Category: Latin America

MIL-OSI USA: Díaz-Balart, Giménez, Salazar Applaud President Daniel Noboa’s Leadership, U.S.-Ecuador Security Cooperation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), House Appropriations Vice Chair and Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee; Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security; and María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement commending Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s leadership as a valued and key partner in the region:

“We commend President Daniel Noboa’s leadership and continued commitment to advancing regional security and stability. Under his Administration, Ecuador has become a valued partner in combatting transnational drug trafficking, countering Communist China’s malign influence, and addressing the illegal and damaging fishing activities near the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

“As the people of Ecuador prepare to cast their votes in this crucial election on Sunday, April 13, it is imperative that Ecuador continue strengthening its democratic institutions and deepening its commitment to transparency and the rule of law. We look forward to our countries continuing to expand our defense and security cooperation, which will enhance joint efforts to address critical challenges in the region while upholding our shared democratic values.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico

Source: Huawei

Headline: Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico

[Merida, Mexico, April 14, 2025] At the recent 2025 Tech4Nature Summit, Huawei, International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN), and local partners launched Phase Two of the Mexico Tech4Nature project, which aims to strengthen the protection of jaguars in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve and study the effects of climate change on biodiversity.
Alongside Huawei and IUCN, the launch was officiated by Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the State Government of Yucatán, and local partner C-Minds.
“In Mexico, 42% of our country’s ecosystems face some degree of degradation that we have to work towards solving. This involves monitoring and a lot of restoration work, but it also means something more important, which is precisely what we’re seeing thanks to this alliance,” said Dr. Marina Robles García, Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico.
Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature is a global partnership launched by Huawei and IUCN in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation.
“Today we celebrate a shared vision, a vision that understands that conservation can no longer depend solely on good intentions or isolated policies. We need science, technology, empowered communities, and committed governments,” said Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of Yucatán in Mexico, at the 2025 Tech4Nature Summit.
Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, the jaguar is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. To contribute to its conservation, the first phase of the project installed 60 audio devices and more than 20 camera traps in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve. Using trained AI models, the system is able to recognize the vocalizations and images of species that inhabit the reserve. By April 2025, the solution had identified a total of 147 species and confirmed the presence of nine jaguars in the territory.
The second phase of the project focuses on gathering data about the distribution of jaguar populations, and providing data-driven insights to support decision-making and improve reserve management with a view to creating a biological corridor.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit brought together experts, scientists, and conservation leaders from around the world to share advances and strategies in technology-driven nature conservation.
“Digital technology is making biodiversity conservation much more efficient and helping governments and conservationists take faster, more targeted action,” said Tao Jingwen, Director of the Board and Director of the Corporate Sustainable Development Committee for Huawei. “I want to call on more of our partners to join the Tech4Nature initiative to make digital technology a common tool for global ecosystem conservation.”
As well as Mexico, the summit explored Tech4Nature Phase Two projects in Brazil, China, Spain, Kenya, and Türkiye, showcasing how digital technologies and AI analytics can be adapted to the specific needs of diverse ecosystems.
“Building on our momentum so far, we look forward to the second phase of this partnership with great anticipation. This new chapter will address six countries, promoting transformative change for species, ecosystems, and their communities,” said Úrsula Parrilla, Director, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC) for IUCN. “By integrating technology into large-scale conservation, we contribute to global goals that seek to put nature at the center of decision-making for sustainable development.”
Tech4Nature phase two projects
Brazil will study the impact of climate change on Marajó Island and monitor the mangrove crab as an indicator of ecosystem health.
China uses networked digital solutions and AI analytics to track and support the repopulation of the world’s rarest primate, the Hainan gibbon, just 42 of which remain in existence.
Spain aims to protect the Bonelli’s eagle in Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park by using digital technologies to analyze the impact of park visitors on the eagles’ reproductive success.
Kenya aims to improve monitoring in protected marine areas and coral reef in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve to help tackle issues such as illegal fishing and pressure from tourism, and monitor the parrot fish, which helps coral survive.
Türkiye represents a pioneering collaboration between NGOs, the private sector, and the government to evaluate biodiversity protection, with a focus on large mammals, including the fallow deer and wild goat in two pilot sites.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit attested to how collaboration between the technology sector, NGOs, governments, academic institutions, and local communities has created a new paradigm for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico

Source: Huawei

Headline: Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico

[Merida, Mexico, April 14, 2025] At the recent 2025 Tech4Nature Summit, Huawei, International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN), and local partners launched Phase Two of the Mexico Tech4Nature project, which aims to strengthen the protection of jaguars in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve and study the effects of climate change on biodiversity.
Alongside Huawei and IUCN, the launch was officiated by Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the State Government of Yucatán, and local partner C-Minds.
“In Mexico, 42% of our country’s ecosystems face some degree of degradation that we have to work towards solving. This involves monitoring and a lot of restoration work, but it also means something more important, which is precisely what we’re seeing thanks to this alliance,” said Dr. Marina Robles García, Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico.
Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature is a global partnership launched by Huawei and IUCN in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation.
“Today we celebrate a shared vision, a vision that understands that conservation can no longer depend solely on good intentions or isolated policies. We need science, technology, empowered communities, and committed governments,” said Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of Yucatán in Mexico, at the 2025 Tech4Nature Summit.
Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, the jaguar is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. To contribute to its conservation, the first phase of the project installed 60 audio devices and more than 20 camera traps in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve. Using trained AI models, the system is able to recognize the vocalizations and images of species that inhabit the reserve. By April 2025, the solution had identified a total of 147 species and confirmed the presence of nine jaguars in the territory.
The second phase of the project focuses on gathering data about the distribution of jaguar populations, and providing data-driven insights to support decision-making and improve reserve management with a view to creating a biological corridor.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit brought together experts, scientists, and conservation leaders from around the world to share advances and strategies in technology-driven nature conservation.
“Digital technology is making biodiversity conservation much more efficient and helping governments and conservationists take faster, more targeted action,” said Tao Jingwen, Director of the Board and Director of the Corporate Sustainable Development Committee for Huawei. “I want to call on more of our partners to join the Tech4Nature initiative to make digital technology a common tool for global ecosystem conservation.”
As well as Mexico, the summit explored Tech4Nature Phase Two projects in Brazil, China, Spain, Kenya, and Türkiye, showcasing how digital technologies and AI analytics can be adapted to the specific needs of diverse ecosystems.
“Building on our momentum so far, we look forward to the second phase of this partnership with great anticipation. This new chapter will address six countries, promoting transformative change for species, ecosystems, and their communities,” said Úrsula Parrilla, Director, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC) for IUCN. “By integrating technology into large-scale conservation, we contribute to global goals that seek to put nature at the center of decision-making for sustainable development.”
Tech4Nature phase two projects
Brazil will study the impact of climate change on Marajó Island and monitor the mangrove crab as an indicator of ecosystem health.
China uses networked digital solutions and AI analytics to track and support the repopulation of the world’s rarest primate, the Hainan gibbon, just 42 of which remain in existence.
Spain aims to protect the Bonelli’s eagle in Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park by using digital technologies to analyze the impact of park visitors on the eagles’ reproductive success.
Kenya aims to improve monitoring in protected marine areas and coral reef in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve to help tackle issues such as illegal fishing and pressure from tourism, and monitor the parrot fish, which helps coral survive.
Türkiye represents a pioneering collaboration between NGOs, the private sector, and the government to evaluate biodiversity protection, with a focus on large mammals, including the fallow deer and wild goat in two pilot sites.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit attested to how collaboration between the technology sector, NGOs, governments, academic institutions, and local communities has created a new paradigm for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese NEVs gain popularity abroad

Source: China State Council Information Office

China-made new energy vehicles are becoming popular in overseas markets, which is expected to fuel the upward spiral of the country’s vehicle exports.

In March, NEV makers operating in the country, including foreign ones such as Tesla, shipped more than 143,000 vehicles overseas, up 6.4 percent compared with same period last year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.

The continuous rise came when exports of passenger cars fell 8 percent to 391,000 units that month.

For NEVs, Europe and Southeast Asia are among the top destinations. Last week, BYD introduced its alternative premium brand, Denza, to the European market with a brand launch in Milan, Italy.

Denza unveiled the Z9 GT station wagon at the Milan Design Week, which ran from April 6 to 13. The model is expected to hit European showrooms in the fourth quarter.

The model impressed attendees with its signature features, including parking assist, high-speed tire blowout stability control, extreme steering capabilities, a tight turning circle, and intelligent crab walking capabilities.

Since 2024, the brand has entered several Asian markets, including China’s Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also plans to enter dozens of European countries within the next two years.

State-owned GAC also made a splash at the Milan Design Week, where the Aion UT made its European debut. The electric hatchback, born in the carmaker’s Milan Advanced Design Center, harmonizes Italian design aesthetics with local market preferences.

Among other things, it features a 14.6-inch central touch screen, an 8.88-inch digital instrument display, and Level 2 driving assistance.

Its second-generation Magazine Battery enables fast charging from 30 percent to 80 percent in just 24 minutes. Analysts say the model will take on local European models like the Volkswagen ID.3.

Thomas Schemera, chief operating officer of GAC International, said: “By empowering production through design, we aim to deliver products with outstanding design, top-tier quality, and pioneering technology — ultimately creating better mobility experiences for European consumers.”

The growing popularity of Chinese NEVs is expected to boost the country’s total vehicle exports this year.

The trade conflict between the United States and China won’t have much effect on domestic automakers, as the US is a tiny market for Chinese cars, the CPCA said.

China shipped a total of 6.41 million vehicles overseas in 2024, a surge of 23 percent year-on-year. The top five countries driving China’s growth in vehicle exports were Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, some carmakers are stepping up efforts to produce vehicles in overseas markets.

Chery was the first to establish a European manufacturing plant. Located in Barcelona, Spain, the plant will produce Chery’s Omoda 5 SUV, among other models.

Chery, the partner of British premium carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is also planning to set up a $1 billion plant in Turkiye, Bloomberg reported in late March, citing the country’s industry ministry.

It will make EVs and components at the new facility in Samsun, which will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, said the media group.

These strategic moves underscore Chinese automakers’ dedication to establishing a robust international presence, leveraging technological innovation, and localized production to navigate the complexities of global trade and meet diverse consumer preferences, said analysts.

MIL OSI China News –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President engages South African Council of Churches

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hosted the first engagement between government and the leadership of the church since the start of the Seventh Administration.

The President hosted the leadership of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday under the banner of the Government of National Unity.

The meeting presented an opportunity for the SACC to introduce its new and recently elected leadership.

“We welcome the opportunity to be introduced to the new leadership of the SACC and to discuss matters that concern the church and the people of South Africa,” the President said.
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues of national interest ranging from the National Dialogue initiative, government’s ongoing fight against crime and corruption and the access of state services.

President Ramaphosa committed that the National Dialogue will bring together all sectors of society and encourage the participation of all South Africans.

“Importantly, the National Dialogue must be informed by extensive public consultation in localities facilitated by various sectors of society. It needs to give a voice to those in society who are not often heard, to people who are marginalised, to those who are most vulnerable to poverty, violence and exploitation,” the President said.

It is envisaged that the National Dialogue will build on the achievements of 30 years of democracy.

Among other things, it will need to address challenges of low growth and job creation, poverty and hunger, governance, corruption and fiscal constraints. It will also need to address gender-based violence and femicide, social fragmentation, racism and sexism, violence and the potential for instability.

Government also briefed the SACC on South Africa’s Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency along with regional and international issues of concern.

“The meeting heard about government’s ongoing work in implementing the recommendations of the State Capture Commission. This includes criminal investigations and prosecutions, the recovery of stolen funds, legislative amendments and strengthening institutions.

“Furthermore, government remains focused on strengthening and resourcing key institutions in the criminal justice system, like the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority], Hawks and SIU [Special Investigating Unit], this includes the establishment of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption as a permanent entity to prosecute state capture and other significant corruption cases,” the Presidency said.

The President also committed government’s support for greater cooperation between churches and government bodies that are on the frontline of providing services to people – most notably the Departments of Home Affairs and Social Development.
He highlighted South Africa’s drive for an inclusive G20.

The President said dialogue with civil society and other non-government institutions will be conducted through various engagement groups.

“Following the approach of the Brazilian Presidency, a G20 Social Forum will be convened. This will bring together representatives of the existing engagement groups and other segments of civil society including various faith formations.

“The President assured the church leaders that South Africa will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy and will not align itself with any of the major powers or blocs in the world,” the Presidency said.

Ramaphosa asserted that South Africa remains engaged in efforts to bring about peace and stability in various parts of our region and continent, especially through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union initiatives.
“South Africa continues to use its participation in fora like the G20, BRICS, Non-Aligned Movement, African Union and United Nations to advance a rules-based multilateralism that is fair and inclusive. We are committed to the reform of global institutions to ensure that they represent the needs and interests of all countries,” the President said. –SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme Welcome Five New Young Leaders to Generation17

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics today announced the addition of five new Young Leaders to Generation17, an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that supports young changemakers driving progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the ‘Global Goals.’

Since launching Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have supported Young Leaders from across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, addressing critical issues that span all 17 Global Goals. The partnership has provided these Young Leaders with the latest Samsung Galaxy technology, along with networking and mentorship opportunities, to amplify their stories and advance their work. The newest cohort, focused on advancing solutions in marine conservation, environmental sustainability, gender equality and quality education, reflects Samsung’s continued commitment to a more equitable future for all.

“As we accelerate efforts to achieve the Global Goals, we are proud to welcome the next cohort of Young Leaders to Generation17,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Their passion, creativity and commitment to addressing global challenges embody the spirit of innovation that fuels meaningful change. We look forward to seeing how these five new Young Leaders will leverage technology for good to inspire action, mobilize communities and create lasting impact for a more sustainable and equitable world.”

Five Global Changemakers
The newest Generation17 Young Leaders were selected from hundreds of applicants and bring new areas of expertise to the initiative, expanding the reach of Generation17. As members of the Generation17 community, they will leverage technology and global platforms to advocate for the issues that matter most to them.

Brigitta Gunawan (Indonesia) — An ocean-climate advocate who has engaged with over 15,000 people in 100+ locations with environmental education and marine conservation opportunities through her organizations 30×30 Indonesia and Diverseas.

“At 17, it struck me that we were nothing but a small speck in a big world that remains largely unexplored — that if we continued as bystanders, we would see this fragile ecosystem cripple within our lifetime — so there I was, ready to co-create a future where people and planet prosper.”

José Francisco Ochoa (Ecuador) — A biologist and co-founder of Academia del Océano, an edtech platform promoting marine conservation, digital tools and sustainability in Spanish-speaking communities, equipping thousands with the tools to protect marine ecosystems.

“The ocean sustains life, yet many don’t realize how deeply connected we are to it. We must embrace innovation, education and collective action to protect our blue planet before it’s too late.”

Renata Koch Alvarenga (Brazil) — Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led organization advocating for climate justice by addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and promoting girls’ climate action.

“Climate disasters are exacerbating gender inequality, but through the Global Goals, we can raise awareness of the need for women’s leadership in climate decision-making and ensure no one is left behind.”

Rahaf Abu Mayyaleh (Jordan) — A climate activist, sustainable technology advocate and founder of IBTKRGO, which develops eco-friendly educational kits using recyclable materials, including e-waste, to empower youth with digital skills.

“Green technology is key to a sustainable future, and young innovators have the power to lead this transformation. Through IBTKRGO, I strive to bridge the gap between technology and sustainability, ensuring solutions that serve both people and the planet.”

Soumya Dabriwal (India) — Co-founder of Project Baala, a social enterprise addressing menstrual hygiene and reproductive health access through innovative solutions, including the sustainable distribution of reusable sanitary products and educational initiatives to de-stigmatize women’s health while generating employment for women.

“Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is a fundamental human right. Through collective advocacy and innovation, we can break barriers, challenge stigmas and build a world where everyone has the freedom and resources to make informed choices about their own bodies and futures.”

Elevating Youth Voices for Global Action
Since the launch of Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have partnered to empower Young Leaders — helping them amplify their stories and accelerate their efforts to drive meaningful change in communities across the world. Additionally, the initiative provides opportunities for Young Leaders to showcase their impact on a global scale.

In the coming months, these Young Leaders will attend various major global events, where they will engage with policymakers, innovators and fellow changemakers. Through these platforms, they will contribute to international conversations on sustainable development and drive tangible progress toward the Global Goals, ensuring that youth voices play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future.

This year, Generation17 alum Tamara Gondo took the stage at Samsung’s Galaxy Tech Forum, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability and the power of collaboration with like-minded partners to tackle worldwide challenges. She also shared how the initiative has helped scale her organization’s impact since she joined in 2022.

“Young people are the future of global development, and with fewer than five years left to achieve the Global Goals, the time to act is now,” said Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP. “Through our long-standing partnership with Samsung, we are empowering youth to advance solutions that address climate and human rights challenges and to inspire a new generation to join the fight for a more sustainable and just future.”

Generation17 reflects the shared commitment of Samsung and UNDP to harness technology for positive impact. Their collaboration began in 2019 with the launch of the Samsung Global Goals App — a mobile platform that educates users about the Goals while enabling them to contribute through everyday use of their Galaxy devices. As detailed in Samsung’s Global Goals Report, as of September 2024, the app has been installed on nearly 300 million Samsung Galaxy devices worldwide — including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches — and has helped generate more than $20 million USD to support UNDP’s global environmental and social initiatives.

About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.undp.org.

About Generation17
Generation17 is an initiative from Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that elevates the voices of Young Leaders who are changing the world and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or ‘Global Goals.’ Samsung and UNDP are providing mentorship, technology and networking opportunities for the Young Leaders as they advance their work. Learn more at www.undp.org/generation17.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Daniel Noboa elected president of Ecuador

Source: China State Council Information Office

Daniel Noboa, the incumbent president of Ecuador, was re-elected in the second round of the presidential election held Sunday for a four-year term, according to the initial results released by the National Electoral Council.

MIL OSI China News –

April 14, 2025

MIL-OSI Australia: 2023 Australian CRS reportable accounts by jurisdiction

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Limitations of the CRS report

The Total accounts column represents the number of Financial Accounts held by foreign tax residents; it does not represent the number of foreign tax residents holding accounts. An account holder may be a tax resident of multiple jurisdictions, so accounts may be reported more than once.

The Balance ($A) column represents the total balance or value of the Financial Assets held in the accounts. The figure includes:

cash
securities
bonds
commodities
partnership interests
debt interests and equity interests.

Where an account is held by more than one account holder, the balance or value is attributed in full to each account holder. Where an account is held by a passive non-financial entity, such as a trust, the value of the equity interest is attributed in full to each controlling person. These accounts will be reported in the Total accounts and Balance ($A) columns more than once.

Table: CRS statistics tabled by the Minister
Jurisdiction	Total Accounts	Balance (AUD)
Afghanistan	11070	$95,581,415
Aland Islands	693	$3,871,473
Albania	728	$10,764,088
Algeria	515	$10,363,535
American Samoa	555	$7,413,499
Andorra	1355	$101,244,778
Angola	296	$10,861,848
Anguilla	166	$1,170,312
Antigua and Barbuda	234	$3,613,577
Argentina	43207	$239,451,920
Armenia	725	$5,711,104
Aruba	510	$18,999,978
Austria	16740	$394,878,370
Azerbaijan	893	$29,236,263
Bahamas	1044	$232,452,443
Bahrain	1944	$70,119,634
Bangladesh	29473	$229,111,457
Barbados	378	$15,992,240
Belarus	564	$6,673,642
Belgium	11622	$328,051,334
Belize	141	$1,882,633
Benin	147	$4,016,713
Bermuda	802	$1,003,121,189
Bhutan	33564	$129,472,928
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)	644	$4,267,066
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba	65	$320,289
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1015	$18,562,691
Botswana	1551	$74,047,155
Brazil	115912	$665,938,179
Brunei Darussalam	4830	$175,136,606
Bulgaria	1168	$30,359,474
Burkina Faso	209	$6,083,998
Burundi	359	$1,251,294
Cabo Verde	57	$801,533
Cambodia	13543	$310,460,409
Cameroon	286	$12,837,192
Canada	131945	$4,655,911,312
Cayman Islands	1261	$2,287,140,562
Central African Republic (The)	65	$1,886,237
Chad	47	$1,931,612
Chile	34790	$184,569,286
China	1168312	$35,846,564,031
Colombia	117549	$329,328,309
Comoros	202	$1,192,041
Congo (Democratic Republic of The)	955	$15,603,703
Congo (The)	592	$5,826,658
Cook Islands	966	$15,755,625
Costa Rica	737	$9,190,245
Cote d’Ivoire	154	$12,847,535
Croatia	2570	$91,851,975
Cuba	270	$3,587,708
Curacao	63	$489,577
Cyprus	2728	$174,738,630
Czech Republic	5737	$138,163,643
Denmark	13370	$711,421,080
Djibouti	56	$94,469
Dominica	118	$20,557,976
Dominican Republic	6717	$219,006,335
Ecuador	4375	$24,093,968
Egypt	7828	$130,461,587
El Salvador	549	$4,583,826
Equatorial Guinea	43	$5,787,039
Eritrea	574	$3,235,597
Estonia	5283	$19,768,874
Ethiopia	2203	$22,578,132
Falkland Islands [Malvinas]	100	$662,808
Faroe Islands (The)	45	$320,055
Fiji	33661	$418,588,501
Finland	7518	$243,196,353
France	88770	$1,312,556,582
French Guiana	63	$1,169,649
French Polynesia	1466	$144,692,251
Gabon	95	$254,579
Gambia	98	$1,040,902
Georgia	519	$14,078,846
Germany	97566	$2,136,961,996
Ghana	3662	$45,920,708
Gibraltar	271	$98,559,288
Greece	18433	$874,732,119
Greenland	34	$1,090,263
Grenada	45	$860,469
Guadeloupe	59	$1,397,246
Guam	567	$22,049,141
Guatemala	609	$4,477,478
Guernsey	709	$188,289,280
Guinea	467	$16,333,658
Guinea-Bissau	22	$52,235
Guyana	145	$5,865,208
Haiti	79	$3,315,500
Holy See (The)	31	$223,543
Honduras	284	$3,912,750
Hong Kong	417259	$19,652,979,316
Hungary	4166	$89,013,732
Iceland	706	$9,559,465
India	541071	$3,337,392,017
Indonesia	141551	$2,447,310,574
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	25484	$220,602,656
Iraq	5657	$47,263,403
Ireland	99386	$1,184,004,246
Isle of man	755	$77,412,757
Israel	14404	$870,500,826
Italy	61111	$1,042,858,008
Jamaica	502	$10,346,693
Japan	122031	$2,930,986,700
Jersey	1191	$1,500,635,721
Jordan	3192	$51,114,032
Kazakhstan	2762	$76,557,742
Kenya	19121	$167,004,133
Kiribati	1728	$27,628,158
Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of)	1300	$11,985,623
Korea (The Republic of)	120329	$692,796,653
Kuwait	2278	$59,151,943
Kyrgyzstan	253	$10,798,328
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic	3950	$56,663,831
Latvia	662	$19,990,384
Lebanon	4658	$77,228,058
Lesotho	76	$1,552,742
Liberia	331	$7,577,445
Libya	321	$5,848,095
Liechtenstein	115	$2,373,413
Lithuania	1572	$17,114,640
Luxembourg	1269	$1,281,207,061
Macao	8485	$557,432,905
Madagascar	302	$4,468,823
Malawi	602	$7,546,068
Malaysia	207495	$9,736,791,971
Maldives	1145	$9,633,668
Mali	204	$6,447,711
Malta	3940	$266,412,830
Marshall Islands (The)	142	$267,119,933
Martinique	54	$348,133
Mauritania	107	$2,254,652
Mauritius	7436	$190,515,176
Mayotte	43	$89,402
Mexico	12583	$107,075,070
Micronesia (Federated States of)	147	$15,869,862
Moldova (The Republic of)	251	$2,923,446
Monaco	655	$148,818,123
Mongolia	18288	$90,339,348
Montenegro	244	$25,032,609
Montserrat	5287	$264,020,964
Morocco	919	$34,620,243
Mozambique	551	$16,987,061
Myanmar	10713	$94,691,582
Namibia	852	$28,134,752
Nauru	1258	$71,353,711
Nepal	151948	$530,415,177
Netherlands (The)	38960	$5,741,717,769
New Caledonia	14843	$946,289,722
New Zealand	593810	$13,924,735,966
Nicaragua	212	$1,863,857
Niger (The)	118	$4,131,203
Nigeria	8518	$59,998,862
Niue	63	$457,441
Northern Mariana Islands (The)	86	$1,940,793
Norway	12085	$116,151,200
Oman	2919	$53,732,678
Pakistan	40606	$233,873,735
Palau	90	$2,489,305
Palestine, State of	490	$4,307,127
Panama	817	$22,319,621
Papua New Guinea	20645	$1,000,357,988
Paraguay	611	$4,606,315
Peru	8102	$93,464,956
Philippines	149788	$1,081,032,048
Pitcairn	42	$2,255,280
Poland	10216	$183,398,727
Portugal	8340	$364,367,730
Puerto Rico	111	$1,240,149
Qatar	5561	$199,292,806
Republic of North Macedonia	2098	$48,970,081
Reunion	198	$5,016,186
Romania	2257	$33,817,593
Russian Federation	13479	$311,237,493
Rwanda	349	$2,900,073
Saint Barthelemy	43	$132,991
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	19	$53,689
Saint Kitts and Nevis	164	$65,704,365
Saint Lucia	99	$11,339,027
Saint Martin (French part)	24	$1,272,193
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines	54	$648,955
Samoa	5642	$12,252,804
San Marino	22	$225,736
Sao Tome and Principe	16	$47,212
Saudi Arabia	17461	$290,408,054
Senegal	246	$17,019,253
Serbia	2765	$61,671,117
Seychelles	747	$66,081,694
Sierra Leone	518	$59,985,702
Singapore	216492	$16,932,866,043
Sint Maarten (Dutch)	44	$2,030,457
Slovakia	2683	$34,211,553
Slovenia	1143	$31,256,112
Solomon Islands	5670	$107,624,274
Somalia	419	$883,615
South Africa	85705	$3,036,112,507
South Sudan	409	$1,439,169
Spain	34964	$615,458,859
Sri Lanka	59417	$496,470,828
Sudan	1369	$9,428,890
Suriname	99	$808,495
Swaziland	491	$11,837,248
Sweden	24838	$395,550,321
Switzerland	27602	$2,522,289,323
Syrian Arab Republic	3146	$16,259,175
Taiwan (Province of China)	215091	$5,182,123,415
Tajikistan	150	$6,070,527
Tanzania, United Republic of	1483	$28,785,672
Thailand	115526	$1,671,533,990
Timor-Leste	5625	$103,220,105
Togo	50	$392,068
Tokelau	34	$94,511
Tonga	10335	$27,905,071
Trinidad and Tobago	429	$10,964,301
Tunisia	505	$42,954,529
Turkey	12815	$123,250,809
Turkmenistan	80	$269,557
Turks and Caicos Islands (The)	62	$12,992,454
Tuvalu	332	$24,161,951
Uganda	1469	$26,010,162
Ukraine	6358	$57,835,515
United Arab Emirates	34016	$1,525,677,609
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The)	650226	$15,897,900,722
United States Minor Outlying Islands (The)	616	$17,009,421
United States of America (The)	607512	$32,140,613,865
Uruguay	2967	$20,416,335
Uzbekistan	843	$14,924,835
Vanuatu	12745	$166,367,754
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	3429	$16,703,255
Vietnam	108399	$1,368,106,502
Virgin Islands (British)	664	$1,583,993,488
Virgin Islands (U.S.)	86	$12,262,261
Wallis and Futuna	79	$735,705
Western Sahara	54	$172,955
Yemen	436	$3,698,663
Zambia	2508	$52,915,353
Zimbabwe	8557	$181,025,534

MIL OSI News –

April 14, 2025

MIL-OSI China: China, Vietnam to consolidate trade ties

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

The economic and trade ties between China and Vietnam are expected to rise to a new level, driven by the two countries’ highly complementary trade structures, Vietnam’s modernization drive and the growing influence of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, according to market watchers and exporters.

Amid rising protectionism and unilateral challenges, China and Vietnam are pressing ahead with industrial upgrading and digital transformation, positioning themselves to tap into new growth opportunities across key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green energy, smart logistics, e-commerce and regional supply chain integration, they said.

United by common aspirations for sustainable growth and economic resilience, the two countries are on track to forge even deeper and more dynamic economic ties in the years to come, said Wan Zhe, a professor specializing in regional economic development at Beijing Normal University.

Bilateral business relations have witnessed remarkable progress, especially in recent years, with Vietnam introducing key national strategies such as the National Green Growth Strategy for 2021-2030, vision towards 2050; the National Strategy on R&D and Application of Artificial Intelligence; and the National Strategy for 4th Industrial Revolution.

Wan said that these forward-looking initiatives have significantly enhanced Vietnam’s appeal as a destination for investment and innovation, attracting a substantial influx of Chinese and foreign capital and technologies over the past several years.

“This growing synergy has laid a strong foundation for deeper economic and technological collaboration between the two countries,” she added.

Vietnam has become a key overseas investment destination for China. In 2024, from January to August, Chinese companies invested $1.97 billion in the Southeast Asian country, maintaining a rapid rate of growth, according to the latest data released by China’s Ministry of Commerce.

Benefiting from a booming intermediate goods trade, the rising freight volume on the China-Vietnam Railway and substantial gains resulting from the RCEP and the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Vietnam trade surged 14.6 percent year-on-year to 1.85 trillion yuan ($254.05 billion) in 2024, statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs showed.

This momentum continued in the first two months of this year, with the value of bilateral trade rising 8.2 percent on an annual basis to 270.96 billion yuan, customs data showed.

China’s exports to Vietnam include machinery, telecommunication equipment, electronic components, industrial raw materials, trains, ships, trucks, household appliances and construction materials.

In addition to agricultural and aquatic products such as seafood, fruits, coffee and rice, Vietnam’s exports to China include smartphones, computers, rubber, footwear, garments and furniture.

In the medium to long term, China and Vietnam are more likely to deepen industrial complementarity and division of labor rather than engage in direct competition, said Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.

“This is because both countries are at different stages of development and have distinct strengths,” said Gao, adding China leads in high-end manufacturing and technological capabilities, while Vietnam offers advantages in assembly industries and young and high-quality workers.

On top of this, free trade deals with various economies, such as the EU (European Union)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, have opened up opportunities, he added.

Echoing that sentiment, Lan Qingxin, a professor specializing in cross-border investment studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that compared with other Southeast Asian countries as well as India and Mexico, Vietnam holds a competitive edge and market potential due to its proximity to China and its friendly foreign investment policies.

This complementary dynamic fosters a win-win partnership, reinforcing the depth and resilience of China-Vietnam economic ties, said Lan.

Ningbo Dafa Chemical Fiber Co, a textile and chemical raw materials manufacturer in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has been actively exploring new possibilities in the Vietnamese market.

“Vietnam has a well-developed furniture manufacturing industry, which drives strong demand for textile yarns and synthetic fiber materials. Our products are mainly used for furniture padding and bedding production,” said Wang Ling, the company’s sales director.

Ningbo Dafa’s exports to Vietnam grew by 10.3 percent year-on-year to 20.64 million yuan in the first two months of this year, according to Ningbo Customs.

MIL OSI China News –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Terminations at U.S. government agencies that monitor extreme weather events will have negative effects

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Gordon McBean, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography and Environment, Western University

A weather station in Santa Cruz, Calif. Cuts to government agencies monitoring the weather will increase the impacts of extreme weather events. (Shutterstock)

In August 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report confirmed that the climate is warming and the impacts will be widespread and more intense than anticipated.

In 2023, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released the Weather, Water, and Climate Strategy (2023-27) for the United States and around the world.

The strategy addresses the risks to lives, property, economies and ecosystems that are increasing at an alarming rate due to the warming planet. It highlights that U.S. citizens are in harm’s way, infrastructure is increasingly outdated and at risk and, in many places, not designed for new environmental realities and extreme weather events.

In February 2025, Donald Trump’s administration reduced the government’s size. The NOAA was severely affected, experiencing budget cuts and the termination of about 800 employees’ positions. NOAA is a critically important government organization, and includes the National Weather Service (NWS).

Recent developments regarding science and scholarship in the U.S., including major reductions in federal research funding and censorship around topics such as climate change and gender, are forcing many U.S. science agencies and research organizations to abruptly suspend normal operations.

As former assistant deputy minister of the Meteorological Service of Environment Canada between 1994 and 2000, I regularly met with my colleagues at the NWS and other weather agencies. We worked together to share information to provide the best weather services possible in our countries.

Climate and misinformation

In January of this year, the World Economic Forum released its Global Risks Report. This ranked the global risks that could have major impacts on the global population, GDP or natural resources in the short term (two years) and long term (10 years).

For the short term, the top risk identified is “misinformation and disinformation,” with “extreme weather events” being the second-highest risk. Extreme weather events include storms, floods, wildfires, heat and others, with a warming climate leading to more severity and impacts. By geography, extreme weather events is ranked as the highest risk for Northern America and most other regions.

The risks due to misinformation and extreme weather events are interconnected. If an extreme weather event is about to occur and people are not informed, or are misinformed, about the occurrence and risks, they do not take actions to reduce exposure and vulnerability, resulting in higher impacts.

Impacts of layoffs

Because of the importance of the NOAA, NWS and other climate research bodies, many have spoken out about the negative impacts of these job terminations and budget reductions.

The NWS has developed leading weather forecast models by working with the academic and global science communities, and partners with others beyond national borders to share their data. The multi-year development and implementation of these weather systems has led to high quality and reliable information for weather, climate and ocean situations.

One example is science journalist Andy Revkin, who referred to Trump’s actions as “The Dangerous Trump Purge of Weather and Climate Expertise.” In his Substack, Revkin writes:

“There’s an enormous, and justified surge of criticism from private-sector and academic meteorologists from across the political spectrum over the purge of expertise and supporting staff under way at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service.”

Meteorologists Jeff Masters and Bob Henson wrote that “cuts to U.S. weather and climate research could put public safety at risk… and slow emergency disaster response and weaken resilience efforts.”

Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College London, stated that the “mass job termination” will have major negative impacts across the U.S. and nearby countries, such as Canada. This will be due to reduced aviation and shipping safety; lack of information for communities to respond to severe weather; safety assessments for search-and-rescue; and other concerns.

Alarming increases

With a warming climate, the impacts of extreme weather events are rising around most of the world. The year 2024, the warmest on record, was also the single-most expensive year on record in terms of Canadian insurance payouts of C$8.5 billion, with the number of catastrophe claims exceeding 273,000. Disaster costs in the U.S. also increased with many billion-dollar events.

On Oct. 17, 2024, NOAA shared initial imagery from the GOES-19 lightning mapper showing lightning activity in two extremely hazardous hurricanes – Helene and Milton — on Sept. 24.
(GOES-19/NOAA)

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused 228 deaths and economic losses assessed at US$78.7 billion. In advance of Helene’s landfall, states of emergency in Florida and Georgia were declared by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The U.S. Air Force Weather Reconnaissance Squadron provided information for the NHC to upgrade the storm to Tropical Storm Helene. Follow-up research by the World Weather Attribution concluded with “high confidence” that Helene was made worse by climate change.

Reliance on observation and collaboration

Forecasting extreme weather events relies on observational systems that provide weather information over a significant area which extends beyond a country. In North America, the U.S. weather forecasts rely on information from Canada, Mexico and countries across the Gulf of Mexico, and vice versa.

The World Meteorological Organization, the UN’s lead agency on weather and climate, co-ordinates international co-operation for the free and unrestricted exchange of data and information, products and services in real time. This is critical for the safety and security of society, economic welfare and protection of the environment.

With the NOAA’s reductions in resources, there will be negative impacts across all services in the U.S. and on the effective sharing of data between internationally collaborating weather services.

These cuts to NOAA also relate to broad concern about impacts on science. The European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities has expressed grave concern over the escalating threats to academic freedom, both in the U.S. and beyond.

Gordon McBean receives funding from Western University and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction to undertake research on building climate resilient communities. None of my affliations are relevant to this paper.

– ref. Terminations at U.S. government agencies that monitor extreme weather events will have negative effects – https://theconversation.com/terminations-at-u-s-government-agencies-that-monitor-extreme-weather-events-will-have-negative-effects-251314

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 14, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government cuts price of everyday items and summer essentials
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Government cuts price of everyday items and summer essentials

The Government has cut prices on the imports of everyday essentials like spices and juices to boost economic growth.
Prices slashed on 89 foreign products – ranging from pasta, fruit juices and spices to plastics and gardening supplies – over next two years

Cheaper imports will save businesses at least £17 million per year in a further bid to kickstart growth as part of the Plan for Change

Savings could be passed onto families, mixologists and amateur gardeners through lower prices on everyday items and summer essentials

UK committed to economic growth, business security and lower prices through free and open trade

UK businesses and consumers could benefit from lower prices on imports of everyday essentials like spices and juices as the Government takes further action to make the UK the best place to do business and kickstart economic growth.

In a further demonstration of the government’s commitment to free trade and responding to business need, the UK Global Tariff will be temporarily suspended on 89 products saving UK businesses up and down the country at least £17 million a year.

The products include plywood and plastics, which are essential for construction – making life easier for chippies all over the country.

Working in partnership with industry, the government has decided to suspend import tariffs on a whole range of products to lower costs for businesses, tariffs will now be cut to zero until July 2027.

The savings to businesses on products such as pasta, fruit juices, coconut oil and pine nuts could be passed onto consumers just in time for the summer season, meaning lower food prices in supermarkets, restaurants and pubs.

Products including agave syrup, often used in margaritas, and plant bulbs will also see tariffs removed meaning keen cocktail-makers and amateur gardeners could enjoy lowered costs as the warmer weather approaches.

These changes will support key growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy to compete with international rivals, supporting the Government’s Industrial Strategy with the Plan for Change.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Free and open trade grows economies, lowers prices and helps businesses to sell to the world, which is why we’re cutting tariffs on a range of products.

From food to furniture, this will reduce the cost of everyday items for businesses, with savings hopefully passed onto consumers.

As we face a new era of global trade, this government is going further faster to make Britain the best country to do business, delivering on our Plan for Change. These suspensions are just another example of that.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

In a changing world we know families are anxious about the cost of living, and businesses uncertain about their future. That’s why we’ve announced lower prices on imports of everyday essentials – helping businesses to thrive and pass on savings to customers.

Through our Plan for Change we’re supporting British business and putting more money in people’s pockets.

The UK Global Tariff applies to goods entering the UK that do not qualify for preferential treatment under, for example, a free trade agreement.

Businesses across the UK apply for temporary suspensions on a regular basis by providing evidence of the benefits to themselves, their sector and the wider economy.

CBI Europe and International Director Sean McGuire:

In the face of an uncertain and unpredictable global trading environment, government should be commended for suspending import duties on an array of products. Measures like these will be important for reducing the financial pressures on firms and help to drive growth for businesses of all sizes across the country.

The UK has already reduced tariffs on certain imported goods, benefitting British consumers with better choice, quality and prices on products like fruit juices from Peru and vacuum cleaners from Malaysia.

The Government is going further and faster in negotiating trade deals with partners including India, the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Korea and Switzerland which will unlock new opportunities for businesses, support jobs, and boost wages.

These measures come as the government acts swiftly to protect UK businesses and workers in a new era of global trade, through increasing flexibility on the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, cutting the red tape and bureaucracy that slows down clinical trials in the life sciences sector, investing up to £600 million in a new Health Data Research Service and backing a £30 million package to support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport which is expected to support 5,000 jobs and boost the economy by £5 billion. 

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Published 13 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 13, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Montreux Jazz Festival unveils summer line-up, expands intl reach

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

The Montreux Jazz Festival, set for July in Switzerland, has revealed an eclectic lineup blending musical genres and fostering cultural connections between East and West.

Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs and directed by Mathieu Jaton since 2013, the iconic festival will feature a mix of legendary and contemporary artists, including Santana, Alanis Morissette, Pulp, Chaka Khan, FKA twigs, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, RAYE, Noah Kahan, Sam Fender and J Balvin.

“The great opening on the Lake Stage will be with Chaka Khan celebrating 50 years of career and paying tribute to Quincy Jones who passed away this year,” Jaton told Xinhua in an interview.

“There are so many incredible artists, and so we’re very pleased and very honored to welcome all those beautiful musicians to Montreux,” he added.

Jaton highlighted the festival’s spirit of diversity, with a lineup spanning rock, folk, electronic music, jazz, soul, R&B and global hip-hop.

Held in Montreux, nestled between the Alps and Lake Geneva, the festival attracts around 250,000 visitors annually, offering stunning views, top-class acoustics and free stages. It has hosted icons like Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and Elton John over the years.

Since late 1970s, Montreux has expanded globally to cities like Sao Paulo, Detroit, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

“The brand Montreux continues to expand around the world,” Jaton said. “We’re very proud and happy to now have Montreux Jazz Festival China, Montreux Jazz Festival Tokyo, Montreux Jazz Festival Brazil and Montreux Jazz Festival Miami.”

“We also continue our expansion of the Montreux Jazz Cafes and just opened a Montreux Jazz Club in Lausanne in Switzerland,” he added.

In 2021, the festival debuted in China, with the first edition held in Hangzhou under the theme “When West Meets East.” The fourth edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival China, set to take place in Suzhou on Oct. 24-26, is expected to further connect international and Chinese musicians.

Jaton emphasized that building cultural bridges between China and the world remains a priority.

“The team in China has put in a lot of energy to bring the Montreux Jazz Festival to China. The last edition (also in Suzhou) in October was really brilliant. It shows also the potential of the brand’s development in China,” he said.

“I’m sure that the Montreux Jazz Festival China will expand and become a major event in China, which is definitely a very important market for us,” he noted.

MIL OSI China News –

April 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: BexBack Launches New Promotional Packages: 100x Leverage, $50 Bonus, and No KYC for Crypto Traders

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, April 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin continues to trade below $85,000 and analysts predict that the crypto market will remain volatile, holding spot positions may not generate short-term profits. Recent economic shifts, including policy announcements such as President Trump’s tariff decisions, have brought some stabilization, but the volatility remains. For investors seeking to maximize returns in these uncertain times, BexBack Exchange offers a powerful solution. With 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and a $50 welcome bonus for new users, BexBack empowers traders to seize market opportunities. And with no KYC requirements, it provides a seamless and efficient way to trade.

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Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

Suppose the Bitcoin price is $60,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

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With BexBack’s deposit bonus

BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

About BexBack?

BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and more than 50 other major altcoins. Headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, and offers no deposit fees, along with exceptional customer service, including 24/7 support.

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Contact: business@bexback.com

Contact:
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business@bexback.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

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The MIL Network –

April 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: 4 Ways To Help Teens With Phones & The Gran Chaco Forest | WEF | Top Stories Week

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

This week’s top stories of the week include:

0:15 What leaders can learn from dance – In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first-ever Black principal ballerina at American Theatre Ballet. Today, Copeland works to open up ballet to young people from all walks of life through the Misty Copeland Foundation, an NGO she launched in 2022.

3:26 4 ways to help teens with phones – Around 15 years ago, the world changed with huge implications for an entire generation. Smartphones have altered our lives for the better in many ways. But Jonathan Haidt believes that smartphones have also given rise to what he calls the ‘anxious generation’

6:03 Latin America’s Gran Chaco forest – The Gran Chaco spans over 1 million km² across Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and a small portion of Brazil. The Gran Chaco is a mix of savannas, wetlands, and dry tropical forests. It’s home to 3,500 plant, 500 bird and 150 mammal species, including the Chaco eagle.

8:01 How space changes life on earth – 64 years ago, astronaut Yuri Gagarin made humanity’s first trip into space, beginning an era of exploration that has sparked a host of scientific discoveries which have benefited society back here on Earth.
_____________________________________________

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#WorldEconomicForum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78K2ShQKnEA

MIL OSI Video –

April 13, 2025
MIL-OSI China: What to expect from 2025 consumer products expo in China’s Hainan?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MIL OSI China News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: SCHNEIDER JOINS DADS CAUCUS TO CALL OUT IMPACT OF TRUMP TARIFFS ON WORKING FAMILIES

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

Rep. Schneider’s full remarks can be watched here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and fellow Dads Caucus Members Reps. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Shomari C. Figures (AL-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Derek Tran (CA-45) to call out how Donald Trump’s tariffs will raise prices on working families across the country, especially working parents who are already stretching every dollar.

The Dads Caucus underscored how these tariffs will make it harder for people to afford basic needs — from groceries, clothes, and shoes to cars and construction materials — while doing nothing to help American workers.

“For families, Trump’s trade war and tariff tax are a five-alarm fire. Parents are already facing huge costs as they raise their kids with the crazy price of childcare and expensive groceries,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). “Instead of looking seriously at solutions that can help hardworking families not just get by but get ahead, Trump is hitting them with a massive tax. Our Republican colleagues here in the House could put a stop to this today. They could stand up and stop President Trump from unilaterally setting fire to our economy and creating an entirely self-inflicted recession. Speaker Johnson must bring legislation to the floor that restores Congress’s trade authority and puts the people back in the driver’s seat.”

“Families are waking up with less money in their retirement savings, higher prices at the grocery store, and less confidence in the economy because of Trump. And Congressional Republicans are supporting his catastrophic economic agenda,” said Dads Caucus Chair Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). “Trump’s tariffs are an added sales tax on working parents, and they’re driving up the cost of everyday essentials and making life harder for families. That’s why my fellow Dads Caucus members and I are calling on Congressional Republicans to do their jobs and join us in reining in Trump’s dumb tariffs.”

“A tariff is a tax, and Donald Trump owns these erratic taxes,” said Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04). “In Las Vegas, we’re already grappling with high prices and a housing crisis. We desperately need more houses, but tariffs on steel and aluminum – both of which come from Mexico and Canada – are working against us. I’m proud to stand with my Dads Caucus colleagues to oppose Trump’s blanket tariffs because every dad – and every parent – deserves better when it comes to the country we leave our children.”

“President Trump’s tariffs will continue to devastate small local businesses and raise prices on families that are already reeling from the high costs of groceries, household goods, and prescription drugs,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10). “These tariffs will be a self-imposed recession and a blow to the budgets of American families everywhere. I ask my Republican colleagues to stand with working families and reject the President’s actions.”

“President Trump’s tariffs are just another example of the fact that this administration seems to have only one tool in its toolbox – a sledge hammer. Instead of fixing our schools, they dismantle the Department of Education. Instead of delivering better health care, they cut funding for Medicaid. And now – instead of investing in American industry, they impose reckless tariffs that will slow production and raise prices. The facts are very clear. These reckless tariffs mean that Americans will face higher prices, fewer jobs, and a world that is less safe,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45).

The Congressional Dads Caucus was founded after the 118th Congress Speaker vote to provide a forum for members of Congress to push legislation that supports working families. Since then, the caucus has gained momentum as a leading voice for policy solutions that help families thrive and make America more affordable—including creating a national paid leave program, increasing access to affordable child care, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and ensuring working parents have the resources they need to provide for their families.

Learn more about the Dads Caucus here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: SCHNEIDER PRESSES TRUMP TRADE ADVISOR ON TRADE WAR

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

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

Click to watch

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

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

Yet the President still imposed 17% tariffs on Israel.

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

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

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

What’s the president thinking?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WSJ reports that betting markets have it a 70%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Following Supreme Court Ruling, Hoyer Joins Raskin, Colleagues to Demand Trump White House Immediately Return Maryland Man Deported in ‘Error’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump Administration must facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland immigrant the administration deported in ‘error’ to a Salvadoran mega-prison where he remains:

“The Trump Administration admitted that the deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which had no legal basis, was done in ‘administrative error,’ and a federal district judge ordered them to return him to the United States by midnight this Monday. Rather than bring back the man they admitted they wrongfully deported without Due Process, the Trump Administration amazingly placed on leave the Justice Department attorney who argued the case simply for telling the truth about the Administration’s ‘administrative error.’

“In a big victory for the rule of law and Due Process, the Supreme Court has just ruled that the Administration must facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States. The Supreme Court is effectively on the side of the vast majority of Americans and the civilized world who reject this lapse into lawlessness and insist that Mr. Abrego Garcia be returned to his family in the U.S. immediately.

“The Administration must now act swiftly to ensure that Mr. Abrego Garcia, who was grabbed off the streets of Maryland, shackled, and flown to a Salvadoran mega-prison, is brought back home safely to his loved ones and without any further delay.

“During the first Trump Administration in 2019, Kilmar won withholding of removal, a legal status that specifically prohibits his removal to El Salvador. He was granted this status after the administration accused him, without any evidence, of gang membership and tried to deport him. A judge found instead that he had credibly proven his fear of persecution by a gang in El Salvador and that he posed no threat to public safety.

“The Trump Administration admits it made an ‘error’ deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia. Contrary to what administration officials say, President Trump has both the duty and the power to bring this man back to Maryland to his American wife and child.

“We say to the president that, if you have the means to sweep someone off the street in America and deport him to a torturer’s prison in El Salvador, where we are paying their government as our junior partner for this dubious service, then you certainly have or you can find the means to bring him back. This should be easy since the El Salvadoran government is acting as our agent in the affair as part of this shocking agreement with the Trump Administration.”

“If Trump is allowed to get away with this thorough destruction of Due Process in Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case, he will believe that his administration can sweep anyone—citizen or noncitizen—off the street and ship them to a prison in an authoritarian state and escape judicial review. A whole lot rests on the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ways and Means Democrats introduce bill to end tariff chaos, reclaim Congress’s trade authority
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), along with all Ways and Means Committee Democrats, today introduced the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, a bill to end the constant chaos created by President Trump’s trade wars and reclaim Congress’s authority over tariffs.

Video of today’s bill introduction press conference is available HERE.

“President Trump’s reckless abuse of tariffs has sparked nothing but chaos,” said Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Sánchez. “American families have been anxiously bracing for rising costs and small businesses are worried they won’t survive the economic strain – all while the president flip-flops on tariffs at a whim, doing backroom deals and keeping negotiations out of the public eye. It’s time to end this madness. Congress must step in and take the trade keys away from our rogue president and protect the American people.”

“Over the years, Congress has entrusted more and more authority over trade to the Executive Branch, and recent events have made it clear we must reclaim that authority,” said Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.). “This president is willing to call anything an emergency to justify his every chaotic whim. The American people deserve better—they deserve stability and forethought. That’s why I’m proud to support Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Sánchez’s legislation that will deliver just that.”

The Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act would:
- Turn off the global tariffs imposed on April 2: The bill would permanently turn off the new baseline tariffs of 10 percent for all countries as well as the massive increases in tariffs for 60 trading partners, such as Europe, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Kenya. This would return most rates to the levels they were before the president’s tariff spree.
- Turn off the tariffs imposed by executive order for Mexico and Canada: The president should not be able to use congressional trade authorities to extort our closest allies. If there are trade issues with those two countries, then there is a process in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that President Trump negotiated and Congress authorized.
- Require congressional approval for all new tariffs: The Constitution gives Congress the authority over trade. Getting a vote on tariff actions should not be held hostage to political whim; votes would be treated as privileged measures that ensures that the American people get to have their say. Apolitical tariff actions – like trade remedies, safeguards and trade agreement dispute settlement – are already insulated from partisan abuse and would not require a congressional vote under the bill.
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Adam Gray (D-Calif.).

###

MIL OSI USA News –
April 12, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 12, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 12, 2025.

Pacific climate activists join 180+ groups calling on COP30 hosts Brazil to end fossil fuel dependence
RNZ Pacific Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed the letter, coordinated by the

Election Diary: Labor breaks practice of preferencing Greens to protect Jewish MP Josh Burns
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It takes a bit for Labor not to preference the Greens but on Friday it was announced that in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, where Jewish MP Josh Burns is embattled, the ALP will run an open ticket. Macnamara, which

‘Delusional’ Treaty Principles Bill scrapped but fight for Te Tiriti just beginning, say lawyers and advocates
By Layla Bailey-McDowell, RNZ Māori news journalist Legal experts and Māori advocates say the fight to protect Te Tiriti is only just beginning — as the controversial Treaty Principles Bill is officially killed in Parliament. The bill — which seeks to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi — sparked a nationwide hīkoi and

Coalition plan to dump fuel efficiency penalties would make Australia a global outlier
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School, Griffith University The Coalition has announced it would, if elected to government, weaken a scheme aimed at cutting car emissions. The scheme, known as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), was introduced by the Albanese government and was due to take

Peter Dutton’s climate policy backslide threatens Australia’s clout in the Pacific – right when we need it most
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Australia’s relationship with its regional neighbours could be in doubt under a Coalition government after two Pacific leaders challenged Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his weak climate stance. This week, Palau’s president Surangel Whipps Jr

Could changing your diet improve endometriosis pain? A recent study suggests it’s possible
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia ovchinnikova_ksenya/Shutterstock Endometriosis affects around 10% of women of reproductive age. It’s a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the

Kids cheering ‘chicken jockey!’ at A Minecraft Movie isn’t antisocial – it creates a chance for us to connect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophia Staite, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Social media is ablaze with reports of kids going wild at screenings of A Minecraft Movie. Some cinemas are cracking down. There are reports of cinemas calling in police to deal with rowdy theatregoers

Traded like assets, expected to be loyal: the unique double standard of being an Australian footy player
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few issues in Australian sport generate as much media noise or emotional fan reactions as player movement, especially in our major winter codes the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL). Contract negotiations, trade whispers and

We study ‘planktivores’ – and found an amazing diversity of shapes among plankton-feeding fishes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isabelle Ng, PhD candidate, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University A couple of whip coral goby (_Bryaninops yongei_). randi_ang/Shutterstock Swim along the edge of a coral reef and you’ll often see schools of sleek, torpedo-shaped fishes gliding through the currents, feeding on tiny plankton from

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Following Supreme Court Ruling, Mfume, Colleagues Demand Trump White House Immediately Return Maryland Man Deported in ‘Error’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06) and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump Administration must facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland immigrant the administration deported in ‘error’ to a Salvadoran mega-prison where he remains:

“The Trump Administration admitted that the deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which had no legal basis, was done in ‘administrative error,’ and a federal district judge ordered them to return him to the United States by midnight this Monday. Rather than bring back the man they admitted they wrongfully deported without Due Process, the Trump Administration amazingly placed on leave the Justice Department attorney who argued the case simply for telling the truth about the Administration’s ‘administrative error.’

“In a big victory for the rule of law and Due Process, the Supreme Court has just ruled that the Administration must facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States. The Supreme Court is effectively on the side of the vast majority of Americans and the civilized world who reject this lapse into lawlessness and insist that Mr. Abrego Garcia be returned to his family in the U.S. immediately.

“The Administration must now act swiftly to ensure that Mr. Abrego Garcia, who was grabbed off the streets of Maryland, shackled, and flown to a Salvadoran mega-prison, is brought back home safely to his loved ones and without any further delay.

“During the first Trump Administration in 2019, Kilmar won withholding of removal, a legal status that specifically prohibits his removal to El Salvador. He was granted this status after the administration accused him, without any evidence, of gang membership and tried to deport him. A judge found instead that he had credibly proven his fear of persecution by a gang in El Salvador and that he posed no threat to public safety.

“The Trump Administration admits it made an ‘error’ deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia. Contrary to what administration officials say, President Trump has both the duty and the power to bring this man back to Maryland to his American wife and child.

“We say to the president that, if you have the means to sweep someone off the street in America and deport him to a torturer’s prison in El Salvador, where we are paying their government as our junior partner for this dubious service, then you certainly have or you can find the means to bring him back. This should be easy since the El Salvadoran government is acting as our agent in the affair as part of this shocking agreement with the Trump Administration.”

“If Trump is allowed to get away with this thorough destruction of Due Process in Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case, he will believe that his administration can sweep anyone—citizen or noncitizen—off the street and ship them to a prison in an authoritarian state and escape judicial review. A whole lot rests on the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: On Water Treaty, Cornyn Praises President Trump, Endorses ‘Maximum Pain’ for Mexico

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today released the following statement commending President Donald Trump for pressuring Mexico to deliver the water it owes to South Texas after years of continued delays under the Biden-Harris administration and endorsed the use of all diplomatic and economic options to force Mexico to supply timely and consistent water deliveries to Texas pursuant to the 1944 Water Treaty:

“South Texas farmers and ranchers have been snubbed by Mexico for years and denied the water they’re rightfully owed, but no more.”

“I commend President Trump for his show of force and commitment to taking back the water Mexico has essentially stolen from our agriculture community after four years of the Biden administration standing idly by as Texas farmers and ranchers struggled and Mexico took advantage of our country.”

“I will continue working with the President and Secretaries Rubio and Rollins on this effort to inflict maximum pain and force Mexico to make good on their end of the bargain. President Trump and I will fight for what Texas farmers and ranchers need to put food on the table for millions of Americans.”

Background:

Under the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Mexico is obligated to deliver an average of 350,000-acre feet of water annually over a five-year cycle as its contribution to the Rio Grande’s water supply. However, Mexico has consistently delayed fulfilling its water obligation until the end of the five-year cycle, which hinders South Texas farmers’ ability to plan for and grow crops as well as ranchers’ ability to provide water to livestock. The current cycle ends in October and so far, Mexico has paid less than 500,000 acre-feet of water—about a quarter of what it owes, according to IBWC data.

Sen. Cornyn has led the charge in Congress to boost Texas’ water supply and ensure Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water to South Texas farmers and ranchers. He partnered with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to successfully secure more than $280 million in emergency assistance for Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers affected by the water shortage and led a request earlier this year to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for renewed efforts to push Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty while also securing Secretary Rubio’s commitment to hold Mexico accountable for delays.

Last year, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz raised alarms after a Rio Grande sugarcane mill closed due to acute water shortages, cosponsored a resolution supporting diplomacy, and sent a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Blinken urging the Department to engage on Mexico’s violation of the intent of the treaty. Senator Cornyn also led a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State and Foreign Operations urging them to withhold designated funds from Mexico until they enter into an agreement with the U.S. to balance the deficit of the water deliveries, which the House Appropriations Committee included in their funding bill.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Cruz Resolution Honoring Texan George Foreman Passes Senate

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

WASHINGTON – The Senate resolution introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) honoring the life and legacy of Houston native and professional boxer George Foreman, who passed away on March 21, 2025, passed the Senate unanimously. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.

“Whereas George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas;

Whereas George Foreman was raised in Houston, Texas;

Whereas George Foreman earned his general education degree and gained vocational skills through the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps;

Whereas George Foreman began his boxing career in 1966 after meeting Doc Broaddus, a boxing instructor, who worked for Job Corps;

Whereas George Foreman won his first amateur fight on January 26, 1967, in the Parks Diamond Bell Tournament;

Whereas George Foreman won the National Boxing Championship heavyweight title in Toledo, Ohio, in 1968;

Whereas George Foreman won a gold medal in boxing in the heavyweight division during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games

Whereas George Foreman began his professional boxing career in 1969;

Whereas George Foreman won 37 consecutive fights, of which 35 were by knockout;

Whereas, on January 22, 1973, George Foreman won the World Heavyweight Championship title by defeating Joe Frazier;

Whereas George Foreman maintained the title of World Heavyweight Champion until October 30, 1974, in a fierce matchup, known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, with Muhammad Ali;

Whereas George Foreman stepped back from his boxing career to become an ordained minister in 1978 and served the congregation at Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he founded in 1980, in Houston, Texas;

Whereas, in 1984, George Foreman opened the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston, Texas, to provide opportunities to youth across Harris County;

Whereas George Foreman announced his return to boxing in 1987 and won his first fight back against Steve Zouski;

Whereas George Foreman earned the title of World Heavyweight Champion again on November 5, 1994, against Michael Moorer, breaking multiple records, including the oldest fighter to win a world heavyweight championship, the most time between world heavyweight championships, and the largest age gap between competitors in a heavyweight boxing championship fight;

Whereas George Foreman fought for the final time in 1997 against Shannon Briggs;

Whereas George Foreman had a final career record of 76 to 5;

Whereas George Foreman became a successful businessman, most notably with the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, of which more than 100,000,000 units have been sold globally;

Whereas George Foreman was recognized by the American Legion in 2013 with the James V. Day ‘Good Guy’ Award for his patriotism and service to his community;

Whereas George Foreman remained a beloved public figure and boxing legend until his death;

Whereas George Foreman died in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2025;

Whereas George Foreman was preceded in death by his daughter, Freeda; and

Whereas George Foreman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Joan, and 11 of his children and their families: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) honors the life and legacy of George Foreman for—

(A) his accomplishments as a boxing legend;

(B) the example he provides to future generations of community leaders; and

(C) his dedication to Houston and his support of vulnerable youth in the community; and

(2) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate—

(A) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and

(B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of George Foreman.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Pacific climate activists join 180+ groups calling on COP30 hosts Brazil to end fossil fuel dependence

RNZ Pacific

Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy.

More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed the letter, coordinated by the campaign organisation, 350.org.

A declaration of alliance between Indigenous peoples from the Amazon, the Pacific, and Australia ahead of COP30 has also been announced.

The “strongly worded letter” was handed to COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago and Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Marina Silva who attended the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL), or Free Land Camp, in Brasília.

“We, climate and social justice organisations from around the world, urgently demand that COP30 renews the global commitment and supports implementation for the just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy,” the letter states.

“This must ensure that solutions progressively meet the needs of Indigenous, Black, marginalised and vulnerable populations and accelerate the expansion of renewables in a way that ensures the world’s wealthiest and most polluting nations pay their fair share, does not harm nature, increase deforestation by burning biomass, while upholding economic, social, and gender justice.”

‘No room for new coal mines’
It adds: “The science is unequivocal: there is no room for new coal mines or oil and gas fields if the world is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius — especially in critical ecosystems like the Amazon, where COP30 will be hosted.

“Tripling renewables by 2030 is essential, but without a managed and rapid phaseout of fossil fuels, it won’t be enough.”

350.org’s Fiji community organiser, George Nacewa, said it was now up to the Brazil COP Presidency if they would act “or lock us into climate catastrophe”.

“This is a critical time for our people — the age of deliberation is long past,” Nacewa said on behalf of the group that call themselves “Pacific Climate Warriors”.

“We need this COP to be the one that spearheads the Just Energy Transition from words to action.”

COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Call on Small Business Administration to Mitigate Damage from Trump Tariffs to Small Businesses

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, joined colleagues in a letter demanding that U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler take immediate action to address the impacts of Trump’s reckless tariff policies on small businesses. In Nevada, 99 percent of all businesses are small businesses, and tariffs are threatening their ability to stay afloat.
“The situation is dire. From mom-and-pop restaurants unable to afford basic supplies like cooking oil to small manufacturers and high-tech startups struggling to afford the raw materials needed for innovation, small businesses across all sectors are facing the same crippling reality,” wrote the Senators. “As these costs rise, consumer confidence continues to plummet, and the economy stagnates. A survey by Small Business for America’s Future found that 71 percent of small businesses will need to increase prices to survive, but with consumer confidence at its lowest since the pandemic, many owners know their customers cannot afford higher prices. The tariffs, therefore, are not only increasing costs, but also are undermining the very demand from customers that small businesses rely on.”
“Failure to act will not only jeopardize the livelihoods of small business owners but may also lead to long-term financial hardship for the 60 million workers employed by small business – especially those working paycheck to paycheck who cannot afford to be laid off or have jobs delayed or denied,” the Senators’ letter continued. “We urge you to take swift action to ameliorate the damage being inflicted on small businesses by the President’s tariff policies, combined with the chaos of cuts to federal services and investments that small businesses rely on. As a representative of millions of entrepreneurs who are on the brink of disaster and the voice of small businesses in the administration, you have an obligation to fight for their survival… America’s small businesses—and the workers they employ—are counting on you to take action before it is too late.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been fighting back against President Trump’s reckless tariffs and the destructive impacts they’re having on Nevada’s economy. Earlier this week, Rosen led a letter demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses in Nevada and across the nation. Senator Rosen also recently took to the Senate floor to oppose President Trump’s tariffs and highlight a letter she received from a small business owner in Reno outlining the devastating impact these tariffs will have on his business. Senator Rosen also helped pass a Congressional resolution to reverse President Trump’s devastating tariffs on virtually all Canadian goods that have raised prices for families and hurt Nevada’s businesses and economy. Senator Rosen also sent a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico to prevent housing prices from rising even further.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges 261 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona this Week

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During this week of enforcement operations from April 5, 2025, through April 11, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 261 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 103 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 140 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 14 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Sanchez-Marcial: On April 8, 2025, Ofricino Sanchez-Marcial was arrested and charged for Harboring Illegal Aliens. The criminal complaint alleges that Sanchez-Marcial held a Guatemalan citizen, who was illegally present in the United States, against his will and sent threatening messages to his family members demanding a ransom of $135,000.

United States v. Renteria-Cruz: On April 8, 2025, Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested on Illegal Re-Entry charges during an HSI operation led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. In January 2025, HSI learned that Reinteria-Cruz had illegally returned to the United States after being deported following a 2006 Aggravated Assault conviction. After his deportation, Mexican authorities charged Renteria-Cruz with homicide for events that occurred on July 20, 2009, in Mexico. He was a fugitive until his arrest on Tuesday by HSI.

A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

CASE NUMBERS:         25-3144MJ
25-3128MJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-055_April 11 Immigration Enforcement

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

MIL Security OSI –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mills Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Biden Administration’s Far-Left Foreign Policy

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

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

Watch Here

Remarks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Trade War Bludgeons US Economy, Duckworth, Durbin, Democratic Senators Slam Administration for Defunding Network of Centers That Boost American Manufacturing

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
April 11, 2025
As Trump’s Trade War Bludgeons US Economy, Duckworth, Durbin, Democratic Senators Slam Administration for Defunding Network of Centers That Boost American Manufacturing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 11 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, demanding answers regarding the Administration’s decision to cancel funding for 10 National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country. The action came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports which tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession.
“Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance,” the Senators wrote. “These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.
The economic impact of these centers has been substantial. A report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs nationwide.
Since 1988, the MEP has worked to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing through a nationwide network of MEP Centers. The MEP National Network is comprised of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and over 1,450 trusted advisors and experts at more than 430 MEP service locations that provide any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed. In Illinois, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) leads a variety of initiatives to grow manufacturing, including supporting the development of quantum technologies in our state. IMEC has created and retained more than 7,000 jobs and assisted nearly 3,000 companies.
Joining Duckworth, Durbin, Cantwell and Baldwin in sending the letter was Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Gary Peters (D-MI).
Full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
April 8, 2025
Dear Secretary Lutnick,
We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.
Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.
Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers. Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025.
Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.
Sincerely,
-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Stands with WilmerHale and Jenner & Block in Defense of Free Speech and Rule of Law

Source: US State of California Department of Justice

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, along with 20 other state attorneys general, filed amicus briefs in support of WilmerHale and Jenner & Block in their lawsuits against the Trump Administration over its retaliatory executive orders, which target law firms that represent clients or positions it disagrees with. If allowed to take effect, these orders would make it harder for those the President disfavors to retain counsel, interfering with lawyers’ practice of law, chilling free speech in and out of courtrooms, and hindering courts’ exercise of the judicial power.

“The Trump Administration’s disregard for the First Amendment and disrespect for foundational tenets of American democracy is egregious and alarming,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I stand in strong support of my fellow attorneys at WilmerHale and Jenner & Block and applaud their staunch refusal to bow to the President’s unconstitutional demands, even as some of their peers abandon their principles and strike deals with this Administration. I urge the court to grant permanent injunctions and end the President’s latest attempt to undermine our adversarial judicial system and the rule of law.”

In their amicus brief, the attorneys general support WilmerHale and Jenner & Block’s motions for summary judgment to permanently halt the Trump Administration’s retaliatory actions against these law firms. The attorneys general argue that the orders violate the First Amendment, disregard the right to counsel under the First and Sixth Amendments, and severely undermine the rule of law.

Attorney General Bonta has vocally and vigorously called out President Trump’s assault on the rule of law. Last month, Attorney General Bonta, along with 20 other state attorneys general issued an open letter urging the legal community to stand together in defense of the rule of law in response to President Trump’s recent attacks, which include calls for the impeachment of federal judges and threats of retribution against law firms and attorneys who take or have taken positions in opposition to him or his Administration. Attorney General Bonta also issued a separate statement on the need to speak up and push back when our democratic norms are violated, our legal system undermined, and our laws broken. Earlier, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in support of another law firm, Perkins Coie, that had been targeted by President Trump for its representation of Hillary Clinton and its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont in filing the amicus briefs.

A copy of the brief in support of WilmerHale is available here. A copy of the brief in support of Jenner & Block is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Honduran Man Extradited for Role in International Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

Source: US State of California

Extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Honduran law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of a Honduran national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs from Honduras to the United States.

According to court documents, Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, 39, conspired with others to bring approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the United States aboard a vessel attempting to bring 23 Honduran aliens illegally into the United States. In February 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the M/V Pop, a 65’ sportfishing vessel, approximately 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana after it developed engine trouble and lost power. The U.S. Coast Guard responded, found the aliens and cocaine, and towed the vessel to shore. The M/V Pop departed from Utila, Honduras, and was destined for Cocodrie, Louisiana. Velasquez Maldonado was allegedly responsible for bringing the cocaine on board the M/V Pop and ensuring its safe delivery. When he was apprehended, according to court documents, Velasquez Maldonado posed as an alien intending to remain in the United States so he could avoid prosecution.

Velasquez Maldonado is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Velasquez Maldonado made his initial court appearance today in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He was detained and will have his detention hearing on Monday. If convicted, Velasquez Maldonado faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Co-defendants Carl Allison, 47, Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 37, previously pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Lenord Cooper, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Two co-defendants, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, were convicted after trial of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and two counts of attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

The investigation and extradition of Velasquez Maldonado was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) Program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders.

JTFA is currently comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 325 U.S. convictions; more than 270 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

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

The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras also provided assistance.

Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the General Crimes Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 12, 2025

Category: Latin America

Climate and misinformation

Impacts of layoffs

Alarming increases

Reliance on observation and collaboration

Government cuts price of everyday items and summer essentials

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

CBI Europe and International Director Sean McGuire:

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