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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Disability Benefit

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Persons with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty than working-age persons without disabilities because of economic and social exclusion, barriers to employment, and other factors. Recognizing this, the Government of Canada created the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) to support the financial security of working age, low-income persons with disabilities by providing them with direct financial support.

    Through the Canada Disability Benefit Act that came into force on June 22, 2024, investments of $6.1 billion over six years provided under Budget 2024, and the Canada Disability Benefit Regulations that  came into force on May 15, 2025, the CDB is now enshrined into Canada’s social safety-net.

    The benefit is administered by Service Canada, and will provide a maximum of $200 per month, for a total of $2,400 per year, to low-income persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. It is estimated that this benefit will increase the financial well-being of over 600,000 low-income persons with disabilities. The benefit is intended to supplement, not replace, existing provincial and territorial income support measures and fill a gap in the federal social safety net between the Canada Child Benefit and Old Age Security for working-age persons with disabilities.

    As of June 20, 2025, people will be to apply in a manner that works best for them, including an online self-serve option. If needed, people can receive assistance applying for the benefit by phone or in person at their nearest Service Canada Centre. The first payments of the CDB will be made in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025.

    To receive the benefit, a person must:

    • be a resident of Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act
    • have been approved for the disability tax credit
    • be between the ages of 18 and 64
    • have filed an income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year (their spouse or common-law partner, if they have one, must have also file their taxes.)
    • be one of the following:
      • a Canadian citizen
      • a permanent resident
      • a protected person
      • a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the past 18 months
      • someone who is registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act.

    If a person is married or has a common-law partner, their spouse or common-law partner must also have filed an income tax and benefit return with the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous tax year. In some exceptional cases, this requirement may be waived.

    With the support from the CDB, persons with disabilities will have more money to cover the costs of accessible housing, medical care and disability supports.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frédérick Rolette Commissioned into Service

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 13, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) welcomed His Majesty’s Ship (HMCS) Frédérick Rolette into naval service with a commissioning ceremony.

    A commissioning ceremony is a long-time naval tradition and a special event for the ship’s company. Today’s traditional event included a symbolic presentation of the commissioning pennant to the Commanding Officer, Commander Jolene Lisi, and the breaking of the ship’s pennant at the same time as the ship’s ensign.

    HMCS Frédérick Rolette is the fifth Harry DeWolf class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) to be welcomed into the RCN’s fleet. These vessels enhance the RCN’s ability to enforce sovereignty in Canadian waters and helps meet future defence challenges in Northern waters. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Names Erik Hotmire as Chief External Affairs Officer and Director of the Office of Public Affairs

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Erik Hotmire will return to the SEC as Chief External Affairs Officer and Director of the Office of Public Affairs, effective June 16, 2025. 

    “I am delighted that Erik is coming back to the SEC to provide his talents and experience to continue our meaningful outreach to those interested in our activities,” said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. “His leadership will be essential for helping market participants and investors clearly understand our priorities and actions, guided by the SEC’s core mission: investor protection; fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and capital formation.”

    Throughout his career, Mr. Hotmire has served in numerous positions in the federal government. He is former Senior Advisor and spokesman to then-SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, and Senior Advisor to the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. He also served as Special Assistant to the President and a White House domestic policy spokesman for President George W. Bush. Earlier, Mr. Hotmire served as spokesman for two U.S. Senators.

    More recently, Mr. Hotmire held senior roles at corporate affairs advisory firms including as partner and co-founder of Watermark Strategies, partner at Brunswick Group where he was global co-lead of the firm’s financial institutions group, senior managing director at Teneo, and partner at FGS Global. Mr. Hotmire began his career in radio and television journalism. He earned a B.A. in political science from Taylor University.

    “I am honored Chairman Atkins asked me to join him and valued SEC colleagues to advance the Commission’s vital work for investors and the capital markets,” said Mr. Hotmire. “I look forward to engaging market participants and the investing public, especially given the nation’s rapidly changing and vibrant financial system.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: OPINION | How GOP Governors are Leading the Charge Against Antisemitism — and for Civil Rights

    Source: US State of Arkansas

    ICYMI: OPINION | How GOP Governors are Leading the Charge Against Antisemitism — and for Civil Rights

    The New York Post published “How GOP Governors are Leading the Charge Against Antisemitism — and for Civil Rights,” an op-ed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin on what conservative states are doing to combat hate and antisemitism:

    The heartless execution of a young couple outside Washington’s Capital Jewish Museum. The terrorist who used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to injure elderly pro-Israel rally-goers in Boulder, Colo. The arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor.

    These headlines, and many others in recent weeks, brought home a growing threat we governors have been tracking with great alarm: A new generation of Americans has been conditioned to hate Jews with an intense bigotry experienced by no other minority group.

    It’s time for leaders of conscience to draw a bright line, translating rhetoric into robust action to protect all members of the Jewish community from the scourge of antisemitism.

    How did we arrive at today’s disturbing reality — where our nation’s small Jewish population endures 68% of all religion-based hate crimes?

    Jews have long been a convenient scapegoat for extremists of all stripes, but today antisemitism has become an elite phenomenon, erupting with particular vehemence on college and university campuses.

    Antisemitic incidents across the United States spiked by over 600% since September 2023, a recent Combat Antisemitism Movement study found, with most of the increase coming on college campuses.

    Students are not born bigoted. Someone is teaching them to hate.

    Indeed, some teachers have exploited their privileged positions at the front of the classroom to propagandize and manipulate the impressionable young minds in their care.

    Meanwhile, many school administrators have lacked the intellectual and moral clarity to forcefully counter the antisemitism spilling out into the quad and amplified on social media.

    College officials who set aside “safe spaces” and promoted narrow campus speech codes to prevent “micro-aggressions” and “triggers” hypocritically dropped those standards when Jewish students found themselves blocked from classrooms and libraries (or, as at Cooper Union College, trapped within one as a mob raged outside).

    Bigotry that would have been instantly and rightly crushed had it targeted other minorities was instead condoned — and even sometimes celebrated.

    Let us be clear: No student should face threats in the classroom or on campus, nor feel targeted because of their religion or heritage.

    All bigotry, religious, ethnic, racial or otherwise, is wrong, absolutely un-American, and cannot be tolerated.

    As governors, we are responsible for the safety of our constituents, especially students in our schools.

    To fight the rising tide of hatred, we have all signed executive orders and legislation in recent months to combat antisemitism.

    Our directives require public schools to tackle antisemitism in the same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by state or federal law.

    To help confused school officials, we require student codes of conduct to clearly define antisemitism via the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance standard, and mandate protections guaranteed under Title VI of the 1965 Civil Rights Act.

    Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma now designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor, review and investigate antisemitic complaints and incidents of discrimination in public K–12 and post-secondary schools.

    Similarly, Virginia established a cross-government and stakeholder work group to carry out these same responsibilities. The group submits an annual report clearly documenting any antisemitic incidents in the state, ensuring that those affected can pursue the justice they deserve.

    Currently, we are each creating or strengthening statewide oversight mechanisms to ensure all reported antisemitic incidents are investigated and remedied. Accountability reassures victims that their complaints will be met with a vigorous response.

    We are also incorporating and deepening education on antisemitism and Jewish-American history into our K-12 and higher ed classes — desperately needed, as surveys indicate declining knowledge about the Holocaust among American students.

    We have come to see the struggle against antisemitism as a pillar of American civil rights. 

    Just as racial reactionaries once disingenuously invoked “states’ rights” and “majority rule” to impede progress, leftists today cynically and disingenuously invoke “free speech” to justify the deliberate intimidation of Jewish students — a disturbing echo of attempts to drive black students from campuses even after the law compelled desegregation.

    We believe in free speech, but the First Amendment does not protect acts of violence or threats of physical harm.

    Yet standing up to bigotry takes courage. Too many school leaders — and state leaders, too — have become paralyzed by the politicization of antisemitism across our society.

    We, however, are proud to champion this fight, the civil rights movement of our time, and we call upon governors and state legislators across the country to join us.

    Taking firm action against antisemitism can unite all citizens of good will in a righteous effort to restore the American promise for a new generation.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kids Must Escape the Algorithm. A Phone Ban Does That.

    Source: US State of New York

    oday, the USA Today Network published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul about her commitment as New York’s first Mom Governor to fighting for our kids, including her nation-leading cell phone ban to her work cracking down on addictive social media algorithms and tackling AI threats head on. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:

    With the school year quickly coming to an end, many parents will soon exchange the daily battle of getting their kids out the door to school with prying their attention away from phones.

    Smartphones and social media have a stranglehold on our children. They’re spending hours each day on their phones, scrolling instead of socializing, immersed in someone else’s reel instead of living their own lives. And it’s taking a toll. Our kids are lonelier, more anxious and increasingly disconnected.

    We’re in the middle of a youth mental health crisis. The research shows it, but I don’t need another scientific report — I’ve heard directly from parents, teachers and teenagers all across this state about the issue. And everywhere I go, I hear the same thing: addictive technology is hurting our kids.

    As New York’s first Mom Governor, this is personal to me. I’ve raised teenagers. I know the helplessness a parent feels when their child is suffering. It’s the worst feeling in the world. So I knew we had to do something about it.

    I’m not one for half measures. I’m not going to sit back and talk about the problem. I’m going to take action.

    Last year, I took the bold, decisive step to restrict the addictive algorithms that have monopolized our kids’ social media feeds. It wasn’t about telling our teenagers they can’t use social media. It was about saying to social media companies, you cannot profit off of our kids’ wellbeing.

    But social media isn’t the only threat. In this rapidly advancing, technology-driven world, unchecked AI-enabled technology is creating new risks, from AI chatbots that simulate personal relationships to deepfake apps that produce explicit images of minors.

    We saw the tragic consequences of inaction last year when a 14-year-old boy died by suicide after developing an unhealthy relationship with an AI Companion. And we’ve also seen a disturbing rise in AI-enabled “undressing” applications and websites that are being used to create fake nude images of real kids, often targeting teenage girls – in the first half of 2024 alone, 16 of such websites were visited over 200 million times.

    My state budget tackles these digital threats head on. It establishes first-in-the-nation safeguards for AI companions — requiring AI companion operators in New York to implement a safety protocol if a user talks about self harm, like referring users to a crisis hotline. And I am updating our laws to treat AI-generated child sexual abuse material as what it is: child pornography.

    But social media and AI-generated websites are only a couple pieces of the puzzle. What is the vehicle that allows kids to have their lives dominated by these platforms? It’s not just what’s on the screen, it’s the fact the screen is always there. Buzzing in our kids’ pockets, lighting up on their desks, following them from homeroom to the cafeteria.

    This has lasting consequences: Classrooms where kids sit in silence. Hallways without chatter. Lunch tables full of students texting each other instead of talking face to face. When teens spend a quarter of the school day on their phones, they miss out on the essential social development that shapes them into capable, confident adults.

    And the pressure to stay online is relentless. One student told me, “you have to save us from ourselves. We can’t put these phones down because we’ll be out of the loop. We’ll miss out on something.”

    That’s why, starting this fall, I’m taking another bold step to give our children their childhood’s back and banning cell phones in the classroom bell-to-bell. Here’s why: our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling.

    Think about it — we don’t teach kids to make friends by showing them 100 online videos about friendship. We take them to the playground. We don’t show them how to toss a baseball on YouTube. We play catch with them.

    We need to get our kids back into real life.

    So let’s get back to that throwback time, when we weren’t all sitting indoors, held captive to our phones. That’s the spirit behind my “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative.

    I’m investing in building and renovating community centers, playgrounds, and swimming pools to give our kids places to enjoy recreation and the outdoors. I’m also dramatically expanding youth programming, helping tens of thousands more kids join the local soccer team or participate in a community theater program. And our Summer Youth Employment Program will help tens of thousands of young people find good summer jobs at places like parks, summer camps, cultural centers, and community-based organizations.

    I’ll never stop fighting for our children’s futures. Because your family is my fight. I said that on day one, and I mean it just as much today.

    Summer is here. Let’s get offline and get outside.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years for 2 Counts of Enticing, Coercing a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court to 151 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release for attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor.

    According to court documents, between June and August of 2023, Stephen Eugene Hall, 41, communicated with two undercover law enforcement agents whom he believed to be 12- and 14-year-old girls. Throughout their conversations over the Kik app, Hall attempted to entice them to engage in sexual activity and to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Hall was arrested by FBI agents on Aug. 23, 2023, when he traveled to a hotel in San Antonio with the intent to engage in sex with the individual whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2025, to two counts of attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez.

    “These proactive law enforcement operations, using the social media apps many children use today, are vital and necessary in order to catch child predators before they can cause their irreparable intended harm,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to the work of our FBI partners in Boston and in San Antonio, we were able to put another child predator in federal prison for over a decade, with another 20 years of supervised release to follow.”

    “This sentencing sends a clear message that neither the FBI, our law enforcement partners, nor the American people will tolerate those who seek to sexually abuse or exploit children,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank our colleagues at the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding work and ongoing partnership as we continue to seek justice on behalf of the victims in this case.”

    The FBI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mangels prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nevada Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MOLINE, Ill. – Luisito Espanola, 65, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced on May 21, 2025, to 32 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons following his convictions for wire fraud and money laundering. United States District Judge Sara Darrow ordered Espanola to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on June 23, 2025.

    During the one-week jury trial, the government presented evidence that on December 2, 2020, and December 22, 2020, Espanola created and sent fraudulent emails to the City of Moline requesting that the City make ACH (payment information) changes for two vendors with which the City conducted business. As a result of that fraud, the City of Moline suffered a loss of $404,764.59.

    “We thank the thorough and professional efforts of the Moline Police Department and the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter and bringing this fraudster to justice,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass.

    Espanola faced a penalty of up to twenty years in prison on each of his two fraud convictions and a penalty of up to twenty years in prison on each of his two money laundering convictions.

    The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bass and Jennifer L. Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Fiscal Manager For The Children’s Advocacy Center Of Northeastern Pennsylvania Sentenced For Wire Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angela Saar, age 51, of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 29, 2025, to 366 days in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for wire fraud related to her on-going theft from the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Scranton.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from November 2018 to June 2022, while employed as the fiscal manager for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (CAC/NEPA), Saar engaged in a scheme to defraud the CAC/NEPA. Formed in 1998, the CAC/NEPA, is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), whose mission is to provide excellence in the assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect. During her tenure as the fiscal manager for the CAC, Saar diverted fraudulent payments of various kinds from CAC/NEPA bank accounts into her own personal bank accounts for her personal benefit.  Some of the diverted payments involved fraudulent mileage reimbursements, while others involved Saar inflating her bi-weekly paychecks by thousands of dollars.

    The total amount of restitution ordered payable to the CAC/NEPA was $411,940.11. Saar also similarly defrauded a second charitable organization in Lackawanna County for which she paid restitution prior to her sentencing in this matter. Saar has been ordered to surrender herself to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons on or before June 20, 2025. 

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Scranton Resident Office of the Philadelphia Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Berti prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 420 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Late yesterday, Jonathan Alan Peters, 33 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Peters was sentenced to 420 months in prison, 15 years of supervised release.  Restitution will be imposed at a later date.

    According to documents in the case, Peters took photographs depicting images of child sexual abuse material. He then distributed the images to other people on the Internet. The investigation revealed he possessed 110 images and 29 videos which depicted child sexual abuse material.

    This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police and the Mishawaka Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gary Man Sentenced to 88 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Nvaun Lewis, 30 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Lewis was sentenced to 88 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, police conducted a traffic stop in Michigan City and found Lewis in possession of a loaded pistol with an extended magazine and a “full auto” switch. Lewis had multiple prior felony convictions, including robbery and armed robbery, and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Spotlights How Trump Administration’s Attacks on Food Aid Programs Exacerbate Global Hunger 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, for a forum entitled “The Role of Foreign Assistance in Supporting American Farmers and Protecting American Agriculture.” At the forum, Senator Welch examined how the Trump Administration’s continued attack on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), other governmental agencies, and federally-supported foreign assistance organizations have exacerbated global hunger. 
    “What strikes me is that there’s a fair amount of humility in folks who work in an organization—through Republican and Democratic administrations—where you have this expertise because you understand that you have to have institutions and structures to be able to sustain a food delivery system. Everything from how farmers grow, to averting pests, to coming up with delivery mechanisms to get food to people who need it,” said Senator Welch.  
    “One of the things that’s so disturbing to me about what is happening and the way it’s happening is that we’re destroying the capacity at every step along the way. And it’s not as though you can flip a switch and those people who have expertise suddenly are going to come back.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below: 

    “Vermont farmers—all farmers—they love to feed people…And now, it’s my understanding that we actually have food that is available for distribution, but it’s sitting in warehouses because of the cuts that have been made, so that the people who can take the food from the warehouse, outside of the doors of the warehouse, and put it on a table for hungry children to eat were not there—is that true?” asked Senator Welch.  
    Sarah Charles, Former Assistant to the Administrator for Humanitarian Assistance at USAID, testified: “It is certainly my understanding that the career staff that are left at USAID have been working furiously around the clock—even knowing that they’ve been fired—to find ways to get that food into the hands of partners that can use that food. The food is there…it has been bureaucratic process, after bureaucratic process, after bureaucratic process.”  
    Senators Welch, Shaheen, and Klobuchar were joined at the forum by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).  
    Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle and defund key federal agencies and food programs. Earlier this week, Senator Welch slammed the Trump Administration’s reckless request to rescind $9.4 billion in Fiscal Years (FY) 2024 and 2025 congressionally-appropriated funds, which provide vital support to Americans through public broadcasting and radio networks and promote U.S. global leadership.  
    Last month, Senator Welch led 29 of his Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.   
    In February, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to speak on President Trump and Elon Musk’s unconstitutional actions to dismantle USAID and called on Congress to protect the agency, which has played an indispensable role in protecting the interests, security, and reputation of the United States around the globe. Senator Welch also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an urgent response to the baseless mass-firings of over 5,500 federal employees at USAID. 
    Senator Welch also joined colleagues in introducing the Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act, legislation to expand congressional oversight of foreign assistance decision-making by requiring the State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Last Congress, Senator Welch led the introduction of the Streamlining International Food Assistance Act to strengthen the United States’ ability to address global hunger by allowing USAID to use funds from the Food for Peace (FFP) food aid program to provide donations of U.S. commodities, alongside cash transfers and other forms of assistance, in an effort to better assist food insecure communities.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mahama bids farewell to United Kingdom (UK) envoy, discusses economy, security, regional ties

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    On Thursday, President John Dramani Mahama bid farewell to the outgoing British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, expressing gratitude for her four-year tenure and emphasising key areas for ongoing Ghana-United Kingdom cooperation.

    Mr Mahama lauded the High Commissioner for her “positive engagements” throughout her time in the country. He reflected on the long-standing historical relationship between Ghana and the UK, describing it as having been “so far so good”.

    The president, however, emphasised the mutual need for deeper economic partnerships and trade moving forward. He also noted the dynamic changes in the global landscape, including the diminishing nature of traditional development assistance and the necessity for developing countries like Ghana to strategically reposition themselves.

    President Mahama also acknowledged the UK’s significant support in counter-terrorism efforts, specifically commending cooperation in intelligence gathering and training.

    “We appreciate the partnership we have shared in the fight against terrorism,” President Mahama stated. We will continue to rely on the UK for help and cooperation in intelligence gathering and training to prepare ourselves in the event of any attack.”

    Shifting to regional matters, Mr Mahama updated the High Commissioner on his recent proactive engagements with leaders in the Sahelian countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He pledged further diplomatic efforts aimed at rebuilding trust and improving relationships with these neighbours.

    He announced that the upcoming ECOWAS meeting on Sunday – the first since he assumed office – would place the issues concerning the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) at the top of its agenda.

    “I am going to have the opportunity to report to the rest of the ECOWAS leaders on trips I made to the three countries and share some of my perspectives about their grievances and how we can redefine relationships,” he told the outgoing envoy.

    On the domestic economic front, President Mahama provided an optimistic outlook, reporting progress with a strengthening Cedi, declining inflation, and renewed investor confidence.

    “I am happy to report that it’s going well,” he said, detailing the first quarter economic performance report. “The first quarter report on economic performance indicates a GDP growth of 5.3 per cent, inflation has reduced from 23 per cent to 18 per cent since January, and we hope to bring it down to 13 per cent by the end of the year, so that should create some relief for Ghanaians in terms of the cost of living and we will continue to maintain fiscal discipline.”

    For her part, High Commissioner Harriet Thompson, who has served in Ghana for over four years, expressed her gratitude for the warm support and cooperation she received during her tenure. She also acknowledged the successful implementation of various British-sponsored interventions during her time.

    – on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Acute Malnutrition Soars in South Sudan with Millions of Children at Risk following Aid Cuts

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    A deadly mix of conflict, climate change and poverty have pushed 2.3 million children aged under 5 in South Sudan into life threatening acute malnutrition, with rates soaring just months after foreign governments announced the slashing of funds to the world’s poorest countries, Save the Children said.

    Latest figures from the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) – the leading global authority on the severity of hunger crises – show that in just over six months, the number of people living in the worst phase of acute hunger (IPC Phase 5) in South Sudan has doubled [1], and the percentage of the population living in crisis levels of acute hunger (IPC Phase 3 and above) has shot up from 47% to 57% – an increase of 21% [2].

    A lack of food, insufficient medical supplies in health facilities and major disease outbreaks including cholera, the number of acutely malnourished children under the age of five across South Sudan has increased from 2.1 million to 2.3 million – a 10.5% increase, representing an additional 218,000 malnourished children.
    Of the 80 counties in which data was collected, 62 – 78% recorded a general deterioration in acute malnutrition, according to the IPC.

    Children are always the most vulnerable in food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished, said Save the Children.

    Malnutrition can cause stunting, impede mental and physical development, and increase the risk of contracting deadly diseases.

    All this comes as foreign aid cuts have brought lifesaving programmes across South Sudan – one of the world’s most aid-dependent countries – to a standstill.

    Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children Country Director in South Sudan, said:

    “When there is a lack of food, children’s bodies become a battleground. The impacts of malnutrition – stunting, impeded mental and physical development, and increased risk of contracting deadly diseases – can be life-shattering.

    “These latest figures are a cry to donors: please, see what happens to children when you let humanitarian crises take hold. Please, don’t leave the children of South Sudan behind. This is about survival for today – but it is also about hope for tomorrow, to build a better world.”

    Globally, one in five deaths among children aged under 5 are attributed to severe acute malnutrition, making it one of the top threats to child survival. Community-based programmes combining medical treatment and therapeutic foods, including a fortified peanut paste, have a 90% success rate.

    Earlier this year, Save the Children reported that at least 110,000 [3] severely acutely malnourished children supported by the aid agency in 10 countries, including South Sudan, could be left without access to life-saving ready-to-use emergency food and nutrition programmes as aid cuts hit supplies in coming months.

    The charity also reported that at least five children with cholera in South Sudan had died on an arduous journey to seek medical treatment, after aid cuts forced their local health services to close in the middle of a major outbreak of the deadly disease.

    Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, when it was part of Sudan. The child rights organisation provides children with access to education, healthcare and nutritional support, and families with food security and livelihoods assistance.  

    – on behalf of Save the Children.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya: Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale Leads Launch of Health Facility Digitalization

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Today in Garissa County, Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale presided over the launch of Health Facility Digitalization, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s journey toward a fully digitized health system.

    As part of the launch, 1,114 digital devices were delivered to public health facilities across Garissa County to bolster service delivery, improve record-keeping, and enhance accountability.

    Kenyans can now access their health records from anywhere in the country through the newly established Health Information Exchange (HIE) system—providing a secure, unified platform that captures both patient and provider data to support continuity of care.

    Hon. Duale emphasized the impact of digitization, noting that it has already led to the closure of 875 non-compliant facilities by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and eliminated over 3 million fraudulent NHIF records. Only licensed and accredited facilities will now be empanelled under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

    The CS highlighted that through the Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System, the Ministry is digitizing patient records, prescriptions, and facility transactions—transforming the health system from the ground up by improving transparency, reducing fraud, and streamlining service delivery.

    While addressing the community at the close of the 5-day Free Medical Camp, Hon. Duale also:
    •Rallied the local population to register under the SHA and embrace Taifa Care, a major health sector reform to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
    •Announced that 367 health workers in Garissa have already been trained on digital systems, with a target of training 1,700 across the countye.
    •Confirmed that over 74,000 digital devices will be distributed nationally to ensure public facilities are equipped to match the standards of the private sector.

    He further affirmed that Kenya’s Digital Health Superhighway will allow young people and families to register, access health services, and track care directly from their mobile phones—ensuring no one is left behind.

    – on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Import of Shipping Vessel – Relaxation

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/55
    A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 07

    June 13, 2025

    All Authorised Dealer Category-I banks

    Madam / Sir,

    Import of Shipping Vessel – Relaxation

    Attention of Authorised Dealer (AD) Category – I banks is invited to Para C.1 of Master Direction – Import of Goods and Services (MD-Imports) dated January 01, 2016.

    2. With a view towards enhancing ease of doing business and keeping in view the sector-specific constraints, it has been decided to allow importers to make advance remittance for import of shipping vessel, without bank guarantee, or an unconditional, irrevocable standby Letter of Credit, up to USD 50 million, subject to the conditions mentioned in para-C.1.3.3 of MD-Imports, as applicable.

    3. AD banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.

    4. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the FEMA, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.

    Yours faithfully,

    (N. Senthil Kumar)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President Macron of France and Chancellor Merz of Germany: 13 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President Macron of France and Chancellor Merz of Germany: 13 June 2025

    The Prime Minister’s call with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, this morning.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, this morning following the developments in the Middle East overnight. 

    The leaders discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region.

    The leaders reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence, and agreed that a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward.

    They looked forward to speaking again soon.

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    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plymouth celebrates Better Transport Week

    Source: City of Plymouth

    There will be a chance to look around one of Plymouth’s new electric buses on Tuesday 17 June as part of an information event celebrating Better Transport Week.

    The annual national celebration of sustainable travel is organised by Campaign for Better Transport and this year’s theme is connecting communities and bringing people together.

    In support of the week the Council, Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach South West (as representatives of the enhanced bus partnership) will be joined by organisations including Access Plymouth, Bikespace, British Cycling, Plymouth Active and Sustrans for an all-day event in the city centre showcasing some of the many sustainable transport options in Plymouth.

    The event, being held on the Armada Way piazza from 9.45am to 4pm will feature a ribbon-cutting on one of the new Plymouth Citybus zero-emission electric double-deckers at 10am before members of the public get the chance to hop aboard and look around.

    The buses, which will enter service this summer, are the result of a partnership project led by Plymouth Citybus, part of the Go-Ahead Group, with the support of Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, and the Department for Transport. The project will replace almost half of the Plymouth Citybus fleet with brand new electric vehicles.

    Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus, will cut the ribbon with Councillor John Stephens, Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport. They will be joined by representatives from Campaign for Better Transport.

    Councillor Stephens said: “Better Transport Week is a great opportunity to find out more about the many greener travel options in Plymouth and try some out. With a full week’s programme of activities there really is something for everyone – whether you prefer walking, cycling, buses, ferries or trains. Come along on the 17th to see what’s on offer and take a look around the new electric buses.”

    Richard Stevens added: “Better Transport Week is a valuable moment to shine a light on the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking travel for our communities. As someone deeply committed to the future of our city, I believe better, cleaner transport is essential to Plymouth’s continued growth and wellbeing.

    “We’re proud to serve a city that values clean air, access to green spaces, and a strong sense of community. The introduction of our new electric buses is just one part of our ongoing commitment to delivering quieter, cleaner, and more accessible journeys. It’s about protecting what makes Plymouth special and connecting people to the lives they lead every day.”

    Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Good public transport networks, shared travel, walking, wheeling and cycling help connect us to the people we love, the things we need and the places that matter. That’s why we are delighted that Plymouth CityBus, Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth and South East Cornwall Zero Emission Bus Regional Area partners are using the week to launch Plymouth’s new electric bus fleet, which will help improve public transport journeys across the city and beyond.”

    There will be various stands at the event, where people can get travel planning advice, find out more about The Big Green Trail (which returns on Saturday 21 June), learn about led walks, bike rides and cycle maintenance, pick up walking and cycling maps and much more.

    Other events and activities will be taking place around Plymouth throughout the week. To view the full programme see our Better Transport Week page.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Belarusian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    MINSK, June 13 (Xinhua) — Belarus is deeply concerned about the new round of military escalation between Israel and Iran and reports of civilian deaths, including children. The corresponding statement by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry in connection with the escalation of the situation in the Middle East was published on Friday.

    “The forceful scenario of the conflict poses a serious threat to regional stability and security, carries the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe and may have unpredictable global consequences,” the Belarusian Foreign Ministry noted.

    The Belarusian Foreign Ministry called on the parties involved to exercise restraint, responsibility and avoidance of actions that could negatively impact the political and diplomatic efforts of the international community aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the situation in the region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 9 investment projects in light industry are planned to be implemented in Kazakhstan this year

    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

    Astana, June 13 (Xinhua) — Nine investment projects in the light industry will be launched in Kazakhstan, Kazinform news agency reported on Friday, citing a statement by Deputy Chairman of the Industry Committee Mukhamed Andakov at the second congress of the light industry of Kazakhstan.

    According to him, nine investment projects are planned for implementation in 2025, creating about 600 jobs.

    Over the past five years, 3,000 new jobs have been created in Kazakhstan’s light industry and more than 40 projects have been launched. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kyrgyzstan’s economy continued to grow in January-May — National Statistical Committee

    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

    BISHKEK, June 13 /Xinhua/ — According to preliminary estimates, Kyrgyzstan’s GDP amounted to 573.1 billion soms (about 6.55 billion US dollars) in January-May of this year, up 12.3 percent from the same period in 2024, the National Statistical Committee of the republic reported on Friday.

    According to statistics, the growth in construction volumes was 48.3 percent, wholesale and retail trade – 10.8 percent, and agriculture – 3 percent.

    According to the agency, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade turnover in January-April 2025 amounted to 4,592.4 million US dollars and decreased by 11.7 percent compared to January-April last year. At the same time, export deliveries decreased by 8.2 percent, and import receipts decreased by 12.3 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Along the Ancient Silk Road, Xi Jinping Forges New Ties with Central Asia

    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 13 (Xinhua) — In the summer sun-drenched Xi’an, China’s ancient capital, six pomegranate trees stand gracefully near the site of the first China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023, their branches hanging low and laden with fruit.

    Planted two years ago by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of five Central Asian countries, this living avenue serves as a vivid testimony to the increasingly close and dynamic ties between China and Central Asia.

    Building on past achievements, Xi and his Central Asian counterparts will gather in the Kazakh city of Astana later this month for a second summit to ensure even closer cooperation on trade, security and connectivity in the heart of Eurasia.

    FORMATION OF A NEW PARADIGM

    The Xi’an summit in 2023 was the first ever meeting of heads of state under the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism. In the embrace of the ancient city, they agreed to hold the summit every two years, alternately in China and Central Asia.

    Last year, the mechanism was further institutionalized with the establishment of a secretariat in Xi’an, the capital of Xi’s home province of Shaanxi.

    The Chinese leader attaches great importance to China’s relations with the region. In his opinion, Central Asia is at a strategic crossroads, linking East and West, North and South.

    “Developing friendly and cooperative relations with Central Asian countries is a priority of China’s foreign policy,” Xi Jinping said during his first visit to Central Asia since being elected as China’s president in 2013.

    Since then, he has visited the region eight times, deepening partnerships bilaterally and through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

    Today, Central Asia is the only region in the world where every country is a strategic partner of China. According to Xi Jinping, these partnerships have paved a new path of good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation, creating a new paradigm of international relations.

    The main event of the Xi’an summit was the signing of the Xi’an Declaration, in which the Chinese president and the leaders of the five Central Asian countries promised to work together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

    This promise is in line with the core idea of Xiplomacy’s diplomatic strategy: creating a community with a shared destiny for humanity. Notably, this idea has already been fully realized at the bilateral level in Central Asia.

    Sheradil Baktygulov, Director of the Institute of World Politics of Kyrgyzstan, noted that the common political will of Xi Jinping and the leaders of Central Asian countries is the key to the sustainable development of Chinese-Central Asian cooperation.

    “This cooperation not only strengthens bilateral ties, but also lays the foundation for a new model of multilateral cooperation in the Eurasian region,” he added.

    The Chinese leader’s strong personal rapport with Central Asian leaders is helping to strengthen these ties. At the Xi’an summit, Xi Jinping hailed Tajik President Emomali Rahmon as an “old friend.” During talks with Xi, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called him his “dear brother.”

    Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also an experienced sinologist, arrived in Xi’an on his 70th birthday. Xi told him: “Your visit on such a special occasion speaks volumes about the strength of our bilateral relations and confirms your unique bond with China.”

    REVIVAL OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD

    “Start loading!” Xi Jinping and K.-Zh. Tokayev jointly gave this command at the launch ceremony of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route China-Europe, which took place in July 2024 in Astana.

    The event marked the formal establishment of a multi-dimensional connectivity network combining roads, railways, airlines and pipelines to better link Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea. The network is expected to become a vibrant artery under the Belt and Road Initiative.

    While the ancient Silk Road witnessed vibrant trade and cultural exchanges between China and Central Asia, Xi Jinping sees the region as an important partner in modern Belt and Road cooperation.

    In September 2013, also in Astana, the Chinese President gave a historic speech at Nazarbayev University, where he first outlined his vision for the construction of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” – a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative.

    “We can actively discuss the best ways to improve cross-border transport infrastructure,” Xi said, “and work to build a transport network connecting East, West and South Asia to promote economic development and travel in the region.”

    In the years since, the Chinese leader’s vision has steadily been realized. For example, late last year, the Kyrgyz border city of Jalal-Abad hosted a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. In a congratulatory message, Xi Jinping called for the railway to become a “new demonstration project” for Belt and Road cooperation.

    The railway will start at the ancient Silk Road junction of Kashgar (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Northwest China), pass into Kyrgyzstan via the Torugart Pass, reach Jalal-Abad and end in Andijan in eastern Uzbekistan.

    According to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, this railway is not just a transport corridor, but an important strategic bridge connecting the countries of the East and West.

    Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has effectively boosted trade, travel, and exchanges in the region. In 2024, trade between China and Central Asian countries reached a record US$94.8 billion, driven in part by the booming cross-border e-commerce. China is now the region’s top trading partner and a major source of investment.

    In 2014, Tajikistan became the first country to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on the joint development of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Since then, cooperation has yielded tangible results, many of which have been personally supported by Xi Jinping, ranging from the construction of new highways and power plants to new iconic buildings in cities.

    Tajikistan is also home to Central Asia’s first “Lu Ban Workshop” – a Chinese vocational education center that has already trained more than 1,500 students in practical skills in engineering, architecture, water management and environmental protection, cultivating talent for the country’s future development.

    During his state visit to Dushanbe in 2024, Xi Jinping told Emomali Rahmon: “I saw a more prosperous Tajikistan.”

    WEAVING THE “CULTURAL CANVAS”

    In the fall of 2022, during a visit to the legendary Silk Road city of Samarkand, Xi Jinping presented Uzbekistan President Sh. Mirziyoyev with a special gift: a miniature of Khiva, an ancient outpost on the Silk Road.

    Khiva is the first cultural heritage project in Central Asia supported by China. Years of restoration work led by Chinese specialists have given the ancient city a new look.

    “The project to preserve and restore historical monuments in Khiva, launched during my visit to Samarkand in 2013, has been successfully completed, further enhancing the charm of this ancient city,” Xi wrote in an opinion piece ahead of his 2022 visit to Uzbekistan.

    During his previous visit to the country in 2016, Xi met with Chinese experts working on the project. “Make sure the cultural relics are well protected,” he urged them.

    Since then, joint archaeological research by scientists from China and Central Asia has spread across the region, including the ancient city of Rakhat in Kazakhstan and the ancient Buddhist temple at Krasnaya Rechka in Kyrgyzstan.

    Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that the friendship between China and Central Asia has a long history. He has repeatedly referred to the life story of Zhang Qian, the Han Dynasty envoy who traveled west more than 2,100 years ago and opened the way for lasting friendship and exchanges between China and the region. He has also stressed the need to “build on our traditional friendship.”

    During his state visit to Kazakhstan in 2024, Xi, together with President K.-Z. Tokayev, opened the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University, the same university where the Kazakh president studied Chinese in the 1980s. Xi expressed hope that the establishment of the branch would enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially between the younger generations.

    During his visit, Xi met with a group of schoolchildren who greeted him in Chinese and sang a Chinese song. Some of them spoke of their dream of attending Tsinghua University, the Chinese leader’s alma mater.

    “I also wish with all my heart that you will be able to enter good universities in the future. And we will be glad if you continue your education in China,” the Chinese President said with a smile.

    Commenting on the broader impact of such exchanges, Uzbek political commentator Sharofiddin Tulaganov noted that under the cooperation mechanism between China and Central Asia, mutual learning between civilizations will be greatly expanded.

    In today’s complex international environment, he added, such institutionalized humanitarian exchanges will provide valuable cultural impetus to efforts to maintain regional peace and promote common development. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Completes 2025 Article IV Mission to Mali

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 13, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • Mali’s economy is grappling with major headwinds, including food insecurity and security threats, frequent climate shocks, external financing constraints and an uncertain economic outlook. Despite these challenges, the economy is showing resilience and projected to continue to improve over the medium-term.
    • The authorities remain committed to a 3 percent fiscal deficit, in line with the WAEMU target to maintain fiscal sustainability.
    • The authorities have launched an ambitious long-term development plan “Vision 2063”, accompanied by a National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development 2024-2033, to achieve high, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Its success hinges on the implementation of sound macroeconomic policies and making decisive progress on structural reforms.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by
    Ms. Wenjie Chen, visited Bamako from June 9 to 13, 2025, to conduct the 2025 Article IV consultation with the Malian authorities. The team held productive discussions with the authorities and other stakeholders on recent economic developments, the outlook, and medium-term policies to support macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth.

    At the end of the visit, Ms. Chen issued the following statement:

    “Mali’s economy has shown some resilience despite significant headwinds. Economic growth is estimated at 4.7 percent in 2024 unchanged form 2023, due to a combination of factors, including an electricity crisis, flooding and lower gold production. The government’s fiscal deficit declined to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2024 driven by robust revenue mobilization, exceptional payments form mining and telecom companies and tighter control of current spending amid constrained financing. Tight financing conditions in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and the absence of external budget support resulted in high borrowing costs for the Government.

    “Real GDP growth is projected to increase to 5.0 percent in 2025, weighed down by reduced output from the shutdown of the largest gold mine and ongoing security risks. Contingent on resumption of full mining activities, growth is expected to rebound to 5.4 percent in 2026. The fiscal deficit is forecast to widen to 3.4 percent in 2025, driven in part by government spending to mitigate the impact of the flooding. However, the outlook remains uncertain, with considerable downside risks.

    “Fiscal policy should prioritize achieving fiscal sustainability, particularly by converging toward WAEMU’s 3-percent fiscal deficit ceiling. Key priorities include strengthening domestic revenue mobilization through broadening the tax base, including from the mining sector, and strengthening the revenue and customs administration. Moreover, the authorities should focus on improving spending efficiency while safeguarding public investment and protecting vulnerable households.

    “Reducing domestic policy uncertainty and advancing structural reforms are essential to unlocking Mali’s growth potential. Strengthening fiscal governance, improving public financial management, addressing vulnerabilities in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and enhancing their oversight—particularly in the electricity utility, Energie de Mali—are critical. Greater policy stability and transparent regulatory frameworks are crucial for attracting foreign investment.

    “The staff team thanks the authorities and other counterparts for their close collaboration and productive discussions.”

    The team met with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Alousséni Sanou, the Minister of Justice Mr. Mamoudou Kassogue, and the National Director of the BCEAO for Mali, Mr. Baréma Bocoum, senior staff of the main ministries and government agencies, development partners, and the private sector.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/13/pr-25196-mali-imf-staff-completes-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadians can apply for the Canada Disability Benefit on June 20

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    First payments to be issued in July

    June 13, 2025              Gatineau, Quebec              Employment and Social Development Canada  

    Today, the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced that persons with disabilities will be able to apply for the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) as of June 20, 2025.

    First payments will begin in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025. Canadians will be able to apply through barrier-free, accessible ways: online, in person at a Service Canada office, or by phone.

    Persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 can apply for the benefit if they have qualified for the disability tax credit (DTC) and meet the benefit’s other eligibility requirements, including having filed their 2024 income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency. For those who have a spouse or common-law partner, their partner must also have filed their 2024 income tax return to be eligible.

    The federal government will send letters to eligible Canadians inviting them to apply.

    To support individuals with the application process, a number of community-based organizations across Canada will provide accessible, individualized navigation services to disability programs and benefits, including the DTC and CDB. Applicants can also now use the newly launched benefit estimator tool to find out how much they may qualify to receive each month.  

    This new benefit reflects the federal government’s commitment to improving financial security for Canadians living with disabilities. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar Announces House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force as House Republicans Slash Basic Needs Programs

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    June 11, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar announced the re-launch of the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Poverty. Chaired by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), the Task Force will focus on solutions to help working families meet their basic needs and fight back against the extreme budget cuts passed by House Republicans, which rip away programs that millions of Americans rely on. 

    “House Democrats know that America’s strength comes from the promise that every person has the chance to succeed if they work hard and follow the rules,” said Chairman Aguilar. “Instead of building on those values, House Republicans are pushing an extreme budget that attacks the very programs working families rely on. Slashing food assistance, Medicaid and Social Security—all to give massive tax breaks for billionaires—will only make it harder for families to meet their basic needs at a time when prices are soaring and the economy is crashing. I am grateful to Rep. Watson Coleman’s leadership as our Caucus stands united in our fight against these cruel proposals that will only push more families into poverty.”  

    “In the wealthiest country in the world, there should be a floor beneath which we allow no person, no child, no family to fall. I look forward to working with the Poverty Taskforce to construct this floor and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to thrive,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “I look forward to working with Caucus Chair Aguilar, our vice chairs, and our entire Democratic Caucus on promoting an economy that works for everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy, and creating an environment of fairness. It’s time we expand the conversation around the term “poverty” beyond just those on or below the federal poverty line. The United States has the resources and opportunity to end poverty once and for all. I’m ready to work with my colleagues towards accomplishing just that.”

    Chair Aguilar and Chair Watson Coleman also announced the Poverty Task Force Vice Chairs, who will focus on the following priorities: 

    • Rep. Sara Jacobs, Vice Chair on Economic Mobility
    • Rep. Jim McGovern, Vice Chair on Hunger
    • Rep. Bobby Scott, Vice Chair on Education and Workforce Development
    • Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Vice Chair on Housing and Transportation
    • Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Vice Chair on Health Care 

    ###

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Liquid Bicarbonate Concentrate Recall: Nipro Removes MedicaLyte Liquid Bicarbonate Concentrate due to Contamination

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves removing 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 Product

    MedicaLyte Liquid Bicarbonate Concentrate – 45x Proportioning (BC+201)

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)/Model: 00817411022824

    What to Do

    On June 2, Nipro sent all affected customers an updated letter recommending the following actions:

    Do not use any MedicaLyte Liquid Bicarbonate Concentrate.
    Stop dispensing and distributing product and quarantine all lots.
    Isolate identified devices in possession.
    If the affected lots were further distributed, please forward the notification and report the consignees.

    Reason for Recall
    Nipro stated that they received reports of concerning visual irregularities in some product jugs. Returned units were sent to a third-party laboratory for analysis, where bacterial and fungal particles were identified.
    Risks associated with the use of contaminated dialysate includes infections, treatment disruptions, sepsis, and possible death. Potential long-term health consequences include chronic infections which may cause or contribute to organ damage and a weakened immune system. If the contaminated product is used, the hemodialysis machine will need to be disinfected following the dialysis machine manufacturer’s recommendations.
    Nipro has received reports of one serious injury and one death.
    Device Use
    Dialysate is part of a hemodialysis system that removes waste, toxins, and excess fluids from the body in patients with kidney failure. 
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with adverse reactions, quality problems, or questions about this recall should contact Nipro at Nipro4621@sedgwick.com or 1-877-546-0126.
    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:
    06/13/2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Names Kurt Hohl as Chief Accountant

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Kurt Hohl, with nearly 40 years of accounting and auditing experience, has been named Chief Accountant, effective July 7, 2025. Acting Chief Accountant Ryan Wolfe will return to his role as Chief Accountant in the Division of Enforcement. 

    “Kurt is an experienced accountant with deeply technical knowledge and international experience, and we are lucky he has decided to return to the SEC,” said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. “This is an important role. Given that I served with Kurt previously, I know firsthand that his integrity, along with his skills, will benefit our markets and investors.”

    “I want to thank Ryan for his service as Acting Chief Accountant and am pleased that he will continue serving in the Division of Enforcement.”

    Mr. Hohl most recently founded Corallium Advisors, which helps businesses navigate the complexities of auditing, regulatory compliance, risk management, and initial public offerings. Before that, he spent 26 years as a partner at Ernst & Young (EY) in a variety of roles. His final EY role was as global deputy vice-chair of EY’s Global Assurance Professional Practice. In that role he was responsible for the operation and oversight of the technical, regulatory, risk, and quality oversight functions of EY’s global professional practice organization — a team of more than 1,400 professionals. Mr. Hohl previously served at the SEC from 1989 to 1997, rising to Associate Chief Accountant in the Division of Corporation Finance. There he authored what became the Financial Reporting Manual, a primary guide for the SEC accounting staff and practitioners in the application of the federal securities laws. He began his professional career at Deloitte Haskins & Sells.

    Mr. Hohl received a B.B.S. in accounting from James Madison University and is a certified public accountant in Virginia.

    “I’m pleased to come back to the SEC along with Chairman Atkins,” said Mr. Hohl. “This is a pivotal time for our capital markets, and I look forward to working with the dedicated public servants in the Office of the Chief Accountant to advance accounting and auditing policies that reinforce investor confidence, enhance transparency, and support innovation.”

    Mr. Wolfe has served as Acting Chief Accountant since January 2025. He concurrently has been serving as Chief Accountant of the Division of Enforcement and has previously served as Senior Associate Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: In a letter to the Senate, nearly 900 state and local elected leaders oppose extreme cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and public services

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    The letter reads in part, “As government leaders, we understand the importance of rooting out fraud, waste and abuse to keep public services strong, but this plan fails to do that. Instead, it would rip the very fabric of our nation’s social safety net wide open to give the wealthiest people tax breaks they don’t need. Meanwhile, veterans, seniors, children, people with disabilities, and all working people will suffer.”

    We, the undersigned state and local officials, are writing to express our opposition to the reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) and ask you to protect the public services our communities depend on. By cutting Medicaid, SNAP and other critical public services, this bill threatens to destabilize state and local budgets and force deep cuts across the board that will diminish public services and hurt working families nationwide – all to give billionaires tax breaks.

    Medicaid accounts for the largest portion of federal funding to state budgets and is the largest funder of long-term care services in the U.S. Without this critical funding and due to other provisions in the bill, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates roughly 15 million people will lose their health coverage and become uninsured by 2034. The cuts outlined in H.R. 1 will also mean nursing homes, hospitals, home care and other critical health care services will disappear, leading to job losses in the health care sector. As people lose Medicaid coverage, hospitals and providers will face an estimated $48 billion in uncompensated care costs. Altogether, this will place an incredible strain on states, cities and towns and other local governments and will cost lives.

    Moreover, the bill’s proposed work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries will impose huge costs on states, including adding compliance systems and a need for greater staffing at agencies that are already understaffed. Experience in Arkansas and Georgia shows that work requirements do not result in more people working. They actually lead to huge losses in coverage for workers due to red tape. The reality is these provisions will result in cuts and needlessly harm our country’s most vulnerable populations who need Medicaid to live.

    The bill also shifts $300 billion in costs to states and local governments for both the benefits and administrative costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This provision threatens the food security of more than 40 million Americans, including one in five children. There will be no way for state governments to cover all these new expenses without making cuts to other critical services like our schools or roads.

    The bill also automatically triggers historic cuts to Medicare, which will spell disaster for seniors. As critical health care services are ripped away from seniors, their families will struggle to care for them. That will place huge costs on our workforce, our economies and our communities.

    Taken together, the cuts that are included in H.R. 1 will place an impossible burden on states. Forced to make up for the massive shortfalls in federal funding, every sector of our state and local economies will suffer, from health care to higher education, public safety to public schools. Services that our communities rely on will be slashed; and the people who provide them may be furloughed or laid off.

    As government leaders, we understand the importance of rooting out fraud, waste and abuse to keep public services strong, but this plan fails to do that. Instead, it would rip the very fabric of our nation’s social safety net wide open to give the wealthiest people tax breaks they don’t need. Meanwhile, veterans, seniors, children, people with disabilities and all working people will suffer.

    America’s state and local elected leaders urge you to vote against this damaging and reckless plan. The health, safety, and well-being of our communities are too important.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Last Month in the Field – May

    Source: Frontex

    The month of May marked a series of important developments for Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, reflecting its ongoing commitment to security, innovation, and cooperation at Europe’s borders. From participating in the EU’s flagship space event to piloting advanced surveillance technology and supporting thousands of voluntary returns, the Agency continued to deliver concrete results across its key missions.  

    Frontex took part in EU Space Days, held this year in Gdańsk, Poland. The event brought together more than 700 participants, including senior EU officials, policy experts, industry leaders, and innovators from across Europe. As the EU’s leading forum for space policy and innovation, the event focused on advancing the strategic use of space technologies to meet Europe’s security, economic, and environmental goals. 

    Frontex highlighted how satellite-based technologies are being used to strengthen border management and enhance situational awareness. Satellite-based navigation and communication systems play a critical role in tracking and operating assets—on land, at sea, and in the air—including in remote and difficult-to-access areas, where staying connected is essential.  

    The Agency currently provides 17 Copernicus-based products to EU Member States, supporting the monitoring of cross-border crime, irregular migration, and other key risks. These services enable national authorities to respond more effectively and in a timely manner. 

    Frontex is also advancing the integration of data from multiple sensors, a process known as data fusion, to build a more robust surveillance architecture. This supports early detection of threats and improved coordination among operational partners. Participation in EU Space Days underscored the growing importance of innovation in strengthening border security and showcased Frontex’s role in delivering cutting-edge, technology-driven solutions. 

    On 26 May, Frontex and the Bulgarian Border Police launched a new pilot project testing the use of long-endurance tactical drones for aerial surveillance of external borders. The initiative is part of Frontex’s broader strategy to operationalise next-generation European Border Surveillance capabilities. 

    The drones are equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems, offering real-time surveillance that significantly enhances situational awareness. The project aims to evaluate the drones’ operational performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness while reducing the logistical burden on ground teams. “This is not just about seeing more—it’s about seeing smarter,” said Hans Leijtens, Executive Director of Frontex. “By working together with Bulgaria and leading industry partners, we are taking concrete steps to future-proof European border security.” 

    The pilot involves three contracted companies—Global SAT, Shield AI, and DAT CON—which will deliver aerial surveillance services under a company-owned, company-operated model. The drones will support the detection of irregular border crossings and cross-border crimes, helping national authorities act quickly and effectively. A live demonstration of the new technology will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 4 and 5 June 2025, bringing together representatives from EU Member States, EU agencies, and partner countries to observe the system in action and discuss its future potential. 

    Since March, Frontex has facilitated the voluntary return of more than 1,000 Syrian nationals from 14 EU Member States, following the political transition in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. This development has led many displaced Syrians to seek a return to their home country after years of conflict. 

    Frontex plays a critical role in supporting Member States by ensuring that all returnees are fully informed of their rights and the voluntary nature of their decision. Each return is carried out in line with EU legislation and international standards for the protection of fundamental rights. 

    “Returning home is a deeply human aspiration,” said Executive Director Hans Leijtens. “For many, it means reuniting with loved ones and rebuilding lives. We are proud to support this process in full respect of dignity and choice.” These returns are part of the EU’s broader commitment to humane and voluntary repatriation. Frontex also assists in pre-return counselling, coordination, and soon, reintegration support through an expanded European Reintegration Programme (EURP), now including Syria.

    In a milestone for Frontex operations, one of the Agency’s surveillance aircraft flew for the first time directly from a non-EU country. The flight took off from Tirana International Airport in Albania and covered both Joint Operations in Albania and Montenegro during a single mission. Until now, Frontex aircraft had only operated from within EU territory. This development marks a new chapter in border cooperation, enabling earlier detection of irregular migration, better prevention of cross-border crime, and improved coordination of Search and Rescue operations. Real-time images captured by the aircraft are shared with national authorities in Albania and Montenegro, as well as with Frontex Headquarters in Warsaw, allowing for rapid and informed decision-making. 

    Frontex participated in the Barracuda 2025 exercise in Sicily, a joint maritime training operation led by the Italian Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of Malta. The exercise covered critical areas including search and rescue, maritime monitoring, environmental protection, and accident response. 

    Supported by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the training was a strong demonstration of cross-border cooperation and operational readiness. Frontex teams contributed operational knowledge and helped ensure seamless coordination across participating agencies. Exercises like Barracuda strengthen Europe’s collective ability to protect lives at sea and respond swiftly to maritime emergencies.

    This month also saw other important milestones: 

    • In Leixões, Portugal, the deployment of an Advanced Level Document Officer (ALDO) helped strengthen national capacity in detecting document fraud, thanks to close cooperation between Frontex and Portuguese authorities. 
    • In Montenegro, a joint operation led to the seizure of 200 kilograms of illegal cut tobacco. With the support of vigilant Frontex officers and the swift action of Montenegrin authorities, this operation highlighted the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation in combatting smuggling. 

    May 2025 demonstrated the full scope of Frontex’s mission: leveraging innovation, supporting Member States, and strengthening cooperation across borders. With continued investments in technology, partnerships, and people, the Agency remains committed to helping build a secure and well-managed European border system. Frontex will continue to work side by side with EU Member States and partners—on land, at sea, and now even from space—to keep Europe’s borders strong, secure, and future-ready.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 14, 2025

  • Hamas says Iran ‘paying the price’ for supporting Gaza militants

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said Iran, its strategic ally, was “paying the price” for supporting militant groups in Gaza in their decades-long struggle against Israel, after Israel launched large-scale attacks on Friday against Iran.

    Hamas leaders have repeatedly thanked Iran for its military and financial support to the group in its fight against Israel, including during the ongoing war that erupted in October 2023.

    “Iran is today paying the price for its steadfast positions in support of Palestine and its resistance, and its adherence to its independent national decision,” Hamas said in a statement.

    Tehran has vowed retaliation for Israel’s early morning attack on Iranian military and nuclear facilities that killed several top commanders. Israel said it was working to intercept 100 drones that were launched by Iran, but had not reached Israel.

    Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Ubaida said in a post on Telegram later on Friday that the group would stand by Iran in its conflict against Israel.

    “The Zionist enemy is completely deluded if it thinks that these treacherous strikes can undermine the fronts of resistance or stabilize the pillars of this fragile entity in the region,” he said.

    “On the contrary, it continues to make successive strategic mistakes that will bring it closer to its inevitable demise, God willing.”

    (Reuters)

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ASEAN Audit Committee Convenes its 50th Meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    On 13 June 2025, the 50th Meeting of the ASEAN Audit Committee (AAC) was held at the Nusantara Hall of the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, the AAC discussed matters pertaining to internal and external audit, risk management, and governance of the ASEAN Secretariat. H.E. Dato’ Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, the Auditor General of Malaysia, chaired the meeting. Delegations from the ASEAN Member States, and Timor-Leste as an Observer, participated in the annual meeting. The delegates engaged in a meaningful exchange of perspectives and best practices to further strengthen the ASEAN Secretariat’s internal control, risk management, governance, accountability and transparency.
     

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    June 14, 2025
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