of their life-cycle. There is no failsafe way to transport oil and gas, and the risks unfairly fall on the people who live near the route, while the company reaps the benefits. The Keystone spill – the latest in a long history of spills – shows exactly why we need to protect protest, free speech, and the right to speak up against harm. Everyday people, public watchdogs, and advocacy groups have a right to raise their voices and criticize a corporation when their health and livelihoods are on the line.

    “Yet this type of ordinary advocacy is exactly what is under attack in the more than $660M jury verdict against Greenpeace entities in a lawsuit brought by pipeline company Energy Transfer. Oil companies know that protest works – which is why they’re trying to make the stakes so high no one will be willing to take the risk,” Raman said. 

    Contact: Lindsay Bigda, Communications Director, Democracy Resilience Program, Greenpeace USA, [email protected] 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Better Infrastructure, Better Technology, Better Trains– Indian Railways Set to boost better services in Mumbai suburban network

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 APR 2025 6:18PM by PIB Mumbai

     

    : Mumbai, April 11, 2025

     In a media interaction on the theme Themed “Better Infrastructure, Better Technology, Better Trains” held today in Mumbai, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and the Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics and IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw jointly addressed the press to highlight the transformative progress in railway infrastructure across Maharashtra. Indian Railways’ commitment to modernization, improved commuter experience, and enhanced regional connectivity, with a special focus on the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network.

    Better Infrastructure:

    Union Minister Shri Vaishnaw emphasized that infrastructure development is the cornerstone for increasing suburban services. Projects worth nearly ₹17,000 crore, covering more than 300 kilometers of new lines, are currently underway at a rapid pace. These initiatives aim to decongest existing lines, improve service frequency, and cater to the ever-growing demand of Mumbai’s suburban commuters.

    Better Technology:

    Shri Vaishnaw announced the upcoming launch of Kavach 5.0, a state-of-the-art safety and signaling system tailored for the suburban section. Kavach 5.0 is expected to significantly reduce the inter-train headway, enabling more trains to run safely and efficiently.

    Better Trains:

    In a major upgrade to passenger comfort, the Union Minister revealed that 238 new Air-Conditioned suburban rakes will soon be introduced. These rakes have been uniquely designed keeping in mind the needs of Mumbai’s commuters, promising a more comfortable and reliable travel experience.

    Maharashtra CM Shri Fadnavis also elaborated that Mumbai One Card, will soon be launched, which is a single and all integrated card set to transform public transport across MMR region for passengers traveling in suburban trains, metro rails, mono-rail, BEST buses, etc.

    Together this infrastructure, technology, and rolling stock advancements are expected to increase the number of suburban services, dramatically improving daily transit for millions of Mumbaikars.

    First Indian Institute of Creative Technology, an institute of National Importance in creative sphere will come up at Mumbai and this will be transformative for Indian Creative industry to make it a world class infrastructure hub.

    Strategic Rail Projects in Maharashtra:

    A major announcement during the interaction was the doubling of the Gondia–Ballarshah railway line, a 240 km strategic corridor with an investment of ₹4,819 crore. This key project connects Vidarbha and Marathwada, easing congestion and enabling faster passenger and freight movement. It will also strengthen Maharashtra’s rail links with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, boosting regional trade and integration.
    This major infrastructure push was announced on April 7, 2025, when the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, had approved four projects of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs. 18,658 crore (approx.).

    Shri Vaishnaw stated today that this transformative project is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing passenger and freight connectivity between northern and southern India. The approved project encompasses comprehensive upgrades along the 240 km of existing track, including modernization of 29 railway stations, construction of 36 major bridges, 338 minor bridges, and 67 Road under-bridges (RUBs) to streamline operations and enhance safety.  

    “With this doubling, connectivity between North and South India will be vastly improved. Aspirational districts in the region will witness rapid development”, stated Shri Vaishnaw. The Union Minister further stated that this will be a game-changer for both passenger commuters and industries dependent on rail logistics. He also said that this upgradation will boost regional economy and tourism.-

    Other notable railway projects include:

    In addition, 132 stations across Maharashtra are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Of the 1,300 stations nationwide under this initiative, many are nearing completion, with significant progress reported at many others.

    A Vision for the Future:

    These ambitious undertakings—alongside the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train, Dedicated Freight Corridors, and large-scale station redevelopment works—are set to revolutionize transportation in Maharashtra.

    The Indian Railways has committed an unprecedented ₹1,73,804 crore of investment in the state, underscoring Maharashtra’s strategic importance in the national rail network and its future growth trajectory.

    Maharashtra CM underlined the importance of WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) preparations in view of inauguration by Hon’ble PM in the month of May this year, importance of a record budget allocation by Indian Railways to Maharashtra, benefits to the region by doubling of railway line between Gondia – Ballarshah stations. He also announced running of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Glorious Maratha Tour train by IRCTC soon. A special curated tour to showcase the glorious history and the grand heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj along with other cultural and pilgrimage destinations of Maharashtra in 10 days journey by Bharat Gaurav Tourist train was also stated by the Maharashtra CM.

    ***

    SR/SC/PK

     

    Follow us on social media:  @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2121019) Visitor Counter : 111

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy Meets Chhattisgarh CM Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy Meets Chhattisgarh CM Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

    Emphasis on Mining-Led Economic Growth, Critical Mineral Development, and CSR Outreach.

    Posted On: 11 APR 2025 7:15PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy was on a two-day visit to South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) to review mining operations, assess CSR initiatives, and strengthen coordination with state authorities. The visit aimed to boost coal production, promote sustainable mining practices, and ensure inclusive development in the region.

     

    On the second day of his visit to Chhattisgarh, Shri G. Kishan Reddy held a high-level meeting with the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. The deliberations focused on accelerating mining-led economic growth in the state and addressed key areas such as fast-tracking land acquisition for mine expansion, expediting environmental clearances, and the development of integrated rehabilitation and resettlement sites. The strategic importance of critical mineral development in Chhattisgarh was also a key highlight of the discussion.

    The meeting was attended by senior dignitaries including Shri Amitabh Jain, Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh; Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal; Shri B.P. Pati, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal; Shri P.M. Prasad, Chairman, Coal India Limited; Shri Harish Duhan, CMD, SECL; and other senior officials from both central and state governments.

    Earlier in the day, Shri Reddy interacted with NEET aspirants supported under SECL’s flagship CSR initiative, ‘SECL Ke Sushrut’. The scheme offers free residential coaching to meritorious students from coal belt regions aspiring to pursue careers in medicine. The Minister lauded the students’ achievements and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to foster educational opportunities for youth in coal-bearing areas.

     

     

    At the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Raipur, the Minister also met with young beneficiaries and families under ‘SECL Ki Dhadkan’, a CSR program providing free treatment and surgeries for congenital heart defects (CHD). Shri Reddy commended SECL for its life-saving initiatives and reiterated that coal PSUs will continue to support health and social welfare through meaningful interventions.

    In a separate review meeting with officials from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the Minister assessed ongoing exploration activities and survey progress. Strategies for unlocking the mineral potential of Chhattisgarh through advanced exploration and better coordination were discussed.

    The visit of the Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy underscores the Government’s strong commitment to harnessing the potential of mining for inclusive and sustainable development. It reflects a clear vision of aligning the coal sector’s growth with national priorities of sustainability, social equity, and regional progress. By bridging policy with grassroots impact from accelerating mineral exploration to empowering young aspirants and saving lives through healthcare the visit reaffirms the Government’s unwavering resolve to transform mining regions into hubs of prosperity, resilience, and inclusive growth

                             ***

    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2121036) Visitor Counter : 79

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses gathering at Anandpur Dham, Madhya Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses gathering at Anandpur Dham, Madhya Pradesh

    New India is moving ahead with the mantra of ‘Development as well as Heritage’: PM

    Our country is the land of sages, wise men and saints, whenever our society goes through a difficult phase, some sage or wise man descends on this land and gives a new direction to the society: PM

    The resolve to uplift the poor and the deprived, the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, this spirit of service is the policy and commitment of the government: PM

    In a country like India, our culture is not only linked to our identity, It is our culture that strengthens our potential: PM

    Posted On: 11 APR 2025 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

    In line with his commitment to furthering the cultural and spiritual heritage of India, Prime Minister visited Anandpur Dham of Isagarh Tehsil in the Ashoknagar district in Madhya Pradesh today. He also performed darshan and pooja at Guru Ji Maharaj Temple and toured the temple complex at Anandpur Dham. Addressing the gathering, he welcomed the large number of devotees who had traveled from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and across the country. He expressed his happiness upon visiting Shri Anandpur Dham, sharing his experience of offering prayers at Guruji Maharaj’s temple which filled his heart with bliss.

    Remarking on the sanctity of the land nurtured by the penance of saints, where altruism has become a tradition and the resolve for service paves the way for humanity’s welfare, Shri Modi highlighted the uniqueness of this land, quoting saints who said that sorrow fears to enter Ashok Nagar. He expressed his joy at participating in the celebrations of Baisakhi and the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Maharaj Ji, paying respects to the pratham Padshahi Shri Shri 108 Shri Swami Advait Anand Ji Maharaj and other Padshahi saints. He noted the historical significance of the day, marking the Mahasamadhi of Shri Dwitiya Padshahi Ji in 1936 and the union of Shri Tritiya Padshahi Ji with his true form in 1964. The Prime Minister offered his tributes to these revered Gurus and extended his salutations to Maa Jageshwari Devi, Maa Bijasan, and Maa Janaki Karila Mata Dham. He conveyed his greetings to everyone on the occasion of Baisakhi and Shri Guru Maharaj Ji’s birth anniversary celebrations.

    “India is a land of sages, scholars, and saints, who have always guided society during challenging times”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, highlighting that the life of Pujya Swami Advait Anand Ji Maharaj reflects this tradition. He recalled the era when acharyas like Adi Shankaracharya expounded the profound knowledge of Advaita philosophy. He noted that during the colonial period, society began to lose touch with this wisdom. However, it was during this time that sages emerged to awaken the nation’s soul through the principles of Advaita, he added, emphasising that Pujya Advait Anand Ji Maharaj carried forward this legacy by making the knowledge of Advaita accessible and simple for the common people, ensuring its reach to the masses.

    Addressing the pressing global concerns of war, conflict, and the erosion of human values amidst material progress, Shri Modi identified the root cause of these challenges as the mindset of division—of “self and other”—which distances humans from one another. “The solution to these issues lies in the philosophy of Advaita, which envisions no duality”, he emphasised, explaining that Advaita is the belief in seeing the divine in every living being and, further, perceiving the entire creation as a manifestation of the divine. He quoted Paramhans Dayal Maharaj, who beautifully simplified this principle as, ‘What you are, I am’. He remarked on the profoundness of this thought, which eliminates the divide of “mine and yours,” and noted that if universally embraced, it could resolve all conflicts.

    The Prime Minister shared his earlier discussion with the chate Padshahi Swami Shri Vichar Purna Anand Ji Maharaj, who spoke about the teachings of the pratham Padshahi Paramhans Dayal Maharaj Ji and the service initiatives of Anandpur Dham. He highlighted the five principles of meditation established at Anandpur Dham, emphasizing selfless service as one of them. He remarked on the spirit of serving the underprivileged with a selfless attitude, seeing Narayan in the act of serving humanity, which forms the foundation of Indian culture. He expressed his happiness that Anandpur Trust is advancing this culture of service with dedication. He noted that the trust operates hospitals treating thousands of patients, organizes free medical camps, runs a modern cowshed for cow welfare, and manages schools for the development of the new generation. He also praised Anandpur Dham’s significant contribution to humanity through environmental conservation, highlighting the efforts of the ashram’s followers in transforming thousands of acres of barren land into greenery, with thousands of trees planted by the ashram now serving altruistic purposes.

    “The spirit of service is at the core of every initiative undertaken by the government”, said Shri Modi highlighting that under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, every needy individual is free from the worry of food. Similarly, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has relieved the poor and elderly from concerns about healthcare, while the PM Awas Yojana is ensuring secure housing for the underprivileged. He noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission is addressing water issues in villages, and the establishment of record numbers of new AIIMS, IITs, and IIMs is helping even the poorest children realize their dreams. He reiterated the government’s commitment to environmental conservation through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, under which crores of trees have been planted across the country. The Prime Minister remarked that the scale of these achievements is driven by the spirit of service. He reiterated the government’s resolve for the upliftment of the poor and marginalized, guided by the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. “This spirit of service is both the policy and the commitment of the government”, he stressed.

    Underlining the fact that embracing the resolve of service not only benefits others but also enhances one’s personality and broadens perspectives, the Prime Minister noted that the spirit of service connects individuals to larger objectives of society, the nation, and humanity. He acknowledged the dedication of those engaged in service, highlighting how overcoming hardships becomes second nature through acts of selfless service. He described service as a spiritual practice, likening it to a sacred Ganga in which everyone must take a dip. He remarked on the responsibility of developing regions like Ashok Nagar and Anandpur Dham, which have contributed immensely to the nation, pointing out the rich heritage of art, culture, and natural beauty in these areas, noting their vast potential for development and heritage. PM further highlighted efforts to boost progress in Madhya Pradesh and Ashok Nagar, including elevating Chanderi handloom through Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Chanderi sarees and the establishment of a Craft Handloom Tourism Village in Pranpur to accelerate economic growth in the region. He also noted that the Madhya Pradesh government has already commenced preparations for the Ujjain Simhastha.

    Acknowledging the recent celebration of the grand festival of Ram Navami, Shri Modi highlighted the ongoing development of the “Ram Van Gaman Path,” noting that a significant portion of this path will pass through Madhya Pradesh. He remarked on Madhya Pradesh’s remarkable and unique identity, stating that these initiatives will further strengthen its distinctiveness.

    The Prime Minister affirmed the nation’s ambitious goal of becoming a developed India by 2047 and expressed confidence in achieving it. He emphasized the need to preserve India’s ancient culture during this journey, noting that while many countries lost touch with their traditions in the pursuit of development, India must maintain its heritage. “India’s culture is not just tied to its identity but strengthens its capabilities”, highlighted the Prime Minister commending the Anandpur Dham Trust for its significant contributions in this regard and expressed confidence that the trust’s service initiatives will infuse new energy into the vision of Viksit Bharat. He concluded by extending his greetings on the occasion of Baisakhi and the birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Maharaj Ji.

    The Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai Patel, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mohan Yadav, Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia were present among others at the event.

    Background

    Anandpur Dham has been established for spiritual and philanthropic purposes. Spanning 315 hectares, it houses a modern gaushala (cowshed) with over 500 cows and runs agricultural activities under Shri Anandpur Trust campus. The trust has been operating a charitable hospital in Sukhpur village, schools in Sukhpur and Anandpur and various Satsang Centers across the country.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Public Service Commission declares Final Result based on the Written Examination part of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 APR 2025 6:02PM by PIB Delhi

    The following is the list, in order of merit, of 792 candidates who have qualified on the basis of the results of the Written Examination held by the Union Public Service Commission on 1st September, 2024 and the subsequent Interviews held by the Services Selection Board, Ministry of Defence for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy for the 154th Course and the Naval Academy for the 116th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). For detailed information regarding the date of commencement of the above courses, please visit the websites of Ministry of Defence i.e., www.joinindianarmy.nic.in, www.joinindiannavy.gov.in and www.careerindianairforce.cdac.in.

    2.  The results of Medical Examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.

    3   The candidature of all the aforesaid candidates is provisional, subject to their submitting the requisite certificates in support of date of birth, educational qualifications, etc. claimed by them directly to the Additional Directorate General of Recruiting, Adjutant General’s Branch, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Army), West Block No.III, Wing–I, R.K Puram, New Delhi -110066, wherever this has not already been done, and NOT to UPSC.

    4. In case, there is any change of address, the candidates are advised to promptly intimate the Army Headquarter directly at the address given above.

    5. The result is also available on the UPSC website at https://www.upsc.gov.in. Marks of the candidates will be available on the website after 15 days from the date of declaration of final results.

    6. For any further information, the candidates may contact Facilitation Counter near Gate ‘C’ of the Commission, either in person or on telephone Nos. 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 between 10:00 hours and 17:00 hours on any working day. In addition, for SSB/interview related matter, the candidates may contact over telephone No. 011-26175473 or joinindianarmy.nic.in for Army as first choice, 011-23010097 or Email: officer-navy[at]nic[dot]in   or joinindiannavy.gov.in for Navy/Naval Academy as first choice, and 011-23010231 Extn.7645/7646/7610 or  www.careerindianairforce.cdac.in for Air Force as first choice.

    Click here to see Result:

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Study – The future of water availability and use in the EU: A foresight study and policy options to address water scarcity’ – 11-04-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This study aims to offer an in-depth analysis of water scarcity, availability, and usage in the face of climate change. By employing a comprehensive foresight methodology that includes an extensive literature review, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and broad stakeholder consultation, the research provides a detailed overview of current water availability and consumption within the European Union (EU). It highlights the current and projected trends related to water resources, identifying the pressures and challenges that climate change imposes on water supply and demand. The study also proposes a range of policy options, divided into short-term options (up to 2030) and medium- to long-term options (up to 2050), aimed at ensuring that both EU citizens and businesses have reliable access to adequate water resources. These policy options are geared towards sustainable water management, ensuring resilience to future climate-related water challenges.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Group approves new financing for European security, transport, energy, water and deep tech as well as support for Ukrainian firms

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB Board approves €3.6 billion in financing for clean transport, energy and innovation, as well as upgrading water and sanitation in Africa.
    • EIB Board also backed broader support for Europe’s automotive sector, which has received more than €11bn EIB financing in the past five years.
    • EIF Board approved investment in deep tech venture capital fund and backing for war-affected small- and medium-sized companies in Ukraine.

    The Boards of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), meeting this week, approved new financing to support economic prosperity and resilience, boost innovation and EU’s strategic autonomy in new technologies, and deepen global partnership.

    “The EIB Group is responding to Europe’s priorities in the current volatile international context, providing financing for projects to boost security, technological innovation, critical infrastructures, and the deepening our international partnerships” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño. “We also affirmed our commitment to support Europe’s manufacturing champions in the automotive industry. The automotive sector is the second largest focus of the EIB group after energy, where the EIB Group has committed more than €11.5 billion over the past five years.”

    The EIB Board approved a total of €3.6 billion of new projects for water and energy infrastructure, housing and clean transport.

    The EIF’s Board approved transactions totalling €2.2 billion, including four operations under the EU4Business Guarantee Facility to facilitate access to finance for war-affected enterprises in Ukraine.

    Backing the automotive sector

    The EIB Board of Directors discussed ways to further step-up support for Europe’s automotive industry, with a focus on innovation and investment in future technologies. The EIB Group has provided more than €11.5 billion euros to support the sector over the past five years, with financing covering the entire supply chain and key infrastructures – from battery and components manufacturing to electric vehicle charging stations.

    Transport, energy, water and housing

    New financing approved by the EIB includes more than €1 billion for low-emission transport in northern Europe, urban mobility in Germany, climate-resilience in Poland and an upgrade of 350 kilometres of the main transport route in Malawi.

    Large-scale energy and water investment totalling €1.4 billion was also agreed, including research and development of heat pumps in Poland and Belgium, improvements to water and sanitation in Latvia and Guinea and an expansion of electricity distribution in Brazil.

    Financing to enable construction of more than 700 affordable homes in Czechia was also approved.

    Fresh EIB financing of €1.1 billion for company investments agreed today includes small-business financing programmes in Spain and Greece and venture-debt financing for 3D software, digital health and disease-resistant and drought-resistant agriculture.

    Venture capital support for deep-tech and cybersecurity

    Among the greenlighted EIF equity investments were participations in a pan-European venture capital fund seeking to scale up deep technology investments – including cybersecurity – with resources under the European Tech Champions Initiative, and a venture capital fund supporting early-stage tech companies in emerging European venture capital markets.

    The EIF Board also endorsed two new mandates, which will respectively foster the Polish venture capital market and early-stage technology transfer and deep tech investments in Spain.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Impact studies on measures taken under the Green Deal – E-000625/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Under the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines[1], an impact assessment is required for initiatives that are likely to have significant economic, environmental or social impacts or which entail significant spending, and where the Commission has a choice of policy options. Policy communications, action plans or strategies do not usually require impact assessments.

    Most legislative proposals under the European Green Deal[2] were subject to comprehensive impact assessments, and public consultations, in accordance with the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines.

    The impact assessments were published together with the proposals they accompany and are available on Commission webpages[3] as well as on the Have Your Say portal[4].

    When, due to political imperatives, the timing did not allow for the preparation of an impact assessment, the reasons and available evidence were set out in the explanatory memoranda of the proposals. This was the case for the emergency energy measures presented against the backdrop of the energy crisis[5].

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation_en
    • [2] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/publications/proposals-delivering-european-green-deal_en
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say_en
      All impact assessments of policy proposals by the Commission are published together with the results of the associated public consultations and the policy proposals themselves on the Have Your Say portal. The European Green Deal included the review of the Effort Sharing Regulation (impact assessment SWD(2021)611), updating the Emissions Trading System Directive (SWD(2021)601), the revision of the CO2 standards for cars and vans (SWD(2021)613), review of EU rules on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) (SWD(2021)609), the review of the Renewable Energy Directive (SWD(2021)621), review of the Energy Efficiency Directive (SWD(2021)623), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (SWD(2021)453), revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (SWD(2021)641) or the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (SWD(2021)643).
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5489
    Last updated: 11 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Continued use of batch potency tests on animals despite accepted non-animal alternatives – E-001392/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001392/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE)

    In 2022, 452 699 batch potency tests were conducted in the EU, accounting for 5 % of all animal experiments and 41 % of those carried out for regulatory purposes. Of these, 152 642 tests were performed on mice to comply with human medicines legislation, with a significant proportion likely to be botulinum toxin batch tests, despite the availability of accepted non-animal alternatives.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Can the Commission explain why such a large number of batch potency tests continue to be conducted in the EU, and can the Commission provide a list of the products for which these tests are required and explain what is being done to reduce the use of animals in routine batch testing?
    • 2.What proportion of these tests were conducted specifically for botulinum toxin products?
    • 3.What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that Member States comply with Directive 2010/63/EU by eliminating the use of animals where validated alternatives exist?

    Submitted: 4.4.2025

    Last updated: 11 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Transparency of EU funding to NGOs and links to political activities and irregular immigration – P-001458/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001458/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Susanna Ceccardi (PfE)

    In special report 11/2025[1], the European Court of Auditors (ECA) found serious shortcomings in the transparency of EU funding granted to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). More specifically, the auditors point to: the lack of overview regarding the actual recipients of funds, inconsistent classifications and unchecked self-declarations, a failure to proactively check recipient NGOs’ compliance with fundamental EU values, and poor transparency of the political lobbying performed using EU funds. What is more, a number of EU-funded NGOS dealing with migration are likely carrying out activities which actually facilitate irregular immigration to Europe, leading to heightened security risks and fuelling the Islamisation of Europe’s cities – a process that is already under way.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.What action will the Commission take to comply with recommendations 1, 2 and 3 addressed to it in ECA special report 11/2025?
    • 2.What measures will it take to get a complete handle on NGOs’ use of EU funds, with a particular focus on the organisations’ independence from governments and commercial interests?
    • 3.How will it bolster its mechanisms for verifying compliance with EU values and incorporate checks on NGOs’ funding sources?

    Submitted: 9.4.2025

    • [1] European Court of Auditors, special report 11/2025: ‘Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs – Despite progress, the overview is still not reliable’, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025; https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications/SR-2025-11.
    Last updated: 11 April 2025

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