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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Providers of care and support for vulnerable adults in line for above-inflation fees increase

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Saturday, 12th April 2025

    Providers of adult social care in Stoke-on-Trent could receive above-inflation fee increases, under proposals to be considered by the council’s ruling cabinet.

    The increases would cover inflationary pressures facing the care sector and ensure providers can continue to give city residents first-class care.

    Every year, the council reviews the fees it pays for care and support given to vulnerable adults and older people.

    Now council officers have proposed a series of increases for 2025/26 following thorough consultation and engagement with care providers.

    They will be presented to the cabinet for approval at a meeting on April 29.

    The proposals would see the council increase its fee payments by at least 5.16% for home care and Extra Care and 7.9% for personal assistants.

    Council fees would increase by at least 6.37 % for most residential care, rising to an enhanced rate of at least 7.96% for specialist care.

    Nursing home fees would rise by at least 4.77%, with an enhanced rate of at least 6.37% for specialist care.

    The proposals recognise significant inflationary pressures facing the care sector. Care providers are being hit by the recently-announced increase in employers’ National Insurance as well as the increase of the minimum wage from £11.44p an hour to £12.21p an hour this month.

    The council set aside £6.2 million in its budget to cover fee uplifts.

    The total cost of the current proposal is £7.4 million. If the fee changes are approved by cabinet, the council will set aside money to cover the difference while  working to reduce spending in other areas to offset the difference.

    The rising cost of care is a national issue, as people live longer and require more help. Only those with the most complex problems qualify for NHS care, meaning councils pick up the majority of the public costs.

    That is despite the fact councils have faced significant budget cuts over the past 15 years. Stoke-on-Trent had £96.8 million less to invest in services in 2024/25 compared to 2010/11. That is a 25.1% reduction, in real terms.

    The city council is focused on enabling independent living, where people can live fuller and richer lives, have their own front doors, and require less complex care. That includes supporting home care, extra care, direct payments and supported living – while maintaining a sustainable care home market for those who need more intensive help.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State for Transport’s vision for transport

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Secretary of State for Transport’s vision for transport

    The Secretary of State for Transport talks about her vision for a transport system that works for everyone.

    Thank you, David, for that introduction.  

    Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the National Railway Museum in York. 

    I’m tempted to say we’re in the country’s finest transport museum, but as a Swindon MP and a former Deputy Mayor for Transport in London, I feel I should tread carefully.

    So welcome to ONE of the VERY BEST transport museums in the country!

    It feels fitting for me to do my first big transport speech here.

    The history of our transport network — the stories of the men and women who designed it, built it, operated and used it — are woven into the fabric of our communities in 21st century Britain.

    And it’s you — the people in THIS room — who are adding to that rich tapestry every day.

    You keep life moving.  

    You get children to school, commuters to work, and families to their holidays.  

    You move the goods that stock our shelves, fuel our industries, and keep businesses thriving.  

    You don’t just connect places — you connect people with the things that they need to get on in life.  

    And it’s in the spirit of connection that I’d like to tell you a story.   

    I hope you won’t be disappointed to learn that I haven’t invited you here for a big policy announcement or news headline, but rather to share a little bit about who I am and what I believe.

    I want to tell you a story about the people and places who have shaped my thinking.

    I grew up in Swindon.

    A proud railway town on the M4 corridor – a place with much to be proud of. 

    It’s also a humble football town – and I can tell you, that as a Swindon Town supporter, I have learnt the lessons of humility all too well.

    By fate and circumstance, that’s where my journey began.  

    Outside our semi detached house, I remember my dad’s first van parked up — ‘Malcolm Alexander Electrical Services’.

    I remember the first bike I was given – blue with a basket on the front — a bit like the blue crate I’ve got on my bike now.

    And I remember learning to drive around the town’s infamous Magic Roundabout. 

    And the car factories that punctuate the town’s history – Rover, Honda and now, BMW.

    It’s fair to say that in 1980s Swindon, the car was king.  

    It still is.

    The proliferation of out of town shopping centres, urban expansions and a minimal public transport network shaped the transport destiny of my town.

    Now, I won’t pretend that urban planning preoccupied my teenage mind too much. 

    Back then, I was much more concerned about whether Wham! were going to make it to Number 1. 

    But when I moved away and got my first job, I began to see the bigger picture… 

    … that a poor transport network will limit choices.  

    … that it can block the aspirations of young people.   

    And, most important of all, a good transport network can do precisely the opposite. 

    I was the first person in my family to go to university. 

    And like so many, I found work and opportunities in the capital.  

    And so it was, at the age of 29, I walked into Lewisham Town Hall as a newly elected councillor – becoming the cabinet member for regeneration just two years later.

    I loved that job, and I fell in love with transport.  

    Now, I’ll admit …

    It wasn’t the language of highways management that enthralled me: “There’s no such thing as a speed hump Cllr Alexander, only speed tables and speed cushions.” 

    But it was the extension of the East London Line, the creation of new brownfield sites around major railway stations, the improvements to walking and cycling links that really got me hooked.

    I learnt quickly that transport shapes a lot more than roads and railways. 

    And equally important, I learnt that it takes a lot of people to shape transport itself.  

    At Lewisham, I saw first-hand how transport investment could make a dramatic difference to people’s lives.  

    Take Brockley Railway Station.

    For years, it was an uninspiring, inaccessible place. 

    Uninviting, a bit run down.   

    Not somewhere you’d instinctively love as you rocked up for your morning commute.  

    But working with local campaigners, we delivered step-free access, a stunning landscaped ramp and better connectivity along the London Overground. 

    Today, Brockley is thriving. 

    It’s a place where the old and the new coexist. 

    The Wetherspoons on the corner and fried chicken shops sit side-by-side with bakeries, breweries and a pedestrianised square.  

    It was a transport scheme that built a stronger, more connected community. 

    And, it was transport that made the difference down the road in Lewisham too.  

    We transformed it — relocating and improving a bus station, moving a roundabout, redesigning the roads, creating land for new homes, new public spaces and new opportunity. 

    And when I say “we”, I mean the hundreds of people from different organisations who made it happen — people like you. 

    When a few years later I became the Member of Parliament for Lewisham East, transport was always right at the top of the list of my constituents’ concerns.  

    The longer train station platforms that were worse than useless without the longer trains to stop at them.

    The toxic air being pumped into homes around the South Circular.

    And when I later became Deputy Mayor for Transport in London, I had the privilege of working on those concerns more closely than I had ever done before.  

    Look, London is big. 

    So yes, naturally, I’m proud of the big stuff: 

    Straining to keep the capital moving through Covid. 

    Working on the Elizabeth line to deliver the jewel in the crown of the UK’s rail network. 

    Sticking to my guns on the Silvertown Tunnel, a new river crossing that enables London’s red double-deckers to go under the Thames to the east of Tower Bridge for the first time.

    But honestly, big doesn’t always mean beautiful. 

    Transport isn’t just about the price tag on the project. 

    It’s about delivering a better everyday experience – buses that come on time, accessible stations, well managed road works. 

    I’m just as proud of the smaller projects that made a big difference — many delivered in London by my good friend and then colleague Will Norman — segregated cycle lanes on Jamaica Road and Evelyn St, more secure cycle parking, slower speeds on roads with high KSIs, a direct vision scheme to improve visibility from the cabs of HGVs.

    These were transport interventions which ultimately delivered better public health, as well as better public realm.

    So when I moved back to Swindon a couple of years ago, I wasn’t just carrying a dream about becoming the MP for my home town.

    I arrived with baggage — determined to deliver for Swindon in a similar way to London. 

    Not the same solutions — as every place is different, but to give people options and opportunity.

    There isn’t something in the water that makes Swindonians love their cars more than Londoners.  

    Just a reality that public transport is better in London.  

    And I think it’s a failure of imagination, as much as a failure of policy, that young people in Swindon don’t have better options than I had decades ago. 

    Because change is possible.  

    Across the country — from Swindon to Shrewsbury,  Rotherham to Peterborough — we have underused transport assets. 

    Unloved railway buildings — land surplus to requirements or land that could be made so. 

    Neglected stations, like Brockley.  

    Potential that shouldn’t go to waste, but we know that, too often, it does.  

    And with vision, funding and collaboration, these could become hubs of regeneration, places that don’t just usher people through — but bring people together. 

    We talk about delivering “London style” transport to other places.   

    But I think we should talk more about “Swindon style” transport for Swindon, or “York style” transport for York. 

    And I want to support the capability and capacity within councils and combined authorities to deliver regeneration, investment and tangible improvements.  

    We have great mayors.  

    We have great local leaders.  

    We have great organisations working nationally and regionally.  

    We have a lot of talent in this room and beyond.  

    So, the question for me, is how do we best harness that?  

    Obviously, this is a question that has vexed me particularly since I took a call from the Prime Minister at the tail end of November, asking me to serve as his Transport Secretary.  

    And as someone who has skin in the game as a local MP and a passion to build on the work started by the force of nature, Lou Haigh, I naturally said yes.  

    And here I am.  

    Full-circle in some ways, and trying to shape a new path in another.   

    And the task is to build a better decade for transport. 

    Towards a better railway… 

    Laying the foundations for reform — establishing Shadow Great British Railways and launching a consultation on the upcoming Railways Bill to unify track and train. 

    Towards public ownership… 

    Passing the Passenger Railway Services Act, with the first operators — Southwestern and c2c — moving into public hands in the coming months. 

    Towards better buses…  

    Introducing the Bus Services Bill, giving local authorities greater control over routes, timetables, and fares — backed by over £1 billion in investment to improve reliability and frequency. 

    Towards better roads… 

    Investing £1.6 billion in local highways, an uplift of £500 million on last year — enough to fill an extra 7 million potholes. 

    Towards fairer work… 

    Enshrining greater protections for seafarers in law. 

    Towards cleaner skies… 

    Introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate and launching a consultation on the revenue certainty mechanism. 

    Towards a fossil-free future… 

    Supporting the installation of thousands of new EV charge points—helping to drive record electric car sales, with 31% of new cars sold in December last year being electric. 

    And towards a transport system that supports the aspirations of everyone in this country… 

    It’s why I am so proud to work with the ministerial team at the Department for Transport.

    Like me — and like all of us — they’ve seen the difference that good services make… 

    …Whether it’s the tap-and-go trams and buses in Mike Kane’s patch, with fares capped at £2 on Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. 

    …Or in Simon Lightwood’s patch, where the mass transit system will improve integrated travel options in West Yorkshire, improving access to opportunities for people in Leeds and Bradford.

    …Or, in Nottingham, where one of the local bus operators, Nottingham City Transport, has been voted UK operator of the year a record six times, with passenger satisfaction amongst the highest in the country. I hear Lilian Greenwood is a pretty good local MP too …

    And as for Peter Hendy, who is his own walking museum of transport knowledge, he has a phrase that I would like to steal.  

    He talks about transport needing to be “boringly reliable”.

    And he’s right.  

    If public transport options are boringly reliable, then it means day-to-day life is easier for everyone. 

    So, by 2035, I want public transport to play a greater role in national life, becoming the easiest, most attractive choice… brilliantly and boringly reliable.  

    Enrique Peñalosa, a former mayor of Bogotá, once said:

    “An advanced city is not one where the poor have to own a car, but one where the rich choose to use public transport.” 

    That’s a vision I believe in.  

    But I can picture the headlines now — so let me counter the column inches before they emerge: there is no such thing as a war on motorists.  

    I drive. I own a car and I love it — a racing green Mini Cooper convertible.

    I walk. I cycle.  

    I take buses, trains, and taxis.  

    And I’ll bet most of you do too.  

    No serious person is proposing to ask people like my dad, a self employed electrician, to swap their van for a bus, forcing them to lug all their kit around — I certainly am not.   

    Through his career, my dad was a professional problem solver, and I hope I’ll carry the torch for that family tradition.   

    But I’ll be focussing on solving the real problems, not wasting time on the invented ones.   

    Because I’m sure everybody in this room would agree that where you live shouldn’t determine what you can achieve…  

    …that your hometown, no matter how big or how small, should provide the transport options to meet your aspirations… 

    … and that — if transport doesn’t nurture young people with the opportunities they deserve, then our entire economy misses out on the talent it needs to grow. 

    That’s why we’re here today. 

    To have the conversations that bring us closer together.  

    I want to harness your talents, your expertise and your drive to solve real problems.  

    Because, no matter where people are travelling to, they should be proud of where they’re coming from. 

    Thank you, and have a lovely evening.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Message of the Holy Father to the young participants in the UNIV 2025 International Conference

    Source: The Holy See

    Message of the Holy Father to the young participants in the UNIV 2025 International Conference, 12.04.2025

    The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father to the young participants in the UNIV 2025 International Conference, taking place in Rome from 12 to 20 April:

    Message of the Holy Father
    Dear young people,
    The UNIV International Conference that you are holding in Rome brings you together during these days in the celebration of a double Jubilee event: the Holy Year 2025 and the centenary of the priestly ordination of Saint Josemaría Escrivá. How many reasons to give thanks to God and to continue to journey enthusiastically in faith, diligent in charity and persevering in hope (cf. 1 Thess 1:3)!
    I join in your joy and accompany you with my prayer, asking the Lord that this time of pilgrimage and fraternal encounter may impel you to bring to all the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, as the proclamation of the hope that fulfils the promises, leads to glory and, founded on love, does not disappoint (cf. Bull Spes non confundit, 2).
    May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin watch over you. And I ask you, please do not forget to pray for me.
    Fraternally,
    Rome, Saint John Lateran, 8 April 2025
    FRANCIS

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cosmonautics Day: always first!

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    April 12 is Cosmonautics Day in Russia. It is difficult to imagine a person who does not know that this date is associated with the first human space flight, made by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961. However, his legendary flight was not the first or last achievement of the national space program.

    Let us briefly recall the main milestones of the practically endless journey into interstellar space, begun by Russian science.

    The first theorist of astronautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, was born on September 17, 1857. It was he who put forward the ideas of “rocket trains” (prototypes of multi-stage rockets), a space elevator, life on orbital stations, and, in principle, voiced the need for human settlement in space.

    The first artificial Earth satellite was launched on October 4, 1957. It was a sphere with a diameter of 58 cm and a weight of 83.6 kg with two radio transmitters. It was with it that the space era of mankind began.

    The first hard landing on an extraterrestrial body – the Moon – took place on September 14, 1959. The automatic interplanetary station Luna-2 reached the Earth’s natural satellite.

    The first image of the far side of the Moon was taken by the Luna-3 automatic interplanetary station on October 7, 1959.

    The first animals to successfully complete an orbital space flight on the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 5 on August 19, 1960, were the mongrel dogs Belka and Strelka.

    The first human flight into space was on April 12, 1961. Today is Cosmonautics Day.

    The first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, set off on her three-day flight on June 16, 1963.

    The first human spacewalk was on March 19, 1965. It was done by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who spent 16 minutes in airless space.

    The first soft landing on the Moon and transmission of a panoramic photograph of the Moon to Earth was carried out by the automatic interplanetary station Luna-9 on February 3, 1966.

    The first docking of the manned spacecraft Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5 took place on January 16, 1969.

    The first planetary rover, Lunokhod-1, began its work on November 17, 1970. In 11 lunar days, it traveled 10,540 km.

    The first soft landing on Venus was made by the automatic interplanetary station Venera-7 on December 15, 1970.

    The first soft landing on Mars was made by the automatic interplanetary station Mars-3 on December 2, 1971.

    The first manned orbital station Salyut-1 was launched on April 19, 1971 and operated in orbit for 175 days.

    The first multi-module orbital station Mir began its work on February 19, 1986. It spent 5,511 days in orbit, 4,594 of which were inhabited, and during this time it made 86,331 revolutions around the Earth. 28 expeditions with a total of 104 cosmonauts and astronauts from 12 countries conducted more than 23,000 scientific experiments at the station.

    The first full-length feature film, scenes for which were shot in space by professional filmmakers – “Challenge”. Director Klim Shipenko and actress Yulia Peresild launched on October 5, 2021 and spent 12 days on the International Space Station, filming 30 hours of material, of which 35 minutes were included in the final running time of the film.

    Russian science is still at the forefront of space exploration. On April 8, 2025, the “Victory Rocket”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, sent Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim to the ISS, where they will spend 245 days in space.

    The first management university in the country congratulates everyone on Cosmonautics Day and wishes to always be the first in everything!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 12.04.2025

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI China: What to expect from 2025 consumer products expo in China’s Hainan?

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

    HAIKOU, April 12 — The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) will be held in south China’s island province of Hainan from April 13 to 18.

    As China’s only national-level exhibition focused on consumer goods, this year’s edition emphasizes innovation and global collaboration.

    One of the most noticeable highlights of the expo is its global participation and record scale. An estimated 71 countries and regions are set to participate, showcasing over 4,100 brands, including 65 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders.

    Slovakia will make its debut with a national pavilion, while Brazil’s Sao Paulo State, along with several others, will launch regional pavilions for the first time.

    Britain, this year’s guest country of honor, will occupy over 1,300 square meters to display 53 brands spanning fashion, beauty, and home goods. Beijing, participating as a guest city for the first time, will feature a 400-square-meter themed exhibition zone.

    Some exhibition zones spotlighting cutting-edge technologies and emerging trends are set to become another major highlight of the expo.

    The tech innovation zone in Hall No. 1 features artificial intelligence (AI), smart homes, and low-altitude economy applications. Brands like Huawei, Tesla, and Unitree will demonstrate products such as their latest smartphones, humanoid robots, and AR glasses.

    Live displays of low-altitude tech, such as Xpeng AeroHT’s “flying car” and EHang’s drones for cross-sea transport and tourism, will take center stage.

    In the global lifestyle zone in Hall No. 4, luxury watches, cosmetics, and premium foods will offer visitors an immersive cross-border shopping experience.

    This year’s CICPE will also offer visitors tech-driven experiences, with debut showcases of brain-computer interfaces, exoskeletons, and sleep assistance tech designed for elderly care.

    Chinese provinces and municipalities will showcase their unique cultural heritage through innovative products. Meanwhile, international brands and Chinese time-honored names will unveil flagship products and heritage collections.

    China’s Ministry of Commerce, one of the organizers of the expo, will launch the “Shop in China” campaign, a nationwide initiative promoting shopping, dining, and tourism.

    The eco-friendly theme of the expo will be prominently featured throughout the event. The mascots, “Yuanyuan” and “Xiaoxiao,” inspired by Hainan gibbons, symbolize rainforest conservation. Expo branding seamlessly blends tropical elements with green concepts.

    The “message-in-a-bottle” sculpture at Haikou’s iconic Cloudscape library symbolizes global cultural exchange. Similarly, the 2025 CICPE aims to become Asia-Pacific’s largest consumer goods expo, bridging global brands with China’s market and highlighting Hainan’s role as a key free trade hub.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people launch pilot to tackle waste in their local area

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Seven schools in the north of the city have banded together to launch Keep North Docks Tidy – a four-month pilot project to clean up their local community. 

    To mark the start of the project, 99 young people took to the streets to take part in this year’s Great British Spring Clean litter-picking campaign.

    Together the schools collected over 90 bags of litter, some of which will be returned to the pupils to be recycled into different art pieces.

    The pilot is a partnership between Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Streetscene Services, Onward Homes, Keep Britain Tidy, Veolia, and primary schools based in the North Docks neighbourhood.

    The Council introduced a neighbourhood model in 2023 to be able to identify and address the unique issues that areas of the city face.

    North Docks is one of 13 neighbourhoods in Liverpool, including the Kirkdale East, Kirkdale West, County, Vauxhall, and Waterfront North wards.

    Keep North Docks Tidy was started to take place at the same time as Onward Homes’ retrofitting project in the area, to make households more energy efficient and sustainable.

    Local schools and the Council looked at other ways to improve the neighbourhood at the same time and decided to launch a project to tackle the area’s low levels of recycling and high rates of fly-tipping.

    The pilot will last for the remainder of the academic year and is centred around the key message of ‘the environment belongs to everyone’.

    Over the next few months, young people will discuss ways to reduce litter and waste, get hands on lessons with a recycling wagon, and visit Gillmoss Recycling Centre to learn about the journey of recycling.

    Pupils will also have the chance to design posters encouraging positive behaviours for their community and present their ideas to Cabinet Members and Council staff at a special event at Liverpool Town Hall.

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said: “The pupils taking part in this pilot are incredibly proud of their communities and want to work together to make a lasting impact, a vision that’s shared by the Council and our partners. 

    “The enthusiasm and creative ideas already shown by our young people are exactly what’s needed when it comes to influencing positive behaviour change.  

    “I can’t wait to hear the ideas that they come up with at the Town Hall and work with them to help make change happen. They are the leaders of the future and it’s fantastic to be able to show them how services work and give them a platform to have their voices heard.” 

    Fikrim Haxhifazliu, a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Gwladys Street Primary School said: “We’re really happy to be part of this project because we want our young people to feel proud of their community and understand the importance of looking after the environment. At Gwladys Street, we believe that even small actions, like keeping our area clean and being mindful of waste, can make a big difference.

    “Caring for the environment is something we talk about a lot in school because it’s about more than just keeping things tidy; it’s about responsibility, respect, and making sure we leave the world in a better place for future generations. This project is a great way for our pupils to see that their efforts matter and that they can have a real impact on the world around them”

    Joanne Danaher, Director of Housing and Home Ownership at Onward said: “We are now well underway with our community-led regeneration project in Kirkdale, with decarbonisation works making over 400 homes warmer, quieter and more comfortable for customers.

    “As part of this, we are also investing into the community here through initiatives that share our commitment of enabling people to be their best, in a home they love and place they are proud of.

    “Our work with local partners is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of the people living here and we are delighted to be supporting these young people in their efforts to improve the environment.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: SCHNEIDER PRESSES TRUMP TRADE ADVISOR ON TRADE WAR

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    Rep. Schneider: Did you expect the so-called Liberation Day to become Liquidation Week?

     

    Click to watch

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, grilled U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a Ways & Means Committee hearing on the Trump Administration’s 2025 trade policy agenda.

    “Amb. Greer, yes or no: didn’t Israel zero out all tariffs on US products before President Trump announced his across the board tariffs on April 2nd? [Greer Responds]

    Yet the President still imposed 17% tariffs on Israel. 

    Amb. Greer, what’s our trade balance with the elephant and fur seals, petrels, albatrosses and penguins living on Heard and McDonald Islands?[Greer Responds]

    Yet the president has imposed specific tariffs on the Heard and McDonald Islands, while not taking any action against Russia, Belarus, North Korea or Cuba.

    I don’t want to disappoint my mom and my wife and have them yell and me but Mr. Greer, I am going to say what I think almost everyone is thinking…WTF?

    What’s the president thinking?

    What did he, and you, think was going to happen after unilaterally declaring a global trade war?

    Did you expect the so called “Liberation Day” to become “Liquidation Week,” destroying more than $10 trillion of value and moving us from an extended Bull Market to a self-induced Bear?

    Did you intentionally plan to decimate Americans’ retirement accounts and 529 accounts for their kids’ education? 

    Did you and the President anticipate raising prices for American families already struggling to make ends meet?

    Did you mean to make American businesses less, not more competitive in global markets?

    Was the intention, with the largest tax increase in U.S. history, to put the United States, and maybe the entire global economy into a recession because of what the Wall Street Journal editorial board, let me repeat that, the Wall Street Journal editorial board, said is “the dumbest trade war in history.”

    Already Diane Swonk, the chief economist of KPMG, is saying that her baseline forecast is a recession starting this quarter.

    Jamie Dimon and JP Morgan, raised their probability of recession to 79%

    WSJ reports that betting markets have it a 70%

    Goldman Sachs recently raised their likelihood the second increase since last Wednesday to 45%. Expect them to raise it again. 

    Indeed, by the time you finish talking today we may already be in a recession.

    Less than a week after President Trump’s declaration of the largest sales tax in U.S. history, global markets continue roil as a result of tariff-based recession fears. The President’s newly imposed tariffs have real world impacts for every one of my constituents, who will see higher prices at the grocery store, shortages of critical products, and less money in their retirement accounts and their accounts for their kids’ education. 

    American families deserve relief. But instead, thanks to President Trump, they’re heading to the store to panic-buy essentials before retailers raise prices.

    I’ve heard from literally thousands of constituents about the pain that President Trump has said the country will suffer as a result of these tariffs. 

    They have written to me sharing that they have lost as much as 20% of their 401K and 529 accounts in the last week alone due to market fluctuations that are responding in real time, to the President’s announcement of arbitrary and capricious tariffs.

    Seniors who recently retired are worried about having to return to work to make sure they can make ends meet and today and wonder if they will now outlive their retirement savings.

    Small business owners in my district are anticipating having to lay off employees. Large companies in my district who are preparing their next earnings reports for investors are telling me that the impacts of these tariffs are “material.” That’s business speak for the tariffs are going to have a real, adverse effect on their operations and likely adverse affect their cash flows. 

    Make no mistake — President Trump’s trade agenda is slowing economic growth and job creation, weakening U.S. global leadership, and increasing the cost of doing business in the United States. These tariffs make life for Americans more expensive, make us our nation less secure, and our citizens less prosperous.  

    Congress must take back its constitutional authority to stop the chaos and the pain President Trump is inflicting on American families and dig us out of what could be a self-inflicted recession.” 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP OPPOSES BUDGET RESOLUTION THAT GUTS HEALTHCARE, NUTRITION, AND EDUCATION – HURTING FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND VETERANS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), voted against H. Con. Res. 14, a partisan budget resolution that would result in cuts to Medicaid, student loans, and nutrition assistance for American families to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. At the same time, implementation of the budget resolution will add trillions of dollars to the national debt which even extremist, Republican critics of the legislation have pointed out. 

    “I have never seen a more partisan and fiscally irresponsible budget,” said Congressman Bishop. “This measure will result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance. Seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families will bear the brunt of this budget’s harmful cuts. Public schools across the country – from rural to urban communities – will lose billions of dollars that help them afford teachers, textbooks, and supplies. Cuts to nutrition programs will see families, school children, seniors, disabled persons, and even young active-duty military families and veterans go hungry.”

    Among the cuts in the Republican budget resolution are:

    • $880 billion in cuts from the budget covering healthcare, interstate commerce, conservation, energy, public health and healthcare, including Medicaid;
    • $330 billion in cuts in the budget sections that support America’s students and schools across the country, including school lunch and breakfast programs;
    • $230 billion in cuts from agricultural and rural development programs, which support our farmers and other ag producers as well as food banks and other programs that help feed America’s families – especially during this period of astronomically high food prices; and
    • Additional cuts to the budget covering infrastructure programs that help improve and make our roads, railways, bridges, and airports safer as well as other investments that help lower costs for Americans everywhere.

    The U.S. House Budget Committee estimates if the budget proposed by H. Con. Res. 14 is enacted, Georgia’s Second Congressional District will see:

    • Nearly 200,000 people on Medicaid will lose coverage, including an estimated 133,300 children under the age of 19 and 30,000 senior citizens over the age of 65;
    • More than 200,000 people will lose SNAP and be at risk of going hungry;
    • 320,000 school children will lose school meals; and
    • 26,000 students will lose Pell Grants that makes it possible for them to get their education.

    The Congressman has also highlighted that the Trump Administration fired department and agency Inspectors General, within days of taking office. 

    The Congressman concluded, “The Administration says they want to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse and reduce the deficit – which we all support – but this budget resolution does neither. What they are doing is eliminating transparency and dismantling the government, as outlined last year in Project 2025. This is a reverse Robin Hood scheme that steals the federal resources needed to adequately meet the needs of the American people, in order to pay for tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit billionaires.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Garamendi and Calvert Introduce the Bipartisan Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Ken Calvert (CA-41) introduced the “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act,” which would help permanently conserve privately owned working forestlands. They are joined by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Josh Harder (CA-09), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).

    The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.2771) would give States the option to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that federal or state governments hold conservation easements purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.

    “As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. Federal and state governments can, and must, do a better job of working with private landowners who want to conserve their land, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. My bill would unlock millions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk,” said Congressman Garamendi.

    “The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will provide new tools to help achieve our conservation, forest management, and economic goals. This bipartisan bill is an important step in strengthening partnerships between private landowners and public stakeholders interested in conserving forestlands,” said Congressman Calvert. 

    “We applaud Congressmen Calvert and Garamendi for introducing this bill.  This commonsense, practical, no-cost enhancement to the Forest Legacy Program will make it easier for private landowners and states to fulfill their goals of voluntarily conserving working forestlands for all their public benefits while maintaining private ownership. The flexibility provided in this bill will help many states, like California, Oregon, and Washington, leverage private-public partnerships to get better outcomes while saving money and resources,” said Laurie Wayburn, Pacific Forest Trust President. 

    Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will help permanently conserve more land by working with private landowners who want to choose conservation but do not want to sell the federal or state governments an easement on their property. The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” would save states money and time, increasing the impact and reach of the Forest Legacy Program.

    Endorsements: Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pacific Forest Trust, California Rangeland Trust, North Coast Land Conservancy, American River Conservancy, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Oregon Agricultural Trust, Placer Land Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Natural Lands, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Forest Society of Maine, Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Saratoga PLAN.

    Garamendi previously served on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources (2011-2012) and the Committee on Agriculture (2012-2014), which oversee both the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest System. Garamendi served as the first Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998 during the Clinton Administration. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Putin meets with US special envoy for Ukraine talks

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday met with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg for talks on the Ukraine conflict.

    The Kremlin said the meeting focused on “various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement,” without elaborating.

    The talks were held behind closed doors, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier. He said the two sides would exchange views on the Ukraine issue but no breakthrough was expected in the talks.

    Before meeting with Putin, Witkoff held talks with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries. Dmitriev later said that talks with Witkoff were “productive.”

    According to Russian news agency TASS, Witkoff arrived in Russia on a business visit Friday morning and departed St. Petersburg late in the evening.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Event held in Romania to celebrate Int’l Chinese Language Day

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Vice-Rector Ana-Raluca Sassu speaks during an event marking the International Chinese Language Day in Sibiu, Romania, on April 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Confucius Institute at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu held a vibrant celebration on Friday to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, attracting more than 100 students from the university and local high schools.

    The event showcased a rich variety of cultural experiences, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, Guzheng performances and lectures, tea ceremonies, and themed workshops. Interactive activities such as painting Peking Opera masks, crafting herbal sachets, and sculpting traditional Chinese foods from clay offered participants a hands-on exploration of Chinese culture.

    Hua Yafang, charge d’affaires ad interim (a.i.) of the Chinese Embassy in Romania, emphasized the power of language in bridging cultures, saying that “learning Chinese can deepen your understanding of China’s rich heritage and its dynamic development today.”

    “The establishment of International Chinese Language Day reminds us that language learning is not only about mastering a skill, but also about opening doors to the world and the future,” said Lucian Blaga University Vice-Rector Ana-Raluca Sassu.

    A student paints a traditional Chinese mask during an event marking the International Chinese Language Day in Sibiu, Romania, on April 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Cultural performances by faculty and students of the Confucius Institute included dances inspired by Ascending Spring Mountain and A Moment of Romance, a Guzheng solo of Liu Yang River, and concluded with a lively group rendition of Beijing Welcomes You, bringing the atmosphere to a festive climax.

    Eva-Maria Cazan, a second-year Chinese major, said she enjoyed practicing Chinese with her teachers and making new friends during the event.

    Wang Jiong, Director of the Confucius Institute, said the event aimed to inspire students by connecting language learning with cultural experiences. She added that the institute plans to further expand its outreach beyond schools and into the wider community.

    Since its establishment in 2007, the Confucius Institute at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu has trained approximately 35,000 learners in Chinese language and culture. 

    Students watch a Chinese tea art demonstration during an event marking the International Chinese Language Day in Sibiu, Romania, on April 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Preliminary round of 24th ‘Chinese Bridge’ competition held in Russia

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A contestant delivers a speech on the theme “One World, One Family” during the preliminary round of the 24th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students held in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The preliminary round of the 24th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students was held in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday.

    Covering various dimensions including Chinese history, geography, literature and arts, the competition featured three main sections: themed speeches, a quiz and impromptu speeches, and talent performances.

    After delivering speeches on the theme “One World, One Family,” participants responded to questions related to China in the quiz and impromptu speech section.

    During the talent segment, some contestants sang Chinese songs with emotions, some dubbed scenes from the cartoon movie Ne Zha 2, while others performed recitations of classical Chinese poetry, all earning rounds of applause from the audience.

    Vanessa Stermer, a third-year biology student at Far Eastern Federal University, won first place. “I often read Chinese scientific literature and documents, and I also follow Chinese history,” she told reporters.

    In his opening remarks, Wang Jun, acting consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok, expressed his hope that participants would use language as a vessel and cultural exchange as a bridge to fully experience the charm of Chinese culture through the competition, and to gain knowledge, friendship and personal growth in their journey of discovering the beauty of the Chinese language.

    Vladivostok Deputy Mayor Daria Stegniy said that China’s successful economic and social development is widely recognized, and it is no surprise that young people are enthusiastic about learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture.

    “Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. I want to thank the Confucius Institute for making Chinese more accessible and giving our children the opportunity to learn it in a fun and practical way,” she said.

    The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok and the Confucius Institute at Far Eastern Federal University. 

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  • MIL-OSI China: China delivers key components for world’s largest ‘artificial sun’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China on Friday completed and shipped the final set of Correction Coil In-Cryostat Feeder components to the site of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) in southern France, signifying that all the super-large components needed for ITER’s magnet feeder system have now been successfully developed, its developer said.
    The ITER magnet feeder system was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP), and it is known as the “lifeline” of the ITER magnet system. Its largest component, the Correction Coil In-Cryostat Feeder, comprises 9 sets built as half-ring structures measuring 16 meters in diameter and 3 meters in height.
    The ITER, one of the largest and most important international scientific research projects in the world, is popularly known as “Artificial Sun.” This nickname stems from its ability to generate clean, carbon-free energy in a way similar to the sun, by emitting light and heat through fusion reactions.
    The ITER is jointly funded by the European Union, China, the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India and Russia.
    According to Lu Kun, deputy director of ASIPP, the magnet feeder system is crucial to ITER. It provides energy and cooling media to the fusion reactor magnets, sends back critical control signals, and also acts as a discharge channel to safely release stored magnet energy.
    Independently manufactured and tested by ASIPP, the system is the most complex of China’s ITER procurement packages, consisting of a total of 31 sets, with a total weight of about 1,600 tonnes, Lu added.
    Song Yuntao, vice president of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science and director of ASIPP, noted that over the past 20 years, ASIPP has built stable collaborative relationships with more than 140 research institutions across over 50 countries, assisting many emerging countries in developing their own fusion research programs and facilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Spanish leaders pledge to enhance ties, safeguard free trade

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

    Chinese President Xi Jinping and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met in Beijing on Friday, pledging to build stronger ties and calling for safeguarding the international trade order.

    MUTUAL SUPPORT, TRUST, RESPECT

    China stands ready to work with Spain to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi told Sanchez.

    Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain, Xi said China will work with Spain to enhance the well-being of the two peoples, inject impetus into China-EU relations, and make greater contributions to promoting world peace, stability and development.

    He called on the two sides to continue to consolidate the political foundation of mutual support, trust and respect each other, and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, especially in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Xi said China’s consumption upgrade for 1.4 billion people and industrial transformation potential will provide strong momentum for the world economy, adding that China is willing to make good use of the mutually beneficial and complementary cooperation advantages with Spain, give full play to the roles of economic, trade, and sci-tech cooperation mechanisms, and tap the potential of cooperation in new energy, high-tech manufacturing, smart cities and other fields, so as to achieve more mutually beneficial cooperation outcomes.

    The two countries should continue their traditional friendship, and expand student exchanges to engage more young people in carrying forward the friendship, he added.

    Noting that both China and Spain are positive forces supporting multilateralism, openness and cooperation, Xi said the two countries should promote the building of a fair and equitable global governance system, safeguard world peace and security, and promote common development and prosperity.

    Sanchez said that over the past 20 years since establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, Spain and China have maintained mutual respect and friendly cooperation, and bilateral relations have developed steadily.

    Spain attaches great importance to its relations with China, unswervingly adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges in various fields to push bilateral relations to a new level, Sanchez said.

    Xi said China always views the EU as a vital pole in a multipolar world and explicitly supports the EU’s unity, development and growth, calling on both sides to adhere to partnership, openness and cooperation.

    China is ready to work with the EU to jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and advance the China-EU relationship toward strategic stability and mutual success to better benefit the two peoples and the international community, Xi said.

    Noting that China is an important partner of the EU, Sanchez said Spain always supports the stable development of EU-China relations.

    NO WINNER IN TARIFF WAR

    “There is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation,” Xi said.

    Xi said China’s development over the past seven decades is a result of self-reliance and hard work, not favors from others. China does not flinch from any unjust suppression.

    He added that no matter how the external world changes, China will remain confident and focused on running its own affairs well.

    Noting that China and the EU are both major economies in the world and firm supporters of economic globalization and free trade, Xi said the two sides have formed a close relationship of economic symbiosis, with their combined economic output exceeding one-third of the world’s total.

    He called on China and the EU to fulfill their international responsibilities, work together to safeguard economic globalization and the international trade environment, and jointly reject unilateral and bullying actions.

    By doing so, they will not only safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, but also help maintain fairness and justice within the international community and uphold international rules and order, Xi said.

    Noting the EU is committed to open and free trade, upholds multilateralism and opposes unilateral tariff hikes, Sanchez said there is no winner in a trade war.

    Facing the complex and challenging international situation, Spain and the EU are willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to maintain the international trade order, cope with challenges including climate change and poverty, and safeguard the common interests of the international community, he said.

    The two sides also exchanged views over the Ukraine crisis.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Water pumped from River Mersey could heat thousands of Liverpool homes

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Water pumped from the River Mersey could one day be heating thousands of homes and business in Liverpool, thanks to new energy plans drawn up by the City Council.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet will decide at a meeting on Tuesday 15 April whether to approve plans for the Advanced Zoning programme (AZP) which could see less reliance on gas to heat property helping to drive down costs and carbon emissions. 

    If the AZP is fully built it has the potential to help Liverpool in its net zero ambitions by generating savings of up to 72,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. This is the equivalent to the annual emissions of around 21,000 homes.

    Heat networks, also known as district heating, provide heat from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes. The heat sources identified in Liverpool include not only the river but also the wastewater treatment plant at Sandon Dock next to Everton Football Club’s new stadium.

    This technology has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and lower heating costs for residents and businesses.

    The City Council report identifies key areas in Liverpool where heat network deployment could be most effective, taking into account factors such as building density, heat demand, and potential heat sources.

    The largest zone that could be built is in Liverpool City Centre. It encompasses a large area of heat demand, from the retail hub in the centre to the Knowledge Quarter and towards Anfield. This heating zone alone would include about 340 buildings in the city.

    The Speke and Garston areas could also benefit from the creation of their own heat network, using heat generated from Garston docks and industrial centre in Halewood, such as Jaguar Land Rover.

    These plans pave the way for further investment and development of sustainable heating infrastructure in the city.

    The publication of this report is a crucial step in the Liverpool City Council’s broader strategy to decarbonize heat, which currently accounts for a substantial portion of the city’s carbon emissions.

    Liverpool City Council will now be encouraging developers and investors to build heat network projects in Liverpool.

    The Council is aiming to accelerate the delivery and construction of heat network zones, develop best practice guidance and provide project development support services.

    Earlier this year Liverpool City Council announced a plan to connect its head office at the Cunard Building at the Pier Head to the Mersey Heat District Heat Network, a system by Peel NRE who are part of the Peel Group.

    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are also looking at harnessing the power of the River Mersey to generate electricity. With its huge tidal range, a tidal power scheme on the Mersey could produce enough clean, green electricity to power every home in the city region for more than a hundred years, while also creating thousands of jobs.

    Cllr Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The River Mersey made Liverpool, it has been the source of our success for centuries. It has helped shape who we are as a city, defining our identity and culture which in turn has had a unique global impact.

    “The history of the city and the river have always been intertwined, and so for it to be a resource that can shape our future is only fitting.

    “Now, in the 21st century the river could become a crucial element in how we source energy for our homes and businesses. From fuelling our economy, the river could be the answer for the energy challenge we need to reach net zero.

    “These plans confirm Liverpool’s potential to lead the way in adopting new heat network technology and reaching our net zero targets.

    “The AZP could also see a huge improvement in air quality in the city, improving the lives of thousands of residents who currently suffer respiratory ailments.

    “Not only could there be a massive reduction in carbon emissions, but it would make a huge contribution in reducing people’s energy costs. Increasing residents’ disposable income will help the Liverpool economy to thrive. And this would be a supply of heat that would not be affected by global politics.

    “Using our resources and technology more efficiently than the way homes and businesses are currently heated will benefit us economically and environmentally. This is a win-win.

    “By embracing these greener heating solutions, we can make significant strides towards our climate goals while also providing more affordable and reliable heat to our communities.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Summits to promote HK to the world

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    A series of major cultural and tourism summits is focusing significant international attention on Hong Kong and the World Tourism Cities Federation Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2025 marks the first time the event will be held in the city.

     

    This important annual event is anticipated to attract more than 400 representatives from 40-plus countries and regions worldwide. Commissioner for Tourism Angelina Cheung said this equates to a record attendance for the event.

    Apart from announcing that among those attending will be mayors, vice mayors, and officials from various tourism ministries, Mrs Cheung emphasised that the summit will serve as an excellent platform for exchanging ideas and discussing sustainable tourism development.

     

    The event will feature several forums, including a mayors’ forum focusing on innovation and sustainability in tourism development. Additionally, a themed forum on aviation and tourism will be held, along with trade forums that will facilitate business discussions among tourism organisations and travel agencies from Hong Kong, Beijing, and other international cities.

    Mrs Cheung highlighted that the summit presents a significant opportunity for these organisations to explore different tourism resources and products, as well as negotiate business agreements, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” in the global tourism landscape.

    In addition to the tourism summit, cultural conferences are also making a splash on Hong Kong’s events calendar. The Museum Summit 2025 took place at the Convention & Exhibition Centre at the end of March. It garnered record-high participation from over 7,000 registrants who hailed from 39 countries. One-third of attendees were non-local.

    The forum was organised by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, in partnership with The Guimet – National Museum of Asian Arts in France. Themed “Going Beyond”, it brought together over 30 experts and leaders in the sector, from 17 countries, to share experiences, research findings, and ideas. Delegates included more than 40 museum practitioners from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Museum Alliance and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states.

    Furthermore, the 13th Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum is scheduled to take place from April 22 to 23. The event will promote cultural co-operation across the Asian region, allowing attendees to share strategies for promoting culture and the arts. It will also reinforce Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mills Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Biden Administration’s Far-Left Foreign Policy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Cory Mills Florida (7th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Intelligence Subcommittee Chairman Cory Mills (FL-07) delivered opening remarks at a full subcommittee hearing titled, “Deficient, Enfeebled, and Ineffective: The Consequences of the Biden Administration’s Far-Left Priorities on U.S. Foreign Policy.” 

    Watch Here 

    Remarks

    Good afternoon and welcome to the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence in the 119th Congress. 

    As we start the new Congress, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to deliver real results for the American people by advancing President Trump’s America first policy’s and agenda.

    Over the next few months, through our State Department reauthorization deliberations, this subcommittee will work to identify areas of the Secretary’s Office, or the “S Bureau,” that must be reformed and reprogrammed to reorient the United States as a leader on the world stage while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are effectively used to bolster U.S. national security efforts.  

    For far too long, the State Department prioritized radical liberal political ideologies and woke policies over advancing diplomatic objectives that serve American interests and protect the American people from our adversaries.

    While the Biden Administration was trying to figure out what pronouns to use, our adversaries grew stronger and more emboldened. 

    China aggressively enforced unlawful territorial claims in the South China Sea and has undermined the United States and our allies at every turn. Russia invaded Ukraine. North Korea ramped up its military provocations. Iran advanced its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, empowering its proxies to now cause chaos throughout the Middle East. Israel was attacked and global shipping routes in the Red Sea were blocked. 

    Over the last four years, among others, the American people watched these foreign policy failures unfold and voted for real change and action on November 5th. The American people gave President Trump and the Republican-led Congress a mandate to reverse the damage and restore common sense to the federal government.

    Today, this subcommittee will take its first step to deliver on this mandate by examining the State Department’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 

    The Office of Diversity and Inclusion detrimentally influenced operations across the Department by: making DEI a “core precept” for promotion consideration within the ranks of the Foreign Service; granting passport applications the ability to select “X” as a gender; and using taxpayer dollars to fund numerous woke projects, including “commemorating black consciousness month with an event in which employees learned about the inclusion Afro-Brazilian culture through music and LGBTQI+ culture through Vogue dance” in Brazil.

    These policies corrupted the core mission of the State Department and we must restore unity and fundamental American principles to the Department, eliminate wasteful spending, and ensure that President Trump’s Executive Orders are fully implemented, not subverted by rebranding DEI-driven programs. It is our duty to ensure that America becomes safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

    I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the subcommittee today. 

    I look forward to a productive discussion on how we can enhance America’s security through common sense policies and responsible leadership.  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Nominations will open this summer for traditions like Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and artisanal crafts to be officially recognised

    • New inventory of traditions will champion UK values and heritage 
    • Follows ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage last year

    Communities across the UK will soon be able to nominate their favourite traditions to be included within official inventories of our living heritage. 

    Traditions that are central to the rich tapestry which makes up the UK’s many cultures and identity – from Eisteddfodau to Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and Highland dancing – are among those expected to be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory. Artisanal crafts such as basket-weaving, thatching and the art of creating tweed, will also be considered.

    Today the Government has published its response to a consultation asking the public for their views on making sure the new inventory of living heritage encompasses the broad spectrum of traditions practised in the UK. 

    The response sets out how the Government will, together with the Devolved Governments, create inventories of living heritage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Submissions to the inventories will be encouraged from communities and groups practising living heritage, including from those who practise traditions brought to the UK by immigrant communities. 

    This follows the UK ratifying the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year, which requires each member state to compile their own inventory of living heritage practiced by communities in their country. This can include the folklore, performance, customs and crafts that play an important role in telling our national story and making people feel proud of where they live. 

    Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said:  

    The UK is rich with wonderful traditions, from Gloucestershire’s cheese rolling to folk music and dancing and the many heritage crafts that we practice, such as tartan weaving and carving Welsh love spoons.  

    I would encourage everyone to think about what traditions they value so that we can continue to celebrate them, tell our national story to the rest of the world and safeguard the traditions that make us who we are.

    This UK-wide inventory will start a national conversation about the crafts, customs and celebrations that are valued across the UK and raise awareness of them, in order to help protect them for future generations. Nominations for the inventory are expected to open later this year. 

    DCMS ran a public consultation from January to February 2024 to inform the development of an Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. This included 16 roundtables, which sought the views of those interested in recognising living heritage, such as grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations, museums and academics as well as government representatives from across the UK. 

    Following this engagement, it has been agreed that nominations will be accepted under seven categories, which are: 

    • Oral expressions, which could include poetry and storytelling
    • Performing Arts
    • Social Practices, which could include festivals and customs
    • Nature, Land and Spirituality, which could include land practices and living heritage knowledge and practice relating to nature and the environment
    • Crafts
    • Sports and Games
    • Culinary Practices 

    Further information about how to nominate traditions and crafts to be included on the inventories, including gaining support and consent from the community, will be available when the call for submissions opens later this year.

    Notes to editors: 

    • DCMS announced that the UK would ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023. Further details of the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage here.
    • The UK ratified the 2003 Convention on the 7th March 2024 and the Convention officially came into force on 7th June 2024. 
    • The full response to the consultation is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/2003-unesco-convention-for-the-safeguarding-of-the-intangible-cultural-heritage 
    • Whilst we ratify international treaties such as the 2003 Convention as the UK, policy responsibility for culture and heritage devolved from the UK Government to the Devolved Governments.  DCMS therefore worked closely with counterparts in the Devolved Governments to agree on ratification and the consultation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sichuan Airlines to launch first Chengdu-Madrid direct flight

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

    CHENGDU, April 11 — A new regular direct flight will be launched between Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, and Madrid, the capital of Spain, starting April 27.

    Sichuan Airlines will operate this route with four weekly round trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This marks the airline’s first direct service to Spain, enhancing air connectivity between western China and Spain, according to the company.

    Flights will depart from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at 1:40 a.m. Beijing Time, arriving in Madrid at 8:50 a.m. local time. Return flights will leave Madrid at 11:05 a.m. local time, landing in Chengdu at 5:00 a.m. Beijing Time the following day.

    The route will address the lack of direct post-pandemic flights from Chengdu to Spain, where travelers currently rely on transfers via Beijing, Shanghai or European hubs, said Sichuan Province Airport Group Co., Ltd.

    A megacity with over 21 million residents and part of the fast-growing Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone, Chengdu has strong ties with Spain, notably establishing an international friendly cooperation partnership with Madrid in September 2022. These ties extend across cultural and educational spheres — from thriving Spanish language programs at Sichuan University to growing local demand for Spanish wines in Chengdu’s vibrant market.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Restaurant Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 and Tax Fraud Schemes

    Source: US State of California

    A San Diego restaurant owner was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for schemes to defraud COVID-19 relief programs and filing false tax returns.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leronce Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated restaurants in the San Diego area, including Streetcar Merchants in the North Park neighborhood. He conspired with others to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough’s 2020 corporate tax return and COVID-19 relief applications. Suel’s businesses fraudulently received $1,773,245 in COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, two programs created to provide financial assistance to American suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Suel and his co-conspirator misappropriated COVID-19 relief program funds by making substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts, purchasing a home in Arkansas, and keeping more than $2.4 million in cash in Suel’s bedroom.

    Suel did not file timely tax returns for 2018 and 2019, despite being legally required to do so. On his 2020 through 2023 tax returns, Suel also did not report the income from his businesses including millions of dollars in cash he withdrew. Finally, in 2023, Suel filed false original and amended tax returns for multiple years, including personal tax returns for 2016 and 2017 that included false depreciable assets and business losses.

    In September 2024, Suel was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns. Following the convictions, Suel agreed to forfeit $1,466,918 in U.S. currency.

    In addition to this prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro for the Southern District of California ordered Suel to pay approximately $1,773,245 in restitution to the Small Business Administration and forfeit $1,466,918. Restitution to IRS will be heard on June 6.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Restaurant Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 and Tax Fraud Schemes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 8

    A San Diego restaurant owner was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for schemes to defraud COVID-19 relief programs and filing false tax returns.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leronce Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated restaurants in the San Diego area, including Streetcar Merchants in the North Park neighborhood. He conspired with others to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough’s 2020 corporate tax return and COVID-19 relief applications. Suel’s businesses fraudulently received $1,773,245 in COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, two programs created to provide financial assistance to American suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Suel and his co-conspirator misappropriated COVID-19 relief program funds by making substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts, purchasing a home in Arkansas, and keeping more than $2.4 million in cash in Suel’s bedroom.

    Suel did not file timely tax returns for 2018 and 2019, despite being legally required to do so. On his 2020 through 2023 tax returns, Suel also did not report the income from his businesses including millions of dollars in cash he withdrew. Finally, in 2023, Suel filed false original and amended tax returns for multiple years, including personal tax returns for 2016 and 2017 that included false depreciable assets and business losses.

    In September 2024, Suel was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns. Following the convictions, Suel agreed to forfeit $1,466,918 in U.S. currency.

    In addition to this prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro for the Southern District of California ordered Suel to pay approximately $1,773,245 in restitution to the Small Business Administration and forfeit $1,466,918. Restitution to IRS will be heard on June 6.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Members of a Transnational Money Laundering Organization Sentenced for Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

    Source: US State of California

    A Georgia man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds on behalf of foreign drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (the Jalisco cartel). On Dec. 4, 2024, his co-conspirator was sentenced to 90 months in prison for his role in the money laundering scheme.

    According to court documents, Li Pei Tan, 47, of Buford, Georgia, and Chaojie Chen, 41, a Chinese national who resided in Chicago, worked for an organization that laundered millions of dollars in proceeds related to the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. Tan, Chen, and their co-conspirators traveled throughout the United States to collect proceeds of fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, among other drugs. The defendants communicated and coordinated with co-conspirators in China and other foreign countries to arrange the laundering of these proceeds through financial transactions that were designed to conceal the illicit source of the drug money, including through a sophisticated trade-based money laundering scheme involving purchasing bulk electronics in the United States and shipping them to co-conspirators in China.

    On multiple occasions prior to Chen’s May 2024 arrest, law enforcement seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in bulk cash drug proceeds from Chen at locations across the United States. Tan was intercepted by law enforcement in South Carolina while attempting to transport over $197,000 in drug proceeds.

    According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Drug Threat Assessment, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are at the heart of the fentanyl crisis in the United States.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Louis A. D’Ambrosio of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division made the announcement.

    The DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.

    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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Trial Attorney Mary K. Daly of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Members of a Transnational Money Laundering Organization Sentenced for Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Georgia man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds on behalf of foreign drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (the Jalisco cartel). On Dec. 4, 2024, his co-conspirator was sentenced to 90 months in prison for his role in the money laundering scheme.

    According to court documents, Li Pei Tan, 47, of Buford, Georgia, and Chaojie Chen, 41, a Chinese national who resided in Chicago, worked for an organization that laundered millions of dollars in proceeds related to the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. Tan, Chen, and their co-conspirators traveled throughout the United States to collect proceeds of fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, among other drugs. The defendants communicated and coordinated with co-conspirators in China and other foreign countries to arrange the laundering of these proceeds through financial transactions that were designed to conceal the illicit source of the drug money, including through a sophisticated trade-based money laundering scheme involving purchasing bulk electronics in the United States and shipping them to co-conspirators in China.

    On multiple occasions prior to Chen’s May 2024 arrest, law enforcement seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in bulk cash drug proceeds from Chen at locations across the United States. Tan was intercepted by law enforcement in South Carolina while attempting to transport over $197,000 in drug proceeds.

    According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Drug Threat Assessment, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are at the heart of the fentanyl crisis in the United States.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Louis A. D’Ambrosio of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division made the announcement.

    The DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.

    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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Trial Attorney Mary K. Daly of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Davis and Congresswoman Kiggans Introduce the Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act

    Source: US Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (D-NC) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced H.R. 2707, Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act, to ensure the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services develops a long-term stockpiling strategy that leverages the Strategic National Stockpile to enhance national preparedness.

    “By stockpiling Anthrax medical countermeasures, we are ensuring that we have the lifesaving tools necessary to protect and treat poisonings in the event of future attacks,” said Congressman Davis. “We must do everything to protect our servicemembers and the American people from terrorism.”

    “Anthrax poses a deadly threat to the warfighter – it is imperative for American national security and military readiness to ensure preparedness for this biological threat. We continue to have grave concerns about our adversaries’ work on Anthrax. Recent national intelligence and treaty compliance estimates acknowledge man-made biological threat concerns posed by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This legislation provides a key step to ensuring preparedness for the threat of Anthrax,” said David Lasseter, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.

    “H.R. 2707 is a tremendous step forward in ensuring that the Strategic National Stockpile is prepared for the threat of Anthrax. The Stockpile has been chronically challenged with severe, long-term funding shortfalls and under-resourcing. This has created a preparedness concern across the spectrum of biological and chemical threats, including Anthrax,” said Greg Burel, recently retired director of the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile.

    Background

    Anthrax remains among the deadliest and easiest to produce biological weapons, 25 years after the Anthrax attacks on Congress in 2001. The ongoing threat of Anthrax to the warfighter and civilians persists. Planned reductions or eliminations of Anthrax medical countermeasures, including antitoxins, may greatly exacerbate vulnerability for this threat. 

    To protect servicemembers and the American people, the legislation would require the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs and counterparts on the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) to develop a modernized ten-year strategy for ensuring sustained stockpiling of FDA-approved or cleared anthrax countermeasures, including the replenishment, consistent with requirement levels, of such Anthrax therapeutics stockpiled in the Strategic National Stockpile and by the Secretary of Defense. These countermeasures include those stockpiled for treatment of civilians, servicemembers and dependents on military installations. 

    Officials assigned in the Department of Defense would provide an annual report on the threat of Anthrax to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, including obligations towards this ten-year strategy, and research and development investments, including those that may address multi-drug resistant Anthrax.

    Congressman Don Davis serves as the vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittees on Tactical Air and Land Forces and Readiness. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Hirono, Warren, Lead Colleagues In Urging DOJ To Reverse Decisions Greenlighting Cryptocurrency-Based Crime

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 11, 2025

    Senators: “These are grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.”

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee led six Senators in urging Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to reverse the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent decisions to effectively terminate the Department’s cryptocurrency investigations and prosecutions. The memo, sent to staff earlier this week, also stated that DOJ will disband its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), which was established to investigate and prosecute criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. In their letter, the Senators also raise concerns about the potential connections between DOJ’s actions and the cryptocurrency ventures of President Trump and his family.

    “We write in response to your April 7, 2025 memo announcing your decision to give a free pass to cryptocurrency money launderers and to disband the DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (“NCET”),” the Senators wrote. “These are grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.”

    Specifically, the DOJ memo announced that the Department would no longer be enforcing a number of federal laws against entities that handle digital assets, including mixing and tumbling services. Mixers are often used to launder stolen cryptocurrency and used by drug traffickers, those who trade child sexual abuse material, and even North Korea, which uses mixers to evade sanctions and fund weapons of mass destruction.

    “It makes no sense for DOJ to announce a hands-off approach to tools that are being used to support such terrible crimes,” wrote the lawmakers.

    “Drug traffickers, terrorists, fraudsters, and adversaries will exploit this vulnerability on a large scale,” the Senators continued. “Further increasing the risks posed by bad actors is your decision to disband NCET, which has coordinated a Department-wide effort to prosecute illicit activity involving cryptocurrency.”

    Since its creation in 2021, NCET has worked with U.S. Attorneys’ offices to prosecute illicit activity involving cryptocurrency, including prosecuting cases involving hundreds of millions worth of digital assets.Despite this proven record of success, Blanche’s memo stated that the disbandment of NCET will allow the DOJ to “focus on other priorities, such as immigration and procurement frauds.”

    The Senators also warned about the proliferation of cryptocurrency scams and fraud. In 2023 alone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that $5.6 billion were lost to cryptocurrency fraud—an increase of 45 percent from 2022.

    “You claim in your memo that DOJ will continue to prosecute those who use cryptocurrencies to perpetrate crimes. But allowing the entities that enable these crimes—such as cryptocurrency kiosk operators—to operate outside the federal regulatory framework without fear of prosecution will only result in more Americans being exploited,” wrote the Senators.

    “Your decisions give rise to concerns that President Trump’s interest in selling his cryptocurrency may be the reason for easing law enforcement scrutiny,” the Senators concluded. “We urge you to reconsider these decisions.”

    In addition to Senators Hirono, Warren, and Durbin, this letter was also signed by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

    The full text of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear Deputy Attorney General Blanche:

    We write in response to your April 7, 2025 memo announcing your decision to give a free pass to cryptocurrency money launderers and to disband the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (“NCET”). These are grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.

    Your memo announces that pursuant to Executive Order 14178, DOJ will generally “no longer target . . . virtual currency exchanges [and] mixing and tumbling services . . . for the acts of their end users or unwitting violations of regulations.” As you know, a cryptocurrency mixer (or tumbler) is a service that blends the cryptocurrencies of many users together to obfuscate the origins and owners of the funds. “[M]ixers are . . . ‘go-to tools for cybercriminals’ seeking to launder stolen cryptocurrency.” Nearly a quarter of the funds sent to mixers in 2022 were tied to money laundering efforts.” Mixers are a favorite tool of North Korea—which uses them to launder the illicit proceeds of its state-sponsored cybercrime and then uses the proceeds to fund its weapons programs—and of sanctioned Russian oligarchs, who already benefit from DOJ disbanding TaskForce KleptoCapture. Mixers are also a favorite tool of drug traffickers and those who trade child sexual abuse material. It makes no sense for DOJ to announce a hands-off approach to tools that are being used to support such terrible crimes.

    Similarly nonsensical is your announcement that DOJ will no longer prosecute a host of crimes involving digital assets, including violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. Congress imposed anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations on a wide range of domestic and foreign entities to combat fraud, drug trafficking, and terrorism, among other crimes. By abdicating DOJ’s responsibility to enforce federal criminal law when violations involve digital assets, you are suggesting that virtual currency exchanges, mixers, and other entities dealing in digital assets need not fulfill their AML/CFT obligations, creating a systemic vulnerability in the digital assets sector. Drug traffickers, terrorists, fraudsters, and adversaries will exploit this vulnerability on a large scale.

    Cryptocurrency-related fraud has exploded in recent years. The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated losses associated with cryptocurrency fraud at $5.6 billion in 2023 alone—an increase of 45 percent from 2022. You claim in your memo that DOJ will continue to prosecute those who use cryptocurrencies to perpetrate crimes. But allowing the entities that enable these crimes—such as cryptocurrency kiosk operators—to operate outside the federal regulatory framework without fear of prosecution will only result in more Americans being exploited.

    Further increasing the risks posed by bad actors is your decision to disband NCET, which has coordinated a Department-wide effort to prosecute illicit activity involving cryptocurrency. DOJ formed NCET in 2021 “to tackle complex investigations and prosecutions of criminal misuses of cryptocurrency, particularly crimes committed by virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and money laundering infrastructure actors.” NCET combined the expertise and resources of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery and Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Sections with Assistant U.S. Attorneys from around the country. Since its formation, NCET has worked with U.S. Attorneys’ offices to:

    • secure the conviction of the operator of a cryptocurrency exchange that laundered over $9 billion in proceeds from hacking, ransomware attacks, identity theft schemes, and narcotics distribution rings;
    • obtain a guilty plea from a man who processed more than $700 million worth of illicit funds in support of online drug trafficking;
    • secure the conviction of a man who operated a $110 million manipulative trading scheme on a cryptocurrency exchange;
    • seize over $112 million in funds linked to cryptocurrency investment schemes; and
    • seize nearly $9 million in cryptocurrency that resulted from the exploitation of over 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence schemes, among many other cases.

    Further, NCET operates as a critical resource for state and local law enforcement who often lack the technical knowledge and skill to investigate cryptocurrency related crimes.  Disbanding NCET will make the work of these state and local law enforcement agents that much harder.

    Why would you dismantle a team that is such an important player in fighting cryptocurrency-based crime? Your decisions give rise to concerns that President Trump’s interest in selling his cryptocurrency may be the reason for easing law enforcement scrutiny.

    We urge you to reconsider these decisions. In addition, we request a staff-level briefing no later than May 1, 2025, providing detailed information on the rationale behind these decisions and their anticipated impacts on the Department’s ability to enforce the law and protect Americans from cryptocurrency-based crimes.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    BLOUNTVILLE, TN — Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger joined students, teachers, and community members in Blountville to announce the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, celebrating the exceptional talent of young artists across Tennessee’s First District. 

    Taking home first place was William McNeill of Providence Academy, whose stunning piece, “Great Dhalia,” captured the top honor and will be proudly displayed in the U.S. Capitol.

    Additional award recipients include:

    • Second Place: Laurel Pearson, Providence Academy
    • Third Place: Frances Stewart, University School
    • Honorable Mention: Annalise Burns, Providence Academy
    • Honorable Mention: Aleecia Rema Davis, Morristown East High
    • Art Teacher of the Year: Sharon Squibb, University School

    Congresswoman Harshbarger shared her admiration and appreciation for the students and educators who participated:

    “It always amazes me to see how much talent the young people of Tennessee’s First District have. It’s one of the reasons this is one of my favorite events of the year, and I’m thankful for the nearly one hundred students who submitted their art. I’m also extremely thankful to the teachers who helped make this competition possible through their guidance and leadership.”

    The Congressional Art Competition is held annually to showcase the artistic achievements of high school students from across the nation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Closing remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Madam Chair,
    Excellencies,
    Distinguished delegates, 
    Leaders of civil society,
    Dear colleagues, dear young people,

    Muy buenos días! Greetings of peace – always on our minds as we deliberate in this multilateral space – peace in the home, peace in our hearts, peace in the wider world.

    Last year’s 57th session of this Commission celebrated ICDP30. It drew record participation. This year again, this Commission garnered considerable engagement from Member States, civil society, from advocates for issues that affect older people and young advocates, too – all mobilized by the relevance of the theme: “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”.

    In adopting the ICPD Programme of Action 31 years ago in Cairo, Member States set out a vision for the achievement of people-centred sustainable development, through investing in health, including sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, promoting gender equality, and empowering adolescents and youth. 

    Deliberations of this Commission revealed that deeper investments in health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, have driven progress in economic and social development, advanced social justice and supported individual well-being.

    As the Commission opened on World Health Day, there was good news on maternal mortality. Your efforts over the years to improve maternal health outcomes have contributed to a remarkable drop in deaths worldwide.

    The news, however, was less positive for Indigenous women, African women and women of African descent, and for women in humanitarian settings – far too many of whom continue to be left behind. Now, there is urgent need to go further to ensure that no woman dies needlessly from entirely preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

    As you highlighted, we as a global community need to do better to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare, including through financing and strengthened international cooperation and partnerships.

    We heard your hopes and priorities for furthering these investments to achieve universal health coverage and truly leave no one behind.

    You voiced commitment to improve health and well-being for populations at all ages; to end violence against women, including online; to ensure that child marriage and harmful practices no longer diminish the lives and experiences of women and girls and young people, in all their diversity.

    How unfortunate, then, that the Commission’s best efforts could not translate into an action-oriented outcome this year. Because let us be clear, millions of lives are on the line. Because this year like no other, women and girls expect UNFPA and the entire United Nations to rush to their rescue.

    And once again, it will be poor people who are cast aside, and as always sadly, it is women and girls with the most vulnerability and the least access to health services who will bear the greatest burden of ill health and preventable deaths.

    In recent months, the world appears to be in retreat, turning a face of indifference to human suffering at a time when humanitarian crises are pushing more and more people to the brink. As the principle of international solidarity comes under attack, more and more people are dying. They are being denied fundamental rights and choices, food, life-saving medicines and the basic necessities of life, caught up in catastrophes not of their own making, and for women and girls, there is a battle over their own bodies.

    Who is listening to the women and girls? Who will defend their fundamental rights? I can assure you that UNFPA is listening. We are responding based on the evidence, based on what women and girls tell us they need. We are committed to defending their fundamental freedoms, wherever they may be – in an urban centre or a rural area, in a refugee camp, fleeing violence or disaster, trapped by hunger and war. We will continue to do the necessary research, data analysis, the surveys and census advising to support countries who strongly desire to improve statistical data collection and usage to identify and address the needs of their people.

    As language is debated in these august halls, let us unfailingly uphold the fundamental values that must never be compromised.

    Principle 1 of the ICPD Programme of Action and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirm that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

    And what better way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter than for “we the people” to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women”.

    Madam Chair,
    Distinguished delegates,

    This Commission is the guardian of the ICPD Programme of Action. Your work, historically, has bettered millions upon millions of lives around the world. Even as there are opposing positions, I hope that we can agree that much more unites us than divides us.

    Let us send a signal to those whom we serve that what is done here still matters.

    For UNFPA, we will do our utmost to assist Member States to move forward. Because this is no time to turn back. Human lives, human rights and human dignity are at stake. 

    Let us hold fast to Principle 3 of the ICPD Programme of Action:

    “The right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the human person is the central subject of development.”

    In this regard, UNFPA notes with great appreciation your adoption of the decision on the special theme for the 60th  session of the CPD on “Population, poverty eradication and sustainable development”, and we look forward to supporting Member States, in collaboration with our partners at DESA.

    On behalf of all of us at UNFPA, I join in thanking our distinguished Chairperson, H.E. Ms. Catharina Jannigje Lasseur of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for her vision, her astute leadership, and her proactive engagement over months of preparation, and we commend her colleague Ms. Iris De Leede.

    We appreciate the dedication and commitment of the CPD58 Bureau members from Burundi, Lebanon, Moldova, and Uruguay. 

    Special thanks to the co-facilitators, Norma Abi Karam of Lebanon and Jessica Orduz of Colombia, for their tireless efforts to promote evidence-based discussions on the draft resolution.

    May I recognize the UN DESA Population Division for their stewardship of the Commission, and the close partnership with UNFPA to support these efforts. 

    To my own UNFPA expert colleagues, thank you for your long hours and skilled contributions to this year’s session. 

    A final note of thanks to the distinguished representatives, delegates and observers of this 58th Commission for your hard work and active participation in the deliberations.

    I happily observed that this 58th session has been distinguished by meaningful participation by young people and by intergenerational dialogue to good effect. As commissioners, you have carried the aspirations for health of young people and older people, and you have carried our common aspiration for the healing of an increasingly ravaged planet.

    It is my hope that this Commission’s discussions will continue to shape national policies, influence international agreements, and galvanize partnerships that make a real difference in people’s lives. These deliberations provide an important substantial contribution to the upcoming 2025 High Level Political Forum and its review of SDG 3 on good health and SDG 5 on gender equality and towards the preparations for the Fourth Financing for Development Conference and the Second World Summit on Social Development.

    Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

    Quoting the gifted African poet Warsan Shire:

    i held an atlas in my lap
    ran my fingers across the whole world
    and whispered
    where does it hurt?

    it answered
    everywhere
    everywhere
    everywhere.

    In looking forward to constructive substantive reflections next year under the theme “population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development”, on behalf of UNFPA, allow me to reaffirm our commitment to partnering with the 59th CPD Chair and all of you to support the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and support the continued success of the 2030 Agenda and the Pact of the Future.

    Remember that good health and healthy longevity begin with safe motherhood in the antenatal period. Let us continue to take forward our collective responsibility for a future in which everyone enjoys good health and well-being and everyone – at all ages – benefits from the fruits of sustainable development and lives in dignity and peace.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Concluding Session, Commission on Population and Development Fails to Adopt Text on Ensuring Healthy Lives, Promoting Well-being for All

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Several Delegates Take Issue with Language Concerning Sexual, Reproductive Health Services, Reproductive Rights

    The Commission on Population and Development failed to adopt an outcome document today as it concluded its fifty-eighth session, with delegates sharply divided about support for sexual and reproductive rights, and some questioning commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    At the outset of the meeting, Catharina Jannigje Lasseur (Netherlands), Chair of the Commission at its fifty-eighth session, withdrew the draft resolution she had circulated earlier, citing a lack of agreement among delegations.  While noting “strong efforts towards consensus”, she acknowledged: “I see no other possibility at this late hour than to withdraw my proposal.”

    If adopted, that wide-ranging text, titled “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages” (document E/CN.9/2025/L.4), would have urged Member States to ensure everyone’s right to the enjoyment of the highest-attainable standard of physical and mental health and called on them to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services.  It would have also called on Governments to take concrete measures towards the full implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

    The Programme, adopted by 179 countries at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, set out an ambitious vision about the relationships between population, development and individual well-being.  It recognized that reproductive health and rights, as well as women’s empowerment and gender equality, are cornerstones of development.

    In the contentious discussion that followed the Chair’s withdrawal of her resolution, many speakers expressed regret that the Commission could not adopt a consensus text this year but diverged as to why agreement was not possible.

    Several speakers took issue with language concerning “sexual and reproductive health services”, as well as “reproductive rights”.  The representative of Djibouti said that there is an “ever-growing number of delegations who have come to realize that [these terms] have become — and remain — highly controversial”. Similarly, the observer for the Holy See said:  “This language has always been controversial.”  Nigeria’s delegate said that, despite various calls for the removal of certain language, the facilitators ignored these requests, which concern “cultural and ethical values and core national priorities”.

    Burundi’s delegate underscored that the phrase “sexual and reproductive rights” must not be interpreted to mean the right to abortion.  The term “gender” must be understood as exclusively meaning the biological sexes of male and female.  Further, “a strong family policy” must be at the heart of sustainable development, he said. The representatives of Iran, Cameroon, Belarus and the Russian Federation also said they could not agree with a text that did not incorporate references to the role of the family.

    However, South Africa’s delegate, delivering a statement on behalf of a number of countries, said:  “We are deeply concerned by what we have witnessed in this forum around fundamental rights and issues that have enjoyed long-standing consensus in the United Nations.”  Noting the ongoing challenge to human rights — including the right to development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights — she reaffirmed commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action.

    Poland’s delegate, speaking for the European Union, also reiterated support to that Programme and the role of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in advancing sexual and reproductive health and gender equality. She stressed the need to ensure that “we live in a world without sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, where all women and girls can make choices about their life, health and well-being, where the potential of every individual is fulfilled and no mother or infant dies simply because the health system has failed them”.

    Inclusive and resilient health systems, universal healthcare and inclusive sexual health and reproductive services are essential to sustainable development, stressed Sweden’s representative, while France’s delegate stressed that reproductive rights “are what determines access to development for women and girls”.

    The representative of the United States, meanwhile, said that his delegation “rejects and denounces the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and will no longer affirm the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] as a matter of course”.

    Many delegations, however, took the floor to reaffirm their support for the 2030 Agenda, including the representatives of Chile, Lebanon, Colombia, the Republic of Moldova, the Philippines and Japan.  The representatives of Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Australia (also speaking for Canada and New Zealand), Norway, Belgium and Luxembourg expressed concern that foundational references to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs were consistently challenged during negotiations.

    “We cannot become accustomed to delegations picking and choosing from international commitments,” Brazil’s delegate said.  China’s delegate described the rejection of references to the 2030 Agenda as “a regression in the course of history”.

    In the face of such attacks, Germany’s delegate said, it is all the more vital to work together to realize the aspirations collectively agreed upon in the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action, the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future.  The United Kingdom’s representative warned that “ignoring links between health, climate change and inequality do not make them disappear”, while Uruguay’s delegate observed:  “Sadly, we are living in a time when reason is insufficient.”

    Algeria’s representative sounded a more-hopeful note:  “Thanks to the work of this Commission, it was possible to have an exchange of views and achieve agreements that will undoubtedly facilitate negotiations in the future.”  For his part, the representative of Bangladesh urged:  “Let us not allow short-term differences to undermine our long-term destiny; consensus is not the surrender of national interests, it is the recognition that our fates are intertwined.”

    In her closing remarks, Ms. Lasseur encouraged delegates to reflect upon the larger role of the Commission.  With 116 Member States speaking in the general debate and more than 30 side events, this year’s session featured many examples of positive steps that have been made to implement the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action, she said.  “This shows that the [Programme and the Commission on Population and Development] are very much alive and kicking,” she said.  Participating in this forum, she added, “really made it clear to me who we are fighting for:  women and girls, often living in rural areas, sometimes in dangerous conflict settings, lacking access to basic healthcare services, not having the basic necessities to live a life of dignity”.

    “How unfortunate then that the Commission’s best efforts could not translate into an action-oriented outcome this year,” said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, in her closing remarks.  People are dying because they are denied fundamental rights and choices, food, life-saving medicines and the basic necessities of life, caught up in catastrophes not of their own making, and for women and girls, in battles over their own bodies.

    “In this year, like no other, women and girls expect UNFPA and the United Nations to rush to their rescue,” she said, adding that once again, it will be poor people and the most vulnerable women and girls who will bear the greatest burden of ill health and preventable deaths.  “Who is listening to them?  Who will defend their fundamental rights?” she asked.  Reaffirming the Fund’s commitment to listening to them, she said it will continue to respond “based on what women and girls tell us they need”.

    Also regretting the lack of an outcome document, Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, expressed appreciation for the “frank, thoughtful and interactive” discussions held throughout the week.  The Commission heard about important progress in improving people’s health and well-being over the past decades even as it learned about the many health-related SDG targets that are off track.  She noted that these insights will feed into the Economic and Social Council’s activities.

    In other business, the Commission adopted the report of its fifty-eighth session (document E/CN.9/2025/L.3) and the provisional agenda of the fifty-ninth session (document E/CN.9/2025/L.2).  The Russian Federation’s delegate said his delegation was short-handed because one member arrived late due to visa delays and stressed that the United States has a legal obligation to issue visas in a timely manner.

    The Chair said that in the absence of an outcome document, she would prepare a summary of the proceedings.  Iran’s delegate said such a summary should not be considered a representation of the positions of delegations.

    The Commission also adopted a decision (document E/CN.9/2025/L.5), which decided that the special theme for its sixtieth session, to be held in 2027, will be “Population, poverty eradication and sustainable development”.  The Russian Federation’s delegate, noting that eliminating poverty is an important global goal, hailed the consensus by which the Commission chose the theme.

    The Commission then concluded its fifty-eighth session and opened its fifty-ninth session, electing Zéphyrin Maniratanga (Burundi) as Chair and Arb Kapisyzi (Albania), Sasha-Kay Kayann Watson (Jamaica) and Stéphanie Toschi (Luxembourg) as Vice-Chairs.  The nomination of the remaining Vice-Chair, to represent Asia-Pacific States, was deferred to a later date.

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Expanding Alberta’s reach with Abu Dhabi office

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Adopting Fifth Committee Resolutions, General Assembly Also Decides to Hold Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan in August

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The General Assembly today decided to hold the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5 to 8 August, as the 193-member organ adopted several drafts, including those recommended by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

    Adopting the draft resolution titled “Further modalities of the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries” (document A/79/L.71) without a vote, the Assembly welcomed and accepted “with appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Turkmenistan to host” the Conference under the theme “Driving progress through partnerships”.

    The Assembly also decided to rename the Conference outcome document the “Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024–2034”.

    A representative of the Secretariat explained that to service the event, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and the Department of Global Communications would require a total estimated cost of $254,700 in 2025 for additional meetings and documentation workload.

    “Every effort will be made to meet the requirements within their capacity, and there would be no programme budget implications for 2025,” he said, adding however:  “Its ability to implement the mandate will depend on the availability of adequate liquidity resources.”  He further noted that the Government of Turkmenistan will need to defray the additional costs directly or indirectly involved.

    Intergovernmental Organizations Invited to Participate in UN Ocean Conference

    Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision (document A/79/L.73), by which it invited the intergovernmental organizations identified in the Secretariat note (document A/79/850) — namely the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization — to participate as observers in the work of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

    Recommendations by Fifth Committee

    The Assembly then adopted five drafts recommended by its Fifth Committee without a vote.  (See document A/C.5/79/INF/3 and Press Release GA/AB/4495 for background.)

    Funding Approved for Measures to Combat Islamophobia

    By the draft resolution titled “Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2025” (document A/79/652/Add.1), the Assembly approved additional appropriations of $774,200 to implement its resolution 78/264 on measures to combat Islamophobia, $479,900 to implement decisions by the Human Rights Council and $95.39 million for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).  The Assembly also requested the Secretary-General to provide an analysis on the impact of the rapid development of emerging technologies, increase transparency and clarity of information and communications technology (ICT) expenditure, and submit a proposal on the presentation of the costs of such technology.

    The draft resolution “Human resources management” (document A/79/839) has the Assembly note rule 3.3 of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations regarding appointment and promotion and stress that paragraph 66 of its resolution 79/257 of 24 December 2024 does not relate to cases of “promotions”. It also stressed that any changes to the “Guidelines for determination of level and step on recruitment to the Professional category and above” by the Secretary-General shall be fully in line with Assembly resolutions and decisions.

    Importance of Joint Inspection Unit

    By the draft resolution “Joint Inspection Unit” (document A/79/840), the Assembly took note of the Unit’s report for 2024, its programme of work for 2025 and the Secretary-General’s note on Unit’s 2024 report.  By other terms, it stressed the importance of the Unit’s oversight functions in identifying concrete managerial, administrative and programming questions within the participating organizations and providing the General Assembly and other legislative organs action-oriented recommendations.  Underscoring the unique role of the Unit as an external and independent system-wide inspection, evaluation and investigation body, the Assembly reaffirmed the Unit’s independence and stressed that budget estimates are to be prepared in a transparent consistent manner for submission to the Assembly.

    The draft resolution “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253 and 74/257” (document A/79/649) has the Assembly reiterate the five-year non-renewable term of the Under-Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services, and requested the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the full implementation of resolution 48/218 in future appointments.  It also decided to evaluate and review at its eighty-fourth session the functions and reporting procedures of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and to that end to include in the provisional agenda of that session an item entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253, 74/257 and 79/___”.

    Assembly Defers Consideration of Fifth Committee Agenda Items 

    By the draft decision titled “Questions deferred for future consideration” (document A/79/653/Add.1), the Assembly decided to defer until the second part of its resumed seventy-ninth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on improving the United Nations financial situation, as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).  Further, the Assembly decided to defer until its eightieth session consideration of Secretary-General’s report on standards of accommodation for air travel and the related ACABQ report, and to the first part of its resumed eightieth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on the review of the UN Secretariat internship programme, as well as the related ACABQ report.

    Additionally, the Assembly took note of the Fifth Committee’s report concerning agenda items 141 “Improving the financial situation of the United Nations” (document A/79/838), 137 “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations” and 150 “Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/79/648/Add.1).

    Filling Vacancies on Contribution, Audit Committees

    Acting on the Fifth Committee’s recommendations without a vote, the Assembly appointed Denis Piminov (Russian Federation), Benjamin Sieberns (Germany) and Fu Liheng (China) as members of the Committee on Contributions, and Eric Oduro Osae (Ghana) as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, for terms of office from today to 31 December 2026.

    Application of Article 19 of UN Charter:  Congo Reduces Its Arrears

    In other business, the Assembly took note of Congo’s payment necessary to reduce the arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the United Nations Charter (document A/79/720/Add.4).

    Tribute to Former Assembly President

    It also observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the President of the forty-nineth session of the Assembly, Amara Essy (Côte d’Ivoire), who passed away on 8 April.

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