Category: Europe

MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Speeding up the review process of restricted zones and providing support to pig farmers affected by ASF – E-002312/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002312/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Stefano Cavedagna (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR)

African swine fever (ASF) is a dynamic disease which requires the list of restricted zones to be constantly updated. It is vital that these restrictions be promptly lifted if an area has successfully countered ASF by means of biosecurity measures, intensive surveillance, culls, carcass removals and the fencing and containment of wild boar and if an appropriate period of time has elapsed without any new outbreaks – a good example being the area east of the A1 motorway in Italy, which is currently classed as a type III restricted zone.

Even that would not be enough to protect the pig farmers who have been affected, particularly as regards the serious indirect damages they are sustaining: in addition to not being able to work, breed pigs or export to foreign markets, they are grappling with unsustainable fixed costs, the depreciation and forced removal of their livestock and speculation by slaughterhouses. The survival of many companies and of the entire Italian PDO sector is at stake.

In the light of the above:

1.Will the Commission introduce forms of guarantee and support for the indirect damages suffered by farms located in the restricted zones?

2.Will it ensure the prompt reassessment of the restricted status of zones where pig farms have successfully implemented ASF control measures – examples include the operations carried out in the Lazio Region in January 2025 and the measures that have been in place in Langhirano since 28 April 2025 – thus preventing further losses for the farmers concerned?

Submitted: 10.6.2025
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Lack of controls on fruit and vegetable imports in Greece – E-002309/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002309/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Galato Alexandraki (ECR)

According to complaints from exporting entities, the necessary customs controls on fresh fruit and vegetable imports are not being applied in Greece, resulting in a violation of the European entry price system and unfair competition for Greek producers.

For example, in the first quarter of 2025, 1 271 tonnes of oranges were imported from Egypt but registered as of Bulgarian and Romanian origin, artificially increasing their price from EUR 0.43 to EUR 0.83 per kilo, without the imposition of duties. In 2024, a total of 861 000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were imported, of which 155 000 tonnes were not registered by the Ministry of Rural Development. Similarly, out of 1 790 000 tonnes of exports, 150 000 tonnes are of unspecified origin, demonstrating a serious lack of interoperability with the Hellenic Statistical Authority.

In view of the above:

1.How does the Commission intend to ensure the application of the entry price system at Greek customs (which constitute European borders)?

2.Does the Commission intend to investigate the allegations of non-EU country products being ‘christened’ as intra-Community products in order to avoid duties and mislead consumers?

Submitted: 10.6.2025
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Potential fraudulent exploitation of Erasmus+ funds – E-001738/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
In accordance with the Financial Regulation[1], the Commission ensures that recipients of EU funds comply with legal provisions on the protection of EU financial interests.

In case of breach of these obligations, the Commission may take several measures, as outlined in the grant agreement signed by the beneficiaries with the responsible National Agency (NA). These measures include grant reduction to payment suspension, suspension or termination of the grant agreement, and recovery of the paid grant amount.

In the event of suspicion of an exclusion situation, the Commission flags the relevant entity in the Early Detection and Exclusion System. When the Commission becomes aware of any suspected cases of fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the EU budget, it informs the European Anti-Fraud Office and, where applicable, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

Since the introduction of simplified cost options, the risk of irregularity has been reduced to under 2% of the overall annual amount implemented. Accreditation of grant beneficiaries and the reduction in the maximum number of applications per beneficiary have also help lower the overall error risk.

NAs monitor Erasmus+ projects under the supervision of the Commission, which then analyses data from NAs to reinforce such monitoring mechanisms. Finally, the Commission also assists NAs in addressing recipients where there is greater financial or reputational risk, including via supervisory visits and audits.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj/eng.
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – European strategy to support single-parent families – E-001793/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
In the EU, 43.1% of persons in a household with one adult and dependent children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion (against 21% of the total population) in 2024. The Commission acknowledges the importance of the challenge.

To tackle child poverty, the Commission Recommendation ‘Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage[1]’ calls for multi-dimensional strategies, with a focus on households at risk of poverty, such as single parent families.

It stresses the need to ensure adequate resources, through support to parents’ participation in the labour market and benefits, and access to quality services.

The Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee[2] asks Member States to guarantee access of children in need, including children living in a single-earner household, to a set of key quality services.

The Council Recommendation on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion[3] recognises the specificity of single-parent households, and encourages Member States to facilitate take-up of adequate minimum income schemes.

EU funding (e.g. the European Social Fund +) is available to support Member States in these efforts. The Commission expects to adopt in 2026 the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy announced in the 2024-2029 Political Guidelines[4].

The strategy will address the systemic, different drivers of poverty. It will look into what works through a lifecycle approach to addressing poverty risks. Preparation is ongoing and public consultation planned.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2013/112/oj/eng.

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021H1004.

[3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=oj:JOC_2023_041_R_0001.

[4] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf.
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the dissolution of political parties and the crackdown on the opposition in Mali – RC-B10-0291/2025

Source: European Parliament

pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
replacing the following motions:
B10‑0291/2025 (Renew)
B10‑0294/2025 (S&D), (Verts/ALE)
B10‑0297/2025 (PPE)
B10‑0298/2025 (ECR)

Sebastião Bugalho, Christophe Gomart, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Tomas Tobé, Miriam Lexmann, Andrey Kovatchev, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Dariusz Joński, Loránt Vincze, Danuše Nerudová, Mirosława Nykiel, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Davor Ivo Stier, Luděk Niedermayer, Liudas Mažylis, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Laura Ballarín Cereza
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Aurelijus Veryga, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Diego Solier, Nora Junco García, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Alexandr Vondra, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Bogdan Rzońca, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Assita Kanko, Marlena Maląg, Waldemar Tomaszewski
on behalf of the ECR Group
Nathalie Loiseau, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Yvan Verougstraete, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group
Catarina Vieira
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

European Parliament resolution on the dissolution of political parties and the crackdown on the opposition in Mali

(2025/2754(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the military has ruled Mali since the 2020 coup that installed General Assimi Goïta as transitional president, and the repeatedly promised elections have not taken place;

B. whereas on 13 May 2025, the military authorities dissolved political parties and organisations and repealed laws protecting political participation, sparking domestic protests and international concern over the consolidation of authoritarian rule and repression and criminalisation of the opposition and protesters;

C. whereas recent abductions and arrests of opposition members have added to the enforced disappearances dating back to at least 2021, and the military junta has intensified its repression of the political opposition and civil liberties;

D. whereas on 11 June 2025, the Malian Council of Ministers adopted a bill authorising a five-year renewable mandate for the transitional president without election;

E. whereas the EU continues to support civil society and provide humanitarian aid in Mali;

F. whereas al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist terrorist groups have been killing civilians, including Christians and people from other religious minorities;

G. whereas the EU and several Member States have deployed troops who have lost their lives fighting jihadism at the request of the former Malian authorities;

H. whereas Mali is negatively affected by Russian disinformation;

1. Expresses deep concern about the alarming political and security situation in Mali; strongly condemns the dissolution of political parties and organisations and the crackdown on the opposition;

2. Criticises the Malian authorities’ intensified actions undermining democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and association, and peaceful assembly;

3. Urges the Malian authorities to respect international human rights law and Mali’s signed commitments on political and civil rights;

4. Recalls the transitional president’s instruction to his cabinet in November 2024 to create conditions for transparent and peaceful elections as soon as possible;

5. Urges the authorities to immediately release those arrested or abducted for political reasons, permanently end repression and intimidation, guarantee the safety of opposition members, activists and civil society actors, and ensure peace and stability in Mali;

6. Notes with regret that Mali is still plagued by violence and Islamist terrorism; recalls that Russian-sponsored mercenaries have failed to bring stability; calls for ensuring accountability for rights violations and abuses, including war crimes committed by the Wagner Group/Africa Corps against the Malian people;

7. Encourages closer cooperation between the EU, the EUSR for the Sahel, ECOWAS and the African Union in promoting stability and human rights in Mali;

8. Underlines the EU’s clear support for restoring multi-party democracy, providing assistance to civil society and democratic actors and ensuring that human rights are the main priority for EU support under the renewed approach to the Sahel region;

9. Calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to raise with the Malian authorities the urgent need to restore democratic order and protect human rights;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, Mali’s transitional president, the Malian National Assembly, the African Union and ECOWAS.

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jamieson raises concerns over double standards when it comes to bail following trouble in Ballymena when compared with sectarian disorder in Londonderry

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Statement from TUV Braid Christopher Jamieson:

“I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are deeply concerned about the apparent discrepancy in how police bail has been handled following the serious sectarian rioting in Londonderry last night, compared to the arrests made in Ballymena last week.

“It appears that some of those arrested in Londonderry were released on police bail, whereas those detained in Ballymena were charged, brought before the courts, and refused bail.

“There are even reports of juveniles from Ballymena being remanded in custody, while a very different approach seems to have been taken in Londonderry.

“Such disparity does nothing to ease tensions and only fuels the perception of a two-tier system of justice.

“The criminal justice system must not only be fair, but must also be seen to be fair. People must not be left with the impression that the disorder in Londonderry — which the Chief Constable himself described as “blatant sectarian violence” — is being treated more leniently.

“Londonderry has long been plagued, particularly at this time of year, by violence directed towards its minority Protestant population. It is high time that this was dealt with with the seriousness it deserves — not only by the police and the courts, but by the media as well.

“To that end, I have written formally to both the Chief Constable and the Director of Public Prosecutions to seek urgent clarification on why such differing approaches appear to have been taken. The public deserves transparency and reassurance that the law is applied consistently, without fear or favour.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: DPO will help overcome the shortage of personnel

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Photo: Dmitry Orlov / Fornd Roscongress

One of the key topics of the business program of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is taking place from June 18 to 21, was the development of education and personnel training. At the session “Personnel shortage and strategies for overcoming it”, held within the framework of the forum of small and medium entrepreneurship, Senior Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Andrey Lavrov spoke about the role of additional professional education in solving the personnel problem.

Opening the discussion, session moderator Sergei Nuzhdin, member of the presidium of the board of the All-Russian public organization of small and medium-sized businesses “OPORA RUSSIA”, called the shortage of personnel one of the most pressing problems of the country and the economy as a whole.

Andrey Lavrov noted that this problem needs to be solved here and now, so it would be wrong to talk about long-term strategies, including changes in approaches to university education, in this context. “A university is not a supplier of personnel to the labor market, but an environment that creates people who are able to respond to changes at different periods of their lives and careers,” he noted.

According to the senior director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, additional professional education helps to respond correctly to these changes. At HSE, the portfolio of additional professional education programs is formed taking into account the demands of consumers, which can be divided into two halves. The first half are employers who contact the university with a request to train their employees, the second are people who want to independently develop their qualifications.

“We focus primarily on such people. If we take the broadest possible view, their age is from 25 to 45 years old, that is, they are not yesterday’s students,” Andrey Lavrov clarified. It is clear that, for example, AI technologies, for which they have demand today, were impossible to master earlier, within the framework of higher education, because such technologies did not exist at all.

“We slightly underestimate the system of additional education. I am deeply convinced that a person’s educational trajectory, starting in early childhood, should in no case end with receiving a diploma of higher education. In order for each person to be competitive, so that the problem of personnel shortage does not arise, it is necessary to form a culture of continuous education of people,” says Andrei Lavrov.

“The challenge and responsibility of universities is to create continuing education programs that, on the one hand, people need, and on the other hand, make them more competitive,” concluded the senior director of the HSE.

Other approaches to solving the personnel problem were also considered at the session.

Vladislav Grib, Deputy Secretary of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, proposed creating Russian colleges and universities in friendly countries and giving their graduates priority when finding employment in our country.

Sergei Morozov, State Duma deputy and federal coordinator of the “Choose Your Own” project, spoke about the national project “Personnel”, comparing the conditions for its implementation with the era of the first five-year plans.

Alexander Vaino, Director of the Young Professionals Department at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, focused on developing the interest of young people in working at strategically important enterprises, primarily industrial ones, in their regions.

Elena Didenko, Vice-Rector for Continuing Professional Education at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, proposed reconfiguring employment services to make them more client-centric.

Natalia Vershinina-Adelman, Director, Private Employment Agency Regional Labor Exchange LLC, spoke about infrastructure solutions for attracting qualified personnel from BRICS countries.

At the end of the session, the participants were presented with the project “Why are you needed at home”, within the framework of which the professional socialization of young people is carried out.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Completes 2025 Article IV Mission to Zimbabwe
Source: IMF – News in Russian

June 18, 2025

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

Harare, Zimbabwe: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Mr. Wojciech Maliszewski visited Harare from June 4 to June 18, 2025, to conduct the 2025 Article IV Consultation.

At the conclusion of the IMF mission, Mr. Maliszewski issued the following statement:

“Zimbabwe is experiencing a degree of macroeconomic stability despite lingering policy challenges. Following successive bouts of hyperinflation over the past few years, more disciplined policies—including halting and transferring to the Treasury the quasi-fiscal operations (QFOs) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and tighter monetary policy despite fiscal pressures—have helped stabilize the local currency (the ‘ZiG’) and reduce inflation. Growth this year is recovering following a sharp slowdown in 2024, which was affected by a drought that lowered agricultural output by 15 percent. Electricity production also fell, and declining prices for platinum and lithium weighed on the mining output. During the first half of 2025, better climate conditions and historically high gold prices have boosted agricultural and mining activity, strengthening the current account and contributing to the recovery, with growth projected at 6 percent in 2025.

“Buoyed by the growth recovery and policy measures—a reduction in VAT tax reliefs, increased fees and levies, taxation of the COVID public servant allowance, and steps to reduce smuggling—revenue ratio increased sharply to 18 percent of GDP. That said, fiscal pressures intensified in 2024 and in the first months of 2025 as higher revenues proved insufficient to meet growing spending needs. These came notably from higher public sector wages, capital outlays related to a SADC summit, debt servicing costs on past QFOs by the RBZ taken over by the Treasury, and servicing liabilities related to the acquisition of assets for the Mutapa Investment Fund. The fiscal deficit was financed by T-bills issuance and direct borrowing from the RBZ’s overdraft facility to service debt, contributing to the expansion of domestic liquidity and an overnight drop in the value of the ZiG in September 2024, and a significant buildup of expenditure arrears that continued into 2025.

“Following the overnight drop in the value of the ZiG, inflation spiked in October 2024 then declined significantly as both the willing-buyer willing-seller (WBWS) and parallel market rates have since stabilized, helping to bring month-on-month inflation down to an average of 0.5 percent over the period February to May 2025. At the same time, the gap between the WBWS and parallel market rates has narrowed significantly, but remains at around 20 percent. In this context, the mission welcomed the repeal of Statutory Instrument 81A of 2024—which had mandated the formal sector to use the WBWS rate in the pricing of goods and services, contributing to an increase in dollarization and informality.

“To support the authorities’ stabilization efforts, key Article IV recommendations include: in the near term, fiscal policy actions to center on closing the financing gap without recourse to monetary financing and further domestic arrears buildup, while safeguarding social spending, and delivering a durable fiscal adjustment in the longer term; monetary and FX policy to focus on supporting a transition to stable national currency, with an effective monetary policy framework and market-determined exchange rate policy; and, to boost growth, structural and economic governance reforms. In this context, policy priorities include:
- Fiscal. Closing a substantial fiscal financing gap for 2025 in a way consistent with available sustainable and non-inflationary financing. This would require rationalizing spending and increasing the effectiveness of the authorities’ strategy to run a cash budget through better planning and stronger political commitment to control spending. This would also require strengthening the public spending commitment control system to avoid further arrears accumulation; and a close monitoring of domestic arrears (including through an audit of remaining arrears). The 2026 Budget will be critical to establish a policy track record, and measures will be needed to close the fiscal gap in 2026. Over the medium term, fiscal adjustment should be accompanied by fiscal-structural policies to strengthen public financial management (PFM), expenditure controls, and budget credibility.
- Monetary and FX. The mission recommends improving the functioning of the WBWS market through a more transparent price-setting mechanism and by gradually replacing surrender requirements with a requirement to convert export proceeds directly into the market through Authorized Dealers, while focusing the RBZ’s FX interventions to managing excessive volatility in the exchange rate. Monetary policy can be enhanced by the introduction of an effective deposit facility at the RBZ, followed by fully introducing indirect market instruments and phasing out direct instruments. In the longer-term, a comprehensive package of macroeconomic, financial, and structural policies should be pursued to allow for a gradual relaxation of other Capital Flow Management Measures (CFMs) and elimination of undesirable exchange restrictions noted by the Article VIII mission.
- Mutapa Investment Fund and State-owned enterprises (SOEs). To mitigate fiscal risks, the mission recommends strengthening the governance framework for the Mutapa Investment Fund—including strengthening its reporting, audit, disclosure, and oversight requirements in line with international best practices—and the overall public sector transparency and reporting.
“The authorities have also announced their plan to transition to a mono-currency system by 2030. The mission emphasized the need to continue strengthening the monetary and FX market framework in line with IMF staff recommendations. This should be complemented by measures to enhance the demand for ZiG in the domestic economy—most notably, increasing the share of Treasury’s operations (revenues and expenditures) in ZiG. To reduce any uncertainty weighing on financial intermediation, the authorities should provide more clarity on the operational implications of the transition plan, including clarifying that the use of a mono-currency will be limited to domestic transactions, allowing for bank deposits to remain denominated in both currencies.

“In the context of the requested SMP, IMF staff stands ready to resume discussions in due course once decisive steps have been taken by authorities to address the key policy issues highlighted by the mission.

“International reengagement remains critical for debt resolution and arrears clearance, which would open the door for access to external financing. In this context, the authorities’ reengagement efforts, through the Structured Dialogue Platform, are key for attaining debt sustainability and gaining access to concessional external financing.

“The IMF maintains an active engagement with Zimbabwe and continues to provide policy advice and extensive technical assistance in the areas of revenue mobilization, expenditure control, financial supervision, debt management, economic governance, as well as macroeconomic statistics. However, the IMF is currently precluded from providing financial support to Zimbabwe due to its unsustainable debt situation—based on the IMF’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA)—and official external arrears. An IMF financial arrangement would require a clear path to comprehensive restructuring of Zimbabwe’s external debt, including the clearance of arrears and a reform plan that is consistent with durably restoring macroeconomic stability; enhancing inclusive growth; lowering poverty; and strengthening economic governance.

“IMF staff held meetings with His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa; Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Honorable Professor Mthuli Ncube, his Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Honorable David Mnangagwa and his Permanent Secretary Mr. George Guvamatanga; Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr. John Mushayavanhu; Mr. Willard Manungo, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet; other senior government and RBZ officials; honorable members of Parliament; and representatives of the private sector, civil society, and Zimbabwe’s development partners.

“The IMF staff would like to thank the Zimbabwean authorities and other stakeholders for constructive discussions and support during the 2025 Article IV consultation process.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

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

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/18/pr-25203-zimbabwe-imf-completes-2025-article-iv-mission

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Living Together, a documentary by Halima Elkhatabi, coming to NFB platforms July 1
Source: Government of Canada News

June 18, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The feature-length documentary Living Together, directed by Halima Elkhatabi, launches on NFB streaming platforms on Tuesday, July 1. It’s an engaging portrait of Gen Y and Gen Z set against the backdrop of the housing crisis. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and has since been an official selection at Canadian festivals—including Vancouver, Victoria and the Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma—as well as at festivals in Europe and Morocco. It also had a theatrical release in Quebec in fall 2024.

About the film

Living Together by Halima Elkhatabi (2024, NFB, 75 min)
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/living-together
- In a series of inquisitive encounters and captivating conversations, young people looking for a roommate explore the prospect of forging genuine connections. Placing her camera in 15 Montreal apartments advertising a “room for rent,” director Halima Elkhatabi paints a complex and engaging picture of a generation accustomed to playing all their identity cards to find their place in the world.
- Everyone reveals themselves with candour and vulnerability, hoping for that rare discovery: someone to share their space with who also shares their values. The debut feature-length documentary by a filmmaker with a compassionate and generous eye, Living Togethermaps a mosaic of cultures and ideas, with explorations of community, individualism and the right to housing in constant interplay.
About the filmmaker

Born in France, Halima Elkhatabi is a Montreal writer and director of Moroccan descent. A graduate of the Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS), Elkhatabi works in documentary and fiction film as well as audio documentary production. She co-directed the NFB collaborative doc St-Henri, the 26th of August, directed the short fiction films Nina (TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten 2015) and Fantas (TIFF 2024), and authored the podcasts La route du bled, Chloé et Abdi, Songe d’une nuit d’hiver and La route de l’Eldorado.

– 30 –

Stay Connected

Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
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Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

About the NFB

MIL OSI Canada News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Merck Foundation’s 7th Edition of First Ladies Initiative Summit Brings Together 14 African and Asian First Ladies to discuss the impact of their programs
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
- Link to Live Stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit 2025: https://apo-opa.co/3G1Afxo
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit 2025 on 19^th and 20^th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative along with The First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative” emphasized, “It is my great honor to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign to the 7^th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit.

Through this important platform, we have collectively exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programs, which are aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of a wide range of critical social and health issues.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees added, “At Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and by providing access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in the Africa, Asia and beyond. I would like to sincerely thank our Ambassadors and partners. Together, with your unwavering support and collaboration, we will continue to work towards our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life.”

The First Ladies of 14 countries, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, joined as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers. They are:
- H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola
- H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde
- H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of the Central African Republic
- H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of the Gabonese Republic
- H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
- H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
- H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya
- H.E. Mrs. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
- H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives
- H.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
- H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- H.E. Mrs. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- H.E. Madam MARIE KHONE FAYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Senegal
- H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej stated, “I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many of our Merck Foundation Alumni are becoming the first specialists in their countries. Together with our Ambassadors and Partners, we are making history and transforming the patient care landscape across Africa and beyond. Many of them are becoming the first specialists in their countries.”

“During our Conference, we also marked together the World Infertility Awareness Month, observed in June, through our signature campaign “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, which aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information, education, and change of mindset. I am happy to share that out of the total 2280 scholarships, more than 700 scholarships have been provided for training in Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, and Family Medicine, to improve access to fertility care and women’s health”, she further added.

During the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit, two important occasions were marked; the 8^th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of Merck Foundation’s development programs that started in 2012.

On the first day, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit took place, featuring a high-level panel discussion with the participating First Ladies of Africa and Asia. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was held with African Ministers and top healthcare experts from across the globe.

The Day 2 of the conference will have three key parallel session will be held- Two medical and scientific sessions covering Oncology and Fertility Topics, and a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session will emphasize the critical role of the media in influencing communities and driving cultural change, with regards to a wide range of social and health issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girls’ Education, Stopping GBV, Ending Child Marriage & FGM, Empowering Women, Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness.

The conference is being conducted in a hybrid format, enabling over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries to benefit, meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health and social challenges in their countries safely and effectively.

Countries participating in the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea – Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.

The 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative is streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation:

@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi), X (https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf).

@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3ZBhIi7), X (https://apo-opa.co/3FT5D13), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3HNpOOr), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3ZF3Xiq).

Link to the Facebook live stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.co/3G1Afxo

Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:

• 2280+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 52 Countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.

Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:

• 3700+ Media Persons from more than 35 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues

• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs

• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa

• 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages – English, French, and Portuguese

• 7 Awareness Animation films in five languages – English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.

• Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community

• 950+ Scholarships provided to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls to empower them to complete their studies

• 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8 Million Followers.

– on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613
+91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi
X: https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/460CnzW
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/460Conu
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/460ClIk

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi), X (https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/460CnzW) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/460Conu).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

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MIL OSI Africa –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China criticizes EU Commission chief’s industrial policy remarks, calls for rejection of double standards

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) — China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent remarks on China’s industrial subsidy policies, calling her words factually inaccurate and filled with bias and double standards.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the statement at a regular briefing in response to a journalist’s question about U. von der Leyen’s remarks at the G7 summit on June 16.

China’s industrial subsidy policy adheres to the principles of openness, fairness and compliance with established norms, and strictly abides by the rules of the World Trade Organization, Guo Jiakun emphasized. According to him, China’s industrial development relies on the advantages of consistent technological innovation, a complete supply chain system, full-fledged market competition and abundant labor resources, which are due to the country’s actual capabilities rather than subsidies.

As the diplomat emphasized, China’s new energy production capacity makes a significant contribution to the global fight against climate change and the energy transition. The so-called “overcapacity” problem, he noted, is essentially a projection of individual countries’ concerns about their own competitiveness and market share, which they intend to use as a pretext to justify protectionist measures.

The official representative pointed out that in recent years the European Union has been continuously implementing industrial policy measures, providing a significant amount of subsidies to support European enterprises, and even openly offering to give preference to purchasing products from European manufacturers.

The EU plans to provide more than €1.44 trillion in various subsidies from 2021 to 2030, with more than €300 billion already provided by 2024, Guo Jiakun said, citing incomplete statistics.

According to him, at a time when the EU is striving to stimulate economic growth and increase competitiveness, it needs to abandon double standards and move towards greater openness in cooperation.

In the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, cooperation between China and the EU has yielded fruitful results and brought tangible benefits to both sides, the official said, assuring that China, while continuing to firmly adhere to high-level opening up, will continue to provide European companies with its vast market and development opportunities.

China hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with the European side and properly handle trade differences to achieve win-win results and common development, Guo Jiakun said. At the same time, he added, China firmly opposes any attempt to undermine its right to development or sacrifice Chinese interests for its own gains. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli Defense Minister Says Iran’s ‘Internal Security Headquarters’ Destroyed

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

JERUSALEM, June 18 (Xinhua) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that fighter jets from the Jewish state’s air force destroyed “the headquarters of Iran’s internal security forces.”

He added that Israel would continue to strike “symbols of Iranian rule,” without giving details of the operation or its targets.

I. Katz’s comments came shortly after the Israeli military announced that its planes had begun a new series of airstrikes on “military targets of the Iranian regime” in Tehran.

Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from several locations in east and southeast Tehran after the explosions.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that Israel also attacked Payam International Airport, a key Iranian aviation hub near Tehran, on Wednesday, adding that firefighters and rescue teams were working at the site of the blast northwest of the Iranian capital.

According to official figures, the military action that began on June 13 with surprise Israeli airstrikes on Iran has so far killed about 600 people in Iran and 24 in Israel. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Iceland

Source: IMF – News in Russian

June 18, 2025

Growth decelerated in 2024 but is expected to rise to 1.6 percent in 2025 and 2.2 percent in 2026, while inflation is projected to decline to the Central Bank of Iceland’s 2.5 percent target in the second half of 2026. The direct impact of escalating global trade tensions is projected to be limited.
The authorities’ plans to turn the fiscal deficit in 2024 into a surplus by 2028 are appropriate given the need to rebuild buffers; details on the planned fiscal measures to achieve these targets have enhanced the credibility of the consolidation. Monetary policy is suitably tight given still elevated inflation, but the monetary stance should be reduced as inflation declines. Efforts to raise foreign exchange reserve coverage are welcome.
Investments in physical and human capital, alongside continued efforts to promote innovation and reduce skills mismatches are needed to support medium-term growth. Taxation can play a supportive role in reducing housing market imbalances.

Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for Iceland.[1] The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for this consultation.[2]

The economy decelerated in 2024 to 0.5 percent due largely to weak exports from a disappointing fishing season and constraints on energy supply that curtailed aluminum production. Growth is expected to rebound to 1.6 percent in 2025 and 2.2 percent in 2026, driven by a recovery in exports, higher real wages, and continued monetary easing that more than offsets the impact of a moderately contractionary fiscal impulse. The impact of escalating global trade tensions is projected to be limited given that most goods exports are destined for Europe. Inflation is expected to gradually decline to the Central Bank of Iceland’s 2.5 percent target in the second half of 2026. Medium-term prospects are favorable, with continued diversification of the economy toward higher value-added export-oriented sectors anticipated to bolster productivity growth and inflows of foreign labor expected to support a modest increase in employment growth.

Risks to growth are tilted to the downside while risks to inflation are broadly balanced. In particular, the impact of rising global trade tensions could be larger than anticipated if tariffs are extended to currently exempted items (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or if a reduction in travel to and from the US negatively affects tourism. Inflation could increase if trade tensions trigger supply disruptions or capital outflows, if a premature loosening of monetary policy further de-anchors inflation expectations, or as result of second-round effects from higher wage growth. Conversely, capital inflows could result in an appreciation of the exchange rate that would weaken competitiveness and put downward pressure on inflation.

Executive Board Assessment[3]

Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed the prudent macroeconomic policies, which have helped to reduce imbalances. While noting that medium‑term growth prospects are favorable, Directors observed that risks are tilted to the downside, notably from rising trade tensions. They emphasized the need to ensure macroeconomic stability and gradually rebuild fiscal buffers, while supporting stronger growth and reducing vulnerability to shocks.

Directors welcomed the ambitious fiscal targets and the improved transparency and credibility around the planned consolidation. They highlighted that increased infrastructure spending would help to close gaps in transport and energy and bolster growth prospects. Directors saw merit in implementing additional measures, if necessary, to achieve fiscal objectives. Noting the need to reduce procyclicality in fiscal policy, Directors supported the planned activation of revised fiscal rules in 2026. They also recommended measures to strengthen the Fiscal Council and increase the coverage and frequency of fiscal data.

Directors noted that price pressures remain elevated and agreed that tight monetary policy remained appropriate. They encouraged the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) to gradually loosen the policy stance as inflation declines towards target and expectations become reanchored. Directors saw merit in transitioning to a more forecast‑based inflation targeting framework as uncertainty declines. Noting the importance of increasing reserves to more prudent levels, Directors welcomed the CBI’s decision to commence regular purchases of foreign exchange.

Directors welcomed that systemic risks in the financial sector are contained. They highlighted the need to remain vigilant to potential vulnerabilities in the housing market and the corporate sector, and to continue strengthening operational resilience. Directors saw scope to ease macroprudential policies should systemic risks recede as anticipated. While welcoming the progress on implementing FSAP recommendations, Directors urged further efforts to enhance pension fund governance, strengthen AML/CFT supervision of banks, and safeguard the independence and effectiveness of the CBI’s supervisory activities.

Directors emphasized the importance of reforms to bolster productivity and diversify the economy, including by improving infrastructure and supporting innovation. Important measures include reducing skill mismatches, maximizing the efficiency of R&D incentives, and promoting AI while mitigating related risks. Directors welcomed plans to increase housing supply and improve housing affordability.

It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Iceland will be held on the standard 12‑month cycle.

Table 1. Iceland: Selected Economic Indicators, 2024–30
	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
		Proj.	Proj.	Proj.	Proj.	Proj.	Proj.
	(Percentage change unless otherwise indicated)
National Accounts (constant prices)
Gross domestic product	0.5	1.6	2.2	2.4	2.4	2.4	2.4
Total domestic demand	2.3	1.5	0.6	2.2	2.4	2.4	2.3
Private consumption	0.6	2.2	2.4	2.5	2.6	2.6	2.6
Public consumption	2.5	1.5	1.3	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Gross fixed investment	7.5	4.1	-3.2	2.8	3.2	3.2	3.2
Net exports (contribution to growth)	-1.8	-0.3	1.6	0.3	0.1	0.0	0.2
Exports of goods and services	-1.2	3.3	3.0	3.3	3.1	3.0	3.2
Imports of goods and services	2.7	3.9	-0.7	2.7	2.9	2.9	2.9
Output gap (percent of potential output)	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Selected Indicators
Unemployment rate (percent of labor force)	3.4	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Employment	4.1	0.4	0.9	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1
Labor productivity	-3.3	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Real wages	0.5	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Nominal wages	6.4	4.9	4.4	3.8	3.8	3.9	3.8
Consumer price index (average)	5.9	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
Consumer price index (end period)	4.7	3.6	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
ISK/€ (average)	164	…	…	…	…	…	…

Money and Credit (end period)
Credit to nonfinancial private sector	8.1	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.7
Central bank 7 day term deposit rate 1/	8.50	7.50	…	…	…	…	…
	(Percent of GDP unless otherwise indicated)
General Government Finances 2/	(Percent of GDP unless otherwise indicated)
Revenue	42.8	43.2	42.4	42.4	42.4	42.5	42.6
Expenditure	46.3	44.5	43.2	42.9	42.8	42.7	42.7
Overall balance 3/	-3.5	-1.3	-0.7	-0.5	-0.3	-0.2	-0.1
Cyclically-adjusted primary balance	-1.5	0.7	0.9	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.7
Structural primary balance 4/	0.7	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.4	1.6	1.7
Gross debt	59.1	47.7	45.4	43.6	41.7	39.9	38.1

Balance of Payments
Current account balance	-2.5	-2.6	-0.5	0.0	0.4	0.7	1.0
Gross external debt	67.0	65.4	61.6	58.5	55.4	52.4	49.5
Sources: Central Bank of Iceland; Ministry of Finance; Statistics Iceland; and IMF staff projections.
1/ For 2025, policy rate as of May.
2/ In April 2025, an agreement was reached on the settlement of remaining outstanding liabilities in the IL Fund (HFF).
3/ For 2024, the deficit now includes 1.2 percent of GDP in costs related to the purchase of houses in Grindavík that in the 2024 Article IV were classified below the line due to uncertainty about the correct statistical treatment.
4/ Cyclically-adjusted primary balance excluding one offs.

[1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

[2] Under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, publication of documents that pertain to member countries is voluntary and requires the member consent. The staff report will be shortly published on the www.imf.org/iceland page.

[3] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Boris Balabanov

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

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/18/pr-25201-iceland-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: The Gambia: IMF Executive Board Approves Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement and Completes the Third Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement
Source: IMF – News in Russian

June 18, 2025
- The IMF Executive Board approved a new 18-month arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for The Gambia for an amount equivalent to about US$63.55 million, to help the authorities improve macroeconomic resilience and build policy buffers against climate shocks. The Executive Board also completed the third review under the existing Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, enabling immediate disbursement of about US$16.95 million.
- Despite substantial downside risks, The Gambia’s economic outlook remains positive, with growth expected to reach 5.7 percent in 2025 and inflation returning to single digits.
- The Gambia has made good progress in implementing their economic reform program despite fiscal policy challenges. Key priorities include increasing domestic revenue and advancing with fiscal consolidation to safeguard debt sustainability while strengthening social and spending.
Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an 18-month arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for The Gambia in the amount of SDR 46.65 million (about US$63.55 million), with disbursements to begin when the first review of the arrangement is completed. The RSF arrangement will help the authorities tackle challenges posed by climate change and reinforce the country’s long-term resilience by strengthening the legal framework and institutional environment, green public finance management, climate data and transition taxonomy, adaptation and resilience, and the energy transition.

The Executive Board also completed the third review of The Gambia’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, approved on January 12, 2024, supporting reforms to address long-standing structural impediments to inclusive growth. The completion of the review allows for the immediate disbursement of SDR 12.44 million (about US$16.95 million), bringing total disbursements under this arrangement to SDR 37.31 million (about US$50.82 million).

The Gambia’s economic outlook remains positive, with real GDP estimated to expand by 5.7 percent in 2025, supported by continuous recovery in the tourism sector and good performance in the agricultural and construction sectors. Headline inflation has gradually declined, reaching 8.1 percent by end-April 2025. The outlook is subject to significant downside risks stemming from global uncertainty.

While the authorities remain committed to the objectives set out in the ECF arrangement and revenue collection has been strong, unbudgeted spending pressures including from the National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC) continue to weigh on fiscal balances. Going forward, steadfast implementation of the policy and reform agenda will be essential to safeguard macroeconomic gains and debt sustainability.

The Executive Board approved the authorities’ request for waivers of nonobservance of the performance criterion on the end-June 2024 floor on the domestic primary balance and the end-December 2024 ceiling on net domestic borrowing, based on corrective actions taken.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Deputy Managing Director Bo Li issued the following statement:

“The Gambia’s economic momentum remains robust, with resilient growth and gradually declining inflation. Program implementation has been mixed, showing satisfactory adherence to quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets but delays in meeting structural benchmarks. The authorities have reiterated their commitment to their reform agenda despite ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties.

“The authorities plan to offset the carryover of 2024 spending commitments and unbudgeted transfers by restraining non-priority spending in 2025. Adhering to the fiscal consolidation and fiscal targets for 2025 is vital for reducing fiscal risks and ensuring debt sustainability. Enhancing revenue collection to build additional fiscal buffers is also critical. Improving public financial management to prevent domestic arrears and better control multi-year commitments will support fiscal discipline and accountability. Furthermore, it is essential to limit fiscal risks from state-owned enterprises and public-private partnerships.

“The Central Bank of The Gambia’s tight and data-dependent monetary policy is appropriate and should ensure that inflation converges to the medium-term target. The foreign exchange market is functioning smoothly following the new foreign exchange policy implementation, and it is crucial to maintain an exchange rate that reflects market forces. The central bank’s commitment to cease direct financial support to public entities is a welcome measure to protect its balance sheet. Strengthening its regulatory capacity and risk-based supervision is essential to preserve the financial sector’s stability.

“Progress with structural reforms is necessary to enhance governance and improve the business environment, thereby promoting private sector development and job creation. Implementation of recommendations from the recent governance diagnostic and prompt appointment of an anti-corruption commission are essential.

“Steadfast implementation of the authorities’ climate agenda under the newly approved Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement will complement the Extended Credit Facility in bolstering economic resilience and reducing balance of payment risks. The RSF is expected to foster tighter coordination among domestic stakeholders and development partners. It will be important to carefully sequence reforms under both arrangements, supported by targeted capacity development.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

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

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/18/pr-25202-gambia-imf-apprv-resil-sustain-facil-arrange-completes-the-3rd-rev-under-ecf-arrange

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia to Visit Türkiye

Source: Republic of Turkey

Press Statement Regarding the Visit of H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, to Türkiye
H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, will pay a working visit to Türkiye on 20 June, 2025.
Respectfully announced to the public.

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Cartel firearms traffickers sent to federal prison

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

LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been sentenced for attempting to traffic firearms into Mexico on behalf of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Mexican national Jorge Alberto Morales-Calvo, 25, pleaded guilty Jan. 8, while Homero Arteaga Jr., 45, Mission, entered his plea Nov. 21, 2024.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now imposed a 41-month-term of imprisonment for Morales-Calvo. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. At the hearing, the court heard Morales-Calvo and Arteaga knew the firearms were going to be smuggled across the border and delivered to CJNG. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted that selling firearms to the cartel in Mexico leads to the destabilization of that country. Arteaga previously received 57 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

The investigation revealed Arteaga and Morales-Calvo were purchasing firearms on behalf of a broker for CJNG. On Sept. 18, 2024, they planned to purchase a Barrett .50 caliber rifle for $15,000 and a FN Herstal Belgium, 5.7 x 28 caliber pistol with a large capacity magazine for $850.

Arteaga and Morales-Calvo were given $16,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency to pay for the firearms.

When they arrived in Zapata to complete the transaction, Morales-Calvo stayed in the vehicle while Arteaga inspected the firearms. Arteaga then retrieved the fake U.S. currency and took possession of the firearms. Law enforcement immediately arrested Arteaga. Morales-Calvo attempted to flee but authorities stopped him before making it out of the parking lot.

“The Department of Justice is looking to hit the cartels from every angle and at every opportunity, which includes vigorously prosecuting not just the member of these terror groups, but those that enable them as well,” said Ganjei. “Those that arm or otherwise empower the cartels are going to the meet the full force of the federal criminal justice system.”

“Trafficking firearms on behalf of violent cartels is not just illegal, it fuels deadly cycle of violence on both sides of the border,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case demonstrates how seriously we take these crimes and how we are using every tool and resource available to disrupt the illegal flow of weapons, dismantle cartel networks, and protect our communities.” The success of this investigation reflects the critical partnerships between all levels of law enforcement working together to stop this violence at its source.”

Both men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The ATF conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.

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

MIL Security OSI –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Misogyny has become a political strategy — here’s how the pandemic helped make it happen

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Brianna I. Wiens, Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Rhetoric, University of Waterloo

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more overt forms of gendered hate have jumped from obscure internet forums into the mainstream, shaping culture and policy.

Social media doesn’t just reflect sexist, anti-feminist views; it helps to organize, amplify and normalize them.

Backlash against women and LGBTQ+ communities has become more overt, co-ordinated and is gaining political traction. As the United States rolls back reproductive rights and passes anti-LGBTQ+ laws, it is important to understand how digital culture fuels this regression.

While these shifts may seem distant, Canadian politics are not immune. Similar rhetoric has emerged in debates over education, gender identity, health care and so-called “parental rights.”

Read more:
‘Parental rights’ lobby puts trans and queer kids at risk

Our ongoing research maps how the pandemic accelerated the rise of online misogyny, especially through “manosphere” influencers and far-right rhetoric.

Drawing from more than 21,000 podcast episodes and digital artifacts, we are investigating how everyday online content works to erode women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. This rhetoric normalizes misogynistic, transphobic and homophobic views and repackages gender inequities as common sense.

How the pandemic fuelled digital misogyny

COVID-19 lockdowns set the stage for a surge in online radicalization. Isolated men and boys increasingly turned to social media for connection — spaces where manosphere personalities like English-American social media influencer Andrew Tate and American conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro gained momentum.

These figures blend anti-feminist messaging with broader pandemic-era anxieties, turning gender roles into moral and political battlegrounds.

Conservative influencers who once focused on vaccine skepticism began pivoting to anti-gender content. Steve Bannon’s podcast, for example, moved from pedalling public health disinformation to pushing narratives that feminism and LGBTQ+ rights are threats to western civilization.

Before the internet, radicalization usually required personal contact. Now, people can self-radicalize online, engaging with algorithm-driven content and communities that reinforce extremist beliefs, often without ever interacting with a recruiter. This shift coincided with a marked rise in reported online hate speech and offline hate crimes.

Misogyny as a mobilizing force

Meanwhile, women’s experiences during the pandemic — over half of whom are caregivers in Canada — involved increased labour at home and in front-line jobs. This left little time or energy for the organizational work necessary to combat the rising tides of sexism and misogyny.

Instead, public discourse began to increasingly valourize “tradwife” ideals and homemaking. This ensured traditional gender roles were brought back into the mainstream, not just as personal preferences, but as broader cultural expectations.

Though this misogyny appears to be fringe, it echoes mainstream policies that threaten reproductive health care, restrict gender expression and paint feminism as a threat to national stability.

Project 2025, the well-known policy platform from U.S. conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, lays out an agenda to repeal reproductive rights, undermine LGBTQ+ protections and expand state control over gender and family life.

Read more:
How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term

How misogynist narratives are normalized

These misogynist ideas are reinforced in popular culture. In May 2024, NFL player Harrison Butker used his commencement address at Benedictine College to tell women graduates that their true calling was to become wives and mothers.

Such rhetoric serves to re-establish patriarchal hierarchies by narrowing women’s roles to domestic life. But this isn’t about family values, it’s about power. Moves in the U.S. to restrict women’s reproductive autonomy and democratic access to vote make this abundantly clear.

While feminists pushed back, manosphere podcast influencers rushed to Butker’s defense. American white supremacist Nick Fuentes celebrated the speech as a manifesto, while Shapiro framed it as uncontroversial truth.

Our analysis of podcast episodes from Shapiro and Fuentes, among others, shows how misogynist and racist narratives are reinforced through repetition and emotional framing. In episodes focused on Butker’s commencement speech, there were significant concentrations of hate speech and misogyny in the episodes.

Both Shapiro and Fuentes positioned feminism as a threat and framed motherhood as women’s true vocation. Shapiro downplayed the backlash against Butker as liberal outrage through calculatedly mainstream language that used sanitized, “family values” language.

Fuentes promoted an extreme theocratic vision rooted in white Catholic nationalism. In Episode 1,330 of his America First podcast, he said, “I want women to be veiled. I don’t want them to be seen. I want them to be listening to their husbands.”

These talking points consistently align with Butker’s original sentiment and reflect broader political efforts to erode gender equity, as seen in political documents like Project 2025.

Other public figures like Texan megachurch pastor Joel Webbon went even further, advocating for the public execution of women who accuse men of sexual assault — a horrifying example that circulated in manosphere circles.

From the fringes to the mainstream

What’s happening online is not just cultural noise; it’s a co-ordinated effort by conservative political organizations, media outlets and right-wing influencers to shape gender norms, undermine equality and roll back decades of feminist progress.

When misogyny becomes a political strategy, it doesn’t stay confined to podcasts or memes. It seeps into everyday vernacular, court rulings and public policy, and it’s global in scope.

This isn’t new, either. In 2012, Australia’s then-prime minister, Julia Gillard, called out sexist language in parliament, including being labelled a “witch” and subjected to dismissive catcalls. Her speech highlighted the normalization of misogynistic vernacular in politics, but also triggered public backlash, including having anti-immigration remarks misattributed to her.

Similarly, in the lead-up to Germany’s 2021 federal election, Greens party candidate Annalena Baerbock faced co-ordinated disinformation and smear campaigns from foreign entities aimed at undermining her credibility and questioning her “maternal suitability” in the public eye. Digitally altered nude photos, fake protest images and disinformation graphics were circulated.

These campaigns reflect how misogyny is weaponized to influence elections, and how such campaigns can be a threat to national security.

A 2022 #MeToo litigation analysis showed how, despite increasing awareness around sexual assault and harassment, U.S. courts often use legal language that reinforces victim-blaming by placing victims in the grammatical subject position of sentences. For example, phrases like “the victim failed to resist” or “the victim did not report the incident immediately” shift focus onto the victim’s behaviour rather than the perpetrator’s actions.

These details continue to affect broader legal narratives and public acceptance.

Digital platforms are battlegrounds

Recognizing these connections is crucial. As far-right movements gain ground by repackaging ideas about gender as nostalgic “truth” or “tradition,” we need to recognize that digital platforms are not neutral, nostalgic spaces.

Rather, they are conversational battlegrounds where power is contested and jokes, tweets and speeches carry real political weight.

In the fight for gender equity, the internet is not just a mirror that reflects multiple realities. It’s a tool built by the tech industry that was never intended to democratize communication, labour or social roles. Right now, that tool is being weaponized to signal and reassert patriarchal control.

Brianna I. Wiens receives research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Nick Ruest receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Shana MacDonald receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

– ref. Misogyny has become a political strategy — here’s how the pandemic helped make it happen – https://theconversation.com/misogyny-has-become-a-political-strategy-heres-how-the-pandemic-helped-make-it-happen-256043

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ann Davies MP calls for compensation for losses from bluetongue disease restrictions

Source: Party of Wales

Bluetongue restrictions in Wales and England will ‘hamper cross-border trade’ – Plaid Cymru

During PMQs today (Wednesday 18 June) Plaid Cymru’s Rural Affairs Spokesperson, Ann Davies MP, urged the UK Government to commit to working with the Welsh Government on a scheme to compensate farming businesses for losses from the bluetongue restrictions.

Bluetongue disease is a non-contagious viral disease that primarily affects sheep, cattle and goats.

Last week, the Welsh Government said it would introduce limits on moving livestock from June 20, 2025 and that any susceptible animals moving from a bluetongue restricted zone to Wales to live, will require a specific movement licence and testing beforehand.

A restricted zone (RZ) in England – limiting the movement of animals – has continued to expand over recent months as the disease has spread.

From 1 July, the UK Government has decided to designate the whole of England as an RZ, external, which in practice means movement controls are lifted as the focus shifts to encouraging uptake of new bluetongue vaccines which alleviate the symptoms.

The Caerfyrddin MP emphasized that Welsh farmers have taken “hit after hit” and now risk being further affected by restrictions to cross-border trading as a result of the outbreak of the bluetongue disease.

Ms Davies explained that key livestock markets and over 550 farms on the border rely on summer trading.

The Royal Welsh Show has already banned livestock from England from this year’s event following the spread of the virus. Ann Davies MP has warned that disruption to once-a-year opportunities like this could be “devastating” and has called for the establishment of a compensation scheme to mitigate the effects on farming businesses.

Speaking in PMQs, Ann Davies MP said:

“Welsh farmers are taking hit after hit – from Tory trade deals to Labour taxes, now on top of that, bluetongue restrictions affecting Wales and England will hamper cross-border trade.

“Over 550 farms on the border and key livestock markets rely on summer trading. Once-a-year opportunities like the Royal Welsh Show are crucial, and the disruption could be devastating.

“Will the Deputy Prime Minister commit to working with the Welsh Government on a scheme to compensate for losses?”

Angela Rayner MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was standing in for the PM today avoided the question and instead attacked Plaid Cymru for voting against the Welsh Government budget.

When asking the Welsh Government’s Rural Affairs Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MS yesterday in the Senedd, Ms Davies’ Plaid Cymru counterpart, Llyr Gruffudd MS said:

“You’ve explained to us that part of this rationale is to buy time but I have to say: where have you been? We’ve known for months and months, if not years, that bluetongue is on its way.”

“I really fear that your decision and your policy decision this week will bring even more worry, even more disruption and even more concern in its wake.”

“It’s going to disrupt the functionality of the whole agricultural ecosystem and that in itself could be more damaging than dealing with bluetongue.”

“Have you calculated the projected cost to the industry of this proposal that you’re bringing forward, and if you have, what support is being considered to offset some of that burden?”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow presents key city projects at SPIEF-2025 — Sergei Sobyanin

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The capital traditionally takes part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and presents key projects in the economy, transport, industry, construction, culture, social and other spheres. This was reported by Sergei Sobyanin in his telegram channel.

“At the Moscow Government stand, visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with the key economic indicators of the capital. On interactive panels, they will be able to learn about the supplier portal, where entrepreneurs and organizations from 42 regions of the country work, as well as how Moscow companies increase labor productivity,” the Moscow Mayor noted.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

A separate space is dedicated Moscow metro, which turned 90 this year. The stand also features a model of the newest train, Moscow-2026.

You can get to know the Moscow of the future thanks to VR walks in the urban development zone. Visitors can be the first to study the details of large-scale projects – the new Great Moscow Circus and the development Mnevnikovskaya floodplainHere they will also show how the metro is being built using a tunnel boring machine and what centers of economic activity will appear on the map of the capital.

“Visitors will see how electric batteries for urban transport are created. Soon they will also be assembled at the Krasnaya Pakhra site in the Technopolis Moscow SEZ, where the first cluster for the production of batteries for electric transport in Russia is being formed,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

In addition, they will be offered to go to the most high-tech sites of the capital. Thus, the shuttle of the future will “take” to the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. And guests will also get acquainted with the technologies of the innovative elevator Karacharovsky mechanical plant.

The stand will also tell about the largest resource center “Mosvolonter”, project “Youth of Moscow” and ways to support the capital’s non-profit organizations (NPOs).

Moscow Mayor Tells How the City Supports Good Deeds of Moscow NGOs

In the section dedicated to the social sphere, you can see a unique installation of the new complex of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care, as well as an interactive map with key objects of Moscow medicine. In addition, visitors will learn about the development of secondary vocational education first-hand – from students of the capital’s colleges.

Forum guests are invited to the “Moscow” store, where goods produced in the capital are presented. There are also products from program participants there “Made in Moscow”.

Everyone will be able to visit the VDNKh metaverse. This is a unique interactive educational project for a walk around the main exhibition of the country from any corner of Russia.

The Moscow Culture block features the capital’s theaters, museums, parks, zoo, concert venues and events. Visitors will also be introduced toMoscow Film Cluster and the first in Russia Video Game and Animation Cluster.

“This year, the Moscow stand is very large-scale, technologically advanced and clearly demonstrates the great teamwork of all industries for the benefit of the city and its residents. We still have many new heights ahead of us,” concluded the Mayor of Moscow.

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

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12958050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Opening Statement at SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for the Army

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, convened today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Army”. Prepared text of his opening statement follows:

“With us today are the Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy George. Welcome to you both. And happy belated birthday to the U.S. Army.

“Secretary Driscoll, I’m glad you were able to visit Fort Knox yesterday. As I’m sure you found, far more important than the gold are the fine soldiers and civilians who serve there.

“We appreciate that both of you are willing to serve our nation at a consequential moment for the Army, the Department of Defense, and U.S. national security. And we’re deeply grateful to the soldiers you lead for their bravery and sacrifice at the tip of the spear.

“The recent losses of Army personnel in training incidents in Lithuania, Hungary, and Iraq are reminders of the risks U.S. servicemembers take every day to keep us safe. Matching the Army’s structure and capabilities to tomorrow’s challenges while preserving its ability to fight today is essential work. The Army’s history reminds us that we don’t always get to choose the types of war we fight, and must prepare for all contingencies.

“Congress has backed the Army through a litany of failed modernization programs like Future Combat Systems or Crusader. We’ve watched new requirements, cost overruns, and adversary advances undermine their rationale before they became operational. If the Administration made the case for sustained increases in defense spending, the Army would have a stronger hand when asking Congress to take risks on new initiatives. But net cuts to defense spending make it harder to balance the Army’s current and future requirements. In the face of growing threats, pursuing generational change on the cheap is risky business.

“As you work with the Congress on the Army Transformation Initiative, I hope you will look to the Marine Corps’ own controversial modernization program as a model of transparency and building trust.

“Congress has a constitutional obligation to provide for the common defense and steward taxpayer dollars responsibly. And we don’t serve either the taxpayer or the common defense with blank checks for vaguely-defined priorities.

“We want to see the analysis behind the specific bets the Army wants to place on ATI. We want to understand the second-order effects on industry, other services, and allies. Certainly, the Army needs to be better equipped to face Indo-Pacific contingencies, and we’ll want to understand how ATI intends to achieve this objective.

“Tomorrow’s Army will need to integrate existing systems and modernized capabilities…Sustain existing industrial relationships and welcome new entrants to the defense enterprise. This is not a zero-sum proposition. And if it’s time to walk away from certain legacy programs, the Army will need to show its work. For example, if it’s time to move on from the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, why did the Army sign an $8 billion contract two years ago to procure more? Why did the Army not coordinate its termination decision for a joint program with the Marine Corps and the other services to gauge whether such a decision would put their budgets, operational capabilities, or readiness at risk? And what is the impact on the defense industrial base the Army relies on?

“Services have to think through the industrial implication of such decisions. This isn’t an argument to buy vehicles the Army doesn’t need, but a recommendation to consider how existing manufacturing capacity can be put to better use in light of changing requirements. The Army’s abrupt decision to terminate the Robotic Combat Vehicle program also reinforces a tendency to abandon promising capabilities midstream. This signals unreliability to industry partners willing to invest their own capital in future military technologies – in this case, precisely the kind of innovative tech company the Army claims it wants to foster.

“Of course, when we understand the Army’s challenges and objectives, we can help you achieve them. For example, we combed through unexecutable resources in the FY25 request and found resources to fully fund the Army’s number one unfunded priority for counter-UAS capabilities. Why such an important requirement was unfunded in the first place, however, raises more fundamental questions about the Army and Department’s own budget process. We also provided additional flexibility in funding to address UAS and counter-UAS challenges. And we invested in solid rocket motor production in excess of the previous Administration’s official requests to help advance much-needed replenishment of air-defense interceptors and long-range fires. If the Army shares our concern about a paucity of air defense and counter-UAS capabilities, I hope you can explain why there is so little funding for proven systems like CIWS.

“This spring, Secretary Hegseth identified modernizing and sustaining the organic industrial base as an urgent priority. When we hear that the Army is considering mothballing purpose-built munitions production facilities already at your disposal, it raises questions about your intent to meet this directive.

“Army Depots in states like Kentucky, Arkansas, and Alabama have already built trust with local communities and assembled skilled workforces. And they continue to attract interest in new public-private partnerships. That would be a win-win for modernization. So I fail to see how cutting this essential, existing capacity will help the Army reach the production levels needed to meet growing demands.

“I regret that the Army is being tasked with doing more with less. But it’s increasingly likely that looming challenges will test us in multiple theaters simultaneously. That we don’t have the magazine depth for today’s fights, much less the capabilities we need for tomorrow’s.

“Certainly, we can’t expect to keep pace with a pacing threat in the Indo-Pacific, or adversary alignment across the globe, if our base defense budget can’t even keep pace with inflation.

“This subcommittee hopes to be an active partner in the Army’s modernization efforts. But we can’t expect success on a shoestring budget. Mr. Secretary, General George – I’ll look forward to hearing your views on these topics. And we’ll turn to you momentarily for opening comments.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
PM Modi receives special gift in Zagreb – Sanskrit grammar written by Croatian missionary in 1790

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a gesture signifying the centuries-old close cultural links between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday received from his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic a reprint of Vezdin’s Sanskrit grammar – the first printed Sanskrit grammar written in Latin in 1790 by Croatian scientist and missionary Filip Vezdin during his time spent in India.

“To the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, I handed over a reprint of Vezdin’s Sanskrit grammar – the first printed Sanskrit grammar, written in Latin in 1790 by the Croatian scientist and missionary Filip Vezdin (1748-1806), based on the knowledge he gained during his stay in India from Kerala Brahmins and local manuscripts. With this pioneering work, Filip Vezdin became one of the first European scientists to seriously devote himself to Indian languages and culture. At the same time, this is a symbol of early cultural ties between Croatia and India,” said Plenkovic.

An Indologist of Croatian nationality, Ivan Filip Vezdin came to Malabar as a missionary in 1774 and later became the Vicar-General on the Malabar Coast.

He is credited with publishing the first printed Sanskrit grammar in 1790. A plaque to commemorate him was unveiled in Trivandrum in 1999.

Plenkovic also handed over a book titled ‘Croatia and India, Bilateral Navigator for Diplomats and Business’ to PM Modi, written by Croatian diplomat Sinise Grgica.

“Grgica in a unique and comprehensive way gives a comparative view of our two countries and explores all dimensions of bilateral relations. This book reflects our achievements, as well as the potential we can still realise, and we believe that it will inspire and encourage the strengthening of our future cooperation and contribute to the further deepening of the mutual friendship between Croatia and India,” said Plenkovic.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi received a rousing welcome by the vibrant Indian community in Zagreb as he began his landmark visit to Croatia – the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister to the country – on Wednesday.

Zagreb is the last stop on PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which also included visits to Cyprus en route to Canada for Tuesday’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis.

In a special gesture, PM Modi was warmly received by Plenkovic at the Franjo Tudman Airport with a ceremonial welcome.

Members of the Indian diaspora, waiting to catch a glimpse of PM Modi, were seen gathered in huge numbers as the PM’s motorcade drove through the city.

Hundreds of people, including locals, also gave a grand welcome to PM Modi as he arrived at his hotel.

Amid chants of “Modi-Modi”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”, PM Modi witnessed vibrant and energy-filled cultural performances from people present at the venue.

PM Modi joined a group of locals chanting Vedic shlokas and also interacted with a few in the gathering while getting inside the building.

“The bonds of culture are strong and vibrant! Here is a part of the welcome in Zagreb. Happy to see Indian culture has so much respect in Croatia,” said PM Modi.

“Croatia’s Indian community has contributed to Croatia’s progress and also remained in touch with their roots in India. In Zagreb, I interacted with some members of the Indian community, who accorded me an unforgettable welcome. There is immense enthusiasm among the Indian community here about this visit and its impact in making the bond between our nations stronger than ever before,” he added.

PM Modi was then warmly received by Plenkovic at the iconic St. Mark’s Square and accorded a ceremonial welcome.

It was followed by delegation-level bilateral talks between the two leaders.

Plenkovic said that PM Modi’s significant visit comes at a pivotal moment.

“We welcomed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Zagreb! This is the first visit by the Prime Minister of India – the most populous country in the world, and it comes at an important geopolitical moment. We are starting a new chapter in Croatia-India relations and creating the conditions for strengthening bilateral cooperation in a number of areas,” the Croatian Prime Minister commented.

Analysts reckon that the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Croatia will help in fostering stronger political and economic collaboration with Croatia. It will also provide a crucial opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation in various sectors including trade, innovation, defence, ports, shipping, science and tech, cultural exchange, and workforce mobility.

(IANS)

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BHC Dhaka celebrate official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

World news story

BHC Dhaka celebrate official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III

British High Commission in Dhaka celebrated the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III on 18 June.
The event paid tribute to His Majesty The King, the UK’s Head of State and the Head of the Commonwealth, who has been a global champion of climate action, sustainable development, the arts, healthcare and education for decades.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke welcomed guests to the celebration, which featured traditional British and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and a ceremonial toast to His Majesty and continued growth of the UK-Bangladesh relationship.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, attended the event as the Chief Guest. The event also brought together distinguished guests from the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the Diplomatic Corps, political parties and representatives from the fields of trade, business, academia, social development, arts, culture, media and sports.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said:

It is my privilege to celebrate His Majesty’s official birthday with our friends, partners and sponsors in Bangladesh. We chose the theme of climate resilience and sustainable development for the event. These are issues which His Majesty has consistently championed, and which are a vital part of the UK/Bangladesh partnership.

This year’s celebration also reflects the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Bangladesh on its path towards a democratic, inclusive and prosperous future.

This year’s King’s Birthday Party celebrations were made possible by the gracious support of HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, Airbus, OxfordAQA, Menzies Aviation and Le Méridien.

Further information

the Official Birthday of His Majesty The King is celebrated by British High Commissions and Embassies around the world. This year, The King turns 77 on 14 November

His Majesty The King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace. Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth

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Published 18 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “I fell in love with Russia, I especially like your culture”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

© Higher School of Economics

A round table for international students was held at the HSE, organized by the inter-university student project “Adventures of Foreigners in Russia” The guests were treated to useful tips and memos on adaptation and life in Russia, as well as convenient navigation on where to go and what to do in Moscow in their free time. Foreign students also shared their stories with each other about why they decided to move to Russia and how their studies at the university are going.

The project “Adventures of Foreigners in Russia” was the result of a diploma thesis, said its director Natalia Belyaeva. At the moment, it operates with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. “We ourselves were foreign students in other countries. The author of the project did an academic internship in Poland, I did it in China, so we know firsthand how difficult it is to adapt to a new information field,” said Natalia Belyaeva.

The project accumulates all the information needed by foreign students in a Telegram channel: legal norms, answers to migration questions, opportunities offered (Olympiads, grants, forums), useful links and interesting places to visit. “We tell you what important documents you need to have with you, how to arrange your departure from the university if the student is going home or leaving for another region of Russia,” explained Natalia Belyaeva.

The project also provides advisory assistance to foreign students through a special bot.

“We will soon have a meeting with Valery Falkov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, where we will clarify the story with grants. You have probably heard that, in addition to the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation, an additional opportunity for social assistance for foreign students has appeared. They can take part in the competition and receive full payment for tuition and accommodation. However, there is no application platform yet, so we will look for all the information,” shared Natalia Belyaeva.

During the round table, the guests were able to get to know each other better and make new contacts. Maria Kaminskaya, 2nd year student of the OP “Media communications” HSE, came from Belarus, the city of Vitebsk. “Literally every second classmate of mine was applying to HSE, so I decided to give it a try, too,” she says. “I was also applying in my home city, and got through there, but I chose Moscow.”

As the student notes, it was quite difficult to adapt, since she moved from a small town, and the Russian capital seemed very unusual. “I have no relatives here, no one at all. I lived in a hostel in the Moscow region. I like studying, I do not regret that I came, although it was difficult at first. I found friends among my classmates, everything is great,” Maria Kaminskaya summed up.

Benedetta Armando, 1st year student postgraduate school of cultural studies HSE, came from Italy, the city of Maratea. She has been living in Russia for three years already, before that the girl studied for a master’s degree in St. Petersburg.

Benedetta Armando decided to study at the HSE because, in her opinion, it has the most modern educational programs, and the university itself is highly rated not only in Russia, but also in other countries. The Russian language was not easy for the girl: “I studied it intensively for three years, and have been studying it for six years in total. Very complex grammar, cases, a completely different alphabet.”

The student says she feels comfortable in Russia. “I fell in love with Russia, with your cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod. I like the standard of living, transportation, various structures, and especially the culture, which you care about very much,” added Benedetta Armando.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 18 June 2025 Donors making a difference: refugees and migrants

Source: World Health Organisation

Today, more than one billion people, about one in eight globally, are on the move, driven by war, conflict, disasters, environmental degradation or economic instability. Migration and displacement are powerful social determinants of health, shaping how and whether people can access the health conditions they need to survive and thrive.

Climate change, recognized as a “threat multiplier”, worsens food insecurity, disrupts livelihoods, and fuels further displacement. Whether by choice or forced, being on the move is a part of human life, but for many, it brings disproportionate exposure to risk, inequality, and exclusion from basic health services.

Refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) frequently face unsafe journeys and precarious living conditions, often with limited access to clean water, adequate nutrition, sanitation, or shelter. Their susceptibility to communicable diseases is increased by the environmental risk factors related to their precarious living and working conditions. Many also face barriers to managing noncommunicable diseases, accessing maternal and newborn care, or receiving mental health support.

Thanks to the support of donors and partners, WHO works with governments and communities to deliver inclusive, equitable, and context-sensitive health services to people on the move. This includes immunization, disease surveillance, chronic disease management, reproductive and mental health care, support for health system resilience, amongst other efforts.

These contributions are grounded in the recognition that health is a human right, and that universal health coverage must be inclusive of all people, regardless of migratory status. The stories presented below show how rapid, compassionate action can protect lives and advance dignity, equity, and resilience, especially in times of crisis.

Landmark cholera vaccination campaign offers hope to Rohingya refugee camps

^{A young girl receives the OCV vaccine in one of the remote blocks of camp.} ^{Photo by: WHO/Mehnaz Manzur}

Cholera has been endemic in Bangladesh for decades, with seasonal peaks. It has remained a major health concern in the Rohingya refugee camps since 2017.

In a major joint effort, the Government of Bangladesh, with support from WHO, UNHCR, and health sector partners, launched a landmark cholera vaccination campaign in the Rohingya refugee camps on 12 January 2025. This initiative focused on children aged one year and older, following a rise in cholera cases detected through WHO’s disease monitoring system in both the camps and nearby host communities.

The five-day vaccination campaign aimed to reach 943 174 people across 33 camps and Bhasan Char Island. Over 1 700 community health workers, supervisors, and health sector partners visited 194 907 households to administer the single-dose Euvichol Plus vaccine.

Read the full story.

Delivering lifesaving health services for flood-displaced families in Nigeria

^{Delivering lifesaving health services for flood-displaced families in Nigeria. Photo by: WHO/Nigeria}

Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria, was severely impacted by recent floods, in September 2024, which displaced over 400 000 people. Almost 90 000 people in vulnerable situations were forced to take shelter in temporary camps with limited access to food, clean water and health services.

Displaced populations are at especially high risk from malnutrition, and diseases such as cholera, malaria and measles in a region where health systems are already fragile and strained.

Recognizing urgent health need, WHO, with financial support from USAID and the Government of Germany, deployed five mobile health teams made up of 35 public health experts, to provide routine immunization, maternal care and clinical services. So far, 34 camps and over 93 000 households have been reached and informed about how to prevent epidemic-prone diseases and adopt healthy household practices.

Read the full story.

Bringing health care closer to displaced communities in Somalia

^{WHO drought response activities in affected districts in Somalia. Photo by: WHO/Somalia}

Somalia experienced a severe drought in 2022-2023. Donors responded swiftly with increased funding to save lives by treating severe acute malnutrition and the prevention and management of disease outbreaks.

This support enabled WHO to meet urgent health needs while also investing in the long-term capacity of local health services. For example, the Sinkadheer health centre in Al-Adalada camp, west of Mogadishu, provides a full range of services through the Integrated Health and Nutrition Programme. The centre helps ensure access to essential health care for families who might otherwise face financial or logistical barriers to treatment.

Supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), the German Federal Foreign Office, and other partners, the programme continues to improve health outcomes for Somali mothers and children, promoting dignity and resilience in the context of displacement. Each day, the centre serves around 200 patients, primarily from nearby internally displaced communities, offering primary health care, nutritional support, and services to prevent malnutrition.

Read the full story.

Bridging gaps in health and nutrition services for IDPs and crisis-affected communities in Ethiopia

^{Bridging gaps in health and nutrition services for IDPs and crisis-affected communities in Amhara, Ethiopia. Photo by: WHO/Ethiopia}

Since November 2021, Ethiopia’s Amhara region has faced complex and protracted humanitarian crises driven by internal armed conflict, multiple disease outbreaks, and climate-related shocks- including drought and floods. The region also witnessed a growing influx of people fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Nearly a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living across 38 collective sites and host communities, alongside hundreds of thousands of refugees and returnees.

To ensure access to essential health services for displaced and crisis-impacted populations, WHO, in collaboration with regional government authorities, deployed Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams. As displacements increased, the number of mobile teams was scaled up to 19 in April 2024, comprising 132 health workers. This increase was made possible through support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), and the People and Government of Japan.

These teams have provided over 124 250 medical consultations, including referrals for patients requiring specialized care. Services include primary health care, immunizations, maternal and child health support, nutritional care, mental health and psychosocial support, and first-line assistance for survivors of gender-based violence. They also address both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, helping ensure that health care is available and accessible to all.

Read the full story.

Health on the frontlines: caring for Haiti’s displaced population

^{A mobile clinic organized at the Lycée Argentine Bellegarde IDP site. Photo by: WHO/PAHO}

Since February 2024, Haiti has faced an escalating security crisis from escalating gang violence, political instability, and a humanitarian emergency, placing further strain on the country’s already overstretched health system. This has significantly disrupted access to health care for millions in Haiti.

The crisis has most severely affected people living in precarious conditions, including the approximately 86 000 individuals residing across 84 IDPs sites of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

To help maintain access to essential services, mobile clinics have been established by the Ouest Department’s health authorities with the support from PAHO/WHO and other partners such as UNCERF. Disease surveillance activities have also been reactivated, including for cholera, through the deployment of surveillance and response teams to each site- helping to detect and respond efficiently to potential outbreaks.

Read the full story.

Support for public health emergency preparedness and response in Niger

^{WHO medicines and medical supplies donation in Diffa, Niger. Photo by: WHO/Niger}

In March 2024, WHO delivered 16 tons of medicines and medical supplies valued at nearly 100 million FCFA (US$ 170 000) to health facilities across eight regions of Niger, which host large numbers of IDPs, refugees, and returnees.

This donation, funded through UNCERF and WHO’s own resources, include medical consumables and treatment kits for pneumonia, meningitis, malaria, diphtheria, cholera, and other common illnesses.

“This donation comes at a crucial time when our health system in the Diffa region is under significant pressure. We will be able to strengthen access to quality health care and save the lives of the people of Diffa, who are already facing emergencies related to the growing number of IDPs, refugees and returnees,” said Colonel-Major Dr Garba Hakimi, Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs.

Read the full story (French).

Lessons from Malta: advancing refugee and migrant health

^{Valetta from waterfront. Photo by: WHO/Marc Gallego}

As an island located at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has long been a transitional stop for people on the move. Today, it is home to over 11 000 refugees and 2 000 asylum seekers, primarily from Bangladesh, Libya, Syria, Sudan and Ukraine.

With co-funding from the European Union, WHO, in partnership with Malta’s Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, hosted the first Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health in Malta in April 2024.

The Forum brought together government officials, humanitarian organizations, civil society, United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, exchange experiences, identify opportunities for collaboration, and advance the implementation of WHO’s European Region Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health 2023–2030.

Read the full story.

Acknowledgments

The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order) European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), European Union, Germany, Japan, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Thank you also to UNHCR for its strong partnership in responding to the needs of refugees.

WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Regional Cooperation 25: Strengthening Regional Security and Partnership

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. — Nearly 250 military personnel from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (U.N. neutral participant), Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and the United States, along with observers from Armenia, United Kingdom, and Georgia, began the 14-day Regional Cooperation 25 exercise June 16 at Joint Base Cape Cod.
Hosted by the Massachusetts Army National Guard, the multilateral command post and field training exercise runs through June 27 and is the largest U.S. Central Command-led military-to-military exercise involving Central and South Asian (CASA) partners.

MIL Security OSI –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Regional Cooperation 25: Strengthening Regional Security and Partnership

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. — Nearly 250 military personnel from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (U.N. neutral participant), Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and the United States, along with observers from Armenia, United Kingdom, and Georgia, began the 14-day Regional Cooperation 25 exercise June 16 at Joint Base Cape Cod.
Hosted by the Massachusetts Army National Guard, the multilateral command post and field training exercise runs through June 27 and is the largest U.S. Central Command-led military-to-military exercise involving Central and South Asian (CASA) partners.

MIL Security OSI –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Gulf of Oman oil spill: Greenpeace warns of environmental disaster

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Beirut, Lebanon – Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has warned of a potential environmental disaster after two crude oil tankers collided between Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Satellite imagery indicates a large plume of oil stretching up to around 1500 hectares from the site of the crash between two vessels, ‘Adalynn’ and ‘Front Eagle’, in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, near the Strait of Hormuz.[1] The 23-year-old Adalynn is part of the so-called Russian ‘shadow fleet’, a collection of partially obsolete tankers that operate below basic security standards and carry Russian oil, though its current cargo is unknown. Analysis of the Adalynn’s current 9.3-metre draught suggests it may be carrying approximately 70,000 tons of crude oil despite being officially listed in ballast condition.[2]

Farah Al Hattab, Campaigner at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, said: “This is just one of many dangerous incidents to take place in the past years. The causes differ, but the result is often the same: oil spills endanger marine life, disrupt delicate ecological balances and possibly the entire food web, and carry the potential to spark widespread environmental damage that extends far beyond the immediate area.”

While navigation systems in the region have been under pressure amid the exchange of missiles between Iran and Israel, there is no clear evidence that GPS jamming or spoofing was behind the collision, with some reports indicating it was due to a navigational error.

Farah Al Hattab added: “Greenpeace MENA urges all concerned authorities to act swiftly to contain the spill and assess its ecological impact. We call on shipping companies, governments, and oil industry actors to commit to full transparency regarding environmental consequences of oil spills and the measures being taken for cleanup. Additionally, we urge governments in the region to increase investment in maritime monitoring, early-warning systems, and contingency plans to effectively respond to future oil pollution incidents. Environmental security must be treated as national and regional security.”

“The environmental fallout from this collision further highlights the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. Continued reliance on oil infrastructure leaves both people and the planet exposed—to toxic spills, political conflict, and the accelerating climate crisis. It’s time to rethink our global energy systems, shifting to renewable energy as not just a climate solution but a pathway to peace and resilience.”

ENDS

Notes:

1. Satellite image: Greenpeace Media Library © Planet Labs PBC / Greenpeace

2. Sources: www.Q88.com and seasearcher.com

Contacts:

Hiam Mardini, Communications and Media Manager, Greenpeace MENA: [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green Party reaction to escalating crisis between Israel and Iran

Source: Green Party of England and Wales

18 June 2025/ 18 June 2025 by Green Party

The Green Party has called on the UK government to press for de-escalation, push for an immediate ceasefire and hold all parties to the same international standards, in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.

Co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay MP, said:

“The escalating crisis between Israel and Iran is gravely concerning, not just for regional stability, but for the safety of civilians – there have already been hundreds of casualties. Calls for the total evacuation of central Tehran are deeply alarming indicating people’s homes and hospitals and children’s schools are at risk of attack, not just military targets.

“We are witnessing a pattern of Israel acting with impunity. In Gaza, military objectives have become indistinguishable from the mass suffering of civilians with little or no critique, let alone sanctions from the international community. And now, we are seeing a similar playbook with Israel appearing to pursue regime change in Iran through unilateral military action, without any international mandate or clear justification.

“The UK government must urgently press for de-escalation, push for an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, and hold all parties to the same international standards – holding to account Israel for its aggressive unilateral actions and Iran for its well-documented human rights violations.

“Furthermore, Donald Trump’s warmongering rhetoric is fanning the flames of this conflict. The UK must stand firmly against such a gung-ho approach to military intervention and call on the US to instead prioritise genuine diplomatic engagement and humanitarian relief.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social care and SEND costs pushing Councils to the brink, say Greens
Source: Green Party of England and Wales

18 June 2025 by Green Party
The Green Party has said Labour’s inadequate funding of SEND and dither over tackling a social care crisis is what is leading so many councils to bankruptcy [1].

The Party’s co-leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said:

“We need the government to act urgently on the social care crisis. Instead, Labour has kicked the problem into the long grass, again. The Royal Commission on social care, ordered by the government some months ago, is not due to report until 2028.

“There have been around 25 social care commissions, select committee inquiries and white papers since 1997 [2]. We don’t need more dither; we need action. Instead of another Commission, Labour needs to get on with the proposal for cross-party talks on how best to fund social care, but they keep postponing. Meanwhile, people across Britain continue to suffer and local councils are left to pick up the bill for the care sector’s funding crisis.

“As for SEND, the Spending Review has failed to address deficits racked up by councils or the fact that many children are not getting the access to special educational needs support they need. The IFS says that any extra money pledged for schools will almost entirely be wiped out tackling the growing demand for special educational needs [3].”

“Even with five percent increases to Council tax, many Councils are still effectively looking at bankruptcy [4]. Until the government gets a grip on social care and SEND – the main reasons why councils are going bust – we won’t see any improvement in this desperate situation.”

Notes

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/councils-emergency-funds-tax-hikes-3752666

https://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/briefings/social-care-commissions-looking-back-to-move-forward

https://ifs.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-06/Spending_Review_analysis_impacts_for_public_services_MW.pdf Slide 6

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/06/12/4bn-a-year-more-available-for-adult-social-care-by-2028-29-in-spending-review/
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Warren Hit Five Big Pharma Companies for Paying Zero in Federal Taxes, Lobbying to Extend Trump Tax Loopholes
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

“Our tax code has been skewed to benefit wealthy pharmaceutical corporations, enabling them to profit off Americans, charging them the highest drug prices in the world, without paying their fair share of taxes.”
Full Text of Letters (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to five major pharmaceutical companies, calling them out for paying $0 in federal taxes for profit earned last year, despite earning billions of dollars. These companies, which are Abbvie, Pfizer, Amgen, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson, have taken advantage of tax loopholes created by President Trump’s 2017 tax bill and have lobbied for even more tax giveaways.

“This alarming fact illustrates just one of the ways in which our tax code has been skewed to benefit wealthy pharmaceutical corporations, enabling them to profit off Americans, charging them the highest drug prices in the world, without paying their fair share of taxes,” wrote the lawmakers.

The passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) by President Donald Trump created new incentives for pharmaceutical companies to avoid paying taxes by holding their profits and intellectual property abroad. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have engaged in complex tax planning to move their intellectual property and production facilities out of the United States to tax shelters like Ireland and Bermuda to take advantage of this new regime.

Thanks to President Trump’s international taxation regime, these top pharmaceutical companies have paid almost nothing in U.S. taxes since 2018 while raking in billions of dollars in profit.
- Johnson & Johnson paid zero dollars in federal taxes since 2018, while raking in over $594 billion in profits during that time.
- Abbvie paid zero dollars in federal taxes since 2018, while raking in over $330 billion in profits during that time.
- Pfizer paid zero dollars in federal taxes since 2018, while raking in over $429 billion in profits during that time.
- Amgen paid zero dollars in federal taxes since 2018, while raking in over $186 billion in profits during that time.
- Merck paid zero dollars in federal taxes since 2018, while raking in over $355 billion in profits during that time.
“Now, pharmaceutical companies want to extend these tax giveaways from the TCJA, and they are lining up to make their case on Capitol Hill,” wrote the lawmakers.

Indeed, lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry rose in 2024 compared to 2023, as the fight over extending the TCJA began.

“Congress should not slash Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or other assistance to Americans trying to afford their prescription medication in order to pay for massive tax breaks for Big Pharma companies making record profits,” concluded the lawmakers.

Representative Schakowsky and Senator Warren are pushing the companies for answers on their role in extending massive tax cuts for the pharmaceutical industry.

###
MIL OSI USA News –
June 19, 2025

Category: Europe

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Updates to this page

Landmark cholera vaccination campaign offers hope to Rohingya refugee camps

Delivering lifesaving health services for flood-displaced families in Nigeria

Bringing health care closer to displaced communities in Somalia

Bridging gaps in health and nutrition services for IDPs and crisis-affected communities in Ethiopia

Health on the frontlines: caring for Haiti’s displaced population

Support for public health emergency preparedness and response in Niger

Lessons from Malta: advancing refugee and migrant health

Acknowledgments

“Our tax code has been skewed to benefit wealthy pharmaceutical corporations, enabling them to profit off Americans, charging them the highest drug prices in the world, without paying their fair share of taxes.”