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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI China: Pixar’s ‘Elio’ offers touching story of belonging beyond Earth

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

    Pixar’s new animated feature “Elio” whisks audiences away to distant galaxies and introduces them to a host of extraterrestrial civilizations. Beneath this cosmic adventure, however, lies a poignant and uplifting tale of one boy’s search for belonging.

    A still from “Elio.” [Picture courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios]

    Producer Mary Alice Drumm recalled the early days of development, when directors were invited to pitch ideas. Director Adrian Molina posed the question: “What if the world’s weirdest 11-year-old was accidentally abducted and mistaken for the leader of Earth?” Fellow filmmakers Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian added, “What if he actually wanted to be abducted? What if he was obsessed with space?”

    “That was just such a fun idea, so we kind of ran with that,” Drumm said.

    Shi, a Chongqing-born Chinese Canadian animator known for Pixar’s “Bao” and “Turning Red,” shared that the concept was inspired by real experiences and by the sense of longing she and co-director Sharafian felt while growing up.

    “We were inspired by our own childhoods and the desire to find a place where we felt we belonged, where we could find our people,” Shi said. “Maddie had similar obsessions with trying to go to animation school, trying to arrive at a place where we no longer felt alone, that we were among fellow nerds. That was kind of ‘Elio’s’ emotional drive.”

    The film follows Elio, a lonely boy obsessed with space who dreams of being abducted by aliens to start a new life after his parents’ deaths. When he is taken to the Communiverse — an interplanetary alliance — he is mistaken for Earth’s leader. As he navigates an intergalactic crisis, Elio bonds with strange aliens while searching for a sense of belonging.

    Sharafian highlighted Glordon as the film’s most fun character, describing him as the tender-hearted son of a warlord and a friend to Elio. She applauded the design team for creating a character who is unexpectedly cute yet slightly scary, with no eyes and twelve legs. Glordon also appears in some of the film’s most emotional scenes and delivers several touching moments.

    Shi praised production designer Harley Jessup, known for his work on “Coco” and “Ratatouille,” for pushing the team to create the visually stunning Communiverse, a unique space world unlike any seen in other movies.

    “We’ve seen scary, dark space, but never a hopeful, beautiful, warm and welcoming space,” Shi said. “This is a story about a boy whose wish comes true — to be abducted and live with aliens in a magical place where he belongs. That’s what we envisioned while lighting and designing the Communiverse. It should feel colorful, organic and like somewhere you’d never want to leave once you arrive.”

    In the film, it is not Elio’s signals that attract the attention of aliens, but the Voyager satellite launched on Sept. 5, 1977. The spacecraft carries the Golden Record, a “message in a bottle” featuring greetings from children around the world. In “Elio,” the aliens receive these messages and make contact.

    The film’s creators based the story on extensive research and consulted astronomer Dr. Jill Tarter, a founding member of the SETI Institute, which searches for extraterrestrial intelligence.

    “Dr. Jill Tarter’s just so inspiring because I think she’s so hopeful, and SETI, that organization is looking for life in a really hopeful way,” Drumm said. “Sometimes movies portray aliens as scary or what have you. One thing Jill really talked about is just how big the universe is and how many planets there are, how likely life is out there. And then I think because Jill was connected with Carl Sagan, it led us to Voyager and other real aspects we used in the film.”

    The Chinese premiere of “Elio” is held at The Walt Disney Grand Theatre at Shanghai Disney Resort, June 18, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios]

    Shi said Voyager became a metaphor in the story. “Elio, he’s like this lonely little satellite floating in space, looking for signals, looking for connection,” Shi said. “It made sense that when Elio was grieving the loss of his family, he would feel an emotional connection with Voyager.”

    She added that she hopes audiences will be inspired to learn more about Voyager. “It really is incredible because it’s still out there. It’s still sending signals out. It’s still reporting back, and maybe it’ll find something by the time the movie comes out.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy: This is an Opportunity for Us to Stand Up for Our Responsibility as a Co-Equal Branch in Setting Foreign Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    [embedded content]
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote to enforce the War Powers Act, prohibiting the use of military force against Iran without authorization by Congress or an imminent threat to the United States.  
    “Our Founding Fathers didn’t get everything right. They didn’t see ahead of time that this chamber would be divided in two, Republicans on one side, Democrats on the other side, but they knew, having watched the course of human history, that executives in their day, mostly all monarchs and kings, had all sorts of reason to drag their nation into war. Power often came from war. The funding that could be raised for war, the loyalty commanded by war, the glory that occasionally came to the leader, the ruler, through war and through conquest,” Murphy said.
    He continued: “And so this part of the Constitution with more wisdom in it than any other part of the Constitution, according to James Madison, is this section of our founding document that says it is not up to the ruler. It is not up to the executive branch. It is up to the branch of government most connected to the people to decide whether we go to war, to require that there be a debate, a conversation that involves everyone in this nation, that requires, that necessitates a collective decision as to whether to put the brave soldiers of this country and the collective security of the nation at risk.”
    On last weekend’s strikes on Iran, Murphy said: “[I]n the case of the hostilities against Iran that the President began last weekend, there was no imminent threat against the United States. There was no army marching on this nation. There was no nuclear bomb that even existed that could be dropped on the United States or our soldiers in the region. And so, it was required, it is required, under the Constitution that the president come to Congress if the president doesn’t need to come to Congress to attack another nation preemptively, preventatively, absent an imminent threat, then that provision of the Constitution is dead letter, period, stop.”
    Murphy concluded: “Senator Kaine’s resolution is so important because that’s the debate that we should be having. That’s the argument that we should be having in public. That debate over the wisdom of dropping bombs in a far-off land that could put our troops at risk, that could drag us into a war. That’s not a debate that the Founding Fathers thought that should take place behind closed doors, at the Department of Defense, at the CIA, in the White House. That’s actually the debate that they thought that this body should have, the United States Senate, that the House of Representatives should have, and that’s the chance that we have today to bring that debate out of the shadows, out of the secret to the place where the Founding Fathers thought it should exist. And that’s why I urge my colleagues to support Senator Kaine’s resolution.”
    A full transcript of Murphy’s comments is available below.
    “Mr. President, in a 1793 letter to William Cabell Reeves, James Madison said this. He said, ‘In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature and not to the executive department.’
    “A few years later, in another letter, this time to Thomas Jefferson as part of their famous correspondence, Madison expounded on that very simple superlative, naming the War Powers clause in the Constitution as the most important. He said, ‘The Constitution supposes what the history of all governments demonstrates. That the executive is the branch of power most interested in war and most prone to it. It has accordingly, with studied care, vested the question of war in the legislature.’
    “Our Founding Fathers didn’t get everything right. They didn’t see ahead of time that this chamber would be divided in two, Republicans on one side, Democrats on the other side, but they knew, having watched the course of human history, that executives in their day, mostly all monarchs and kings, had all sorts of reason to drag their nation into war. Power often came from war. The funding that could be raised for war, the loyalty commanded by war, the glory that occasionally came to the leader, the ruler, through war and through conquest.
    “There was great risk in war, but there was also great reward in war, and there was far too much of it in the era in which our Constitution was being formed. The purpose of the founders was to give the American people a voice in government, a revolutionary idea at the time, but it was also to order our government in a way that war would become less likely, would become less frequent. They imagined a world, this new America, in which peace would be the rule, not war, as it was at the time for the citizens of Europe who lived under the rule of kings, prone to war, incentivized to war as James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson.
    “And so this part of the Constitution with more wisdom in it than any other part of the Constitution, according to James Madison, is this section of our founding document that says it is not up to the ruler. It is not up to the executive branch. It is up to the branch of government most connected to the people to decide whether we go to war, to require that there be a debate, a conversation that involves everyone in this nation, that requires, that necessitates a collective decision as to whether to put the brave soldiers of this country and the collective security of the nation at risk.
    “And so, we are here today because we still find wisdom in that clause of the Constitution. We still see great risk in moving into a world which we are quickly moving to, in which that clause that James Madison named as the supreme clause of the Constitution is dead letter, is dead letter. And that is the risk, because there are very few wars that are so planned so far in advance that there is time to come and have a month-long debate. Wars happen quickly, and they necessitate quick action according to the Constitution.
    “Yes, we have always accepted that there has to be an exception, but a limited exception, to that supreme clause in the Constitution. If there is an imminent attack against the United States, of course, of course, the people of the United States want the ability of the President United States to respond to that imminent attack. But in the absence of an imminent attack, there is no exception. There is no ability to go around Congress.
    “And in the case of the hostilities against Iran that the President began last weekend, there was no imminent threat against the United States. There was no army marching on this nation. There was no nuclear bomb that even existed that could be dropped on the United States or our soldiers in the region. And so, it was required, it is required, under the Constitution that the president come to Congress if the President doesn’t need to come to Congress to attack another nation preemptively, preventatively, absent an imminent threat, then that provision of the Constitution is dead letter, period, stop.
    “And the most important piece of this document, according to our most revered Founding Father, is no longer operational. And if we lurch into a world in which any executive can send us to war without the participation of the American people, then we are in a world that our Founding Fathers could never have imagined.
    “So, I’m very glad to be on the floor today as a big fan of the wisdom of our founders to support Senator Kaine’s resolution, and I appreciate his consistency in bringing this question before us. I don’t want to live in a world in which the greatest question that this country could envision, whether or not we send our brave men and women to fight on our behalf, is not a question that doesn’t involve the collective conversation of this body and of the people of this nation.
    “So, I think it’s an important resolution to debate here, and I hope my colleagues will support. It doesn’t really have to do with whether you think there is wisdom in this action or not, whether you think the President was right or wrong. This is an opportunity for us to stand up for our responsibility under the Constitution to be a co-equal branch in setting foreign policy.
    “I have my thoughts on the wisdom of this action. I’ve stated that I think it’s very dangerous when the President of the United States deliberately misleads the country about the efficacy of our military operations overseas or the threats presented to this country. It’s unforgivable any time a president doesn’t tell the truth, but it is especially unforgivable when the President doesn’t tell the truth about national security intelligence.
    “I know my colleagues here come to different conclusions, but if the reporting is correct that Iran, even after these strikes, still has centrifuges and still has enriched uranium and still has scientists who know how to put those things together, then it just is not true that the program has been obliterated. That is a program that can be reconstituted in a relatively short amount of time, because, of course, knowledge is not able to be destroyed by bombs. The only way that you are going to make this country and this world safe from Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions, and they have them, is diplomacy.
    “I hope that diplomacy got easier because of these strikes, but I don’t think they did. I don’t think diplomacy got closer because of these strikes, and whatever follow-on strikes may come as President Trump is currently threatening. And so, if diplomacy is the only path, if you can’t bomb out of existence knowledge, then I don’t think this is a very good week for American national security.
    “But I come to a different conclusion than many of my Republican colleagues do, even some of my Democratic colleagues, but Senator Kaine’s resolution is so important because that’s the debate that we should be having. That’s the argument that we should be having in public. That debate over the wisdom of dropping bombs in a far-off land that could put our troops at risk, that could drag us into a war. That’s not a debate that the Founding Fathers thought that should take place behind closed doors, at the Department of Defense, at the CIA, in the White House.
    “That’s actually the debate that they thought that this body should have, the United States Senate, that the House of Representatives should have, and that’s the chance that we have today to bring that debate out of the shadows, out of the secret to the place where the Founding Fathers thought it should exist. And that’s why I urge my colleagues to support Senator Kaine’s resolution. I yield the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Belt and Road Initiative Opens Unprecedented Opportunities for Development – Uzbek Economist

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Tashkent, June 28 /Xinhua/ — The Belt and Road Initiative has opened up unprecedented development opportunities for Uzbekistan, said Aizhan Djumanova, a professor at Tashkent State Transport University and a PhD in economics, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    According to her, since Uzbekistan joined the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Uzbek-Chinese cooperation has gone far beyond traditional trade and covered such areas as infrastructure construction, industrial cooperation, development of interconnectivity, humanitarian exchanges and other areas, forming a high-quality, multi-level and multi-sectoral partnership model.

    “The successes in the area of infrastructure are especially noticeable,” A. Djumanova noted. Joint construction of roads and railways, creation of modern logistics hubs and industrial parks within the framework of the “Belt and Road” contribute to strengthening the regional interconnectedness of Uzbekistan and increasing the efficiency of transport and logistics flows. The consistent promotion of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project clearly demonstrates the strategic potential of Central Asia as a transit corridor between the East and West of Eurasia, the expert said.

    In the area of industrial development, in her opinion, Chinese technologies, investments and management experience successfully compensate for the weaknesses of Uzbekistan’s industrial base. “Projects with the participation of Chinese capital in such sectors as solar, wind and hydropower, agricultural processing, electric vehicles, contribute to the modernization of the structure of our economy, create jobs and support the green transition and energy diversity,” she emphasized.

    The expert also noted that at the regional level, the Belt and Road Initiative has become a stable and mutually beneficial platform for the development of Central Asian countries. According to her, thanks to Chinese initiatives, there is increasingly closer policy coordination, growing market connectivity, and the institutionalization of cross-border projects and dialogue on regional governance. The agency’s interlocutor added that the creation of the China-Central Asia mechanism was a logical continuation and confirmation of the maturity of this cooperation.

    “Looking to the future with optimism, we are convinced that cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, as well as between the Central Asian countries and China under the auspices of the Belt and Road Initiative, will only deepen,” said A. Djumanova. According to her, this is not just a set of short-term projects, but a strategic partnership based on a common vision of development and high-quality standards. “Uzbekistan, as before, will firmly support and actively participate in this cooperation, which brings hope to the entire region,” the expert concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Universal Service Fund

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.27.25
    Murkowski Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Universal Service Fund
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionally of the Universal Service Fund.
    “Over the last 30 years, the Universal Service Fund has been instrumental in connecting rural Alaska by supporting telephone services and internet access in schools and low-income households in some of the most unserved and underserved communities in our state. I am pleased to see that the Supreme Court upheld the program, agreeing that Congress has set clear guardrails for the Federal Communications Commission to serve rural Americans. Alaskans can be confident that this program, which helps provide affordable phone and internet services to rural communities, will continue going forward.”
    In another significant decision today, Senator Murkowski released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision that narrowed the scope of universal injunctions:
    “Limiting universal injunctions ensures that legal challenges around the country are narrowed with proportional size and scope to the matter and precedent being addressed. The Supreme Court acknowledged that some cases require a nationwide scope, and discussed the viability of class action lawsuits due to additional steps required by courts, legal teams, and the federal government in these matters. But it’s important to recognize that decisions from courts in Miami or New York City should not, and often cannot, be broadly applied across Alaska.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Releases Updated Senate Judiciary Text in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released updated legislative text of the Judiciary Committee’s provisions in Senate Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as approved by the Senate Parliamentarian.  
    “Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to keep criminal illegal immigrants in our country and on the taxpayers’ dime. The voters rejected that radical approach in November, and Republicans are now disposing of Democrats’ radical open borders agenda by securing historic investments in border security, providing monumental support for law enforcement, and incorporating commonsense immigration and work authorization fees,” Grassley said.
    Click HERE for final bill text.
    Click HERE for a section-by-section.
    Click HERE for a one-pager.
    The parliamentarian ruled in favor of the majority of Republicans’ Judiciary provisions. Among them, Republicans notably secured the following wins for Americans:
    A provision preventing Department of Justice (DOJ) funds from being squandered in sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws – Section 100054(5)(C).
    A provision cutting off DOJ funds from leftist non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Section 100054(5)(B).
    Three provisions to fight back against federal courts’ unconstitutional use of universal injunctions by:
    Providing DOJ funds to hire additional federal attorneys to challenge injunctions issued against the government – Section 100054(4),

    Requiring courts to track and publish metrics on injunctions issued against the government and their corresponding injunction bonds – (Section 100101), and

     
    Establishing judicial training programs regarding the lack of legal basis for universal injunctions – Section 100102.

    A provision creating a new compensation fund for states and localities that have had to bear the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens – Section 100054(7).
    A provision providing resources to enhance the screening and vetting of all aliens seeking entry into, or intending to remain in, the United States – Section 100051(4).
    A provision to protect alien children from exploitation by funding efforts to fingerprint and collect DNA from illegal migrants attempting to enter the United States without a valid visa, pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act – Section 100051(5).
    A provision making funds available to the Department of Homeland Security for state and local participation in homeland security efforts, including supporting immigration enforcement activities – Section 100051(7).
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Senate Beefs Up Law Enforcement Tools to Protect Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: What border security measures did you lead in the Senate budget bill?
    A: As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I included significant upgrades for border security in the Senate’s budget bill that address the disastrous open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration. During the previous administration, more than 10 million illegal immigrants from countries around the world poured across our nation’s southern border, including violent criminals and potential terrorists. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General earlier this month confirmed the Biden-Harris administration failed to properly vet all Afghan evacuees, encountering at least 55 individuals with hits on the terrorist screening database. Last fall, the FBI arrested an Afghan national for plotting a terror attack on U.S. soil after gaining entry on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). Following Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22 that struck three of Iran’s nuclear sites, tensions between Iran and the United States underscore the real and present danger of an open border policy. Just consider, of more than 1,500 Iranian nationals who were encountered at the southern border crossing illegally into the U.S. during the previous administration, nearly half were released into the country. The potential for Iranian sleeper cells on the ground here in the United States is a reckless consequence of the Biden-Harris open border policies. The Trump administration is coordinating among federal agencies to address this risk.
    As the Senate hammered out the details for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, I led historic investments in the nation’s immigration system to support law enforcement and give frontline immigration enforcement officials the tools they need to secure the border. Specifically, the legislation would boost funding for immigration agencies; reimburse states who pitched in to protect the U.S. border during the Biden-Harris administration; expand resources for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect public safety; and bring fiscal accountability into the immigration system by raising fees to offset enforcement costs.
    Q: How did open border policies impact the safety of law enforcement personnel?
    A: Plain and simple, the foolish border policies under the Biden White House unleashed an unmanageable mess at the southern border. The border crisis overwhelmed law enforcement and immigration officials and empowered dangerous Mexican drug cartels to ramp up their human smuggling and drug trafficking networks. In June, I convened a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to shed light on law enforcement’s ongoing work to combat cartels and regain a foothold at the border to protect American lives and restore U.S. sovereignty. Officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations testified about their experiences enforcing the law and investigating crimes at the border, including being surveilled and targeted by the drug cartels. Our bill includes more resources for the Department of Justice to combat the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl that have devastated too many families.
    As a strong supporter of the men and women who serve on the thin blue line, I pushed to boost funding for the Byrne JAG and Community Policing Services (COPS) to support boots-on-the-ground efforts to combat violent crime in local communities. My oversight work has exposed critical gaps in the Bureau of Prisons. After hearing from law enforcement, I worked to boost funding to address staff shortages and capital improvements to upgrade deteriorating detention facilities. The bill also beefs up recruitment and training tools for the U.S. Secret Service in the wake of two assassination attempts against President Trump. The Senate bill responds to the mandate of the last election. The electorate voted for the America First agenda, and that includes reclaiming our sovereignty and rule of law at our borders to keep Americans safe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Craft, creativity and community behind craze in China’s ‘coffee city’

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

    Customers enjoy coffee at a coffee shop in Yunyan District of Guiyang, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Guiyang, in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, has made a name for itself as a coffee powerhouse despite having no coffee farms. Home to more than 3,000 coffee shops, the provincial capital has produced over 10 world and national champions in coffee roasting.

    This once quiet inland city is now enjoying the buzz of being a burgeoning coffee hub. It has cultivated a vibrant coffee culture by inviting world champions to give lectures and training, and sending local teams to participate in international competitions.

    Its distinctive coffee culture, coupled with an open mindset and innovative flair, is not only drawing in a growing number of coffee aficionados from near and far, but also bringing new employment opportunities for the local youth.

    Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), makes hand-brewed coffee at his company in Guiyang, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Craftsmanship 

    Peng Jinyang, a barista and coffee shop owner of Captain George in Guiyang, recently clinched the champion title at the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Indonesia. He noticed that under the same conditions, even if three cups of coffee were brewed consecutively, there would be subtle differences in the taste of each cup.

    His skill comes from years of refining his palette, through which he discovered how the temperature variations between the spout and the center of the teapot impact flavor. This became the theme of his WBC presentation, which won high praise from the judges.

    In 2012, Peng, then a college student with an interest in the rich flavor produced by roasting coffee beans, co-founded a coffee shop with a fellow barista in Guiyang. At that time, domestic coffee information was scarce, and the types of coffee beans were limited. With the support of his parents, he bought a coffee roasting machine and learned about roasting from English-language videos.

    To improve his techniques, he attended coffee seminars across China and, in 2019, started to invite global coffee champions to give lessons in Guiyang. With expertise, Peng took home the champion prize at the TAKAO International Coffee Competition in 2016, and captained his team to win the WBC China champion title for four consecutive years since 2022.

    “‘Bringing in’ these champions is crucial for accessing the latest coffee knowledge and ensuring that baristas in Guiyang, despite it being an inland city, stay at the forefront of the coffee industry,” Peng said.

    Community 

    In Guiyang, there is one coffee shop for every 2,000 residents. This makes it one of the Chinese cities with the highest coffee shop density. Some tourists even walk through the city’s streets and alleys with maps in hand, determined to seek out the coffee shops hidden in the deep lanes.

    Nestled in narrow alleys and old neighborhoods of Guiyang, many boutique coffee shops are strategically placed. For locals, it is convenient to pick up a cup of high-quality coffee during their daily commute.

    In Yunyan District, which boasts the highest concentration of coffee shops, each of its five leading cafés sells an average of 300 cups of coffee per day, generating a revenue of over 10,000 yuan (about 1,400 U.S. dollars). Most of the consumption comes from residents of the surrounding community. This once-foreign beverage has gradually been woven into the fabric of their daily lives.

    In an old community off the bustling snack street of Caijiajie, Rock Black is a hidden gem. Owned by Lei Ming, who has been in the coffee business since 2020, this cozy spot has rightly made a name for itself.

    Lei actively participates in professional coffee competitions and serves as a judge for coffee events. During this year’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday, his coffee shop saw an average daily output of over 300 cups, with 75 percent of its customers being out-of-town tourists.

    On the edge of a new development zone in eastern Guiyang, where wide sidewalks meet sleek residential blocks, Orchard Café stands out more like a creative community than a commercial coffeehouse.

    “We host everything — from international certification courses for new baristas, to community ‘cuppings’ where customers discover their favorite beans, to pre-competition bootcamps for elite brewers,” said Qiang Hua, the shop founder, who is a barista with a decade of experience and eight years as a certified sensory judge at elite events like the China Brewers Championship.

    “Barista champion is not just someone who can brew a cup of good coffee, but also someone who should lead the way, elevate the entire industry and drive the community of baristas to keep improving,” Qiang added.

    Creativity 

    Each coffee shop seems to be pulling out all the stops to carve out its own unique path in this “coffee city”.

    Lei never expected that his recipe of mixing fish mint with Americano would become a market hit. “It makes you shake your head when you hear of it, but once you taste it, you’re hooked,” he quipped.

    In Guiyang, where the local cuisine is celebrated for its masterful use of spices, baristas are turning to local ingredients, blending the sweet and sour of kiwiberry juice, the pungent aroma of litse fruit, and the rich flavor of local milk with coffee beans.

    In 2024, Rock Black launched a “One Bean, Three Ways” experience set, pairing one type of coffee bean with three local ingredients. The fish mint Americano has since risen from a novelty drink to a symbol of the city’s taste for many consumers.

    GOOD Coffee, another local coffeehouse, has put a lot of efforts into its coffee gear. Its owner Luo Nianyu and her team have turned each cup of coffee into an artistic medium, sparking a social media craze.

    Customers love to share the hand-painted coffee cups on social media, each one like a tiny canvas. A shelf behind the counter is filled with cups that Luo and her team have painted by hand.

    Her café has won a loyal customer base and a good reputation, being dubbed by many netizens as “the most human café in Guiyang.”

    “Cafés exist in a kind of paradox. People want consistency in quality, but they also crave surprises,” Luo said, adding that the hand-painted cups are their way of offering both — a dependable brew with a personal twist. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges relevant party to avoid being incited or used by ‘Taiwan independence’ forces: FM spokesperson

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

    China urges relevant party to avoid being incited or used by “Taiwan independence” forces, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

    Guo made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a Czech media report that when Taiwan’s Hsiao Bi-khim was in Prague earlier last year, the Chinese embassy closely followed her car.

    By allowing diehard “Taiwan independence” separatist Hsiao Bi-khim to visit, the Czech Republic seriously violates the one-China principle and its political commitment to China, and grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, Guo said, adding that China has expressed its strong concern and firm opposition.

    “Let me stress that Chinese diplomats always observe the laws and regulations of host countries,” Guo said, noting that China urges relevant party to avoid being incited or used by “Taiwan independence” forces, and refrain from creating troubles, spreading rumors, and disrupting and undermining the bilateral relations.

    No matter how Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities seek independence by soliciting foreign support in whatever form, they cannot cover up their ill intentions and will certainly fail in their attempts, Guo said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Türkiye-Iran air travel partially resumes after 15-day hiatus: minister

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

    Air travel between Türkiye and Iran partially resumed on Friday after being suspended for 15 days due to the Iran-Israel conflict, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

    Uraloglu noted that flights from the Iranian eastern city of Mashhad to Istanbul, operated by Iranian carriers, is resuming on Friday.

    “This marks a partial reopening of air travel between Türkiye and Iran after a 15-day hiatus,” he said on social media platform X.

    Uraloglu added that the airspace in the cities of Tehran and Tabriz, located in western Iran, will remain closed, and the restriction will continue until Wednesday, July 2.

    The minister noted that talks are ongoing with Iranian authorities to allow Turkish planes stranded in Iran to return with special permits. “Efforts are continuing to fully normalize flights with Iran and bring the grounded planes back to Türkiye as soon as possible,” he said.

    Uraloglu had previously stated that seven Turkish airline planes were stranded in Iran due to the airspace closure.

    Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that Iran has postponed the full reopening of its airspace until Saturday afternoon.

    Iran closed its airspace on June 13 as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and other areas. Following a 12-day areial conflict, a ceasefire between the two sides was achieved on Tuesday. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese lychees captivate Dubai

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

    Lychees are pictured at a supermarket in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), June 20, 2025.

    Chinese lychees are winning over more fans abroad due to the cold-chain technology and air transportation.

    In the United Arab Emirates, with a 48-hour transportation process from picking to marketing, Chinese lychees boarded the shelves of supermarkets still with fresh fragrance.

    Every week, four tons of Chinese lychees are transported in two shipments by air from south China’s Guangdong to Dubai and sold out in just three days.

    These lychees, across thousands of miles, have become a fresh and sweet business card for China on the tables of local consumers. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   >  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Xinjiang opens first direct cargo flight to Africa

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

    The first direct air cargo route from northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Africa was launched on Friday as a Boeing 777 freighter departed from Urumqi, the regional capital, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The new link, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, will see two to three weekly flights. It promises to seamlessly integrate Xinjiang’s exporters into African and global logistics networks, while bringing premium African goods such as beef, lamb, specialty coffee, and horticultural products directly to Chinese consumers.

    Customs authorities have implemented streamlined procedures, including direct sorting and distribution upon arrival, to enhance logistics efficiency.

    “The route is expected to attract more enterprises across the supply chain, foster related industries, and create new jobs,” said Liu Jingyi, an official with the airport customs in Urumqi.

    The route will provide robust logistics support for trade between China and Africa, paving the way for deeper and broader cooperation, said Dereje Derero Dimenso, who is in charge of the cargo and logistics services at Ethiopian Airlines.

    This route marks the eighth international cargo route launched from Urumqi this year, following new connections to cities including Istanbul and Islamabad. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Post-exam economy ignites China’s youth consumption surge

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

    Students take a bus to leave after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Lhasa, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, June 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    High school graduates are stepping out of classrooms nationwide and into adulthood following the 2025 gaokao, or national college entrance examination. Their enthusiasm is fueling a vibrant wave of youth spending, known as the “post-exam economy.”

    This year, a record 13.35 million students registered for the gaokao, forming a substantial consumer force driving the current post-exam spending boom. With the exam behind them, these young people are eager to mark the start of a new chapter in their lives.

    Among the most popular choices is outdoor travel. Many graduates have set out to explore the country’s vast landscapes, sparking a fresh surge in youth tourism. According to Chinese travel platform Trip.com, bookings for trips departing between June 9 and June 11 jumped 88 percent week-on-week, as students wasted no time in embarking on their post-exam adventures.

    For many graduates, these journeys are far more than simple getaways for rest and relaxation. They see them as symbolic rites of passage — not only a farewell to academic pressure, but also a meaningful growth milestone. That first train or plane ticket they book themselves becomes a youthful declaration of independence.

    At the scenic spots of Qutang Gorge and the ancient town of Baidi (white emperor) in Fengjie County, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, graduates are hiking to the summit of the Three Gorges and taking in the breathtaking landscapes.

    Qiu Depeng and Jin Zhiyu chose to tackle the “Three Gorges Summit” trail together. “People from all over the country come to the ancient town of Baidi and hike the summit. Now that we finally have the time, we can experience the landscapes we’ve only read about in textbooks,” said Qiu.

    To improve the tourism experience, Fengjie has introduced a series of discounts for graduating middle school, high school, and university students. Despite the summer heat, more than 100 high school graduates visit the scenic site daily, according to Luo Xiaoqing, head of the White Emperor City Qutang Gorge Scenic Spot management department.

    Concurrently, smartphones, laptops, and tablets have become the popular trio of “exam rewards” from parents. As students gear up for further education, the demand for such college essentials has driven a significant surge in electronics sales.

    High school graduate Wen Jie recently bought the three items during the “618” shopping spree in JD MALL’s digital section in Chongqing’s Jiulongpo District.

    Store manager Sun Jian noted that the post-exam season combined with the shopping spree spurred sales growth. Beyond the traditional trio, products like iFlytek’s learning devices and smart notebooks, as well as various wearable technology saw sales rise by 40 to 50 percent compared with the previous period.

    Retailers across the country are capitalizing on this momentum, with many stores launching promotional campaigns. At an electronics store in Shanghai’s Qingpu District, inquiries from student customers have surged by more than 60 percent week-on-week. To better serve this group, the store has added dedicated staff to provide guidance and ensure government subsidy policies are effectively implemented.

    Beyond travel and electronics, some graduates are focusing their spending on self-improvement, such as learning to drive and beginning fitness training.

    At a commercial fitness center in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area, specialized courses such as boxing, Pilates, and functional training have seen surging popularity. “Many of our new members are recent graduates hoping to get in better shape before starting university. Our membership grew by more than 50 percent month-on-month,” said a representative of the gym.

    Compared with working out on their own, graduates are more inclined to hire professional trainers. Female members tend to prefer strength training and stretching classes, while male members are drawn to boxing and functional workouts. Many opt for packages of around 36 sessions over two months, said the representative.

    Additionally, many graduates are also using the extended summer break for vision correction and dental treatments. Data from Chinese e-commerce platform Meituan shows that in the first week after the exam, orders for vision correction surgeries surged by 108 percent, while demand for orthodontics and teeth whitening rose by around 30 percent. Post-exam members of Generation Z are the main drivers of this growth.

    “The ‘post-exam economy’ reflects a vibrant wave of youth-driven consumption and serves as an important lens for observing trends among young consumers,” stated Long Shaobo, professor at Chongqing University’s School of Public Administration.

    The phenomenon extends beyond a temporary spending spike. “Governments and businesses must deepen their understanding of these needs, enhance quality offerings, and build long-term mechanisms to transform this short-term momentum into a sustainable driver for economic and consumer growth,” said Long. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: From algorithms to assembly lines: AI resets industries in Davos spotlight

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

    A guest interacts with a robot during the Cultural Soiree of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, June 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Amid bustling crowds at the Summer Davos Forum in north China’s Tianjin, an AI-powered interactive installation has captured the attention of curious attendees, who pause to observe and interact with the technology.

    In front of the huge screen, an oil-painting-style visual experience seamlessly blends people’s figures with Tianjin’s ecological scenery and cultural heritage.

    The interactive installation epitomizes the global surge in AI, which has empowered a vast number of industries worldwide. AI has been a recurring theme at the Summer Davos for years, but groundbreaking advancements such as the latest ChatGPT iterations, AIGC developments and China’s impressive DeepSeek models have propelled AI onto center stage.

    “AI will bring a new industrial revolution. All products and businesses will be reshaped,” said Gong Ke, research lead for the 2025 Summer Davos topics, adding that nowadays, intelligent and green technologies are transforming traditional industries while creating vast new demands.

    The top 10 emerging technologies of 2025 released at the Summer Davos Forum are expected to achieve real-world impact within three to five years. Collaborative sensing and generative watermarking are among the 10 breakthrough technologies to watch.

    “These technologies need to be deployed everywhere, so everybody can benefit from these technologies,” said Javier Garcia-Martinez, professor of University of Alicante in Spain.

    In recent years, the development of AI in China has been remarkable. Yan Bing, the vice dean of the School of Economics at Nankai University, said that China’s AI industry exceeded 700 billion yuan (about 97.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, sustaining over 20 percent annual growth for years, and the applications of AI spanned manufacturing, healthcare, urban governance and many other areas.

    “China is driving global transformation with innovation and digital momentum,” said Yan.

    Cao Bin, chairman of Fitow (Tianjin) Detection Technology Co., Ltd., said that they could analyze over 30 types of real-time data with AI and make a digital twin system simulation within one minute. The solution has already been adopted by many automakers nationwide.

    In parallel with improvements to the basic model and product experience, AI has become more and more user-friendly, showing its practical value in complex emergency scenarios, said Shen Dou, the executive vice president of Baidu.

    The Chinese government work report released earlier this year called for the extensive application of large-scale AI models and the vigorous development of new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, including intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, AI-enabled phones and computers, and intelligent robots.

    Today, traditional industries in China are also embracing AI.

    Unlike the traditional dusty and messy factory, the prefabricated component factory of Lanzhou-Hezuo Railway was clean and intelligent. At the factory, 5G-connected robotic arms transported materials and stacking robots arranged components with precision.

    “Producing 5,300 prefabricated parts daily, the smart line quadruples traditional efficiency,” said Gao Hongyi, the project manager at China Railway 18th Bureau Group.

    There is a lot of curiosity in the world around the innovation ecosystems of China, particularly around the energy transition, the overall energy ecosystem, and also high technology, said Mirek Dusek, World Economic Forum Managing Director. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 154th Joint Patrol of Mekong River Concluded

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    KUNMING, June 28 (Xinhua) — The 154th joint patrol of the Mekong River by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded on Friday with two Chinese ships returning to the ports of Jingha and Guanlei in southwest Yunnan Province.

    The 4-day patrol involved 6 vessels and about 200 law enforcement officers from these countries. During the patrol, a distance of 600 km was covered.

    The focus of the patrol mission, which coincided with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, was to curb drug-related crime to ensure security and stability along the river.

    Law enforcement officers carried out various preventive campaigns in coastal villages, schools and businesses, distributing more than 1,000 anti-drug leaflets and 4,000 educational materials.

    Joint patrols of the Mekong involving the four countries have been underway since December 2011. On October 5 that year, a gang of criminals hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Thai waters.

    The Mekong is the largest river in Southeast Asia. It flows through China /called Lancangjiang/, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: View of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la

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

    View of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la

    Updated: June 28, 2025 10:00 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 26, 2025. Formed by the sediments of high calcium carbonate in spring waters, Baishuitai is one of the biggest limestone terraces in China. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourist visit Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Baishuitai in Sanba Township, Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: El Gobernador Newsom firma un presupuesto estatal equilibrado que reduce los impuestos a los veteranos, financia completamente las comidas escolares gratuitas, construye más viviendas y crea empleos

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 27, 2025

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Reducción de impuestos para jubilados militares

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Pre-kinder universal para todos

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Ampliación de programas antes y después de clases y cursos de verano

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Alimentación escolar gratuita para todos los niños

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Impulso de la alfabetización y la lectura

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Construyendo más viviendas, lo antes posible

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Reduciendo los costos de los medicamentos

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Ampliando el acceso al aborto con medicamentos con CalRx

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Inversiones históricas en la lucha contra incendios y la seguridad pública

    ✅ CUMPLIDO: Protegiendo la icónica industria cinematográfica de California

    Próximamente se firmará un paquete histórico para reducir la burocracia, agilizar la construcción de viviendas y la infraestructura

    Sacramento, California – Ante el asalto económico de Donald Trump, el Gobernador Gavin Newsom firmó hoy el proyecto de ley de presupuesto estatal para el 2025 en colaboración con el Presidente del Senado Mike McGuire y el Presidente de la Asamblea Robert Rivas. Juntos, el Gobernador y la Legislatura están implementando un plan de gasto responsable y equilibrado que salvaguarda los valores de California y, al mismo tiempo, mantiene la salud fiscal a largo plazo. Este presupuesto y los próximos proyectos de ley incluyen nuevas políticas históricas que acelerarán la producción de viviendas e impulsarán la asequibilidad en comunidades de todo el estado – abordando así los desafíos más urgentes de California.

    Mientras enfrentamos el sabotaje económico de Donald Trump, este acuerdo presupuestario demuestra que California no solo se mantendrá firme – sino que irá aún más lejos. Es equilibrado, mantiene reservas sustanciales y se centra en el apoyo a los californianos – reduciendo drásticamente la burocracia e impulsando el desarrollo de vivienda e infraestructura, preservando los servicios esenciales del cuidado de salud, financia la educación preescolar universal y reduce los impuestos para los veteranos.

    Gobernador Gavin Newsom

    El Presidente del Senado Mike McGuire dice: “El Estado está entregando un presupuesto responsable y puntual en un año difícil, centrado en la restricción fiscal y la inversión en las personas y los programas que hacen de este estado un gran estado. Este presupuesto prioriza una financiación récord para nuestros hijos y escuelas públicas, protege el acceso a la atención médica para millones de las personas más vulnerables y creará más viviendas a una escala sin precedentes en años. Gracias a este acuerdo presupuestario, el estado ayudará a que más personas salgan de las calles y encuentren refugios permanentes, y ampliaremos los equipos de CalFire, desplegando cientos de bomberos adicionales de CalFire a tiempo completo, lo que salvará vidas y nos hará a todos más seguros contra incendios forestales. Y este acuerdo ayuda a preparar a nuestro estado para el caos continuo y la enorme incertidumbre causada por la administración de Trump. Gracias al líder del Comité de Presupuesto del Senado Scott Wiener, a la Asamblea y al Gobernador Newsom y a sus equipos por su arduo trabajo para la gente de California.”

    El Presidente de la Asamblea Robert Rivas dice: Este es un momento increíblemente difícil para los californianos. Trump está socavando nuestra economía con aranceles imprudentes, recortes drásticos y agentes de ICE aterrorizando a nuestras comunidades. En un momento en que tantos ya están en dificultades, está aumentando el miedo y la inestabilidad. En contraste, los demócratas han presentado un presupuesto que protege a California. Reduce la burocracia para construir más viviendas con mayor rapidez, porque la vivienda es la base de la asequibilidad y la oportunidad. Preserva inversiones cruciales en atención médica, salud femenina, educación y seguridad pública. Y cumple con nuestro compromiso de no aumentar los impuestos a las familias, los trabajadores ni a las pequeñas empresas. En tiempos sin precedentes, en circunstancias difíciles, los demócratas están cumpliendo con los californianos.

    Recortes de impuestos para veteranos, tamaños de clases escolares más reducidas y comidas escolares gratuitas

    El presupuesto refleja un compromiso compartido para proteger las oportunidades y mejorar la accesibilidad en California, frente a los ataques selectivos de la administración de Trump. Preserva programas clave de cuidado médico para los californianos que han sido atacados por los republicanos. También preserva programas esenciales de la red de seguridad social, incluyendo servicios de apoyo domiciliario y la salud reproductiva femenina, a la vez que realiza inversiones históricas en la educación pública, desde el pre-kínder universal y las comidas escolares gratuitas hasta la ampliación de los programas antes y después de la escuela, los cursos de verano, clases con menos estudiantes y el fortalecimiento de la formación profesional y la educación superior. El presupuesto demuestra el compromiso del estado con el reconocimiento de los veteranos mediante la creación de recortes de impuestos para los jubilados militares, reconociendo su servicio y apoyando su seguridad financiera.

    Reduciendo los costos de los medicamentos recetados, proteger la atención reproductiva y las redes de seguridad

    El presupuesto preserva programas clave de atención médica para los californianos que están en la mira de los republicanos. Conserva programas vitales de protección social, como los servicios de apoyo domiciliario y la salud reproductiva femenina. Como parte del presupuesto, el Gobernador firmará legislación que protege al acceso al cuidado médico, el presupuesto lidera los esfuerzos para otorgar licencias y regular a los Administradores de Beneficios Farmacéuticos por primera vez, aumentando la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas en la cadena de suministro farmacéutica. La legislación también amplía la autoridad de CalRx para adquirir medicamentos de marca y responder a interrupciones del suministro por motivos políticos, ayudando a proteger el acceso a medicamentos críticos como la mifepristona.

    Luces, camara, trabajos

    El presupuesto protege la posición de California como la cuarta economía más grande del mundo – apoyando a las empresas y el continuo crecimiento económico, incluyendo la emblemática industria cinematográfica californiana. La próxima semana, el Gobernador firmará legislación adicional como parte de la expansión del programa de crédito fiscal para cine y televisión, lo que catapultará aún más el impacto del programa a $750 millones anuales.

    El ataque económico de Trump

    El presupuesto equilibrado se produce en un momento en que California continúa enfrentando importantes presiones fiscales impulsadas por las imprudentes políticas económicas y de inmigración de la administración de Trump. Según el Departamento de Finanzas de California, se proyecta que el régimen arancelario de Trump le costará al estado aproximadamente $16 mil millones en ingresos del Fondo General durante el próximo año fiscal. Un nuevo estudio publicado el 17 de junio por el Instituto Económico de la Área de la Bahía (Bay Area Council Economic Institute), en colaboración con UC Merced, concluyó que las deportaciones masivas de Trump podrían recortar $275 mil millones de la economía de California, eliminar $23 mil millones en ingresos fiscales anuales y afectar gravemente a industrias clave como la agricultura, la construcción y la industria hotelera. 

    Ante estos crecientes desafíos, el Gobernador emitió una proclamación para acceder a las reservas estatales bajo. Y este presupuesto responsable y equilibrado protege a los californianos, crea más viviendas, preserva programas esenciales, refuerza la disciplina fiscal e invierte en la fortaleza económica a largo plazo del estado. 

    El Gobernador anunció hoy la firma de los siguientes proyectos de ley:

    • AB 102 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • AB 118 by the Committee on Budget – Human services.
    • AB 121 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
    • AB 123 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education budget trailer bill.
    • AB 134 by the Committee on Budget – Public Safety.
    • AB 136 by the Committee on Budget – Courts.
    • AB 143 by the Committee on Budget – Development Services.
    • SB 101 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • SB 103 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Acts of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
    • SB 120 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Early childhood education and childcare.
    • SB 124 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources trailer bill.
    • SB 127 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Climate change.
    • SB 128 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
    • SB 132 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation.
    • SB 141 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – California Cannabis Tax Fund: Department of Cannabis Control: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.
    • SB 142 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

    La firma del Gobernador en el presupuesto estatal depende de la promulgación de la AB 131 o la SB 131 el lunes 30 de junio.

    To read this release in English, click here. 

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  • MIL-OSI: SunnyMining Launches $15 Signup Bonus Cloud Mining Plan with Daily Crypto Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Manchester, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Faced with economic fluctuations and high interest rate pressure, traditional financial management has not achieved satisfactory returns, and more and more people are turning to simpler and more stable ways to increase their wealth. Cloud mining does not require equipment, is easy to operate, and settles income daily, and is becoming a new choice for the public to achieve passive income.

    Following this trend, Sunny Mining launched a cloud mining plan that offers a $15 bonus upon registration, helping users easily open daily income channels for mainstream currencies such as BTC, DOGE, and XRP.

    After completing the registration, users can receive 15 USD of cloud computing power to start mining. After logging in and signing in every day, users can get 0.6 USD of income, which will be automatically settled to the account by the system without any additional operation.

    SunnyMining platform core advantages

    AI intelligent scheduling: patented algorithm, real-time optimization of computing power, stable income.

    Green Pioneer: Carbon neutral certification, significantly reducing carbon footprint.

    Minimal experience: multi-language support, one-click mining on mobile phone, zero threshold.

    Flexible contract: multiple cycle options to meet different investment needs.

    Co-creation community: 9 million users participate in platform governance and share rewards.

    Professional customer service: 7×24 hours multi-language service, considerate support.

    The marketing director of Sunny Mining said: “We are committed to lowering the threshold for mining and allowing users to start earning profits easily and quickly. We adhere to green energy, provide real-time tracking and 24/7 support, and create a safe and convenient cloud mining experience.”

    SunnyMining offers a variety of contract plans suitable for beginners and experienced investors. All contract fees include electricity and maintenance costs, allowing users to participate with confidence, with clear and transparent fees and no additional hidden fees.

    SunnyMining is easy to operate. After registering, users select a contract and deposit the supported cryptocurrency. Mining starts when the contract is activated. The income can be viewed in real time through the dashboard. The income is settled daily and can be withdrawn or continued to invest at any time.

    The platform also has a referral reward program. Inviting friends to participate can earn extra income and help the community continue to grow.

    From free mining to large-scale mining participation

    Mike from Florida initially used the $15 trial contract given by SunnyMining to experience the convenient cloud mining function of the platform. After confirming the stable income and convenient operation, he gradually increased his investment and started mining BTC, DOGE and XRP. Now—Mike can enjoy continuous digital asset income without any hardware equipment.

    Start free mining easily

    Sign up for SunnyMining now, get $15 of cloud computing power for free, and start your digital asset appreciation journey. Seize the opportunity, experience smart cloud mining easily, and start a new chapter of stable passive income.

    To learn more or start mining for free, visit:https://sunnymining.com
    Email address: info@sunnymining.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. You are strongly advised to perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to fire at Gaza aid seekers – 70 killed across Strip

    Israeli soldiers have said that they were ordered to open fire at unarmed Palestinian civilians desperately seeking aid at designated distribution sites in Gaza, a report in the Ha’aretz newspaper has revealed.

    The report came as 70 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip — mostly at aid sites belonging to the widely condemned Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — in the last 24 hours.

    Soldiers said that instead of using crowd control measures, they shot at crowds of civilians to prevent them from approaching certain areas.

    One soldier, who was not named in the report, described the distribution site as a “killing field,” adding that “where I was, between one and five people were killed every day”.

    The soldier said that they targeted the crowds as if they were “an attacking force,” instead of using other non-lethal weapons to organise and disperse crowds.

    “We communicate with them through fire,” he continued, noting that heavy machine guns, grenade launchers and mortars were used on people, including the elderly, women and children.

    The increased attacks, particularly those targeting aid-seekers, come as Gaza’s government Media Office said at least 549 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces while trying to get their hands on emergency aid in the last four weeks.

    ‘Evil of moral army’
    Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara described what was happening in Gaza was more than the genocode.

    “It is the evil of the most moral army in the world,” he said.

    Israeli forces continued their attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday, killing at least three Palestinians in an attack on Khan Younis, in the south, while also heavily bombing residential buildings east of Jabalia in the north.

    Medical sources also said a Palestinian fisherman was killed, and others wounded, by Israeli naval gunfire off the al-Shati refugee camp, while he was working.

    Gaza’s Ministry of Interior responded to the attacks with a statement, accusing Israel of “seeking to spread chaos and destabilise the Gaza Strip”.

    Malnutrition soars
     Gazans have continued to desperately seek aid provided by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, despite the hundreds of people killed at its sites, as malnutrition soars in the territory.

    Two infants have died this week due to malnutrition and the ongoing blockade on Gaza.

    “It’s a killing field” claims a headline in Ha’aretz newspaper. Image: Ha’aretz screenshot APR

    For weeks now, health officials in the enclave have raised the alarm over the critical shortage of baby formula, but aid continued to be obstructed.

    The two infants were buried on Thursday evening, after they were pronounced dead at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Medical staff said the cause of death was a lack of basic nutrition and access to essential medical care.

    One of the infants, identified as Nidal, was only five months old, while the other, Kinda, was only 10 days old.

    Mohammed al-Hams, Kinda’s father, told local media that children are dying due to severe malnutrition, sarcastically labelling them “the achievements of Netanyahu and his war”.

    “Not a second goes by without a funeral prayer being held in the Gaza Strip,” he continued.

    Malnutrition ‘catastrophic’
    On Wednesday, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said the humanitarian situation in Gaza had reached “catastrophic” levels, noting that there had been a sharp increase in malnutrition among children, particularly in infants.

    According to Palestinian official figures, at least 242 people have died in Gaza due to food and medicine shortages, with the majority of them being elderly and children.

    Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 61,700 Palestinians since October 2023. The war has levelled entire neighbourhoods, and has been called a genocide by leading rights groups, including Amnesty International.

    In Auckland last night, visiting Palestinian journalist, author, academic and community advocate Dr Yousef Aljamal spoke about “The unheard voices of Palestinian child prisoners”.

    Dr Aljamal, who edited If I Must Die, a compilation of poetry and prose by Refaat Alareer, the poet who was assassinated by the Israelis in 6 December 2023, also described the humanitarian crisis as a “catastrophe” and called for urgent sanctions and political pressure on Israel by governments, including New Zealand.


    Soldiers admit Israeli army is targeting aid seekers       Video: Al Jazeera

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey and Rep. Pappas Reintroduce Legislation to Ban LGBTQ+ Panic Defense in Federal Courts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF)
    Washington (June 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced the reintroduction of the LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act, legislation that would prohibit the use of “panic” defenses based on sexual orientation or gender identity in federal courts. These defenses seek to partially or completely excuse crimes—such as murder and assault—on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity provoked the defendant’s violent reaction. LGBTQ+ “panic” defenses have been used in courts for decades. It’s long past time to stop sanctioning violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
    “Members of the LGBTQ+ community—especially trans people of color—experience disproportionate levels of fatal violence,” said Senator Markey. “For far too long, LGBTQ+ ‘panic’ defenses have been used in courts to blame LGBTQ+ victims for the crimes committed against them. The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act puts a stop to this hateful and discriminatory practice, banning this defense in federal courts. LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
    “No person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression should ever a be a justification for assault or murder, and it is unconscionable that violent perpetrators can still attempt to avoid accountability for their crimes by using bigoted ‘panic’ defenses in our federal courts,” said Representative Pappas. “I’m proud that a bipartisan coalition of legislators came together in my state of New Hampshire to ban their use in our state courts beginning last year, but we still need to make progress on the federal level to provide every American the same protections under the law. Congress should ban the use of these bigoted defenses in federal courts as well, and I am committed to working to ensure justice is afforded to all.”
    The bill is cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
    The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act is endorsed by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).
    In 2023, Senator Markey and Representative Pappas introduced the LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act. In June 2025, Senator Markey issued a statement disapproving of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee’s cruel and discriminatory law that bans access to essential gender-affirming care for trans youth.
    Recently, Senator Markey co-sponsored the No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act, which would push back against the Trump administration’s attempts to target the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ individuals nationwide. Senator Markey also co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would amend federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected group and prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, housing, education, and access to credit and services.
    Representative Pappas serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and is New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress. In his role as Co-Chair of the Equality Caucus, he has helped to introduce and pass the Equality Act through the House of Representatives and enact the Respect for Marriage Act into law. Representative Pappas also leads the SERVE Act, which would guarantee and protect VA benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans and led successful calls for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reassess policy that blocked members of the LGBTQ+ community from donating blood.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Leader Schumer, Wyden Call on Republicans to Stop Solar Cuts that Threaten K-12 School Funds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Lawmakers release data showing over 250 schools at risk of delayed projects and higher energy costs

    Letter Text and Full Dataset (PDF)

    Washington (June 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committees, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, today wrote to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04), about the risk to K-12 funding from the Republican budget reconciliation proposal to eliminate federal tax credits that fund solar infrastructure projects in schools.

    Projects supported by tax credits have saved communities tens of thousands of dollars annually—including Wayne County Schools in West Virginia, which is projected to save the equivalent of three full-time teacher salaries over the course of their careers. Any cuts could delay or disrupt ongoing solar projects, prevent schools and school districts from accessing a tool to save on energy costs, and waste state and school district investments.

    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “By cutting federal clean energy incentives, the Republican budget reconciliation bill would interfere with K-12 school funding across the United States. Clean energy projects can reduce monthly energy costs, allowing schools to spend more on supporting students, faculty, and staff. With its draconian cuts to solar energy incentives, the Republican reconciliation bill promises to stall ongoing state and school district solar projects, disrupt their investments, and eliminate an essential cost-saving tool. We urge you to reconsider cuts to clean energy incentives that provide cost saving benefits to schools.”

    The lawmakers continue, “More school districts are planning solar projects that will help lower energy costs and prevent state budget cuts from impacting students, educators, and staff. But the proposed cuts in the Republican reconciliation bill threaten the delay, disruption, or cancellation of solar deployments. There are at least 251 school solar projects in 26 states in various stages of planning and construction. Projects that are not able to commence construction before proposed repeals take effect risk delay, wasted local and state investments in project development, higher energy costs, and increased burden on taxpayers. Among the identified projects are 74 school solar installations in Pennsylvania, 53 in Arizona, 15 in Texas, 12 in Kentucky, 5 in Utah, 4 in Iowa and Wisconsin, 2 in Indiana, and 1 in Idaho, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina and West Virginia.”

    Several stakeholders joined the lawmakers in voicing their opposition to the proposed cuts.

    “Over the last decade, schools across the country have turned to solar to reduce the cost of operating their facilities. In rural communities like Lawrence, Kansas and Greene County, Iowa, solar is how communities are able to maintain services for students in the face of rising costs and small or shrinking tax bases. Repealing these credits is one of a multitude of attacks on our public schools and the young people they serve in the disastrous budget reconciliation bill,” said Jonathan Klein, Chief Executive Officer of UndauntedK12.

    “Across the country, school districts have been saving taxpayers money by taking advantage of clean energy tax credits through direct pay. These projects have created jobs, reduced energy costs, and opened up opportunities for school building improvements out of reach for too long. Rolling back the clean energy tax credits would stop that progress in its tracks and increase costs to local communities. It is critical that these important initiatives remain available to our schools,” said Jason Walsh, Executive Director of BlueGreen Alliance.

    “School districts across the country have been using clean energy tax credits to lower their energy costs and upgrade their facilities. Investments in things like cleaner running buses and new HVAC systems are reducing both indoor and outdoor air pollution, all while creating good paying jobs. We urge Republican leaders to abandon their efforts to end these tax credits,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

    “School districts across the country are attempting to move forward on sorely needed repairs and update their school buildings, and solar energy contributes important cost stability and resilience,” said Ally Talcott, Executive Director of the BASIC Coalition. “Our school leaders do not need whiplash amid the important work to finance improvements to our schools; they need support and stability. The cuts to solar energy incentives pull one more resource away from school districts trying to provide safe, modern, and healthy school buildings for their communities.”

    “Clean energy incentives help schools provide safer and healthier learning environments, lower energy costs, save taxpayer dollars, and redirect resources from paying expensive utility bills to supporting student success. We urge lawmakers to preserve these federal programs for local communities,” said James Rowan, CAE, SFO, Chief Executive Director of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Domestic violence – Stuart Park

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The NT Police Force Strike Force Lyra have charged a 35-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident that occurred on Tiger Brennan Drive in Stuart Park on Friday morning.

    About 4:30am, the Joint Emergency Service Communication Centre received multiple reports of an ongoing domestic violence incident. It is alleged the 35-year-old male, the victim and two other witnesses were travelling in a dark blue 2008 model Mitsubishi Pajero before stopping along Tiger Brennan Drive in Stuart Park, where everyone but the alleged offender exited the vehicle. Initial investigations indicate the male drove off and immediately returned to physically assault his partner before the two witnesses chased him away. The victim suffered minor physical injuries.

    Strike Force Lyra took carriage of the investigation and with the assistance of the Fugitive Taskforce the male was arrested at a residence around 1pm yesterday. He has since been charged with:

    • Aggravated Assault
    • Breach Domestic Violence Order
    • Drive a motor vehicle unlicensed
    • Drive unregistered motor vehicle

    He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday, 30 June 2025.

    Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500065312.  Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    If you have CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, it may be uploaded here:  https://ntpol.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ntp2500065312 (or via the QR code below).

    Domestic violence has no place in our community and offenders will continue to be held to account for their actions. The Northern Territory Police Force thank the witnesses who intervened on this occasion to protect the victim and prevent further violence. If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (131 114).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Hit and Run – Leanyer

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The NT Police Force is calling for information in relation to a hit and run in Leanyer last night.

    About 7:05pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of two people, a male and a female, being struck by a passing vehicle on Leanyer Drive. It is alleged the victims were removing groceries from their parked vehicle on the side of the road, before a vehicle travelling at speed struck them and fled the scene immediately. 

    The female suffered serious injuries and the male suffered minor injuries and St John Ambulance conveyed them to Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment.

    Initial investigations suggest the offending vehicle is believed to be a white Yaris or Getz hatchback with a missing side mirror that was damaged at the scene of the collision.

    The crime command has carriage of the investigation.

    Anyone with information, particularly those who may have had dash cam footage at the time of the incident, is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please reference job number P25172636.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Dunhuang carries out comprehensive upgrade of night market in China’s Gansu

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

    Dunhuang carries out comprehensive upgrade of night market in China’s Gansu

    Updated: June 28, 2025 08:08 Xinhua
    Tourists visit the night market in Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province, June 26, 2025. Dunhuang has carried out a comprehensive upgrade of characteristic blocks such as the Dunhuang Night Market since the beginning of this year. By leveraging its profound history and culture, Dunhuang integrated mural and Silk Road culture elements into the renovation of the blocks, injecting new impetus into local night economy and tourism industry. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the night market in Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Democrats Win Fight to Kill Irresponsible Gun Provision & Offer Legislative Fixes to Improve Public Safety & Combat Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Describing it as a win for commonsense and public safety, U.S. Senator Jack Reed praised the Senate Parliamentarian for correctly determining the effort to remove restrictions and regulations on silencers, short-barrel rifles and shotguns, and other guns that have been in place since the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 does not fit within budget reconciliation rules, and must be removed from the Big Ugly budget bill.  Republicans may attempt to rewrite their bill to pass muster, but Reed hailed today’s ruling, which came just after midnight, as a major setback for the gun lobby and a major win for the police.
    “We fought this dangerous, controversial attempt to proliferate the use of silencers and remove a layer of background checks on firearm sales.  Congress should not be making it easier for criminals to manipulate their guns to avoid police detection and ultimately prosecution.  Senate Republicans, over the objections of law enforcement officials and communities across the country, tried to jam the public by completely removing silencers, short-barrel rifles and shotguns, and a category called “any other weapons” from the purview of the NFA.  That would have meant new owners of these deadly weapons would no longer have to register them with the ATF, or follow other strict rules surrounding the ownership of these unique weapons.  This is a win for commonsense and public safety,” said Senator Reed.
    In an effort to prevent gun violence and reduce mass-shootings with thoughtful, effective, data-driven policy solutions, Reed teamed up with U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) this week to reintroduce a trio of gun safety bills.  These three measures would help decrease the pervasive threat of gun violence nationwide by halting three-dimensional (3D) printing and distribution of “ghost guns;” strengthening accountability measures for irresponsible gun dealers; and establishing commonsense rules to prohibit the marketing of firearms to children.
    The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act (S.2165) would prohibit the online distribution of blueprints and instructions that allow for the 3D printing of firearms. The proliferation of “ghost guns” is partly attributed to the ease of assembling firearms using 3D printed technology.  Because 3D printing allows individuals to make firearms out of plastic, these guns may be able to evade detection by metal detectors at security checkpoints.  Stopping the production of ghost guns would help keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals and black market operators; prevent traumatic incidents of gun violence; and solve more crimes.
    The Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act (S.2155) would strengthen accountability measures for irresponsible gun dealers violating the law, and provide the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) additional resources for enforcement. This legislation would ensure that guns do not end up in the wrong hands by authorizing more frequent inspections of gun dealers, increasing penalties for serious offenses, and strengthening the U.S. Department of Justice’s authority and discretion in enforcing gun laws.  Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02) is the lead sponsor of companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    The Protecting Kids from Gun Marketing Act (S.2154) would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prescribe rules that prohibit the marketing of firearms to children.  Firearm injuries are the number one cause of death among children and adolescents in the U.S.  The gun industry consistently makes false and misleading claims about firearm safety and unfairly exploits children and teenagers through unfair and deceptive marketing practices that ultimately lead to fatal consequences.
    The non-profit Sandy Hook Promise notes: “Gun manufacturers are actively and intentionally marketing firearms to children under 18 years old with “R-rated” content on guns. And they’re doing it through ads and social media influencers — without parental knowledge or consent.”  And according to a poll commissioned by the non-profit: “82 percent of boys between 10 and 17 said they have seen at least one gun advertisement online, while social media is flooded with firearms branded with children’s cartoon characters.”
    “Every day, more than 125 people in the United States die from gun violence,” said Senator Markey. “Our communities barely have a moment to mourn before gun violence in our schools and on our streets steals the lives of more Americans and rips families apart. We can’t keep living like this, and Americans can’t keep dying like this. This National Gun Violence Awareness Month, I am reintroducing my gun safety package, which includes commonsense solutions so that not one more life is lost to this unnecessary, man-made public health crisis. I will continue fighting to end the epidemic of gun violence and save lives.”
    “These are common-sense gun safety policies that would help save lives and better protect people and police from gun violence.  We’ve got to keep weapons of war off our streets, ensure gun dealers are complying with the law, and ensure sensible limits on the marketing of guns to children, just like we do with tobacco, alcohol, or other products,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who is leading efforts to push back against the Trump Administration’s cuts to gun violence prevention efforts. 
    Earlier this year, the Trump Administration rescinded over $800 million in grants to local gun violence prevention and crime reduction programs, and upcoming budget decisions could further reduce data-driven, community-centered efforts to prevent gun violence and reduce crime.
    Rhode Island has one of the lowest rates of gun ownership in the country, yet still 52 people die annually by guns in Rhode Island, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.  The non-profit also estimates that gun violence costs Rhode Island $752.1 million each year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional Operation – Arnhem Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force conducted a high visibility proactive operation over the week targeting the prevention of drug, alcohol and traffic offences in regional areas across the Territory.

    Between Monday 23 June and Friday 27 June, members from the Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk, Dog Operations Unit, Maningrida, Gunbalanya and Jabiru police set up two Drug Detection Areas nearby Maningrida and Jabiru.

    A significant number of people were spoken to and stopped throughout the operation, with ongoing community engagement with locals to help prevent the flow of alcohol and illicit substances in regional and remote areas of the Arnhem Region.

    As a result of the operation, NT Police:

    • Arrested 2 people
    • Issued 4 drug infringement notices
    • Served 6 Notices to Appear
    • Seized 140 litre of alcohol within alcohol restricted areas
    • Seized small amounts of cannabis
    • Lawfully searched 35 peoples vehicles

    Acting Superintendent Meacham King said “This was an important operation targeting those who continue to bring alcohol and illicit substances into remote and regional areas. The collaboration between Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk members, Dog operations and general duties members who work and live in remote communities continues to highlight great partnerships between police units working towards enhancing community safety.”

    Anyone with information on the supply of illicit substances into communities are urged to call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., which upheld the provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurance companies to cover preventive services like cancer screenings and HIV prevention drugs:
    “I’m relieved that the Supreme Court has protected lifesaving care for millions of Americans.
    “The Court’s decision means insurers must continue to cover the cost of cancer screenings, medications that stop heart attacks before they start, and HIV prevention. It’s the kind of medical care that saves lives, makes hospitals less crowded, and – critically for my home state of Delaware – makes ER wait times shorter.
    “While today is a victory, this win comes as President Trump has unilaterally and illegally cut other programs that provide preventive health care. He’s trying to kick millions off Medicaid and has slashed funding from programs proven to prevent HIV transmission at home and abroad.
    “I will keep fighting for Americans’ right to affordable health care.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Lomond Avenue, Tokoroa

    Source: New Zealand Police

    One person has died following a serious crash in Tokoroa overnight.

    At around 12am Police were alerted to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Lomond Avenue.

    Despite best efforts of emergency services, one person died at the scene.

    The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination.

    The road was closed for a period of time, however reopened early this morning.

    Police continue to make enquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Treasury Corporation Announces Completion of Initial Bitcoin Acquisition Phase and Now Holds a Total of 771.37 Bitcoin

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

    TORONTO, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Treasury Corporation (TSXV:BTCT) (“Bitcoin Treasury” or the “Corporation”), is pleased to announce that it has completed the initial phase of its Bitcoin accumulation plan in alignment with its core strategy to accumulate Bitcoin as a principal treasury asset. The Corporation acquired 478.57 Bitcoin for a total purchase price of CAD$70 million. The Corporation now holds 771.37 Bitcoin on its balance sheet. This results in a starting Bitcoin per Share (“BPS”) of approximately 0.0000634. BPS is calculated on a fully diluted basis, accounting for the convertible debentures but excluding warrants.

    Bitcoin Treasury Corporation will continue to accumulate Bitcoin as part of its broader strategy to build long-term shareholder value. The Corporation plans to deploy its Bitcoin holdings through institutional lending and liquidity services, offering counterparties access to capital while maintaining a strong focus on financial security and risk management. The Corporation views Bitcoin not only as a long-term reserve asset, but as a foundational pillar of its business model and revenue strategy. Through disciplined corporate finance and institutional-grade Bitcoin services, the Corporation aims to grow BPS and redefine corporate treasury management for the digital age.

    About Bitcoin Treasury

    Bitcoin Treasury Corporation is a Canadian-based company focused on institutional-grade Bitcoin services, initially offering Bitcoin-denominated loans. Bitcoin Treasury’s core strategy is to build shareholder value through the strategic accumulation and active deployment of Bitcoin. Recognizing Bitcoin’s finite supply and long-term potential, the Corporation intends to maintain a robust treasury position while supporting the development of its service offerings.

    For further information, please contact:

    Bitcoin Treasury Corporation
    Elliot Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: 416-619-3403
    Email: ejohnson@btctcorp.com

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expect”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, or variations of such words and phrases) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: business integration risks; the Corporation’s operating results will experience significant fluctuations due to the highly volatile nature of Bitcoin; the Corporation operates in a heavily regulated environment and any material changes or actions could lead to negative adverse effects to the business model, operational results, and financial condition of the Corporation; evolving cryptocurrency regulatory requirements and the impact on the Corporation’s business plan; Bitcoin value risk; reliance on key personnel; implementation of the Corporation’s business plan; lack of operating history; competitive conditions; de banking and financial services risk; anti money laundering and corrupt business practices; additional capital; financing risks; global financial conditions; insurance and uninsured risks; cybersecurity risks; changes to bank fees or practices, or payment card networks; audit of tax filings; market for the Bitcoin Treasury Shares; market price of the Bitcoin Treasury Shares; conflicts of interest; internal controls; tariffs and the imposition of other restrictions on trade could adversely affect the Corporation’s business; risk of litigation; pandemics or other health crisis; acquisitions and integration; risk of dilution of Bitcoin Treasury securities; dividend policy; Bitcoin price volatility; custodial risks; technological vulnerabilities; Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and may result in significant losses; short history risk; limited history of the Bitcoin market; potential decrease in the global demand for Bitcoin; economic and political factors; top Bitcoin holders control a significant percentage of the outstanding Bitcoin; availability of exchange traded products liquidity; security breaches; the requirements that accompany being a publicly traded company may put a strain on the Corporation’s resources, divert attention from management, and adversely affect its ability to maintain and attract management and qualified board members; liquidity risk; leverage risk; and share price fluctuations.

    Although management of the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward -looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, change in management’s estimates or opinions, future circumstances or events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

    The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty: Contrary to Democrats’ False Claims, President Trump’s Leadership Ended a War

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    “President Trump’s actions to address Iran’s nuclear weapons program last weekend did not start a war—they ended one…I cannot—and will not—support a resolution that removes the ability of the President of the United States to act decisively in defense of our national interests, our allies, and our armed forces…That is the job of a Commander-in-Chief.”
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, spoke on the Senate floor supporting President Donald Trump’s leadership and urging his Senate colleagues to oppose the War Powers Resolution on Iran.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery
    Thank you, Mr. President.
    President Trump’s actions to address Iran’s nuclear weapons program last weekend did not start a war—they ended one.
    And so I rise today to support President Trump’s wisdom and leadership in decisively countering Iran’s nuclear threat—and therefore to oppose this ill-conceived joint resolution.
    As a United States Senator and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I understand and respect the role that Congress plays in matters of war and peace.
    But I cannot—and will not—support a resolution that removes the ability of the President of the United States to act decisively in defense of our national interests, our allies, and our Armed Forces.
    This resolution, if passed, would send a dangerous message—not just to Iran’s terrorist-sponsoring regime, but also to every adversary who is seeking to exploit our domestic debates and internal divisions.
    This resolution would signal that America’s resolve can be hamstrung by congressional hesitation at the very moment when clarity, unity, and strength are most needed.
    I cannot state this strongly enough: President Trump acted entirely within his constitutional authority under Article II and in accordance with his solemn duty to defend this nation and the American people.
    Operation Midnight Hammer was a targeted, strategic, and necessary use of force to eliminate immediate threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies.
    No American lives were lost or injured during this military operation—thanks to the leadership of President Trump; the advice and counsel of Vice President J.D. Vance, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and General Dan Caine; and the brilliant planning and flawless execution of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
    For decades, the Iranian regime has been attacking U.S. personnel, our allies, and our interests—through its Revolutionary Guard, through Hezbollah and Hamas and Houthi terrorists, and through its missile programs and cyber attacks.
    For decades, the Iranian regime has cynically violated international agreements to overtly and covertly pursue the capabilities to make nuclear weapons on short notice.
    The idea that the president, in the face of grave and gathering threats, can only sit idly by until Congress can hold hearings and schedule votes is not just naïve. It is reckless.
    This War Powers Resolution ignores the reality of modern warfare and constrains the Commander-in-Chief at the precise moment when decisiveness is critical.
    It elevates process over commonsense policy, and political optics over operational necessity.
    If the President had been forced to act in accordance with this resolution last week, the element of surprise would have been entirely lost—and the successful mission flown by our brave Airmen would have been a much different—and likely costlier—one.
    Of course, Congress must be consulted.
    Of course, we can debate the scope and strategy of our military engagements.
    But we must not shackle our President in the middle of a crisis when lives are on the line.
    We must not embolden the ayatollahs in Tehran by showing division and delay—because that is the path to endless wars, rather than decisive victories.
    President Trump acted—wisely and proportionately—to protect American lives.
    He acted to re-establish the credibility of our strategic deterrence.
    And he acted after decades of Iranian aggression that went largely unanswered by the previous administrations of President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama.
    President Trump—once again—demonstrated decisive leadership in the service of peace and stability.
    That is the job of a Commander-in-Chief.
    Let me conclude by repeating what I said at the start: President Trump’s actions last weekend did not start a war, they ended one—and with no American lives lost.
    We should not be here debating how to constrain this type of leadership, but rather discussing how to recognize and support it.
    For this reason, I urge my colleagues to oppose Senate Joint Resolution 59.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici, Balint, Frost Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care and Services for LGBTQI+ Seniors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, DC [06/27/25] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Becca Balint (D-VT), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) introduced legislation to improve the long-term health and care of LGBTQI+ seniors. 

    Decades of marginalization and institutional barriers have left LGBTQI+ seniors with fewer sources of support, higher poverty rates, increased social isolation, and inadequate access to health care. Many of these seniors enter their golden years with the detrimental physical and emotional health effects of having lived through a lifetime of discrimination. The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would help overcome these barriers by decreasing isolation, improving health, and increasing access to culturally competent services and supports. 

    The legislation is named for Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, long-time advocates for LGBTQI+ equality. Connie fought for the rights of LGBTQI+ older adults until her death in 2018. Ruthie, her widow, continues to serve as a champion for the cause.

    “Decades of discrimination have left many LGBTQI+ seniors without the support and resources they need to stay healthy as they age,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “LGBTQI+ seniors are resilient, and they deserve to enjoy full, vibrant lives with the support they need to thrive. I’m grateful for Ruthie and Connie’s advocacy on behalf of LGBTQI+ seniors, and I’m glad to lead this legislation in their honor to provide LGBTQI+ seniors specialized access to care and services without discrimination.”

    “LGBTQI+ Americans are facing an overwhelming rise in attacks in the face of a hateful administration,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint. “And our LGBTQI+ seniors are being left behind with fewer supports, higher poverty and social isolation rates, and inaccessible health care. We owe it to our seniors to ensure they have access to the care and services they need. I’m proud to join Reps. Bonamici and Frost in uplifting the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors and celebrating the work of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz.”

    “Like all Americans, our LGBTQ+ elders deserve to be able to live their golden years with the peace and security of quality, affordable care and a community that loves and respects them,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “In honor of the incredible work of Florida’s own Ruth and Connie, we must act as LGBTQ+ seniors face poverty and isolation to ensure they can live their lives free of discrimination.”

    The legislation is endorsed by: Congressional Equality Caucus, SAGE, Human Rights Campaign, Justice in Aging, and Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).

    “SAGE is honored to cosponsor the Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act, which addresses a critical need: support for the ever-growing number of LGBTQ+ Americans who are over 60,” said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “By permanently establishing the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging, aging service providers will have access to a wealth of resources, information, and tools to help them create welcoming and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ participants.”

    LGBTQI+ seniors now face additional obstacles from an administration that seeks to disenfranchise them and their community. Because of these profound challenges, LGBTQI+ seniors require specialized services and support that are scarce and severely underfunded in every part of the country. 

    The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would:

    • Include LGBTQI+ older adults among women, rural, and racial and ethnic minorities as a population with the greatest economic and social needs under OAA;
    • Permanently establish the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging to provide critical resources, information, and tools for aging service providers to better address the needs of LGBTQI+ seniors;
    • Require the Assistant Secretary of Aging to oversee data collection for LGBTQI+ adults, their needs, and efficacy of state aging resources to meet those needs.
    • Require the long-term care ombudsman to collect and analyze data regarding LGBTQI+ discrimination; and,
    • Prioritize grants for organizations working to improve LGBTQI+ health, long-term care, and access to culturally responsive services.

    The legislation in the House is cosponsored by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Summer Lee (D-PA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ed Case (D-HI), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Andre Carson (D-IN), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Lateefah Simon (D-CA).

    A fact sheet about the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here.

    Bonamici also Chairs the Congressional LGBTQI+ Equality Caucus’ LGBTQI+ Aging Issues Task Force, and led the last two bipartisan updates to the Older Americans Act.

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    MIL OSI USA News –