Category: AM-NC

MIL-OSI Banking: Philip R Lane: The monetary agenda at the European Central Bank

Source: Bank for International Settlements

My goal today in these remarks is to outline the current monetary agenda at the ECB. I will start with the monetary policy stance before turning to our updated monetary policy strategy. I will then briefly discuss the euro area bond market before concluding with a monetary perspective on the digital euro project.

The monetary policy stance

In a recent speech, I assessed that the challenge of returning inflation to the target after the 2021-2022 inflation surges can be considered to be largely complete. The orientation now for the monetary policy stance is to make sure that the current shocks and prospective new shocks hitting the economy do not lead to medium-term deviations of inflation from our two per cent target.

In terms of significant data developments in recent months, there has been a marked drop in energy prices and a substantial appreciation of the euro. These forces played an important role in the June 2025 Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections. In addition, the fiscal outlook has materially changed for the coming years, with the overall fiscal deficit looking set to remain above three per cent over the projection horizon.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Piero Cipollone: Shifting payment landscape – what a digital euro will bring

Source: Bank for International Settlements

It is a pleasure to speak to you today.

The ongoing shift in the way we pay is affecting the fundamental fabric of our economies. Whether we are consumers browsing digital marketplaces, entrepreneurs pursuing digital innovation, or decision-makers facing the digital transition, we are all involved in reshaping payments.

Payments are more than a means of settling transactions, they are the lifeblood of a modern economy. And in a digital world, our economies will only be as competitive, inclusive, autonomous and resilient as our payments are.

Slovenia has put the digital transformation at the heart of its economic strategy, aiming to place the country among the top five most digitalised economies in Europe by 2030. An innovative and striving digital payments ecosystem can play a key role in this journey.

As a central bank, our responsibility is to accompany and enable this transition. We must ensure that the shift to digital payments enhances accessibility and efficiency, without creating fragmentation or new dependencies.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Joachim Nagel: Target achieved, but challenges still remain – monetary policy since the 2021 strategy review

Source: Bank for International Settlements

Check against delivery

1 Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen,

It’s a great pleasure for me to be here in Tübingen and to be giving the 10th Bundesbank IAW Lecture. Many thanks to the Institute for Applied Economic Research and my colleagues from Stuttgart for organising this event.

Let me start with a quote.

I acknowledge that our strategy is complex. However, we have to recognise that we live in a rather complex economic world (-). It would therefore be impossible for the Eurosystem to conduct a successful policy by mechanistically following a simple rule (-).

The person who said this would have celebrated his 90th birthday today. It was Wim Duisenberg, the first President of the European Central Bank (ECB). Unfortunately, the Dutchman passed away back in 2005, not long after the end of his presidency.

He played a key role in the successful establishment of the ECB’s reputation as a credible and stability-oriented central bank. This success was due not least to the ECB’s monetary policy strategy.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, into law. This legislation delivers tax relief for working families and small businesses, protects nuclear energy investments, and strengthens the agriculture industry.

Here’s what they are saying about the Big, Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1):

Michelle Hennings, Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said, “We want to recognize Congressman Newhouse’s efforts to make sure our growers have the support they need to continue supplying the nation and the world with top quality wheat. The increase in the wheat reference price will more closely match the actual cost of production, giving much-needed support to growers who are struggling to make a profit when prices are low. We are also appreciative of the Congressman’s work to protect crop insurance, making it more affordable for farmers to adequately cover their crops in the face of drought or other natural disasters.”

Bob Schuetz, CEO, Energy Northwest, said, “I am pleased that Congress acknowledges the key role of nuclear power for America’s energy future. While policymaking involves hard choices, Representative Newhouse has consistently championed the U.S. as a leader in advanced nuclear technology. I am excited about actively pursuing the expansion of carbon-free and reliable electricity, marking the next chapter for nuclear energy in America.”

Former Congressman Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill not only prevented the largest tax increase on the American people in history, it made permanent critical pro-growth provisions that will enable businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses, to grow and thrive. This will strengthen America’s economy and result in greater economic prosperity for all. We thank Congressman Newhouse for his leadership and for supporting this crucial legislation.”

David Reeploeg, Vice President for Federal Programs, TRIDEC, said, “Congressman Newhouse worked incredibly hard to prevent nuclear energy tax credits from being removed from H.R. 1. Retaining these tax credits will help our existing nuclear energy facilities while also supporting advanced nuclear development, which is an area where we see huge opportunities for the Tri-Cities. Not only do the power plants create direct jobs, they also provide the baseload energy needed to attract industry and create even more family wage jobs. We sincerely appreciate Congressman Newhouse’s understanding of how important these tax credits, and nuclear energy, are for his district.”

Ted Tschirky, 2025 President, National Potato Council, and grower from Pasco, said, “We give great credit to Congressman Newhouse and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for taking the opportunity to deliver on key priorities for the specialty crop industry. The tax certainty provided by the bill, coupled with the historic enhancements in essential Farm Bill programs serving specialty crops will significantly improve our competitiveness against foreign competition well into the future.”

Clay Sell, CEO, X-energy, said, “For next-generation advanced nuclear companies, tax credits are more than just financial incentives—they’re a catalyst for market entry. For early movers, these credits significantly reduce capital risk, unlock private investment, and enable us to compete on a level footing with other energy technologies. Without them, commercialization slows and investor confidence erodes. With them, we’re positioned to scale faster and deliver reliable, always-on abundant power to the market.”

Bill Lampson, Chairman and CEO, Lampson International LLC, said, “Congressman Dan Newhouse’s support of the Big Beautiful Bill was essential for all Americans to avoid the Largest Tax Hike in history, which would have crippled future investments of all types. In our case, we have watched the construction industry struggle with the high cost of overly burdensome regulations, costly and lengthy permitting process and high taxes of all types. The Big Beautiful Bill will allow the construction industry to flourish and create real jobs for many that would have otherwise gone without opportunity. We are so thankful to have a Congressman who truly cares about the ability of his constituents to make a decent living and care for their families.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Statement on Secretary of Agriculture Joining CFIUS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Statement on Secretary of Agriculture Joining CFIUS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding placing the United States Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

“Over the past few years, we have learned about the significant threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to our supply chains and economy here at home. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I have worked to ensure the CCP does not take roots on American farmland and around sensitive national security sites. Today, I’m encouraged to see the Secretary of Agriculture finally take a seat at the CFIUS table, and I look forward to working with Secretary Brooke Rollins to keep the CCP out of our backyards and away from American farms.”

This Memorandum between the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture implements a provision Rep. Newhouse secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

Specifically, it implements Section 787 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42).

Read the Memorandum here.

Background

Rep. Newhouse has led the effort in Congress to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS.

In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS.

Rep. Newhouse is a founding member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party tasked working on a bipartisan basis to build consensus on the threat posed by the CCP and develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Commends Latest Administrative Action Protecting Lower Snake River Dams

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Commends Latest Administrative Action Protecting Lower Snake River Dams

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation announced the withdrawal of the Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Columbia River Systems Operations.

“This decision is in line with what we have known for years; we can benefit from the Lower Snake River dams while working to improve salmon populations,” said Rep. Newhouse.

Newhouse continues, “The 2020 EIS reflects the scientific evidence, community input, and stakeholder engagement that should be at the center of these discussions. Unfortunately, the Biden administration disregarded these key parts of the process. I am glad to see this administration’s Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation reverse course and rescind the plan for a supplemental EIS targeting our dams.”

Background:

In September 2020, the “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision” for the Columbia River System Operation Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) published by the co-lead agencies, found that the Lower Snake River Dams should not be breached. Instead, it found that efforts should be focused on improving and maintaining hydropower assets while working to improve salmon passage and conditions.

Subsequently, in December of 2023, the Biden Administration announced a 10-year stay in the CRSO mediation, alongside the new Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative (RCBI), an agreement that provides taxpayer dollars for wild fish restoration in the Columbia Basin. The RCBI includes U.S. government commitments that are detrimental to the operations of the CRSO and include a number of initiatives designed to weaken the operation of the Lower Snake River Dams and lead to their eventual breach. One of these commitments included a review of existing environmental compliance documents and initiating any supplemental compliance documents, which the previous administration deemed necessary when it issued a notice of intent (NOI) to supplement the 2020 EIS. This all occurred without the input of key regional stakeholders and was justified through unscientific studies.

On June 12, 2025, President Trump signed a Memorandum revoking the Biden Administration’s “Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin” Memorandum.

The Memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to withdraw from agreements stemming from Biden’s misguided executive action, including the December 14, 2023, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) filed in connection with related litigation.

Rescinding the NOI for a Supplemental EIS is the latest step in reversing the Biden administration’s executive actions targeting the Lower Snake River dams.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ponte Vedra Beach Man Pleads Guilty In Fraud Scheme Involving COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment

Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that James Elliott Davis, II (36, Ponte Vedra Beach) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of mail. Davis faces up to 30 years in federal prison on the bank fraud count, up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, up to 10 years in prison on the money laundering count, up to 5 years in prison on the theft of mail count and payment of restitution to the victims he defrauded. Davis has agreed to forfeit between $6.7 and $8.8 million, which are traceable to proceeds of the crimes he committed. No sentencing date has been set.

According to court documents, from March 2018 through 2022, Davis ran a purported medical supply company named Medisale Inc. Using false representations, Davis enticed individuals and business entities to invest large sums of money in Medisale. He falsely represented to victim-investors that Medisale was making significant profits on the sale of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). He claimed to have contact with CEOs at various hospitals and that Medisale had contracts with hospitals to sell large volumes of N95 masks and other PPE. In convincing victim-investors to give him money, Davis showed fraudulent bank statements with large balances, claiming the money was from the sale of PPE.

In reality, Medisale had no such contracts and had no true revenue from the sale of PPE. Instead, Davis kited checks and conducted fraudulent ACH/wire transfers between multiple financial institutions in order to artificially inflate the apparent balances on his bank accounts. Utilizing victim-investor funds, Davis paid off previous debts, paid other investors purported profits from the sale of PPE, and paid personal expenses. This included Davis using victim-investor money to purchase a membership at a luxury club in Ponte Vedra Beach and spending more than $27,000 on custom clothing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST TALLAHASSEE MAN FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Antre Grantsteadman, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

Grantsteadman appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick yesterday for his arraignment at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshall Service, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced For Possession Of A Machinegun

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Joshua Michael Jenkins, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced yesterday to 88 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

According to court records, on October 30, 2022, a trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Jenkins for speeding on the interstate. Jenkins refused to stop and instead proceeded to drive at a high rate of speed, reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour. Court documents show that Jenkins exited the highway and ran a red light, where his vehicle collided with four other vehicles at an intersection. Jenkins then fled on foot and ran toward a shopping center. The state trooper ran after Jenkins and observed Jenkins holding a firearm in his hand, which he pointed at the trooper. Jenkins was eventually apprehended.

According to court documents, law enforcement searched a trashcan in a parking lot nearby after a witness saw Jenkins drop something in it. Law enforcement recovered from the trashcan a Glock model 23, .40 caliber pistol, with an affixed machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch.” During the investigation, law enforcement located multiple social media posts of Jenkins posing with firearms that appeared to be equipped with Glock switches, and a video showing muzzle flash and the sound of repeated firing of an automatic weapon.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Federal Charges Brought After Man Fired at Nash County Deputy

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

RALEIGH, N.C. – Federal charges were brought Tuesday against a Rocky Mount man, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Montrel Devon Ingram, 36, appeared in federal court for his initial appearance.

“We will act swiftly and relentlessly to investigate anyone who threatens our law enforcement officers and violates federal law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “This case reflects the strong, coordinated response from our federal and local partners, and I’m proud of the quick work that brought the defendant into custody.”

“Keeping dangerous individuals and illegal firearms off our streets is critical to protecting our neighborhoods,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Thanks to the dedication of our deputies and the support of our federal partners, we were able to quickly apprehend the suspect and recover the weapon ensuring the safety of our community.”

According to the information presented in the criminal complaint, Ingram was a passenger during a traffic stop in which the driver was suspected of driving under the influence. When backup arrived, Ingram fled on foot near the intersection of Ravenwood Drive and Canary Drive in Rocky Mount. A deputy from the Nash County Sheriff’s Office pursued Ingram after noticing him reaching into his waistband. The deputy shouted loud verbal commands for Ingram to show his hands. Shortly after, the deputy heard a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash coming from Ingram’s direction. Seeking cover while maintaining a clear line of sight on Ingram, the deputy observed him throw a firearm into the front yard of a nearby residence and then attempt to jump the fence into the backyard. The deputy quickly closed in on Ingram, ordering him to the ground. With the assistance of NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) troopers, the deputy was able to apprehend Ingram and take him into custody. They later located the thrown firearm, which had a spent shell casing stuck in the ejector port, causing it to jam. The magazine contained five additional rounds of ammunition.

Ingram faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-MJ-01851.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Albuquerque Mother and Son Sentenced for Manufacturing and Selling Machinegun Conversion Devices

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque mother and son who used Instagram and a 3D printer to traffic illegal machine gun conversion devices were sentenced in federal court following an undercover investigation by the ATF that uncovered a cache of firearms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, between February 3 and February 7, 2023, Joe Jasso, 21, used Instagram to advertise and sell illegal machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) which are used to convert firearms to fully automatic fire. Jasso communicated with an undercover detective from the ATF about selling AR-15 auto sears and MCDs. On February 7, 2023, Joe Jasso and his mother, Rachael Jasso, 43, met the undercover detective at Kiva Park, where Joe Jasso demonstrated how to install an MCD. Later that day, at a second meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings, Joe Jasso delivered an AR auto sear to the detective, and both Joe and Rachael Jasso confirmed they could make additional devices.

On February 16, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at the Jasso residence in Northeast Albuquerque, where they found approximately ten firearms, five machine gun conversion devices, large quantities of ammunition, and a 3D printer used to manufacture the devices. Joe Jasso admitted to using Instagram to sell the switches and acknowledged modifying firearms, while neither Joe nor Rachael Jasso had the required federal licenses to possess or manufacture machine guns or conversion devices.

Joe Jasso and Rachel Jasso both pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and possession of a machine gun conversion device. Joe Jasso was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, and Rachael Jasso was sentenced to 30 months. Upon their release from prison, they will both be subject to two years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.

Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower.

This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering.

Law enforcement agencies are racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately:

Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477)

Email: ATFTips@atf.gov

Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips

Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community fall victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI to conduct 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on July 11, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on Friday, July 11, 2025, as under:

Sl. No.	Notified Amount (₹ crore)	Tenor (day)	Window Timing	Date of Reversal
1	2,50,000	7	10:00 AM to 10:30 AM	July 18, 2025 (Friday)

2. Further, on a review of evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided not to conduct the 14-day main operation on Friday, July 11, 2025, for the ensuing fortnight.

3. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2025-2026/691

MIL OSI Economics –

July 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI to conduct 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on July 11, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on Friday, July 11, 2025, as under:

Sl. No.	Notified Amount (₹ crore)	Tenor (day)	Window Timing	Date of Reversal
1	2,50,000	7	10:00 AM to 10:30 AM	July 18, 2025 (Friday)

2. Further, on a review of evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided not to conduct the 14-day main operation on Friday, July 11, 2025, for the ensuing fortnight.

3. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2025-2026/691

MIL OSI Economics –

July 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Identity fraud: BaFin warns consumers about the website allianz-invest.com

Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

The unknown operators are using the email address info (at) allianz-invest.com to contact consumers, claiming that their offer is from Allianz SE. However, these claims are not correct. This is a case of identity fraud. Allianz SE is not associated with the website allianz-invest.com or the services offered on the website.

BaFin is issuing this warning on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

Please be aware:

BaFin warns consumers about fraudulent term deposit offers.

You can view BaFin’s current warnings about companies operating without the required authorisation and find out how to protect yourself from fraudsters on the financial market in the “Recognising financial fraud” section of our website.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Countries urged to urgently step up to transform their HIV responses amid global funding crisis

Source: Government of South Africa

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) has today released a report that highlights a significant funding crisis threatening years of progress in the fight against HIV/Aids.

The 2025 Global Aids Update report titled, ’Aids, Crisis and the Power to Transform’, emphasises the urgent need for countries to implement radical changes in their HIV programming and funding strategies.

The report highlights the impact that the sudden, large-scale funding cuts from international donors are having on countries most affected by HIV. Yet, it also showcases some inspiring examples of resilience, with countries and communities stepping up in the face of adversity to protect the gains made and drive the HIV response forward.

Some 25 of the 60 low and middle-income countries included in the report have indicated increases in domestic budgets for their HIV responses in 2026.

The estimated collective rise among the 25 countries amounts to 8% over current levels, translating to approximately US$180 million in additional domestic resources.

“This is promising, but not sufficient to replace the scale of international funding in countries that are heavily reliant,” the report says.

Global emergency

Although there was significant progress in the HIV response in 2024, UNAIDS reported that a weakening consensus on aid and substantial, sudden funding shortfalls in 2025 caused widespread disruptions in health systems.

These challenges led to cuts in frontline health workers, halted HIV prevention programmes, and jeopardised HIV treatment services.

According to data, in Mozambique alone, over 30 000 health personnel were affected. In Nigeria, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation has plummeted from 40 000 to 6 000 people per month.

If United States-supported HIV treatment and prevention services collapse entirely, UNAIDS estimates that an additional six million new HIV infections and four million additional Aids-related deaths could occur between 2025 and 2029.

“This is not just a funding gap – it’s a ticking time bomb.

“We have seen services vanish overnight. Health workers have been sent home, and people, especially children and key populations, are being pushed out of care,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.

Even before the large-scale service disruptions, the reported data for 2024 shows that 9.2 million people living with HIV were still not accessing life-saving treatment services last year.

Among those were 620 000 children aged zero to 14 years living with HIV but not on treatment, which contributed to 75 000 AIDS-related deaths among children in 2024.

In 2024, 630 000 people died from Aids-related causes, 61% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 210 000 adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 24, acquired HIV in 2024 – an average of 570 new infections every day.

UNAIDS said HIV prevention services are severely disrupted, while community-led services, which are vital to reaching marginalised populations, are being defunded at alarming rates.

In early 2025, the organisation said over 60% of women-led HIV organisations surveyed had lost funding or were forced to suspend services.

The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reached 2.3 million adolescent girls and young women with comprehensive HIV prevention services in 2024 and enabled 2.5 million people to use HIV PrEP – many of these programmes have now stopped completely.

“Meanwhile, the rise in punitive laws criminalising same-sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use is amplifying the crisis, making HIV services inaccessible,” UNAIDS said.

Beacon of hope

UNAIDS said South Africa currently funds 77% of its AIDS response, and its 2025 budget review includes a 5.9% annual increase in health expenditure over the next three years, including a 3.3% annual increase for HIV and tuberculosis programmes.

The South African government intends to finance the development of a patient information system, a centralised chronic medicine dispensing and distribution system, and a facility medicine stock surveillance system.

Meanwhile, as of December 2024, seven countries – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – had achieved the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.

The report also highlights the emergence of unprecedented, highly effective new prevention tools like long-acting injectable PrEP, including lenacapavir, which has shown near-complete efficacy in clinical trials, though affordability and access remain key challenges.

Byanyima believes there is still time to transform this crisis into an opportunity.

“Countries are stepping up with domestic funding. Communities are showing what works. We now need global solidarity to match their courage and resilience.”

A call for solidarity

The 2025 Global AIDS Update ends with a call for the international community to unite in addressing the financing gap.

It urges support for countries to close the remaining gaps in HIV prevention and treatment services, eliminate legal and social barriers, and empower communities to take the lead moving forward.

UNAIDS emphasised that every dollar invested in the HIV response not only saves lives but also strengthens health systems and promotes broader development goals.

Since the start of the epidemic, 26.9 million deaths have been averted through treatment, and 4.4 million children have been protected from HIV infection through vertical transmission prevention.

“In a time of crisis, the world must choose transformation over retreat. Together, we can still end Aids as a public health threat by 2030 – if we act with urgency, unity, and unwavering commitment,” Byanyima said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to address the nation on security matters

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 10, 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to brief the nation on national security matters on Sunday, the Presidency has announced.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 13 July 2025, address the nation on developments arising from a public statement by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that details allegations against senior political and South African Police Service leadership,” the Presidency said on Thursday.

President Ramaphosa was attending a BRICS summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing.

“The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security.

“President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence at 19h00 on Sunday, 13 July 2025,” it said.

The President’s message will be broadcast and streamed on various platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, WY Delegation Introduce Legislation to Modernize Wyoming School Trust Fund Investments

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), alongside Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), today introduced the Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act, legislation to amend Wyoming’s State Act of Admission to provide the state’s permanent school land fund with enhanced investment flexibility, potentially increasing annual returns for K-12 education.
“Wyoming’s school trust fund represents one of our state’s most valuable assets for supporting public education and the next generation of Cowboy students,” said Senator Lummis. “My legislation would allow Wyoming to modernize our investment policies while maintaining the strong protections that have served this fund for more than a century. I believe we can do better for our kids by investing that money more strategically and increasing Wyoming’s returns. That result would mean millions of dollars more every year for Wyoming classrooms, without raising taxes or touching Wyoming’s principal.”
“Wyoming has done an incredible job investing in the future of our students,” said Senator Barrasso. “The Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act will help build on this success by giving our state more flexibility when it comes to investing our permanent school land fund. Diversifying investments of this vital fund will increase resources for students and teachers across Wyoming.”
“Wyoming’s students deserve every opportunity we can provide, and that starts with strengthening the long-term stability of our education funding,” said Representative Hageman. “The Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act is a commonsense, forward-looking solution that honors our constitutional protections while unlocking the full potential of our permanent school land fund. By allowing for modern investment strategies, we can responsibly increase returns and better support K-12 education. This is about keeping our promises to future generations and ensuring that Wyoming’s children benefit from the resources entrusted to the state over a century ago.”
“This long-overdue proposal is a natural extension of some of the reforms I undertook while serving as State Treasurer,” said Governor Gordon. “I support this effort to generate additional returns for Wyoming schools while preserving the permanent trust fund structure.”
“This is a game-changer for Wyoming’s public schools,” said Superintendent Degenfelder. “By modernizing our investment policies, we are unlocking the full potential of our school trust lands. It is a common-sense solution that is anticipated to provide a sustainable increase in funding for our classrooms, without raising taxes.”
“Since Wyoming became a state, financial markets and investment strategies have evolved dramatically,” said Representative Bear, Wyoming House District 31. “Today, responsible and prudent management of public funds requires far more flexibility than was imaginable in 1890. Congress has both the authority and the duty to ensure that Wyoming’s state government can effectively safeguard taxpayer assets and uphold citizens’ freedoms—now and for generations to come.”
Background:
Wyoming’s State Act of Admission, established by Congress upon statehood in 1890, governs how the state manages federally granted school lands. Proceeds from school trust land sales, exchanges, or disposals must be deposited into a permanent land fund under strict federal regulation. Current law prohibits investing principal funds, and only accrued interest can be used for K-12 education funding.
Wyoming’s permanent school trust fund currently holds $5.4 billion. The fund generates approximately 5% annual interest under current investment restrictions. Enhanced investment flexibility could significantly boost annual education funding without touching the principal. Proposed legislation would modernize investment policies to potentially increase returns from 5% to 8.3%.
The bill preserves all constitutional protections for education funding while maintaining principal protection. Only investment returns can be spent, which keeps all existing controls on land disposal and exchanges unchanged, fully maintaining the longtime permanent trust fund structure.
Read the full bill here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/USA – California: Illegal immigrants also “taken” from parishes

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Thursday, 10 July 2025

White House official page on Facebook

San Bernardino (Agenzia Fides) – They are being taken from the streets or public places, and even from parish churches. In California, the policy of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which carries out hundreds of arrests and deportations, has prompted the Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, located just a few kilometers from Los Angeles, to take action.In recent days, in an open letter, Bishop Alberto Rojas expressed his dismay at some government arrests considered arbitrary, which are also said to have taken place in some parishes in the diocese. “While we respect and value the right of law enforcement to protect our communities from violent offenders,” the letter reads, “we are now seeing officers arrest people as they leave their homes, workplaces, and other randomly selected public places. We have experienced at least one instance in which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the property of a parish and arrested several individuals. It should not be surprising that this is causing a tremendous amount of fear, confusion, and anxiety for many people.”The recent arrests have so intimidated people that many are avoiding going to public places, including parishes. In light of this situation, Bishop Rojas has now issued a decree exempting Catholic migrants from Sunday observances of religious observance who could be subject to ICE’s detention and deportation measures.”Considering that fear of immigration control measures, such as raids by U.S. immigration authorities, may deter some people in our diocese from fulfilling their obligation to attend Sunday and feast Masses (cf. Canon 1247),” it states, “and recognizing that such fear constitutes a serious obstacle that can harm the spiritual well-being of the faithful, I decree the following: All the faithful of the Diocese of San Bernardino who are unable to attend Sunday Mass due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement measures are hereby released from this obligation, in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1247, until this decree is revoked or modified.”At the same time, in his dispensation, the bishop asks “those who are exempt from attending Holy Mass to maintain their spiritual communion with Christ and the Church by saying their personal prayer, reading Sacred Scripture, or participating in devotions such as the Rosary. If possible, the faithful may also attend live-streamed Masses.Parish priests, assistant parish priests, and other pastoral ministers, the provision further states, “must offer compassionate support to those affected by this anxiety and ensure that they feel welcomed and safe in our parishes. I urge parishes to develop alternatives for catechesis and sacramental preparation for those who cannot attend church regularly.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Visits LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, visited LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Virginia. The visit featured a roundtable discussion on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

“As the new chairman of the Health Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to explore policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, including those in rural communities,” said Representative Morgan Griffith. “It is critical to assess and determine solutions that help our rural hospitals serve patients. I appreciate the dedication of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery and all of our hospitals and their interest in discussion about hospital operations and challenges.”

“We were honored to host Congressman Griffith at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery today to discuss the challenges currently facing hospitals, especially those in rural areas,” said LewisGale Hospital Montgomery CFO Rachael Stanton.

Pictured: Representative Griffith in discussion with LewisGale Hospital Montgomery leadership and staff.

BACKGROUND

This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

In a recent Rules Committee hearing, Congressman Griffith committed to working with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie to analyze the status of our rural hospitals and explore improvements to health care access for rural communities.

LewisGale Hospital Montgomery operates under HCA Healthcare.

Other hospital health systems that serve communities in Virginia’s Ninth District include Centra Health, Carilion Clinic, Lifepoint Health, Ballad Health and Sovah Health.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Griffith, Harshbarger Visit Lee County Community Hospital

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Following their respective appointments as Chair and Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. Representative and Health Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and U.S. Representative and Health Subcommittee Vice Chair Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) made their first joint public action visiting Lee County Community Hospital. They had a roundtable discussion focused on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

“In our new roles on the Health Subcommittee, we look forward to advancing policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, including those in rural communities,” said Representatives Griffith and Harshbarger. “It is critical to assess and determine solutions that help our rural hospitals serve patients. We thank Ballad Health for the opportunity to tour Lee County Community Hospital.”

Pictured: Reps. Griffith and Harshbarger participate in roundtable discussion with Lee County Community Hospital leadership and staff.

BACKGROUND

This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Representative Harshbarger was also named Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee.

Lee County Community Hospital, located in Pennington Gap, Virginia, operates as part of the Ballad Health system.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Visits Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, visited Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Virginia. The visit featured a roundtable discussion on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

“Clinch Valley Medical Center is an important health care provider for the area,” said Representative Griffith. “I visited Clinch Valley Medical Center to gain more knowledge of their needs and challenges. As the new chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I am committed to working with Congressional and industry partners to advance policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, particularly those in rural communities.”

“Clinch Valley Health was honored to have Congressman Morgan Griffith visit with us today,” said Clinch Valley Health President and CEO Peter Mulkey. “We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of rural healthcare now and in the future and how we can work together with him in his new role as Chairperson of the Health subcommittee on Energy and Commerce. I believe we both have the interest of the communities we serve in ensuring we are able to continue to provide top quality care to those that call our region home.”

Pictured: Representative Griffith with Clinch Valley Medical Center leadership and personnel.

BACKGROUND

This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

In a recent Rules Committee hearing, Congressman Griffith committed to working with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie to analyze the status of our rural hospitals and explore improvements to health care access for rural communities.

Clinch Valley Medical Center operates under Lifepoint Health.

Other hospital health systems that serve communities in Virginia’s Ninth District include Centra Health, Carilion Clinic, HCA Healthcare, Ballad Health and Sovah Health.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Trade, tariff wars have no winners: FM spokesperson

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

China has all along opposed moves to overstretch the concept of national security, and has always upheld that trade and tariff wars have no winners, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Thursday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks when commenting on the U.S. announcement on Wednesday that a 50 percent tariff would be imposed on imported copper, citing national security concerns.

China’s position is very clear, Mao said, adding that the abuse of tariffs is in no one’s interest.

MIL OSI China News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Hochul’s Letter to Secretary of Homeland Security

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul issued a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Department to make funding available to state and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) as has been done every year since 2002.

HSGP provides states, local jurisdictions and their law enforcement, public safety, homeland security and emergency management officials with critical resources to further their preparedness and response capabilities. Without these resources, first responders and frontline emergency management operation teams will be unable to access state-of-the-art training, the latest advancements in equipment and the ability to seamlessly share and analyze intelligence with each other.

As the threat of terrorism increases amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, it is essential that the federal government ensures the availability of funding for all essential components of counterterrorism efforts.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

As Governor, my chief responsibility is ensuring the safety and security of New York State and all its residents. Not only does New York face the nation’s most diverse threat landscape, but with numerous economic, governmental, and recreational assets, it remains the nation’s top target for terrorism. In recent months, that threat has only grown given the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, making it essential that the federal government, specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensure the availability of critical homeland security funding to states and local governments.

I am deeply troubled that DHS has yet to make funding available to states and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) as it has every year since 2002.

On June 22, 2025, DHS issued a bulletin through the National Terrorism Advisory System notifying Americans of the heightened threat environment our nation faces due to our recent involvement in the ongoing conflict between the nations of Israel and Iran. As noted in the bulletin:

“….Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.”

As home to the country’s largest economic center, and the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, these threats put New York communities at a greater risk than perhaps anywhere else in the nation. Thankfully, since your agency’s inception, New York and DHS have maintained a strong partnership to counter these threats. This partnership has been essential to ensure that the State and local governments and their public safety agencies have the funding and resources needed to prepare for, mitigate, prevent and withstand terrorist threats and targeted violence.

One core component of this partnership has been DHS’ Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). In 2024, New York received $219.9 million in HSGP funding, $156.1 million of which was allocated through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) for jurisdictions in the New York City Metro Area, principally the New York Police Department. In 2023, New York received $244.7 million with $173.9 million allocated through UASI.

HSGP provides states, local jurisdictions and their law enforcement, public safety, homeland security and emergency management officials with critical resources to further their preparedness and response capabilities. Without these resources, the heroic men and women who continuously put their lives on the line to protect their fellow Americans are unable to access state of the art training, the latest advancements in equipment and the ability to seamlessly share and analyze intelligence with each other – all essential components of counterterrorism efforts.

Furthermore, HSGP funding is vital to securing and maintaining critical infrastructure assets (transportation hubs, power grids, water systems, communication networks) which are top targets of nefarious actors, as well as to assist local law enforcement with border security via Operation Stonegarden. Through Operation Stonegarden, jurisdictions along international borders receive direct funding to not only enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, but to support joint operations. As a state with a 445-mile international border, security of this boundary is of the utmost importance to me. To that end, I have secured $8 million in state funds, as well as dedicated State Police and other public safety resources to support this federal mission.

Any further delays in the availability of HSGP will degrade the capabilities of our nation to prevent terrorism and make us less safe at a time when the variety and severity of security threats continue to grow.

I urge you to release the FY2025 HSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity immediately and help ensure our nation remains ready and able to defend ourselves against anyone seeking to threaten our way of life.

Sincerely,
Governor Kathy Hochul

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN Meets with the Minister of State for External Affairs of India

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a bilateral meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India, Pabitra Margherita, on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides exchanged views on the progress of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to further advance the cooperation and bringing it to greater heights. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN Meets with the Minister of State for External Affairs of India appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN Meets with the Minister of State for External Affairs of India

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a bilateral meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India, Pabitra Margherita, on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides exchanged views on the progress of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to further advance the cooperation and bringing it to greater heights. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN Meets with the Minister of State for External Affairs of India appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 64th Round of the Geneva International Discussions: UK statement to the OSCE

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Speech

64th Round of the Geneva International Discussions: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland welcomes the discussions held during the 64th round, and commends the Co-Chairs for their continued efforts to facilitate dialogue among all participants.

The United Kingdom reaffirms its strong support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) as a vital platform for addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia and promoting long-term peace and stability in the region. We commend the Co-Chairs for their continued efforts to facilitate dialogue among all participants.

The UK reaffirms its full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to call on the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

We welcome the discussions held during the 64th round, particularly the focus on security arrangements, non-use of force and humanitarian issues – including freedom of movement, documentation, and the rights of displaced persons. We regret that the agenda item on internally displaced persons and refugees could not be addressed due to a walkout by some participants, and we urge all parties to engage constructively in future rounds.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing restrictions on freedom of movement and the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We again call for full access for international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms.

We look forward to the next round of discussions in November 2025 and encourage all parties to engage in good faith to achieve tangible progress for the benefit of all conflict-affected communities.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Updates to this page

Published 10 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 10 July 2025 Departmental update WHO Academy and the City of Lyon: a strategic collaboration for global health

Source: World Health Organisation

In 2018, when the idea of establishing a global learning centre for health – what would become the WHO Academy – was under discussion between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of France, they didn’t have to look far for its new home. Since the Middle Ages, Lyon has been a European capital for human, animal and environmental health. Doctors from across Europe came to study in Lyon, and it was the first centre of medical literature on the continent in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The city is even the home of the first veterinary school in Europe, opening in Lyon in 1761.

In more recent times, Marcel Mérieux, a former assistant to Pasteur, opened one of the city’s first pharmaceutical research institutes in 1897, the beginnings of what would become the Lyon-Gerland Biodistrict. The city brings together over 2000 global public institutions, research centres and businesses focused on life sciences and health employing nearly 80 000 people, including the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and a WHO office dedicated to health emergencies.

“The City of Lyon has demonstrated exceptional leadership in public health, making it an ideal partner for the WHO Academy,” explains Dr David Atchoarena, Executive Director of the WHO Academy. “The local ecosystem provides a myriad of opportunities for collaboration and maximizing the impact of the WHO Academy’s initiatives. Together with the City of Lyon we are committed to advancing global health through innovative approaches that address the complex challenges of our time.”

Meeting these challenges depends on a well-prepared, highly skilled global health and care workforce. The aim of the WHO Academy is to become a global hub for lifelong learning and to provide health and care workers, and decision-makers, in France and around the world, with access to the knowledge and competencies they need to meet current and future needs. The Academy has developed a comprehensive portfolio of courses across most health topics addressed by WHO and has three flagship programmes: Biomanufacturing, Healthy Cities and One Health.

Leveraging the local ecosystem for innovative health solutions

The partnership between the WHO Academy and the City of Lyon has already yielded numerous collaborative activities since the launch of the Academy in December 2024. The Academy is an observer to the Contrat Local de Santé 2022-2027, led by the City of Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Health Agency, to reduce health inequalities, improve access to care, promote prevention and integrate the One Health approach to health services in the region. In addition, the Academy acted as an observer to AGORA 2030, a participatory initiative accelerating climate action through collaboration among various city stakeholders.

In April 2025, the Academy participated in the month-long ‘Explore your Health’ festival, most significantly by hosting a roundtable discussion on ‘Urban Planning through the One Health Lens’ at the WHO Academy campus, featuring experts in health, urbanism and research to discuss sustainable city development.

Lyon is a committed member of the WHO French Healthy Cities Network, and the city’s municipal strategy aligns with the principles of the Academy’s Healthy Cities flagship: equity, participation, multisectoral governance and sustainability. Most recently the WHO Academy and the City of Lyon co-organized a two-day study visit and knowledge exchange for more than 50 mayors from the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership.

In May, the Séminaire des directeurs meeting held at the Academy campus raised awareness among the 80 City of Lyon directors of public services about the importance of integrating a One Health approach into their work.

“The City of Lyon is committed to addressing the key determinants of health, such as nutrition, housing, environmental health, access to care and physical activity for the citizens of Lyon, but also for people around the world,” said Céline de Laurens, Lyon Deputy Mayor for Health, Prevention, and Environmental Health. “Being able to share our experiences, and hear from others like those in Korea, is critical to creating better health for all. This is why having the WHO Academy in Lyon is so important – it brings global experience to our doorstep and also amplifies our own lessons to the world.”

Global cooperation supporting local solutions

The collaboration between WHO and the City of Lyon is set to expand with several initiatives recently implemented or planned in the coming months. The city will begin contributing local case studies and examples of city-led innovation in health, environmental sustainability and social equity to the Healthy Cities and One Health flagship programmes. Plus, the Academy will soon start developing learning content for municipal leaders around the world, to be hosted on its online learning platform, based on Lyon’s experience in health-enabling urban planning, food systems and climate-responsive public health strategies.

“With the establishment of the WHO Academy campus, the City of Lyon is poised to further its contributions to public health, fostering innovation and collaboration to address global health challenges,” noted Dr Atchoarena. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner for the Academy, and working with the City of Lyon allows us to share a model for other global cities to follow.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau monitoring Interac’s commitment on e-transfer pricing

Source: Government of Canada News

Changes will help smaller banks compete by levelling the playing field in the financial services sector

July 10, 2025 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau is monitoring Interac’s commitment to change its wholesale e-transfer pricing structure from volume-based to a flat-fee, which is set to take place on November 1, 2025. Interac charges banks, credit unions and other financial institutions a wholesale fee for each e-transfer that their customers make.

Interac’s current tiered, volume-based pricing provides significant discounts to financial institutions that process large volumes of e-transfers. This benefits Canada’s largest banks who process hundreds of millions of
e-transfers each year but burdens smaller financial institutions with higher costs because they operate at a much lower volume.

Flat-fee pricing for e-transfers, where financial institutions of all sizes pay the same rate, will help level the playing field. This will support more competition and innovation in Canada’s financial services sector. More competition will allow Canadians to benefit from greater choice, lower prices and better service.

The Bureau will continue to monitor Interac’s e-transfer pricing and business practices to ensure they comply with the Competition Act. Businesses that have a dominant position in the market must not misuse their market power to create an unfair competitive advantage and hurt competition.

The Bureau urges Canadians to use the online complaint form to report any potential anti-competitive behaviour related to Interac’s commitment or its conduct in the marketplace.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Plenty of Water in Prairie Potholes

Source: US Geological Survey

Surface water in the prairie potholes is highly responsive to both air temperature and precipitation (Renton et al., 2105). In addition, a strong connection between groundwater and potholes is described as filling and subsequently spilling (Vanderhoof et al., 2016). When aquifers are full, surface water recedes slowly. Throughout the Dakotas, recent wet periods may be a part of natural variability that is likely to be repeated over longer time spans (Nustad et al., 2016; Ryberg et al., 2016; Liu and Schwartz, 2011).

Thirty-nine years of Annual NLCD land cover provide two good visual examples of prairie pothole flooding events: the Devils Lake area in northeastern North Dakota and Day County in northeastern South Dakota. Lakes, potholes and wetlands in those areas saw large increases in open water (Newsdakota.com, 2020). The James River, a tributary to the Missouri River that flows through Day County, also had recent flooding events (NASA, 2020).

Right: This map shows open water in North Dakota and South Dakota from 1985 to 2023. The colors indicate whether the open water areas gained or lost water, fluctuated between gains and losses or remained unchanged during that time period. Areas of special interest to this article are Devils Lake in North Dakota and Waubay Lake and Bitter Lake in South Dakota.

References:

^{Auch, R.F., 2015. Chapter 7, northern glaciated plains ecoregion.}^In ^{Status and Trends of Land Change in the Great Plains of the United States—1973 to 2000, Taylor, J.L., Acevedo, W., Auch, R.F., and Drummond, M.A. pp. 69-76. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1794-B, Reston, Va.}

^{Baulch, H.M., Elliott, J.A., Corderio, M.R.C., Flaten, D.N., Lobb, D.A., and Wilson, H.F., 2019. Soil and water management: opportunities to mitigate nutrient losses to surface waters in the Northern Great Plains. Environ. Rev. 27: 447–477.}^{https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/er-2018-0101}

^{Blackwell, B.G., Smith, B.J., Kaufman, T.M., and Moos, T.S., 2020. Use of a restrictive regulation to manage walleyes in a new glacial lake in South Dakota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 40:1202–1215.}^{https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nafm.10486}

^{Damschen, W.C., and Galloway, J.M., 2016, Water-surface elevation and discharge measurement data for the Red River of the North and its tributaries near Fargo, North Dakota, water years 2014–15: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1139, 16 p.,}^{https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20161139}

^{Hoogestraat, G.K., and Stamm, J.F., 2015, Climate and streamflow characteristics for selected streamgages in eastern South Dakota, water years 1945–2013; U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5146, 35 p., with appendix,}^{https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20155146}

^{Johnston, C.A., 2013, Wetland Losses Due to Row Crop Expansion in the Dakota Prairie Pothole Region; Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications, 95.}^{https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nrm_pubs/95/}

^{Liu, G. and Schwartz, F.W., 2011, An integrated observational and model-based analysis of the hydrologic response of prairie pothole systems to variability in climate; Water Resources Research, 47, W02504,}^{https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2010WR009084}

^{NASA, 2020,}^{https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146515/relentless-floods}

^{Newsdakota.com, 2020,}^{https://www.newsdakota.com/2020/08/07/excess-water-continues-to-plague-prairie-pothole-region/}

^{National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA), 2025, Climate at a Glance: National Time Series, published May 2025, accessed May 8, 2025, from}^{https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/national/time-series}

^{Nustad, R.A., Kolars, K.A., Vecchia, A.V., and Ryberg, K.R., 2016, 2011 Souris River flood—Will it happen again?; U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3073, 4 p.,}^{https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/fs20163073}

^{Renton, D.A., Mushet, D.M., and DeKeyser, E.S., 2015, Climate change and prairie pothole wetlands—Mitigating water-level and hydroperiod effects through upland management: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5004, 21 p.,}^{https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20155004}

^{Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., Akyüz, F.A., and Lin, W., 2016, Tree-ring-based estimates of long-term seasonal precipitation in the Souris River Region of Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Manitoba, Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressources hydriques, 41:3, 412-428, 17 p.,}^{https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07011784.2016.1164627}

^{Shapley, M.D., Johnson, W.C., Engstrom, D.R., and Osterkamp, W.R., 2005, Late-Holocene flooding and drought in the Northern Great Plains, USA, reconstructed from tree rings, lake sediments and ancient shorelines. The Holocene, 15 (1): 29-41.}

^{Todhunter, P.E. 2018, A volumetric water budget of Devils Lake (USA): non-stationary precipitation–runoff relationships in an amplifier terminal lake. Hydrological Sciences Journal, vol. 63 (9):1275–1291.}^{https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02626667.2018.1494385}

^{Todhunter, P.E., 2021, Hydrological basis of the Devils Lake, North Dakota (USA), terminal lake flood disaster.}^{Nat Hazards}¹⁰⁶^{, 2797–2824 (2021).}^{https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-021-04567-2}

^{USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, 2022, Lake levels rise: U.S. Geological Survey Earthshots webpage, 2022, accessed online 6/26/2025, at}^{https://eros.usgs.gov/earthshots/lake-levels-rise}

^{Vanderhoof, M.K., Alexander, L.C., and Todd, M.J., 2016a, Temporal and spatial patterns of wetland extent influence variability of surface water connectivity in the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Landscape Ecology 31, 805–824 (2016).}^{https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-015-0290-5}

^{Vanderhoof, M.K., and Alexander, L.C., 2016b, The Role of Lake Expansion in Altering the Wetland Landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Wetlands 36 (Suppl 2), 309–321.}^{https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-015-0728-1}

^{Vanderhoof, M.K., Christensen, J.R. and Alexander, L.C., 2017, Patterns and drivers for wetland connections in the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Wetlands Ecology and Management 25, 275–297.}^{https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11273-016-9516-9}

^{Vecchia, Aldo V., 2011, Simulation of the effects of Devils Lake outlet alternatives on future lake levels and water quality in the Sheyenne River and Red River of the North; 2011; SIR; 2011-5050.}

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: NCIS Deploys Special Agents aboard Guided-Missile Destroyers Patrolling Southern Border

Source: United States Navy

SAN DIEGO –The Navy deployed two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers in mid-March to conduct border security objectives in support of the U.S. Northern Command southern border mission: the USS Gravely (DDG 107) to the Gulf of America and the Caribbean, and the USS Stockdale (DDG 106) to the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this summer, the USS Cole (DDG 67) relieved the USS Gravely after 83 days of service to the mission.

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025

Category: AM-NC

The monetary policy stance

1 Introduction

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64th Round of the Geneva International Discussions: UK statement to the OSCE

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