Category: Asia

MIL-OSI Global: Why the energy transition won’t be green until mine waste disasters are prevented

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eva Marquis, Research Fellow in Critical Minerals and Circular Economy, University of Exeter

On February 18, contamination in the Kafue river, Zambia, led to a mass death of fish. Its water turned a deathly grey and adjacent farmland was poisoned. The drinking water it supplied to half a million residents of the town of Kitwe was suddenly cut off.

Reports suggest that this catastrophe was caused by the failure of the Chambishi tailings storage facility. Tailings are mixed liquid-solid mine wastes that remain after the valuable materials are removed from the crushed ores.

They are often stored in impoundments, held in place by dams made of rock (and other mine waste), that ideally are managed and kept safe. This storage is necessary because tailings often contain high concentrations of potentially toxic, radioactive and corrosive elements.

But tailings storage facilities can and do fail. The Chambishi failure was caused by a break in a wall between two tailings ponds containing acidic water. Fifty million litres of this water, equivalent to 20,000 Olympic swimming pools, spilled into a tributary of the Kafue river, and then into the river itself.

The Kafue is a lifeline, flowing through 990 miles (1,600km) of Zambia, providing water for around 5 million people and supporting fishing and agriculture. That lifeline is still threatened by the ongoing damage of this failure.

Chambishi is not alone. It is one of six major tailings incidents documented in the first three months of 2025, with others documented in Bolivia, Ghana, Philippines and Indonesia.

Tailings and transitions

Tailings are a produce of society’s voracious appetite for metals and materials. With growing demand for technologies for the energy transition, digitalisation and development, production of metals and materials and the volumes of tailings are set to vastly increase.

Identifying suitable sites for safe storage is likely to become more challenging. Space will become more of a premium as more tailings are produced, and risks will evolve with changing climate and growing global population. For instance, storage facility plans developed before mining begins may no longer be suitable for their intended use over the life of the operation.

The ability to safely store and manage tailings is a key factor in the development of metals projects. By extension, that’s fundamental to enabling an equitable and responsible energy transition.

Initiatives to improve the management and monitoring of tailings, developed by independent organisations and industry bodies, such as the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management and the International Council on Mining and Mineral’s Tailings Management Good Practice Guide. Although these initiatives are comprehensive, they do not minimise risks from past tailings storage practices or address the full costs involved.

Tailing ponds.
iofoto/Shutterstock

A broad range of technical, social and environmental uncertainties have been linked to the management of tailings storage facilities. These uncertainties, combined with financial practices such as discounting future costs, can result in future costs (such as long-term tailings management and rehabilitation) being underestimated in mining project cash flows, and sizeable costs for future generations.

Without a fully understanding of the true long-term costs, making the economic case for improved tailings management becomes that much harder.

Reducing risks and improving outcomes

Improved mechanisms for quantifying the cost of tailings in the short, medium and long term, whether tailings storage facilities fail or not, are essential for adequately financing these long-term legacies of mining. Mechanisms to reduce volumes of waste produced not only have the potential to improve project economics over the lifetime of a mine but can also enhance social and environmental outcomes both during and beyond the life of a mine.

Tailings can be used as sources of aggregate materials for construction and critical metals for the green transition, and for carbon capture and storage. These opportunities will be context specific, however, and there will not be a one-size-fits-all approach to tailings reduction and responsible management.

New mining paradigms, such as selective mining through precision drilling or in-situ electrokinetic “keyhole” techniques and extraction of metals from geothermal waters, may give us the ability to extract some metals without producing tailings.

Innovations in tailings storage, like using tailings to fill worked-out underground mining tunnels, can remove tailings from the surface environment, eliminating risk from landslides, dust, seepages and other hazards. Even with these efforts, tailings storage facilities will continue to be used and will need to be managed.

Reducing, reclaiming and regenerating the environments that have been negatively affected by tailings will require collaborative approaches. Financing is a clear barrier to responsible tailings management. Without knowing the true social, environmental and economic costs of tailings legacies, the ability to overcome this barrier to responsible management is hampered.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

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Eva Marquis receives funding from EPSRC, NERC, and Innovate UK.

Karen Hudson-Edwards receives funding from NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC, the Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK), the Royal Society and the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

– ref. Why the energy transition won’t be green until mine waste disasters are prevented – https://theconversation.com/why-the-energy-transition-wont-be-green-until-mine-waste-disasters-are-prevented-252436

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Indiana Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by March Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 15. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.

The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Harrison and Orange, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Lawrence, Martin and Washington in Indiana, and as well as Hardin, Jefferson, Meade in Kentucky.

Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

SBA’s EIDL program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Harrison and Orange counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

Harrison County

Harrison Government Center

245 Atwood St.

Corydon, IN 47112

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

 Orange County

 Orleans Town Hall

161 E Price Ave.

Orleans, IN 47452

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Indiana Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by March Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.

The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Bartholomew and Lake, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jasper, Jennings, Johnson, Newton, Porter, and Shelby in Indiana as well as Cook, Kankakee, and Will in Illinois.

Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

SBA’s EIDL program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Bartholomew and Lake counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

Bartholomew County

United Way Bartholomew County

1531 13th St.

Columbus, IN 47201

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)

 Lake County

 Monroe Center

4101 Washington St.

Gary, IN 46408

Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Cardinal Tagle: Pope Francis, Successor of Peter and Beloved Disciple

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

VaticanMedia

by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim TagleFides Agency publishes the homily delivered by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle today, Friday, April 25, during Holy Mass—which he presided over—celebrated with the working community of the Dicastery for Evangelization in suffrage for the soul of Pope Francis, in the Chapel of the Magi Kings, in the Palace of Propaganda Fide:Rome (Fides Agency) – On this Friday within the Octave of Easter, we thank the Risen Lord who forms us as His body of disciples and witnesses. As we continue contemplating with amazement the renewing presence and action of the Risen Lord, attested to in our scripture readings, we also offer our fervent prayers for Pope Francis. May he enjoy the eternal embrace of the merciful Father.The Gospel recounts the fishing activity of Simon Peter and six other disciples after the Resurrection. That night they caught nothing. The boat returned empty which meant no food on the table and loss of fervor. The Risen Lord, though unrecognized by them, recognized their emptiness. He directed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They caught an abundant amount of fish. He turned their emptiness into fullness. Who is he? Who is this stranger? The Beloved disciple said to Peter, “it is the Lord!” With the eyes of love, he discerned, detected and proclaimed the presence of the Risen Lord.When our work, life and projects seem empty, do not lose heart. Look around. Open your ears. The Risen Lord is near and might be pointing to a new direction even if it sounds absurd. Do not insist on your idea or plan when it already proves empty. Stubborn pride leads to emptiness. Let the Risen Lord direct us. He catches the fish, we just haul the net to the shore. As we marvel at the catch that we did not produce, we declare, “It is the Lord.”This is the same proclamation made by Peter and the Beloved disciple, to the people, the heads, the elders and the scribes who questioned their power in the healing of lame man. They said, “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene…this man was healed.” It is the Lord!We are used to the tandem St Peter and St Paul. But our two readings highlight the partnership between St. Peter and the Beloved disciple. In the Gospel of John, the Beloved Disciple is not named although Tradition has associated him with St. John. The Beloved Disciple opens Peter’s eyes to recognize the Lord and His deeds in Peter’s activities. I want to believe that the Beloved Disciple helps Peter remain humble, always attributing to the Lord, and not to his own effort, every fruitful catch and good deed.Each one of us needs both Peter and the Beloved Disciple in his heart. A Peter who acts and a Beloved Disciple who points to Jesus, the source of our fruitfulness.In this mass we pray to the merciful Father to welcome into His Kingdom our beloved Pope Francis. These past twelve years, he has been the Successor of Peter. But I have known him also as the Beloved Disciple.We were together in the Synod of Bishops on The Eucharist in 2005 as delegates of our respective episcopal conferences. At the end of the synod we were both elected to the Ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops for a term of three years. In 2008 we were speakers in the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec, Canada. He represented Latin America while I represented Asia. I often expressed to him my limited knowledge of the topics assigned to me and my lack of preparation for speeches. But he never failed to encourage me, to help me see the hand of the Lord. From Buenos Aires he wrote to me letters of congratulations when he heard of something good that I had done. But I did not respond to any of them. He believed in me more than I trusted in myself.During meetings he always joked with me. We took jokes seriously. For the conclave of 2013, our flights arrived in Fiumicino airport a few minutes apart. Seeing me he said, “what is this little boy doing here?” To which I responded, “and what is this old man doing here?” A few days later I had to call him “Your Holiness.”When I was called to work in the Roman Curia, I thought it was just a joke. It ended up being a serious joke. To make up for all the letters I did not answer, this time I said “Yes”. I suppose that in his eyes I am always a little boy. In my private audiences with him, his first question was always, “How are your parents?” Before dealing with documents and “business”, he reminded me of my parents and of myself as a child.There is much to remember and to celebrate in the successor of Peter who is a beloved disciple but let me close with an experience during his pastoral visit to the Philippines in 2015. He was surprised to see the millions of people who welcomed him on his arrival in Manila. Before descending the Popemobile in the apostolic nunciature he asked me, “how much did you pay those people?” I quickly answered, “I promised them eternal life if they greeted the Successor of Peter.” Turning serious, he said, “they did not come out to see me. They came to see Jesus.”The Beloved Disciple has another name, Peter.(Fides Agency 25/4/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: India and Pakistan tension escalates with suspension of historic water treaty

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Haines, Associate Professor in the History of Risk and Disaster, UCL

India has taken the highly significant step of suspending the 1960 Indus waters treaty, which governs water sharing with Pakistan, as part of its response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed at least 26 people.

India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, said that “the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism”.

India holds Pakistan responsible for the attack, and has responded by putting in place several other measures including telling Pakistani nationals to leave the country.

The attack happened in Pahalgam in the part of Kashmir controlled by India. Both India and Pakistan claim the region, which has been the site of several military conflicts since 1947 and a long-running insurgency since the 1990s.

The thorny question of shared rivers — a legacy of the partition of India and Pakistan at independence from British rule in 1947 — is now entangled with the larger, and escalating, dispute between the counties.

A formal letter from India’s water resources ministry cited both “sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan” and Pakistan’s refusal to renegotiate the terms of the treaty as key reasons for its suspension.

The treaty suspension could harm Pakistani agriculture in the short term, and seriously disrupt downstream irrigation water supplies to farmers. Significantly, the decision abruptly changes the treaty’s status from an agreement that has been largely (if not fully) insulated from the decades-long conflict between India and Pakistan.

The 1960 treaty splits the management of the transnational Indus River basin between the two countries. India gained full rights over the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, three tributaries of the Indus River known collectively as the eastern rivers. Pakistan gained most of the rights over three western rivers – the Indus main stem and two more tributaries, the Jhelum and Chenab.

Depoliticising water, and building towards peace in Kashmir, were two starting points for the eight years of World Bank-sponsored negotiations that produced the treaty. The treaty’s success has been to make water sharing a bureaucratic process and reducing the political heat.

Reporting on attacks on tourists in Kashmir.

More recently, growing disagreement has stemmed from India’s right to build some hydropower plants on the western rivers. Pakistan has objected to Indian project designs, arguing that they breach the terms of the treaty. India has accused Pakistan of intransigence in blocking its projects.

Since 2023, when India demanded amendments to the treaty, the two countries have held inconclusive talks. The suspension of the treaty is a new move, but also a logical development of increasing bilateral tensions over the treaty, which was kept separate from security issues for decades.

Indian politicians threatened to reduce water supplies to Pakistan in response to terrorist attacks in 2016 and 2019. The threat to punish Pakistan is likely to play well in India while public shock and anger over the attack is fresh. It also distracts attention from questions about possible Indian intelligence failures.

But previous threats stopped short of putting the Indus waters treaty into abeyance, so the suspension now needs to be taken seriously.

The impact will vary depending on how long it lasts. With the treaty suspended, India could change the way it operates existing water-control infrastructure on the western rivers.

Its engineers could flush sediment out of the reservoir of the upstream Kishenganga hydroelectric project and then refill the reservoir over a period of days. Previously, under the treaty, this could only be done during the peak monsoon period when water levels are highest.

It could now happen earlier, refilling reservoirs just when downstream farmers in Pakistan, who depend heavily on river water for irrigation, need a plentiful supply at the beginning of the crop-sowing season. India could also stop sharing water-flow data with Pakistan, making it harder for the latter to plan the management of its own hydropower and flood-control infrastructure.

Longer term, India could construct bigger projects on the western rivers that do not need to comply with the Indus waters treaty’s restrictions, more seriously reducing water availability in Pakistan. It would take years, though, for India to build these projects.

What does India hope to gain?

India stands to gain from using the treaty as leverage. The demand that Pakistan “abjure its support for cross-border terrorism” holds the resumption of water cooperation hostage to progress on a wider point of bilateral conflict, and strengthens India’s hand in renegotiating the treaty.

Internationally, treaty suspension may seem a comparatively measured response by India. Other forms of signalling displeasure, such as nuclear posturing, are too reputationally risky for a country that has worked hard to project itself as a responsible nuclear-armed state.

But Indian leaders will be aware that stopping the flow of the Indus waters is a potential red line for Pakistan and that Indian decisions about water sharing could goad Pakistan into nuclear threats.

India’s decision to suspend the water treaty has already predictably pushed Pakistan to make a subtle nuclear threat on April 24. It suggested that blocking or diverting water allocated to Pakistan under the treaty would be an “act of war,” and that it would consider the “complete spectrum of national power” as a response.

An escalation of rhetoric has already ensued between the two countries, with Pakistan announcing that it would “exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India… in abeyance”, including the Simla agreement that ended the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

Fears of escalation

There are fears that the current crisis could follow the path of the dangerous escalation seen in 2019, when Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, authorised an airstrike on Pakistani soil following a terror attack that killed dozens of Indian security personnel. Pakistan responded with airstrikes on Indian-administered Kashmir before both sides found a way to deescalate the situation.

Today, the US, a traditional mediator between these two nations at crisis moments, may play a hands-off role. However, new facilitators such as China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE seemingly played a part in winding down tensions in 2019, and could step in again.

On concluding the Indus waters negotiations in 1960, then Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, spoke of the treaty as “a happy symbol not only in this domain of the use of the Indus valley waters, but in the larger co-operation between the two countries”. The logic is now reversed. The current Indian government has woven water sharing and conflict back together.

Daniel Haines has received funding from United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) for his work on South Asian history and water politics via a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship and an AHRC-ESRC-FCO Knowledge Exchange Fellowship.

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

– ref. India and Pakistan tension escalates with suspension of historic water treaty – https://theconversation.com/india-and-pakistan-tension-escalates-with-suspension-of-historic-water-treaty-255331

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Eight Guatemalan Nationals Indicted for Smuggling Illegal Aliens into the United States for Cash

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

TULSA, Okla. – Eight Guatemalan nationals were indicted in court for allegedly being paid to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States from Guatemala, Mexico, and other countries in Central or South America, including Asia. The activity is alleged to have occurred over the past four years. Once across the Mexico border, the defendants would further help conceal and harbor aliens illegally across more than 24 states.

“For the past four years, this illegal alien smuggling group has operated and laundered proceeds in the Northern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “These defendants would not be in custody today without federal and state law enforcement working collaboratively, with prosecutors across the United States. The arrest and ongoing investigation surrounding these Guatemalan Nationals, and their conspirators not only protects the citizens in the Northern District of Oklahoma but also further protects lawful citizens across the United States.”

“ICE is committed to pursuing human smugglers regardless of their location or attempts to evade arrest,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas. “This indictment indicates the extensive nature of our human smuggling investigations and role in immigration enforcement. HSI’s special agents across several field offices have worked relentlessly to trace those transporting and harboring aliens from their countries of origin to their final destinations, effectively dismantling their illegal smuggling operations and money laundering schemes.”

Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez, 39, and Ottoniel Castro Argueta, 33, were arrested today in Charlotte, North Carolina; Veronica Maribel Lima Lopez, 33, and Esvin Alexander Rodriguez Luis, 26, were arrested in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ariz Obdulio Argueta, 28, and Cesar Rodolfo Garcia Argueta, 20, were arrested in Clarksville, Arkansas; Pedro Cucul Gualna, 25, was arrested in Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Carlos Enrique Ramos Caal, 30, was arrested in Flagstaff, Arizona. All are charged with conspiring to bring, transport, and conceal aliens in the United States.

Ottoniel Castro Argueta and Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez are further charged with engaging in monetary transactions with the proceeds from the conspiracy.

During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that the aliens being helped across the border did not have prior authorization to enter and reside in the United States. Once inside the United States, the defendants would help harbor the aliens in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.

The indictment alleges that several associates in Central and South America accepted various forms of payment from the aliens to be brought into the United States illegally. While the investigation is still ongoing, the indictment shows that aliens paid roughly $5,000 per alien to enter the United States. Proceeds from the illegal aliens were laundered through mobile applications and banks across the United States, including the Northern District of Oklahoma.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Flagstaff, and Charlotte Homeland Security Investigations field offices; the Tulsa, McAlester and Greensboro, North Carolina Drug Enforcement Administration field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City IRS field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations field offices; and the U.S. Marshals offices in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Western District of Arkansas are investigating the case with the assistance of several state law enforcement agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McConney and David Nasar are prosecuting the case with assistance from the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the Western District of Oklahoma.

An indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America. The Homeland Security Task Force, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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, 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Lame Deer man sentenced to 2 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who distributed methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Shannon Tyrone Seminole, 50, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in the spring of 2022, law enforcement received reports that Shannon Seminole was selling methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Agents arranged two controlled purchases from Seminole, one in December 2022 and the other in September 2023. Following the second buy, agents executed a search of Seminole’s residence. During the search, agents seized an airsoft pistol and an AR-15 upper receiver and bolt.

In an interview, Seminole admitted to providing methamphetamine to the many drug users that helped him with his work. He admitted selling methamphetamine starting when he was released from jail three years prior. His source provided him with a regular supply of meth that he would sell. Seminole also admitted he carried firearms when selling drugs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the FBI.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

XXX

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chair’s Statement: Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC – Mr. Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister for Finance of Saudi Arabia
Source: IMF – News in Russian

April 25, 2025

In the context of the Fifty-First Meeting of the IMFC that took place in Washington, D.C. on 24^th and 25^th April, IMFC members welcomed the ongoing efforts to end wars and conflicts, recognizing that peace is essential to restoring stability and fostering sustainable growth. IMFC members underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. They acknowledged, however, that the IMFC is not a forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues which are discussed in other fora.

The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow and intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and build a more prosperous future. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate this challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We thank our Deputies for discussing the medium-term direction of the IMF during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, and we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration.
1. The world economy is at a pivotal juncture. Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability. Near-term growth is projected to slow, while disinflation is expected to continue but at a slower pace. Intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook, in an already challenging context of weak growth and high public debt. Wars and conflicts impose a heavy humanitarian and economic toll. Transformative forces, such as digitalization/artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and climate transitions are creating opportunities, but also challenges.
1. We will step up our efforts to strengthen economic resilience and break from the low-growth, high-debt path, while harnessing transformative forces, to build a more prosperous future. Comprehensive and well calibrated, well sequenced, and well communicated reforms and policy actions are needed to boost private sector-led growth, productivity, and job creation. We will pursue sound macroeconomic policies and advance structural reforms to improve the business environment, streamline excessive regulation, fight corruption, and mobilize innovation and technology adoption. We will deepen our pivot toward growth-friendly fiscal adjustments to ensure debt sustainability and rebuild buffers where needed. Fiscal adjustments should be mindful of distributional impacts and underpinned by a credible medium-term consolidation plan, while strengthening the efficiency of public spending, protecting the vulnerable, and supporting growth-enhancing public and private investments, taking into account country circumstances. Central banks remain strongly committed to maintaining price stability, in line with their respective mandates, and will continue to adjust their policies in a data dependent and well-communicated manner. We will continue to closely monitor and, as necessary, tackle financial vulnerabilities and risks to financial stability, while harnessing the benefits of innovation. We will work together to improve the resilience of the world economy and build prosperity and ensure the stability and effective functioning of the international monetary system. We will also work together to address excessive global imbalances, support an open, fair and rules-based international economic order, and reinforce supply chain resilience. We reaffirm our April 2021 exchange rate commitments.
1. We will continue to support countries as they undertake reforms and address debt vulnerabilities and debt service challenges. We acknowledge the specific challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable countries, including fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) and small developing states (SDS), which are further compounded by recent decrease in official development assistance. We underline the importance of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. We welcome the progress made on debt treatments under the G20 Common Framework (CF) and beyond. We remain committed to addressing global debt vulnerabilities in an effective, comprehensive, and systematic manner, including further stepping up the CF’s implementation in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner, and enhancing debt transparency. We look forward to further work at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on ways to address debt vulnerabilities and restructuring challenges. We encourage the IMF and the World Bank to help advance the implementation of the 3-pillar approach to address debt service pressures in countries with sustainable debt, including through supporting them to implement growth-enhancing reforms, mobilize domestic resources, and attract private capital. We look forward to the review of the Low-Income Country Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC-DSF).
1. We welcome the Managing Director’s Global Policy Agenda.
1. We support further sharpening the focus of surveillance based on analytical rigor, evenhandedness, and tailored policy advice. We welcome a strong focus on helping countries strengthen their economic resilience and achieve macroeconomic and financial stability and sustainable growth by increasing productivity, addressing macro-critical risks, reducing excessive imbalances, achieving debt sustainability, and mitigating disruptive capital flows and exchange rate volatility. We look forward to the Comprehensive Surveillance Review that will set future surveillance priorities and modalities; and the Review of Financial Sector Assessment Programs to keep financial surveillance in step with evolving financial stability risks.
1. We look forward to the Review of Program Design and Conditionality to strengthen further the effectiveness of IMF-supported programs and to the Review of the Short-Term Liquidity Line. We also look forward to the assessment of the Global Financial Safety Net, including the role of Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), and its ability to safeguard global financial stability.
1. We support efforts to further strengthen capacity development and to ensure the sustainability of financing. We welcome the IMF’s ongoing work with the World Bank on the Joint Domestic Resource Mobilization Initiative. We welcome a more flexible and tailored delivery, better integrated with policy advice and program design, as set out in the 2024 Capacity Development Strategy Review.
1. We reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF at the center of the GFSN. We have advanced the domestic approvals for our consent to the quota increase under the 16^th General Review of Quotas and we look forward to the finalization of this process as soon as possible. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. We acknowledge, however, that building consensus among members on quota and governance reforms will require progress in stages. In this regard, we agree on the annexed Diriyah Declaration on the way forward.
1. We underline the critical role of the IMF in helping us navigate the current challenging environment, as a trusted advisor and champion of strong policy frameworks. We reaffirm our commitment to the institution and look forward to discussing further ways to ensure the Fund remains agile and focused, working in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We reiterate our appreciation for staff’s high-quality work and dedication to support the membership and continue to encourage further efforts to improve regional and women’s representation within staff positions, and women’s representation at the Executive Board and in Board leadership positions.
1. Our next meeting is expected to be held in October 2025.
Annexed Diriyah Declaration

Recalling the October 2024 IMFC Chair’s Statement, which stated: “We reiterate our strong commitment to the Fund on its 80th anniversary and look forward to further discussing at our next meeting ways to ensure the Fund remains well-equipped to meet future challenges, in line with its mandate, and in collaboration with partners and other IFIs. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.”; and

Drawing on the work advanced by our Deputies, who met in the historic town of Diriyah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025, to prepare for this discussion;

We thank our Deputies and agree on the following Diriyah Declaration on the way forward with regard to IMFC processes and IMF quota and governance reforms.

*****

Enhancing IMFC Processes

We agree that the IMFC plays a key role in the IMF’s governance structure, offering the IMF Board of Governors trusted advice and providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the Fund through structured, high-level, and consensus-driven policy guidance on all relevant issues.

To enhance its effectiveness as a forum for effective engagement and consensus-building on complex challenges, we agree to further strengthen IMFC processes. To this end, we welcome recent improvements to the format of the Introductory IMFC session and the use of concise, accessible communiqués to effectively convey key IMFC messages to a broader audience. Moreover, we agree that deputy-level meetings focused on strategic rather than routine issues could support the work of IMFC principals.

We appreciate the value of engagement across the international financial architecture, including with Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs), to enhance cooperation and strengthen the resilience of the international monetary system.

Strengthening IMF Governance

We note that the world economy currently faces significant challenges and agree that the IMF makes a vital contribution to international cooperation, providing a long-established and trusted institution for policy discussions informed by rigorous analysis. We stress that the IMF’s mandate to promote macroeconomic and financial stability remains as relevant as ever, and its role to support members in addressing macroeconomic challenges through analysis and policy advice, capacity development, and financing where relevant, is key. We agree on the need to ensure that the institution remains strong, quota-based, adequately resourced, and efficiently managed to fulfil its mandate at the center of the global financial safety net.

We agree that a strong, inclusive, and representative governance framework is fundamental to maintaining the Fund’s credibility and legitimacy among its diverse membership. Strengthening IMF governance will support its continued ability to effectively promote consensus among the membership in addressing global challenges. These efforts are also essential to fostering multilateralism and international cooperation.

Given the strategic importance of governance reforms, we recognize that progress toward consensus should be made in stages. In this context, we agree to develop as a first step a set of general principles to guide future discussions and help foster convergence of views. Work on these principles should be completed in a timely manner to help ensure the efficient progression of future General Reviews of Quotas (GRQs), including under the 17^th GRQ. Establishing these guiding principles would help ensure that governance changes are gradual, widely acceptable, and reflective of the interests of the entire membership, as well as maintain the Fund’s financial soundness.

The Way Forward

We agree that implementation of the 16^th GRQ remains a priority. We recognize that realignment in quota shares should aim at better reflecting members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the voice of the poorest members. To build consensus on future governance reforms, including under the 17^th GRQ, we call on the Executive Board to develop, by the 2026 Spring Meetings, a set of principles to guide future discussions on IMF quotas and governance, drawing from the deliberations by IMFC Deputies during their meeting in Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 6-7, 2025. We look forward to a discussion of the status of advancement of this work at our next meeting. We ask our Deputies to prepare for this discussion.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

ATTENDANCE

Chair

Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia

Managing Director

Kristalina Georgieva

Members or Alternates

Ayman Alsayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, Saudi Arabia (Alternate for Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia)

Mohammed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, United Arab Emirates

Edgar Amador Zamora, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Mexico

Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, United States

Edouard Normand Bigendako, Governor, Bank of the Republic of Burundi

Luis Caputo, Minister of Economy, Argentina

Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada (Alternate for Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance, Canada)

Sang Mok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Republic of Korea

Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy

Gabriel Galipolo, Governor, Central Bank of Brazil (Alternate for Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance, Brazil)

Jan Jambon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Pensions, National Lottery and Federal Culture Institutions, Belgium

Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Finance, Japan

Daniela Stoffel, State Secretary for International Finance, Federal Department of Finance, Switzerland (Alternate for Karin Keller-Sutter, Minister of Finance, Switzerland)

Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, South African Reserve Bank, South Africa

Jörg Kukies, Federal Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Germany

François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Bank of France (Alternate for Eric Lombard, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France)

Adebayo Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Nigeria

Gongsheng Pan, Governor of the People’s Bank of China

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, H.M. Treasury, United Kingdom

Pavel Snisorenko, Director, Department of International Financial Relations (Alternate for Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance, Russian Federation)

Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (Alternate for Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, India)

Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, Republic of Türkiye

Salah-Eddine Taleb, Governor, Bank of Algeria

Perry Warjiyo, Governor, Bank of Indonesia

Ida Wolden Bache, Governor, Bank of Norway

Observers

Agustín Carstens, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Elisabeth Svantesson, Chair, Development Committee (DC) and Minister for Finance, Sweden

Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank (ECB)

Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, European Commission (EC)

Klaas Knot, Chair, Financial Stability Board (FSB) and President of De Nederlandsche Bank

Celeste Drake, Deputy Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)

Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Mohannad Alsuwaidan, Economic Analyst, Petroleum Studies Department, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, United Nations (UN)

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, The World Bank (WB)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

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

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/04/25/pr-123-imfc-chairs-statement-fifty-first-meeting-of-the-imfc

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next?

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jeffrey Fields, Associate Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A mural on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts two men in negotiation. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Negotiators from Iran and the United States are set to meet again in Oman on April 26, prompting hopes the two countries might be moving, albeit tentatively, toward a new nuclear accord.

The scheduled talks follow the two previous rounds of indirect negotiations that have taken place under the new Trump administration. Those discussions were deemed to have yielded enough progress to merit sending nuclear experts from both sides to begin outlining the specifics of a potential framework for a deal.

The development is particularly notable given that Trump, in 2018, unilaterally walked the U.S. away from a multilateral agreement with Iran. That deal, negotiated during the Obama presidency, put restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump{,} instead turned to a policy that involved tightening the financial screws on Iran through enhanced sanctions while issuing implicit military threats.

But that approach failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.

Now, rather than revive the maximum pressure policy of his first term, Trump – ever keen to be seen as a dealmaker – has given his team the green light for the renewed diplomacy and even reportedly rebuffed, for now, Israel’s desire to launch military strikes against Tehran.

Jaw-jaw over war-war

The turn to diplomacy returns Iran-US relations to where they began during the Obama administration, with attempts to encourage Iran to curb or eliminate its ability to enrich uranium.

Only this time, with the U.S. having left the previous deal in 2018, Iran has had seven years to improve on its enrichment capability and stockpile vastly more uranium than had been allowed under the abandoned accord.

As a long-time expert on U.S. foreign policy and nuclear nonproliferation, I believe Trump has a unique opportunity to not only reinstate a similar nuclear agreement to the one he rejected, but also forge a more encompassing deal – and foster better relations with the Islamic Republic in the process.

The front pages of Iran’s newspapers in a sidewalk newsstand in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2025.
Alireza/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

There are real signs that a potential deal could be in the offing, and it is certainly true that Trump likes the optics of dealmaking.

But an agreement is by no means certain. Any progress toward a deal will be challenged by a number of factors, not least internal divisions and opposition within the Trump administration and skepticism among some in the Islamic Republic, along with uncertainty over a succession plan for the aging Ayatollah Khamenei.

Conservative hawks are still abundant in both countries and could yet derail any easing of diplomatic tensions.

A checkered diplomatic past

There are also decades of mistrust to overcome.

It is an understatement to say that the U.S. and Iran have had a fraught relationship, such as it is, since the Iranian revolution of 1979 and takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran the same year.

Many Iranians would say relations have been strained since 1953, when the U.S. and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran.

Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and the two countries have been locked in a decadeslong battle for influence in the Middle East. Today, tensions remain high over Iranian support for a so-called axis of resistance against the West and in particular U.S. interests in the Middle East. That axis includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

For its part, Tehran has long bristled at American hegemony in the region, including its resolute support for Israel and its history of military action. In recent years that U.S. action has included the direct assaults on Iranian assets and personnel. In particular, Tehran is still angry about the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Standing atop these various disputes, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have proved a constant source of contention for the United States and Israel, the latter being the only nuclear power in the region.

The prospect of warmer relations between the two sides first emerged during the Obama administration – though Iran sounded out the Bush administration in 2003 only to be rebuffed.

U.S. diplomats began making contact with Iranian counterparts in 2009 when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met with an Iranian negotiator in Geneva. The so-called P5+1 began direct negotiations with Iran in 2013. This paved the way for the eventual Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015. In that agreement – concluded by the U.S., Iran, China, Russia and a slew of European nations – Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program, including limits on the level to which it could enrich uranium, which was capped well short of what would be necessary for a nuclear weapon. In return, multilateral and bilateral U.S. sanctions would be removed.

Many observers saw it as a win-win, with the restraints on a burgeoning nuclear power coupled with hopes that greater economic engagement with the international community that might temper some of Iran’s more provocative foreign policy behavior.

Yet Israel and Saudi Arabia worried the deal did not entirely eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, and right-wing critics in the U.S. complained it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programs or support for militant groups in the region.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, draws a red line on a graphic of a bomb while discussing Iran at the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

When Trump first took office in 2016, he and his foreign policy team pledged to reverse Obama’s course and close the door on any diplomatic opening. Making good on his pledge, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. support for the JCPOA despite Iran’s continued compliance with the terms of the agreement and reinstated sanctions.

Donald the dealmaker?

So what has changed? Well, several things.

While Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA was welcomed by Republicans, it did nothing to stop Iran from enhancing its ability to enrich uranium.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, eager to transform its image and diversify economically, now supports a deal it opposed during the Obama administration.

In this second term, Trump’s anti-Iran impulses are still there. But despite his rhetoric of a military option should a deal not be struck, Trump has on numerous occasions stated his opposition to U.S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.

In addition, Iran has suffered a number of blows in recent years that has left it more isolated in the region. Iranian-aligned Hamas and Hezbollah have been seriously weakened as a result of military action by Israel. Meanwhile, strikes within Iran by Israel have shown the potential reach of Israeli missiles – and the apparent willingness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use them. Further, the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has deprived Iran of another regional ally.

Tehran is also contending with a more fragile domestic economy than it had during negotiations for JCPOA.

With Iran weakened regionally and Trump’s main global focus being China, a diplomatic avenue with Iran seems entirely in line with Trump’s view of himself as a dealmaker.

A deal is not a given

With two rounds of meetings completed and the move now to more technical aspects of a possible agreement negotiated by experts, there appears to be a credible window of opportunity for diplomacy.

This could mean a new agreement that retains the core aspects of the deal Trump previously abandoned. I’m not convinced a new deal will look any different from the previous in terms of the enrichment aspect.

There are still a number of potential roadblocks standing in the way of any potential deal, however.

As was the case with Trump’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, the president seems to be less interested in details than spectacle. While it was quite amazing for an American leader to meet with his North Korean counterpart, ultimately, no policy meaningfully changed because of it.

On Iran and other issues, the president displays little patience for complicated policy details. Complicating matters is that the U.S. administration is riven by intense factionalism, with many Iran hawks who would be seemingly opposed to a deal – including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. They could rub up against newly confirmed Undersecretary of Defense for policy Elbridge Colby and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom have in the past advocated for a more pro-diplomacy line on Iran.

As has become a common theme in Trump administration foreign policy – even with its own allies on issues like trade – it’s unclear what a Trump administration policy on Iran actually is, and whether a political commitment exists to carry through any ultimate deal.

Top Trump foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, who has no national security experience, has exemplified this tension. Tasked with leading negotiations with Iran, Witkoff has already having been forced to walk back his contention that the U.S. was only seeking to cap the level of uranium enrichment rather than eliminate the entirety of the program.

For its part, Iran has proved that it is serious about diplomacy, previously having accepted Barack Obama’s “extended hand.”

But Tehran is unlikely to capitulate on core interests or allow itself to be humiliated by the terms of any agreement.

Ultimately, the main question to watch is whether a deal with Iran is to be concluded by pragmatists – and then to what extent, narrow or expansive – or derailed by hawks within the administration.

Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

– ref. In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next? – https://theconversation.com/in-talking-with-tehran-trump-is-reversing-course-on-iran-could-a-new-nuclear-deal-be-next-254770

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Fazlul Haq, Postdoctoral Scholar at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University

The Indus River Valley in the cold desert of Ladakh, India. Pallava Bagla/Getty Images

In 1995, World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin warned that whereas the conflicts of the previous 100 years had been over oil, “the wars of the next century will be fought over water.”

Thirty years on, that prediction is being tested in one of the world’s most volatile regions: Kashmir.

On April 24, 2025, the government of India announced that it would downgrade diplomatic ties with its neighbor Pakistan over an attack by militants in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. As part of that cooling of relations, India said it would immediately suspend the Indus Waters Treaty – a decades-old agreement that allowed both countries to share water use from the rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. Pakistan has promised reciprocal moves and warned that any disruption to its water supply would be considered “an act of war.”

The current flareup escalated quickly, but has a long history. At the Indus Basin Water Project at the Ohio State University, we are engaged in a multiyear project investigating the transboundary water dispute between Pakistan and India.

Fazlul Haq walks through the Gargo Glacier floodplain in the Upper Indus Basin.
Fazlul Haq/Indus Basin Water Project/Ohio State University, CC BY-SA

I am currently in Pakistan conducting fieldwork in Kashmir and across the Indus Basin. Geopolitical tensions in the region, which have been worsened by the recent attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, do pose a major threat to the water treaty. So too does another factor that is helping escalate the tensions: climate change

A fair solution to water disputes

The Indus River has supported life for thousands of years since the Harappan civilization, which flourished around 2600 to 1900 B.C.E. in what is now Pakistan and northwest India.

After the partition of India in 1947, control of the Indus River system became a major source of tension between the two nations that emerged from partition: India and Pakistan. Disputes arose almost immediately, particularly when India temporarily halted water flow to Pakistan in 1948, prompting fears over agricultural collapse. These early confrontations led to years of negotiations, culminating in the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960.

Fazlul Haq/Bryan Mark/Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center/Ohio State University, CC BY

Brokered by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty has long been hailed as one of the most successful transboundary water agreements.

It divided the Indus Basin between the two countries, giving India control over the eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas and Sutlej – and Pakistan control over the western rivers: Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

At the time, this was seen as a fair solution. But the treaty was designed for a very different world. Back then, India and Pakistan were newly independent countries working to establish themselves amid a world divided by the Cold War.

When it was signed, Pakistan’s population was 46 million, and India’s was 436 million. Today, those numbers have surged to over 240 million and 1.4 billion, respectively.

Today, more than 300 million people rely on the Indus River Basin for their survival.

This has put increased pressure on the precious source of water that sits between the two nuclear rivals. The effects of global warming, and the continued fighting over the disputed region of Kashmir, has only added to those tensions.

Impact of melting glaciers

Many of the problems of today are down to what wasn’t included in the treaty, rather than what was.

At the time of signing, there was a lack of comprehensive studies on glacier mass balance. The assumption was that the Himalayan glaciers, which feed the Indus River system, were relatively stable.

This lack of detailed measurements meant that future changes due to climate variability and glacial melt were not factored into the treaty’s design, nor were factors such as groundwater depletion, water pollution from pesticides, fertilizer use and industrial waste. Similarly, the potential for large-scale hydraulic development of the region through dams, reservoirs, canals and hydroelectricity were largely ignored in the treaty.

Reflecting contemporary assumptions about the stability of glaciers, the negotiators assumed that hydrological patterns would remain persistent with the historic flows.

Instead, the glaciers feeding the Indus Basin began to melt. In fact, they are now melting at record rates.

Construction site of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam along the Indus River.
Fazlul Haq/Indus Basin Water Project/Ohio State University

The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2023 was globally the driest year in over three decades, with below-normal river flows disrupting agriculture and ecosystems. Global glaciers also saw their largest mass loss in 50 years, releasing over 600 gigatons of water into rivers and oceans.

The Himalayan glaciers, which supply 60-70% of the Indus River’s summer flow, are shrinking rapidly. A 2019 study estimates they are losing 8 billion tons of ice annually.

And a study by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development found that Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan glaciers melted 65% faster in 2011–2020 compared with the previous decade.

The rate of glacier melt poses a significant challenge to the treaty’s long-term effectiveness to ensure essential water for all the people who rely on the Indus River Basin. While it may temporarily increase river flow, it threatens the long-term availability of water.

Indeed, if this trend continues, water shortages will intensify, particularly for Pakistan, which depends heavily on the Indus during dry seasons.

Another failing of the Indus Waters Treaty is that it only addresses surface water distribution and does not include provisions for managing groundwater extraction, which has become a significant issue in both India and Pakistan.

In the Punjab region – often referred to as the breadbasket of both nations – heavy reliance on groundwater is leading to overexploitation and depletion.

Groundwater now contributes a large portion – about 48% – of water withdrawals in the Indus Basin, particularly during dry seasons. Yet there is no transboundary framework to oversee the shared management of this resource as reported by the World Bank.

A disputed region

It wasn’t just climate change and groundwater that were ignored by the drafters of the Indus Waters Treaty. Indian and Pakistan negotiators also neglected the issue and status of Kashmir.

Kashmir has been at the heart of India-Pakistan tensions since Partition in 1947. At the time of independence, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was given the option to accede to either India or Pakistan. Though the region had a Muslim majority, the Hindu ruler chose to accede to India, triggering the first India-Pakistan war.

This led to a U.N.-mediated ceasefire in 1949 and the creation of the Line of Control, effectively dividing the territory between Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Since then, Kashmir has remained a disputed territory, claimed in full by both countries and serving as the flashpoint for two additional wars in 1965 and 1999, and numerous skirmishes.

A ruined village in Jammu and Kashmir, India, during the war between India and Pakistan in 1965.
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

Despite being the primary source of water for the basin, Kashmiris have had no role in negotiations or decision-making under the treaty.

The region’s agricultural and hydropower potential has been limited due to restrictions on the use of its water resources, with only 19.8% of hydropower potential utilized. This means that Kashmiris on both sides — despite living in a water-rich region — have been unable to fully benefit from the resources flowing through their land, as water infrastructure has primarily served downstream users and broader national interests rather than local development.

Some scholars argue that the treaty intentionally facilitated hydraulic development in Jammu and Kashmir, but not necessarily in ways that served local interests.

India’s hydropower projects in Kashmir — such as the Baglihar and Kishanganga dams — have been a major point of contention. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns that these projects could alter water flows, particularly during crucial agricultural seasons.

However, the Indus Waters Treaty does not provide explicit mechanisms for resolving such regional disputes, leaving Kashmir’s hydrological and political concerns unaddressed.

Tensions over hydropower projects in Kashmir were bringing India and Pakistan toward diplomatic deadlock long before the recent attack.

The Kishanganga and Ratle dam disputes, now under arbitration in The Hague, exposed the treaty’s growing inability to manage transboundary water conflicts.

Then in September 2024, India formally called for a review of the Indus Waters Treaty, citing demographic shifts, energy needs and security concerns over Kashmir.

Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol on a boat along the Pargwal area of the India-Pakistan international border.
Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

The treaty now exists in a state of limbo. While it technically remains in force, India’s formal notice for review has introduced uncertainty, halting key cooperative mechanisms and casting doubt on the treaty’s long-term durability.

An equitable and sustainable treaty?

Moving forward, I argue, any reform or renegotiation of the Indus Waters Treaty will, if it is to have lasting success, need to acknowledge the hydrological significance of Kashmir while engaging voices from across the region.

Excluding Kashmir from future discussions – and neither India nor Pakistan has formally proposed including Kashmiri stakeholders – would only reinforce a long-standing pattern of marginalization, where decisions about its resources are made without considering the needs of its people.

As debates on “climate-proofing” the treaty continue, ensuring Kashmiri perspectives are included will be critical for building a more equitable and sustainable transboundary water framework.

Nicholas Breyfogle, Madhumita Dutta, Alexander Thompson, and Bryan G. Mark at the Indus Basin Water Project at the Ohio State University contributed to this article.

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

– ref. Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support – https://theconversation.com/tensions-over-kashmir-and-a-warming-planet-have-placed-the-indus-waters-treaty-on-life-support-244699

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

After a second consecutive night of deadly Russian air attacks – against the capital Kyiv on April 23 and the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad on April 24 – a ceasefire in Ukraine seems as unrealistic as ever.

With Russian commitment to a deal clearly lacking, the situation is not helped by US president Donald Trump. He can’t quite seem to decide who he will ultimately blame if his efforts to agree a ceasefire fall apart.

Before the strikes on Kyiv, Trump blamed Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for holding up a deal by refusing to recognise Crimea as Russian. The following day, he chided Vladimir Putin for the attacks, calling them “not necessary, and very bad timing” and imploring Putin to stop.

The main stumbling bloc on the path to a ceasefire is what a final peace agreement might look like and what concessions Kyiv – and its European allies – will accept. Ukraine’s and Europe’s position on this is unequivocal: no recognition of the illegal Russian annexation.

This position is also backed by opinion polls in Ukraine, which indicate only limited support for some, temporary concessions to Russia. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, also suggested that temporarily giving up territory “can be a solution”.

The deal that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff apparently negotiated over three rounds of talks in Russia was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Britain, France and Germany, who lead the “coalition of the willing” of countries pledging support for Ukraine.

Read more:
Could Trump be leading the world into recession?

This prompted Witkoff and US secretary of state Marco Rubio to pull out of follow-up talks in London on April 24. These ended with a fairly vacuous statement about a commitment to continuing “close coordination and … further talks soon”.

And even this now appears as quite a stretch. Coinciding with Witkoff’s fourth trip to see Putin on April 25, European and Ukrainian counterproposals were released that reject most of the terms offered by Trump or at least defer their negotiation until after a ceasefire is in place.

Why is it failing?

The impasse is unsurprising. Washington’s proposal included a US commitment to recognise Crimea as Russian, a promise that Ukraine would not join Nato and accept Moscow’s control of the territories in eastern Ukraine that it currently illegally occupies. It also included lifting all sanctions against Russia.

In other words, Ukraine would give up large parts of territory and receive no security guarantees, while Russia is rewarded with reintegration into the global economy.

It is the territorial concessions asked of Kyiv which are especially problematic. Quite apart from the fact that they are in fundamental breach of basic principles of international law – the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states – they are unlikely to provide solid foundations for a durable peace.

Much like the idea of Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, to divide Ukraine like post-1945 Berlin, it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of what, and who, drives this war.

Recent London peace talks in April failed to make progress.

Kellogg later clarified that he was not suggesting a partition of Ukraine, but his proposal would have exactly the same effect as Trump’s most recent offer.

Both proposals accept the permanent loss to Ukraine of territory that Russia currently controls. Where they differ is that Kellogg wants to introduce a European-led reassurance force west of the river Dnipro, while leaving the defence of remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory to Kyiv’s armed forces.

If accepted by Russia – unlikely as this is given Russia’s repeated and unequivocal rejection of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine – it would provide at best a minimal security guarantee for a part of Ukrainian territory.

What it would almost inevitably mean, however, is a repeat of the permanent ceasefire violations along the disengagement zone in eastern Ukraine where Russian and Ukrainian forces would continue to face each other.

This is what happened after the ill-fated Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015, which were meant to settle the conflict after Russia’s invasion of Donbas in 2014. A further Russian invasion could be just around the corner once the Kremlin felt that it had sufficiently recovered from the current war.

Read more:
Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

The lack of a credible deterrent is one key difference between the situation in Ukraine as envisaged by Washington and other historical and contemporary parallels, including Korea and Cyprus.

Korea was partitioned in 1945 and has been protected by a large US military presence since the Korean war in 1953. After the Turkish invasion of 1974, Cyprus was divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots along a partition line secured by an armed UN peacekeeping mission.

Trump has ruled out any US troop commitment as part of securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. And the idea of a UN force in Ukraine, briefly floated during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko between 2014 and 2019, never got any traction, and is not likely to be accepted by Putin now.

The assumed parallels with the situation in Germany after the second world war are even more tenuous. Not only did Nazi Germany unconditionally surrender in May 1945 but its division into allied zones of occupation was formally and unanimously agreed by the victorious allies in Potsdam in August 1945.

Muddling up Potsdam and Munich?

By the time two separate German states of East and West Germany were established in 1949, the western allies had fallen out with Stalin but remained firmly united in Nato and western Europe. So the west German state was firmly protected under the US nuclear umbrella.

The agreements made in Potsdam didn’t have the same implication of permanence as the US suggestion to formally recognise Crimea as Russian territory. The suggestion was always that the allied forces would pull out of Germany at some stage, and restore the country’s sovereignty.

Most importantly, the allies did not reward the aggressor in the war or create the conditions for merely a brief interruption for an aggressor’s revisionist agenda.

After all, what has driven Putin’s war against Ukraine is his conviction that “the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”.

The Trump administration deludes itself that it is applying the lessons of Potsdam by recognising Russia’s territorial conquests in Ukraine and handing them over. Instead it is falling into the trap of the 1938 Munich Agreement. Negotiators in Munich tried, but failed, to avoid the second world war by appeasing and not deterring an insatiable aggressor – a historical lesson that doesn’t need repeating.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

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

– ref. Trump can’t decide who to blame for a failing peace deal that would only lead to further conflict – https://theconversation.com/trump-cant-decide-who-to-blame-for-a-failing-peace-deal-that-would-only-lead-to-further-conflict-254841

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Nebraska Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in the Pine Ridge Reservation and Rapid City

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chadron, Nebraska, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Casey Lopez, age 51, was sentenced on April 21, 2025, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Lopez was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 and pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025.

Lopez and others distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine in Pine Ridge and Rapid City. Lopez was a leader in the conspiracy, setting prices, organizing the distribution, and enabling a Mexican cartel to gain inroads into the Pine Ridge Reservation. In sentencing Lopez, Judge Schreier denounced how Lopez’ actions severely damaged the community. Judge Schreier also noted the drugs Lopez was distributing came from Mexican cartels and constituted 100% pure methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

Lopez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: St. Francis Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Larceny in the Rosebud Indian Reservation

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Larceny. The sentencing took place on April 22, 2025.

Larry White Lance, age 29 was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

White Lance was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025.

The conviction stems from White Lance breaking into a home in St. Francis in June 2022 and steeling a tool chest, tools, and other property.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

White Lance was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Indian Citizen Convicted of Submitting Fraudulent Immigration Application

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that yesterday, after a two-day trial before United States District Judge Joseph Laplante, a federal jury convicted Nasir Hussain, 31, a citizen of India who had been living in Orlando, Florida, of submitting a false statement of material fact on an immigration application, specifically an I-360 Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) self-petition. Immediately following his conviction at trial, Hussain was sentenced to time-served.

Hussain has been in continual federal custody since his arrest in May of 2023 on a wire fraud conspiracy charge. The wire fraud case proceeded to trial in October 2024, resulted in a jury verdict of guilty, which was subsequently set aside by the Court via a judgment of acquittal. The United States has entered a notice of appeal of the judgment of acquittal and that appeal remains pending.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial in the immigration fraud case, Hussain traveled to Connecticut in October of 2021 for the purpose of entering a sham marriage to a United States Citizen. Hussain never saw the woman prior to nor after the date of the wedding. After the wedding, Hussain paid for insurance policies in the name of his “wife,” subscribed to magazines in her name, and ordered merchandise in her name, all to manufacture evidence that Hussain and his “wife” were living together at his Orlando residence. After manufacturing this evidence, Hussain went to an urgent care facility, and falsely claimed he was abused by his “wife.” Hussain thereafter caused the submission of the evidence he had manufactured, along with medical records, to the United States Immigration and Citizenship Office in support of an I-360 VAWA self-petition, claiming he was the spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen with whom he had been cohabitating at his Orlando apartment. The evidence at trial, including testimony of his “wife” and former roommates, established beyond a reasonable doubt that Hussain’s “wife” never lived in Florida as he had claimed, and therefore could never have abused him as he alleged. Had Hussain’s immigration package been successful, he would have been awarded a VAWA visa and potentially Lawful Permanent Residence status in the United States.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the investigatory work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle M. Arra and Jonathan A. Ophardt represented the government. Hussain was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.

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

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Russian-Tajikistani negotiations

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Mikhail Mishustin held talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda. The heads of government discussed current issues of Russian-Tajik trade, economic, investment and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

From the transcript:

M. Mishustin: Good afternoon, dear Mr. Rasulzoda! I am glad to meet you again. Welcome to the Government House of the Russian Federation.

I ask you first of all to convey the kindest words of greetings to the President of Tajikistan, the respected Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon, from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. I spoke with him on the phone just a few minutes ago, and he expressed the kindest wishes to Tajikistan.

Tajikistan is Russia’s most important ally and strategic partner in Central Asia. Our relations are built on historical friendship and mutual respect between our fraternal peoples.

During the visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon to Russia in March, important agreements were reached on the further development of Russian-Tajik cooperation.

The task of our governments is to strictly implement the agreements and decisions made at the highest level.

Russia ranks first among Tajikistan’s foreign trade partners. In January-February of this year, mutual trade turnover increased by 9% and amounted to 23 billion rubles.

The intergovernmental commission is actively working. On the part of Tajikistan, dear Mr. Rasulzoda, you head it. On our part – Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin. Naturally, we are also in constant contact with you.

We pay priority attention to strengthening interregional cooperation. More than 80 subjects of the Russian Federation are developing direct business ties with Tajikistan. There are many promising joint projects in mechanical engineering, energy, and mining.

We consider it very important to strengthen cooperation in the field of environmental protection. We support Tajikistan’s initiative to preserve high-mountain glaciers in Eurasia.

To be continued…

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Federal Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for Savage Murder of Cellmate at Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

TERRE HAUTE— Joshua T. Mebane, 29, of Silver Spring, Maryland, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for first degree murder. Mebane previously pled guilty in open court on October 23, 2024.

According to court documents, in January of 2016, Joshua Mebane was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving a 45-year sentence for first degree murder in the District of Columbia. Mebane was also later convicted of murder and attempted murder in Maryland, committed in 2012, for which he received multiple life sentences.

On January 26, 2016, inmate Michael Tucker moved into Mebane’s cell. Just two days later, correctional officers went to retrieve Mebane for a medical appointment and called for both inmates to be present at the cell door. According to policy, all inmates in the cell must be handcuffed before opening. As the officers again called for Tucker to be handcuffed, Mebane admitted “My cellie (cell mate) is dead… I killed my cellie on Wednesday.”

Officers entered the cell to investigate and found Michael Tucker lying face-up in the bottom bunk bed, covered by a blanket. His body was cold to the touch and without a pulse. Life saving measures were initiated by medics but were unsuccessful.

The medical examiner ruled the official cause of death to be asphyxiation and determined the manner of death as homicide.

“This life sentence reflects our office’s commitment to justice for all victims, including those who are incarcerated in federal correctional facilities. The horrific murder deserves one of the harshest penalties allowed under the law, and I sincerely hope that the completion of this prosecution brings some measure of closure and peace to Mr. Tucker’s family,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

“The FBI is committed to ensuring the rights and dignity of every victim – no matter where the crimes occur. This kind of violence is inexcusable, and the sentence should serve as a powerful reminder there is no place in our society for such hate,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and send a clear message that the protection of all individuals from hate-driven violence remains a top priority.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message – those who threaten or harm others will be held accountable. The safety and security of our facilities will always be the FBOP’s top priority in our mission to ensure public safety,” said a BOP Spokesperson.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II.

Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle M. Sawa and Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case.

###

MIL Security OSI –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tobacco control bill gazetted

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government published the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Gazette today to make amendments to the existing legislation for the implementation of a new phase of tobacco control measures.

The Health Bureau outlined an overall tobacco control strategy in June last year, with a view to reducing the social hazards posed by smoking products and safeguarding public health. Among the 10 short-term tobacco control measures announced, eight of them require law amendments:

(1) implementation of a duty stamp system for cigarettes

(2) increased penalties for duty-not-paid tobacco

(3) prohibition of the possession of alternative smoking products

(4) implementation of a plain packaging requirement

(5) prohibition of smoking while queuing

(6) extension of statutory no-smoking areas

(7) prohibition of the provision of smoking products to people aged below 18

(8) banning flavoured conventional smoking products.

Meanwhile, the other two short-term measures, namely “continuously reviewing the effectiveness of increasing tobacco duty and the pace of future adjustments” and “strengthening smoking cessation services as well as publicity and education”, do not involve legislative amendments.

The Health Bureau stressed that the Government needs to put in place more proactive measures to curb tobacco use and minimise its harmful effects on society in order to further alleviate the threat posed by tobacco to public health. Having taken in account factors such as effectiveness, practicability and public receptiveness, the bureau put forward these measures last year and further refined the details of the proposed legislative amendments after considering stakeholders’ views.

The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on April 30.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: World Trading Tournament (WTT) Partners with AIMS Group to Expand Global Trading Engagement

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HOCKESSIN, Del., April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The World Trading Tournament (WTT), a leading platform for global trading competitions, today announced a strategic partnership with AIMS Group, a renowned financial brokerage known for its cutting-edge trading execution, clearing services, and technical support across 17 countries.

WTT and AIMS Group: A Powerful Partnership for Global Trading

This collaboration aims to elevate the trading experience by enhancing accessibility to trading tools and fostering skill-based competitions on a global scale.

Through this partnership, WTT continues to build on its mission of empowering traders with opportunities to compete in fair, transparent, and skill-focused trading environments.

“AIMS Group’s commitment to transparency, reliable trading conditions, and exceptional service perfectly aligns with WTT’s vision of creating a global platform that helps traders enhance their skills in a competitive, educational setting,” said Mr. Arthur, CEO of WTT.

The strategic collaboration will leverage AIMS Group’s advanced infrastructure to provide seamless trade execution and broader market access. Known for its sponsorships with leading sports organizations such as Tottenham Hotspur FC and the ASEAN Football Federation U23, AIMS Group’s role in this partnership extends beyond financial services, reinforcing its dedication to supporting the global trading community.

“At AIMS Group, we are focused on providing traders with the tools and resources necessary for success in an increasingly competitive market,” said Mr. Aaron Chang, CEO of AIMS Group. “Partnering with WTT gives us the opportunity to nurture the next generation of traders by supporting their education and creating new competition formats that push the boundaries of trading excellence.”

The partnership is set to bring new innovations to WTT participants, including enhanced competition features, educational content, and access to AIMS Group’s global resources. By working together, WTT and AIMS Group aim to provide a more dynamic and inclusive platform for traders worldwide.

WTT & AIMS Group: A Winning Partnership

About AIMS Group

AIMS Group is a global financial brokerage providing institutional-grade trading services to retail and institutional clients across 17 countries. With a strong emphasis on transparency, technology, and client service, AIMS Group plays an active role in shaping the future of global trading practices.

About World Trading Tournament (WTT)

The World Trading Tournament (WTT) is an international platform that hosts annual, gamified trading events. It brings together traders, financial institutions, retail investors, and fintech communities from around the globe, creating a space for networking, innovation, and learning. WTT’s mission is to foster a competitive yet educational environment where traders can hone their skills and expand their knowledge.

Media Contact:
Clement Metz
World Trading Tournament
admin@worldtradingtournament.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eacb29c2-bc3f-4ca8-9013-d182923268b2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42f36fe3-cdf1-4cb8-993d-518f6179eefb

The MIL Network –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public urged to get COVID-19 jab

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today announced that local COVID-19 activity in Hong Kong is expected to increase further in the coming few weeks. As such, it advised that all sectors of the community should enhance personal hygiene and protection measures, including receiving the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Those in high-risk priority groups should receive a booster dose in a timely manner to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.

CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said: “According to the latest surveillance data as of the week ending April 19, the viral load of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the test positivity rate and the average consultation rate of COVID-19 cases in general outpatient clinics have continued to rise over the past four weeks.

“In particular, the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus increased to 8.21% from 1.71% four weeks ago, a record high in the past six months.”

Meanwhile, the viral load per capita of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 440,000 copy/litre, a significant increase from 260,000 copy/litre four weeks ago. Sewage surveillance data also showed that the local prevalence of XDV was on the rise.

Dr Tsui pointed out: “As XDV is a JN.1-related variant, the COVID-19 vaccines currently used in Hong Kong are still effective in preventing it.”

Furthermore, in the past four weeks, the CHP recorded 40 severe cases related to COVID-19, including 10 fatal cases. The majority of the patients are aged 65 or above.

“More than 90%of them had not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past six months,” added Dr Tsui.

He urged members of the public who are yet to receive the initial dose of the COVID-19 jab to get vaccinated as soon as possible. He also noted that those at high risk, particularly the elderly and people with underlying comorbidities, should receive a booster dose for effective prevention against COVID-19 to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.

In light of the Easter holiday, the upcoming Labour Day and Buddha’s Birthday holidays, as well as the recent increase in COVID-19 activity in the community, the Hospital Authority activated service demand surge special measures since April 14 to cope with the potential increase in service demand.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: More hydrogen fuel projects approved

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environment & Ecology Bureau (EEB) said the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel, led by the bureau, has given agreement-in-principle to eight more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today.

The first project entails an application jointly submitted by International New Energy Industry Alliance, Wing Tat Cargo & Trading (HK), H2 Powertrains and Ontime International Logistics (HK) Co, involving 10 hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport.

The second one is an application submitted by Wilson Logistics to try out two HFC goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport.

The third project concerns an application submitted by Kam Wai Tourist Bus (HK) Company to try out two HFC coaches for local passenger services.

The fourth one pertains to an application submitted by China Travel Tours Transportation Services HK, Allenbus Automotive Technology Co and REFIRE Hong Kong to test out two HFC coaches for cross-boundary passenger services.

The fifth application was submitted by Affluent Coach Services Company to test out two HFC coaches for local passenger services.

The sixth one concerns an application jointly submitted by the Hong Kong & China Gas Company (HKCGC) and CIMC Enric Hong Kong, involving the provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment for charging electric vehicles at a North Point commercial building.

The seventh is an application jointly submitted by the HKCGC and the Housing Society on extracting hydrogen from the existing towngas network at a Shau Kei Wan construction site to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles and providing electricity for the site office.

The final application was jointly submitted by the HKCGC and the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation to extract hydrogen from the existing towngas network at the Science Park to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles.

The bureau pointed out that to date, the working group has given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 26 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects.

Among them, the three HFC street washing vehicles from the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department have passed the examination with the Certificate of Roadworthiness issued.

Furthermore, Sinopec (Hong Kong) has completed all commissioning and testing for the public hydrogen filling station at Au Tau, Yuen Long, and expects to launch the operational trials in the first half of this year.

At today’s meeting, the EEB and the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department briefed the working group on the latest implementation progress of the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, which includes the Government introducing the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 to the Legislative Council to cover safety regulations on hydrogen fuel, and organising the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2025.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: BexBack Revolutionizes Crypto Trading with 100x Leverage, No KYC, and Exclusive Bonuses
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BexBack, a rapidly expanding cryptocurrency derivatives platform, is setting new standards in the crypto trading industry. Since its launch in May 2024, BexBack has attracted over 500,000 registered users worldwide by offering features that appeal to both novice traders and seasoned investors. With its innovative offerings, including 100x leverage, no KYC requirements, and a variety of generous bonuses, BexBack is reshaping the landscape for crypto futures traders.

100x Leverage: A Game-Changer in Crypto Trading

At the core of BexBack’s appeal is its powerful 100x leverage, which allows traders to open larger positions with less capital. Whether the market is volatile or stable, this leverage amplifies potential profits, allowing traders to make the most out of even small price movements. This level of leverage can open the door for higher gains—turning an average trade into a potentially lucrative one. For example, with 100x leverage, a $1,000 trade can control $100,000 in value, giving traders the chance to earn massive profits in a fraction of the time.

No KYC: Trade Anonymously and Efficiently

Unlike many other platforms, BexBack operates with no KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, providing a seamless, anonymous trading experience. This unique feature enables users to trade crypto without going through lengthy identity verification processes, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer privacy and simplicity in their trading activities.

Generous Bonuses for All Users

BexBack’s bonus structure is designed to maximize trader opportunities:
1. 100% Deposit Bonus – When users deposit funds, they receive a 100% deposit bonus, which can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. This bonus cannot be withdrawn but provides additional margin for traders to mitigate risks and enhance their trading strategies.
2. $50 Welcome Bonus – New users who complete their first trade (open and close a position) are eligible for a $50 welcome bonus. This bonus can be used to offset losses or to trade further, providing users with the opportunity to get started without worrying about the initial cost of trading.
3. Affiliate Program – BexBack also offers an affiliate program where users can earn up to 50% of their referrals’ trading fees, providing a passive income stream for active traders and affiliates.
Key Features and Advantages of BexBack:
- No Slippage: BexBack guarantees no slippage, meaning that trades are executed at the price you see, regardless of market fluctuations. This is a critical feature for traders who require precision and reliability when executing trades.
- Global Accessibility: BexBack is available in multiple countries and accepts users from regions including the United States, Canada, and Europe.
- Comprehensive Trading Tools: The platform offers a variety of tools, including a demo account with 10 BTC and $1,000,000 in virtual funds to help traders familiarize themselves with the platform risk-free.
- 24/7 Customer Support: BexBack offers round-the-clock customer service to assist users with any questions or issues they may encounter.
Why Choose BexBack?

BexBack is designed for traders who are looking to take advantage of high leverage, low fees, and maximum control over their trades. By offering a simple yet powerful platform, along with exceptional customer support and a wide range of financial incentives, BexBack is positioned as a leader in the competitive crypto trading market.

With its powerful features, commitment to user satisfaction, and constant innovation, BexBack is poised to be the go-to platform for crypto futures trading in 2025 and beyond.

About BexBack

BexBack is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange platform that offers high-leverage crypto futures trading with no KYC requirements. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack provides a seamless, anonymous trading experience for its global user base. Trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide, the platform continues to grow by offering its users attractive bonuses, cutting-edge technology, and low-cost trading solutions.

For more information about BexBack and to start trading today, visit www.bexback.com.

Website: www.bexback.com

Contact: business@bexback.com

Contact:
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The MIL Network –
April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Everyone invited to enjoy free City Street Party to celebrate VE Day

Source: City of Coventry

Coventry residents are being invited to join a street party in Broadgate next month and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Thursday 8 May will mark 80 years to the day since Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces which signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe.

There will be parties across the country and the continent – and Coventry people are being encouraged to celebrate in the heart of the city.

The party starts at 7pm and will run until 9.40pm and is a free event for all ages, with lots of family fun. There will be a stage and big screen and BBC CWR will be presenting the entertainment.

People are encouraged to bring their own picnics (no glass) and set up at benches that will be in place around the square.

There will be costumed greeters to welcome people as they arrive, and flags will be provided for people to wave. They can even turn up in 1940s style dress to add a little extra touch of nostalgia.

Cllr Abdul Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Events at Coventry City Council said: “As a city that suffered so greatly in the war and emerged with a message of peace and reconciliation, it is so fitting that we host a party in the heart of the city to mark the 80th anniversary of such a momentous day in our history.

“We know communities will be hosting their own street parties over the coming days, but this event will give everyone the chance to come together and celebrate as a city.

“It promises to be a lot of fun for people of all ages, but it also gives us a chance to look back and remember and give thanks for the peace that the people of those years fought so hard to give us.”

Sophie Cook, Editor at BBC CWR, added: “VE Day stands as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience shown by so many during one of history’s darkest times.

“BBC CWR are proud to join Coventrians together to pay tribute to the WWII generation and ensure their legacy is remembered.”

The event will start with the reading of a national proclamation to remember the victims of the war and the sacrifices made.

There will then be a varied programme of music and entertainment, as well as images from 1945 projected on to a big screen.

The event will also honour the contribution of South Asian communities to the war and the victory, with a vibrant on-stage display of Bhangra dance as part of the evening’s entertainment.

The evening will close as Coventry joins other towns and cities in lighting a Lamp Light of Peace with the audience invited to join the singing of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ before the National Anthem is played.

Find out more about the Coventry City Council led event on our website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global to Announce Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results on April 30, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), today announced that it will release its financial results for fiscal year 2024, ended December 31, 2024, before markets open on April 30, 2025. Sagtec’s management team will hold an earnings call at 08:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2025, to discuss the Company’s financial and business outlook.

What: Sagtec Global Limited Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Q&A Webcast When: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 p.m. Malaysia Time
Webcast: Registration link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/yemp8vxy

Approximately 24 hours after the Q&A session, an archived version will be available on the Company’s website for approximately twelve months thereafter.

“We are excited and look forward to sharing the progress and growth our company has experienced during the fiscal year 2024 with our investors,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec.

About Sagtec Global Limited

Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.

For more information on the Company, please log on to https://www.sagtec-global.com/.

Contact Information:

Sagtec Global Limited Contact:
Ng Chen Lok
Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Telephone +6011-6217 3661
Email: info@sagtec-global.com

The MIL Network –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: VE Day celebrations at The D-Day Story museum

Source: City of Portsmouth

The D-Day Story is hosting a day of activities to mark the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

On Sunday 11 May there will be something for everyone as the museum marks Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) which is on 8 May.

2025 is 80 years since the end of the Second World War with Victory in Europe Day, and Victory over Japan Day on 15 August.

In the morning the museum will be hosting Portsmouth-based singer Nathalie Gunn who will be singing songs from the 1930s and 1940s.

While in the afternoon you can learn how to swing dance, in particular the Lindy Hop with The Swing Dance Company who will be giving dance lessons and a performance of the dance.

The D-Day Story’s military jeep will be on site and there will be a number of craft activities for children to take part in, from creating you own paper flowers to pinwheels and bunting.

Be sure to check out the café which will have VE Day inspired special of the day.

Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “This year’s VE and VJ days have extra significance because it’s the 80^th anniversaries, and there’s no better way to honour and celebrate than at this special event at The D-Day Story museum.”

The event is included in the museum admission price, with annual pass holders being able to experience it for free.

For more information on this event and others at the museum visit www.theddaystory.com

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE promotes HK in Ningbo

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee attended the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum & Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum today in Ningbo, Zhejiang.

The conference was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Ningbo Municipal Government.

Mr Lee led the Hong Kong SAR Government delegation to attend the opening ceremony and related activities today to promote to Mainland enterprises Hong Kong’s unique advantages and dual roles as a platform in going global and attracting foreign investment, fostering investment and co-operation.

The Zhejiang (Ningbo) forum, with the theme of “Hong Kong, joining hands with Zhejiang and meeting in Ningbo, the channel for more opportunities”, brought together a number of business leaders from various sectors including finance, supply chain, innovation and technology (I&T) and professional services to share their insights on Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities in different areas and attracted more than 600 participants.

The concurrent Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum has been held alternately in Hong Kong and Ningbo every year since 2002 to facilitate bilateral exchanges and co-operation on economic, trade and investment and has been well received by the business communities of the two places.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lee noted that Ningbo in Zhejiang Province is a manufacturing and port hub in the Yangtze River Delta, while Hong Kong is an international financial, trade and shipping centre.

Both Ningbo and Hong Kong are important gateways in the opening up of the country, with complementary advantages and limitless opportunities for collaboration.

Hong Kong is the largest source of external investment in Ningbo and more than 1,000 enterprises and institutions from Ningbo have been established in Hong Kong, reflecting the close economic and trade ties between the two places.

The Chief Executive said that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong possesses the unique advantages of having the country’s strong support while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, serving as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”. Hong Kong acts as a two-way springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global and for attracting overseas enterprises.

He pointed out that despite the US’ bullying and unjustified imposition of tariffs, and the emergence of unilateralism that disrupted the global landscape and geopolitics and posed risks of economic destruction and recession, the country’s immense economic strength and vast market provide certainty for global investors, and a new economic and trade order is taking shape.

Mr Lee added that Hong Kong will continue to proactively serve Mainland enterprises in going global to explore international markets, and attract overseas enterprises to tap into the Mainland market.

Members of the Hong Kong SAR Government delegation attending the Conference included Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip and Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan.

In his remarks on promoting Hong Kong’s advantages at a themed promotion activity, Mr Wong said that on finance, Hong Kong is the most trusted international financial safe haven for Mainland enterprises, offering diversified financing channels and financial services for companies to expand their businesses internationally.

Furthermore, Invest Hong Kong held a signing ceremony of a number of key Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong co-operation projects, covering various sectors including finance, technology, transportation, aviation, I&T and consumer goods.

In the afternoon, the Hong Kong SAR Government, the HKTDC and relevant authorities of the Ningbo Municipal Government jointly organised three special promotion activities on finance, multinational supply chain management centre and I&T to promote investment in Hong Kong.

Mr Lee and the delegation departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Labour Day visitor arrivals discussed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group to co-ordinate the preparatory work for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week.

The Immigration Department estimates that around 5.71 million passengers, including Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points from May 1 to 5, among which 4.9 million are expected to pass through land control points.

The peak period of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points (BCPs) will be May 3 and 5, with around 590,000 and 580,000 passengers expected respectively.

Passengers are advised to plan in advance, avoid making journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at BCPs are available on the department’s website.

Furthermore, residents and passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land BCP via the Immigration mobile app.

In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, around 840,000 passengers are expected to visit Hong Kong via sea, land and air control points during the five-day Labour Day Golden Week. Compared with last year’s Labour Day Golden Week and this year’s Chinese New Year Golden Week, the daily average visitor arrivals will increase by 10% and 13%.

Special arrangements have been formulated at major tourist spots to cope with the increase of people flow.

The Transport Department will enhance transportation services connecting various BCPs, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), and issue additional cross-boundary coach quotas to enhance services.

Regarding local transport services, the department has approached public transport operators to enhance their capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors.

Among them, the MTR will enhance train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times from May 1 to 5 for the convenience of residents and visitors.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Board has launched a dedicated webpage to provide useful information including the operating arrangements of major tourist attractions in Hong Kong.

Noting that a notable increase in visitor arrivals is estimated during the Labour Day Golden Week, Mr Chan said the Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors to ensure the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving them and offering a high-quality experience.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Indian Bank

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated April 08, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1,61,40,000 (Rupees One crore sixty one lakh forty thousand only) on Indian Bank (the bank) for contravention of provisions of Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) and non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Interest Rate on Advances’, ‘Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme’ and ‘Lending to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the BR Act.

The statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2023) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on the supervisory findings of contraventions of the provisions of the BR Act and non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

(i) The bank failed to benchmark the interest rate on certain floating rate retail loans and loans to certain Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to an external benchmark rate;

(ii) The bank had obtained collateral security in respect of certain KCC loans upto ₹1.6 lakh and certain loans to Micro and Small Enterprises upto ₹10 lakh; and

(iii) The bank did not transfer eligible amount to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed period.

This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/190

MIL OSI Economics –

April 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Immigration offenders returned on flight to Nigeria and Ghana
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Immigration offenders returned on flight to Nigeria and Ghana

43 people returned to Nigeria and Ghana in an operation, part of a surge in returns activity to secure our border through the Plan for Change
43 failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders were returned on a charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, as the government steps up international collaboration to secure our borders.

The flight underscores the government’s progress restoring order to the immigration system through the Plan for Change, ensuring rules are respected and those who break them are swiftly returned.

Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. 7 people returned voluntarily.

Since the election, two charter flights have taken off to the countries, carrying a total of 87 people and demonstrating the strength of cooperation between the UK, Nigeria and Ghana on this critical issue.

Under this government, over 24,000 people have been returned, an 11% increase on the same period 12 months prior, while four of the largest returns flights ever have taken off returning migrants to countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

Deportations of foreign national offenders are also up 16% since the election, with 3,594 criminals removed.

Immigration Enforcement ensure that returns are carried out in a dignified and respectful manner.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said:

This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders.

Through the Plan for Change we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.

I thank the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating this operation, which reflects our joint commitment to disrupt organised immigration crime and protect our borders.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, FCDO Minister responsible for Irregular Migration said:

Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration – by working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together.

I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change.

This operation follows the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, which saw the UK bring together over 40 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, to drive forward the global fight against smuggling gangs and deliver on the government’s mission to secure our borders.

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Published 25 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated April 21, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹71.30 lakh (Rupees Seventy One Lakh Thirty Thousand only) on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Non-Banking Financial Company – Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016’ and ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’ issued by RBI. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 58G read with clause (aa) of sub-section (5) of Section 58B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the company’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the company were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty.

The company did not disclose the processing fees and other charges in certain loan application forms;
The company did not furnish copies of loan agreements and did not convey details of the loans in the sanction letters to certain borrowers;
The company did not give a final chance to certain borrowers to repay the loans, before the sale / auction of vehicles; and
The company allotted multiple customer identification codes to certain customers, instead of a Unique Customer Identification Code (UCIC) for each individual customer.

This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the company.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/189

MIL OSI Economics –

April 26, 2025

MIL-OSI China: China’s western regions unveil new dynamics in economic cooperation with Vietnam

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

CHONGQING, April 25 — A shipment of fresh lemons departing from Tongnan District of southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, can now arrive in Vietnam in just two days, covering a journey of some 1,300 km.

The first delivery of 28 tonnes of chilled fresh lemons from Tongnan to Vietnam was made recently on a cross-border highway truck via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

“This route slashes transit time from six days to two days, ensuring Vietnamese consumers enjoy fresher produce,” said Hu Zaiyang, manager of a local fruit dealer.

This vibrant trade scene underscores the deepening economic ties between China’s western regions and Vietnam. From electronic components to fruits and flowers and from smart home appliances to daily necessities, trade volume between the two sides has surged, buoyed by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Vietnam has remained the largest ASEAN trade partner among China’s western provincial-level regions. Chongqing’s 2024 trade with Vietnam hit 39.77 billion yuan (about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for a third of its total trade volume with ASEAN.

Youyiguan Port in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a gateway to Vietnam, is piloting a brand new customs supervision model, using intelligent means to improve efficiency and capacity of customs clearance.

In the future, the port will operate customs clearance around the clock and goods can be delivered from Nanning, the regional capital of Guangxi, to Vietnam’s Bac Giang within 24 hours, said Shi Lei, deputy director of Youyiguan Customs.

Beyond trade, investment cooperation has continued to bring benefits to the people of both sides. In Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, Vietnam, modern industrial parks invested and constructed by Chinese new energy and electronics manufacturing firms are driving local employment and growth.

Chongqing’s 2024 investments in Vietnam jumped 33.4 percent to 33.16 million U.S. dollars in sectors like general equipment and automotive manufacturing. As of the end of 2024, Chongqing had 24 investment projects in Vietnam, with cumulative factual investments totaling 213.4 million U.S. dollars.

In Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province, CISDI Group Co., Ltd., based in Chongqing, set up its branch as early as 2013. The company has taken charge of multiple key metallurgical projects in the country. Among them, the blast furnace of Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, which CISDI planned, designed and took part in constructing and operating, has now become one of the most competitive integrated steel complexes in Southeast Asia, generating over 10,000 job opportunities for local people.

This elevated Ha Tinh from a traditional agricultural province to an industrial powerhouse in central Vietnam.

Since 2007, Sichuan-based Tongwei Co., Ltd. has established and acquired five standardized feed production companies in Vietnam, with total investments exceeding 500 million yuan. The first feed mill it invested in, Tongwei Vietnam Feed Co., Ltd., has become one of the top-selling single feed factories in Vietnam by sales volume.

“The BRI fosters mutual growth,” said Xiao Shengyong, Tongwei’s chief tax officer, highlighting technology transfers and aquaculture partnerships.

The two countries recently signed 45 cooperation documents, covering connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, and agricultural trade, among others.

With the gradual implementation of the cooperation documents, Vietnam-China relations will enter a more mature and stable development stage, which will be not only reflected in policy communication and high-level interaction, but also in people’s daily life, said Vo Dai Luoc, former director of Vietnam’s Institute of World Economics and Politics.

MIL OSI China News –

April 26, 2025

Category: Asia

Tailings and transitions

Reducing risks and improving outcomes

What does India hope to gain?

Fears of escalation

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

Jaw-jaw over war-war

A checkered diplomatic past

Donald the dealmaker?

A deal is not a given

A fair solution to water disputes

Impact of melting glaciers

A disputed region

An equitable and sustainable treaty?

Why is it failing?

Muddling up Potsdam and Munich?

Immigration offenders returned on flight to Nigeria and Ghana

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