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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico Workers and Allies Hold Solidarity Rally Demanding a Fair Contract

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Union workers at Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico (LTPR), standing shoulder to shoulder with union allies and community supporters, rallied outside the company’s Aguadilla facility this week to demand what they have earned: a fair contract that values their labor, safety, and dignity.

    For nearly three years, the skilled aviation workers at LTPR have been at the bargaining table – yet the company continues to stall, refusing to act in the best interests of its workers. While Lufthansa Technik profits off the professionalism and dedication of these workers, it has failed to offer a contract that reflects their worth or improves the lives of those who make its operations possible.

    “These workers have waited long enough,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “LTPR’s refusal to move on a fair contract is a blatant disregard for the very people who keep this company running. This fight is about respect, safety, and securing a better future for these families in Puerto Rico.”

    The rally brought together union members, community leaders, and allies who echoed the same message: enough is enough. The workers are demanding basic human needs that the company continues to neglect.

    “Lufthansa Technik has a choice: invest in the people who power your success or continue this pattern of delay and disrespect,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “Our members in Puerto Rico are standing strong – and the IAM stands with them. We will not back down until justice is delivered at the bargaining table.”

    In May 2022, over 200 aircraft mechanics and related workers at LTPR voted overwhelmingly to join the IAM Union, seeking a voice on the job and a fair deal. Since then, progress at the bargaining table has been stonewalled by the company’s refusal to come forward with meaningful proposals. The IAM requested federal mediation from the National Mediation Board in 2023 in response to the company’s continued inaction.

    This struggle has now drawn international solidarity. Verdi, a major German union representing Lufthansa workers across Europe, has called on Lufthansa AG – LTPR’s parent company – to step in and help end the contract dispute.

    “LTPR can’t hide from its responsibilities – this fight is global now, and the world is watching,” added Martin. “IAM Union members in Puerto Rico are not alone. The entire IAM Union family stands behind them.”

    The IAM Union is urging LTPR leadership to return to the table with real solutions that honor the value and professionalism of its workforce – not more empty promises.

    SEE PHOTOS

    The post Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico Workers and Allies Hold Solidarity Rally Demanding a Fair Contract appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Local 701 Members at Finkl Steel Say Solidarity is Key to Progress in 122-Year Legacy

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Leaders of the IAM Midwest Territory recently visited one of the longest-standing union shops in the IAM Union to meet with members and company management before upcoming negotiations. 

    A. Finkl and Sons Steel Company was founded in 1879, in the aftermath of the great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed 3 square miles of the city. Today, the worldwide company is named Finkl Steel, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of steel dies and tools that make numerous things we take for granted: anything from oil field equipment to molds for automobile manufacturing to the famed 155mm Army Howitzer canon.

    Finkl management remarked that many of the Howitzers sent to Ukraine since the war erupted in 2022 have resulted in new orders for the company’s Howitzer barrels and sustained work for the IAM members.

    Documents show the workers organized with the IAM on May 1, 1903, after previous representation with the Chicago Metal Trades Association.

    “My dad started here in 1955. My Brother started here just before I did,” said current IAM Local 701 member and Finkl employee Tom Buzecky. 

    He has worked at the company for nearly 50 years, starting in August 1977. 

    “I work with a whole group that has family members employed here at the company,” said Buzecky.

    Buzecky recalls the 1984 strike, which lasted nearly four months.

    “The only way to get what you want is to stay together,” said Buzecky. “We were solid, and that helped make our point.”

    “Our IAM sisters and brothers working at Finkl Steel are truly remarkable representing an honorable example of their solidarity,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They have built and earned the respect of this company’s management over several decades, and we plan to continue that partnership for our members’ benefit for years to come.”

    “Finkl management has talked with us about their need for more workers, and Local 701 has a great apprenticeship program already running on all cylinders,” said IAM Midwest Territory Coordinator Bill LePinske. “So it’s great to partner with a company and fulfill their needs for a highly skilled workforce.”

    One of Finkl Steel’s largest customers is Caterpillar, a maker of many large industrial machines. IAM members build the molds, tools, and dies that make many more jobs run. These workers know that their work is crucial to so many other workers, and they understand that union solidarity needs to be as strong as steel to maintain their long history of providing solid wages and benefits.   

    Generations of families, like the Buzecky family, have thrived through employment at Finkl Steel, and with some mutual respect and solidarity, their next negotiations will keep those families secure for generations to come.

    The post IAM Local 701 Members at Finkl Steel Say Solidarity is Key to Progress in 122-Year Legacy appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Business Owner Sentenced After Receiving More than $1.6 Million in Funds from the CARES Act

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release

    A former Oklahoma man with business ties in Florida was sentenced today after pleading guilty to four counts of bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

    U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Shawn Ray Murnan, 57, of Windemere, Florida, to 33 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Hill further ordered Murnan to pay $1,641,796.47 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

    “In 2020, the CARES Act funding was established to provide emergency financial assistance to help businesses that were disrupted,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Investigators and prosecutors are committed to finding those like Murnan who steal government funding and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.”

    From April 2020 through October 2021, Murnan admitted to falsifying several CARES Act applications to the SBA. Murnan was the owner of numerous business ventures in Oklahoma, Florida, and other states. He submitted 14 applications on behalf of his businesses, including Blujett, LLC, which was based in Broken Arrow. He submitted applications claiming to have several employees and falsified his payroll expenses. Murnan requested more than two million and successfully received $1,641,796.47 from seven Paycheck Protection Program loans and two Economic Injury Disaster Loans. After receiving the funds, Murnan applied for the loans to be forgiven.

    Previously released on bond, Murnan was taken into custody following the sentencing today, where he will remain pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of Inspector General for the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.

    Related programs: COVID EIDL, Disaster, Pandemic Oversight, PPP

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: IP Bryant, GVP Bennett Join IAM Local 2471 Members for Grand Opening of New Alstom Rail Manufacturing Facility

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM leadership was on hand to join IAM Local 2471 (District 19) members as Alstom opened its newest operation, Car Body Shell Plant 4, in Hornell, New York. The $75 million manufacturing and testing facility brings railcar body manufacturing from Brazil back to Alstom’s facilities in the southern tier of western New York state. Alstom has pledged to retain union jobs and create more union jobs for IAM Union members working at this Hornell location.

    The funding was made possible in part by up to $7 million being made available through New York State, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, as well as past state investments totalling up to $30 million.

    “This is telling our members that Alstom is making the investment so that they’re going to be here in Hornell, New York for future generations,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “I was honored to come here today to celebrate the grand opening of this facility, and we look forward to the day that this facility is at full capacity.”

    The first large order for the new facility is to manufacture 200 multilevel rail cars for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail lines. The newer cars will be equipped with modern internet features, greater capacity, and smoother rides.  

    The new plant features state-of-the-art, welding robots along an integrated assembly line. The robots will make tens of thousands of welds on each car shell making its way down the line, but human workers are needed to finish and check the automation process.

    “The company has told us that there is a high demand for welders here in Hornell that is hard to keep up with, and the IAM hopes to secure the wages, benefits, and compensation for these in demand crafts,” said IAM Union Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. 

    Current IAM members at the existing plants in Hornell are completing the order for the newest Amtrak trainsets named the “Aveila Liberty.” These high speed trains will reach speeds of 160 miles per hour on Amtrak’s northeast corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Twenty-eight “tilting” trains provide a smoother ride for customers, with updated modern conveniences, and one third more capacity over the existing Acela trainsets that are over a quarter century old. Aveila Liberty trainsets are expected to be in operation before fall of this year.

    “We make the train bodies in plant 1, plant 2 we build the traction motors, plant 3 is basically our warehouse,” said Alstom IAM Local 2741 Secretary/Treasurer Armin Bishop-Miller.  “Hopefully, when Plant 4 gets up and running the right way, we can get people in here and help this company grow.” 

    Hornell has a long history with the railroad industry, with the Erie Station headend connecting four different rail lines dating back to the 1860’s. Rail carriers have changed names over the years, but the tracks and legacy of this town’s roots in railroading are strong.

    The Hornell plant has delivered over 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across North America, including 1,000 subway cars to New York City Transit. Now with this fully integrated facility in the southern tier of New York State, and the fine craftsmanship of the IAM members, railcars will continue to roll out of the city of Hornell.

    Alstom Plant 4 Video

    The post IP Bryant, GVP Bennett Join IAM Local 2471 Members for Grand Opening of New Alstom Rail Manufacturing Facility appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cell Phone Service Provider Agrees to Pay $500,000 for Imposing Unlawful Charges on Military Servicemembers

    Source: US State of California

    The Justice Department announced today that Teleguam Holdings, LLC (GTA) has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing fees on over 1,300 military servicemembers who terminated their cell phone service contracts because they had received military relocation orders.

    “Servicemembers will not be penalized because of their patriotic service to our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously prosecute companies that refuse to abide by federal law that protects our great men and women in uniform who actively serve to protect our Nation.”

    GTA will pay $450,000 in compensation to servicemembers, including double damages to servicemembers who paid GTA’s early termination charges, and a $50,000 civil penalty; and GTA will revise its policies to ensure that eligible military servicemembers can end their cell phone service contracts without illegal early termination charges.

    The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $482 million in monetary relief for over 148,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

    Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trustee declaration – get it right

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The trustee declaration is an important document for all self-managed super funds (SMSFs). Trustees and directors of corporate trustees must complete a separate trustee declaration within 21 days of starting their role as a trustee (or director of a corporate trustee) to declare they understand their obligations and responsibilities.

    As a trustee you must keep your completed trustee declaration while you remain a trustee or for 10 years (whichever period is longer).

    Before signing, you should ensure you understand your responsibilities as outlined in the declaration – we strongly recommend you undertake our free trustee education courses.

    It is your responsibility to make sure the fund is ran for the sole purpose of managing superannuation for its members, including:

    • protecting super assets in the fund
    • making decisions in the interest of members
    • making sure all actions taken are allowed under super laws
    • implementing and regularly reviewing your SMSF’s investment strategy.

    There are investment restrictions you also need to be aware of when running an SMSF.

    Additionally, there are a range of administrative responsibilities when running an SMSF including:

    • keeping records for required timeframes
    • appointing an SMSF auditor each year
    • lodging the SMSF annual return by the due date
    • notifying the ATO of changes to the SMSF.

    Take a look at our short videoExternal Link for a quick overview of the trustee declaration.

    Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? – You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: TBAR for June quarter due 28 July

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    All self-managed super funds (SMSFs) must report relevant transfer balance account (TBA) events using transfer balance account report (TBAR). All events must be reported regardless of the member’s total superannuation balance.

    TBAR’s for the June quarter are due by 28 July. If no TBA event occurred during the quarter, no lodgment is required.

    You should refer to event-based reporting for SMSFs and TBAR instructions when preparing your TBAR.

    If your SMSF does not lodge a TBAR by the due date, it may result in compliance action and penalties and could also negatively impact the member’s transfer balance account.

    The easiest way to lodge is through Online services for business. Your tax agent can also lodge on your behalf.

    Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cell Phone Service Provider Agrees to Pay $500,000 for Imposing Unlawful Charges on Military Servicemembers

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Justice Department announced today that Teleguam Holdings, LLC (GTA) has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing fees on over 1,300 military servicemembers who terminated their cell phone service contracts because they had received military relocation orders.

    “Servicemembers will not be penalized because of their patriotic service to our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously prosecute companies that refuse to abide by federal law that protects our great men and women in uniform who actively serve to protect our Nation.”

    GTA will pay $450,000 in compensation to servicemembers, including double damages to servicemembers who paid GTA’s early termination charges, and a $50,000 civil penalty; and GTA will revise its policies to ensure that eligible military servicemembers can end their cell phone service contracts without illegal early termination charges.

    The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $482 million in monetary relief for over 148,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

    Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China-Kyrgyzstan cooperation holds great potential 2025-06-17 22:05:10 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan holds great potential, urging the two countries to scale up trade and investment and expand cooperation in emerging sectors.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua)

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan holds great potential, urging the two countries to scale up trade and investment and expand cooperation in emerging sectors.

    Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

    Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 33 years ago, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have achieved leapfrog development and are now at their best in history, Xi noted.

    The Chinese president recalled that he held a fruitful meeting with Japarov in Beijing in February, where they reached a series of important consensuses that have injected new and strong impetus into bilateral cooperation.

    China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to continuously deepen the alignment of development strategies, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard common and long-term interests of both sides, he said.

    Xi urged the two sides to deepen financial cooperation, improve connectivity networks and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

    He also called on the two sides to foster new drivers of growth in clean energy, green minerals and artificial intelligence, enhance communication in fields such as culture, tourism, education and health, and implement more projects that benefit the people.

    Noting that China and Kyrgyzstan are both beneficiaries of economic globalization, he called on the two sides to jointly oppose unilateralism, firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

    Noting that the two sides will successively assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and host summits, Xi said that China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to support each other and jointly promote the greater development of the SCO.

    For his part, Japarov said that under the outstanding leadership of President Xi, China has strived forward on the path of prosperity and strength, achieving great accomplishments and playing a crucial guiding role on the international stage.

    The Kyrgyz side attaches great importance to the development of relations with China and cherishes the strategic partnership built on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and good-neighborly friendship, Japarov said.

    On issues concerning China’s core interests, the Kyrgyz side, he said, firmly supports China’s stance, adheres to the one-China principle, opposes all forms of “Taiwan independence,” and opposes any interference by external forces in China’s internal affairs.

    Noting that China is Kyrgyzstan’s largest trading and investment partner, Japarov said the Kyrgyz side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to do business in Kyrgyzstan, stands ready to work with China to jointly advance such projects as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, strengthen cooperation in energy, green minerals and other fields, and better benefit the peoples of both countries.

    Japarov said the Kyrgyz side actively supports the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi and is ready to work with China to jointly implement them.

    Kyrgyzstan will closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the United Nations, the SCO and the China-Central Asia mechanism to promote regional and global security, stability, development and prosperity, he added.

    Following the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents covering agriculture, customs, science and technology, media and other fields. 

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock potential for cooperation based on win-win collaboration 2025-06-17 22:05:17 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock the potential for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win collaboration.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

      ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock the potential for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win collaboration.

      Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

      Xi urged China and Turkmenistan to scale up natural gas cooperation, expand cooperation in non-resource fields and optimize trade structure. He called on the two sides to accelerate the establishment of cultural centers in each other’s countries and promote people-to-people connectivity.

      Xi said that China supports Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

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    MIL OSI China News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls on China, Tajikistan to expand scale of bilateral trade, investment 2025-06-17 22:05:24 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Tajikistan to expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Tajikistan to expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment.

    Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

    Xi recalled that during his visit to Tajikistan last year, he and Rahmon jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era between China and Tajikistan, and made new plans and arrangements for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

    He said the two sides should promptly implement them, deliver more practical results, and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future.

    Xi emphasized that China is a trustworthy neighbor and partner of Tajikistan and firmly supports Tajikistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security.

    China and Tajikistan should give full play to the role of the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two countries’ foreign ministers, and coordinate and advance cooperation in various fields, said Xi.

    The two countries should expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, further speed up the construction of transportation infrastructure projects, and continuously promote connectivity, he said.

    The role of the Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshop and Center for Traditional Medicine should be fully leveraged, while the “Chinese Culture Day” to be held this autumn in Tajikistan should be well organized, Xi said.

    He stressed that China and Tajikistan should further strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and step up efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    The two countries share common interests in safeguarding multilateralism and defending international economic and trade order, Xi said, calling on both sides to enhance coordination and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms including the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism.

    China supports Tajikistan to play an important role in global climate governance, Xi added.

    For his part, Rahmon said China, under the strong leadership of President Xi, has achieved significant economic and social development accomplishments, and played an important role in international affairs.

    He noted that Xi’s historical visit to Tajikistan last year has opened up new prospects for bilateral ties, and elevated the strategic cooperation between Tajikistan and China to a new level, adding that both sides are actively implementing the outcomes of the visit while cooperation in various fields is flourishing.

    The Tajik side, he said, is ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China and enhance strategic communication.

    He also said that Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation in traditional fields such as trade, investment, agriculture and infrastructure construction, and expand cooperation in emerging fields like new energy, green industries and artificial intelligence.

    Tajikistan is ready to work with China to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, ensure “Chinese Culture Day” a success, and deepen cooperation in law enforcement and security, Rahmon said.

    He also called on both sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation so that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism can play a bigger role.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says all related parties should work to de-escalate Mideast tension as soon as possible, avoid further escalation 2025-06-17 22:09:18 Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

      ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation.

      Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

      Xi said China is deeply worried as Israel’s military operation against Iran has caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposes any actions that infringe upon sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.

      He said military conflicts are not the solution to problems, and the escalation of regional situations is not in the common interests of the international community.

      Xi said China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East. 

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

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    MIL OSI China News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: STATEMENT: UK Government must withdraw support for Israel as conflict grows

    Source: Scottish Greens

    17 Jun 2025 External Affairs

    We stand for lasting peace and an end to the UK’s active participation in war

    More in External Affairs

    As the conflict in the Middle East grows threatening a wider war, the Scottish Greens are calling on the UK Government to withdraw their support for the state of Israel. 

    Party co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP has issued this statement:

    The world is an increasingly dangerous place, and the actions of far too many Governments, including the UK, are making that worse.

    Just a few years ago, the vast majority of the world stood solidly against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and opposed the illegal occupation. Now we’ve seen that unity fractured by a US President who threatens democratic countries and flatters dictators.

    Worse, we have seen a breath-taking failure of the global community to take the same united position against the grotesque violence being inflicted on Palestinians. The US, the UK and others are actively abetting genocide while allowing Israel to block media access to Gaza to prevent the world from seeing the atrocities they are committing. 

    Even a former Israeli Prime Minister has called Netanyahu’s government a gang of thugs, and every day they find new ways to prove him right. 

    Now Israel has expanded its attacks to Iran, in a clear attempt to escalate the conflict and provoke a much wider war. Threats have been made against the whole of Tehran, a city of over 9 million people. 

    The Scottish Greens have long called for a lasting ceasefire and an end to the UK’s active participation in the ongoing genocide of Gaza. The case for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel has grown ever stronger the longer its illegal occupation of Palestine has gone on, and is now urgent.

    Yet Keir Starmer’s Government is still refusing to end the UK’s involvement, actively resourcing and training Israeli forces, and treating the country as an ally instead of the profound threat to global security that it is. 

    The UK must immediately withdraw all support for this violent rogue state, and work with other countries to have its Government held accountable for their war crimes. 

    Any Government, in any country, which fails to act has lives on its conscience, and international law will ultimately hold them complicit for their actions.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Reports 60 Migrants Missing in Two Deadly Shipwrecks off Libya

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Cairo/Tripoli, 17 June 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is deeply saddened by two confirmed shipwrecks off the coast of Libya in recent days, with at least 60 people feared missing at sea, according to IOM’s search and rescue teams on the ground. Survivors received urgent medical care from IOM staff immediately upon disembarkation.

    “With dozens feared dead and entire families left in anguish, IOM is once again urging the international community to scale up search and rescue operations and guarantee safe, predictable disembarkation for survivors,” said Othman Belbeisi, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa (MENA). “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected.”

    On 12 June, 21 people were reported missing after a shipwreck near Alshab port in Tripolitania, where only five survivors were found. Among those feared dead are six Eritreans, including three women and three children, five Pakistanis, four Egyptians, and two Sudanese men. The identities of four others remain unknown.

    The second tragedy occurred on 13 June, approximately 35 kilometres west of Tobruk. According to the sole survivor, who was rescued by fishermen, 39 people were lost at sea. In the days that followed, three bodies washed ashore: two on Umm Aqiqih beach on 14 June and another on Elramla beach in downtown Tobruk on 15 June. Identification efforts are ongoing, with support from members of the Sudanese community.

    So far in 2025, at least 743 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, including 538 on the Central Mediterranean route alone. This remains the deadliest known migration route in the world, marked by increasingly dangerous smuggling practices, limited rescue capacity, and growing restrictions on humanitarian operations.

    IOM Libya’s Search and Rescue programme aims to reduce these risks by providing emergency assistance to migrants upon disembarkation and after desert rescues, while also supporting counterparts with tailored infrastructure and specialized equipment.

    Globally, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded more than 75,000 deaths and disappearances since 2014. Over 39,000 of those have occurred in or near countries affected by crisis, underscoring the links between displacement, insecurity, and the lack of safe migration pathways.

    IOM renews its call for urgent, coordinated action to prevent further loss of life. The cost of inaction is measured in human lives.

    For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 1433, Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 1433 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. Under the bill, that commission would coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state, local, and tribal governments to design projects to restore marine waters and habitats of the Northwest Straits region in the State of Washington. In 2024, the Congress provided $1 million for those activities.

    CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted in 2025 and that the authorized amounts will be provided in each year. On that basis and using historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $13 million over the 2025-2030 period and $5 million after 2030.

    In addition, the bill would authorize the commission to accept donations and spend them without further appropriation to carry out its responsibilities. The receipt and spending of those donations are recorded as direct spending. Because the receipt and spending would offset each other, CBO estimates that enacting S. 1433 would have an insignificant effect on net direct spending over the 2025-2035 period.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of S. 1433
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Authorization

    0

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    15

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    2

    2

    3

    3

    3

    13

    Enacting the bill would have an insignificant effect on net direct spending over the 2025-2035 period for the receipt and spending of donations.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of Vermont

    An Oregon business owner pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joyce Leard owned and operated Mr. Tree Inc., a Happy Valley-based company that provided tree removal and landscaping services to customers. Mr. Tree advertised itself as being in business for thirty years, and the company employed approximately 50 to 75 employees each year. From 2017 through 2024, Leard also owned and operated Wall 2 Wall Hardwood Floors Inc, another Happy Valley-based company.

    Leard was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from the wages of her employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the fourth quarter of 2018 through the fourth quarter of 2020, Leard collected and withheld taxes from her employees’ wages but did not pay the funds over to the IRS or file quarterly payroll tax returns as required by law. Instead of paying over these payroll taxes, Leard used funds in her business bank account to purchase approximately $3.5 million of real estate, which was titled in her name.

    In total, Leard caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.5 million.

    Leard is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys J. Parker Gochenour and Megan E. Wessel of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oregon Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    An Oregon business owner pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joyce Leard owned and operated Mr. Tree Inc., a Happy Valley-based company that provided tree removal and landscaping services to customers. Mr. Tree advertised itself as being in business for thirty years, and the company employed approximately 50 to 75 employees each year. From 2017 through 2024, Leard also owned and operated Wall 2 Wall Hardwood Floors Inc, another Happy Valley-based company.

    Leard was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from the wages of her employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the fourth quarter of 2018 through the fourth quarter of 2020, Leard collected and withheld taxes from her employees’ wages but did not pay the funds over to the IRS or file quarterly payroll tax returns as required by law. Instead of paying over these payroll taxes, Leard used funds in her business bank account to purchase approximately $3.5 million of real estate, which was titled in her name.

    In total, Leard caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.5 million.

    Leard is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys J. Parker Gochenour and Megan E. Wessel of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of State for International Cooperation Meets UNRWA Commissioner-General

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, June 17, 2025

    HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Tuesday with HE Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, who is visiting the country.

    During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and the UNRWA and ways to support and enhance them. They also discussed the developments in the region, in addition to a number of topics of common concern.

    HE Director of International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikha Hanouf bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani attended the meeting.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa: Higher Education Chairperson Welcomes Submission of Panel Names for Seta Board Chairperson Selection


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    The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Mr Tebogo Letsie, has welcomed the submission today of a letter containing the names of panel members appointed to oversee the selection and recommendation of board chairpersons for the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

    Mr Letsie noted that the committee has consistently held the view that the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, is constitutionally obligated to disclose the names of the panel members to Parliament. “We are pleased that sanity has prevailed and that the Minister has now complied with this requirement. The committee believes this disclosure should have occurred from the outset,” said Mr Letsie.

    He stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in institutions funded by public resources. “We are dealing with public institutions funded through parliamentary appropriations. It was therefore baffling that the committee had to strongly remind the Minister of such a basic accountability requirement in our democratic governance system.”

    The names of the nomination panel for the SETA boards as submitted by the minister are as follows.

    • Adv Terry Motau, SC (Chairperson): (but did not attend any of the meetings)
    • Mr Asisipho Solani
    • Ms Nelisiwe Semane
    • Mr Mabuza Ngubane
    • Ms Rhulani Ngwenya

    The Chairperson concluded by affirming that the committee will now engage with the Minister further on the processes followed in appointing chairpersons to lead South Africa’s 21 SETAs.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Foreign Minister Nyanti Addresses Mano River Union (MRU) Ministerial Meeting on Regional Boundary Resolutions


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    Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, delivered a powerful message of unity and peaceful coexistence during the opening of the Mano River Union (MRU) High-Level Ministerial Meeting, which officially commenced on Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia. The four-day summit, running from June 16 to 19, has convened ministers and senior government officials from MRU member states Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to initiate the formation of Joint Technical Commissions tasked with resolving longstanding boundary disputes and enhancing cross-border cooperation. In her address, Foreign Minister Nyanti emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue not only between governments but among border communities. “There must be borderless conversations between tribes within the MRU,” she stated. “Through these people centered dialogues, the union will grow stronger and more united.”

    The Dean of the Cabinet underscored the significance of border peace as a foundation for national and regional peace. “A peaceful MRU is a peaceful ECOWAS, and a peaceful Africa,” she said. “This initiative represents a transformative pathway toward a collaborative, integrated, and sustainable future for the continent.” Central to the meeting’s agenda is the reaffirmation of land boundaries and the delimitation of maritime borders between the member states. The proposed Joint Technical Commissions will conduct detailed geospatial assessments, review existing treaties and agreements, and help develop new demarcation protocols consistent with international law and African Union standards. Delivering a statement on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, described the initiative as a “landmark step toward advancing regional integration, improving cross-border security, and promoting sustainable development across the Mano River basin.”

    The creation of the commissions demonstrates the MRU’s collective commitment to diplomacy, technical cooperation, and legal clarity in resolving disputes that have historically caused tension in the region. Member states reiterated their dedication to peaceful negotiation, respect for international norms, and regional unity. The MRU Secretariat emphasized that the work of the Joint Technical Commissions will be vital in reducing border tensions, strengthening regional governance, and boosting socio-economic collaboration among the four nations. The summit continues through June 19 with technical sessions and intergovernmental consultations aimed at producing a comprehensive roadmap for boundary resolution and cross-border peacebuilding.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Philippine Ambassador Presents Letter of Credence as Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)


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    The Philippine Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mr. Mersole J. Mellejor presented his Letter of Credence signed by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, designating him as Philippine Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, in a ceremony held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in the Nigerian capital Abuja on 16 June 2025.

    This is the first time that the Philippines has an accredited permanent representative to the ECOWAS since its establishment under the Treaty of Lagos in May 1975.

    While the Philippines is not an ECOWAS member, having a permanent representative is a welcome development allowing attendance in ECOWAS meetings/activities, which offer good networking opportunities and more visibility for the country in line with its thrust for a more focused engagement with Africa.

    ECOWAS was formed in 1975 originally by 15 countries in Western Africa: namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo. Cabo Verde joined in 1977. Mauritania withdrew in December 2000 but subsequently signed an associate-membership agreement in August 2017. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdrew on 29 January 2025 following the establishment of military rule in these countries, which is deemed contrary to ECOWAS principles. At present, ECOWAS has 12 members.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Empowering Türkiye’s Economic Future: Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Golden Global Investment Bank Ink USD 20 Million Private Sector Financing Agreement

    The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (https://ICD-ps.org) and Golden Global Investment Bank (the Bank) have entered into a landmark agreement to bolster economic growth in Türkiye. This new USD 20 million Commodity Murabaha Facility is designed to support private sector projects, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporates operating in the agriculture, ship construction and leasing sectors in the Republic of Türkiye.

    This strategic partnership highlights ICD’s dedication to fostering private sector development within its member countries. The facility provided by ICD will enable the Bank to fund a range of private sector projects, particularly in the agriculture, ship construction and operational leasing sectors, which will ultimately contribute to the economic development in Türkiye.

    Key Highlights of the Agreement:

    • Funding Amount: USD 20 Million
    • Target Sector: Private sector projects, especially Corporates and SMEs
    • Objective: Enhance the SME and Corporates landscape in Türkiye by providing essential resources for business growth and development
    • Strategic Alignment: Supports ICD’s Private Sector Channel Development Strategy

    The agreement underscores the critical role of private sector financing in economic development. By facilitating access to financial resources, the initiative will help bridge funding gaps for SMEs and corporate clients, driving innovation and fostering a more robust and diverse economy.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

    For further details, please contact:
    Nabil El-Alami
    Communications & Corporate Marketing Division Manager
    nalami@isdb.org

    About Golden Global Investment Bank:
    Golden Global Investment Bank was established on 15 October 2019 with the permission on 29 May 2019 from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency and started its activities on 1 June 2020. The Bank performs all kinds of Investment Banking activities in accordance with the principles of interest-free finance (Sharia-compliant financing), without collecting deposits and funds through special current and participation accounts specified in the Banking Law and relevant legislation.

    About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
    ICD is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group and focuses on supporting economic development and private sector growth in its member countries through Shariah-compliant financing and investment solutions. ICD also offers advisory services to foster the establishment, expansion, and modernization of private enterprises. The organization is highly rated by international credit agencies: A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Fitch, and A- by S&P.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Donor Day 2025: World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Mauritius donated blood and called upon students to commit as lifetime donor


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    “As the new generation, take the lead—donate blood! It gives hope and strengthens our nation’s heartbeat,” urged Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Representative, on 12 June 2025 at Sir Leckraz Teeluck State Secondary School, during the national celebration of World Blood Donor Day.

    Dr. Ancia joined the Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Anil Kumar Bacchoo, in encouraging young people to step forward as blood donors. “One unit of blood can save up to three lives,” she told the students, appealing to them to commit to becoming lifelong donors.

    “Blood donation is far more than a symbolic act of solidarity—it saves lives every day,” Dr. Ancia emphasized. “It supports patients undergoing trauma care, orthopedic or heart surgeries, women suffering postpartum hemorrhage, and children living with conditions such as anemia, thalassemia, or hemophilia.”

    In his address, Minister Bacchoo highlighted the vital role of blood donation in maintaining a strong and responsive healthcare system. He called on the youth to donate regularly, reminding them that they are the future of Mauritius’ life-saving blood supply.

    To encourage youth participation, the Minister announced forward-looking initiatives, including a dedicated blood donor app and policy reforms like removing outdated age restrictions. These innovative and youth-friendly measures aim to make regular blood donation easier and more accessible for all.

    The event also brought together the National Blood Transfusion Service and various schools and longtime blood donors, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the year-round safety, availability, and adequacy of blood and blood products for all in need.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Mauritius.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa Accelerates Drive to Expand Intra-African Trade through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

    South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock new growth opportunities for local businesses and strengthen regional integration. Opening the IATF2025 South Africa Business Roadshow in Johannesburg, Mr. Humphrey Nwugo, Regional Director (Southern Africa) at Afreximbank (https://www.Afreximbank.com/), emphasised the urgency of mobilising concrete action. “This is the time to ensure that South Africa’s public and private sectors are not only present but strategically positioned to seize the immense opportunities that IATF2025 will present.”  

    Mr. Nwugo underscored South Africa’s pivotal role in the continent’s integration journey, citing its strong economic foundations, entrepreneurial energy, and institutional capacity – well positioned to integrate into African value chains. 

    “We are here to invite South Africa to lead. We want to see the country’s private sector on full display in Algiers,” he added. The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), set to take place in Algiers from 4–10 September 2025, is poised to be a landmark market event and gateway to unprecedented trade and investment prospects across Africa. 

    E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, highlighted the critical importance of IATF2025, taking place amid global instability, climate change, and shifting trade dynamics. 

    “Despite these headwinds, Africa has the capacity to navigate the challenges, accelerate industrial development, and realise the vision of a fully integrated continent,” he said. 

    He stressed the urgency of building regional value chains in sectors like automotive and agribusiness, which offer vast potential for inclusive growth. Strengthening these interconnected ecosystems will support technology transfer, diversify intra-African trade, and create new opportunities for small and medium enterprises across the continent. 

    Speaking at the event, the Honourable Sihle Zikalala, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, noted South Africa’s strong positioning to drive industrialisation, innovation, and regional value chain development.  

    “South Africa views the AfCFTA as a historic opportunity to deepen economic ties with our neighbours, expand market access for our goods and services, and promote inclusive, job-rich growth,” said Minister Zikalala.  

    “The IATF2025 must be viewed as more than just a marketplace, and rather as a strategic tool for implementation, where policy meets practice. South Africa has a critical role to play in driving this vision, underpinned by entrepreneurial spirit, institutional strength, and a dynamic SMME ecosystem. Through partnerships and public-private collaboration, we can develop world-class infrastructure across Africa while reducing our reliance on foreign exchange by trading in our own currencies,” he added. 

    H.E Ms. Baleka Mbete, founder NaLHISA and former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa was also in attendance. 

    The Roadshow convened over 350 business leaders, policymakers, creatives, and investors, as well as senior representatives from African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Themed “Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA,” the event spotlighted strategies to build resilient supply chains and boost intra-African trade. 

    Accelerating intra-African trade is pivotal to unlocking industrial opportunities tailored to the continent’s strengths. It reduces dependence on external markets, builds economic resilience, and enables value addition within Africa. When African nations trade more with one another, they retain more wealth, create higher-quality jobs, and foster inclusive growth through regional value chains. 

    With the AfCFTA creating a single market of 1.4 billion people, Africa gains the scale and efficiency needed to compete globally. A stronger internal market also improves the continent’s bargaining power in international negotiations, strengthens its integration into global supply chains, and sets the stage for long-term economic transformation. 

    South Africa’s strong industrial base, advanced financial sector, and world-class infrastructure position it as a regional anchor for AfCFTA implementation. According to South African Revenue Service (SARS) and UN COMTRADE, South Africa recorded merchandise exports of $110.5 billion and imports of $113.2 billion in 2023, resulting in a modest trade deficit of $2.7 billion. Trade made up 65.7% of GDP (World Bank, 2023), demonstrating South Africa’s deep integration into global markets. 

    Notably, intra-African trade remained a national strength. As reported in Afreximbank’s 2024 African Trade Report, South Africa exported $29.6 billion and imported $9.6 billion from African partners, with intra-African exports comprising 26.8% of total exports. Key sectors such as automotive, agro-processing, and financial services are already benefiting and poised to grow further through regional integration and value chain expansion. 

    Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, highlighted ongoing efforts to enable seamless intro-Africa trade: “Afreximbank is deeply committed to unlocking Africa’s industrial and trade potential by building enabling ecosystems from financing to infrastructure and standards. Through platforms like the Africa Trade Gateway and Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), we are removing long-standing barriers to intra-African trade, allowing businesses to transact in local currencies and access real-time market intelligence.”  

    Dr. Zanamwe also emphasised the growing role of South Africa and Algeria in regional value chains, especially in manufacturing and automotive sectors. He encouraged South African companies to participate actively in IATF2025, pointing to over $13 billion in EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts facilitated by Afreximbank. He also highlighted funding vehicles such as the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the Africa Direct Investment Initiative, and the $2 billion Export Agriculture for Food Security programme. 

    “IATF2025 is not just an exhibition – it’s a business gateway. With 2,000+ exhibitors, 35,000 visitors, and 140+ participating countries, we project over $44 billion in trade and investment deals. This is South Africa’s opportunity to lead,” he said. 

    In closing, H.E. Ambassador Ali Achoui, Algeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, extended a warm invitation to South African businesses: 

    “Welcome to Algeria – a country with the third-largest GDP in Africa, no external debt, and ranked first in Africa and the Arab world in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud to host IATF2025 and are committed to facilitating streamlined visa processes by reducing documentation requirements to ease access for all African participants.” 

    Since 2018, IATF has secured more than $100 billion in trade deals, welcomed over 70,000 visitors, more than 4500 exhibitors and has become Africa’s most influential trade and investment platform. 

    The event will feature: 

    • A trade exhibition 
    • The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) showcase of fashion, music, film, sports, gastronomy, arts and craft, and literature 
    • A four-day Trade and Investment Forum 
    • The Africa Automotive Show 
    • Special Country Days and Global Africa Day celebrations 
    • B2B and B2G matchmaking 
    • The AU Youth Start-Up programme 
    • The Africa Research & Innovation Hub 
    • AfSNET to promote sub-national trade and cultural exchange 
    • IATF virtual. 

    To register for IATF2025 or learn more, please visit: www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact: 
    media@intrafricatradefair.com  
    press@afreximbank.com

    About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
    Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is designed to boost intra-African trade and investment. It provides a unique platform for businesses to connect, exchange trade and market information, and explore opportunities to scale across Africa. IATF is open to African and global companies committed to supporting the continent’s industrialisation and transformation. 

    About The Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC):  
    JTC, the official sponsor of the IATF2025 South Africa Business Roadshow, is focused on promoting Johannesburg as a business and leisure destination and often supports various events within the city.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Escalating insecurity forces Médecins sans frontières (MSF) to close Ulang hospital in South Sudan


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    • After two violence incidents earlier this year, MSF has been forced to close our hospital in Ulang county, South Sudan, and end our support to 13 community-based health facilities.
    • This has left 150,000 people with less access to healthcare, in an area where MSF’s maternal services are a lifeline.
    • All parties to conflict in South Sudan must adhere to international humanitarian law, cease such indiscriminate attacks, and ensure the protection of medical facilities, health workers, and patients.

    People in remote areas of Upper Nile state in South Sudan are suffering from a lack of access to healthcare, since attacks on medical boats and armed looting in medical facilities since the beginning of the year have forced Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to close our hospital and end our support to 13 community-based healthcare facilities in Ulang county. The closure of MSF’s hospital has left an area of more than 200km from the Ethiopian border to Malakal town without any functional specialised healthcare facility. MSF calls on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, cease such indiscriminate attacks, and ensure the protection of medical facilities, health workers, and patients.

    Since February 2025, South Sudan has experienced its worst spike in violence since the 2018 peace deal. Fighting between government forces and armed youth militias has escalated across multiple states, including Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity, and Central Equatoria. This has led to mass displacement, widespread civilian casualties, and a total collapse of already fragile public services.

    Despite these closures, MSF remains dedicated to supporting the healthcare needs of displaced and vulnerable people in Ulang and Nasir counties. We have a mobile emergency team assessing needs who are prepared to provide short-term healthcare services wherever security conditions and access allow. MSF continues to provide healthcare services in our other projects in Upper Nile state, including in Malakal and Renk counties.

    An escalating trend of violence against healthcare

    In January 2025, MSF faced an attack by unidentified gunmen near Nasir, shooting at our boats as they returned from delivering medical supplies to Nasir County hospital. This attack forced us to suspend all outreach activities in Nasir and Ulang counties, which included medical referrals by boat along the Sobat River that allowed women to deliver their babies safely.

    In April 2025, armed individuals forced their way into the hospital in Ulang where they threatened staff and patients and looted the hospital so extensively that MSF no longer had the necessary resources to continue operations safely and effectively.

    “They took everything: medical equipment, laptops, patients’ beds and mattresses from the wards, and approximately nine months’ worth of medical supplies, including two planeloads of surgical kits and drugs delivered just the week before. Whatever they could not carry, they destroyed,” says Zakaria Mwatia, MSF head of mission for South Sudan.

    Within a month, another MSF hospital was bombed in Old Fangak, a town in the neighbouring Jonglei state, leaving the facility completely non-functional. This is part of a worrying rise in attacks on healthcare facilities in South Sudan.

    Local communities depended on MSF for prenatal care

    “During my third pregnancy, I decided to come to the hospital well in advance before my delivery. I lost my two first children because I did not make it to the hospital on time,” says Nyapual Jok, a young mother from the outskirts of Ulang county.

    Nyapual had been transported to the hospital by one of MSF’s boat ambulances, since she lives in a remote village far away from Ulang hospital. Ulang, a vast flood-prone area, is characterised by spotted remote villages which often suffer severe mobility restrictions during the rainy seasons. MSF ran boat transportation services to ensure access to healthcare to mothers like Nyapual.

    “It’s very hard to access healthcare here. If we had a hospital closer during my previous deliveries, maybe my children would be alive today,” adds Nyapual.

    Nyapual shared her story in November 2024, only two months before the attack on the same boats which helped her deliver her baby safely.

    Facility closures create gaps that are difficult to fill

    The attacks’ effect of stopping medical referrals by boat has had fatal consequences for the people living in remote areas in the region. People in Ulang and Nasir counties had to wait for days, sometimes even weeks, to get a boat to take them to Ulang hospital. In desperate situations, they would walk for days through a muddy landscape – a land that is nearly impossible to cross on foot during rainy season. 

    “She was in labour when she suffered birth complications – she had to get to a hospital as soon as possible,” says Veronica Nyakuoth, an MSF midwife at the Ulang hospital, about a patient she attended to in the maternity ward. “Normally, MSF mobile teams would have been able to pick her up by boat, but since that service was cut off, instead she had to wait two days for a private boat to take her. When she finally made it to Ulang hospital, it was too late: the team could not find a heartbeat from the twins she was carrying in her womb.”

    150,000 people cut off from care

    With the closure of the hospital and the withdrawal of support to the decentralised facilities including transportation of patients, more than 150,000 people will now face even more difficulties accessing healthcare in Ulang county and more might face the tragic fate that Veronica’s patient had to suffer. Over 800 patients with chronic illnesses such as HIV, tuberculosis, and others have lost access to treatment due to the closure of MSF services in the area.

    “We need a hospital nearby that can help mothers and children. Without it, many will suffer and lose their lives,” says Nyapual.

    MSF in Ulang

    Since 2018, MSF had been providing vital health services in Ulang including trauma, maternal and paediatric care. The teams also supported 13 facilities to offer essential healthcare services. Over the past seven years, MSF teams carried out more than 139,730 outpatient consultations, admitted 19,350 patients, treated 32,966 cases of malaria, and assisted 2,685 deliveries, among other essential services. During this time, MSF also provided support to Nasir County hospital and responded to multiple emergencies and disease outbreaks.

    Nyapual’s story, along with those of many others, serves as a stark reminder that healthcare is a fundamental right and should never be a target. The consequences of attacks to healthcare are more than the damage to a building; it’s the loss of hope, safety, and the chance for a healthier future. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 2 brothers and father pay over £50,000 in confiscation orders

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    2 brothers and father pay over £50,000 in confiscation orders

    The Environment Agency has successfully secured confiscation orders for over £50,000 for storing illegal material on a site in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

    Skegness site

    A Proceeds of Crime Act case was completed at Leeds Crown Court on Friday 13 June 2025.

    This followed the prosecution of the trio for failing to comply with an environmental permit between June 2015 and April 2017.

    On Friday (13 June), a confiscation order of £1,128 was imposed on Michael Todd, 65, of Leeds Road, Barwick-in-Elmet. He was given 3 months to pay or face a 6 week prison sentence.

    At a previous hearing on February 17 2025, the court imposed the following confiscation orders on:

    Thomas Todd, 36, of Steel Lane, Halifax, was ordered to pay £30,144.74 within 6 weeks or face an 8 month spell in prison.

    His brother, Jamie Todd, 44, of Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Leeds, received an order for £19,336.87 within 3 months or face a 6 month period in prison.

    Though the permit allowed for the processing of mixed waste, it required a fire prevention plan which was never properly implemented.

    Inspections found that waste was being stacked too high and too closely together, creating a fire risk. The waste had also become a health risk following an influx of mice and a problem with flies.

    As a result, the Environment Agency suspended the site’s permit, stopping new material from being brought in between December 2015 and February 2016.  Despite the suspension, the Todds continued to operate.

    Further visits officers between March and May 2016 found that there were no firebreaks between the waste.

    The trio previously received these sentences:

    In May 2023, Thomas and Jamie Todd were both sentenced to 8 months immediate custody and were disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years.

    In May 2023, Michael Todd was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from acting a company director for 5 years.  

    A fourth man, Bryan Walker, 62, of Beckhill Vale, Leeds, was given a 12-month community order with 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. He was also disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    “The case shows that we’re not just content to prosecute those who run illegal waste sites, we’ll also come after them to get back the profits they made from their illegal activities and to recoup taxpayers’ money spent on pursuing them. 

    “Waste crime can have a serious environmental impact which puts communities at risk and undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it. 

    “We support legitimate businesses and we are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the criminal element backed up by the threat of tough enforcement as in this case. 

    “We continue to use intelligence-led approaches to target the most serious crimes and evaluate which interventions are most effective. 

    “If you see or suspect waste crime is being committed we urge you to report it immediately to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The current escalation of tariff restrictions is a consequence of the West’s confrontation with the rest of the world – Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation A. Novak

    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

    Moscow, June 17 /Xinhua/ — The growth of protectionism and the current escalation of tariff restrictions are a consequence of the West’s attempts to counteract the growing influence of the Global South countries on the world economy, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak said in an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper.

    According to him, since the early 2000s, the economic center of the world has been shifting from the West to the East. Developing countries are gaining a much greater role in the global economy. “Of course, such a situation does not suit those who are used to dictating their terms. And we increasingly see how, in order to counteract the growing influence of developing countries on the world economy, Western countries are making active attempts to maintain the status quo on the world stage and preserve their leadership,” A. Novak noted.

    As a consequence of this, the strengthening of protectionism in the national economy and the revision of the existing results of globalization are coming to the fore, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government noted. The main steps in this direction, he believes, were the actual destruction of the multilateral mechanisms of the World Trade Organization, unilateral tariff and non-tariff restrictions on developing countries under the pretext of “threats to national interests,” and the introduction of various sanctions against competitors.

    At the same time, according to A. Novak, it is important to understand that “tariffs are just a tool, and the goal is not at all to redirect trade flows. The goal, apparently, is to return key production chains to the native territory of the United States, to return production, competencies, infrastructure. Localization of value chains is what the Trump administration wants to achieve.”

    However, the “destabilizing US tariffs,” according to the deputy prime minister, will probably not have catastrophic consequences for the global economy.

    “Most likely, the situation with trade wars will not be universal. Some commodity flows will be redirected, as usually happens during trade wars. At the same time, a repeat of the pandemic situation, when world trade stopped and trade flows collapsed, will not happen. Therefore, the baseline forecast scenario approved by the Russian government assumes that the growth rate of world trade will slow down, but will not go into recession,” A. Novak emphasized. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New laboratory of the State University of Management: reverse engineering, mechanical engineering and unmanned systems

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    A new reverse engineering laboratory has opened at the State University of Management.

    On June 17, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev, vice-rectors Dmitry Bryukhanov, Vitaly Lapshenkov, Maria Karelina and Artem Terpugov, accompanied by the director of the Center for Management of Engineering Projects of the State University of Management Vladimir Filatov, visited the new premises and discussed the projects that are closest to implementation.

    The purpose of its creation is to carry out R&D and develop the material and technical base of the State University of Management so that students can implement projects to create new products within the framework of the activities of the student design bureau “Innovative Solutions”.

    “The new premises provide direct access to the machines and equipment that will be used, all the possibilities for optimal organization of space. Now it is important to arrange everything so that it is convenient, solid and accessible for different areas of activity. We have engineers, industrial partners too, all that remains is to implement the plans in practice,” Vladimir Stroyev noted.

    The main activity of the laboratory is conducting R&D in the interests of enterprises of the real sector of the economy. in such areas of activity as automotive industry, road construction machinery, agricultural machinery, special equipment, including unmanned aircraft systems.

    In particular, there are already agreements with a number of large agricultural enterprises on import substitution of a number of components for their fleet of equipment. As part of the laboratory’s work, digital twins of these parts will be developed, their structure will be studied, and similar materials will be selected for the manufacture of a prototype, which will be transferred to an industrial partner for further field testing.

    In addition, a workshop for a student design bureau is planned to be created on the basis of the laboratory, which will be equipped within the framework of a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science, which GUU scientists won at the beginning of this year. Student projects in the direction of creating unmanned systems, both ground and aviation, will be implemented here.

    As an example, young scientists from the State University of Management showed how work is underway to create an unmanned front-line transporter based on the Soviet LuAZ-967 vehicle. To date, most of the work on restoring the vehicle body has been completed, all the components have been removed and will be replaced with modern electric motors and unmanned control systems. Some of the new parts may be printed on a 3D printer to reduce the weight and dimensions of the vehicle for use in the field.

    Vladimir Filatov also noted that the laboratory and its material and technical base are planned for use in the educational programs of the State University of Management in the field of training, which are implemented on the basis of the Institute of Industry Management and the Institute of Information Systems.

    “It will be useful for students to visit the laboratory to see with their own eyes how the mechanisms are constructed, to study the technical features and to try their hand at modeling and programming,” the rector agreed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Recognizes Officers and Highlights Support for Community Safety Officer Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 17, 2025

    Two Community Safety Officers (CSOs), Keenan Gill from Flying Dust First Nation and Cathie Rosen from Prince Albert, were formally recognized last week at the 2025 Community Safety Officer Conference for their exceptional contributions and commitment to public safety, community engagement and collaborative partnerships. 

    “The CSO program was created to enhance local policing in municipalities and First Nations communities, and it is great to see these dedicated officers being recognized for the differences they are making in their communities,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod, K.C. said. “CSOs address bylaw infractions and less severe criminal offences, such as property damage, that if left unresolved, have a negative impact on their communities. We are proud to support programs that continue to build strong relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve.” 

    In summer 2024, CSO Gill received critical information from the Meadow Lake RCMP about an individual potentially posing a threat to attendees of the Flying Dust First Nation Pow Wow. CSO Gill was instrumental in identifying the individual, notified the RCMP and provided continuous updates while maintaining a visual on the suspect until the RCMP arrived. His efforts contributed to the RCMP’s apprehension of the individual without incident. CSO Gill played a vital role in preserving public safety through his collaborative approach, adherence to established protocol and procedures and professionalism during the incident.” 

    “Community Safety Officer Gill is a great partner and the CSO program an invaluable resource to the Meadow Lake Detachment,” Meadow Lake RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Carl Dinsdale said. “CSO Gill is known by the local community and our detachment as a positive contributor to many aspects of public safety and is dedicated to service. This incident is an example of how his local knowledge and relationships with the community only enhance our ability to effectively serve and keep Flying Dust First Nation safe.”

    In spring 2025, CSO Rosen conducted a routine patrol of the Prince Albert downtown area when she observed three individuals that were familiar to her through years of compassionate community engagement in her role. Upon approaching, CSO Rosen identified one individual as unresponsive and quickly requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and police assistance. CSO Rosen remained on scene, providing important information to the police and EMS, which contributed to a prepared and coordinated response. CSO Rosen offered support to those involved and ensured a caring and professional resolution.

    “The Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) recognizes the strength of the CSO program in the province of Saskatchewan,” PAPS Chief Patrick Nogier said. “Locally, our policing model depends on multiple levels of response and public engagement, which includes the successful integration of CSOs in our community. We have been fortunate to attract and retain exceptional individuals within our organization, as demonstrated by the recognition of CSO Rosen’s contributions in Prince Albert. CSO Rosen has clearly embraced the vision, mission, and values of our Service and exemplifies these principles in her daily work. As Chief, I could not be prouder.”

    The Government of Saskatchewan continues to promote and support the CSO program, offering municipalities and First Nations communities the opportunity to enhance existing community safety services. The program is designed to supplement local police services with uniformed presence ready to address high priority, low risk of harm issues and provide police services more time to investigate serious and emergent crimes. 

    In 2025-26, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are investing over $3 million in the First Nations CSO pilot project to enhance public safety in First Nations communities and ensure Saskatchewan is a safe place to live, work and raise a family. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Leads the Way in Innovation for Safer Maritime Navigation

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 17, 2025

    Ottawa, Ontario – Safe and reliable navigation of waterways is necessary for global trade and transportation, making accurate and accessible marine data essential. That’s why the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), under Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is taking a leading role in validating new digital hydrographic standards.

    Today, the Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, announced the launch of the S-100 Sea Trials on the St. Lawrence River. The S-100 data model is a new global standard created by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which offers a new way of visualizing the marine environment using layered, interactive digital data that can be added to navigational charts. Unlike traditional paper or electronic charts, the new standard integrates real-time information – like depths, landmarks, tides, and currents into a single, dynamic format.

    Until November 2025, Canada is offering S-100 digital navigation products and services free of charge to mariners, stakeholders, developers and other interested parties to test performance in real-life scenarios. The complex conditions of the St. Lawrence River, such as varying water depths, changing currents and navigational aids, position it as an ideal testing ground, and will provide invaluable insights for S-100’s future adoption across global waters.

    Canada’s leadership in hosting the S-100 Sea Trials will advance the global transition toward consistent and reliable digital hydrographic standards. International adoption of these standards will allow mariners to enhance maritime safety, better route navigation and planning, and transportation efficiency which will reduce costs and contribute to a cleaner environment and ocean.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 18, 2025
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