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Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GPDRR 2025 highlights: Tuesday 3 June 2025

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The human cost of disasters includes lost livelihoods, homes, and cultural ties to landscapes. Where livelihoods are already fragile and being eroded, a disaster-induced displacement of even a few days can damage economic opportunities for years to come. So, the human dimension of recovery remains central to discussions as delegates convened for a second day in several preparatory events for the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), namely: the World Resilient Recovery Conference, the Third Stakeholder Forum on DRR, and the Global Early Warning for All Multistakeholder Forum (EW4All).

    The GPDRR official programme was launched with a high-level roundtable event at lunchtime and a formal opening ceremony in the afternoon, followed by an official reception.

    Official programme

    Opening

    Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of UNDRR, opened the event highlighting the exceptional urgency and importance of delivering on the Sendai Framework. He underscored how communities were coming together and the need to learn from their initiatives, imagination, and resourcefulness, and called for commitment from all actors.

    Recalling the recent loss of a Swiss village to a glacier landslide, Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, commented that “early warning saves lives but cannot save glaciers from disappearing.” She stressed that disasters and their cascading effects annually cost up to USD 3.2 trillion and noted that record-breaking disasters make entire regions uninsurable. She called for risk-informed development across all sectors; scaled-up public and private investments in resilience; and national financial frameworks that align with adaptation needs.

    Ignazio Cassis, Minister, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, observed that, “Risk today is everywhere. Fires are where wetlands were centuries ago.” Noting that the GPDRR2025 is the last Global Platform before the 2030 deadline, he urged that countries deliver on the Sendai Framework, apply science and artificial intelligence, and adopt risk mitigation metrics to mobilize and foster resources.

    Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General.

    After a musical performance on the Hang Drum and a choreographed presentation by Sendai4Youth, Patricia Danzi, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, opened the Eighth Session of the GPDRR.

    Enhancing national DRR governance by 2030—A dialogue among national platforms for DRR

    In opening remarks to this high-level event, Kishore observed that the risk landscape platform is becoming increasingly complex. He recommended strengthening national DRR platforms and embedding risk reduction into national policies and frameworks; ensuring sustainable and predictable finance with policies matching sustainable long-term plans; and having a common risk assessment framework to support national entities with proper data and analytics.

    Speaking on behalf of the host country, Franziska Schmid, Swiss National Platform for Natural Hazards (PLANAT), described the work of PLANAT and highlighted challenges, including overlapping reporting mechanisms and strategies among national government entities focused on resilience. She stressed the importance of addressing duplication, developing appropriate tools, such as hazard maps and building permits, and ensuring crisis management provisions are actually functional.

    Discussions then followed in a roundtable format, moderated by Paola Albrito, UNDRR. Albrito invited delegates to: describe the demonstrated impact of their National Platforms for DRR, share lessons learned, identify remaining gaps in DRR governance, and highlight ways and opportunities to boost Sendai Framework implementation by 2030.

    View of the room during the Dialogue Among National Platforms for DRR.

    In their interventions, many called for collaboration among regional and country partners. Speakers included the Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tajikistan, as well as many ministers and high-level government representatives. They highlighted lessons and challenges, including: enhancing preparedness through strengthening and modernizing approaches; improving planning and promoting concrete analyses from real-life situations at the grassroots; and mobilizing adequate financing and developing technical expertise to adequately prepare communities.

    All interventions are recorded here.

    Third Stakeholder Forum on DRR

    The Stakeholder Forum continued its deliberations throughout the day, concluding in the afternoon with reflections by supporters and participants of the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism.

    Spotlight session—Early warning for all

    Moderator Rebecca Murphy, Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), invited the UNDRR Stakeholder Forum and the Multi-Stakeholder EW4All communities to combine efforts in crafting action points for the 2025 Global Platform on DRR.

    In the keynote, Gavin White, Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), summarized common themes in Early Warning, noting that: preparing for disasters is about inclusiveness, honest communication and trusting the person who is providing the guidance; and early warning systems (EWS) can act as a bridge overcoming the silo approaches among different DRR stakeholders. Panelists suggested that: while no system can predict with 100% certainty what shape hazards will take, it is crucial to build trust and understand local contexts; response planners should establish appropriate actions to follow early warnings; emergency systems must be tailored to communities’ experiences so that people can distinguish between different disasters and respond uniquely to each threat; both elderly and youth can inform EWS and response planning; and conflict zones require unique solutions that consider the fragility and power dynamics within communities.

    Bridging the gap: Critical media’s role in strengthening alerts and enhancing disaster preparedness

    Giacomo Mazzone, Media Saving Lives, moderated the session. Matthieu Rawolle, EBU Media Intelligence Service, shared examples of how terrestrial radio networks remained uninterrupted and accessible during disasters, and are used to inform the public and facilitate emergency response, especially when mobile phone and internet services are interrupted. He concluded that radio is an essential communication medium in times of crisis and requires investment.

    Raditya Jati, Deputy Minister of System and Strategy, National Disaster Management Authority, Indonesia, emphasized the need for media to go beyond reporting on casualties and housing collapse, and to incorporate education for people to prepare for disasters.

    Event rooms remained full throughout the day.

    Noting that UNDRR is the first UN agency that recognized media’s role in crises, Natalia Ilieva, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, described the Media Saving Lives collaboration between the World Broadcasting Unions and UNDRR that focuses on shifting media perspectives from reactive to proactive reporting, showing the real causes for disasters and instructing people on how to avoid harm. Grégoire Ndjaka, African Broadcasting Union, highlighted the reach of radio in Africa extending to places without electricity supply. Orengiye Fyneface, African Broadcasting Union, discussed trust challenges with journalism as a disaster information source in Africa, pointing to bureaucratic hurdles that prevent journalists from reaching scientists.

    Shaping a sustainable tomorrow: Aligning the Sendai Midterm Review with the Pact for the Future

    Abraham Bugre, University of Regina, moderated this session. In her opening remarks, Toni-Shae Freckleton, UNDRR, called for transitioning from short-term responses to long-term prevention. She stated that the Pact for the Future embeds DRR and resilience building.

    Juan Carlos Uribe Vega, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) highlighted gaps in understanding localization and the importance of local-level governance. Jekulin Lipi Saikia, GNDR, called for a focus on listening to and working with communities, improving financial access, and increasing citizen science. Amber Fletcher, University of Regina, emphasized the role of community-driven actions, citizen science, and community engagement in reaching the diverse range of local voices. In the ensuing discussion, attendees identified communication disconnection, lack of funding, and localization among the persistent gaps between global networks and local realities.

    Closing session

    Tanjir Hossain, UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM), moderated the closing session. Jamie Cummings, SEM, recalled her own experience of disaster when Hurricane Helene struck her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. Describing how volunteers had operated a traditional Appalachian mule brigade to transport life-saving medications to mountain communities after roads were destroyed, she reflected that, “communities who know the land most, hold the solutions.” Martin Schuldes, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), stressed that “the substance and spirit” of the conference must translate into concrete action.

    Jilhane El Gaouzi, African Union Commission, urged all concerned to “be realistic and speed up implementation,” given that only five years remain until the Sendai Framework deadline.

    View of the panel during the Closing Session of the Stakeholder Forum.

    World Resilient Recovery Conference

    At the opening of this one-day event, Mutale Nalumongo, Vice-President, Zambia, highlighted Zambia’s promotion of climate-resilient agriculture through promotion of drought-tolerant crop varieties, access to weather-based insurance and investment in EWS, including advisories to farmers. Following further opening remarks by speakers, two plenaries and several thematic sessions took place during the day.

    Plenary 1—Taking stock of current recovery practices

    Carolina Fuentes Castellanos, Director, Santiago Network Secretariat, moderated the session.

    Sujit Mohanty, UNDRR, noted the high costs of reconstruction and the difficulties of countries that are perpetually in a state of recovery from one disaster after another, pointing to the need to address institutional fragmentation.

    Renato Umali Solidum, Jr., Department of Science and Technology, Philippines, advocated for greater cohesion between DRR and climate action as being “two sides of the same coin.” He called for transparent grant-based governance to reach at-risk commuities and address both slow-onset and sudden disasters.

    Leon Lundy, Minister of State Office, The Bahamas, highlighted the launch of The Bahamas’ National Disaster Risk Management Authority. He drew attention to the 2022 Act mandating public body disaster plans, including continuity plans, restoration timelines, and staff redeployment protocols to ensure essential services can be maintained or rapidly restored after a disaster.

    Krishna Swaroop Vatsa, National Disaster Management Authority, India, highlighted allocation of 30% of the Authority’s funds for recovery and reconstruction, which are released through an assessment-based process.

    Fuentes Castellanos offered countries the Secretariat’s support for structuring technical assistance requests.

    Plenary 2—From commitment to action: Leadership for resilient recovery

    Shivangi Chavda, GNDR, moderated the session.

    Guangzhe Chen, World Bank, described the World Bank’s recent transition to supporting infrastructure resilience efforts. He invited countries to access the Bank’s preparedness and response toolkit to strengthen their disaster reduction policies, citing recent examples from Malawi, Albania, and Madagascar.

    On financial instruments, panelists explored ways to distribute more rapid financial support, including through multi-dimensional approaches.

    On displacement following disasters, Rania Sharshr, International Organization for Migration (IOM), emphasized that one of the greatest needs of governments is access to reliable and accurate data on how displaced people have been impacted, and guidance on how to integrate these people into existing communities.

    The session concluded with the presentation of the Resilient Recovery Framework by Abhilash Panda, UNDRR.

    Thematic sessions

    Further sessions took place through the day. Besides the three sessions reported here, delegates took part in other Stakeholder Forum sessions on governance mechanisms, unlocking financial potential, housing reconstruction, and multi-hazard EWS.

    Restoring livelihood: Solutions for disaster-induced displacement and resilient recovery

    Mona Folkesson, UN Development Coordination Office (DCO), moderated the session.

    Emad Adly, Arab Network for Environment and Development, highlighted water scarcity as a key issue for the region and local-level coordination as a key challenge. Alexandra Bilak, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), cited experience from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal to show how livelihood erosion influences the severity of displacement.

    Ibrahim Osman Farah, Vice President, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, described livelihood restoration during return and resettlement of internally displaced persons, through ensuring cultural access to land, water, schools, and income-generating opportunities as long-term resilience-based approaches.

    Tasneem Siddiqui, University of Dhaka, recounted how students were a driving force for the university’s Refugee and Migration Research Unit, which now has formed Adaptation Committees in many local areas and supports implementation of national policies on livelihood diversification and skills training. She urged treating displacement not as a humanitarian issue, but as a human rights one.

    Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, emphasized skill development with local communities and SMEs to create livelihood options for displaced communities.

    Driving resilience: The critical role of private sector’s operational readiness for resilient recovery

    Moderator, Cedrick Moriggi, Corporate Chief Resilience Officer Network, emphasized connecting the corporate world with the UNDRR world. Ommid Saberi, International Finance Corporation, recommended investing in the “economics of families,” or small businesses, saying even small government incentives can mobilize large funds from the private sector. Dorothee Baumann-Pauly, University of Geneva, said human rights are the enablers for resilience. Jonathan Rake, Swiss Re Solutions, highlighted the need for the private sector to engage locally and to develop and combine social programmes with parametric solutions. Chris Ulatt, Octopus, said upfront investment to boost resilience is the right move, but observed that few investors will remain for the duration of an investment. Kerry Hinds, Department of Emergency Management, Barbados, described an audit tool to ascertain risks and priorities for public-private partnerships, noting the tool helps standardize and trigger business continuity protocols for disaster risk management.

    Turning experience into action: learning from large-scale disasters

    Dilanthi Amaratunga, Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, moderated the session.

    Banak Joshua Dei Wal, South Sudan’s DRR Focal Point, highlighted the need to work together and identify risks for Sendai Framework implementation to be effective.

    Saini Yang, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), emphasized that China’s National Flood Prevention System has proven effective, with more than an 80% decrease in flood mortality rates over the last 20 years.

    Trevor Bhupsingh, Public Safety Canada, highlighted Canada’s Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.

    Guy Gryspeert, Honeywell, defined resilience as the capability of preventing a crisis by having awareness and planning in place.

    Ali Hamza Pehlivan, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Türkiye, highlighted the usefulness of their National Disaster Response Plan during the 2023 earthquake. Makiko Ohashi, Cabinet Office of Japan, noted the utility of planning on the assumption that a mega-disaster may occur at any time and of reviewing DDR plans in the aftermath of disasters.

    Participants engage in discussions between sessions throughout the day.

    Global Early Warning for All (EW4All) Multistakeholder Forum

    After thematic sessions during the day, EW4All concluded its discussions. Gavin White, Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership, moderated the closing session. Panelists highlighted the importance of focusing on preparedness and developing trust, the need to shift perspectives toward a systemic approach to EWS, and the need to increase private funding.

    In closing remarks, Andrea Hermenejildo, Deputy Secretary General for Risk Management, Ecuador, stressed EWS is not only a technical issue, but also involves social justice. Paola Albrito, Director, UNDRR, emphasized that EW4All is both needed and achievable. Noting the central role of local communities, she underlined that resilience is built with communities.

    Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union, underlined that scaling-up EWS requires partnerships and breaking silos across economic sectors, UN agencies and industries.

    Jagan Chapagain, Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), stressed that inclusive action and investment in EW4All is essential.

    Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), stated that having EWS in just 108 countries is neither sufficient nor acceptable, and called for closing this “justice gap” by providing EWS worldwide and accelerating the transformation needed to protect every person on Earth.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Porirua’s BizFest announces two outstanding speakers

    Source: Porirua City Council

    One of New Zealand’s most iconic athletes will be speaking at Porirua’s BizFest on 1 July, joining the founder of an international dance company who grew up in Cannons Creek.
    BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will take place on 1 July, a day that aims to inspire and connect business people in our city. Topics of discussion on the day will include what’s on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future.
    Dame Valerie Adams is recognised worldwide for her feats in shot put and is a leader and role model in the Pacific community for her work outside athletics.
    From 2006 to 2016, Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year, her story is one that inspires – post her shot put career, she works in the community to support a number of causes and with commercial partners, while also being chair of the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, a World Athletics Council member and on the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand.
    Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having Dame Valerie speak in Porirua is a coup, bringing value to the event by being able to share her experiences as an athlete at the very highest level, her commitment to her community and health and wellbeing, and her advocacy for athletes, especially among women in sport.
    “Someone like Dame Valerie will add immense value to BizFest – she is someone who has demonstrated perseverance, discipline and an amazing work ethic, prioritising health and wellbeing, and commitment to helping others. I can’t wait to hear what she has to say about pushing through challenges and building resilience,” Mayor Baker says.
    Black Grace’s Neil Ieremia, meanwhile, will add a homegrown flavour to BizFest, with his journey one of inspiration and perspiration.
    Born in Cannons Creek and of Samoan heritage, Ieremia left home and his banking job at 19 and enrolled in a fulltime dance programme.
    Founding dance company Black Grace in 1995, he has enjoyed sell-out performances in the US, Mexico and Canada and won numerous accolades at home and abroad for what Black Grace has achieved across the world.
    Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016, Ieremia received the inaugural Moana Creative Enterprise Award at the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards and is an honorary member of Dance ICONS, the international organisation of choreographers, along with numerous other honours.
    Mayor Baker says Ieremia’s talk at BizFest should not be missed.
    “Neil was rightly inducted into our Hall of Fame at Te Rauparaha Arena in 2022 – he is a local who has gone on to impressive heights around the world and will have a beautiful and authentic story to tell about seizing opportunities and taking our stories from Porirua to the global stage.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: DIAGNOS Welcomes Former White House Economic Adviser Dr. Tomas J. Philipson to its Advisory Board for the US Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROSSARD, Quebec, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diagnos Inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ADK, OTCQB: DGNOF, FWB: 4D4A), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues using advanced technology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is thrilled to announce that Dr. Tomas J. Philipson has joined the Corporation’s Advisory Board.

    Dr. Tomas J. Philipson is considered an expert in US economic policy, particularly health care policy and appears often on major media outlets, including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, BBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, Yahoo Finance, American Voice, Bloomberg, and CSPAN.

    He currently serves as Managing Partner of the VC firm MEDA Ventures, serves on several corporate boards, and has co-founded several companies, including Precision Health Economics LLC, with an exit in 2015 (currently owned by Blackstone).

    His government service includes a full-time position as vice chairman and acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 2017-20. He previously served as a senior economic adviser to the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a senior economic advisor to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Philipson was appointed to the Key Indicator Commission by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2012. He was a scientific advisor to the House of Representatives initiative 21st Century Cures in 2015 and The Biden Cancer Initiative in 2017. He served as a healthcare advisor to Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

    He received numerous worldwide research awards while he was a chaired professor at the University of Chicago. He is a two-time winner of the Arrow Award of The International Health Economics Association, the highest honor in health economics. Other awards include the Garfield Award for Economic Research, the Prêmio Haralambos Simeonidis from the Brazilian Economic Association, and the Milken Institute’s Distinguished Economic Research Award.

    He received a B.A. in mathematics from Uppsala University in Sweden, an MA in Mathematics from Claremont Graduate School, and an MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania.

    “We are honored to welcome Dr. Philipson to our Advisor Board,” said André Larente, President and CEO of DIAGNOS. “His extensive experience at the highest levels of government and business savvy brings a vital perspective to today’s policy challenges, from healthcare innovation to long-term economic competitiveness.”

    Mr. Larente added, “DIAGNOS has built an AI platform to analyze retina images, these images are taken by thousands of optometrists worldwide. According to the VisionWatch data, the US saw approximately 111 million routine eye exams and 60 million medical eye exams in 2020. DIAGNOS, along with its partners, can address this growing market.” DIAGNOS recently opened its US office in south Florida to support its prospects and clients.

    About DIAGNOS
    DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health problems. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence, DIAGNOS aims to provide more information to healthcare clinicians to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.

    Additional information is available at www.diagnos.com and www.sedarplus.com.

    This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Maria Salazar Sends Letter Requesting Denial of Diplomatic Credentials to Corrupt Colombian Official

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Maria Salazar sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the Administration to deny Coronel Carlos Alberto Feria Buitragohis diplomatic credentials. 

    “President Petro is making a mockery of the generally distinguished diplomatic corps that works in Washington DC — we should not play a part to this farce,” said Rep. Salazar.“In this case, Coronel Feria is only being sent here to prevent him from having to stand trial and potentially reveal information damaging to President Petro and other members of his administration.”

    Background:

    Coroner Feria was a key player in the cover-up of a major corruption case.

    A major Colombian political scandal unfolded in January, 2023, when then Chief-of-Staff to the president and current Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia reported through internal government channels that a duffel bag with as much as $30,000 dollars in cash inside had been lost. In response, President Petro’s security team, headed by Coronel Feria, immediately dragged in Ms. Sarabia’s son’s nanny named Marelbys Meza for unauthorized questioning, including with the use of a polygraph test. During this time, Coronal Feria held her against her will in the basement of the presidential palace for almost 48 hours.

    Coronel Feria was indicted by Colombian prosecutors in March, 2024 for abuse of public office, false imprisonment and other crimes. Other police figures involved in the same abuse of authority have received as many as ten years in prison as punishment.

    He should not be allowed to work at the Colombian embassy in Washington, DC; he should be denied diplomatic credentials and sent back to Colombia so he can face justice.

    You can read the full letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India Wins Presidency of International Institute of Administrative Sciences

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India won the Presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. The International Institute of Administrative Sciences, a notable global institution, is a federation of 31 member countries, 20 national sections, and 15 academic research centres jointly collaborating on scientific research in public administration.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had nominated the Indian candidate, Secretary DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances), Shri V. Srinivas, for the 2025-2028 Presidency of IIAS in November 2024. Following Presidency hearings in February 2025, the candidacies of India, South Africa, and Austria were forwarded to the IIAS General Body. Subsequently, South Africa withdrew its candidacy in favour of India in May 2025.

    The election between India and Austria was held on 3 June 2025, in which 141 votes were polled. India secured 87 votes (61.7 per cent of the vote), while Austria received 54 votes (38.3 per cent of the vote). India’s candidacy received widespread support from across the membership.

    This election marks two significant firsts in the 100-year history of IIAS: it was the first time the President was elected by a ballot process, and it is the first time India has secured this historic mandate.

    The Indian Presidency of the institution will seek to bridge the North-South Divide with a focus on unity and inclusivity. It will also take forward Prime Minister Modi’s vision for “Maximum Governance – Minimum Government,” documenting next-generation administrative reforms with a focus on the digital empowerment of citizens and the digital transformation of institutions.

    India has been a member of IIAS since 1998. Other key members of IIAS include Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico, Spain, Qatar, Morocco, and Indonesia.

    While the IIAS is not a formally affiliated body of the United Nations, it actively engages with the UN’s work in public administration through the UN’s Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and the UN Public Administration Network (UNPAN).

  • MIL-OSI: The Netherlands and the UK among the simplest countries for doing business in Europe, says GBCI 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greece, France, Italy and Turkey are the most complex jurisdictions to do business in the region, according to the 2025 Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI) recently launched by TMF Group.

    The GBCI studies over 250 indicators of complexity in 79 jurisdictions that represent 94% of the world’s GDP. The report has consistently shown that countries in Southern Europe and Latin America are the most complex for doing business, and that continues to be true in 2025. At the other end of the scale, the least complex places to do business tend to be in Northern Europe and several of the offshore investment hubs.

    The report notes that complexity is relatively straightforward to navigate, at least for larger multinationals able to absorb the cost of complying with local rules. What is much harder to deal with is uncertainty. US-led sanctions, lockdowns in China and the Suez blockage had already begun a shift towards more diversified supply chains, with companies seeking to reduce their reliance on single countries for sourcing, building or selling their products. A part of that solution noted in last year’s report was the rise of connector economies like Mexico and Vietnam, bridging trade between China and the US in the so-called ‘China plus one’ strategy. That strategy has now fallen foul of US tariffs, set to reflect a country’s trade surplus in goods with the US and so punishing countries with connector status.

    Even if tariffs abate, their launch and rapid shifts point to an underlying risk for companies trading from countries with a high US trade surplus. The report notes a drop in confidence in stability, with the majority of jurisdictions (55%) reporting prioritisation of trade corridor diversity. It identifies a number of countries that might now emerge as the new connectors — with low levels of complexity pointing to business-friendly rules, a low US trade surplus pointing to less likely retaliatory action, a reasonable size and sophistication of economy to support a variety of activity at scale and absorb investment without tipping heavily into US trade surplus, and a multipolar stance that should allow them to trade across different blocs. Those countries include the UK and the Netherlands in Europe, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, and Australia and Hong Kong in Asia Pacific.

    TMF Group’s CEO Mark Weil, said:

    “The real challenge for businesses today isn’t complexity, it’s uncertainty. With rising trade tensions, a shifting geopolitical landscape and economic unpredictability, companies are forced to make decisions in an environment that can change overnight. Tariffs are just the latest signal of the risks of supply chain concentration. Diversification is a necessity in this context. The good news is that businesses can offset some of the complexities of diversification by reducing their own internal intricacies. Our benchmarking reveals stark differences in structural complexity among similar firms. We see an opportunity here: by simplifying their structures and support models — for example, by having fewer legal entities and a few trusted global partners — businesses can gain flexibility.”

    Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex) 
    1. Greece  79. Cayman Islands 
    2. France  78. Denmark 
    3. Mexico  77. New Zealand 
    4. Turkey  76. Hong Kong, SAR 
    5. Colombia  75. Jersey 
    6. Brazil  74. Netherlands 
    7. Italy  73. Jamaica 
    8. Bolivia  72. British Virgin Islands 
    9. Kazakhstan  71. Curaçao 
    10. China  70. Czech Republic 
       

    Media Contacts
    Marina Llibre Martín
    marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: School meals take centre in Pakistan with multi-stakeholder consultation

    Source: World Food Programme

    ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) jointly convened a high-level, two-day national consultation in Islamabad to advance coordinated efforts to implement school meal programmes across provinces.

    This consultation was attended by Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training along with representatives from various federal and provincial departments including education, health, planning and development & social protection. Representatives from development agencies, private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations also participated in the event, unified by a shared goal: to ensure every child in Pakistan has access to healthy, nutritious food at school.

     “With 25 million children out of school and many enrolled students struggling to learn due to hunger and malnutrition, the reality demands urgent action,” said Mr. Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan. “By alleviating poverty-related barriers to education, the provision of meals encourages parents to send their children to school, reducing dropout rates and promoting gender equality.”

    The consultation concluded with a clear demonstration of political will from federal and provincial government representatives to expand school meals across Pakistan. The discussions were substantive and action-oriented, reflecting a growing national consensus that school meals are not standalone initiatives, but a strategic, multisectoral investment central to the country’s development agenda.

    The Government of Balochistan committed significant multiyear budget to be confirmed shortly and presented a detailed action plan, including support for children with special needs. Punjab pledged to expand school meals to more districts, while Sindh reaffirmed plans to launch a new school meals programme. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa committed to strengthening its cash-based model and exploring a school meals programme. Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir are also working to expand, exploring innovative financing solutions.

    Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, also addressed the consultation, affirming the government’s commitment to institutionalising school meals as part of the broader education agenda. “We must scale up programmes nationwide, learn from each other’s experiences and good practises to ensure that every child in Pakistan has access to a daily meal at school. This is not just a programme or a project, it is an investment in our children, our communities and our country’s prosperous future,” she added.

     “Not only did this consultation reaffirm that school meals are a powerful, transformative tool to bring children to school, keep them there, and give them a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed – it also helped secure concrete commitments from provincial and federal representatives for the next five years” said Coco Ushiyama, WFP Representative and Country Director in Pakistan.

    Investing in school meals is especially critical in the context of Pakistan. School meals offer a powerful, multi-sectoral solution, improving children’s nutrition and health, increasing school attendance, enhancing learning outcomes and easing the financial burden on low-income families. These efforts align closely with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s declaration of an education emergency last year and the urgent national priority to bring every out-of-school child into the classroom.

    This event builds on the first national consultation held in 2022, which followed Pakistan’s signing of the Global School Meals Coalition in 2021. It also serves as a key preparatory milestone ahead of the Global School Meals Summit in Brazil this September. 

    #                #            #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @WFPPakistan

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • US: Higher metals tariffs kick in as deadline for ‘best’ offers arrives

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. tariff rate on most imported steel and aluminum doubled on Wednesday as President Donald Trump ratchets up a global trade war on the same day he expects trading partners to deliver their “best offer” in bids to avoid punishing import tax rates on other goods from taking effect in early July.

    Late on Tuesday, Trump signed an executive proclamation that puts into effect from Wednesday his surprise announcement last week that he was taking the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that had been in place since March to 50% from 25%.

    “We started at 25 and then after studying the data more, realized that it was a big help, but more help is needed. And so that is why the 50 is starting tomorrow,” White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said in explaining the move at a steel industry conference in Washington on Tuesday. The increase came into effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT).

    The increase applies to all trading partners except Britain, the only country so far that has struck a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. during a 90-day pause on a wider array of Trump tariffs. The rate for steel and aluminum imports from the UK – which does not rank among the top exporters of either metal to the U.S. – will remain at 25% until at least July 9.

    About a quarter of all steel used in the U.S. is imported, and Census Bureau data shows the increased levies will hit the closest U.S. trading partners – Canada and Mexico – especially hard. They rank No. 1 and 3, respectively, in steel shipment volumes to the U.S.

    Canada is even more exposed to the aluminum levies as the top exporter to the U.S. by far at roughly twice the rest of the top 10 exporters’ volumes combined. The U.S. gets about half of its aluminum from foreign sources.

    Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said Canada was “engaged in intensive and live negotiations to have these and other tariffs removed.”

    Mexico Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated that the tariffs were unsustainable and unfair, especially given that Mexico imports more steel from the U.S. than it exports there.

    “It makes no sense for the United States to levy a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus,” he said, adding that Mexico would on Friday seek an exemption from the increase.

    The unexpected increase in the levies jolted the market for both metals this week, especially for aluminum, which has seen price premiums more than double so far this year. With little current capacity to increase domestic production, import volumes are likely to be unaffected unless the price increases undercut demand.

    ‘BEST OFFER’ DUE DATE

    Wednesday is also when the White House would like trading partners to submit their proposals for deals that might help them avoid Trump’s hefty “Liberation Day” tariffs from taking effect in five weeks.

    Administration officials have been in active talks with a number of countries since Trump announced a pause on those tariffs on April 9, but to date only the UK deal has come to fruition. Even that agreement, which provided the basis for the carve out from the metals tariffs, is more of a preliminary framework for more talks.

    With just weeks remaining, the Trump team is eager to bring more deals over the line.

    Reuters reported on Monday that the U.S. Trade Representative was asking countries to list their best proposals in a number of key areas, including tariff and quota offers for purchase of U.S. industrial and agricultural products and plans to remedy any non-tariff barriers.

    In turn, the letter promises answers “within days” with an indication of a “landing zone,” including what tariff rates countries can be expected to be saddled with after a 90-day pause on the tariffs expires on July 8. At issue for most trading partners is whether they retain the current baseline rate of 10% on most exports to the U.S. after that date, or something sharply higher in many cases.

    White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed the report on Tuesday, saying: “USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up.”

    Other items requested by the Trump administration include any commitments on digital trade and economic security, along with country-specific commitments, according to the letter.

    Japan, a major U.S. trading partner, has not received such letter, top government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular press conference.

    “Regarding U.S. tariff measures, negotiations are underway between Japan and the United States,” Hayashi said. “The government will keep on tackling them, doing our utmost and giving them a top priority.”

    The U.S. embassy in Tokyo did not immediately comment.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia to lead PROACTIF, a multimillion Europe robotics and unmanned technology project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia to lead PROACTIF, a multimillion Europe robotics and unmanned technology project 

    • The venture is projected to generate around €90 million in revenue by 2035.
    • The consortium brings together 42 leading European technology companies from 13 countries to redefine how emergency situations and critical infrastructure are managed.

    4 June 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia has been selected to lead PROACTIF, a project funded by the European Union’s Chips Joint Undertaking. The project aims to strengthen Europe’s technology resilience and leadership in ECS technologies and support the autonomy of the European Drone and Robotics industry.

    The consortium anticipates generating around €90 million in revenue, 50 products, and more than 15 new industry patents by 2035, enabling increased market share and leadership. The project’s additional impact includes dozens of new collaborations, hundreds of new jobs, and over €40 million of additional investments.

    “Nokia’s extensive expertise has helped establish drone technology best practices and transform drones into daily helpers for public safety and mission-critical operations. We are honored to lead this project. It demonstrates Nokia’s commitment to fostering innovation and resilience across Europe. By collaborating with leading organizations, this initiative will address critical challenges in security and sustainability, delivering real-world benefits for society,” said Thomas Eder, Head of Embedded Wireless Solutions, Nokia.

    The PROACTIF consortium brings together 42 partners and four affiliates from 13 countries with a focus on critical infrastructure surveillance and emergency management in Europe. Under Nokia’s leadership, the groundbreaking venture will redefine how emergency situations and critical infrastructure are managed in Europe. It will unite academic institutions, SMEs, and industry leaders to develop cutting-edge, cost-efficient, eco-efficient, safe, and cybersecure unmanned vehicle (UxV) systems to address European civil security needs.

    The project will develop nine advanced technology building blocks and five state-of-the-art UxV platforms, emphasizing interoperability, autonomy and rapid deployment to meet Europe’s societal and market needs. The use of UxV technologies enables a more holistic understanding of an incident’s location and severity, as well as comprehensive situational awareness, through frequent and efficient sensor data gathering.

    Multimedia, technical information and related news 
    Web Page: Nokia Drone Networks

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

    Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    PROACTIF PARTNERS
    PROACTIF brings together notable partners across Europe including : Acorde Technologies, S.A. (Spain), AITEK SPA (Italy), Ascento AG (Switzerland), Asya SIA (Latvia), Avular Innovations B.V. (Netherlands), Captain AI B.V. (Netherlands), CSEM Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA (Switzerland), Citymesh N.V. (Belgium), CISC Semiconductor GmbH (Austria), DEMCON Unmanned Systems BV (Netherlands), Dimetor GmbH (Austria), Fixposition AG (Switzerland), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V (Germany), Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), Heimann Sensor GmbH (Germany), HUN-REN Számítástechnikai és Automatizálási Kutatóintézet (Hungary), InnoSenT GmbH (Germany), Innovation River S.R.L (IT), League Geophysics Services B.V. (Netherlands), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Luna Geber Engineering SRL (Italy), NVIDIA (Israel), Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy (Finland), Research Studios Austria Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (Austria), Riga Technical University (Latvia), Saab Finland Oy (Finland), Safran Electronics & Defense / SED SPAIN S.L. (Spain), Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz – Instytut Mikroelektroniki i Fotoniki (Poland), Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (Austria), Skyability (Austria), SSH Communications Security Oyj (Finland), Stichting IMEC Nederland (Netherlands), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (Netherlands), TST-Sistemas (Spain), Universidad de Granada (Spain), Universitá Degli Studi Di Perugia (Italy), Van Oord Ship Management B.V. (Netherlands), VIA electronic GmbH (Germany), ViNotion B.V. (Netherlands), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. (Finland), Würth Elektronik (Germany) YellowScan (France).

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • Tharoor-led delegation reaches Washington to push India’s anti-terror message

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for the final leg of its diplomatic outreach tour aimed at building global consensus against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

    The delegation was received at the airport by Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

    Over the next two days, the delegation will engage with U.S. lawmakers, officials from the Trump administration, policy think tanks, media representatives, and key decision-makers to present India’s position on terrorism and highlight the objectives of Operation Sindoor.

    In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the U.S. said: “An all party delegation led by Shashi Tharoor arrives in Washington D.C. Over the next two days the delegation will be meeting members of the US Congress and administration, think tanks, media and policymakers to brief them on Operation Sindoor and India’s strong stand against terrorism.”

    The U.S. visit follows successful outreach in Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, and marks the final stop in the delegation’s global campaign.

    Apart from Tharoor, the delegation includes Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sarfaraz Ahmad, Telugu Desam Party MP G.M. Harish Balayogi, BJP MPs Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

    Earlier in Brazil, Tharoor emphasized the significance of the U.S. leg of the tour as a platform to counter misinformation and competing narratives.

    “Washington is a particularly interesting case because it is a large country, a superpower with enormous influence in the world, and there are many crosscurrents of information, misinformation, and other narratives circulating,” Tharoor told IANS.

    He underlined the need for international solidarity against terrorism. “We’re looking for solidarity in our struggle against terrorism. What is very clear in these countries is that some of these issues they understand, some they don’t fully understand. And the natural instinct in many countries is to say — why not have a dialogue? But it’s very difficult to have a dialogue with people who are pointing a gun at your head, who are sending terrorists across your border. That becomes a problem,” he said

    Reflecting on the tour so far, Tharoor said: “For us, in these countries, understanding our position and leaving with a sense of solidarity was important – and that we have done.”

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US sanctions against Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court judge ‘unacceptable’ – L.I. Lula da Silva

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    SAO PAULO, June 4 (Xinhua) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday called the U.S. visa restrictions on Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (SFC) judge Alexandre de Morais “unacceptable.”

    “It is unacceptable for the president of any country to comment on decisions made by the Supreme Court of another country,” the head of state said at a press conference.

    Recall that a few days ago, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions for foreign officials accused of “censorship against American citizens or companies.” A. de Morais, who in 2024 suspended access to the social network X (formerly Twitter) due to non-compliance with Brazilian law, clearly falls under Washington’s new visa policy.

    L.I. Lula da Silva promised to defend A. de Morais and any Supreme Court judge facing sanctions.

    A. de Morais is currently trying the case against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup d’état on January 8, 2023. The politician’s son Eduardo, a federal deputy currently living in the United States, called on Washington to impose sanctions against the judge.

    “It is regrettable that a Brazilian congressman, the son of a former president, calls for foreign interference in our internal affairs. This is serious. It is unpatriotic – it is a terrorist act,” said L. I. Lula da Silva.

    E. Bolsonaro is under investigation in Brazil for obstructing justice and pressuring officials by involving the United States in the A. de Morais case. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the easiest countries for doing business in the Middle East, says GBCI 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Middle East is positioned as a mid-complexity region for doing business in the Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI) recently launched by TMF Group.

    The report ranks 79 jurisdictions, accounting for 94% of the world’s GDP, based on their business complexity, with 1 being the most complex and 79 the least complex. Within the Middle East, Egypt is ranked 37th globally, followed closely by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at 38th, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 39th and Qatar at 44th.

    Egypt has decreased in complexity from last year’s position of 28th, mainly due to several strategic efforts and developments. For example, the country’s adoption of diverse logistic solutions and strengthening of trade corridors has played a pivotal role in mitigating economic pressures and geopolitical risks. The establishment of integrated logistics corridors and free zones, coupled with incentives like simplified customs procedures, has also enhanced accessibility for foreign businesses.

    Saudi Arabia has also improved its position, ranking 38th this year (one point less complex than last year), with resilience amid geopolitical disruptions and Vision 2030 initiatives being highlighted as key drivers of the ease of complexity. The country’s strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil dependency continues at the forefront, as the Kingdom invests in trade infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, enhancing supply chain resilience. In addition, under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is striving to reduce its vulnerability to geopolitical threats. Parallelly, investments in infrastructure aim to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.

    The UAE, ranking 39th this year, continues to position itself as a resilient hub amid global geopolitical disruptions. Strict regulations in place aim to ensure operations are compliant and secure, and contribute to the UAE being seen as a ‘safe haven’ for a diverse range of sectors. These regulations help mitigate risks and provide stability for businesses, fostering confidence among investors and enterprises. With multiple entry points and robust infrastructure, the UAE offers reliable trade corridors.

    With a slight increase in its complexity, Qatar is ranked 44th (last year, it ranked 48th). The geopolitical landscape remains volatile, with Qatar being involved in multiple peace talks, which underscores regional unpredictability and contributes to the heightened sense of uncertainty in the business environment. Additionally, the labour market faces challenges such as increased staff turnover and wage inflation, impacting cost efficiency.

    Achin Malik, TMF Group’s Middle East, India and Africa Market Head, commented:

    “Complexity is no longer the biggest challenge for business worldwide: uncertainty is. At a time of great instability in global trade and rising geopolitical tensions, the Middle East is increasingly strengthening its trade corridors — and exploring new ones. This positions countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar as resilient hubs for businesses amid geopolitical and natural disruptions, in a context of increased unpredictability.”

    Global top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex) 
    1. Greece  79. Cayman Islands 
    2. France  78. Denmark 
    3. Mexico  77. New Zealand 
    4. Turkey  76. Hong Kong, SAR 
    5. Colombia  75. Jersey 
    6. Brazil  74. Netherlands 
    7. Italy  73. Jamaica 
    8. Bolivia  72. British Virgin Islands 
    9. Kazakhstan  71. Curaçao 
    10. China  70. Czech Republic 

    Media Contacts

    TMF Group

    Marina Llibre Martín, Global PR Manager
    marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Jerome H Powell: Opening remarks

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Thank you, Beth Anne.

    I want to start by offering my condolences to the family and friends of former Vice Chair Stanley Fischer. Stan was a colleague of ours at the Fed, and a giant in the field of international economics. In addition to reaching the highest levels of the field in his own right, he was a trusted and generous mentor and teacher to a generation of the most important economic thinkers, including many heads of global central banks, advisers to presidents, and countless economists. We will miss him.

    Congratulations to Division of International Finance (IF) on 75 years of outstanding work in service to the Federal Reserve Board and, by extension, to all Americans. Many current staff members are here to celebrate today, as well as a number of IF alumni, including past division directors Ted Truman, Karen Johnson, Nathan Sheets, and Steve Kamin. The division has produced many other notable alums, including Chair and Secretary Janet Yellen; professor, author, chess grandmaster, and our keynote speaker, Ken Rogoff; and humanitarian and economist Albert Hirschman, famous for the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index and more recently as a character in Netflix’s Transatlantic, to name just a few.

    In my time at the Fed, the IF division has provided invaluable insight into global economic activity, international trade and capital flows, and developments in foreign financial markets. Division staff have also played a key role during episodes of global financial stress. And your research and analysis are critical inputs into our monetary policy decisions. Thank you to all that have served in this division over the past 75 years. Today I will kick off this conference by briefly reviewing why the division was created and highlighting a few of its many accomplishments over the years, before turning you over to a robust set of presentations and panels.

    New Era for Global Economy

    The IF division was created on July 1, 1950, but the idea began to germinate a few years earlier. The U.S. emerged from World War II as a global economic superpower. The Bretton Woods Agreement placed the U.S., and the Fed, in a central position in the global economy. Our mission then, as it is now, was to serve the American people. But it was clear at that moment that the Fed needed to have better knowledge of global developments to achieve our dual-mandate goals.

    A 1948 memo proposing to create this division stated, “Problems of international economics and finance have become increasingly large, complex, and significant in recent years, and our foreign economic relations will undoubtedly continue to give rise to issues of the first magnitude.” That is the rare economic forecast that turned out to be spot on!

    Seventy-five years later, it remains critical that the Fed understand the policies and practices of other governments and central banks, and their implications for the U.S. economy and financial markets. Exchange rate policy, of course, is now firmly in the hands of the U.S. Treasury. However, the end of the Bretton Woods era in the 1970s fundamentally changed the conduct of monetary policy, as policymakers had to understand the effects of potentially more volatile movements of the U.S. dollar on American families and businesses.

    Understanding global trade and capital movements has only grown in importance since 1950, as we saw during the pandemic. The IF division helps produce the data on international capital flows, and has spent decades researching the effects of these flows and international trade on U.S. and foreign economies. Understanding this complex and interconnected web is essential for us to anticipate the path of employment and inflation.

    Another important development in the 1970s was the increasing use of macroeconomic modeling, which greatly influenced the division’s work. Under the direction of former Division Director Ralph Bryant, IF developed its first multicountry model. Always on the forefront, over the years, economists in the division-many of whom are in this room today-developed increasingly sophisticated models, with each new generation expanding the capability to tackle the international risks and issues of the day. These models have proven useful for understanding how international shocks transmit through the economy and financial markets, for assessing risks and uncertainties through alternative scenarios, and for better comprehending the implications of various shocks for the U.S. and global economy. The results have informed research papers, Board memos and briefings, as well as the risks and uncertainty assessment that Federal Open Market Committee members receive in advance of every meeting.

    Prepared for Crisis

    The IF division has also played an important role in responding to global economic turbulence. A prime example is the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s. That episode required analytical thinking about the macroeconomic repercussions of the crisis as it played out around the world. Work by division, and by the International Monetary Fund and other institutions, led to the establishment of emergency facilities to prevent more dire financial outcomes. As global capital flows increased, other episodes of financial distress surfaced across the world, including in Mexico, Asia, and Russia. International capital flows and spillovers became, and remain, a recurrent feature in the division’s analytical and monitoring work.

    The expertise generated through study and response to those global challenges proved invaluable when stress hit closer to home during the Global Financial Crisis and the pandemic. Both of those events required immediate, broad, and, in many cases, unprecedented responses to avoid disrupting the availability of credit to American households and businesses. The nation, and the world, looked to the Federal Reserve to lead in these moments. During the Global Financial Crisis, when global funding markets came under stress, the IF division worked to establish swap line arrangements with several major central banks that helped restore stability in U.S. dollar funding markets. And during the pandemic, the IF division helped lead efforts to expand the provision of dollar liquidity by setting up the FIMA Repo Facility.1

    These periods of acute financial stress and uncertainty prompted the division to develop new tools and analytical products that could be used to understand and respond to the events unfolding on the ground. For instance, the division has devised new methods to measure and assess the effect of various types of uncertainty on economic activity, including new indexes that were built to track geopolitical risk, inflation, trade policy, and economic uncertainty. As we continue to navigate the current period of heightened uncertainty, this work is critical to understanding the quantitative implications of uncertainty shocks.

    Conclusion

    I will conclude by saying that, for 75 years, nine Fed chairs and countless Board members have greatly benefited from the guidance and counsel of IF staff-and not just when responding to crisis. This team helps assure we are well prepared for our international engagements, by providing detailed materials ahead of time and often by traveling with us. IF staff are always welcome and productive companions. In these and other endeavors, we benefit from the robust relationships you establish and maintain with our global counterparts.

    Thank you to Beth Anne and all the staff here that organized this wonderful event. And, finally, thank you again to all the current and former IF staff for what you have done and continue to do to help us be a globally knowledgeable and responsive central bank, so that we can deliver on our dual mandate for all Americans.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Guests of the festival “Moscow – on the wave. Fish week” will see performances and concerts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The festival program includes: “Moscow is on the wave. Fish week”, which is carried out within the framework of the project “Summer in Moscow”, a special place is occupied by performances on stage. The festival grounds feature theatrical productions and bright musical numbers. Guests can expect more than 350 hours of performances.

    On Shkolnaya Street, where the large-scale fish market of the festival “Moscow – on the Wave. Fish Week” is located, you can see performances by musical groups and soloists, as well as fun, exciting and educational performances on a marine theme.

    Thus, on June 6 at 15:00 the theater “Dami” will show the play “Stories of Sailors”, and at 16:00 the clowns of the group will present the funny and touching “Sailor Show”. On the same day at 19:00 the group Black Cupro will play original compositions filled with the energy of warmth and love.

    Here you can also watch the performances of the street theater LUMidea. The artists will show a family performance-journey non-stop. The audience will meet sea creatures and fairy-tale creatures. The performance consists of original plastic numbers, a procession and dance interaction.

    On June 7 at 15:00, singer and composer Andrey Grizli will perform. At 16:00, actors from the Happy People theater will show the play “The World of Dark Waters” about the inhabitants of the world’s oceans, mermaids, pirates and sea monsters.

    On June 8 at 2:00 PM, the Parabasis group will perform an interactive performance called Buyan Island, in which the artists and the audience will explore the most mysterious place in Russian folklore. At 3:00 PM, guests will hear hits from the Moscow group Goroda.

    The Invitation trio will perform in Serebryakov Passage on June 5 at 6:00 pm.

    On June 6 at 15:00 on Svyatoozerskaya Street, Sergey Pakhomov’s blues band will perform a musical show. Each viewer will become its participant. Guests will enjoy world hits in different styles – blues, jazz, rock and roll, funk, rock, country. In addition, Sergey Pakhomov will perform his own compositions.

    On June 5 at 15:00 on Gorodetskaya Street, the Moscow jazz band “Good Old Dixieland” will perform hits from the early 20th century. Here, on June 6 at 15:00, guests will see a performance by the Boom BrassBand. The cover band consists of six musicians and promotes live performances on brass instruments.

    On Volgogradsky Prospekt on June 7 at 14:00 the trio “Back to the Future” will take the stage, consisting of artists of different ages. The musicians perform live in many styles. The same singers can be heard in the Golyanovo district on June 8 at 18:00.

    On June 6 at 15:00 on Teply Stan Street, the Skazka iz Karmana Theatre will show a performance for children called Vasilisa the Beautiful. The same magical story can be seen on June 6 at 18:00 on Admirala Rudneva Street and on June 7 at 14:00 in the Kurkino district.

    On June 8 at 2:00 PM on Orekhovy Boulevard they will be showing “The Snail and the Whale” — a musical performance by the independent theater project Panama, based on the fairy tale of the same name by Julia Donaldson. The same production can be seen on June 7 at 2:00 PM in the park near the Nekrasovka metro station.

    Details about the festival can be found on the page “Moscow Seasons”.

    The gastronomic festival “Moscow – on the wave. Fish week”, organized as part of the “Moscow seasons” cycle with the support of the Moscow Government, began in the capital on May 30. Leading fishing and fish processing companies from all over the country brought the freshest delicacies to Moscow, and guests can enjoy entertainment, master classes and sports events.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154742073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MLS eyes bigger presence in China, says communications chief

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

    Major League Soccer (MLS) is looking to expand its global footprint, with China emerging as a market of interest.

    “We welcome more engagement from Chinese fans,” said Dan Courtemanche, Chief Communications Officer of MLS, during a briefing on Tuesday at the New York Foreign Press Center in response to a question from Xinhua. “There are certainly a lot of passionate football fans in that country, and we think there’s an opportunity there.”

    Lionel Messi of Inter Miami waves to the crowd ahead of their friendly against a Hong Kong League XI on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

    Courtemanche acknowledged that players from China are rarely featured in the league, but he said MLS would like to change that. “We’d love to see more players [from China],” he added, noting that the league currently features players from around 80 countries and regions.

    Looking ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Courtemanche called the tournament “rocket fuel” for the league. 11 of the 13 U.S. host cities are home to MLS clubs.

    The league is also looking to invest in the next generation through programs such as MLS NEXT (youth development), MLS NEXT Pro (professional feeder league), and MLS GO (recreational youth football). All of these were launched in the last five years.

    “We started because FIFA said, ‘You need a Division I league to host the [1994] World Cup,’” Courtemanche said. “Now, 30 years later, we’ve not only built that league – we’ve built a football nation.”

    Courtemanche noted that international engagement is often player-led, though global brands can also play a significant role.

    “Generally, it comes through players, but sometimes it comes through big global brands,” he said, citing Inter Miami’s off-season tour through the Middle East and Asia – led by Lionel Messi and several other international stars – as an example of outreach beyond the Americas.

    To reach global audiences, MLS has partnered with Apple TV, which streams matches in more than 100 countries with no blackout restrictions. “My 13-year-old son doesn’t watch linear television,” Courtemanche said. “He goes to Netflix, he goes to Amazon, he goes to Apple TV, and increasingly, so does much of our audience.”

    Founded in 1996 as a legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, MLS has grown from 10 to 30 clubs across the U.S. and Canada. More than 10 billion U.S. dollars has been invested in football-specific infrastructure, with teams moving from oversized American football stadiums to football-specific venues. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Indian delegation wraps up ‘successful’ Brazil visit before departing for US

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor concluded its visit to Brazil on Tuesday, laying emphasis on counter-terrorism cooperation with the South American country.

    As part of India’s ongoing efforts to foster international cooperation in the global fight against terrorism, particularly in the context of Operation Sindoor and the India’s sustained campaign against cross-border terrorism, the delegation successfully conducted its official visit to Brazil from June 1 to 2, the Indian Embassy in Brazil said in a statement on Tuesday.

    India’s newly appointed Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia also accompanied the delegation during the visit, the Indian Embassy in Brazil added in the press statement.

    The Indian delegation held meetings with senior Brazilian leadership, including Geraldo Alckmin, Vice-President of Brazil; Ambassador Celso Amorim, Chief Adviser to the President; Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Acting Foreign Minister; Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and also the President of Brazil-India Parliamentary Friendship Group; and Deputy Filipe Barros, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defence of the Chamber of Deputies.

    In all their discussions, the delegation emphasised India’s unwavering resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and highlighted the threat it poses to global peace and stability.

    The meetings provided an opportunity to convey India’s strong bipartisan consensus and zero-tolerance approach to terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22, while also exchanging perspectives on regional and global security and democratic cooperation between the two nations.

    The Indian Embassy appreciated the Brazil government and the Parliament for their warm hospitality and constructive dialogue.

    The visit marks a significant step in strengthening the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership and enhancing collaboration in the global fight against terrorism, said the Indian Embassy.

    Apart from Tharoor, the delegation includes Sarfaraz Ahmad from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita and Tejasvi Surya from the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Ambassador of India to the United States. India’s newly appointed Ambassador to Brazil also accompanied the delegation during their visit.

  • MIL-OSI: North America high-net-worth individual population surges, while Europe and Middle East shrink

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Fahd Pasha
    Tel.: +1 647 860 3777
    E-mail: Fahd.Pasha@capgemini.com

    North America high-net-worth individual population surges, while Europe and Middle East shrink

    • U.S. led the world in growth in its millionaire population, adding 562,000 to reach 7.9 million
    • Ultra-high net worth individual population rises by 6.2% worldwide
    • High-net-worth individuals now allocate 15% of their portfolios to alternative investments, including cryptocurrencies

    Paris, June 4, 2025 – The Capgemini Research Institute’s World Wealth Report 2025, published today, reveals the global high-net-worth individuals1(HNWIs) population rose by 2.6% in 2024. Now in its 29thedition, the report finds this increase was driven by the growth in the population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), which grew by 6.2%, as strong stock markets and AI optimism boosted portfolio returns. The data indicates that alternative investments2, such as private equity and cryptocurrencies, are now an established presence in HNWI holdings, representing 15% of their portfolios.

    Bullish stock market performance in the U.S. fuels wealth increase
    A favorable interest rate environment and strong U.S. equity market returns helped boost wealth creation in 2024. North America saw the biggest gains, with the HNWI population rising by 7.3%. In contrast, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East saw declines in their HNWI populations, as macroeconomic challenges weighed.

    At the end of 2024, according to Capgemini’s research: 

    • Europe’s HNWI population declined 2.1% due to economic stagnation in major countries, with United Kingdom, France and Germany losing 14,000, 21,000 and 41,000 millionaires, respectively. In contrast, Europe’s UHNWI population rose 3.5%, reflecting increased wealth concentration.
    • Asia-Pacific’s HNWI population increased 2.7%, with notable variability across the region.
    • Latin America’s HNWI population declined 8.5%, due to currency depreciation and fiscal instability. Brazil (-13.3%) and Mexico (-13.5%) witnessed the biggest population declines.
    • The Middle East’s HNWI population declined 2.1%, driven by lower oil prices.

    Within the largest individual markets, the U.S. was the clear leader, adding 562,000 millionaires as the country’s HNWI population grew by 7.6% to 7.9 million. India and Japan were standouts in the Asia-Pacific region, with both countries registering 5.6% growth, adding 20,000 and 210,000 millionaires, respectively. In contrast, growth in China was negative, with HNWI population declining by 1.0%.

    Next-gen HNWIs seek wealth management firms that align with investment priorities
    Wealth management firms are actively preparing for a new era of wealth transfer in which 83.5 trillion USD3 will change hands over the next two decades, creating the next generation of HNWIs4. According to the report, this handover will unfold in three phases: 30% of HNWIs will receive an inheritance by the end of 2030, 63% will inherit wealth by the end of 2035, and 84% by 2040.

    “The great wealth transfer will be a defining moment for the industry. Despite global wealth on the rise, 81% of inheritors plan to switch firms within one to two years of inheritance. Potentially losing these unsatisfied clients is going to create significant risk for the global wealth management sector,” said Kartik Ramakrishnan, CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit and Group Executive Board Member. “The next-generation of high-net-worth individuals arrive with vastly different expectations to their parents. This necessitates an urgent shift away from traditional strategies to effectively cater to their evolving needs on this wealth journey. Firms must also prepare to equip advisors with the digital capabilities, potentially augmented with agentic or generative AI, to mitigate the risk of losing both clients and key employees.”

    As of January 2025, HNWI investors parked 15% of their portfolios in alternative investments, including private equity and cryptocurrencies. They are willing to take more risks to expand their wealth – allocating capital to higher growth asset classes and niche product offerings, notably by 61% of millennial and Gen Z HNWIs.

    To attract next-gen HNWIs, wealth management firms must rethink
    The report highlights that wealth management firms need to refresh and revamp their services and offerings to resonate with the next-gen HNWI customer base. Including:

    • Private equity and cryptocurrencies: 88% of advisors observe a greater interest in alternative assets amongst this group of investors over baby boomers
    • New offshore booking centers: 50% of advisors indicate their lack of capabilities in emerging wealth hubs – Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE and Saudi Arabia – will drive these clients to alternate firms, as they seek diversification, better returns and a favorable regulatory environment
    • Tailored services: concierge services such as luxury travel, medical care, and safeguarding against cyber threats, rank as the top non-financial value-added service most sought after
    • Digital interactions: advisors rank a digital platform providing a holistic client view and actionable insights as the most important capability to effectively serve next-gen HNWIs, followed by intelligent automation of operational tasks like meeting summaries and emails

    Insufficient support from wealth management firms makes advisors a flight risk
    According to the report, one-in-three advisors express dissatisfaction with their firms’ lack of digital capabilities, negatively impacting their productivity, and creating a technological divide. In addition, 62% of next-gen HNWIs say they would follow their advisor if they moved to a different firm. Altogether, this directly impacts retention, as advisors struggle to engage these digital-native clients.

    Beyond digital resources, the industry is on the cusp of a talent shortage amid an unprecedented transfer of wealth to Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z inheritors. In the next 12 months, one in four advisors plan to be on the move, with a majority transitioning to a competitor firm and a few starting their own ventures. Additionally, 20% of advisors say they will retire by 2035, with 48% planning to retire by 2040.

    As the great wealth transfer unfolds, the wealth management industry will need to reimagine product offerings through tailored investment options for next-gen HNWIs. Firms must empower and engage advisors with an intuitive digital experience across all channels to secure their loyalty, the report concludes.

    Read the full report: Sailing through the Great Wealth Transfer

    Report Methodology
    The World Wealth Report 2025 market-sizing model covers 71 countries, accounting for more than 98% of global gross national income and 99% of world stock market capitalization. The Capgemini 2025 Global HNW Insights Survey questioned 6,472 HNWIs including 5,473 Next-gen HNWIs across four regions: Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and Middle East. The 2025 Wealth Management Executive Survey includes 141 responses across 10 markets, with representation from pure WM firms, universal banks, independent broker/dealer firms, and family offices. The 2025 Relationship Manager Survey, executed by Phronesis Partners, includes 1,306 responses across twelve markets.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.

    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.
    Visit us at www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute

    1 HNWIs are high-net-worth individuals with investable assets of USD1 million or more, excluding their primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables. HNWIs are segmented into three categories based on wealth bands: Ultra-HNWIs (USD30 million or more), Mid-Tier Millionaires (USD5-30M) and Millionaires Next Door (USD1-5M).
    2 Alternative investments include commodities, currencies, private equity, hedge funds, structured products, and digital assets
    3 UBS, “Global Wealth Report 2024”
    4 Gen X (aged 44 to 59 years as of 2025), millennial (aged 28-43 years as of 2025), and Gen Z (12 to 27 years as of 2025) inheritors are referenced as “next-gen HNWIs” to signify the generational shift in HNWI wealth

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 3rd, 2025 Heinrich, Vasquez Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act Heads to White House

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), announced that their Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025, legislation to strengthen the aerial wildfire suppression fleet and better combat the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This is the first bill passed by Vasquez in the House this Congress. Heinrich announced passage of the bill in the U.S. Senate in April. The legislation now heads to the White House to be signed into law.

    This news comes on the heels of Heinrich’s announcement today that he successfully secured the continued operation of the Interagency Dispatch Centers in Albuquerque and Silver City, which help get resources – like airtankers from Kirtland Air Force Base — to where they’re needed to help protect New Mexicans during wildfires, floods, and other emergencies. 

    The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).

    Alongside Heinrich and Vasquez, the legislation is led by U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and U.S. Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.). Alongside Luján and Stansbury, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

    “I’m pleased that my Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act passed both chambers of Congress and is headed to the White House to be signed into law,” said Heinrich. “I urge the president to immediately sign the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which is urgently needed to expand the operations of Very Large Air Tankers that have proven absolutely essential to firefighters battling large wildfires in New Mexico and across the West. I will never stop fighting to deliver the resources that our communities need to effectively respond to wildfires.”

    “In the West — and especially in New Mexico — wildfire season never really ends. Getting this bill through the House is a big step toward making sure our communities have the tools they need to stay safe,” said Vasquez. “This legislation strengthens our aerial firefighting fleet and supports critical partners like Albuquerque’s 10 Tanker. I look forward to President Trump signing my bipartisan bill into law.”

    “Wildfires have ravaged New Mexico and Western states in recent years, making the need to boost wildfire suppression more urgent than ever,” said Luján. “The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act will strengthen our aerial wildfire suppression fleet, help our firefighters respond faster, and better protect our communities. I’m proud to see this bipartisan legislation head to the president’s desk and soon become law.”

    “Deeply proud to help get this bipartisan, bicameral bill to help address wildfires across the finish line in Congress,” said Stansbury. “New Mexico is on the frontlines and we are working every day to ensure our firefighters and first responders have the resources they need.”

    “This year is the most dangerous and expensive wildfire year in history, and the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act will give wildland firefighters the tools they need to protect communities and save lives. Eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to fight wildfires more quickly and aggressively is America First common sense, and I appreciate my colleagues in the House and Senate for their support. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan bill cross the finish line so we can better support the brave first responders on the front lines fighting wildfires across the country,” said Sheehy.

    “In Arizona and across the West, wildfires are more frequent, more intense, and no longer confined to a single season. Our response capabilities need to reflect that new reality,” said Kelly. “Strengthening our aerial firefighting fleet by making more aircraft and parts available is a smart, proven way to help firefighters respond faster and keep communities safe. I’m excited to see this bipartisan effort to support our firefighters heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

    “As catastrophic wildfires devastate communities across the country, we need to be smarter and more resourceful in our approach to wildfire suppression,” said Padilla. “Californians saw firsthand the power of our aerial wildfire suppression fleet in putting out the Los Angeles fires as quickly as possible. Shoring up aerial firefighting fleets by allowing the Defense Department to sell excess aircraft parts is a lifesaving, commonsense priority — and I urge President Trump to swiftly sign this bipartisan bill into law.”

    The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to reauthorize the sale of excess aircraft and parts by the Department of Defense for wildfire suppression. The bill will help the U.S. better suppress wildfires year-round by facilitating the acquisition of military excess aircraft, sold at fair market value, for the aerial wildfire suppression fleet. Additionally, the sale of parts will help the U.S. maintain its existing aerial firefighting aircraft fleet.

    The bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense’s authority to sell excess Department of Defense aircraft and aircraft parts, which are acceptable for commercial sale, to persons or entities that contract with the government for the delivery of fire retardant or water by air to suppress wildfires, as long as the aircraft and parts are used only for wildfire suppression. The initial authority expired in 2005 and was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017 before lapsing again.

    “10 Tanker Air Carrier supports and thanks the bipartisan efforts of Sen. Heinrich and Sen. Sheehy to help the many operators involved with aerial firefighting to purchase at fair market value excess, retired military spare parts, particularly desperately needed engines and brakes. This commonsense approach will ensure that our aging fleet will remain available to the United States to battle the devastating wildland fires of today and well into the future. We are pleased that the Department of Defense and the Air Force also support the national security mission of companies like ours,” said Joel Kerley, President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier.

    “Firehawk Helicopters is encouraged by the passing of the Aerial Firefighting and Enhancement Act and would like to thank Rep. Newhouse, Rep. Carbajal, Sen. Tim Sheehy and Sen. Martin Heinrich for leading the efforts in seeing this bill passed. Since 20017 the aerial firefighting community has lost access to a critical aircraft and parts supply source. Taxpayers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as valuable aircraft and aircraft parts were no longer made available for commercial sale. The law will save these critical aircraft and parts from being scrapped. By making these aircraft and parts available for commercial sale again, the taxpayers will reap the maximum return on their original investment, but more importantly, see these aircraft and parts utilized in a second life that prioritizes the protection of the public from the growing threat of devastating wildfires,” said Bart Brainerd, CEO Firehawk Helicopters.

    Read more on the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup set to kick off in the US amid challenges

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    FIFA’s billion-dollar gamble to revolutionise club football begins a week on Sunday with plenty of cash up for grabs but questionable enthusiasm as 32 teams prepare to contest the expanded Club World Cup in 12 stadiums across the United States.

    The tournament – designed as a glittering curtain-raiserfor the 2026 World Cup – has had to contend with the prospect of empty seats along with controversial qualification rules and player welfare concerns after an exhausting European season.

    Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami face Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening fixture on June 14 in Miami, with tickets still widely available, while FIFA’s website shows seats can still be bought for the July 13 final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

    FIFA said it was normal policy not to reveal details of ticket sales ahead of a tournament but pointed to the fact that tickets have been sold to fans in more than 130 countries as evidence of the CWC’s broad appeal.

    Inter Miami controversially gained their slot by topping Major League Soccer’s regular season standings, despite then losing in the first round of the playoffs, in a decision critics say showed FIFA’s desperation to have the Argentina great at the showpiece.

    Inter Miami were thus included as the host nation representative – instead of MLS champions LA Galaxy – with Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders making it three U.S. teams after qualifying through their Concacaf performances.

    As well as the winners of each confederation’s premier club competition, teams qualified according to a ranking based on their performances over a four-year period.

    In another twist that went all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Club Leon, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, were eventually excluded from the tournament due to having shared ownership with another qualifier.

    RIGHTS DEAL

    Nailing down a last-gasp $1 billion TV rights deal with sports streaming platform DAZN six months before the tournament means a total of $2 billion in expected revenues.

    That led FIFA to announce a total prize pot of $1 billion, with the winning club to receive up to $125 million.

    FIFA said there is also an unprecedented solidarity investment programme with a target of an extra $250 million provided to club football across the world and that all revenues from the tournament will be distributed to club football.

    That prize pot might look mouth-watering for club owners but for many players it will feel like a step too far after a long season and the European arm of players’ union FIFPro and the European Leagues took legal action against FIFA over the issue.

    In response, FIFA said it has “dozens of testimonies from players and coaches positively discussing the tournament” and said it was unfair to blame the CWC for calendar congestion.

    “It is a competitive tournament that takes place once every four years with a maximum of seven matches only for the two teams who reach the final,” a FIFA spokesman said.

    FIFA has also given assurances that NFL stadiums hosting matches will meet their specifications, confirming all venues will feature natural grass and adhere to standard regulation dimensions following sub-par pitches at last season’s Copa America.

    TOP CONTENDERS

    Divided into eight groups of four teams, top contenders include Real Madrid, winners of six of the last 12 Champions League titles, plus German champions Bayern Munich and 2023 Premier League and Champions League winners Manchester City.

    European champions Paris St Germain are the in-form team heading into the tournament after their historic 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday.

    But they must survive a tough Group B featuring South American and Brazilian champions Botafogo and 2024 CONCACAF winners Seattle Sounders plus Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

    Whether you call it soccer or football, for FIFA the tournament represents a dress rehearsal and a referendum on America’s appetite for the sport and on the world governing body’s vision for its commercial future ahead of the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

    “It will usher in a new era for club football worldwide,” FIFA said in a statement. “It will be the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition in history, bringing together the most successful club sides from every continent to decide the true world champion at club level.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru, H.E. Ambassador Elmer Schialer Salcedo, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, France, on 3 June 2025. Their discussions focused on strengthening of ASEAN–Peru relations and preparations for the visit of  H.E. Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, President of the Republic of Peru to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in August of this year.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: Brazil feeling Ancelotti effect

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

    Defender Marquinhos has praised the early impact of Carlo Ancelotti on Brazil’s national team, expressing confidence that the newly appointed manager can inject a spark into the squad as it prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers.

    Ancelotti, who officially took charge last week after leaving Real Madrid, will lead Brazil for the first time on Thursday when the Selecao confronts Ecuador in Guayaquil. Five days later, Brazil will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo.

    Wins in both matches will all but secure the five-time world champion a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil currently sits fourth in South America’s qualifying standings, with the top six teams earning direct entry.

    Carlo Ancelotti (L), head coach of Brazil’s national football team, receives a Brazil national team jersey with his name from Samir Xaud, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 26, 2025. (Photo by Claudia Martini/Xinhua)

    “The expectations, desire and ambition are the best possible,” Marquinhos told a news conference from Brazil’s training base in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday.

    “The new manager has already shown the strength he has and what he can do in football, the intelligence he has. That’s what the national team needs.”

    The 31-year-old said the squad had already begun to respond to the Italian’s leadership and charisma.

    “You can see already that Carlo brings a certain energy,” the former Corinthians and Roma player said. “There is a feeling of something new and that something is coming. This short period before the [2026] World Cup is going to be very important.

    “But it’s just a start and we know that everything will depend on what we do on the pitch. When we start winning we can also get the fans and the press on our side and everything will be easier. Hopefully this good energy can help us to get the job done on the pitch.

    Marquinhos arrived in Brazil less than three days after captaining Paris Saint-Germain to its first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan at Allianz Arena in Munich.

    “My voice is coming back a little now. But these were days and nights of great emotion,” he said. “I think it’s worth mentioning that Paris believed in a project for 12 years, even back when it seemed distant. Having managed to achieve a goal in such a way was very special. Being part of that was gratifying.

    “There’s only one year to go until the World Cup and within PSG I’ve already seen that the dynamics within a team can change very quickly. I hope that happens here in the national team as well.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Magnum’ primed for shot with ‘Bullet’

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

    Out-sized and overpowered? UFC’s strawweight queen Zhang Weili dismisses the physical challenge of her ambitious division leap, drawing on her finesse to punch above her weight.

    Ever since she tamed American challenger Tatiana Suarez in February to successfully defend her strawweight title a third straight time, Zhang has not been shy about expressing her desire to try her hand in the heavier, and more brutal, flyweight class, currently ruled by Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan.

    Riding on the momentum from her successful title defense against Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February, China’s reigning strawweight champion Zhang Weili is primed to step up her challenge as she calls on the Las Vegas-based MMA promotion’s flyweight belt holder Valentina Shevchenko for a ‘super fight’ between two fearsome champs before the end of 2025. XINHUA/ZUFFA/LLC

    The proud Chinese striker, who’s almost done it all in the 115-pound (52kg) class with two championship reigns, has again called on the Las Vegas-based promotion and Shevchenko to book a date for a mouthwatering “super fight” between two formidable champs.

    If all goes to plan, the “Magnum” hopes to take her shot at a second belt before the end of this year.

    “I wish we could get it settled as soon as possible, hopefully before the end of 2025,” Zhang told China Daily after the UFC announced last month that it will bring its Fight Night back to Shanghai for the first time since 2017.

    “The negotiation, as far as I know, is going on right now. I think Valentina is also interested in it because that’s what the fans would want to see.

    “Now it’s up to the UFC to decide whether they are going to make it happen,” said Zhang, who will have to muscle up by more than four kilograms to match the standard in the 125-pound flyweight division.

    “I won’t have size or power on my side heading into the flyweight division, but I believe I can be competitive there with the right adjustments tactically and mentally.

    “I need to fight more with my brain and my heart, going with more precision and finesse.”

    The returning Fight Night, scheduled on Aug 23 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, is the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promotion’s first live event in the Chinese mainland since August 2019, when Zhang wrested the strawweight belt from Brazilian grappler Jessica Andrade with a first-round TKO in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

    Neither Zhang nor Shevchenko, however, will be fresh enough to fight in Shanghai in just over two months, with both having only just defended their respective titles.

    Zhang’s unanimous decision win over Suarez at UFC 312 in Sydney has borne witness to her evolution into a more complete mixed martial artist. The 35-year-old champ, who developed her early career in China’s sanda, or kickboxing, system, fended off 14 of the wrestling specialist’s 15 takedown attempts, and outstruck the challenger 251-61, to retain her title as the “betting underdog” before the bout.

    Zhang is now tied with retired legend Joanna Jedrzejczyk for most strawweight title fight wins at six.

    Known as “Bullet” in the Octagon, Shevchenko also clinched a unanimous decision win over challenger Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 last month, showing quite an impressive momentum that has left the entire MMA community eagerly anticipating a cross-division clash with Zhang.

    Following Shevchenko’s successful defense, Zhang wasted no time offering her congratulations along with a statement hinting at her pursuit of a second title, saying in an Instagram post: “Everything has lined up perfectly, it’s destiny.”

    Shevchenko admitted during a recent ESPN interview that she’s accepted that a bout with Zhang seems almost inevitable in her near future.

    “On the other side, you can see the champion in strawweight, Weili Zhang, and it’s kind of like she built up her career,” Shevchenko said of her next fight options during the post-event show after UFC Fight Night on ESPN on Saturday.

    “She deserves so much, because all of her title defenses. Definitely, I feel that, at this point, she deserves this fight more than anyone.

    “Weili has the same passion for martial arts (as me) … and she’s very loyal and feels good about mixed martial arts. This is what I like about her.

    “I’m hearing from my fans that this is what they want to see.”

    Still, Shevchenko stressed that she will wait until she’s fully recovered from her win over Fiorot, and won’t rush to set a date with Zhang until she’s physically and mentally set to start a camp again.

    Not everyone is convinced, however, that Zhang has what it takes to be a legitimate contender in the higher class.

    “I think Weili would be very similar to Namajunas,” said American Erin Blanchfield, the fourthranked contender in flyweight, who claimed a unanimous decision win over former strawweight belt holder Rose Namajunas in November last year.

    “I think she could win some fights at flyweight, because she’s very good, but I don’t see her being a champ. I don’t even see her really being top-five at 125.

    “I mean, Rose was able to beat her twice and knock her out once, and Rose is a little bit bigger than Weili, at least height-wise. So, being even shorter, Weili has even less of an advantage at 125.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Hong Kong and New Zealand, the easiest jurisdictions for doing business in APAC, says GBCI 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), recently launched by TMF Group, analyses the business environment of 79 jurisdictions, accounting for 94% of the world’s GDP. It also ranks them based on over 250 indicators of business complexity, with the jurisdiction ranked 1st as the most complex and the jurisdiction ranked 79th, the least.

    Among the world’s 10 least complex jurisdictions for doing business, Hong Kong, SAR remains the 4rth easiest jurisdiction for the second year in a row. The jurisdiction offers a favourable business environment, characterised by a straightforward and low tax regime that appeals to international businesses.

    New Zealand, also included in the 10 easiest jurisdictions worldwide, maintains its reputation as a straightforward place for business operations. This is largely due to the government’s proactive approach in welcoming foreign investments and streamlined administrative processes.

    Meanwhile, business complexity in India (18th) is mainly driven by recent regulatory changes, according to this year’s GBCI report. Over the past year, India has introduced numerous regulatory amendments aimed at boosting transparency and accountability. Although these are expected to bring benefits in the long term, they have added layers of complexity for businesses operating in the country, requiring constant adaptation to new compliance needs.

    Japan is ranked 43rd in this year’s GBCI, showing a decrease in complexity from last year’s position (38th). This decrease in complexity is partly due to recent simplifications and governmental initiatives to provide English-language support to international financial service companies. These measures facilitate easier operations and reduce barriers for foreign businesses, improving investment attractiveness.

    Singapore, ranking 48th, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in its trade corridors. This jurisdiction invests heavily in technology and infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing its status as a regional hub.

    China’s Mainland (10th) enters the top 10 most complex jurisdictions for businesses in 2025. According to the report, the complexity is driven by its frequent regulatory changes and regional disparities. Despite these challenges, the government continues to offer incentives to attract investment and to promote infrastructure development to enhance trade logistics.

    TMF Group’s Head of APAC, Shagun Kumar, commented: “We’re seeing a growing effort by decision-makers and businesses across APAC to reduce unnecessary burdens for doing business in the region — these have in the past delayed development, leading to complex evaluations for investment. Such efforts contribute to unlocking the region’s drive towards economic growth, and we expect businesses to adapt and continue to leverage the potential of APAC as a key contributor for their global strategies.”

    Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex) 
    1. Greece  79. Cayman Islands 
    2. France  78. Denmark 
    3. Mexico  77. New Zealand 
    4. Turkey  76. Hong Kong, SAR 
    5. Colombia  75. Jersey 
    6. Brazil  74. Netherlands 
    7. Italy  73. Jamaica 
    8. Bolivia  72. British Virgin Islands 
    9. Kazakhstan  71. Curaçao 
    10. China’s Mainland  70. Czech Republic 
       

    Media Contacts
    Marina Llibre Martin
    marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Questions Secretary McMahon on Department of Education’s Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions. 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), questioned U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. 
    HIGHLIGHTS:
    ON KEEPING JEWISH STUDENTS SAFE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES: 
    SENATOR CAPITO: “I want to ask about antisemitism. The morning before our education hearing last year, there were protestors at Colombia University. I asked the then-secretary, how many people from the Office of Civil Rights have you actually had on campus to see what’s occurring there, to see what kind of violation of civil rights might be occurring on the Colombia University campus. And, apparently there was nobody there from the Office of Civil Rights…This is not a problem that’s going away on our college campuses…How are you going to make sure that the department is taking to ensure all students and in this particular case, Jewish students, are able to learn an environment free from intimidation?” 
    ON COMBATTING POOR LITERACY RATES: 
    SENATOR CAPITO: “Let’s talk about literacy. As I mentioned at my opening statement, these test scores are very troubling, I think, and you want to try to figure out how do we attribute to this. It’s not like there’s not great teachers everywhere, all around this country, trying to figure out how to get their students achievement moving up in the right direction. I will say this, my state of West Virginia, the state legislature recognizing this, did allocate additional funds for reading teachers in the very early you know what, grades one through three to try to move our scores up because we have traditionally lower scores. We did actually make it. That did make a difference. Having that extra teacher in the classroom. We can pull the child aside, give them that one on one attention really does make a difference.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA leads multistate fight to protect youth from conversion ‘therapy’

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — Attorney General Nick Brown today led a multistate coalition in an amicus brief defending a Michigan law that prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion “therapy” on minors. Conversion “therapy,” also called sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts, are harmful and ineffective practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

    Michigan’s law prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on children and youth, and is being challenged in a lawsuit now with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The amicus brief filed by the 19 states and the District of Columbia supports Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy because it is not a safe or effective treatment for any condition, puts youth at risk of serious harms, including increased risks of suicide and depression, and falls below the standard of care for mental health practitioners.

    Washington is one of over 25 states that bans or restricts conversion therapy. The practice is repudiated by all leading medical and mental professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.

    The brief outlines why the court should reject the arguments against Michigan’s ban on the practice:

    • The First Amendment does not shield dangerous and ineffective mental health practices from regulation, nor does it allow licensed providers to operate below a certain standard of care.
    • Such bans are consistent with states’ long history of establishing and regulating professional standards of care.
    • Striking down such a ban would likely create profound unintended consequences for states’ authority to regulate professional practices within their borders as they have throughout most of the nation’s history.

    In 2018, Washington passed SB 5722, which was also challenged in federal court. Washington’s conversion therapy ban was upheld in 2023 when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected arguments against the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. The Supreme Court recently agreed it would take up a challenge against a ban from a different state – Colorado – which will be heard later this fall. The Washington Attorney General’s Office will fight to ensure no young person is subject to dangerous and discredited conversion therapy practices.

    Joining Washington on the brief are the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Cuban Labor Export Program

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce discusses new visa restrictions on several Central American government officials who are responsible for deals with the corrupt Cuban regime to import medical personnel in their forced labor scheme.
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIuxI6q4H8Y

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko awarded the winners of the international IT Olympiad

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Dmitry Grigorenko awarded the winners of the international IT Olympiad. With the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin and the Chairman of the Board of Sberbank German Gref.

    The results of the international conference were summed up in Nizhny Novgorod IT Olympiad, in which more than 10 thousand schoolchildren from 51 countries took part. In the final stage of the competition, 17 teams from Russia, Cuba, Thailand, India, China, Vietnam, Mozambique, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka met. As part of it, the participants solved practical problems in the field of artificial intelligence and information security.

    The winners were awarded at the anniversary conference “Digital Industry of Industrial Russia” (CIPR). Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko took part in the award ceremony for the finalists. He noted that the participants, despite their young age, demonstrated a high level of knowledge in the field of IT and involvement.

    “It is no coincidence that the award ceremony for the finalists of the IT Olympiad is taking place today at CIPR. At the exhibition, we saw cutting-edge digital solutions. But there are people behind all these developments. For the IT industry in Russia to develop, highly qualified personnel are needed first and foremost. You, interested young specialists, will soon become such personnel. You are already part of the industry.

    Over the past 5 years, we have already managed to increase the number of budget places in universities in IT specialties by 2.5 times. More than 230 thousand students have received qualifications in the IT profile. The largest companies are also actively involved in training personnel. As part of the national project “Data Economy”, we are launching new programs for training specialists in microelectronics, robotics and artificial intelligence, unmanned systems,” said Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.

    Sberbank acted as the general partner of the international IT Olympiad. Sberbank Chairman of the Management Board Herman Gref addressed the finalists of the competition: “I would like to congratulate the guys – participants of the IT Olympiad with all my heart. You have already taken a huge step – created a platform and a springboard to your own future. Different situations may arise in your life when you doubt whether you can cope with certain challenges. Remember that you once made the decision to participate in this competition, passed all the tests, and even won! And this will give you strength and confidence that you can handle any task. You are the very people who will build our common future. I wish you good luck on this path, confidence and resilience! Remember that it is not those who do not fall who win. Those who find the strength to get up and move forward after each fall win.”

    The winners were also congratulated by the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin:

    “At the anniversary CIPR, special attention was paid to the international agenda, including the interaction of countries in IT education. The Nizhny Novgorod government, together with the Republic of Cuba, organized the international IT Olympiad. I congratulate the guys on their high results! Participation in such competitions is already a great victory, and reaching the final is confirmation that we are talented, motivated and very promising young people. For the Nizhny Novgorod government, the development of the IT sphere is of great importance, as is systematic work with young people. The fact that the award ceremony is taking place in Nizhny, at the CIPR conference site, speaks for itself.”

    The IT Olympiad lasted almost 2 months and consisted of 2 stages: individual and team competitions. Schoolchildren solved problems in the following areas: cryptography, web security, reverse engineering, artificial intelligence, network traffic analysis, machine learning, open source intelligence (OSINT), information security theory, programming basics, social engineering, and others. A number of tasks imitated real websites with vulnerabilities — participants had to hack them and bypass the protection. The tasks were prepared by experts in artificial intelligence and information security.

    The participants coped best with tasks in mathematical logic (75% of participants solved them correctly), information security theory (74% of participants), and the basics of algorithms and programming (73% of participants). The most difficult tasks for schoolchildren were in the field of social engineering (32% of participants solved them correctly) and reverse engineering (36% of participants).

    The organizers of the international IT Olympiad were the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The technological partner was the international school of programming and mathematics “Algorithmika”. The general partner was Sberbank.

    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 Security: FBI’s Fugitive Task Force Returns Man Who Was Extradited From Mexico for 2013 Murder

    Source: US FBI

    A Mexican man wanted for a 2013 murder in Los Angeles was returned to the United States from Mexico over the weekend by members of the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force.

    The man, Luis Alberto Gutierrez Tejeda, 33, a Mexican national whose most recent U.S. address was in Sylmar, was arrested last year in Guadalajara, Mexico, by authorities there who were working with the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City and the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles. Since his arrest, Tejeda has been incarcerated in Mexico awaiting formal extradition to the United States.

    Tejeda was wanted for a 2013 murder in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley during which the victim was shot while in his vehicle. Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) who are investigating the homicide, identified Tejeda as the shooter responsible.  Once it became known that Tejeda fled the United States, LAPD Detectives contacted the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force and requested assistance in locating and apprehending Tejeda.  The FBI obtained a federal warrant charging Tejeda with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

    Tejeda was taken into custody by Mexican authorities in October 2024. In May, the Fugitive Task Force received notification that the Mexican Attorney General would relinquish custody of Tejeda to American authorities on May 30, 2025. Tejada was escorted by task force members to Los Angeles on Friday and was turned over to the custody of the LAPD. The federal UFAP charge is expected to be dismissed.

    The FBI’s Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles is a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to apprehend fugitives, including those who’ve fled from Los Angeles and those who flee to Los Angeles from other jurisdictions. The task force works to locate and arrest individuals who are wanted for various crimes, including violent crimes, and often collaborates with Mexican authorities to return fugitives to the United States. Mexican authorities and the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City provided considerable assistance, as did the Department of Justice – Office of International Affairs.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In the trade wars, there are lessons for the US from Brexit. Australia and our trading partners should take note

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Trade and Environment, University of Adelaide

    General_4530/Getty

    While the Trump administration’s on-again, off-again trade wars wreak havoc on the business plans of the world’s exporters, the risks to the global economy continue to grow.

    The self-inflicted scale of disruption to global trade patterns is enormous. Yet there are echoes with the United Kingdom’s experience of Brexit, both for the United States economy now and its trading partners worried about their trading futures.

    Fortunately, while it is painful, Trump’s push toward economic isolationism brings opportunities for other trading nations to strengthen their ties.

    This is especially the case in our Indo-Pacific region, where Australia is looking to new trade partners and deepening existing ties.

    The economic consequences of Brexit

    The UK economy is relatively diminished since 2016, when David Cameron, as Prime Minister, called the Brexit referendum on whether to leave the European Union.

    A study of UK businesses found three key impacts in the three years before formal Brexit took place in 2020:

    1. the UK’s decision to leave the European Union generated major, sustained, uncertainty for the business community. Since business invests and trades, that was highly consequential
    2. anticipation of Brexit gradually reduced investment by about 11% between 2016 and 2019
    3. Brexit reduced UK productivity by between 2% and 5%.

    A new report establishes that since 2020, when formal Brexit took place, the UK is experiencing its worst trade slump in a generation. This decline contrasts with growing trade in other industrial nations, indicating the COVID pandemic was not to blame.

    Harsh lessons in bargaining power

    The EU did not change to suit the UK. Rather, because of the EU’s influential role in regulation known as the “Brussels effect”, the UK must realign with EU standards to win back market access.

    For decades, the UK had ceded its trade bargaining capacity to Brussels. It was always on the back foot as its inexperienced negotiators locked horns with seasoned EU trade diplomats.

    The British also learned that outside the EU, their relative trade bargaining power, as well as foreign policy prestige, was much diminished. Many countries focused on dealing with the EU without the UK’s involvement.

    Overall, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that Brexit hastened the UK’s inexorable transformation from “Great” to “Little” Britain.

    MAGA echoes

    The Brexiteers were motivated by free trade and the belief EU trade policies prevented the UK from more liberalisation.

    Trump’s decision to disentangle the US from world trade is motivated by protectionist desires, in the mistaken belief blocking imports will “Make America Great Again”.

    Like the Brexiteers, Trump will find business confidence will diminish and the US economy will be worse off. Data this week showed US manufacturing contracted for the third straight month in May amid tariff-induced supply chain delays.

    Just like the UK, US economic decline relative to its trading partners will accelerate.

    Obviously, a huge difference between British folly and US hubris is that the US has market and geopolitical power in most of its bilateral negotiations, whereas the UK did not.

    Yet, whereas the Trump administration assumes the US is the more powerful party in all reciprocal tariff negotiations, it is now learning that some major trading powers (China, the EU, India), and even some middle powers (Canada, Mexico, Australia), will not simply roll over when faced with overt coercion.

    Moreover, as Great Britain learned to its cost, the US will find its soft power rapidly diminishing, and foreign policy objectives more difficult to attain. US allies, while in some cases in need of weaning themselves from over-dependence on the US military umbrella, are now actively hedging their security bets.

    What should trading partners do?

    There is an opening for Australia to seize the moment with new trade partnerships, and by deepening existing relationships.

    We have a golden opportunity in our chairmanship of the 12-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership group this year.

    This high-standards, deeply liberalising, trade agreement is a gold standard template to anchor our global trading partnerships. Members include Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore and the UK and representatives will be meeting in Brisbane next week.

    Specifically, Australia, our trans-Pacific partners and the EU need to agree to work collaboratively to converge on modern trade rules and support for free trade. Then take those accords into the World Trade Organization to strengthen and revitalise the institution, with or without the US.

    In addition, we need to quickly conclude both the stalled bilateral free-trade agreement with the EU, and the second phase of our trade agreement with India. This would cement two huge new markets of sufficient existing (EU) and potential (India) scale to rival both the US and Chinese markets.

    Finally, we need to double down on our existing trade partnerships with Southeast Asian countries, anchoring on the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This will bolster ASEAN-centrality in regional trade arrangements and balance both US withdrawal and China’s advance into the region.

    While this will not be easy, the effort has to be made and needs to start now.

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

    – ref. In the trade wars, there are lessons for the US from Brexit. Australia and our trading partners should take note – https://theconversation.com/in-the-trade-wars-there-are-lessons-for-the-us-from-brexit-australia-and-our-trading-partners-should-take-note-257555

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Historic Forest Congress ends with pressing demands from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Brazzaville, Republic of Congo – In a show of unity, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) from the world’s largest tropical forest basins, the Amazon, Congo, Borneo-Mekong-Papua and Mesoamerica, have concluded their first-ever global congress with an urgent call for protection, recognition and respect for the forests as well as the provision of direct access funds for the communities.

    These four regions, often described as the lungs of the planet, are home to over two-thirds of the Earth’s remaining tropical forests and serve as critical carbon sinks in the fight against climate change. They also  host immense biodiversity and provide life-sustaining ecosystems for hundreds of millions of people. At the heart of these forests are Indigenous Peoples and local communities who are the custodians of these forests having protected and lived in harmony with these ecosystems for generations.

    Over five days in Brazzaville, the forest custodians from across South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Mesoamerica came together to share experience and knowledge, place the spotlight on their struggles, and unite their voices. The congress culminated in a joint declaration demanding urgent global actions  to protect their land  rights and traditional knowledge, and their informed consent in decision-making, and  ensure direct access to finance.  .

    Greenpeace proudly stood in solidarity with these communities, calling for concrete measures  to recognize and support  Indigenous people’s leadership in forest protection, biodiversity restoration and the fight against climate change

    “What we witnessed in Brazzaville was more than a gathering, it was a unified awakening,” said Dr. Lamfu Yengong, Forest Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa. “This congress laid the ground for an emerging global alliance rooted in ancestral wisdom, justice, and the urgency of climate action. The road to COP30 must now consider those voices that have long been ignored”.

    “This Congress was a historic moment for Indigenous Peoples and local communities from the  major forest basins to unite and shape a common vision  for transformative change in national and international policies on forest protection, land rights, and direct access to  finance. We echo their call: Respect, recognize, and protect their rights—not only as a call for justice, but as a condition for the planet’s survival.” said Bonaventure Bondo, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa. 

    “Our knowledge and stewardship are central to the health of the planet,” added Valentine Engobo, an Indigenous leader from Lokolama in the Congo Basin. “We look forward to seeing these commitments translate into tangible actions, especially at COP30, where our voices must  be heard and our rights recognized.”

    From the Amazon to the Papua, Indigenous leaders echoed a resounding message: protecting forests means respecting the people who protect them.

    “Indigenous peoples are the true custodians of the Amazon rainforest,” said Romulo Batista, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil. “We call on world leaders to honour their role in combating climate change and protecting our territories.”

    “This first congress leaves a great legacy, which is the dialogue and articulation at a global level of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities,” said Mario Nicacio, Member of the supervisory board of the Podaali Indigenous Fund. “While discussing common problems, we discussed solutions, access to natural resources, our territories and access to direct funding for our funds and organisations.”

    “The Borneo-Mekong and Papua’s forests are vital to climate stability,” said Amos Sumbung, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “But our communities can’t do it alone, We need genuine international backing.”

    “This is just the beginning,” said Troyanus Kalami, an Indigenous leader from Moi, in the Papua region. “Our territories must be respected, and our wisdom must help shape the future of global climate solutions.”

    The Congress culminated in  a historic Declaration, a collective document outlining the priorities, demands, and commitments of these communities in response to the escalating climate and biodiversity crises. The Declaration urgently calls for the legal recognition and protection of Indigenous territories, direct financing for local communities, and full participation in environmental and climate governance. Here are the key outcomes of the final Declaration:

    • Territorial Recognition and Protection – A global call for governments to legally recognise and uphold Indigenous land rights, including for peoples in voluntary isolation;
    • End to Criminalisation and Violence – A strong appeal for an international convention to protect environmental human rights defenders and to stop persecution of Indigenous leaders;
    • Full and Effective Participation – A demand for the inclusion of women, youth, and community representatives in climate and environmental decision-making processes ;
    • Direct and Transparent Financing – A request for at least 40% of climate and biodiversity finance to go directly to Indigenous and local community organisations, without intermediaries. 
    • Moratorium on Destructive Activities – A demand to halt fossil fuel extraction, large-scale agribusiness, and mining projects on Indigenous lands.;
    • Call to Global Action Towards COP30 – A formal request for the President of the Republic of Congo to host a high-level dialogue among forest basin countries during COP30.

    Greenpeace Africa affirms that this congress marks a watershed moment, serving as a turning point in the struggles of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities  not to be any longer sidelined in decision-making but recognised as custodians and leaders of global forest protection and climate action.

    END

    Contacts

    Raphael Mavambu, Media and Communications, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa

    MIL OSI NGO –