NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Van Hollen, Shaheen, SFRC Democrats to Rubio: Plan for USAID Illegal, Unconstitutional; Broader Restructuring Threatens National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 09, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—joined her fellow Democratic SFRC colleagues, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the State Department’s recently announced plans to restructure the Department and fold USAID into the Department of State. In their letter, the SFRC Democrats emphasize that the State Department’s proposal for USAID is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, and that broader efforts to restructure, including the closure of U.S. embassies and consulates, are illegal without Congressional action and would be an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S foreign policy enterprise. 
    “The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers,” the Senators wrote. “The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient.”
    “In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political ‘Schedule P/C’ positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC,” the Senators continued. “This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action.  We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies.”
    “Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law,” the Senators close.
    Along with Duckworth, Van Hollen and Shaheen, the letter was also co-signed by every Democratic member of SFRC: U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
    Full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
    Secretary Rubio,
    On March 28, 2025, the State Department sent a Congressional Notification indicating its intent to fold USAID into the Department of State. The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient.
    In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political “Schedule P/C” positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC. This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action. We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies.
    According to the congressional notification we received, the administration would eliminate USAID’s status as an independent establishment in the executive branch, abolish multiple USAID bureaus and offices, as well as “realigning certain USAID functions to the Department.” As you know, Congress mandated that USAID be established in statute. Some reporting about the State Department’s plans also suggest an attempt to dissolve certain State Department bureaus that focus on functional and bilateral assistance, which could potentially result in the dissolution of multiple bureaus already authorized in law. Any attempt to dissolve those bureaus requires congressional action to modify or repeal the relevant authorizing statutes.
    It is also our understanding that the State Department is considering substantially shrinking its workforce and diplomatic footprint around the world. This includes a potential major cut in staffing and the closure of multiple embassies and consulates abroad. If carried out, these plans would undermine our ability to conduct diplomacy abroad at a time when China is increasing its presence globally and outpacing the U.S. presence in multiple regions.
    Beyond the immediate structural and personnel changes, these proposed reforms could have a severe deleterious impact for U.S. global leadership and influence. The State Department, USAID, and its diplomatic corps are the backbone of American foreign policy, advancing U.S. interests, strengthening alliances, and responding to global crises. Slashing their workforces, closing embassies, consulates, and missions, and dismantling key bureaus would severely weaken America’s ability to conduct diplomacy, support democracy, and counter the growing influence of strategic competitors like China and Russia. At a time when global challenges are increasing, from conflicts and humanitarian crises, such as the recent earthquakes in Myanmar, to economic instability, the United States cannot afford to undermine its own diplomatic capacity.
    Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst, Blumenthal Target Russian Ghost Ships Evading U.S. Sanctions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: April 9, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are introducing the bipartisan Global Hunt for Offshore Smuggling and Trafficking (GHOST) Act to strengthen enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Russia.
    Currently, Russia is using a “ghost fleet” of unmarked ships to transport 70% of its seaborn oil exports and illicitly fund its economy. Iran has worked through similar actions to smuggle Russian and its own sanctioned oil throughout the world, including to China. This bipartisan action would expand U.S. efforts to disrupt illicit trade networks that are allowing Russia and Iran to evade sanctions.
    “Russia is continuing its malign actions by operating a ‘ghost fleet’ to evade U.S. sanctions, enrich its own war machine, and even aid Iranian oil smuggling,” said Ernst. “By enhancing intelligence sharing and equipping law enforcement with the tools needed to go after illicit trade networks, I am working to halt the Axis of Evil in its tracks. In addition to disrupting Moscow’s efforts to undermine U.S. law, this bill will also arm our nation to utilize the seized assets and pay down our own debt.”
    “Urgent action is imperative to crack down on Russia’s ghost fleet—a Putin tool financing his bloody assault on Ukraine,” said Blumenthal. “Our bipartisan legislation aims to help halt Putin’s illicit networks—unmarked shadow ships carrying Russia’s oil and other products—that evade sanctions and support his war. This measure will give our export controls real bite.”
    Specifically, the GHOST Act:
    Equips law enforcement with the means to seize and forfeit Russian assets,
    Targets merchant ships violating U.S. sanctions,
    Enhances intelligence sharing to counter illicit Russian trade networks,
    Ensures interagency coordination by codifying the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, and
    Redirects seized Russian assets toward reducing U.S. debt.
    Click here to view the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Places Hold on Top Cybersecurity Nominee to Force Release of Important Details on Security Threats to US Phone Networks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    April 09, 2025

    CISA Has Ignored Multiple Requests to Release Vital Information; Following China’s Salt Typhoon Hack of US Networks, Americans Deserve To See Unclassified Report

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today placed a hold on the nomination of Sean Plankey to serve as director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to force the release of an unclassified report containing important details about U.S. telephone network security. 

    Federal inaction on telephone network security has enabled foreign governments to repeatedly spy on Americans, threatening U.S. national security. Most notably the 2024 hack of several U.S. communications companies, including Verizon and AT&T, by a Chinese hacker group dubbed Salt Typhoon, which tapped the calls of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and scores of other federal officials, tracked the locations of millions of Americans, and reportedly stole phone call records about a vast number of Americans.

    “CISA’s multi-year cover up of the phone companies’ negligent cybersecurity has real consequences,” Wyden wrote, citing the Salt Typhoon hack in a statement announcing the hold. “This espionage incident, and the harm to U.S. national security caused by it, were the direct result of U.S. phone carriers’ failure to follow cybersecurity best practices, such as installing security updates and using multi-factor authentication, and federal agencies failing to hold these companies accountable.”

    Wyden argued that increased transparency about U.S. telephone network security will increase pressure on the government and phone companies to take action. 

    “The federal government still does not require U.S. phone companies to meet minimum cybersecurity standards,” Wyden wrote. “While it is too late to prevent the Salt Typhoon hack, there is still time to prevent the next incident.”

    Wyden has repeatedly asked CISA to release the unclassified report, titled “U.S. Telecommunications Insecurity 2022,” but was stonewalled by the agency.

    A Senate hold blocks unanimous consent to speed up consideration of a nomination, and forces the body to spend time debating and voting on the nominee. In 2018 the Department of Homeland Security released details about cell phone surveillance devices, known as cell-site simulators or Stingrays, that had been detected near sensitive locations in and around Washington, D.C., after Wyden placed a hold on a DHS nominee. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier chairs meeting with economic experts, entrepreneurs

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

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presides over a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs to listen to opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and upcoming economic work on April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, April 9 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday presided over a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs to listen to opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and upcoming economic work.

    Although changes in the external environment have brought difficulties, the Chinese economy still retains multiple strengths, strong resilience, and immense potential, according to attendees of the meeting. They also put forward suggestions on coping with external challenges and promoting sustained economic growth during the meeting.

    Li noted that under this year’s relatively special situation, the country calmly and steadfastly responded to various risks and challenges, and maintained sustained economic recovery and growth in the first quarter.

    At the same time, external shocks exerted pressure on the smooth operation of the economy, he said, adding that China is well prepared to address all uncertainties.

    It is particularly crucial to ensure effective economic work in the second quarter and beyond, with sustained and intensified efforts across all tasks, Li stressed.

    It is necessary to implement more proactive macro policies and introduce new incremental policies in a timely manner in light of the needs of the situation, he said, noting responding to uncertainties in the external environment with strong and effective policies.

    China will make expanding domestic demand a long-term strategy and fully stimulate the vitality of all business entities, Li said.

    Li hoped that entrepreneurs will proactively adapt to evolving circumstances to drive growth, strengthen and elevate their enterprises.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats To Rubio: Plan For USAID Illegal, Unconstitutional; Broader Restructuring Threatens National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    April 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the State Department’s recently announced plans to restructure the Department – including folding USAID into the Department of State. In their letter, the senators emphasize that the State Department’s proposal for USAID is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, and that broader efforts to restructure, including the closure of U.S. embassies and consulates, are illegal without Congressional action and would be an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S foreign policy enterprise. 
    “On March 28, 2025, the State Department sent a Congressional Notification indicating its intent to fold USAID into the Department of State. The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient,” the senators wrote.
    “In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political “Schedule P/C” positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC. This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action.   We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies,” they continued.
    “Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law,” the senators concluded.
    U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Secretary Rubio,
    On March 28, 2025, the State Department sent a Congressional Notification indicating its intent to fold USAID into the Department of State. The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient.
    In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political “Schedule P/C” positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC. This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action. We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies.
    According to the congressional notification we received, the administration would eliminate USAID’s status as an independent establishment in the executive branch, abolish multiple USAID bureaus and offices, as well as “realigning certain USAID functions to the Department.” As you know, Congress mandated that USAID be established in statute. Some reporting about the State Department’s plans also suggest an attempt to dissolve certain State Department bureaus that focus on functional and bilateral assistance, which could potentially result in the dissolution of multiple bureaus already authorized in law. Any attempt to dissolve those bureaus requires congressional action to modify or repeal the relevant authorizing statutes.
    It is also our understanding that the State Department is considering substantially shrinking its workforce and diplomatic footprint around the world. This includes a potential major cut in staffing and the closure of multiple embassies and consulates abroad. If carried out, these plans would undermine our ability to conduct diplomacy abroad at a time when China is increasing its presence globally and outpacing the U.S. presence in multiple regions.
    Beyond the immediate structural and personnel changes, these proposed reforms could have a severe deleterious impact for U.S. global leadership and influence. The State Department, USAID, and its diplomatic corps are the backbone of American foreign policy, advancing U.S. interests, strengthening alliances, and responding to global crises. Slashing their workforces, closing embassies, consulates, and missions, and dismantling key bureaus would severely weaken America’s ability to conduct diplomacy, support democracy, and counter the growing influence of strategic competitors like China and Russia. At a time when global challenges are increasing, from conflicts and humanitarian crises, such as the recent earthquakes in Myanmar, to economic instability, the United States cannot afford to undermine its own diplomatic capacity.
    Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Trump’s Trade War, Durbin Meets With Illinois Pork Producers Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Pork Producers Association to discuss federal issues that affect the Illinois hog industry.  Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in pork production.  Producers emphasized the challenging market dynamics in the pork industry over the past several years, and the importance of maintaining free trade and strong export markets, including Canada, Mexico, and China.  Durbin and the members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association also discussed California’s Proposition 12 on the consumer pork prices in that state, the need for Congress to pass a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill, as well as the critical role of foreign workers who help with workforce shortages.

    “Let’s be clear:  President Trump’s reckless, chaotic, and poorly executed tariff strategy already is hurting the Illinois agricultural sector, which relies heavily on trade with Canada, Mexico, and China,” said Durbin.  “While the President is swerving down the road with no map, Illinois farmers will lose growing international markets forever to farmers in Brazil and Argentina.   I will continue to speak out on behalf of Illinois farmers against these poor decisions by the President.”

    The meeting included producers from Clinton, Peoria, Effingham, and Knox Counties.

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech on foreign affairs and trade

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Kia ora and good morning everyone.
    Before I start, can I acknowledge the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to speak to all of you this morning.
    It comes at a difficult time for the global economy, with rising rhetoric, escalating tariffs, and the prospect of further retaliation to come.
    I had originally planned to take this opportunity to speak about my Government’s plan for economic growth – to create jobs, lift incomes, and put more money back in the wallets of Kiwis.
    I will still touch on that.
    It’s my Government’s top priority and it frames just about every decision we take here in Wellington as we focus on improving the lives of all New Zealanders.
    But with markets rocked and exporters facing uncertainty, I know there’s one topic front of mind for many businesses and many households.
    So this morning I want to take some time to speak to those events and make the case for free trade and the rules-based international order.
    Trade is the lifeblood of the New Zealand economy.
    Whether it’s our incredible farmers and growers, our outstanding tourism industry, or our burgeoning tech sector, Kiwis businesses thrive when we compete on the world stage.
    Our success isn’t an accident – and it didn’t happen overnight.
    Successive generations of trade negotiators and political leaders have invested in relationships offshore, and worked hard to complete deals like CER, the China FTA, the CPTPP, and the more recent EU, UK, UAE and GCC FTAs.
    Business leaders have moved rapidly, too – finding fresh opportunities for growth in emerging markets, and developing outstanding products back home that put New Zealand on the map.
    Our rural economy in particular represents the very best of open and competitive trade – selling into difficult markets, with no direct financial support, and consistently coming out on top.
    I could – and often do – speak at length about the contribution exporters make to the domestic economy.
    But trade goes both ways.
    Yes, export growth will be critical to improving New Zealand’s economic prospects in the coming years.
    But the removal of New Zealand’s own trade barriers and embrace of goods and services imported from offshore has also led to a major improvement in our quality of life in recent years.
    Our clothing is more affordable, our cars are more reliable, our diets are more diverse, and our holidays in Bali and Europe are a nice contrast to summers at the lake or the beach.
    Free trade of goods purchased from offshore has also supported growth in productivity.
    Kiwi exporters rely on the trucks, tractors, jet engines, computers, and smart phones we buy from overseas that make their businesses tick.
    And it’s not realistic to expect that in a country of just five million people, we could make everything we need here at home.
    Political leaders have tried that before in New Zealand – and it didn’t end well.
    Older generations will remember the efforts we went to.
    Governments imposed strict import controls and encouraged cars and televisions to be assembled here at home.
    And like today, conflict offshore occasionally helped to send prices spiralling – but the response looked very different.
    In the late 1970s, politicians imposed “carless days”, with stickers on your vehicle dictating which days you could drive to work, and which days you caught a ride with a friend or just walked into town instead.
    There was no “work from home” in 1979.
    Agriculture, today the backbone of our economy, was heavily subsidised and much less productive, much less diverse than the efficient and entrepreneurial sector thriving in New Zealand today.
    Those failed policies weren’t just foolish economics.
    They reflected the best efforts of political leaders to insulate New Zealand from an era of major social and geopolitical change.
    History shows those best efforts were a mistake, that required years of difficult choices and careful recovery.
    New Zealanders paid the price then.
    I don’t intend for them to do so again.
    Which brings us to today.
    The events of recent days are the most significant challenge to the rules-based trading system since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was formed in 1947.
    Action, reaction, and response have shocked financial markets.
    As the Minister of Finance highlighted earlier this week, the direct impact on the New Zealand economy from the US tariffs announced last week is likely to be around $900 million or roughly 0.2% of GDP.
    But the second order consequences of a region and a world retreating from trade and increasingly uncertain about its economic future will be more significant, despite the welcome news of de-escalation this morning.
    I know for many businesses keeping an eye offshore and for those New Zealanders watching their KiwiSaver accounts, that could be confronting.
    The exporters I’ve spoken to in recent days remain buoyant, rightly confident in the quality of their product, and their ability to navigate choppy waters.
    But for countries whose prosperity is underpinned by global trade, the months ahead will be challenging for their economic interests.
    Many commentators will see these events as just the next step in a longer-term trend towards economic security and national resilience, as countries insure themselves against emerging geopolitical threats.
    Others have gone further, declaring an end to the era of free markets, free trade, and free people, and the rules-based international order underpinning it.
    For my part, I’m not ready to throw in the towel quite yet. Kiwis have worked too hard and for too long, to give up on the values and institutions which have seen our country and the region we live in thrive.
    So, for as long as I am Prime Minister, New Zealand will keep making the case for trade as a cornerstone of our prosperity.
    Yes, we are a small country – but stature has never been a barrier to our success.
    Take the P3 – a proposed trade agreement which began life under negotiation at APEC between New Zealand, Singapore, and Chile in the early 2000s.
    Three small countries, practicing what we preach – and doing everything we could to create opportunity for our people through trade.
    Today, that agreement lives on as the CPTPP and covers a dozen countries, including New Zealand and Australia, Canada, much of Asia, and most recently the United Kingdom.
    In total, that’s roughly 15% of global economic activity, or $13 trillion USD – a long way from where we started just over twenty years ago.
    The United Kingdom might be the most recent accession, but I expect they won’t be the last.
    New Zealand will continue to work with like-minded countries to promote free trade as a path to prosperity and explore the role of the CPTPP in strengthening that vision.
    One possibility is that members of the CPTPP and the European Union work together to champion rules-based trade and make specific commitments on how that support plays out in practice.
    My vision is that includes action to prevent restrictions on exports and efforts to ensure any retaliation is consistent with existing rules.
    Collective action, and a collective commitment, by a large portion of the global economy would be a significant step towards preserving free trade flows and protecting supply chains.
    Clearly though, efforts at collective action won’t be enough to support New Zealand’s economic interests.
    As Prime Minister, I have a responsibility to do everything I can to both bolster the existing rules-based order and to further strengthen New Zealand’s position offshore.
    It’s why I have put so much emphasis on deepening our relationships with partners around the region, with visits throughout South-East Asia, Korea and Japan, the United States, and to India last month as we commenced negotiations for a free trade agreement.
    It’s why my Government has worked so hard to close out fresh agreements with the UAE and GCC that enable additional trade and investment.
    It’s why we hosted an Investment Summit in Auckland, making the case both for New Zealand as an outstanding place to do business and for the opportunity to enter long-term infrastructure partnerships.
    It’s why on Monday this week the Minister of Defence and I launched the Government’s Defence Capability Plan, that lifts defence expenditure to 2% of GDP and ensures New Zealand pulls its weight for many years to come.
    It’s why I will be on the phone later today to world leaders comparing notes on world trade, and testing what we can do together to buttress the rules-based trading system.
    And it’s why I will be heading to the United Kingdom later this month to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to talk trade, security, and the geopolitical backdrop in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
    We can’t make the case for New Zealand sitting at home.
    We have to position ourselves as advocates both for our own economic interests and the institutions that underpin them.
    I’m very lucky to lead a Government with so many Ministers dedicated to that task, whether that’s the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Trade, or the Minister of Defence, each of whom having already made a number of significant achievements supporting New Zealand’s interests offshore.
    Back home, the volatility offshore is a fresh reminder of just how important our focus on economic growth will be in the coming years.
    As I said recently at our Investment Summit in Auckland, New Zealand can be a shelter from the global storm.
    That brings a serious opportunity from ensuring our business environment is as welcoming as possible for investment and growth.
    We are making serious inroads into that task.
    Earlier this year, Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis published our Government’s Going for Growth Agenda, which outlines a range of actions we are taking to get the New Zealand economy moving and realising its vast potential.
    Each of those actions fits into one of five pillars we have identified as critical to lifting economic growth and improving New Zealanders’ standard of living:

    Developing talent,
    Encouraging innovation, science, and technology,
    Introducing competitive business settings,
    Promoting global trade and investment,
    And delivering infrastructure for growth.

    Across each of those pillars, we have Ministers working day and night to drive through reform – in transport, tourism, aquaculture, construction, advanced aviation, mining, energy, agriculture, and horticulture.
    In just the last few weeks, we have presented our plans to replace the Resource Management Act, fix our broken health and safety laws, and make nation-shaping investments like the Northland Expressway.
    We have introduced the Fast Track regime, streamlining the consenting process for projects of regional and national significance.
    We are re-writing the Overseas Investment Act, so major investments from offshore are consented faster and more reliably.
    We are tearing down the barriers to fresh investment in renewable and non-renewable energy, by repealing the oil and gas ban and ushering in new consenting rules for wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.
    And we are doubling down on efforts to showcase New Zealand to the world, promoting our tourism and international education sectors offshore so we can attract even more people to spend their money here.
    I know there’s more we can do.
    Growth has now returned, and the economy has turned the corner, but our reform agenda will need to continue at pace for us to out-run the challenges to growth facing us from offshore.
    The challenges to the rules-based international order are intense and the strategic environment my government has inherited is more difficult than it has been for many years.
    For New Zealanders who grew up watching events unfold in Europe and the Middle East, it will be confronting to watch strategic competition and the deterioration of rules-based trade come to our neighbourhood, the Indo-Pacific.
    But the response for New Zealand cannot be retreat.
    New Zealanders are at our best when faced with adversity and we thrive when we compete on the world stage.
    To quote my friend the Foreign Minister, this isn’t our first rodeo.
    Our export sector is jam-packed with talented, sharp New Zealanders who make great products – and create jobs here at home while they do it.
    Farmers, growers, wine makers, and start-ups from all around the country investing in our nation’s future because they have confidence that better days lie ahead.
    I’m not ready to call time on the rules-based trading system.
    And I’m not ready for New Zealand to give up on our efforts to advocate for it on the world stage.
    We’re not in this alone.
    The same institutions that have served New Zealand so well for so long, also underpin the prosperity of so many of our friends and partners, many of whom are also continuing to make the case for free and open trade in recent days.
    My government will keep making the case – overseas, here at home, with a strong voice and a consistent message.
    Free trade works.
    It lifts incomes.
    It creates jobs.
    It builds partnerships.
    And it secures peace.
    I think that’s worth fighting for – and I’m up for that fight.
    Thank you.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mullin, Capito, Fischer, Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Extreme EV Mandate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    Mullin, Capito, Fischer, Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Extreme EV Mandate

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal California’s EV waivers that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035, and set unrealistic and stringent requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.
    Senator Mullin’s CRA, the ‘Omnibus’ Low NOx Regulation, overturns a Biden EPA approved waiver that allowed California to enforce overly burdensome Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emission limits regulations for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. The regulation includes longer emission control system warranties, new cold start emission requirements, and extended durability requirements over a vehicles operational life. This waiver applies to model year 2024 and later on-road heavy-duty Otto-cycle and heavy-duty diesel engines used to operate Class 3-8 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including drayage trucks, buses (except transit buses), refuse trucks, and other commercial work vehicles. 
    “This waiver imposes significant compliance costs estimated at upwards of $20,000 per truck making it more difficult for small fleets and independent operators to invest in new equipment. Moreover, this creates a competitive disadvantage for manufactures and fleets by forcing stricter standards to apply unequally across the country. We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to bankrupt families and eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families. Thankfully, after four years of ineffective one-size-fits-all crippling bureaucracy, the Trump administration is bringing back common sense,” said Senator Mullin. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for partnering with me on this effort.”
    “By sending these rules to Congress, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration followed the law and addressed the Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress in this process. California’s extreme EV mandate imposes unrealistic and stringent requirements, fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for a waiver, forces the hand of American consumers, and makes our country more reliant on China for critical minerals. The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate,” said Senator Capito. “I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country.”
    “As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will cripple the truck manufacturing industry nationwide, overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. This inevitably leads to increased prices for families across the nation. My resolution will overturn the Biden administration’s waiver allowing the ACT regulation to take effect without congressional review,” said Senator Fischer.
    The ‘Omnibus’ Low NOx Regulation is supported by the following groups: American Trucking Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Automobile Dealers Association.
    Full text of the resolution can be found here.
    Background:
    In December 2024, EPA granted California’s “Omnibus” low-NOx regulation waiver for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines.
    In February 2025, EPA Administrator Zeldin sent over to Congress three of the Biden Administration’s rules granting waivers that allowed California to preempt federal car and truck standards approved by EPA and DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Zeldin’s decision to send over the rules are part of EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative to protect human health and the environment while restoring our economy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Tariffs, Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the Senate-passed budget resolution being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives this week, along with President Donald Trump’s trade agenda.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on the budget resolution: “I’m very optimistic. The House Rules Committee will actually be meeting this morning. President Trump, as you know, met with a number of people in the House last night. I think we’ll get this moved through. This budget resolution process will then unlock the reconciliation process, which is where we’ll actually get the tax cuts extended. We’ll bring the certainty that American business needs to make the capital investments that they want to make. The optimal deadline would be sometime before the 8th of May, but I think we can definitely get this done in the next four weeks.”

    Hagerty on the misunderstanding of spending cut levels in the budget resolution: “We’re going to get to work on the committee level to work through and try to bring about as many cuts as we can possibly deliver for the American people. Over time, we want to deliver at least $2 trillion worth of cuts here. There’s been some miscommunication, I think, about some of the targets that we set, but we want to make certain the hurdles are low enough that we don’t have a procedural issue, but we certainly are going to be shooting high, in terms of the cuts that we want to deliver.”

    Hagerty on potential trade negotiations: “As you know, Japan’s got a team here this week on the ground. I think there’s a wonderful opportunity to see real breakthroughs and real progress. When I served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, we did two trade deals there. Our teams know the issues, and I’ve encouraged the parties to really think broadly beyond just trade, but also think about our defense relationship, to think about opportunities with energy, ways that we can make our economies much more integrated, much more harmonized, and at the same time, our national security and our energy security needs will be met as well. I’m very optimistic about what will be forthcoming here.”

    Hagerty on the budget resolution passing before recess: “As we look at the House Rules Committee today, I think we certainly will [get it passed]. I hope that they’ll be able to move on this before we leave for Easter recess. Our teams are certainly working hard here in the Senate on the reconciliation process itself. So, we’ll be ready to go as soon as we get back from recess [and] get [tax reform] passed.”

    Hagerty on Trump using tariffs to resolve trade imbalances: “I think we’ve got a great opportunity here, and Maria, there’s an historic reason for this. A lot of these imbalances that President Trump has been signaling, very clearly to the market, that he wants to address a lot of these imbalances dated all the way back to World War II and the reconstruction effort afterwards. Japan, European nations got very favorable terms of trade. Now is the time to rectify that, though these are fully developed economies, and what we’ve seen is a very deep imbalance. We’re in the process of getting that adjusted. We started working on that when I was Ambassador, but COVID hit. So, there’s more opportunity there on the terms of trade, but if we broaden this even further, there’s a lot more that we can do, in terms of defense production, technology development. If you think about energy, Maria, there’s a tremendous opportunity for us to cooperate with the Japanese there to send more American energy, not only to Japan, but to partner with Japan, to send it throughout Southeast Asia. I see great opportunity here, and I’ve been encouraging the parties to really focus broadly, make the problem larger, and then solve it.”

    Hagerty on China’s retaliatory tariffs: “China should have seen this coming. President Trump telegraphed this throughout the campaign. He wants to rectify the situation with China. There’s an opportunity here as well. I think China needs to step up to the plate. I’m very optimistic that David Perdue, former U.S. Senator, will be confirmed as our Ambassador to China very soon. My colleague, [Senator] Steve Daines, has been working closely trying to encourage the right type of cooperation there. And when David Perdue gets into the mix, I think we’ll see a lot more opportunity to bring the parties together. That’s where we need to head with China.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on Trump Tariff Announcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, April 9 – After Trump posted on social media yet another change to his sweeping global tariffs, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement: 

    As someone who strongly opposed disastrous unfettered free trade deals with China, Mexico and other low-wage countries, I understand that we need trade policies that benefit American workers, not just large corporations. Targeted tariffs can be a powerful tool to stop corporations from outsourcing American jobs. They can help level the playing field for American autoworkers or steelworkers to compete fairly against companies who have moved production to countries where they can pay starvation wages. 

    But Trump’s chaotic across-the-board tariffs are not the way to do it. 

    Imposing steep tariffs on countries like Germany or France will not bring jobs back to America. These are not low-wage countries. Corporations are not shutting down plants in America and moving them to Switzerland. Trump’s blanket tariffs will just raise prices for American consumers and hurt our relationships with allies, undermining our global position. 

    Trump’s trade chaos – changing policy from day to day – is rapidly undermining our economy and making it impossible for households and small businesses to function. How can you plan for next week, let alone next year, when the rules might change tomorrow? People in my home state of Vermont are hurting. 

    This is exactly why the Constitution gives Congress sole authority to raise taxes and “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,” not the President. What Trump is doing is unconstitutional. Trump has claimed supposed “emergency” powers to bypass Congress and impose unilateral tariffs on hundreds of countries. The last president to try something like this was Richard Nixon, and his overreach prompted Congress to pass the law Trump is now abusing. This is another step toward authoritarianism. 

    And let’s be clear about why Trump is doing all this: to give massive tax breaks to billionaires. These tariffs will cost working families thousands of dollars a year, and Trump plans to use that revenue to help pay for a huge tax break for the richest people in America. That is what Trump and Republicans in Congress are working on right now: If they have their way on the tariffs and their huge tax bill, most Americans will see their taxes go up, while those on top will get a huge tax break. 

    Enough is enough. We need a coherent trade policy that puts working people first. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. Reports March 2025 Assets Under Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MILWAUKEE, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) today reported that its preliminary assets under management (“AUM”) as of March 31, 2025 totaled $162.4 billion. Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds accounted for $79.2 billion of total firm AUM, while separate accounts and other AUM1 accounted for $83.2 billion.

    PRELIMINARY ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY STRATEGY2    
         
    As of March 31, 2025 – ($ Millions)    
    Growth Team    
    Global Opportunities $   19,249  
    Global Discovery   1,736  
    U.S. Mid-Cap Growth   10,282  
    U.S. Small-Cap Growth   2,702  
    Franchise   700  
    Global Equity Team    
    Global Equity   345  
    Non-U.S. Growth   12,988  
    China Post-Venture   109  
    U.S. Value Team    
    Value Equity   4,942  
    U.S. Mid-Cap Value   2,582  
    Value Income   16  
    International Value Group    
    International Value   46,849  
    International Explorer   631  
    Global Special Situations   6  
    Global Value Team    
    Global Value   29,929  
    Select Equity   327  
    Sustainable Emerging Markets Team    
    Sustainable Emerging Markets   1,625  
    Credit Team    
    High Income   12,062  
    Credit Opportunities   287  
    Floating Rate   85  
    Developing World Team    
    Developing World   4,147  
    Antero Peak Group    
    Antero Peak   1,899  
    Antero Peak Hedge   222  
    International Small-Mid Team    
    Non-U.S. Small-Mid Growth   5,353  
    EMsights Capital Group    
    Global Unconstrained   879  
    Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities   1,040  
    Emerging Markets Local Opportunities   1,398  
         
    Total Firm Assets Under Management (“AUM”) $  162,390  

    1 Separate account and other AUM consists of the assets we manage in or through vehicles other than Artisan Funds or Artisan Global Funds. Separate account and other AUM includes assets we manage in traditional separate accounts, as well as assets we manage in Artisan-branded collective investment trusts, and in our own private funds.
    2 AUM for Artisan Sustainable Emerging Markets and U.S. Mid-Cap Growth Strategies includes $112.7 million in aggregate for which Artisan Partners provides investment models to managed account sponsors (reported on a lag not exceeding one quarter).

    ABOUT ARTISAN PARTNERS
    Artisan Partners is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of high value-added investment strategies to sophisticated clients around the world. Since 1994, the firm has been committed to attracting experienced, disciplined investment professionals to manage client assets. Artisan Partners’ autonomous investment teams oversee a diverse range of investment strategies across multiple asset classes. Strategies are offered through various investment vehicles to accommodate a broad range of client mandates.

    Investor Relations Inquiries: 866.632.1770 or ir@artisanpartners.com
    Source: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner’s Bill to Combat Transnational Repression Passes Homeland Security Committee

    Source: US Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC — The House Homeland Security Committee today passed U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner’s (RI-02) Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act, bipartisan legislation to crack down on coercive tactics used by repressive foreign governments to silence political dissidents, activists, and journalists within the United States. 

    Rep. Magaziner, who serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, sponsored the bill to train state and local law enforcement to identify and counter transnational repression by authoritarian regimes. This bill will be sent to Speaker Johnson for consideration on the House floor. 

    “Free speech is a fundamental American value, and people who come to the United States to escape repression should be able to speak out without fear,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “But too often, dissidents and journalists are harassed or threatened by foreign governments—even after they’ve found safety on our shores. That’s why I introduced this bipartisan bill, which just passed the full Homeland Security Committee, to ensure local law enforcement has the tools to identify and investigate transnational repression in communities across the country.”

    Rep. Magaziner’s legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a transnational repression threat training program for state, local, tribal, campus, and territorial law enforcement, including Fusion Center personnel. The specialized training will help these law enforcement officers, who are the first line of defense in our communities, counter the threat of transnational repression and protect those seeking refuge from authoritarian regimes.

    The bill advanced out of the House Homeland Security Committee as part of a bipartisan package aimed at combating transnational repression. The package includes the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Pfluger’s bill will establish a dedicated transnational repression working group within the Department of Homeland Security. It also includes the Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Act, sponsored by Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colorado, which will establish a public service announcement campaign to address this threat.

    BACKGROUND

    A quarter of the world’s governments (48 states) around the world have reached beyond their borders to forcibly silence political dissidents – including on U.S. soil – according to data by Freedom House.The top ten perpetrators over the past ten years were the governments of Russia, Cambodia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkey, and China. And in 2023, Freedom House reported 125 incidents of physical transnational impression that included assassinations, abductions, assaults, detentions, and unlawful deportations. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smith Statement on Reciprocal Tariff Pause

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

    Washington, DC — Today, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after President Trump announced a 90-day reciprocal tariff pause, reducing rates to 10 percent for trading partners and increasing the tariff rate for China. 

    “The president’s announcement is a step forward in the negotiation process. American producers, manufacturers, and service providers are eager to see improved market access for their products, and many of our trading partners have shown a willingness to engage with the administration to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers. This international response stems directly from President Trump’s efforts to drive a hard bargain and level the playing field. I continue to urge the President, his administration, and our trading partners to address these concerns and negotiate enforceable agreements in a timely manner. Through robust, fair trade we will unleash economic growth.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Statement by the Director-General on escalating trade tensions

    Source: World Trade Organization

    “The escalating trade tensions between the United States and China pose a significant risk of a sharp contraction in bilateral trade. Our preliminary projections suggest that merchandise trade between these two economies could decrease by as much as 80%.

    This tit-for-tat approach between the world’s two largest economies, which together account for roughly 3% of global trade, carries wider implications that could severely damage the global economic outlook. Our assessments, informed by the latest developments, highlight the substantial risks associated with further escalation.

    The negative macroeconomic effects will not be confined to the United States and China but will extend to other economies, especially the least developed nations. Of particular concern is the potential fragmentation of global trade along geopolitical lines. A division of the global economy into two blocs could lead to a long-term reduction in global real GDP by nearly 7%.

    Moreover, trade diversion remains an immediate and pressing threat, one that requires a coordinated global response. We urge all WTO members to address this challenge through cooperation and dialogue.

    It is critical for the global community to work together to preserve the openness of the international trading system. WTO members have agency to protect the open, rules-based trading system. The WTO serves as a vital platform for dialogue. Resolving these issues within a cooperative framework is essential.”

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Cassidy, Heinrich, and Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Protecting Global Fisheries Act, bipartisan legislation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Predatory IUU fishing, particularly by China, disrupts international trade and undermines maritime security, marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and food and economic security. It often involves forced labor, human trafficking, unsafe working conditions, and other human rights abuses. IUU fishing directly harms the United States—a major harvester, importer, and consumer of seafood—by creating unfair competition for fishermen who abide by international fishing laws.

    “Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is rife with human rights abuses and is bad for maritime security, the global economy, and Virginia’s seafood industry,” said Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee covering transnational criminal activity. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to deter IUU fishing by China and other bad actors, and bolster the U.S. and international response to these illegal activities.”

    “Louisiana produces the best seafood in the world. Competitors abroad outprice us with illegal practices. It hurts our jobs, economy, and national security. Let’s protect our way of life,” said Dr. Cassidy. 

    “China’s illegal fishing practices not only devastate marine ecosystems, but they also threaten the security of the United States and our partners while undercutting the hardworking men and women who fish legally and sustainably,” said Curtis, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee covering transnational criminal activity. “This bipartisan bill is about restoring fairness and protecting the integrity of global fisheries.”

    IUU fishing includes a range of activities that violate national and international fishing laws, including fishing without a license for certain species, failing to report catches or making false reports, using prohibited fishing gear, or conducting unauthorized transfers of fish to cargo vessels.

    IUU fishing has become a particular challenge in the Western Hemisphere. IUU fishing in the region costs nearly $2.7 billion in lost revenue annually. It makes up more than 20 percent of all catches in Latin America. The increasing presence of illegal Chinese fishing vessels has significantly contributed to the rise in IUU fishing in the hemisphere and around the world.

    Specifically, the bipartisan Protecting Global Fisheries Act would:

    • Authorize the President to impose visa, asset, and financial sanctions on foreign persons or foreign vessels found responsible or complicit in IUU fishing and the sale, supply, purchase, or transfer of endangered species.
    • Require the Departments of State and Defense to regularly provide briefings to Congress on efforts and strategies to combat IUU fishing.
    • Assert that the United States will prioritize countering IUU fishing in collaboration with friendly countries and via international forums.

    Full text of the bill is available here.     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Weber Introduces Bill to Keep the SPR Strategic

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. -Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act to prohibit the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China, or any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of China. 

    “The federal government should NEVER sell a single drop of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Communist China—our greatest geopolitical threat. Period. It is outrageous—and downright dangerous—that anyone in the White House would approve such a move, putting our national security at risk and sticking hardworking American taxpayers with the bill to refill it,” said Rep. Weber. “It’s reckless, it’s irresponsible, and it hits home—especially for us in Southeast Texas, where over 60% of the SPR is stored. We must pass this bill to ensure that no future president—certainly not another Joe Biden—can ever again willfully sell off our emergency reserves to the Chinese Communist Party.”

    Read the bill text here.

    The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives: Reps. Troy Balderson (OH-12), Andy Ogles (TN-5), Ryan Zinke (MT-1), Ben Cline (VA-6), Scott Franklin (FL-15), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Brian Babin (TX-36), Celeste Maloy (UT-2), Jefferson Shreve (IN-6), Dave Taylor (OH-2), Lauren Boebert (CO-4), and Stephanie Bice (OK-5), and Chris Smith (NJ-4). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Anti-dumping duties on Chinese lysine – E-000457/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the concerns regarding a reliable supply of lysine to the EU market and its importance as essential amino acid to complement the diets of farmed animals.

    It was established during the investigation that the EU producer is currently able to supply about 20% of the EU market under the normal conditions of competition, whilst large volumes are still sourced from third countries other than China (Indonesia, United States, South Korea, Brazil).

    The overwhelming and further increasing presence of Chinese imports on the EU market made it impossible for the EU industry to increase its production capacity.

    The Commission explained in Regulation 2025/74 of 13 January 2025[1] that the purpose of anti-dumping duties is not to close the EU market for imports from China, but rather to tackle unfair market practices and restore the level playing field, precisely allowing for the normal functioning of the market.

    Lysine and other feed additives do not fall under the definition of raw material[2] as laid in Regulation 2024/1252 and could therefore not be classified as such. Furthermore, actions that are applicable to critical raw materials would not address the concerns discussed.

    In the EU interest analysis, the Commission has provisionally concluded that the imposition of any anti-dumping measures is unlikely to seriously affect the situation of the users.

    The investigation has now entered its second phase, in which the Commission will analyse the comments provided by interested parties and may amend its determinations accordingly, if needed.

    The impact of measures on the feed industry will thus be further analysed. So far, the Commission has reasonable grounds to ascertain itself that no shortage of supply will occur in the future.

    • [1] ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/74/oj
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1252-20240503#art_2
    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Inspired by the First-Ever Big Screen Adaptation of the Bestselling Video Game of All Time, A Minecraft Movie Hologram Experience Launches Nationwide

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, New York, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of the buildup to the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ A Minecraft Movie, Warner Bros. and Hologram Media Network (HMN) have created exclusive hologram content available every day at a new network of 4 Macerich Malls and 30 Simon® malls across the country and utilizes HMN’s exclusive technology partnership with Proto Hologram. The Minecraft experience and show was created by Los Angeles-based creative studio Pretty Big Monster. 

    Snapchat has also partnered with Warner Bros. and HMN to launch a collection of four AR Lens experiences, called Blockify Your World, including the innovative 3D Body Tracking lens that will debut in a one-day event at Roosevelt Field Mall in New York, and introduce four different AR Lenses inspired by the world of A Minecraft Movie directly in the Snapchat app.

    See a clip from the interactive A Minecraft Movie hologram event 

    Cameron Curtis, Executive Vice President, Global Digital Marketing at Warner Bros. Pictures said, “We are thrilled to bring A Minecraft Movie to life in a whole new way through cutting-edge holographic and AR technology. By partnering with Hologram Media Network, Pretty Big Monster, and Snapchat, we’re giving fans an immersive, interactive experience that allows them to step inside the world of A Minecraft Movie like never before. Whether through holograms at top malls or innovative AR lenses, this is an exciting way to build anticipation for the movie’s release.”

    James Andrew Felts, Founder and CEO, Hologram Media Network said, “Holographic technology gives the best storytellers in the world a brand-new canvas to reach audiences, promote new content and create deep fan relationships. With Warner Bros. and Minecraft, customers are entering a whole new world of engaging with their favorite characters and stories.”

    “Combining hologram technology with Snapchat augmented reality unlocks an exciting new world of storytelling capabilities,” said Adam Katzenback, Head of Entertainment Creative Strategy at Snap Inc. “Together, Snap, HMN, and Warner Brothers are inviting fans to literally step into the world of Minecraft in a way that’s creative and playful, just like Snapchat.”

    For Hologram Media Network distribution and ad sales contact: andrew@hologrammedia.net
    +1 818.385.5259

    For photos, videos, demonstrations, interviews and other press info contact: owen@protohologram.com 

    About Warner Bros. Pictures: Warner Bros. Pictures is a part of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, which also includes New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Warner Bros. Pictures partners with the world’s most inspiring storytellers to create extraordinary entertainment on every screen for global audiences. Warner Bros. Pictures has been at the forefront of the motion picture industry since its inception and continues to be a leading creative force, producing the broadest slate of films for worldwide theatrical release. 

    About A Minecraft Movie: Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present A Vertigo Entertainment/On The Roam/Mojang Studios Production, A Jared Hess Film, “A Minecraft Movie.”  The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures worldwide and by Legendary East in China, and released only in theaters and IMAX in North America on April 4, 2025, and internationally beginning 2 April 2025.

    About Hologram Media Network: Hologram Media Network is a pioneering experiential advertising platform specializing in immersive, 3D holographic experiences. With a mission to revolutionize consumer engagement in the real world, we deploy cutting-edge hologram units in high-traffic locations such as shopping malls and movie theaters. By combining innovative technology with strategic placement, we offer advertisers unparalleled opportunities to captivate audiences in dynamic, interactive ways. Our vision is to create a nationwide network of 200 premium hologram displays within two years, setting a new standard for DOOH advertising. To learn more about Hologram Media Network, visit www.hologrammedia.net

    About Proto Inc.: Proto Inc. is the patented leader in hologram technology and AI spatial computing. Proto devices and its platform are in use across enterprise, finance, healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, sports and entertainment. Invented in Los Angeles and with showrooms and distribution partners around the globe, Proto distributes the large Proto Epic and Proto Luma, the desktop-sized Proto M, and a suite of hologram AI and spatial computing services. Learn more at protohologram.com

    About Simon: Simon® is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations and an S&P 100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our properties across North America, Europe and Asia provide community gathering places for millions of people every day and generate billions in annual sales.

    About Pretty Big Monster: Pretty Big Monster is an award-winning full-service immersive digital marketing agency with capabilities including AR, VR, Websites, Social, Display, and Experiential Activations. Pretty Big Monster has strategized, designed, built, and managed all forms of content for some of the world’s most iconic brands including Warner Bros. Amazon, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Disney, and more.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Discusses Trade Goals with U.S. Trade Representative Greer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a lifelong family farmer, today questioned U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer about the impact of and goals for tariff usage. As one immediate way to support farmers, Grassley is calling on the administration to restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by raising Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels. 

    In response to Grassley, Greer reiterated President Trump’s recent comments that he is “happy to engage in negotiations immediately with countries that believe that they can help us reduce our deficit and get rid of non-tariff barriers…” Further, Greer noted that tariff negotiations will happen “country by country.” 

    Video and excerpts of Grassley’s questions follow.

    [embedded content]

    VIDEO

    On U.S. Trade with China:

    “I support President Trump’s agenda to lower tariffs and non-tariff barriers other countries impose on American goods. I support President Trump’s agenda to get a better deal from China and other countries for our farmers and manufacturers.

    “In fact, even back in 2003, I sent a letter to the Chinese Minister of Commerce at that time pointing out China’s failure to live up to its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations. And then, I went further in 2018 when I was on Senator Daines’ CODEL. I told top Chinese leaders I made a mistake supporting China in the WTO.”

    On Goals for Tariffs:

    “So far in this administration, we’ve seen even more sweeping tariffs, with some countries already retaliating [against] agriculture, including China. I have been very vocal in my wait-and-see approach to these tariffs because I believe President Trump and you, Mr. Ambassador, are using them to get fairer trade for Americans with many countries. If that’s not the case, level with me.

    …

    “My question to you is, in the medium to the long term, do you plan to turn these tariffs into trade deals to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers? I support that. On the other hand, if the purpose is to stall on negotiations in order to keep tariffs high for the sole purpose of feeding the U.S. Treasury, I oppose that.”

    On Support for Farmers:

    “We all know agriculture is usually the first place of retaliation. In response to Chinese retaliation to tariffs, the first Trump administration set up the Market Facilitation Program for farmers, which gave direct payments to farmers affected by the tariffs. This helped farmers weather the short-term impact of trade retaliation. But as you know, farmers still overwhelmingly want to get their money from the marketplace and not from a government check.” 

    On Restoring Integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

    “To help farmers in the meantime, instead of relying on payments from the government, I’m going to give a suggestion … The administration could move very quickly to increase RVOs on the Renewable Fuel Standard so that farmers get more robust domestic markets for their crops. And one place to start would be where the Biden administration came up short with RVOs, only three and 1/10th billion over a three-year period of time on biodiesel, to make that 5.3 [billion] as far as you can see into the future. And that would very dramatically increase soybean prices.”

    On Congress’ Authority to Regulate Interstate and Foreign Commerce:

    “I made very clear throughout my public service that I’m a free and fair trader. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. I believe that Congress delegated too much authority to the president in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Trade Act of 1974.” 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE welcomes rescue team home

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The search and rescue team deployed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to the quake-stricken areas of Myanmar to assist in the search and rescue work, returned to Hong Kong last night after completing its mission.

    Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the team at Hong Kong International Airport.

    In his speech, Mr Lee said that the search and rescue team members overcame numerous difficulties and raced against time through their professional training, determined will and immense courage, fully demonstrating professionalism in fearlessly braving challenges and caring for those in distress.

    Upon completion of the operation in Mantalay, Myanmar, the China and the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue teams arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon.

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung welcomed the teams at Beijing Capital International Airport then flew to Hong Kong together with the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team last night.

    The Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team departed for Myanmar on March 29 to conduct search and rescue work in Mantalay – one of the worst-hit areas.

    The team conducted joint operations with the China search and rescue teams for days and successfully rescued one survivor. In addition, the Hong Kong SAR team found two bodies under the debris.

    The 51-strong Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team comprised firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel, as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the Hospital Authority.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall on Fox Business: We’re Going to Bring Jobs Back

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined The Bottom Line on Fox Business to discuss President Donald Trump’s America First trade policy, tariffs, and tax cuts.
    Senator Marshall emphasized that President Trump’s tariffs are just the beginning of trade negotiations to bring back American jobs and ensure our ranchers and farmers are not being taken advantage of. He also highlighted the importance of saving taxpayer dollars and making President Trump’s tax cuts permanent through the budget reconciliation process.
    [embedded content]
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:        
    On leveling the playing field for American manufacturing and agriculture:
    “American manufacturing [and] agriculture has not been treated fairly for decades. It’s not fair that Europe charges my farmers and ranchers a 50% tariff. India, 100%. Canada, 200%. Look, we can’t sell a cheeseburger, not one cheeseburger in Europe, in Russia, Australia, or China. That’s what’s not fair.
    “And we have a president now who is going to stand up and fight. Look, this game is early. This is just the top of the first inning of trade negotiations. We’re going to bring jobs back, and we’re going to get new and improved reciprocal trade agreements done.”
    On nontariff barriers:
    “Right now, the EU [is] saying a 0% tariff, but they’re not going to let us sell any beef there. They’re not going to let us sell any wheat there as well. They’re going to use sanitary, phytosanitary rules, regulations that are going to keep American beef, American agriculture products out of there. So they’re going to do other methods other than just the tariff. The nontariff barriers, I think is actually the bigger problem.”
    On making President Trump’s tax cuts permanent:
    “I think that we could use all the certainty we can get right now. Making the Trump tax cuts permanent… would be a thrill for all, for all of us. I’m even willing to talk about lowering the corporate rate from 21% to 15%. You want to do something to stimulate the stock market, that’s what we can talk about. So this is definitely a tool in the president’s toolbox, and I’m willing to use it.”
    On the federal government’s spending problem:
    “I think that all of us agree that the federal government has a spending problem and not a taxing problem. In all of my conversations with the president, he’s focused on making his Trump tax cuts permanent. He’s focused on extending the debt limit. He’s focused on adding no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. That’s what the president is talking about when I’m around him.”
    On the market’s reaction to tariffs:
    “I also think that we need to be this in for the long haul. I think that this is that the market is… overreacting right now. Again, this is the first inning of a long ball game. I think it’s a great time to buy. And actually, I have more of my friends that are saying, you know, “Is this the bottom of the market? Is this the time to buy?” I believe in America. I think that our best days are ahead of us yet, and then I’m in this for the long haul.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    New Zealand has granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. Ron Kolet / shutterstock

    Most rivers need some human help to stay clean and healthy and to flow freely. People have to fish out litter, block sewage, look out for invasive species and so on.

    This is obvious enough. But, as rivers are increasingly being granted legal rights of their own, they’ll need another form of human help: people willing to be their legal representatives, filing lawsuits and speaking in court.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    The idea that nature should be granted rights similar to that of a human (sometimes described as “legal personhood”) has been around for a few decades now. Though some lakes, forests and other features have been awarded these rights, it’s rivers that are the main beneficiaries. Most recently, the River Ouse in East Sussex, England, was awarded rights by its local council, following similar moves in places as diverse as New Zealand, Ecuador, Canada and India.

    “Rivers often have strong cultural and spiritual identities as sacred living entities or life-giving beings. These existential understandings have underpinned legal actions.” That’s according to Nick Mount, a rivers expert at the University of Nottingham.

    Back in 2017, Mount travelled to Colombia to visit the River Atrato. The Atrato flows through a remote and highly biodiverse jungle, in a region which at the time remained a paramilitary stronghold. The country’s constitutional court had recently awarded the river humans rights and Mount wanted to see what that meant in practice.

    “The Atrato River has been awarded rights,” he said, “because of what it provides for human life – not because it should be equated with human life”. He continued “this places a significant burden on the Colombian state to ensure the rights are enforced – and it demands that local people are empowered to manage their river properly”.

    However, “the reality was sobering”. He found deforested riverbanks, so contaminated with chemicals that plants could not regrow. He found industrial dredging had reshaped an entire river to the point where its regular nutrient-cycling floods had broken down entirely, while whole human communities had been displaced.

    “The Atrato River in general, and [its tributary] the Rio Quito in particular, serve as a stark reminder that awarding environmental rights is not the same as realising them. Such rights don’t exist within a vacuum, of course, and they will only be fulfilled if political, socio-economic and cultural systems support them.”



    Read more:
    Can a river have legal rights? I visited the jungles of Colombia to find out

    So what might a more supportive human system involve? Oluwabusayo Wuraola is a law lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. Writing about the recent River Ouse news, she agrees with Mount that “simply granting a river some rights isn’t enough” and adds that “we now need to think about who will actually defend these rights”.

    The River Ouse, playing hide and seek.
    Melanie Hobson / shutterstock

    “Appointing representatives who care about their own personal and property interests would be a grave mistake, as would appointing anyone who prioritises the rights of humans to a healthy environment over a more intrinsic right of nature (remember: the idea is that the River Ouse has rights in itself and shouldn’t need to demonstrate its worth to humans).”

    In her analysis, “the most effective defenders of the rights of nature in many court cases” have been people with an “ecocentric perspective”. That means an outlook that prioritises the intrinsic value of nature itself, rather than focusing on how it can serve human interests. She cites instances where the supposed advocates for a river’s rights in court were actually motivated by wanting to protect their own property downstream.

    Ultimately, though “moves to give rights to nature are promising … we’ll need a whole army of nature protectors to actually enforce those rights”.



    Read more:
    Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights. Now they need people who will defend these rights in court

    These ideas can be applied to rivers in the news right now. For instance, China recently approved the construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet.

    The dam will provide enormous amounts of clean energy – when complete, it will be the world’s largest power plant by some distance. But it will also displace people, destroy ecosystems and, of course, disrupt the river itself.

    Mehebub Sahana, a geographer at the University of Manchester, points out the effects may be especially severe downstream in India and Bangladesh, where that same river is known as the Brahmaputra and helps form a vast and incredibly fertile delta system.

    For him, the dam highlights “some of the geopolitical issues raised by rivers that cross international borders”. “Who owns the river itself,” he asks, “and who has the right to use its water? Do countries have obligations not to pollute shared rivers, or to keep their shipping lanes open? And when a drop of rain falls on a mountain, do farmers in a different country thousands of miles downstream have a claim to use it?”



    Read more:
    China plans to build the world’s largest dam – but what does this mean for India and Bangladesh downstream?

    These are crucial questions, even if they’re ultimately framed around humans. An ecocentric representative might argue the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra has an intrinsic right to flow undisturbed and to dump its sediment where it pleases.

    There may be a happy medium. Viktoria Kahui is an environmental economist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Last year, she investigated 14 examples of rights-of-nature from around the world.

    She found a “fundamental divide between local communities and external economic interests”. In some cases, interest groups were able to overturn the provision of nature rights.

    She therefore recommends that “future rights-of-nature frameworks need to … include appointed guardians, established as separate legal entities with limited liability, as well as the support of representatives from interest groups”.



    Read more:
    Granting legal ‘personhood’ to nature is a growing movement – can it stem biodiversity loss?

    In the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra example, those interest groups might include rice farmers and mangrove conservationists in Bangladesh, or fishermen a thousand miles upstream. They might include the millions of people who would gain electricity, or the thousands who would lose their homes. The river itself could also be an interested party, perhaps via eco-centric human representatives.

    Exactly where you draw the line in these cases is tricky. But with rivers increasingly being granted legal rights, this isn’t the last you’ll hear of this issue.

    – ref. Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer – https://theconversation.com/some-rivers-have-legal-personhood-now-they-need-a-lawyer-254267

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Slams Vatican for Giving Xi Jinping “Green Light to Construct State-Approved, State-Controlled Catholic Churches”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Vatican for extending a deal that allowed Communist China to appoint Roman Catholic bishops. Ricketts made the following comments:

    “Right now, our adversaries are hard at work to expand their influence in every region,” said Ricketts. “The Holy See is no exception. In 2018, the Vatican signed a provisional agreement to accept bishops appointed by Communist China, not the Vatican. Pope Francis has categorized the Vatican-China deal is ‘diplomacy in the art of what’s possible.’ I categorize this as being very dangerous. It sets a precedent for future relations with an adversarial nation.”

    “Xi Jinping has given the green light to construct state-approved, state-controlled Catholic churches,” continued Ricketts. “This has severe implications for Catholics globally. Additionally, I fear this encouraged Communist China in its persecution of religious minorities and provides moral legitimacy, moral legitimacy for a repressive regime. In October, the Vatican just extended that agreement for the third time for four more years, defying requests from the first Trump administration to end that agreement.”

    [embedded content]

    Watch the video HERE

    Ricketts made the comments in a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The hearing considered the nominations of Brian Burch to be U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Nicole McGraw to be U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, and Brandon Judd to be U.S. Ambassador to Chile.

    TRANSCRIPT:

    “Senator Ricketts: “Right now, our adversaries are hard at work to expand their influence in every region.

    “The Holy See is no exception.

    “In 2018, the Vatican signed a provisional agreement to accept bishops appointed by Communist China, not the Vatican.

    “Pope Francis has categorized the Vatican-China deal is diplomacy in the art of what’s possible.

    “I categorize this as being very dangerous.

    “It sets a precedent for future relations with an adversarial nation.

    “Xi Jinping has given the green light to construct state-approved, state-controlled Catholic churches.

    “This has severe implications for Catholics globally.

    “Additionally, I fear this encouraged Communist China in its persecution of religious minorities and provides moral legitimacy, moral legitimacy for a repressive regime.

    “In October, the Vatican just extended that agreement for the third time for four more years, defying requests from the first Trump administration to end that agreement.

    “Mr. Burch, do you agree that the agreement represents a dangerous level of cooperation between the Catholic Church and Communist China?”

    Mr. Burch: “Well, thank you, Senator again. Thank you for that kind introduction at the beginning. I agree that the relationship between the Holy See and China is of immense importance to the United States. 

    “As you point out, they did sign a provisional agreement in 2018 that they then renewed in 2024 that is primarily concerned with the appointment of bishops.

    “This agreement is secret, so we do not know the contents of this agreement, because it is restricted to only the appointment of bishops, I think it’s important to maintain for the Holy See, to maintain a posture of pressure and of applying pressure to the Chinese government around their human rights abuses, particularly their persecution of religious minorities, including Catholics.

    “When it comes to the question of the appointment of bishops, I would encourage the Holy See as the United States Ambassador, if I’m confirmed, to resist the idea that a foreign government has any role whatsoever in choosing the leadership of a private religious institution.

    “I do not believe the church should cede or surrender to any government China or otherwise, the selection of their bishops.

    “And I would hope and work with the Holy See to present that and to make that case, assist in that case with the Chinese.

    “The other piece of this is important with respect to China, the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan. I

    “t is one of only 12 states to do so, and it is the only European state to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

    “I understand this to be extremely important, because, of course, China’s ambitions with Taiwan will likely be tempered by the posture of the rest of the world and the Holy See in maintaining this relationship with Taiwan, I think will serve as a point of hesitation and resistance, given the holy see’s moral authority and moral respect and global influence around the world, and I will insist, as the United States Ambassador, if I’m confirmed, the Holy See, maintain that strong relationship with Taiwan.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Thank you, Mr. Burch.

    “One of the things that I want to also get back to a little bit of talking about the aid, because you mentioned that the Catholic Church is responsible for aid being distributed around the world, and I think is one of the partners that works for the United States government. 

    “Isn’t that right? Through Catholic Relief Services in Caritas?”

    Mr. Burch: “That’s correct.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Yeah. And so my again, having been a prior donor to Catholic Relief service.

    “You mentioned how effective they are. I think their administrative and overhead costs are less than 5% typically.

    “Is that your understanding?”

    Mr. Burch: “That is my understanding. Yes.”

    Senator Ricketts: “And so when the State Department is reviewing some of the ways that we’re providing our foreign aid, some of the things, and maybe this is where the ranking member and I need to sit down and kind of go over the facts, but some of the stuff has been referenced as transgender operas in Peru, I believe, also voter turnout in India, DEI programs and other programs, my guess would be, and maybe you’re more familiar, that’s why I’m asking that when it comes to the Catholic Church, what CRS does, what Caritas does, they’re focusing primarily on the type of aid that is life saving, it’s not involved with transgender promotion, it’s not involved in voter turnout, it’s not involved in DEI would that be your understanding of the kind of aid that the Catholic Church, the CRS and Caritas does?”

    Mr. Burch: “That is my understanding. It’s primarily focused on humanitarian aid, like disaster relief in Myanmar, for example, which I understand that great Grant was recently reauthorized. 

    “And then there’s human services side, which, of course, involves a lot of different things that at times, can or cannot be in the United States interest.

    “To the ranking member’s question, I think, think this is where it becomes difficult, because you have to make choices as as the United States.

    “Can we continue to fund any and all of these programs, or do we have to be selective?

    “And if we’re going to be selective, what are the criteria we’re going to use?

    “And I fully support the president and the secretary making sure that the dollars we spend, the money that the taxpayers pay into the into the federal government are aligned with the United States interests and will make us safer, stronger and more prosperous.”

    Senator Ricketts: “And so by getting to the point of the aid, it would seem that the Catholic Church’s interest in providing aid really does align more with the types of aid of this administration with regard to those lifesaving services. Does that seem accurate?”

    Mr. Burch: “I would agree. I think the Catholic Church can be one of the best partners of the United States.”

    Senator Ricketts: “Great, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Press freedom linked to greater financial stability, finds global study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By George Kladakis, Lecturer in Finance, University of St Andrews

    Press freedom is widely considered to be a cornerstone of democracy. It brings accountability, transparency and access to reliable information.

    But beyond its democratic role, press freedom is also a vital part of a stable economy. Research has shown that it acts as a kind of financial watchdog, ensuring balance and accuracy.

    In doing so, an independent press strengthens the resilience of financial institutions. And our research suggests that higher levels of press freedom can also be linked to greater financial stability and lower “systemic risk” – where something bad happening at one company can trigger wider instability or even industry collapse – in the banking sector.

    Using data from 47 countries, we found that an independent press brings greater scrutiny of banking executives. Another benefit is a better flow of information around the financial markets, making the whole system more efficient.

    Countries with higher levels of press freedom are also more likely to foster corporate and political cultures that are free from the sort of corruption which could jeopardise the stability of the banking sector. All of these advantages are most pronounced during economic downturns or banking crises.

    And even outside times of crisis, we can see the positive effects by looking at basic financial indicators in countries with high and low press freedom levels. Countries with consistently high levels of press freedom such as Norway, Sweden or Estonia, for example, have far fewer non-performing (unrepaid) loans than countries with low levels of press freedom such as Pakistan, Greece or Russia.

    But a free press and a stable banking industry are by no means the norm.

    Recent data from the campaign group Reporters Without Borders highlights a worrying decline in media autonomy. It reports that 135 out of 180 countries now have press freedom levels classified as “problematic”, “difficult” or “very serious”.

    This trend extends to advanced economies such as Japan (70th, down from 68th in 2023), Italy (46th, down from 41st), and the US (55th, down from 45th).

    And it looks like the world’s largest economy could slip down the rankings even further. Although President Trump signed an executive order aimed at “restoring freedom of speech”, he has also explicitly threatened to revoke broadcast licenses, investigate critical media and jail journalists who protect confidential sources.

    In February 2025, White House officials even informed one US news agency that its journalists would be barred from entering the Oval Office until it stopped using the geographic term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of Trump’s preferred “Gulf of America”.

    But the Trump effect is not limited to the US. A recent aid freeze by his administration has cut billions in funding for independent media outlets across more than 30 countries, including Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran.

    Press test

    Notable declines in press freedom have also been observed in politically volatile regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, where authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media.

    The survey from Reporters Without Borders suggests that governments across the world are failing to protect journalism, with a marked trend of declining press freedom.

    In 2014, 13% of countries enjoyed a “good” degree of press freedom, but this figure dropped to 7% by 2021 and then to just 4.4% in 2022. Conversely, the share of countries in the lowest classifications has risen dramatically. A decade ago, 8% were considered “difficult”, now that figure is 24%. The number of those with a “very serious” situation has gone from 8% to 17% in the same period.



    Read more:
    White House spat with AP over ‘Gulf of America’ ignites fears for press freedom in second Trump era

    Of course, there are outliers in the global picture. China, for example, has limited press freedom but a very stable banking sector that has been highly resilient to external shocks in the past. But the country is run by an authoritarian regime that helps to shield its banks from those kinds of risks.

    Elsewhere though, the decline in press freedom threatens not just democratic principles and political transparency, but also the operation of financial markets. Safeguarding that freedom is a critical basis of economic resilience and stability.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Press freedom linked to greater financial stability, finds global study – https://theconversation.com/press-freedom-linked-to-greater-financial-stability-finds-global-study-248207

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Follows Baldwin’s Lead to Crack Down on China, Close Trade Loophole for Fentanyl, Counterfeit Goods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced his administration will close a trade loophole for China and Hong Kong that allows illegal substances and counterfeit goods to enter the country, a fix that she has championed for years. Currently, small-dollar imports with a value of less than $800 are allowed into the U.S. duty-free and with little customs scrutiny. However, this loophole has been abused by countries like China that are sending hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of products into the U.S. market, undermining U.S. manufacturers and retailers, and letting illicit substances into our communities. Senator Baldwin has led on this issue, introducing the bipartisan De Minimis Reciprocity Act in 2023 to close this loophole by excluding countries like China from using the de minimis channel.
    “There is a whole lot of Donald Trump’s reckless trade policy that is wrong and will only jack up costs for working families, but on this, President Trump and I agree. I am glad the President is following my lead to close this loophole that undercuts our Wisconsin manufacturers and allows deadly drugs onto our streets,” said Senator Baldwin. “I have fought to close this loophole for years to keep our families safe and stand up for Wisconsin workers, and I’ll continue to push Donald Trump to tackle the fentanyl epidemic, level the playing field for our businesses, and give Wisconsin workers a fair shot.”
    According to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), more than 1.36 billion packages came into the U.S. under the de minimis rule that lacks customs scrutiny in Fiscal Year 2024.
    Senator Baldwin has long championed closing or amending the de minimis loophole to protect Wisconsin families and businesses. Senators Baldwin and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) lead the De Minimis Reciprocity Act to close the de minimis loophole by excluding untrustworthy countries like China from using the de minimis channel. The bipartisan legislation would also require more information on every package entering the U.S. and use the revenue proceeds to establish a fund for reshoring industry from China. Senator Baldwin also leads the Ensure Accountability in the De Minimis Act with former Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), bipartisan legislation to give clarity for what kind of small-dollar products and packages can enter the country through the expedited process that has minimal customs scrutiny.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: SeafoodAI Secures Investment from NEC X, Accelerating AI-Powered Biometrics to Enhance Seafood Sustainability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEC X, the Silicon Valley venture studio backed by NEC’s advanced technologies and global businesses, today announced a strategic investment in SeafoodAI, an innovative startup revolutionizing sustainable seafood with real-time biometric data and AI-powered traceability. The announcement coincides with SeafoodAI’s graduation from NEC X’s prestigious Elev X! Ignite program.

    CrabScan360 – Automated crab scanning and sorting system for verifiable, traceable harvests

    SeafoodAI addresses the seafood industry’s $50 billion in annual losses due to outdated, manual processes that hinder compliance, traceability and efficiency—starting with the crab fisheries sector, valued globally at $11.5 billion. Leveraging AI-powered biometric scanning technology, SeafoodAI’s flagship solution, CrabScan360, automates crab measurement, sorting and data recording, replacing error-prone manual processes. This transformative solution significantly enhances traceability, simplifies regulatory compliance and delivers precise operational insights to stakeholders across the supply chain.

    Leading retailers, including Whole Foods, Walmart and Costco, have committed to exclusively selling sustainably certified seafood by 2027 or earlier. SeafoodAI’s innovative approach enables fisheries and processors to achieve verifiable sustainability certifications rapidly, efficiently and at scale, meeting the growing demand for transparent seafood sourcing.

    SeafoodAI is revolutionizing seafood sourcing with advanced technology, enhancing sustainability and profitability through real-time data insights and instant verification.

    “Seafood sustainability is no longer optional; it’s imperative,” said Rob Terry, CEO and Founder of SeafoodAI. “With CrabScan360, we’re digitizing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process—bringing accuracy, transparency and trust directly to the seafood industry. The strategic investment and technical expertise from NEC X significantly accelerate our ability to drive meaningful change across seafood supply chains.”

    NEC X’s Elev X! Ignite program provides early-stage startups with strategic guidance, cutting-edge technology access and business resources to drive innovation. SeafoodAI directly leveraged NEC X’s expertise in image recognition and artificial intelligence, rapidly advancing its technology during the program as part of cohort Batch 9.

    “SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing,” said Shintaro Matsumoto, CEO of NEC X. “Their biometric scanning technology unlocks new value across seafood supply chains by addressing global challenges with scalable, AI-driven solutions. We’re excited to support SeafoodAI’s journey toward redefining seafood supply chain standards.”

    Alongside its new investment from NEC X, SeafoodAI is gaining significant momentum. The company successfully launched a beta of its field scanner, is rapidly advancing its digital logbook and is adapting its scanner for aquaculture in collaboration with the University of Mississippi. A graduate of Techstars’ Water Tech and Sustainability cohort, SeafoodAI is also part of Blue Swell’s Sea Ahead program and is working with partners like Hyperion to enhance its AI-powered seafood scanner for factory automation.

    SeafoodAI is actively collaborating with leading certification bodies and seafood industry stakeholders, including Aruna, ASIC and Where Food Comes From, to implement digital verification solutions.

    Beyond hardware, SeafoodAI is building a scalable data infrastructure—laying the groundwork for a trusted digital verification marketplace that connects harvesters, processors, regulators and retailers with real-time, actionable data. The startup is also expanding its biometric scanning innovations to additional seafood markets such as tuna, salmon and shrimp. It is in pilot discussions with government agencies and recently won the Open Sphere Startup Awards 2024.

    SeafoodAI generates revenue through a hybrid model of hardware sales and recurring SaaS subscriptions, supporting long-term growth across the $12B seafood tech market.

    For more information on SeafoodAI and its groundbreaking technology, visit https://seafoodai.com/.

    About SeafoodAI
    SeafoodAI provides AI-powered tools and technologies that enable a smarter, more connected seafood economy. Its intelligent scanners, sorters, graders, and digital logbooks help producers and processors improve efficiency while seamlessly capturing critical, verifiable data across every stage of the supply chain.

    By embedding productivity tools that enhance operations and generate ground-truth insights, SeafoodAI supports real-time traceability, streamlined compliance, and data-driven decision-making from harvest to distribution. The company’s solutions help reduce waste, accelerate sustainability certification, and unlock access to premium markets.

    With inefficiencies and data gaps costing the global seafood industry over $50 billion annually, SeafoodAI addresses a major need in an underserved, high-value sector. Its hybrid business model—combining hardware sales or leasing with recurring software subscriptions—positions the company for scalable, defensible growth.

    For more information, visit www.seafoodai.com.

    About NEC X 
    NEC X is an innovation powerhouse and curator of disruptive startups backed by the global technology leadership of NEC. Leveraging 125 years of IT and network technologies expertise, NEC X’s startup-focused approach transforms visionary ideas into commercial successes that revolutionize how we work and live. Since its inception in 2018, NEC X has helped launch and grow more than 150 startups. 

    Their Silicon Valley programs – Elev X! Ignite and Elev X! Boost – equip early-stage startup founders with the tools to fast-track their tech development and adoption. Elev X! fuels startup success from inception to launch, connecting innovators with NEC’s 45,000 patents; global network of partners, mentors and advisors; reach into 55+ international markets; and $8 billion R&D ecosystem.  

    For more information, visit https://nec-x.com and https://www.elev-x.com. 

    About NEC Corporation
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Trust-Building ‘Fundamental to Fostering Stable, Prosperous Future for All Communities in Kosovo’, Special Representative Tells Security Council

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Several Members Debate Future of UN Mission, Urge European Union Maintain Objective, Neutral Position between Pristina, Belgrade

    The Security Council met today to consider the role of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, with some members advocating for its restructuring or gradual drawdown, while others emphasized its ongoing relevance in supporting regional stability and facilitating dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

    “Trust-building remains fundamental to fostering a stable and prosperous future for all communities in Kosovo,” said Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as she introduced the Secretary-General’s latest report on the Mission (document S/2025/200) covering developments from 16 September 2024 to 15 March 2025.

    UNMIK was established in 1999 through Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) to provide an interim civilian administration, following a brutal conflict in the Western Balkans and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) military intervention.  It now primarily focuses on political monitoring, facilitating intercommunal dialogue and regularly reporting to the Council, particularly on issues affecting peace and stability.

    “Despite the continued challenges which reflect a sense of lack of confidence in institutions and concerns over intercommunal relations, UNMIK stands steadfast in its commitment to bridging divides,” the Special Representative said, detailing the Mission’s initiatives to promote interethnic dialogue and countering divisive narratives to “address the trust deficit”, including the Barabar Centre, which hosted more than 100 events.

    She welcomed the peaceful holding of a recent election in Kosovo, expressing hope for the timely formation of the next Government.  However, she went on to voice concern about the closures of Serbia-run institutions there, and the consequences they are having on economic and social rights, especially for persons in vulnerable situations.  “UNMIK will continue to closely monitor their impacts,” she said, reiterating her call to refrain from unilateral actions and urge outstanding issues to be discussed constructively and in good faith within the European Union-facilitated dialogue.

    She also voiced alarm over the destruction of religious symbols, most recently an attack on the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as violence and security incidents in northern Kosovo.

    Serbia, Kosovo Trade Accusations

    Marko Đjurić, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, underscored the need to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of internationally recognized States, including his own.  “I believe that today — whether we want to admit it or not — we are all aware of the consequences of the precedent set in 2008 by the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo,” he said, noting that — since 2008, “we have seen an increasing number of situations questioning statuses of various regions, provinces, territories of sovereign countries, members of this Organization”.  He added: “In fact, in the aftermath of the Kosovo precedent, this very Security Council has been overwhelmed with dealing with the consequences thereof.”

    He then turned to Pristina’s actions to “systematically dismantle institutions of Serbs throughout Kosovo and Metohija”; to hold elections in which conditions for Serb participation “were anything but free or fair”; and to initiate a “widespread campaign of persecution against prominent Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija for their participation in protests in late 2022”.  He underscored:  “What [Albin] Kurti is doing to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is not an act of care for citizens — it is targeted, deliberate and systematic ethnic revanchism.” He added that, while Serbia will always support dialogue, “we must not forget that the ‘di’ in ‘dialogue’ stands for participation of two sides”.  Against these backdrops, “UNMIK’s role is not only relevant, it is indispensable”, he stressed.

    Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz of Kosovo then recalled the NATO intervention on 24 March 1999 “to stop a genocide in Europe”.  Now, 26 years later, she said that “the republic of Kosova is a true example of how international intervention against genocide, with sustained international support, has enabled the flourishing of a full European and Western democracy”. However, she said that “Serbia has not changed very much — it continues trying to destabilize our democracy”.  It does this not only through rhetoric, but concrete, violent actions.  On that, she spotlighted an armed incursion in 2023 led by Milan Radoičić — “a man publicly known to be linked to Serbia’s political leadership”.

    This, she stressed, was an “act of open aggression against a neighbouring country, carried out by a military group with military training, equipment and logistics from Serbia”.  She also pointed to the November 2024 use of “military-grade explosives” against the Ibër-Lepenc canal.  “The objective was unmistakable, designed to terrorize our population, disrupt daily life and cause widespread harm,” she stressed.  Calling on Serbia to fully cooperate with international investigations and hand over Mr. Radoičić, she also called on UNMIK to “finally address the reality on the ground:  Serbia’s current regime continues to undermine peace — not only in Kosova, but throughout the region”.  She added that — given the current state of Kosova’s development — “UNMIK no longer serves a purpose that justifies its continued presence”.

    European Union’s Role

    “The future of the Western Balkans is in our European Union,” said the bloc’s representative, speaking in his capacity as observer, welcoming that Belgrade and Pristina reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue facilitated by the Union and the process of normalizing their relations — essential conditions for the parties to join the European Union.  He urged both sides not to risk losing this opportunity.

    However, the Russian Federation’s delegate questioned the European Union’s role as an “honest broker”.  Brussels ignores the tragedy of anti-Serb ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and encourages Pristina to continue oppressing the Serbian population. “The [European Union] mediation has completely failed,” he said, also warning against continued deliveries of military products to Kosovo from NATO countries in violation of resolution 1244 (1999).  “Given the lack of progress in the settlement, the international community’s attention to Kosovo should not wane,” he said, rejecting any attempt to reduce the frequency or changing the format, of Council meetings on Kosovo.  He also opposed reducing UNMIK’s budget and personnel.

    China’s delegate also called on the European Union to maintain an objective, neutral position, underscoring the need for the United Nations and the Security Council to maintain their attention on the Kosovo issue and respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Serbia.  Greece’s delegate supported the continuation of UNMIK’s mandate “as necessary”, arguing that its coordination with the NATO-led peacekeeping force and the European Union rule of law mission in Kosovo is vital for achieving long-lasting peace and stability in the region.  Similarly, Panama’s representative said that UNMIK and the European missions on the ground remain crucial for progress towards peacebuilding in the region.

    The representative of France, Council President for April, spoke in his national capacity to state that the Mission’s mandate is “linked to the normalization of Serbia and Kosovo”.  He therefore expressed support for the Mission’s extension.

    Calls to Draw Down UN Kosovo Mission

    However, “the time to draw down UNMIK has arrived”, the representative of the United States said, recommending that the Mission transfer its functions to other UN agencies on the ground so the process towards ultimately terminating the Mission is deliberate and gradual, rather than sudden.  Washington, D.C., is committed to rooting out unnecessary spending in international organizations.  “UNMIK is a peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers, with 81 per cent of its budget going to staff salaries,” he pointed out.  Future meetings on UNMIK should be held in a closed format to foster a more candid and less performative discussion.  These briefings should be further reduced to annual meetings, he added.

    The United Kingdom is “a long-standing friend of Kosovo”, said its representative, expressing its support for Kosovo’s statehood, Euro-Atlantic aspirations and an inclusive and multiethnic democracy.  Welcoming Kenya’s recent recognition of Kosovo, he encouraged other States to do so if they haven’t.  With conditions on the ground that existed in 1999 now unrecognizable, “it is time for the Council to review UNMIK’s role and responsibilities to ensure it can continue to effectively support security, stability and human rights in Kosovo in a way that reflects the world of 2025”, he added.  On that, the Republic of Korea’s delegate said that a “more streamlined division of roles” between UNMIK and partners “could enhance overall effectiveness”.

    The representative of Denmark said that 10,000 Danish soldiers have served in Kosovo since 1999.  She also emphasized that Denmark was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo as an independent State, adding:  “We fully support its European path and integration in the international system.”  Concurring, the representative of Sierra Leone stated that accession to the European Union is the “most viable route” for Kosovo’s development.

    The representative of Slovenia welcomed the “peaceful, competitive and inclusive” parliamentary elections held in Kosovo in February as a “positive step forward in strengthening Kosovo’s democratic credentials”. He also highlighted the role of youth: “If for no one else, it is for Kosovo’s youth that things need to start moving forward.”  The representative of Guyana welcomed a new election law designed to promote transparency and greater representation for women, but expressed concern over “reports of harsh rhetoric — including hate speech — and attempts to politicize key institutions”.

    Caution against Unilateral Actions

    The representative of Algeria underscored:  “Maintaining peace and security in Kosovo is critical to avoid any escalation of tensions.”  It is therefore important, he stressed, to refrain from any steps that could lead to escalation — “including unilateral actions that affect the socioeconomic situation of non-majority communities”.  Pakistan’s delegate welcomed the European Union’s continued efforts to facilitate dialogue, calling on Belgrade and Pristina to “demonstrate their sincere commitment to the political process”, fulfil their obligations under relevant agreements and “refrain from unilateral actions that could escalate tensions”.

    “Lasting stability requires not only patience and sustained commitment but also the wisdom to choose diplomatic engagement over unilateral measures,” stressed Somalia’s representative.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas publishes its 2024 reports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas publishes its 2024 reports

    Ageas has today released its 2024 Annual Reporting, including the Report of the Board of Directors, the Ageas Consolidated Financial Statements, and the 2024 Statutory Accounts of ageas SA/NV. The reporting was prepared for the first time in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the associated European Sustainability Reporting Standards.

    The reports as well as additional information on the Group’s 2024 performance, highlighting the accomplishments of Ageas’s businesses and expanding on the conclusion of its strategic plan Impact24 are available on the Ageas website: ageas.com/en/annual-report-2024

    The annual results for 2024 were published on February 27, 2025.

    Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of more than EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Delia Grace, Professor Food Safety Systems at the Natural Resources Institute (UK) and contributing scientist ILRI, International Livestock Research Institute

    One of the most pressing issues of our time is the wild meat trade. Why? Because it’s consumed by millions and puts billions at risk from emerging diseases. It provides food and income for some of the poorest and most remote communities in Africa and Asia, yet over-exploitation makes ecosystems unstable and threatens the destruction of endangered species.

    In Africa, wild meat hunting is driven mostly by protein and meat scarcity (“the poor man’s meat”). In some regions, like east and south-east Asia, it can be found in restaurants, offered as high-priced exotic delicacies (“the rich man’s status”).

    But consuming wild meat also poses great dangers and challenges. The global wild meat trade can drive biodiversity loss, fuel illegal markets and spread diseases. The wildlife trade and so-called wet markets, where wild animals and wild meat are often sold, are conducive to the emergence of diseases, such as Ebola and HIV, which can be transmitted from animals to people.

    These issues are the focus of a recently released landmark study. It takes a new approach to analysing wild animal exploitation: it focuses on consumption and consumers rather than wild animals or hunting communities.

    Most previous studies on wild meat have been by people who want to stop it, with a handful on its livelihood and nutrition benefits to poor people. Our study, with its focus on consumption, allows us to balance conservation, community development, animal welfare and plague prevention.

    We are specialists in livestock and sustainable development and authors of the report. We worked for over a year to analyse and synthesise wild meat trade with a focus on hotspots in Africa and Asia.

    We argue that, because the wild meat trade is here for the foreseeable future, policymakers and implementers should be looking at: better management of the global wild meat trade, reducing and managing the farming of wild animals, and providing alternatives to consumption of wild meat by poor people.

    We must find a way to balance the benefits and risks of wild meat consumption in a way that protects human health, wildlife welfare, and our environment.

    Importance of wild meat trade

    Drawing on previous studies and a systematic literature review, our report found that the global trade in wild meat is extensive. Annual revenues range from US$1 billion in Africa to US$8-11 billion from illegal trade in south-east Asia to US$74 billion from wildlife farming in China.

    The volume of wild meat consumed is also significant – and often much higher than that of livestock meat. On average, African foragers consume 38kg of wild meat and farmers 16kg per year. The average annual livestock meat consumption per person in Africa is about 16.7kg.

    We found that in at least 60 countries wildlife and wild-caught fish contribute at least 20% of the animal protein in rural household diets. Where poverty is high, wildlife abundant, and affordable domesticated meat and access to markets scarce, many households turn to hunting wild animals.

    Not being harvested sustainably

    Unlike domesticated meat, which comes from just 20 or so animal species, the wild meat trade involves hundreds of species. In Africa about 500 species are hunted, in south-east Asia about 300.

    Current rates of extraction of wild meat are unsustainable, except for some small and fast-reproducing species such as rodents. Ungulates (hoofed animals) generally tend to be the most frequently hunted, followed by large rodents and primates. Near human settlements, larger bodied animals have over time tended to be hunted out and replaced by smaller species (such as duikers and large rodents), which reproduce at faster rates and thus are more sustainably hunted.

    The illegal trade in wild meat is increasingly moving online, with Asia as both a major supplier and consumer. Smuggling intensifies hunting pressure, as wildlife is harvested not only for local needs but also for global markets. There is some evidence of declining extraction rates due to over-hunting, resulting in “empty forests”. While bans can reduce hunting, they may also drive the trade underground.

    Climate change is already driving an increase wild meat extraction by making it harder to grow plants and farm animals. Studies show that in some critical ecosystems, such as the Serengeti in Tanzania, there are rapid declines in wildlife linked to climate change and land-use change.

    Addressing the wild meat challenge

    Moving away from wild meat practices in poorer countries presents a complex challenge.

    Replacing wild protein sources with commercially raised livestock can be prohibitively expensive for low-income households and governments alike. Moreover, it’s estimated that increased livestock production to replace the loss of wild meat could increase deforestation and require some 124,000km² of additional agricultural land.

    Some solutions do exist – but these depend on the context.

    Where wild animal hunting is prevalent, such as the forest margins in Africa and Asia, alternative protein sources could reduce the demand for wild meat by providing sustainable and culturally accepted protein sources. Examples are cane rats, Nile tilapia and African catfish in west and central Africa, cavies (guinea pigs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and bamboo rats in south-east Asia. High-reproducing “mini livestock”, such as rabbits, cane rats, cavies, capybara and giant African snails, can provide household meat in a relatively short period. However, attempts to promote alternative animals have met with little success. We suggest paying people not to hunt or subsidising alternative meat may be more effective and feasible.

    Hundreds of thousands rely on hunting wild animals. Rather than criminalising hunters or trying to turn them into farmers in unsuitable lands, it may make more sense to pay them not to hunt by giving them free or subsidised livestock meat, which they may prefer.

    Promoting disgust triggered by wild meat can be a promising channel, too, for changing consumption behaviours. Societies often, and sometimes quickly, shift from finding “different” meats appealing to finding them appalling. In the UK, for example, offal was eaten by the poor before becoming a fashion-food for the English gentry during the early modern period. Behavioural science can be harnessed to nudge these mind shifts in the right direction.

    This study provides new insights into the wild meat trade. Deeply embedded in human culture, hunting wild animals is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. However, sustainable practices can balance human and ecosystem health and wildlife conservation, ensuring a future where both people and nature thrive.

    – Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade
    – https://theconversation.com/wild-meat-is-eaten-by-millions-but-puts-billions-at-risk-how-to-manage-the-trade-252226

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Delia Grace, Professor Food Safety Systems at the Natural Resources Institute (UK) and contributing scientist ILRI, International Livestock Research Institute

    One of the most pressing issues of our time is the wild meat trade. Why? Because it’s consumed by millions and puts billions at risk from emerging diseases. It provides food and income for some of the poorest and most remote communities in Africa and Asia, yet over-exploitation makes ecosystems unstable and threatens the destruction of endangered species.

    In Africa, wild meat hunting is driven mostly by protein and meat scarcity (“the poor man’s meat”). In some regions, like east and south-east Asia, it can be found in restaurants, offered as high-priced exotic delicacies (“the rich man’s status”).

    But consuming wild meat also poses great dangers and challenges. The global wild meat trade can drive biodiversity loss, fuel illegal markets and spread diseases. The wildlife trade and so-called wet markets, where wild animals and wild meat are often sold, are conducive to the emergence of diseases, such as Ebola and HIV, which can be transmitted from animals to people.

    These issues are the focus of a recently released landmark study. It takes a new approach to analysing wild animal exploitation: it focuses on consumption and consumers rather than wild animals or hunting communities.

    Most previous studies on wild meat have been by people who want to stop it, with a handful on its livelihood and nutrition benefits to poor people. Our study, with its focus on consumption, allows us to balance conservation, community development, animal welfare and plague prevention.

    We are specialists in livestock and sustainable development and authors of the report. We worked for over a year to analyse and synthesise wild meat trade with a focus on hotspots in Africa and Asia.

    We argue that, because the wild meat trade is here for the foreseeable future, policymakers and implementers should be looking at: better management of the global wild meat trade, reducing and managing the farming of wild animals, and providing alternatives to consumption of wild meat by poor people.

    We must find a way to balance the benefits and risks of wild meat consumption in a way that protects human health, wildlife welfare, and our environment.

    Importance of wild meat trade

    Drawing on previous studies and a systematic literature review, our report found that the global trade in wild meat is extensive. Annual revenues range from US$1 billion in Africa to US$8-11 billion from illegal trade in south-east Asia to US$74 billion from wildlife farming in China.

    The volume of wild meat consumed is also significant – and often much higher than that of livestock meat. On average, African foragers consume 38kg of wild meat and farmers 16kg per year. The average annual livestock meat consumption per person in Africa is about 16.7kg.

    We found that in at least 60 countries wildlife and wild-caught fish contribute at least 20% of the animal protein in rural household diets. Where poverty is high, wildlife abundant, and affordable domesticated meat and access to markets scarce, many households turn to hunting wild animals.

    Not being harvested sustainably

    Unlike domesticated meat, which comes from just 20 or so animal species, the wild meat trade involves hundreds of species. In Africa about 500 species are hunted, in south-east Asia about 300.

    Current rates of extraction of wild meat are unsustainable, except for some small and fast-reproducing species such as rodents. Ungulates (hoofed animals) generally tend to be the most frequently hunted, followed by large rodents and primates. Near human settlements, larger bodied animals have over time tended to be hunted out and replaced by smaller species (such as duikers and large rodents), which reproduce at faster rates and thus are more sustainably hunted.

    The illegal trade in wild meat is increasingly moving online, with Asia as both a major supplier and consumer. Smuggling intensifies hunting pressure, as wildlife is harvested not only for local needs but also for global markets. There is some evidence of declining extraction rates due to over-hunting, resulting in “empty forests”. While bans can reduce hunting, they may also drive the trade underground.

    Climate change is already driving an increase wild meat extraction by making it harder to grow plants and farm animals. Studies show that in some critical ecosystems, such as the Serengeti in Tanzania, there are rapid declines in wildlife linked to climate change and land-use change.

    Addressing the wild meat challenge

    Moving away from wild meat practices in poorer countries presents a complex challenge.

    Replacing wild protein sources with commercially raised livestock can be prohibitively expensive for low-income households and governments alike. Moreover, it’s estimated that increased livestock production to replace the loss of wild meat could increase deforestation and require some 124,000km² of additional agricultural land.

    Some solutions do exist – but these depend on the context.

    Where wild animal hunting is prevalent, such as the forest margins in Africa and Asia, alternative protein sources could reduce the demand for wild meat by providing sustainable and culturally accepted protein sources. Examples are cane rats, Nile tilapia and African catfish in west and central Africa, cavies (guinea pigs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and bamboo rats in south-east Asia. High-reproducing “mini livestock”, such as rabbits, cane rats, cavies, capybara and giant African snails, can provide household meat in a relatively short period. However, attempts to promote alternative animals have met with little success. We suggest paying people not to hunt or subsidising alternative meat may be more effective and feasible.

    Hundreds of thousands rely on hunting wild animals. Rather than criminalising hunters or trying to turn them into farmers in unsuitable lands, it may make more sense to pay them not to hunt by giving them free or subsidised livestock meat, which they may prefer.

    Promoting disgust triggered by wild meat can be a promising channel, too, for changing consumption behaviours. Societies often, and sometimes quickly, shift from finding “different” meats appealing to finding them appalling. In the UK, for example, offal was eaten by the poor before becoming a fashion-food for the English gentry during the early modern period. Behavioural science can be harnessed to nudge these mind shifts in the right direction.

    This study provides new insights into the wild meat trade. Deeply embedded in human culture, hunting wild animals is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. However, sustainable practices can balance human and ecosystem health and wildlife conservation, ensuring a future where both people and nature thrive.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade – https://theconversation.com/wild-meat-is-eaten-by-millions-but-puts-billions-at-risk-how-to-manage-the-trade-252226

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –