NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to 5 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking 70,000 Fentanyl Pills from Mexico into Evansville

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EVANSVILLE— Javier Moreno-Garibaldi, 38, of Mexico has been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of over 400 grams of fentanyl.

    According to court documents, in May of 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Mexicali, Mexico, trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine through California. During the investigation, law enforcement officers intercepted thousands of fentanyl pills shipped or transported by the drug traffickers into Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky.

    As part of the investigation, undercover law enforcement officers arranged to purchase 60,000 fentanyl pills from an unknown supplier based in Mexicali, Mexico. The source of supply sent a series of text messages discussing the arrival of the courier at an Evansville hotel, how to handle the money and counting of pills, and requiring $120,000 and a $2,500 delivery fee.

    On September 4, 2023, Javier Moreno-Garibaldi arrived at a Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana, driving a Honda SUV with California plates. The undercover officer met with Moreno-Garibaldi and agreed to go to a safehouse to count the pills and the $120,000 owed for the drugs. Moreno-Garibaldi put a dog kennel box full of pills into the undercover officer’s car and was arrested without incident. A search of the box revealed five separate bags containing a large amount of counterfeit “M-30” pills containing fentanyl. The field weight of the seized pills was 15.7 pounds (7.064 kilograms), or approximately 70,000 pills.

    At the time of his arrest, Moreno-Garibaldi was in the United States unlawfully.

    “Every overdose, addiction, and life lost to fentanyl is a tragedy that devastates our families, friends, and communities,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These dangerous drugs are pouring into our neighborhoods in staggering amounts, driven by Mexican cartels and enabled by traffickers and dealers across the country. Our office remains committed to working alongside the DEA, Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and Owensboro Police Department to aggressively investigate and prosecute those involved in these deadly networks.”

    “Without a doubt, lives were saved by this seizure of 70,000 fentanyl-laced M30 pills.  Every day we see the destruction and death caused by this illicit drug.  DEA is committed to targeting and destroying drug trafficking organizations who continue to attack our communities and distribute fentanyl in our streets,” said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel J. Schmidt.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration, Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and Owensboro Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case. 

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.

    One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tulsan Sentenced for Assaulting and Strangling Ex-Girlfriend

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Nicholas Jarrod Weeden, 43, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country. Judge Russell ordered Weeden to serve 115 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, in April 2024, Weeden went to his ex-girlfriend’s house. They began arguing and Weeden strangled the victim. He then hit her head against the wall and door, grabbed a wooden club, and hit her over the head with it. The victim fought back enough to escape and called 911 for help.

    Weeden is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Melissa Weems prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tulsan Sentenced for Assaulting and Strangling Ex-Girlfriend

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Nicholas Jarrod Weeden, 43, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country. Judge Russell ordered Weeden to serve 115 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, in April 2024, Weeden went to his ex-girlfriend’s house. They began arguing and Weeden strangled the victim. He then hit her head against the wall and door, grabbed a wooden club, and hit her over the head with it. The victim fought back enough to escape and called 911 for help.

    Weeden is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Melissa Weems prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Canada is not for sale’ — but new Ontario law prioritizes profits over environmental and Indigenous rights

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Martina Jakubchik-Paloheimo, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

    Despite provincewide protests, Ontario’s Bill 5 officially became law on June 5. Critics warn of the loss of both environmental protections and Indigenous rights.

    The law empowers the province to create special economic zones where companies or projects don’t have to comply with provincial regulations or municipal bylaws.

    Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, reduces the requirements for environmental assessment. By doing so, it weakens ecological protection laws that safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples and at-risk species.

    Indigenous rights and Indigenous knowledge are critical for planetary health. But the bill passed into law with no consultation with First Nations. Therefore, it undermines the duty to consult while seemingly favouring government-aligned industries.

    Indigenous Peoples have long stewarded the environment through sustainable practices that promote ecological and human health. Bill 5’s provisions to allow the bypassing of environmental regulations and shift from a consent-based model to one of consultation violate Aboriginal and Treaty rights. Métis lawyer Bruce McIvor has described the shift as a “policy of legalized lawlessness.”

    Compounding environmental threats

    Wildfires that are currently burning from British Columbia to northern Ontario are five times more likely to occur due to the effects of climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

    On the federal level, Bill C-5, called the Building Canada Act, was introduced in the House of Commons on June 6 by Prime Minister Mark Carney. This bill further compounds the threat to environmental protections, species at risk and Indigenous rights across the country in favour of resource extraction projects.

    It removes the need for the assessment of the environmental impacts of projects considered to be of “national interest.”

    Ring of Fire — special economic zone?

    Ford and Carney want to fast-track the so-called Ring of Fire mineral deposit within Treaty 9 territory in northern Ontario by labelling it a “special economic zone” and of “national interest.” The proposed development is often described as a potential $90 billion opportunity.

    But scientists say there are no reliable estimates of the costs related to construction, extraction, benefit sharing and environmental impacts in the Ring of Fire.

    The mining development could devastate traditional First Nations livelihoods and rights. It could also worsen the effects of climate change in Ontario’s muskeg, the southernmost sea ice ecosystem in the world.

    Northern Ontario has the largest area of intact boreal forest in the world. Almost 90 per cent of the region’s 24,000 residents are Indigenous. The Mushkegowuk Anniwuk, the original people of the Hudson Bay lowlands, refer to this area as “the Breathing Lands” — Canada’s lungs. Cree nations have lived and stewarded these lands for thousands of years.

    Journalist Jessica Gamble of Canadian National Geographic says the James Bay Lowlands, part of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, are “traditional hunting grounds” and “the largest contiguous temperate wetland complex in the world.”

    This ecosystem is home to 200 different migratory bird species and plays a critical role in environmental health through carbon sequestration and water retention. The Wildlands League has described the area as “home to hundreds of plant, mammal and fish species, most in decline elsewhere.”

    Northern Ontario, meantime, is warming at four times the global average.

    Jeronimo Kataquapit is a filmmaker from Attawapiskat who is spearheading the “Here We Stand” campaign in opposition to Bill 5 with Attawapiskat residents and neighbouring Mushkegowuk Nations and Neskantaga First Nation. As the spokesperson for Here We Stand, he said: “Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s proposed national interest legislation are going to destroy the land, pollute the water, stomp all over our treaty rights, our inherent rights, our laws and our ways of life.”

    Endangered species — polar bears

    An estimated 900 to 1,000 polar bears live in Ontario, mostly along the Hudson Bay and James Bay coasts.

    But there has been a 73 per cent decline in wildlife populations globally since the 1970s, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In Canada, species of global concern have declined by 42 per cent over the same time. Canada’s Arctic and boreal ecosystems, once symbols of the snow-capped “Great White North,” are now at risk.

    Polar bears, listed as threatened under the Ontario Endangered Species Act and of “special concern” nationally, are particularly sensitive to human activities and climate change. Polar bears and ringed seals are culturally significant and serve as ecological indicators for ecosystems.

    Melting sea ice has already altered their behaviour, forcing them to spend more time on land.

    Cree First Nations in Northern Ontario’s biodiverse Treaty 9 territory are collaborating with federal and provincial governments and conservationists to protect polar bears. Right now, there is recognition of the importance of Cree knowledge in planning and the management of polar bears.

    The new Ontario law removes safeguards protecting the province’s endangered species, such as the Endangered Species Act. It strips key protections for at-risk wildlife, such as habitat protections, environmental impact assessments and ecosystems conservation.

    Climate change and weaker environmental protections will lead to irreversible damage to our environment and biodiversity. The ecosystem services that each animal, insect and plant provides — like cleaning the air we breathe and water we drink — are essential for a healthy province.

    The impact of Bill 5 and C-5 on these species is likely to be severe.

    Short-term gains at the expense of long-term damage

    Ontario could benefit from improved infrastructure and economic growth, but development requires careful planning and collaboration. It should rely on innovative science-based solutions, especially Indigenous sciences. And it should never infringe on Indigenous rights, bypass environmental assessments or threaten endangered species.

    While Bill 5 commits to the duty to consult with First Nations, it falls short of the free, prior and informed consent required by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Since becoming Canadian law in June 2021, the federal government has been obligated to align its laws with UNDRIP.

    With Bill 5 in place, some of Ontario’s major projects may be fast-tracked with minimal safeguards. Both Bill 5 and the proposed C-5 prioritize short-term economic gains that will cause irreversible environmental damage and violate legal obligations under UNDRIP.

    Lawrence Martin, Director of Lands and Resources at the Mushkegowuk Council, contributed to this article.

    Martina Jakubchik-Paloheimo works in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) at York University as a Postdoctoral Fellow, facilitating a collaborative project on human-polar bear coexistence in Hudson Bay and James Bay.

    – ref. ‘Canada is not for sale’ — but new Ontario law prioritizes profits over environmental and Indigenous rights – https://theconversation.com/canada-is-not-for-sale-but-new-ontario-law-prioritizes-profits-over-environmental-and-indigenous-rights-258553

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Joins Peters, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Drug Supply Chains & Mitigate Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients. 

    “For far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients’ health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China’s supply chains for essential medications. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand,” said Senator Budd.

    “Every American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it.  Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care. This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises,” said Senator Peters.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    The RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.   

    Senators Budd, Peters, Blackburn, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.  

    The RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Joins Peters, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Drug Supply Chains & Mitigate Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients. 

    “For far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients’ health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China’s supply chains for essential medications. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand,” said Senator Budd.

    “Every American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it.  Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care. This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises,” said Senator Peters.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    The RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.   

    Senators Budd, Peters, Blackburn, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.  

    The RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bethel Park Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation and Prison Contraband Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors and possession of contraband in prison, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Seth Hollerich, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Hollerich distributed material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors on two occasions—in March 2021 and September 2021. Further, in November 2024, while in prison for these crimes, Hollerich was found to be in possession of a prohibited object intended to be used as a weapon. Specifically, Hollerich possessed an 8.5-inch shank with a 3-inch sharpened plastic tip, and two additional 4-inch shanks with sharpened foil tips.

    Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for October 14, 2025. As to the child sexual exploitation crimes, the law provides for a total sentence of not less than five (5) years and not more than twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, or both. As to the contraband matter, the law provides for a total sentence of not more than five (5) years, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Pending sentencing, Hollerich remains detained.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Heidi M. Grogan and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Department of Homeland Security, United States Marshals Service, and Butler County Prison conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hollerich.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brothers-in-Law Indicted for Bank Takeover Scheme and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A 17-count indictment was unsealed today charging Ayman Alaaraj, 48, of Sacramento, and Ahmad Nassar, 38, of Elk Grove, with operating a scheme to defraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    The indictment charges the defendants with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and also charges Nassar with access device fraud. In 2019, Nassar was convicted of unlawfully possessing 15 or more access devices, aggravated ID theft; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He served time in prison and was released on March 4, 2021. He is currently in custody after being arrested on Feb. 7, 2024, for allegedly violating the terms of his supervised release. Alaaraj was ordered to self-surrender on Wednesday morning.

    According to court documents, in May 2023, Nassar took over multiple bank accounts belonging to two elderly victims at two separate banks. Nassar employed sophisticated techniques to take over the victims’ accounts such as porting over the phone number belonging to one victim. This allowed him to gain access to the accounts and defeat the banks’ dual-factor authentication protections.

    Once Nassar established control over the victims’ bank accounts, he — occasionally assisted by Alaaraj — drained the accounts and ran up unpaid credit card debits that, in total, resulted in more than $794,000 in losses to the victims. The defendants funneled the stolen money through pass-through accounts Nassar created in the victims’ names. The defendants also funneled more than $100,000 through Alaaraj’s businesses, Balance Bookkeeping, Tax and Notary and Atheer Investments. They then ultimately disbursed the money to themselves using ATM cash withdrawals, personal checks, Western Union transactions, Zelle transactions, payments to credit cards, online gambling, and towards the purchase of a Mercedes.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice – Bureau of Gambling Control. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Nassar and Alaaraj face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a mandatory term of two years in prison and a statutory maximum fine of up to $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or gross loss for the aggravated identity theft count. Nassar also faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of access device fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • PM Modi meets Mexican President at G7 Summit, strengthens bilateral ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with the President of Mexico, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. This marked the first interaction between the two leaders, with PM Modi extending congratulations to President Sheinbaum on her historic electoral victory.

    Expressing gratitude for Mexico’s support in India’s fight against terrorism, PM Modi emphasized the deep historical bonds of friendship between the two nations. The leaders agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including trade, investment, startups, innovation, science and technology, and the automotive industry. They also committed to fostering stronger people-to-people connections to enhance cultural exchanges and tourism.

    The discussions highlighted the growing trade and investment ties, with a focus on Mexico’s potential as a near-shoring hub. Opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector were a key point, with India positioned to supply affordable, high-quality medicines and pharmaceutical products. Cooperation in agriculture and holistic health was also explored.

    President Sheinbaum praised India’s advancements in technology, innovation, and digital public infrastructure, expressing keen interest in collaboration. PM Modi proposed joint efforts in emerging fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and critical minerals. The leaders also acknowledged upcoming engagements between think-tanks of both nations, which are expected to further strengthen ties.

    Both leaders exchanged perspectives on global and regional challenges, emphasizing the priorities of the Global South. PM Modi fondly recalled his 2016 visit to Mexico and extended an invitation to President Sheinbaum to visit India, signaling a commitment to furthering this partnership.

  • India strengthens efforts to combat desertification at Jodhpur National Workshop

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commemorating World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized a one-day national workshop at the Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Themed “Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought,” the event highlighted sustainable land management in India’s arid and semi-arid regions, with a special focus on the ecological importance of the Aravalli Mountain range.

    Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, the chief guest, underscored India’s proactive approach to tackling desertification. He pointed out the adverse effects of unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive fertilizer use, and indiscriminate pesticide application, which jeopardize land health, food security, and biodiversity. “Healthy land is essential for regional stability and economic prosperity,” Yadav declared, calling for global collaboration to address land degradation.

    Yadav highlighted several initiatives aimed at restoring ecological balance, such as the revival of water bodies through Amrit Sarovars to support biodiversity and combat desertification, the Matri Van campaign encouraging tree planting in the Aravalli region in honor of mothers to foster a cultural bond with nature, and the nationwide Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam movement, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to plant trees as a tribute to ‘Mother Earth.’ He emphasized the Aravalli range’s critical role as a 700-km natural barrier spanning 29 districts, protecting regions from the advancing Thar Desert while preserving India’s cultural and ecological heritage. Shri Yadav advocated for community-driven restoration efforts and expressed confidence in achieving a green economy by 2047, harmonizing ecological sustainability with economic progress.

    Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, also spoke at the event, commending India’s progress in expanding forest cover despite global declines. He described the Aravallis as vital for water conservation, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity preservation, serving as a shield for Eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, and the National Capital Region against desertification. Acknowledging the efforts of local communities in environmental conservation, he stressed the shared responsibility to safeguard this heritage for future generations.

    The workshop featured the release of several key resources, including an information booklet on Aravalli districts, the revised mission document of the Green India Mission, a book on Sustainable Land Management (SLM), and the National Afforestation Monitoring System (NAMS). Additionally, Yadav distributed AFRI Shesham clones to ten farmers.

    Technical sessions explored sustainable land management, global and national case studies presented by partners such as UNDP, ADB, and the World Bank, and the Aravalli Green Wall Project, which fosters inter-state collaboration for ecological restoration. Discussions on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) emphasized multi-stakeholder efforts involving state governments, NGOs, and research institutions like SAC and CAZRI.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China will work with Central Asian countries to create new miracles of turning desert into oasis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — China is willing to deepen cooperation with Central Asian countries and other countries in the field of ecology and environmental protection to jointly create new miracles of turning the desert into an oasis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

    June 17 marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Guo Jiakun made the above statement at a regular briefing when answering a question about China and Central Asian countries’ joint efforts to overcome the Aral Sea ecological crisis, a cooperation that brings green hope to Central Asia’s “dry tears.”

    Guo Jiakun recalled that desertification is a common challenge for both China and Central Asian countries. He stressed that for more than two years since the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, the two sides have been conducting in-depth joint scientific research and working on the reclamation of saline and alkaline lands, creating a demonstration zone of cotton fields with water-saving technologies. These efforts have been widely supported and fully approved by the local population.

    According to the official, overcoming the Aral Sea ecological crisis is a clear example of China’s participation in global efforts to combat desertification. Having signed the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, China has actively implemented its provisions and carried out productive international cooperation on desertification prevention and control, thus giving impetus to the green development of countries in the Global South, Guo Jiakun added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Another area of Coquihalla Canyon Park reopens for visitors

    People can soon enjoy another area of the popular Coquihalla Canyon Park this summer with the northern portion of the park reopening on Friday, June 27, 2025, providing access to three of the five historic Othello Tunnels.

    The park is being repaired in phases due to the complexity of the restoration work. During the second phase, the new north bridge was installed, 10 new stalls were added to the parking lot, a portion of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail was resurfaced, and more slopes and rocks were stabilized in the canyon.

    The rest of the park will remain temporarily closed as work continues through summer and fall 2025. The remaining work includes redecking the south bridge and stabilizing the inside of the fifth tunnel by adding pinned mesh to part of the ceiling and walls, and sprayed concrete wherever the rock is significantly deteriorated. Loose or unstable soil, rocks and vegetation will also be removed along the canyon slopes of the last two tunnels. All work is anticipated to finish prior to the park reopening in spring 2026.

    In November 2021, heavy rain and severe flooding damaged more than 30 sites throughout the park, along with all of the Othello Tunnels, which were built in 1914. Bridge foundations were also affected, along with the stability of the canyon slopes above the tunnels, increasing the risk of falling rocks. Local access roads and trails were also eroded by flooding.

    The first phase of park reopening was in mid-July 2024 and provided access from the parking lot to the end of the second tunnel. Infrastructure is being rebuilt to better withstand the impacts of severe weather due to climate change.

    The total cost of the project is approximately $10 million and is largely supported by the Government of Canada’s Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program. BC Parks is working with First Nations and archeology and cultural-heritage specialists to avoid potential impacts to archeological and heritage values during construction.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wapato Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Three Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that Jose Antonio Saldana, age 43, of Wapato, Washington, was sentenced on three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact and of Aggravated Sexual Abuse. Saldana was found guilty on March 12, 2025, following a jury trial. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Saldana to 45 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

    Based on court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, beginning in August 1999, and continuing to January 2014, Saldana sexually abused three children under the age of 13 in Wapato, Washington. During trial, the victims recounted the abuse they suffered, which included Saldana touching them under their clothing and attempting to sexually abuse one of the victims.

    “Mr. Saldana’s significant sentence reflects the seriousness of his conduct.  I want to commend the brave victims who testified to the abuse they suffered and identified Mr. Saldana as their abuser,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “My office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and support survivors on their path to healing.”

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.

    1:24-cr-02040-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Postal worker indicted for mail fraud aimed at duping thousands with mass mailings

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Used scam letters leading thousands of intended victims to believe they owed state filing fees for businesses – defendant allegedly pocketed nearly $100,000

    Seattle – A San Jose, California resident was arrested today on an indictment from the Western District of Washington for his scheme to steal from thousands of businesses and charities with scam letters that appeared to be from state agencies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Johnny Q. Nguyen, 49, is charged in an eleven-count indictment with multiple counts of mail fraud and money laundering. Nguyen was indicted May 28, 2025, and will appear in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California today.

    According to the indictment, in the fall of 2024, Nguyen allegedly sent mass mailings on fake government letterhead to thousands of entities. The mailings were fraudulent billing statements directing the recipients to send checks to a post office box Nguyen had rented in Olympia, Washington. The letters instructed recipients to pay registration and filing fees for their businesses. Nguyen created a limited liability company called “Business Entities” and induced the victims to make their checks payable to that entity. 

    Thousands of Washington and California victims sent checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders. Nguyen deposited some 350 from Washington victims totaling $82,210.  He cashed 60 from California victims totaling $8,640.  Investigators were able to seize an additional 1,711 pieces of mail that contained checks and money orders totaling $395,295.

    Nguyen is charged with three different types of money laundering: concealment because he deposited the checks and money orders into accounts he controlled, transactions designed to conceal the source of the money; Promotion – because the deposits were to promote his mail fraud scheme; and spending because of his transfers of the money out for his personal use.

    The indictment calls for Nguyen to forfeit $90,851 that he profited from the scheme.

    Mail fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Nguyen is scheduled to appear in the Western District of Washington on July 1, 2025.

    As a helpful reminder, if you receive a communication in any form purporting to be from a government agency, the best way to verify the source is to call the agency directly using a publicly available phone number on the agency’s website.

    The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jehiel Baer. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jefferson County Sex Offender Admits Molesting, Soliciting Images from Teen

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A registered sex offender living in Park Hills, Missouri on Tuesday admitted molesting a 14-year-old boy and providing cash and marijuana in exchange for nude images.

    Reginald M. Miller, 57, of Park Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to coercion and enticement of a minor as a repeat offender, solicitation of child pornography as a prior offender and receiving child pornography as a prior offender.

    Miller admitted molesting the 14-year-old victim beginning in 2023 by touching his genitals without consent. Miller gave the victim alcohol and marijuana and paid him in attempt to keep him from reporting the molestation. Miller later offered the victim money or marijuana to expose himself in video calls. On Jan. 4, 2024, Miller sent a text to the victim saying that there was no escape from their “friendship,” the plea agreement says.

    At Miller’s sentencing, scheduled for October 15, the U.S. Attorney’s office will request a sentence of 40 years in prison.

    In 1999, Miller was convicted of the felony offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree and two misdemeanor offenses of assault in the third degree in St. Louis County Circuit Court and sentenced to jail and probation. In 2008, Miller was convicted of charges including statutory sodomy in St. Louis Circuit Court and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

    The LaSalle Police Department, LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, Park Hills Police Department and FBI’s St. Louis Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As Luxon heads to China, his government’s pivot toward the US is a stumbling block

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago

    Ahead of his first visit to China, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been at pains to present meetings with Chinese premier Xi Jinping and other leaders as advancing New Zealand’s best interests.

    But there is arguably a degree of cognitive dissonance involved, given the government’s increasing strategic entanglement with the United States – specifically, the administration of President Donald Trump.

    It was this perceived pivot towards the US that earlier this month saw a group of former senior politicians, including former prime ministers Helen Clark and Geoffrey Palmer, warn against “positioning New Zealand alongside the United States as an adversary of China”.

    Luxon has brushed off any implied criticism, and says the National-led coalition remains committed to maintaining a bipartisan, independent foreign policy. But the current government has certainly emphasised a more active role on the international stage in closer alignment with the US.

    After coming to power in late 2023, it hailed shared values and interests with the Biden administration. It then confidently predicted New Zealand-US relations would go “from strength to strength” during Trump’s second presidency.

    To date, nothing seems to shaken this conviction. Even after the explosive White House meeting in February, when Trump claimed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was a warmonger, Luxon confirmed he trusted Trump and the US remained a “reliable” partner.

    While Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters apparently disagreed in early April over whether the Trump administration had unleashed a “trade war”, the prime minister depicted the story as a “real media beat-up”. Later the same month, Luxon agreed with Peters that New Zealand and Trump’s America had “common strategic interests”.

    Closer US ties

    We can trace the National-led government’s closer security alignment with the US back to late January 2024.

    New Zealand backed two United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefires in Gaza. But Luxon then agreed to send a small Defence Force team to the Red Sea to counter attacks on shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels protesting the lack of a Gaza ceasefire.

    The government has also enthusiastically explored participation in “pillar two” of the AUKUS security pact, with officials saying it has “the potential to be supportive of our national security, defence, and foreign policy settings”.

    In the first half of 2025, New Zealand joined a network of US-led strategic groupings, including:

    To be sure, New Zealand governments and US administrations have long had overlapping concerns about China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

    The Labour-led government of Jacinda Ardern issued a defence policy statement in 2018 explicitly identifying China as a threat to the international rules-based order, and condemned the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security pact.

    Ardern’s successor, Chris Hipkins, released a raft of national security material confirming a growing perception of China’s threat.

    And the current government has condemned China’s comprehensive strategic partnership with the Cook Islands – a self-governing entity within the New Zealand’s realm – and expressed consternation about China’s recent military exercises in the Tasman Sea.

    But US fears about the rise of China are not identical to New Zealand’s. Since the Obama presidency, all US administrations, including the current Trump team, have identified China as the biggest threat to America’s status as the dominant global power.

    But while the Obama and Biden administrations couched their concerns (however imperfectly) in terms of China’s threat to multilateral alliances and an international rules-based order, the second Trump administration represents a radical break from the past.

    Not in NZ interests

    Trump’s proposed takeovers of Gaza, Canada and Greenland, his administration’s disestablishment of USAID, sanctions against the International Criminal Court, and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and the UN Council for Human Rights are all contrary to New Zealand’s national interests.

    Similarly, his sidelining of the UN’s humanitarian role in Gaza, his demand for a Ukraine peace deal on Russian terms, and his assault on free trade through the imposition of tariffs, all conflict with New Zealand’s stated foreign policy positions.

    And right now, Trump’s refusal to condemn Israel’s pre-emptive unilateral attack on Iran shows again his administration’s indifference to international law and the rules-based order New Zealand subscribes to.

    It is becoming much harder for the Luxon government to argue it shares common values and interests with the Trump administration, or that closer strategic alignment with Washington balances Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

    On the contrary, there is a real risk Trump’s apparent support for Vladimir Putin is viewed as weakness by China, Russia’s most important backer. It may embolden Beijing to be forward-leaning in the Indo-Pacific, including the Pacific Islands region where New Zealand has core interests.

    A better strategy would be for New Zealand to reaffirm its friendship with the US but publicly indicate this cannot be maintained at the expense of Wellington’s longstanding commitment to free trade and a rules-based global order.

    In the meantime, a friendly reminder to Luxon’s hosts in Beijing might be in order: that New Zealand is an independent country that will not compromise its commitments to democratic values and human rights.

    Robert G. Patman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. As Luxon heads to China, his government’s pivot toward the US is a stumbling block – https://theconversation.com/as-luxon-heads-to-china-his-governments-pivot-toward-the-us-is-a-stumbling-block-259129

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: In Uganda: procuring responsibly | Forest Stewardship Council

    Forests account for 11.5% of Uganda’s land and are vital to the nation’s ecosystem. They provide timber, food, fuel, and medicines for many Ugandans. However, this green heart of Africa is facing a serious challenge.

    In 2023 alone, Uganda lost 37.6 thousand hectares of its natural forests, according to Global Forest Watch. If this trend continues unchecked, it could lead to the disappearance of these essential natural forests in the coming decades, along with a wealth of irreplaceable biodiversity.

    The impact of deforestation is deeply felt by local communities that rely on forests for their daily needs. For instance, Bangazi Edward, a resident of Buwala village in Jinja District, Eastern Uganda, highlights the growing pressure on the land: “We are having a problem with firewood because we have few trees, and the population is really big.” This situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions.

    Bold government policy

    Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. Uganda has recognized this danger and is taking action by enacting public policies and processes that promote sustainable public procurement. This strategic approach not only aims to preserve the environment but also enables the nation to meet its environmental and climate commitments.

    Uganda aspires to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12, particularly Target 12.7, which encourages sustainable public procurement practices in alignment with national policies and priorities. Lawrence Semakula, Accountant General in the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development said, “we have developed a national action plan for sustainable procurement, which we are integrating into the government procurement cycle.” This plan is meant to strengthen the inclusion of sustainability as a core part of public procurement and reduce environmental impacts of public development projects.

    Responsible sourcing: a reality

    As the nation rises to meet these challenges, it seeks to ensure that procurement is responsible and paves the way for a sustainable future.

    One positive example of responsible procurement of wood for development in Uganda is Adrift Eco Lodge, an eco-conscious African lodge located near the Kalagala Falls on the Nile River in Eastern Uganda. Constructed using 70% FSC-certified timber sourced from the Busoga Forest Company (BFC), this eco-lodge demonstrates the possibilities of sustainable building practices. Leanne Haigh, Chief Executive Officer of Adrift, stated, “For us, it was a no-brainer about how we were going to build this property; procuring FSC sustainable wood was just part of that process.”

    Scaling up sustainable sourcing in Uganda

    Annah Agasha, Deputy Director of FSC Africa, believes the sustainable sourcing example in Uganda can be scaled. “Adrift’s use of certified timber from Green Resources to build their ecolodge is a significant milestone,” she says. “It demonstrates how businesses can contribute to sustainability while enhancing their own credentials. We aim to support them in showcasing this responsibility to their customers.”

    The Busoga Forestry Company Ltd. (BFC), a subsidiary of Green Resources AS, is dedicated to sustainable forest management and increasing the availability of responsibly sourced certified products in Uganda.

    In 2019 and 2020, BFC obtained the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certificate and Forest Management Certificates, respectively. The FSC-FM certificate ensures responsible forest management, while the FSC-COC certificate guarantees the traceability of responsibly sourced wood and products from the forest to the consumer.

    Benefits of responsible sourcing

    BFC’s impact goes beyond just responsible sourcing. With approximately 900 employees, primarily from local communities, the company supports over 16,000 individuals, fostering economic stability.

    Through social funding, BFC invests in essential infrastructure, including schools, clinics, and clean water solutions, significantly improving local living standards. Recognizing the importance of education, BFC offers bursary programs and training opportunities that empower individuals and promote community development. Furthermore, BFC champions gender equality, with 32% of its workforce being women in various roles from middle management to equipment operators.

    David Kiyingi Nyimbwa, Commissioner of the Procurement Policy and Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, believes that FSC certification can promote legal forestry and strengthen the registration of sustainable forestry companies. “With FSC, we believe we can work together to promote legal forests and help in the registration of potential and actual [sustainability wood product] providers,” says David Kiyingi Nyimbwa.

    The advantages of responsible forestry extend beyond environmental benefits and lead to positive changes in the lives of local people. Uganda’s economic development is greatly reliant on forests, and there is promise. By carefully considering each procurement decision, making responsible choices, and sourcing wisely for development projects, Uganda can secure a sustainable future.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Forest Stewardship Council.

    Media contacts:
    Frida Salim
    Market Development and Communication Specialist-East Africa

    FSC Africa Regional Office
    Nairobi, Kenya
    East Africa
    f.salim@fsc.org

    Israel Bionyi
    Senior Regional Communications Manager
    FSC Africa
    i.bionyi@fsc.org

    FSC Africa
    www.Africa.FSC.org
    T: +49 (0) 228 367 66 0 
    F: +49 (0) 228 367 66 65 

    About FSC:
    The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is a nonprofit organization governed by environmental, social, and economic perspectives equally – covers more than 150 million hectares of certified forests and is the global benchmark for sustainable forestry. NGOs, consumers, and businesses alike trust FSC to protect and enhance healthy and resilient forests, for all, forever.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and partners enter new alliance leveraging Islamic and Arab finance for economic transformation

    Today, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), UNIDO, the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), formalized new strategic partnerships under the Islamic and Arab Finance for Economic Transformation in Africa, the Arab Region and Beyond (IFETAA) Programme.

    Access to finance remains one of the most significant barriers to SME growth and economic transformation, particularly in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Only one in five African firms has access to credit, and those that do often face prohibitively high interest rates averaging 25 percent, compared to just 5 percent in Europe. Islamic finance, with over US$4 trillion in assets, offers a largely untapped opportunity to address this gap by directing capital stored in monetary markets into the real economy.

    IFETAA represents a new alliance that will drive capital and capacity towards MSME development, resilience and growth across low- and lower middle-income countries. The signing ceremonies of the 3 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place ahead of a high-level roundtable at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, held on the margins of the OPEC Fund Development Forum, and marked the formalization of the programme.

    “As traditional development funding continues to decline, Islamic and Arab financial institutions are emerging as key partners in driving industrialization and sustainable development”, said UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller. “Through this programme, we are building a powerful new alliance to support small and medium-sized businesses, increase productivity and resilience, and accelerate economic transformation in developing countries”.

    “The IFETAA Programme will unlock urgently needed capital for Africa’s economic transformation and AFC is proud to bring its unique expertise in both conventional and Islamic finance to mobilise funding at scale,” said Banji Fehintola, Board Member and Head of Financial Services at AFC. “As an issuer, guarantor, and investor, we are committed to delivering innovative, Shariah-compliant solutions that drive inclusive and resilient economic growth, whilst contributing to strengthening the south-south cooperation required to advance our shared development goals”.

    H.E. Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of AAOIFI and the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation announced that “AAOIFI is proud to contribute to this transformative partnership, which aligns Islamic finance with global development priorities and encourages Islamic financial institutions to voluntarily dedicate at least 20% of their financing – over US$1 trillion – to MSME development. We will work on developing a Shariah-compliant finance programme enriched with technical assistance, regulatory support, and capacity building. IFETAA will also leverage UNIDO’s globally recognized Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion model (EDIP)”.

    By integrating Islamic finance with proven entrepreneurship and business counseling interventions, IFETAA will empower MSMEs to become bankable, resilient, and key drivers of inclusive economic growth.

    Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks, stated: “IFETAA is more than a programme – it is a call to action. The Union of Arab Banks is proud to unite Islamic and Arab financial power to serve sustainable development and economic sovereignty. We are mobilizing capital not just to fund growth, but to shape the future of our region. This is about empowering MSMEs, restoring trust in financial systems, and building resilient, inclusive economies”.

    IFETAA is a direct outcome of the commitments made at UNIDO’s A World Without Hunger conference in Addis Ababa in 2024. There, AAOIFI pledged to mobilize 20 percent of Islamic Financial Institutions’ loans and advancements towards MSME development, while UAB reaffirmed its commitment to channel US$1 trillion from its member banks towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AFC, a close partner to UNIDO, expressed its support through its financial mechanisms and expertise. IFETAA will facilitate access to finance by developing a pipeline of bankable MSME projects, establish financial and non-financial de-risking mechanisms, and support host governments in strengthening regulatory frameworks to expand Islamic and conventional bank lending.

    UNIDO has committed US$500,000 to support the preparation of the IFETAA programme and its initial implementation, which is co-led by the UNIDO Task Force on Islamic and Arab Financing and UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain.

    Each of the partner institutions brings unique strengths to the programme. AAOIFI, headquartered in Bahrain, is the world’s leading standard-setting body for Islamic finance and plays a critical role in ensuring Shariah compliance and supporting regulators and financial institutions globally. Beirut-based UAB represents over 300 Arab banks and financial institutions while serving as a regional platform for aligning Arab banking practices with global trends, including Islamic finance, ESG, and digital transformation. AFC is a pan-African multilateral financial institution specializing in infrastructure development. It has been expanding its use of Islamic finance instruments, recently closing a US$400 million Shariah-compliant Commodity Murabaha facility. AFC made history in 2017 by issuing a US$230 million Sukuk, the first-ever by an African supranational institution.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

    For more information, please contact:
    a.ahmed@unido.org
    h.hussein@unido.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • New Delhi conference highlights community-driven disaster preparedness

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The two-day Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) of States and Union Territories, hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), concluded in New Delhi today. Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired the closing session, stressing the urgency of adapting to evolving disaster risks through proactive and collaborative strategies.

    Speaking to over 1,000 delegates from state governments, Union Territories, central ministries, and agencies like SDRFs, Civil Defence, Home Guards, and Fire Services, Dr. Mishra called the conference a vital platform for reflection and recalibration of India’s disaster management approach. He noted that disasters are becoming more interconnected, with multiplying impacts and risks outpacing current adaptations.

    Dr. Mishra emphasized the need for enhanced preparedness to tackle the growing uncertainty of disasters, urging states to adapt to shifting hazard and vulnerability patterns. He highlighted the importance of institutionalizing lessons from past disasters to transition from a relief-focused approach to one prioritizing preparedness and mitigation. India’s disaster risk reduction financing model, recently praised at the Global Platform on DRR in Geneva (June 4-6, 2025), requires effective utilization of Recovery and Mitigation Funds by states, he added.

    Given India’s diverse geography, Dr. Mishra called for increased investment in the capacity of disaster relief agencies to complement the National Disaster Response Force. He stressed that disaster preparedness hinges on rapid response, where every minute counts, and urged improvements in early warning systems for specific disasters. He also advocated for recalibrated mitigation efforts to address high-impact disasters like droughts and lightning, which pose severe threats to lives and livelihoods. Low-cost, locally tailored interventions, particularly for urban flooding, were highlighted as critical.

    Community engagement was another key focus, with Dr. Mishra encouraging volunteer mobilization through initiatives like Aapda Mitra and the Prime Minister’s ‘My Bharat’ program to involve youth in disaster response. He also underscored the role of data, recommending the use of PM Gati Shakti’s layers for crafting robust disaster management plans. In light of extreme weather events and uncertainties, he urged states to overhaul institutions, processes, and systems to minimize loss of life and property.

    The conference featured discussions on early warning systems, post-disaster needs assessment, urban flood management, new technologies, the role of disaster response forces, mock exercises, and volunteerism. Experts and delegates explored strategies to address emerging challenges, particularly extreme weather events, to bolster India’s resilience.
    The event reaffirmed India’s commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness through collaboration, innovation, and community-driven efforts, aiming to mitigate the risks of an increasingly complex disaster landscape.

  • MIL-OSI Canada: PMPRB report reviews potential impact of new medicines on the Canadian market

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 17, 2025 — Ottawa, ON — Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

    The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) published the 9th edition of its annual Meds Entry Watch report today. Like last year, the analysis finds that the number of new medicines launched in Canada is higher than the median for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Most new medicines come to market with high treatment costs (over $10,000 per year or $5,000 per 28-day cycle for oncology), and specialty medicines such as biologic, orphan, and cancer treatments continue to make up a growing share of the new drug landscape.

    The Meds Entry Watch report focuses on medicines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and/or Health Canada. This edition examines trends in the market for new medicines approved since 2018, highlighting the 48 medicines that received first-time market approval in 2022 and providing a preliminary analysis of the 63 medicines approved in 2023.

    This publication informs decision makers, researchers, and patients of the evolving market dynamics of emerging therapies in Canadian and international pharmaceutical markets.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, SH2, Maharahara

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are now in a position to release the name of the woman who died following a crash involving two Ute’s on State Highway 2, Maharahara on 13 June.

    She was 69-year-old, Philipa Beech.

    Police extends our condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Dynamic Estimate)

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) previously reported that H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, would increase the primary deficit by $2.4 trillion over the 2025-2034 period. That estimate reflects a $3.7 trillion reduction in revenues and a $1.3 trillion reduction in noninterest outlays. It does not account for how the bill would affect the economy.

    Under House Rule XIII(8), H.R. 1 is classified as major legislation and CBO and JCT are required, to the extent practicable, to account for the budgetary effects of changes in the economy resulting from the bill. CBO and JCT have now had time to complete that analysis and estimate the following relative to CBO’s January 2025 baseline:

    • The economic effects of H.R. 1 would decrease the primary deficit by $85 billion over the 2025-2034 period, primarily reflecting an increase in economic output; and
    • The bill would increase interest rates, which would boost interest payments on the baseline projection of federal debt by $441 billion.

    Accounting for those budgetary effects, CBO’s estimate under House Rule XIII(8) is that H.R. 1 would increase deficits by $2.8 trillion over the 2025-2034 period (see Table 1).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Revenues, Noninterest Outlays, and Net Interest Costs Under H.R. 1
       

    By Fiscal Year, Billions of Dollars
       

    2025-2029

    2030-2034

    2025-2034

    Conventional Estimate

    		            

    Revenues

    -2,129

    		  

    -1,541

    		  

    -3,670

    		  

    Noninterest Outlays

    -373

    		  

    -881

    		  

    -1,254

    		  
     

    Increase in the Primary Deficit

    1,756

    		  

    660

    		  

    2,416

    		  

    Budgetary Feedback From Macroeconomic Effects Under House Rule XIII(8)

    		          

    Revenues

    35

    		  

    88

    		  

    124

    		  

    Noninterest Outlays

    -2

    		  

    41

    		  

    39

    		  
     

    Decrease (-) in the Primary Deficit

    -37

    		  

    -47

    		  

    -85

    		  

    Net Interest Costsa

    199

    		  

    242

    		  

    441

    		  
     

    Increase in the Deficit

    161

    		  

    195

    		  

    356

    		  

    Dynamic Estimate Under House Rule XIII(8)

    		          

    Revenues

    -2,094

    		  

    -1,452

    		  

    -3,546

    		  

    Noninterest Outlays

    -375

    		  

    -840

    		  

    -1,215

    		  
     

    Increase in the Primary Deficit

    1,719

    		  

    613

    		  

    2,332

    		  

    Net Interest Costsa

    199

    		  

    242

    		  

    441

    		  
     

    Increase in the Deficit

    1,918

    		  

    855

    		  

    2,773

    		  

    Memorandum:

    		        

    Increase in Debt Held by the Publicb

    End of 2029

    End of 2034

    		    

    Percentage of Gross Domestic Product

    5.3

    		  

    7.1

    		      

    Billions of Dollars

    2,119

    		  

    3,328

    		      

    a. Includes only the changes to net interest costs stemming from changes to interest rates on the baseline projection of federal debt. By long-standing convention, estimates under House Rule XIII(8) do not include any increases or decreases in interest payments on the federal debt that would arise from an estimated change in borrowing needs. Consistent with that approach, this estimate does not include the increases in interest payments that would arise from net increases inborrowing needs that would result from enacting the bill.

    b. Includes the dynamic estimate under House Rule XIII(8) plus increases in interest payments on the federal debt that would arise from the estimated net increases in borrowing needs. Total increases in deficits would be $2,074 billion from 2025 to 2029, $1,352 billion from 2030 to 2034, and $3,426 billion over the entire 2025-2034 period. Total effects on deficits are not equal to the effects on debt held by the public at the end of the projection period because credit programs are treated differently in the two calculations. Total increases in net interest costs would be $364 billion from 2025 to 2029, $703 billion from 2030 to 2034, and $1,067 billion over the entire 2025-2034 period.

    CBO’s estimate of how the economic effects of H.R. 1 would affect the deficit builds on JCT’s estimates of the tax provisions of the bill. JCT estimated that those provisions would result in economic changes that would decrease primary deficits by $103 billion because revenues would be higher and outlays for refundable tax credits would be lower.

    CBO’s analysis expands on JCT’s analysis in two important ways. First, it reflects the effects that the nontax provisions of H.R. 1 would have on the economy. Second, it reflects the effects of interest rate changes on net interest outlays for debt projected in the baseline. The effects of those rate changes on net interest outlays are large because the existing stock of debt is historically large. Because of the large stock of debt projected in the baseline, those increases in interest payments more than offset the primary deficit reductions driven by increases in economic output. The interest rate changes result from both the tax provisions analyzed by JCT and the remaining provisions of H.R. 1 analyzed by CBO. Because the tax provisions increase the deficit by more than the nontax provisions reduce the deficit (especially in the earlier years of the 2025-2034 period), the tax provisions are an important driver behind the higher interest rates that lead to increased net outlays for interest on the baseline projection of federal debt.

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1 would increase debt held by the public at the end of 2034 to 124 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), up from the agency’s January 2025 baseline projection of 117 percent of GDP. That projection includes costs associated with servicing the additional debt attributable to the legislation. CBO’s estimate of the effects of H.R. 1 on the deficit under House Rule XIII(8) does not include those costs. (By long-standing convention, those costs are excluded from estimates under that rule because such estimates do not include any changes in interest payments on the federal debt that would arise from an estimated net increase or decrease in the deficit.) After accounting for those effects, which are an input into the projection of debt, CBO estimates that the bill would increase total deficits by $3.4 trillion over the 2025-2034 period.

    How H.R. 1 Would Affect the Economy

    Building on JCT’s analysis of the tax provisions of H.R. 1, CBO estimates that, overall, H.R. 1 would affect the economy in the following ways relative to CBO’s January 2025 baseline:

    • Real (that is, adjusted to remove the effects of inflation) GDP would increase by an average of 0.5 percent over the 2025-2034 period,
    • Interest rates on 10-year Treasury notes would go up by an average of 14 basis points (a basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point) over the period, and
    • Inflation would increase by a small amount through 2030.

    How H.R. 1 Would Affect Real GDP

    The agency estimates that H.R. 1 would increase real GDP by 0.5 percent, on average, over the 2025-2034 period relative to CBO’s January 2025 projections. That effect would be positive in all years, peaking in 2026 at 0.9 percent. In CBO’s assessment, average annual real GDP growth would be 0.09 percentage points higher from 2025 to 2029 and 0.04 percentage points higher over the entire 2025-2034 period relative to the agency’s January 2025 projections. CBO’s estimates of those effects on real GDP are consistent with other groups’ estimates of those effects.

    The provisions of the bill would affect real GDP in the short and longer term through four main channels: changes in aggregate demand, changes in the supply of labor, changes in the capital stock (resulting from changes in investment), and changes in total factor productivity (TFP; the potential productivity of labor and capital, excluding the effects of cyclical changes in economic activity). In the short run, changes in real GDP would be driven primarily by aggregate demand effects. Over the longer term, changes in real GDP would be determined by changes in potential (maximum sustainable) output, which would be driven by changes in the supply of labor, capital, and TFP growth.

    Effects on Aggregate Demand.In the short term, CBO’s estimate of the legislation’s effect on real GDP is mostly driven by increases in aggregate demand. Relative to CBO’s January 2025 projections, H.R. 1 would increase real GDP by 0.9 percent in 2026. Because the effects of changes in aggregate demand would subside quickly, the temporary boost from demand-side factors would diminish after 2026.

    H.R. 1 would increase aggregate demand by increasing most households’ income after taxes and transfers. The effects of the increase in income on real GDP would depend on how H.R. 1 affected households’ income across different levels of income. That is because the increase in demand depends on the share of the additional dollars received that are spent, and spending by households with lower income tends to be more sensitive to changes in income than spending by households with higher income. CBO’s estimate of aggregate demand also reflects how households’ income would be affected by states’ responses to the bill’s changes to federal health programs—primarily Medicaid—and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

    Effects on Labor Supply. CBO estimates that over the 2025-2034 period, H.R. 1 would increase labor supply by 0.6 percent, on average, relative to the January baseline. That effect would peak at 0.9 percent in 2026—an effect equivalent to increasing the number of employed workers by 1.5 million—before gradually falling to 0.6 percent by 2034. The increase in the supply of labor would increase average annual potential GDP growth by 0.08 percentage points from 2025 to 2029 and by 0.03 percentage points over the entire 2025-2034 period.

    Most of the increase in labor supply is driven by the reduction in marginal tax rates on labor income. (Under current law, those tax rates are scheduled to increase in 2026.) Lowering those tax rates increases incentives to work. in Medicaid, SNAP, and student loan programs would increase the supply of labor to a lesser degree. The increase in labor supply would be partially offset by a reduction in the size of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.The increase in resources provided for interior immigration enforcement and detention is estimated to result in more people’s being deported and detained, particularly among working-age immigrants.

    Effects on the Capital Stock. On net, H.R. 1 would boost the size of the capital stock (that is, the stock of tangible and intangible productive assets with an expected service life of one year or more that are used to produce goods and services). The increase in the capital stock reflects an initial increase in private investment, which would peak in 2027. CBO estimates that H.R. 1 would cause total private investment to be 1.2 percent higher in that year than CBO projected it would be in its January 2025 baseline. Private investment would decline in the later years of the projection period. In 2034, the capital stock would be roughly unchanged from what it was projected to be in the January 2025 forecast. The changes in the capital stock would increase average annual potential GDP growth by 0.02 percentage pointsfrom 2025 to 2029 but would have a near-zero effect on potential GDP growth over the entire 2025‑2034 period.

    The bill would affect private investment through three major channels. First, on net, provisions of the bill would create an incentive for additional private investment. Tax provisions and provisions related to oil and gas production would have the largest effects on those incentives.The effects on incentives would be larger in the earlier years of the period analyzed because certain tax provisions that provide more generous deductions for capital investment are temporary. Second, private investment would increase in response to the larger labor supply, which would, in turn, increase the return on investment. Finally, by increasing the deficit, the bill would reduce the resources available for private investment and put upward pressure on interest rates. In turn, that would reduce private investment (an effect often referred to as crowding out). The effect of the three channels on private investment would turn negative in 2030 as certain provisions that would increase investment expired.

    Effects on Total Factor Productivity. H.R. 1 would have small positive effects on the level of TFP. On average over the 2025-2034 period, the bill would increase the level of TFP by less than one-tenth of one percent. The changes in TFP growth would slightly increase average annual potential GDP growth over the entire 2025-2034 period.

    Several factors would have small positive effects on TFP growth, including the bill’s effects on domestic oil and gas production, physical infrastructure investment, investment in research and development, permitting requirements, and spectrum auctions. Other effects of the bill would have small negative effects on TFP growth, including changes in educational attainment and a reduction in the number of individuals working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that stems from changes in higher education and immigration policy.

    How H.R. 1 Would Affect Interest Rates

    CBO estimates that H.R. 1 would increase interest rates on 10-year Treasury notes by an average of 14 basis points over the 2025-2034 period relative to CBO’s January 2025 projections. In the short run, the bill would increase aggregate demand, increase employment, and put modest upward pressure on inflation. CBO expects that monetary policy officials would slow the decline of their target for the federal funds rate in response to those economic changes—increasing it relative to CBO’s January projections. In the near term, the changes in the path of the target rate would put upward pressure on the federal government’s longer-term borrowing rates.

    In the longer run, the bill would increase government borrowing rates relative to CBO’s January 2025 projections through two channels. First, greater federal borrowing would push up interest rates. Second, the bill would increase the supply of labor relatively more than it would increase the size of the capital stock. The resulting reduction in the amount of capital per worker would also increase interest rates.

    How H.R. 1 Would Affect Inflation

    CBO estimates that H.R. 1 would cause inflation (as measured by the consumer price index for all urban consumers) over the first several years of the 2025-2034 period to be slightly higher than in CBO’s January 2025 projections, even with the tighter monetary policy noted above. That effect would peak in 2027; CBO estimates that H.R. 1 would increase the inflation rate by 0.12 percentage points in that year. CBO estimates the bill would not affect inflation after 2030.

    Budgetary Feedback of the Macroeconomic Effects of H.R. 1

    In CBO’s assessment, macroeconomic effects—that is, effects that result from changes in the economy—of H.R. 1 would have the following budgetary effects over the 2025-2034 period:

    • An increase of $124 billion in revenues, mostly reflecting the positive effects of higher real output that stem from both tax and spending provisions of the bill;
    • An increase of $39billion in noninterest spending, mostly reflecting the effects of higher inflation; and
    • An increase in net outlays for interest on projections of federal debt in the baseline of $441 billion because interest rates would be higher.

    CBO’s estimate of the deficit effect of H.R. 1 under House Rule XIII(8) reflects those three macroeconomic effects. The agency’s estimate of how H.R. 1 would affect its baseline projection of debt also reflects $76 billion more in net interest outlays. The additional net interest outlays are higher because of the higher interest rates on additional federal debt attributable to the bill and additional debt-service costs associated with the bill’s feedback effect on federal borrowing (see Table 1).

    Under House Rule XIII(8), CBO is also required, to the extent practicable, to provide an assessment of the budgetary and economic effects of major legislation in the 20-year period after the end of the projection period. From 2034 to 2054, the effects of crowding out on investment would continue to grow, producing an increasingly negative net effect on investment. Because of that, CBO estimates that the positive effects of H.R. 1 on the primary deficit from higher output would shrink over time, and net interest outlays would continue to be pushed up by higher interest rates. As a result, the macroeconomic effects of H.R. 1 would also increase projected deficits in CBO’s extended baseline.

    How CBO Estimated the Macroeconomic and Budgetary Feedback Effects of H.R. 1

    To estimate the budgetary effects of the macroeconomic changes resulting from the bill, CBO first analyzed how the bill would affect key macroeconomic variables (real GDP, interest rates, and inflation) using a variety of models. Using those estimates, the agency then estimated how economic changes stemming from the bill would affect federal spending and revenues.

    Real GDP

    To estimate the effects of H.R. 1 on real GDP, CBO analyzed the short-term effects and longer-term effects. In the short term, the bill would affect the economy by reducing tax liabilities, which would increase the demand for goods and services. In turn, increased demand would push real GDP up relative to potential (or maximum sustainable) output. The increase in demand reflects differences in how households would adjust their spending in response to changes in resources available to them. CBO used its estimate of how the changes in federal revenues and spending are allocated to households to inform its estimate of changes in aggregate demand.

    To estimate longer-term effects of the bill on real GDP, CBO used a Solow-type growth model to translate changes in labor supply, the capital stock, and TFP into changes in potential output. CBO and JCT used a broader suite of models and approaches to estimate the effects of the provisions of H.R. 1 on the incentives to work and invest and on TFP growth. That suite included models for estimating the effects of the following on the supply of labor: individual income tax rates, SNAP, Medicaid, higher education policy, and immigration policy. The suite also included models for estimating the effects of several factors on business investment: tax provisions; oil and gas provisions; and changes in permitting requirements, Medicaid, the supply of labor, and public borrowing.

    CBO’s model for estimating the effect of public borrowing on private investment depends on three relationships. First, it depends on how the policy’s effect on the deficit would affect overall spending. For example, on average, policies that increase the resources available to lower-income households boost overall spending more per dollar of deficit than policies that affect higher income households. Second, the model depends on the change in interest rates that would result from the change in overall spending. Third, the model depends on the response of investment to the change in interest rates. In addition, the suite included models for estimating the effects of the following factors on TFP growth: oil and gas production, physical infrastructure investment, research and development, higher education policy, permitting requirements, spectrum auctions, and immigration policy.

    Interest Rates

    To estimate the effects of H.R. 1 on interest rates, CBO accounted for how monetary policy authorities would respond to the economic effects of H.R. 1 and how those economic effects would influence interest rates in the short term. The effects of H.R. 1 on interest rates in the long term would depend on the sensitivity of interest rates to changes in federal debt.

    Inflation

    To estimate the effects of H.R. 1 on inflation, CBO accounted for how the bill would affect actual and potential GDP. When a policy increases GDP relative to potential GDP, it places upward pressure on prices. The sensitivity of prices (and thus inflation) to the gap between actual and potential GDP would depend on the state of the economy when the policy was implemented.

    Uncertainty

    CBO’s estimates of the macroeconomic effects of H.R. 1 are uncertain, in part because the underlying cost estimates of the bill before accounting for changes in the economy are uncertain. If, for example, provisions are implemented differently from the assumptions in CBO’s and JCT’s estimates, then that would affect the budgetary effects of H.R. 1, which would affect CBO’s assessment of the bill’s macroeconomic effects. There is also uncertainty surrounding how people and businesses would respond to the provisions of H.R. 1. If people and businesses respond differently than CBO projects, then the economic implications of the bill would be different.

    Notes

    The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, stipulates that revenue estimates provided by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) will be the official estimates for all tax legislation considered by the Congress. Therefore, CBO incorporates those estimates into its cost estimates of the effects of legislation. The estimates for the revenue provisions of the legislation were provided by JCT.

    Unless this estimate indicates otherwise, all years referred to are federal fiscal years, which run from October 1 to September 30 and are designated by the calendar year in which they end. Numbers in the text may not add up to totals because of rounding.

    This cost estimate is the result of work by analysts across CBO as well as the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation.

    Estimate Reviewed By

    Devrim Demirel 
    Director of Macroeconomic Analysis

    John McClelland
    Director of Tax Analysis

    Chad Chirico 
    Director of Budget Analysis

    Jeffrey Kling
    Research Director

    Mark Hadley
    Deputy Director

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: An Update on CBO’s Support of the Congress Throughout the Reconciliation Process

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Today, the Congressional Budget Office published what is known as a dynamic estimate of the budgetary effects of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Unlike a conventional cost estimate, the dynamic estimate reflects the budgetary effects of changes in the size of the economy and in other macroeconomic variables that would stem from enacting the legislation. As I explained back in April, House Rule XIII(8) requires us to provide dynamic estimates, to the extent practicable, for major legislation. Producing such estimates takes additional time, which is why the dynamic estimate for H.R. 1 is being released two weeks after we published the conventional cost estimate for the legislation.

    The dynamic estimate for H.R. 1 builds on earlier information provided by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and CBO, namely:

    In the conventional cost estimate for H.R. 1, we projected that the legislation would, on net, increase primary deficits over the 2025–2034 period by $2.4 trillion in relation to CBO’s January 2025 baseline budget projections. (Primary deficits exclude net outlays for interest.) That net increase would result from a $3.7 trillion decrease in revenues and a $1.3 trillion decrease in outlays.

    In the conventional estimate, the bill’s tax provisions have the largest budgetary effects. The same is true in the dynamic estimate. Reflecting JCT’s earlier estimates of the effects of those tax provisions as ordered reported by the Committee on Ways and Means, today’s analysis shows the following results over the coming decade:

    • Revenues would decrease.
    • The rate of economic growth would increase.
    • That stronger economic growth would generate additional tax receipts, partially offsetting the decrease in revenues.
    • Noninterest spending would decrease.
    • The net effect of the changes in revenues and noninterest spending would be to increase primary deficits.
    • The larger deficits would boost interest rates.
    • The higher interest rates would increase payments on preexisting debt, thus generating feedback to deficits and debt and, in turn, yielding yet higher interest rates.
    • On net, the macroeconomic changes stemming from the legislation would increase deficits because the increases in interest costs would exceed the boost to revenues from stronger economic growth. (JCT’s dynamic estimate of the bill’s major tax provisions did not include any effects on interest costs, because it was limited to analyzing effects on taxes.)
    • Overall, debt held by the public at the end of 2034 would increase by $3.3 trillion in relation to CBO’s January 2025 budget baseline, up from 117 percent of gross domestic product to 124 percent.

    CBO’s estimates of the bill’s effects on economic growth are consistent with other groups’ estimates of those effects. For example, CBO and researchers at the Penn Wharton Budget Model estimate that H.R. 1 would increase inflation-adjusted economic output at the end of 2034 by the same amount.

    The dynamic estimate for H.R. 1 reflects the provisions specified in the legislative text. The estimate thus reflects that certain tax provisions are temporary, including provisions that would boost economic growth. It does not reflect the effects of administrative actions, which are separate from the legislation.

    In addition to supplying conventional and dynamic cost estimates for legislation, CBO routinely provides policymakers with information about the budgetary and economic effects of policy alternatives that they specify, such as extensions of temporary policies. In 2021, for example, we provided a conventional estimate of the budgetary effects of making policies in the Build Back Better Act permanent as specified by the Ranking Members of the House and Senate Budget Committees. And just last week, we published a conventional estimate of the budgetary effects of extending portions of H.R. 1 as specified by the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee.

    Later this year, we will update our January 2025 economic forecast to account for newly enacted legislation and changes in economic conditions, as well as new administrative actions and judicial decisions. The administrative actions that have increased tariffs, for example, will reduce economic growth and increase inflation compared with what would have occurred otherwise. At the same time, if the tariffs imposed as of May 13 of this year remained in place for the next decade, they would increase revenues by an amount that would roughly offset the effect of H.R. 1 on federal debt. Actions that have reduced the number of immigrants in the United States will reduce economic growth compared with what would have occurred otherwise, decreasing revenues and reducing spending by a lesser amount. And administrative actions such as changes in regulations that boost economic growth will generally reduce deficits. Increases in interest rates (compared with our previous projections of such rates) that have occurred in financial markets will increase net interest costs.

    In the meantime, we remain focused on providing objective and timely information to the Congress as it considers the important legislation at hand. As always, we welcome feedback to make our work as useful as possible. Please send comments to communications@cbo.gov.

    Phillip L. Swagel is CBO’s Director.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aspiration Catheter Recall: Q’Apel Medical, Inc. Removes Hippo 072 Aspiration System and Cheetah Delivery Tool After FDA Warning Letter About Internal Processes and Distal Tip Characteristics

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it.
    Affected Products

    Product Names: 072 Aspiration System or Hippo 072 Aspiration System including Cheetah Delivery Tool and Aspiration Tubing

    Product Description
    Unique Device Identifier
    Manufacturer’s Product Catalog Number
    Lot Number
    Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

    072 Aspiration System with Aspiration Tubing
    00857545008127
    APT6072-132
    FG241008C-03
    04/07/2025

    FG240916C-04
    03/17/2025

    FG240905C-04
    03/06/2025

    072 Aspiration System
    00857545008097
    AP6072-132
    FG241206A-03
    06/08/2025

    FG240917A-01
    03/17/2025

    072 Aspiration Tubing
    00857545008103
    APT-95
    FG241206A-04
    06/08/2025

    What to Do
    On February 26, 2025, Q’Apel Medical, Inc. sent all affected customers a Voluntary Medical Device Removal and Discontinuation letter recommending the following actions:  

    Quarantine any remaining Hippo 072 Aspiration Systems.
    Return all remaining systems to Q’Apel Medical, Inc. to receive credit.  
    Do not destroy devices.
    Let Q’Apel Medical, Inc. know if the product was transferred to others so they can be notified and systems can be retrieved.  
    Complete the customer Acknowledgement and Response Card included with the letter to make sure Q’Apel has accounted for all devices.  
    Once the Acknowledgement and Response Card is completed, Q’Apel Medical, Inc. will provide a Returned Material Authorization (RMA) number and shipping or pick up instructions.  

    Reason for Recall
    Q’Apel Medical, Inc. is recalling Hippo 072 Aspiration Systems after receiving an FDA warning letter that raised concerns about internal processes and the scope of clearance for the Hippo product, as it relates to the distal tip. Specifically, the FDA has raised questions about the features and characteristics of the distal tip of the aspiration catheter when removing a clot during aspiration.
    The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including contractions (vasospasm) or tears (rupture) in the blood vessels, and death.  
    At this time, Q’Apel Medical, Inc. has reported two injuries related to this issue. There have been no reports of death.
    Device Use
    The Hippo 072 Aspiration System is indicated for use to remove blood clots in the brain that are blocking blood flow and causing stroke within 8 hours of symptom onset. Patients who are not able to receive a treatment called tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) through the blood vessels (intravenously, or by IV) or whose clots did not respond to IV t-PA therapy are candidates for treatment with this device.  
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Q’Apel Medical, Inc. customer service at orders@qapelmedical.com or 510-738-6255. 
    Additional FDA Resources:  

    Additional Company Resources:  

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from distribution to use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified more quickly, and as a result, problems potentially resolved more quickly.

    How do I report a problem?
    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

    Content current as of:
    06/17/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $6.2 million in storm mitigation funding for Baton Rouge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,173,205 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for East Baton Rouge Parish.

    “Louisianians are all too familiar with the threats that strong winds pose to their communities during disasters. This $6.2 million will help East Baton Rouge Parish fortify the Baton Rouge City Hall to better withstand gusts during future storms,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $6,173,205 to East Baton Rouge Parish to retrofit windows in the Baton Rouge City Hall to withstand stronger winds during severe weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $6.2 million in storm mitigation funding for Baton Rouge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,173,205 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for East Baton Rouge Parish.

    “Louisianians are all too familiar with the threats that strong winds pose to their communities during disasters. This $6.2 million will help East Baton Rouge Parish fortify the Baton Rouge City Hall to better withstand gusts during future storms,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $6,173,205 to East Baton Rouge Parish to retrofit windows in the Baton Rouge City Hall to withstand stronger winds during severe weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Wyden, Ocasio-Cortez to Demand Answers from Palantir About Plans to Build IRS “Mega-Database” of American Citizens

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Right-Wing Aligned Tech Company Is Assisting Trump in Likely Mass Violations of Privacy Act and Tax Privacy Laws

    Washington (June 17, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), today joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and seven other Members of Congress in questioning Palantir about reports that Palantir is helping the IRS to build a government-wide, searchable, “mega-database,” connecting sensitive tax and other data the government holds about American citizens. Building such a database likely violates multiple federal laws limiting the accessing and sharing of Americans’ private information, including the Privacy Act and tax privacy laws. 

    “The unprecedented possibility of a searchable, ‘mega-database’ of tax returns and other data that will potentially be shared with or accessed by other federal agencies is a surveillance nightmare that raises a host of legal concerns, not least that it will make it significantly easier for Donald Trump’s Administration to spy on and target his growing list of enemies and other Americans,” the members wrote to Palantir CEO Alex Karp. 

    The letter is cosigned by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). 

    Sections 6103 and 7213A of the tax code protect tax returns and return information from unauthorized access or disclosure, with criminal penalties for violations, the members pointed out, while the Privacy Act of 1974 requires detailed transparency and procedural steps for accessing and combing government data about Americans. Contractors like Palantir are not exempt from those laws. 

    “The IRS hiring Palantir to help it establish a ‘mega-database”’ of government-held personal data, including sensitive taxpayer data, for seamless processing for a limitless number of purposes blatantly violates the notice, transparency, and procedural requirements of the Privacy Act,” the members wrote. “As you should be aware, contractors are explicitly covered by many of the Privacy Act’s requirements.”

    The full scope of Palantir’s work for the Trump Administration is unclear, but publicly available contracts indicate its tendrils are reaching nearly every corner of the federal government. The Department of Defense recently awarded Palantir a $795 million contract – which could increase to $1.3 billion – to lead data fusion and artificial intelligence programs throughout the U.S. military. The Trump Administration has deployed Palantir’s Foundry software at the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.

    The company is reportedly helping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement combine data sets in order to speed up deportation of immigrants. Trump’s deeply unpopular deportations have included raids on hotels and construction sites and U.S. citizens being wrongly targeted in order to meet arbitrary quotas set by the White House. 

    The members requested Palantir answer the following questions: 

    • Please provide a list of all current Palantir contracts with the United States government. For each contract, please provide the following information: the dollar value of the award, the agency that awarded the contract, the name of the Palantir software or product being deployed as part of the contract, and a detailed description of the services being performed as part of the contract.
    • Has Palantir sought or received assurances from the U.S. government that its executives, board members, and employees will not be held responsible for violations of federal law, including the internal revenue code?
    • Has Palantir provided insurance coverage or commitments to pay legal costs and fines to any of its executives, board members, or employees in connection with the company’s work for the U.S. government or any foreign government.
    • What services, features, or assistance, if any, has the Trump Administration requested and Palantir declined to provide, due to concerns related to privacy, civil liberties, or potential violations of federal, state, or international law.
    • Is Palantir aware of the requirements placed on agencies and contractors by the Privacy Act of 1974?  Have you advised the government of those requirements, or offered to assist in their compliance?  Do you believe the government is currently satisfying its requirements under the Privacy Act? 
    • Does the company have a “red line” for potential violations of human rights, U.S. law or international law by the Trump Administration that would result in Palantir terminating its services for the U.S. government?
    • How many Palantir employees have quit since January 20, 2025, citing the company’s work for the Trump Administration?

    Read the full letter to Palantir here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Condemns Israeli Attacks on Iran as Gross Violation of Sovereignty and International Law

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Geneva, June 17, 2025

    The State of Qatar reaffirmed that the attacks and assaults carried out by Israeli occupation forces against Iran represent a blatant violation of state sovereignty, a serious breach of international law and the United Nations Charter, and pose a grave threat to regional and international peace and security. Qatar also renewed its strong condemnation of these attacks.

    This statement was delivered by HE Qatar’s Permanent Representative to Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, during her participation in the interactive dialogue on the Annual Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Agenda Item 2, as part of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council.

    Her Excellency emphasized that the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza resulted in heinous crimes, severe violations, death, destruction, displacement, forced starvation, and a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people unlike anything seen in modern history. She stressed that this demands serious and effective international action to halt the aggression, protect the Palestinian people, hold all perpetrators accountable for violations and crimes committed, and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the Jun. 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

    She welcomed the positive steps Syria has taken toward national reconciliation and building a state governed by law and institutions, which reflects a clear commitment to restoring security and stability and protecting the human rights of the Syrian people.

    Her Excellency also praised the lifting of economic sanctions on Syria, noting that this move will help the Syrian people and enable their transition toward stability and prosperity.

    Furthermore, she affirmed Qatar’s solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people during this critical historic moment, renewing its call to end the fighting, protect civilians, and halt all violations against them. She also reiterated Qatar’s appeal to the international community to intensify efforts and provide increased humanitarian support to meet the growing needs of the Sudanese people.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anand announces major additional sanctions in relation to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 17, 2025 – Kananaskis, Alberta – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions on 77 individuals and 39 entities under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations. Canada is also implementing sanctions on the trade of almost 1,000 new items with Russia, listing an additional 201 vessels and imposing new prohibitions on listed vessels to further constrain the activities of vessels that are part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

    This is one of Canada’s most important sanctions announcements since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, comprising its biggest-ever package of vessel- and trade-related sanctions. Canada is announcing these sanctions following the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where leaders met to discuss some of the world’s most pressing issues, including ways to bolster support for Ukraine and ramp up pressure on Russia.

    The new export restrictions include goods related to the production of chemical and biological weapons as well as industrial goods and advanced sensitive technologies with dual-use applications. New import restrictions apply to coal, metals and a variety of other goods through which Russia gains revenue from exporting overseas.

    The ship-related sanctions are upgraded to prohibit the provision of any services related to already-listed vessels, and Canada is listing an additional 201 vessels, meaning that Canada now sanctions over 300 Russia-linked vessels involved in the movement of oil, liquefied natural gas, arms and other items for the benefit of Russia.

    In addition to the exports and ship-related sanctions, Canada is sanctioning 3 financial entities who directly support the Kremlin in moving funds in and out of Russia to pay for arms and other war-related material, upgrading its sanctions on Surgutneftegas, a major Russian oil and gas company, and sanctioning 15 additional individuals and entities that enable Russia’s shadow fleet to conduct its activities.

    Canada is also sanctioning 3 individuals and 14 entities involved in the development of the quantum sector in Russia, a sensitive technology that can have various dual-use military applications and be leveraged by the Kremlin to bolster its military. These measures will limit the capabilities of this technology within the Russian military-industrial complex and its application in future aggression.

    Canada is also imposing sanctions on 29 individuals and 6 entities that have benefited from the war, including some of the wealthiest Russian industrialists, senior government officials and persons involved in the confiscation and redistribution of property and assets of foreign companies in Russia as punishment for their criticism of its unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

    The list of sanctioned individuals also includes 45 people identified by the Anti-Corruption Foundation. It includes government and private-sector actors who provide direct and indirect support to Russia’s military-industrial complex and disinformation efforts to enable its illegal aggression toward Ukraine.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Midwest Territory Sporting Clay Shoot, Rides for Guides Raises More Than $19,000 for Guide Dogs of America

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Midwest Territory recently hosted two successful fundraising events, collectively raising more than $19,000 for the IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines.

    The Sporting Clays Shoot, held at Nilo Farms in Brighton, Ill., welcomed 20 teams with a total of 100 participants. The event brought together IAM members and supporters for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie in support of a great cause. The event showcased impressive marksmanship, with the top three shooters receiving special recognition. Matt Malone took first place honors, followed by Don Ballard II in second, and Levi Craig in third.

    Click here to see photos from the Sporting Clays Event.

    The next day the Spirit of the Midwest “Rides for Guides” Classic Auto Show took place at IAM District 837 in Hazelwood, Mo. The event drew 73 vehicles, with 58 participants competing for awards and 16 proudly showcasing their rides. Trophies were awarded to the top three vehicles in each class, as well as Best of Show that went to Clay Erickson and the coveted People’s Choice award proudly going to Michael Barbeau.

    Click here to see photos from the Spirit of the Midwest “Rides for Guides” Classic Auto Show.

    “The Midwest Territory looks forward to the Spirit of the Midwest Events every year,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Territory Staff, their families, District 837 members and retirees, and NILO Farms work really hard to pull together these successful events. It is an amazing and rewarding time at each of these events, and all while raising money for the charity all IAM members care about so much, Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines. Thank you to everyone who came out to support these incredible events and donated raffle items. It is through your generosity that you all make it happen.”

    These events are part of a broader effort by the IAM Midwest Territory to foster connection, fun, and community involvement across locals and districts. Every local and district is encouraged to host their own events to bring members together and raise funds for GDA | TLC.

    To inspire some friendly competition, the “Top Dog Award” will be presented at the end of 2025 to the Local or District that raises the most money for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines throughout the year.

    The IAM Midwest Territory remains deeply committed to giving back—and these events demonstrate how union solidarity can truly change lives.

    For more information on these and other IAM Midwest Territory events to benefit Guide Dogs of America, visit the Spirit of the Midwest website at SpiritoftheMidwest.org.

    The post IAM Midwest Territory Sporting Clay Shoot, Rides for Guides Raises More Than $19,000 for Guide Dogs of America appeared first on IAM Union.

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