Category: Latin America

MIL-OSI United Nations: Indigenous youth meet trailblazers ahead of Nelson Mandela Day

Source: United Nations 2

Accompanied by their parents and mentors from the midwestern state of Wisconsin, the group wore handmade ribbon skirts and vests featuring seven coloured bands, each symbolizing a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of personal significance, such as good health and gender equality.

Also visiting the UN in New York for the first time that day was Brenda Reynolds, a social worker from Canada and a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation. She was joined by her husband, Robert Buckle, and 12-year-old granddaughter Lillian, and wore one of her own ribbon skirts for the occasion.

Ms. Reynolds will be awarded the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize on 18 July. The Prize, presented every five years, recognizes two individuals whose life work exemplifies service to humanity. Ms. Reynolds will receive the award alongside Kennedy Odede, a social entrepreneur from Kenya.

UN News/Paulina Greer

Mirian Masaquiza Jerez, a UN Social Affairs Officer, and Brenda Reynolds, a recipient of the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize ), brief Indigenous youth visiting UN Headquarters in New York.

Agents of change

After a UN tour (unanimously enjoyed) and a quick stop for lunch and souvenirs at the UN Bookshop (where one plushie hummingbird was traded for a green turtle named “Coral”), the group settled into a briefing room.

Onstage, Ms. Reynolds was joined by Mirian Masaquiza Jerez, a Kichwa woman from Ecuador and a Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), easily recognized in the UN corridors for always wearing traditional regalia from her Indigenous community of Salasaka,

“Wherever you go to public spaces, wear who you are,” she said. “The UN is the place to raise your voice. Be free to be who you are.”

Encouraging them to speak their languages and honour their cultures, Ms. Masaquiza urged the young students to see themselves as agents of change.

“You didn’t come by invitation. You came because you belong,” she said. “You are the future. You are the present. As Indigenous, we have the space. Use it.”

A painful past

Ms. Reynolds shared her personal story with the group, reflecting on her early career as a counsellor at Gordon’s Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, the last federally funded residential school to close in Canada.

She described seeing children as young as five separated from their families for a year at a time and issued shirts with numbers instead of their names written inside: “The only other time I had seen people identified that way was when Jewish people had numbers tattooed on them.”

During her first year at Gordon’s in 1988, a young girl confided that she had been abused. By the next morning, 17 would come forward, launching what would become the province’s first major residential school abuse case.

Ms. Reynolds, then labeled a “troublemaker,” went on to help shape the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and advise the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her work has impacted hundreds of thousands of Indigenous People across Canada.

The room echoed with laughter, knowing nods and tears, and phrases from Ojibwe and other languages represented by the Indigenous Peoples in the room, including Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Menomonee, Oneida, Navajo, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Afro-Indigenous communities.

UN News/Paulina Greer

Brenda Reynolds, a recipient of the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, poses with a statute of the late South African President at UN Headquarters in New York.

Coming full circle

The youth came from the Daughters of Tradition and the Sons of Tradition, part of a long-running healing initiative by Milwaukee’s Healing Intergenerational Roots (HIR) Wellness Institute, which supports Indigenous communities with no-cost, comprehensive mental healthcare and other services.

The founder, Lea S. Denny, wants Indigenous youth to see themselves in positions of power. This particular group has been together for eight years, with some heading off to college in the fall.

One father, attending with his three daughters, reflected on raising Indigenous youth in the digital age. “We want them to access the world out there,” he said, “but also protect the inside world we want to hold dear.” He said he also offered the advice that “if you don’t see yourself on the screen, sometimes you have to be the first.”

The day finished with hugs and exchanges of handmade leis as a symbol of the breath of life and sharing a good life source.

They will reunite on 18 July to see Ms. Reynolds accept the Mandela Prize in the General Assembly Hall.

Before then, a planned detour to visit Times Square.

Meanwhile, Ms. Reynolds and her family discussed their plans for a Broadway show. On the way out, she paused to hug a life-sized bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, a gift from the South African Government to the UN.

“I started my work with children,” she said. “And today, I spoke to children. This feels full circle for me.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Closes One Hundred and Forty-Fourth Session

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Human Rights Committee this afternoon closed its one hundred and forty-fourth session in Geneva after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam, which were reviewed during the session.

Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee had come to the end of a productive session and commended the Committee members for their commitment and professionalism. The Committee had held constructive dialogues with Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam. The concluding observations would be issued on the Committee’s webpage later today.

Mr. Soh said also during the session, the Committee adopted nine lists of issues prior to reporting related to Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Denmark, Ghana, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Sweden and Switzerland.

On individual communications, the Committee considered 22 drafts, including one draft decision prepared in accordance with the simplified format adopted by the Committee at its one hundred and fortieth session. The drafts related to 51 communications: 26 were decided on the merits, 12 communications were declared inadmissible, and 13 communications were discontinued. Regarding the communications decided on the merits, the Committee found violations in 25 of them.

The Committee also adopted the follow up report on concluding observations of Armenia and Germany.

Mr. Soh said the Committee’s one hundred and forty-fifth session was scheduled to take place in March 2026, instead of October 2025 as originally planned, due to the financial crisis. The Committee greatly regretted the cancellation of the October session, which was unprecedented in the Committee’s 50-year history. As a result, the Committee had convened an emergency meeting with States parties at this session and he expressed appreciation for the 60 States that had attended and were committed to finding solutions which enabled the Committee to fulfil its mandate.

At its next session from 2 to 19 March 2026, the Committee is scheduled to review the periodic reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia, and adopt lists of issues prior to reporting on Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hungary, Mexico and Senegal, as well as the list of issues on Rwanda.

In closing, Mr. Soh expressed appreciation to members of the bureau as well as the members of the Secretariat, the Petitions Section, United Nations entities, civil society and all those who made the session possible.

Before the meeting closed, several Committee Members took the floor, discussing the unique and challenging situation which the Committee had found itself in, and the impact that the financial crisis had on the work of the Committee. Despite the constraints, the current session had still been productive, and the Committee would continue to strive to ensure the human rights of people all around the world. Experts thanked all those responsible for the success of the current session. It was hoped Member States could come together to solve the current challenges, and that all sessions could take place next year as planned.

The Committee’s next session is scheduled to be held from 2 to 19 March 2026, during which it will review the reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CCPR25.019E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NASA to Launch SNIFS, Sun’s Next Trailblazing Spectator

Source: NASA

July will see the launch of the groundbreaking Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph mission, or SNIFS. Delivered to space via a Black Brant IX sounding rocket, SNIFS will explore the energy and dynamics of the chromosphere, one of the most complex regions of the Sun’s atmosphere. The SNIFS mission’s launch window at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico opens on Friday, July 18.
The chromosphere is located between the Sun’s visible surface, or photosphere, and its outer layer, the corona. The different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere have been researched at length, but many questions persist about the chromosphere. “There’s still a lot of unknowns,” said Phillip Chamberlin, a research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder and principal investigator for the SNIFS mission.

The chromosphere lies just below the corona, where powerful solar flares and massive coronal mass ejections are observed. These solar eruptions are the main drivers of space weather, the hazardous conditions in near-Earth space that threaten satellites and endanger astronauts. The SNIFS mission aims to learn more about how energy is converted and moves through the chromosphere, where it can ultimately power these massive explosions.
“To make sure the Earth is safe from space weather, we really would like to be able to model things,” said Vicki Herde, a doctoral graduate of CU Boulder who worked with Chamberlin to develop SNIFS.

The SNIFS mission is the first ever solar ultraviolet integral field spectrograph, an advanced technology combining an imager and a spectrograph. Imagers capture photos and videos, which are good for seeing the combined light from a large field of view all at once. Spectrographs dissect light into its various wavelengths, revealing which elements are present in the light source, their temperature, and how they’re moving — but only from a single location at a time.
The SNIFS mission combines these two technologies into one instrument.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Chamberlin. “You’re pushing the limit of what technology allows us to do.”
By focusing on specific wavelengths, known as spectral lines, the SNIFS mission will help scientists to learn about the chromosphere. These wavelengths include a spectral line of hydrogen that is the brightest line in the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, and two spectral lines from the elements silicon and oxygen. Together, data from these spectral lines will help reveal how the chromosphere connects with upper atmosphere by tracing how solar material and energy move through it.
The SNIFS mission will be carried into space by a sounding rocket. These rockets are effective tools for launching and carrying space experiments and offer a valuable opportunity for hands-on experience, particularly for students and early-career researchers.

“You can really try some wild things,” Herde said. “It gives the opportunity to allow students to touch the hardware.”
Chamberlin emphasized how beneficial these types of missions can be for science and engineering students like Herde, or the next generation of space scientists, who “come with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of new ideas, new techniques,” he said.
The entirety of the SNIFS mission will likely last up to 15 minutes. After launch, the sounding rocket is expected to take 90 seconds to make it to space and point toward the Sun, seven to eight minutes to perform the experiment on the chromosphere, and three to five minutes to return to Earth’s surface.

[embedded content]
A previous sounding rocket launch from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This mission carried a copy of the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE).Credit: NASA/University of Colorado Boulder, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics/James Mason

The rocket will drift around 70 to 80 miles (112 to 128 kilometers) from the launchpad before its return, so mission contributors must ensure it will have a safe place to land. White Sands, a largely empty desert, is ideal.
Herde, who spent four years working on the rocket, expressed her immense excitement for the launch. “This has been my baby.”

By Harper LawsonNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Danish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

Source: European Parliament

Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2025. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take place.

Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said that the Presidency will focus on easing the administrative burden for farmers while continuing to promote the green transition and animal welfare. Concluding the current negotiations on the common agricultural policy (CAP) simplification package and starting discussions on the post-2027 CAP will also be priorities.

Several MEPs called for fair conditions between farmers inside and outside the EU in connection with the Mercosur Agreement and animal welfare. They asked how the presidency will help guarantee the EU’s protein and fertiliser self-sufficiency and support organic farmers. Others raised the issue of ensuring that the green transition does not compromise the agriculture sector’s sustainability.

Regional Development Committee

On 15 July, Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre argued that cohesion policy should continue to play a crucial role in the EU budget, as the Presidency works on proposals for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). She said that funding should also support competitiveness and be flexible in the face of unexpected events. Ms Bjerre highlighted the need to strengthen rule of law conditionality in the allocation of EU funds.

MEPs agreed on the need to modernise cohesion policy and make it more flexible, but asked for the Presidency’s support in defending the policy’s core purpose – reducing inequalities between regions – and the role of regions and local authorities.

Legal Affairs Committee

On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stressed the need to boost EU competitiveness but also to protect common values while advancing the green and digital transition. He committed to make progress on draft bills on the protection of adults and insolvency, while promoting rules on parenthood.

Morten Bødskov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, will strive to simplify existing rules for the benefit of EU businesses in the upcoming negotiations on sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations. Mr Bødskov also intends to advance the patent package and the “28th regime” initiative (a single set of EU rules to support innovation).

MEPs inquired about plans to strengthen the rule of law, fight illegal migration and improve licensing, considering the planned withdrawal of the proposal on standard essential patents. They also asked for work to move ahead on the special tribunal for the crime of aggression, for measures to ensure that simplification does not lead to deregulation, and for efforts to balance rights and copyright in the context of new technologies.

Foreign Affairs Committee

On 15 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said that the Presidency wants to advance EU accession negotiations with all candidate countries. She also added that the EU must act more independently to ensure its security. The dialogue with Türkiye will continue, but its accession negotiations will remain on hold.

MEPs called for more support for some candidate countries on their EU path. They also enquired on possible new strategic partners for the EU, given recent developments in relations with the US, and called for the deepening of relations with Latin America. They also asked what steps the Presidency intends to take to help the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety Committee

On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, highlighted the need to simplify EU legislation for farmers and food producers, and to promote innovation through tools such as new genomic techniques, on which the Presidency aims to strike a deal with Parliament. He stressed the importance of making the EU’s agri-food sector more competitive while maintaining high standards of sustainability and food safety. Other priorities include an EU strategy for plant-based proteins, animal welfare, and action to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

MEPs raised questions about the future of the CAP, demanding greater fairness, increased support for smaller farms, and clear targets for pesticide reduction. MEPs also enquired about trade agreements, such as with Mercosur, and a possible ban on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on the EU 2040 climate target, to offer clear guidance for climate action, investment, and industrial competitiveness. He underlined the need for an agreement before the COP30 in Brazil on 10–21 November 2025, to show EU leadership and unity.

Some MEPs raised concerns about energy affordability and the social impact of the new emissions trading system, while others stressed excessive flexibility would undermine the 2040 target.

Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee

On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the Presidency would prioritise work on the fight against serious cross-border and organised crime, action to improve victims’ rights, and police cooperation to counter migrant smuggling. The Presidency will also advance work on the directive and regulation to combat child sexual abuse.

Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, called for implementation of the “Preparedness Union” strategy to strengthen EU security, resilience and preparedness. The Presidency will advance work on the reformed EU civil protection mechanism, the stockpiling strategy and measures to protect critical infrastructure.

MEPs asked the Presidency about progress on the directives on combating corruption and victims’ rights. According to the Justice Minister, work on both will continue promptly as a priority. MEPs and the Ministers also discussed law enforcement access to data, and measures against terrorism and online radicalisation.

Kaare Dybvad, Minister for Immigration and Integration, emphasised the need to implement the Asylum and Migration Pact in full. The Presidency will work on proposals on safe third countries, safe countries of origin and a common approach to returns. He also mentioned the possibility of developing external partnerships and possible return hubs in third countries, stressing the need to uphold international law and human rights. Other priorities are action to combat migrant smuggling and the EU talent pool.

On Migration and Asylum Pact implementation, MEPs asked about the solidarity platform, protection of human dignity, and cooperation with third countries. The minister replied that priority should be given to people in need of refugee status. Economic migrants must use legal channels, and those with no right to stay need to be returned to their home countries.

Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs, said the Presidency aimed to strengthen the link between respect for EU values and access to EU funds, enhance the Council’s rule of law dialogues, and support tools such as the Commission’s rule of law report. It will also work to reinforce the conditionality mechanism in the next long-term budget, by increasing funding for it and ensuring more automatic application.

Some MEPs raised concerns about the situation in Hungary, and called for a stronger conditionality mechanism and better protection of media freedom and civil society. Others called for clarity on the definition of rule of law, and raised the issues of spyware use against journalists and the situation in Gaza.

Employment and Social Affairs Committee

On 15 July, Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen stressed that the Presidency would focus on investing in skills, fair labour mobility, strengthening social dialogue, and occupational health. She aims to advance the revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMRD) and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers. Minister for Social Affairs and Housing Sophie Hæstorp Andersen highlighted the need to improve independent living for persons with disabilities and to improve access to sustainable and affordable housing.

MEPs highlighted the lack of legislative proposals in social areas and voiced concern about the future of the European Social Fund+. They stressed the need to strengthen the European Labour Authority, and addressed the working conditions of non-EU nationals, the lack of skilled workers, and the migration of qualified workers. Others asked for action on employment rights for persons with disabilities, the coordination of social security systems, and the European Child Guarantee.

Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee

On 15 July, Caroline Stage Olsen, Digital Affairs Minister, emphasised the need for action to boost investment and cut red tape. Special attention will be given to protecting minors online through firm Digital Services Act enforcement, new age verification rules and action to tackle addictive design. She supported postponing elements of the AI Act to give business, especially smaller companies, more time to comply.

Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, stressed the Presidency’s intention to tackle customs challenges, unfair competition, slow growth and job loss. The minister also expressed strong support for the green transition and the need to advance work on simplification packages and regulatory burden reduction targets.

MEPs asked about the Presidency’s plans to work on e-commerce, the posting of workers, attracting talent and the “28th regime” (a single set of EU rules to support innovation). They also enquired about digital policy loopholes and the Digital Fairness Act, and the need to advance negotiations on the late payments regulation and the European defence industrial strategy.

Development Committee

On 15 July, Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called for a stronger Team Europe approach, given the widening gap between humanitarian needs and the resources available. Presidency priorities include the Global Gateway, the Samoa Agreement, the EU-African Union (AU) Summit, human rights and the sustainable development goals. The Presidency will champion external action in negotiations on the next long-term EU budget.

MEPs stressed the importance of development aid and the need to make sure foreign investment upholds human rights, while also voicing concern over irregular migration. They called for a broader EU presence at the next EU-AU Summit, and asked about the Presidency’s plan for the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

Public Health Committee

On 16 July, Sophie Løhde, Danish Minister for Interior and Health, highlighted the need to strengthen EU preparedness through efficient medical countermeasures, ensure better access to medicines, and address antimicrobial resistance. She shared the Presidency’s commitment to finalising the Council’s position on the critical medicines act, hoping an agreement with Parliament could be reached on the pharmaceutical package by the end of the year.

MEPs quizzed the minister on medicine affordability, rare diseases, and healthcare workforce shortages. Some called for a greater focus on women’s health, action against PFAS contamination, and improved EU coordination of health and military crisis preparedness.

Constitutional Affairs Committee

On 16 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said the Presidency priorities were to advance a merit-based EU accession process and uphold the rule of law. She also highlighted the need to reinforce democratic resilience, for instance through the Commission’s Democracy Shield and improved transparency of foreign interests. The Presidency is also committed to strengthening interinstitutional cooperation and pursuing institutional reforms within the existing treaty framework.

MEPs raised questions on the link between internal EU reforms and future accessions, the use of qualified majority voting to overcome institutional deadlocks, the right of inquiry, and electoral reform. Bjerre replied that the lack of consensus among member states on possible treaty changes made that a less feasible path.

Security and Defence Committee

On 16 July, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that one of the priorities was to continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily and financially, and work on integrating the Ukrainian defence industry into the EU one. This includes paving the way for Ukrainian companies to set up facilities in the rest of Europe. He also mentioned the need for Europe to be able to defend itself by 2030 by increasing its defence readiness and production, and freeing up defence financing.

MEPs questioned the minister on a range of topics, including the use of frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, a dedicated European defence fund, removing hurdles to support the Ukrainian defence industry, and the pros and cons of non-EU country access to EU defence funds.

Fisheries Committee

On 16 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said the Presidency would prioritise the green transition, simplification, including for the Ocean Pact, and better regulation of fisheries. They will also focus on fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea for 2026 to allow fishers to plan early.

MEPs highlighted fleet renewal, the Baltic Sea’s herring situation and the MFF’s role in achieving sustainability, simplification, and climate goals. They expressed concern over the 24-metre fleet renewal restriction and called for specific funding mechanisms for the Ocean Pact. Finally, they welcomed the focus on 2026 fishing quotas and sustainability objectives.

Transport and Tourism Committee

Boosting competitiveness, easing the administrative burden, ensuring a green transition in transport and tourism, but also military mobility, are the main drivers of Danish presidency, said Thomas Danielsen, Minister of Transport on 16 July. He hoped to start talks with MEPs on passenger rights and rules on counting CO2 emissions, as well as to finish negotiations on railway capacity infrastructure. Morten Bødskov, Minister of Business, Industry and Financial Services, added the Presidency perspective on shipping transport and upcoming EU ports and maritime industry strategies.

The majority of transport committee MEPs welcomed the Presidency priorities, the ambition to reach a Council position on weights and dimensions rules, while some questioned the focus on the green transition. On passenger rights, MEPs were frustrated with the Council decision to force into a tight deadline to reach a deal on future rules, and asked the minister not to forget the multimodal part of the package.

Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee

On 16 July, Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, outlined priorities including combating gender-based violence, promoting equal opportunities by involving men and boys, and strengthening LGBTQI equality amid rising hate and harassment. He announced that a Council meeting on 17 October would focus on equality and non-discrimination.

MEPs raised concerns about the absence of an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape, the lack of progress on the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive, the under-representation of women in government, and the stalled horizontal anti-discrimination directive. In response, Heunicke confirmed that there would be a discussion on a consent-based rape definition, and that finalising the Victims’ Rights Directive negotiations was a priority.

International Trade Committee

On 16 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen named agreements on the revised general scheme of preferences (GSP) and the foreign investment screening review as being among his priorities. The phasing-out of Russian gas imports and ratification of the trade agreement with Mercosur are also high on the agenda. The Presidency will also work to negotiate a new trade relationship with the US, while being prepared for other scenarios.

MEPs welcomed the priorities, particularly on concluding the Mercosur Agreement, phasing out Russian gas imports and concluding the revision of the GSP. Some MEPs also questioned the Presidency on how EU-Israel trade relations should evolve given the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.

Culture and Education Committee

On 16 July, Mattias Tesfaye, Minister for Education and Youth, said that Presidency wanted to make vocational education and training more attractive, ensure learning mobility, and focus on how the digitalisation affects learning outcomes. The Presidency will also prioritise negotiations on the next generation of Erasmus+ and on the European education area.

Many MEPs expressed their concerns about the future of the Erasmus+ programme and enquired about the protection of children online, recognition of competences, and the safety of young students in the workplace.

Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Minister for Culture, Media and Sports Policy, highlighted the need to prohibit the use of images, voice and other personal features in deepfakes or lifelike imitations. The EU Copyright Regulation should be updated to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence to the cultural and creative sectors, either by guaranteeing fair remuneration for rights holders or by achieving the best possible conditions for licensing agreements. In sport, the Presidency promises to do more to uphold democratic values and integrity in the awarding of international sports events.

MEPs asked for measures to help EU countries implement the European Media Freedom Act and highlighted the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. MEPs also raised issues such as protecting heritage against natural disasters and gender equality programmes in sport.

Industry, Research and Energy Committee

On 16 July, Caroline Stage Olsson, Minister for Digital Affairs, outlined two priorities: enhancing digital competitiveness and protecting minors online. She advocated for reducing the administrative burden on business and for strategic investment for a more sovereign Europe. She also highlighted work on enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA), stricter regulations for age verification and data protection, and the establishment of a competitiveness fund.

Some MEPs stressed the need to reduce dependency on non-European tech companies and to balance regulation with simplification, to foster innovation while protecting consumers. Questions were asked about the impact of the DSA on free speech and privacy, and about investment in less connected regions.

Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, outlined four priorities: enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities, supporting Ukraine, fostering cooperation with NATO and strengthening the EU’s defence against hybrid threats. He also stressed the importance of the European defence industry programme (EDIP) to this end.

Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, focused on cybersecurity and highlighted three priorities: strengthening EU cyber resilience, framing a robust EU response to cyber crises, and simplifying the EU cyber legislation framework.

MEPs enquired about the creation of a unified European defence market, the standardisation of defence products, and the need for joint procurement to enhance defence capabilities. Questions also focused on Baltic Sea security and measures to counter potential sabotage. Concerns were voiced about Europe’s dependency on non-European defence suppliers.

Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, emphasised the importance of a secure, clean and affordable energy supply, as well as of a stronger energy sector, focusing on renewable and clean energy produced locally. He called for an approach that would balance environmental protection with economic competitiveness and for Europe to phase out its dependency on Russian energy.

Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs focused on competitiveness and highlighted the need for increased investment in green technologies and new critical technologies such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, biotech, and quantum. Mr Bødskov also stressed the need to simplify regulations to foster innovation and growth.

MEPs stressed the need for a more efficient regulatory environment to foster innovation and competitiveness. They expressed concerns about high energy prices and highlighted the importance of investing in clean energy technologies and infrastructure to achieve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several MEPs questioned the balance between environmental protection and economic competitiveness, and called for a more pragmatic approach to regulation that would not stifle innovation and growth.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: News 07/15/2025 Blackburn, Thune, Kelly Call on USICAO to Raise Mandatory Commercial Pilot Retirement Age

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) sent a letter to U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (USICAO) Chargé d’Affaires Anthony Clare urging them to support ICAO’s effort to raise the mandatory commercial pilotretirement age. This would reduce the pilot shortage and increase safety by ensuring the most qualified and experienced pilots are on the flight deck.

As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to dominate international organizations around the world, the United States must not allow our adversary to lead international aviation standards, build goodwill with our allies, or gain a competitive advantage over the U.S.

Global Data Confirms Experienced Pilots Have Less Accidents than Junior Pilots

During the 14th Air Navigation Conference held last year from August 26th to September 6th, the ICAO advanced formal action directed at raising or even eliminating the institution’srecommended pilot retirement age of 65 years. This initiative—led by Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the International Air Transport Association— makes it increasingly likely that the international community will move to increase the suggested retirement age in the near future. Such a move would be consistent with data from around the world, which confirm that experienced pilots have fewer accidents than junior pilots. Therefore, it would stand to reason that raising or eliminating the pilot retirement age—coupled with the existing rigorous technical and medical testing that pilots undergo—would result in a reductionof accidents by closing the experience gap and retaining the greatest level of experience our passengers expect on the flight deck. In fact, many countries around the world already allow pilots above the age of 65 to fly and have been doing so without compromising safety.”

Senator Blackburn Has Led the Effort to Raise the Mandatory Commercial Pilot Retirement Age

“Last Congress, in the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Blackburn led several of her colleagues in an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorizationwhich would have raised the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. This amendment did not alter any other qualification to become a commercial pilot and was widely supported by industry.”

USICAO Must Not Cede Its Leadership Role to China by Sitting on the Sidelines of this Debate

“The United States is one of ICAO’s largest member states and one of 36 states that make up the ICAO Council. The USICAO is tasked with improving the safety, security, and sustainability of civil aviation in the U.S., and, as such, has an obligation to advocate for changes to international standards to benefit American consumers and our dominance in the skies. Therefore, the USICAO should not spend this debate sitting on the sidelines. As I know you understand, if the United States cedes our leadership role in this space on the international stage, China—who is presently and actively joining our partners to advocate for raising the pilot retirement age—will gladly fill that void.”

Click here to read the full letter.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: News 07/17/2025 Blackburn Statement on Senate Passing $9 Billion Rescissions Package to Cut Wasteful Government Spending
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 to cut $9 billion of wasteful government spending. With America’s national debt now sitting at $37 trillion after four years of reckless, far-left spending under the Biden administration, the rescissions package is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity.
“The American people gave us a mandate to stop reckless spending and get our national debt under control,” said Senator Blackburn. “For years, American taxpayers have been bankrolling biased public media, foreign spending that undermines our values, and other outrageous things like electric buses in Rwanda and climate programs in Mexico. The rescissions package that Senate Republicans just passed eliminates billions in wasteful spending, and it is an important step toward restoring fiscal sanity and economic security.”

THE RESCISSIONS ACT OF 2025

Below are highlights of the billions in wasteful government spending the rescissions package will cut:

Reckless spending on biased public media:

o Eliminates nearly $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that funnels taxpayer dollars into a politically biased media system, including NPR and PBS, that has pushed left-wing ideology on the taxpayers’ dime for years. Click here for a list of examples of left-wing bias at NPR and PBS.

Foreign spending on programs that undermines American values and interests:

$3.9 million for strengthening integrity, equality, and democracy for LGBTQI+ population of the Western Balkans;

$2.5 million to teach children how to make environmentally friendly “reproductive health” decision;

$2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity;”

$2.1 million for “climate resilience” in Asia, Latin America, and Africa;

$750,000 to “Yemen Community Resilience;” and

$500,000 for a gender equality and empowerment hub.

Funding to international organizations that work against American interests:

$135 million for the corrupt World Health Organization, which covered for Communist China throughout the COVID pandemic;

$33 million for the UN Population Fund, whose funding has gone towards providing tampons for transgender individuals in Bangladesh, a campaign to promote LGBTQ ideology in Rio de Janeiro, and “third-gender” community centers in Southeast Asia;

$8 million for the UN Human Rights Council, which supports dictators and repressive regimes while demonizing our ally, Israel.

Funding for outrageous projects at the expense of American taxpayers:

$21 million for wind farms in Ukraine;

$18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry;

$6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico;

$4.4 million for the “Melanesian Youth Climate Corps;”

$4 million for “sedentary migrants” in Colombia;

$3 million for an Iraqi version of Sesame Street;

$3 million for sexual reproductive health in Venezuela;

$2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity;”

$1 million for voter ID in Haiti;

$500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda; and

$500,000 for Peruvian biodiversity.

RELATED

Click here for bill text.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Co-Leads Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration Rule That Would Make It Harder for Americans to Obtain Health Coverage Under the ACA

Source: US State of California

By the Trump Administration’s own estimates, the rule will cause up to 1.8 million people to lose their health insurance

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led with the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New Jersey, a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging an unlawful final rule promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would create significant barriers to obtaining healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Trump Administration’s final rule would make numerous amendments to rules governing federal and state health insurance marketplaces which the administration estimates will cause up to 1.8 million people to lose their health insurance, while causing millions more to pay increased insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles. The final rule also excludes coverage of gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit (EHB) under the ACA. In the lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the HHS and CMS rule is arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The coalition is also seeking preliminary relief, and a stay, to prevent the challenged portions of the final rule from taking effect in the Plaintiff States before the August 25 effective date.

“Far from delivering on their promises to drive down costs and ‘make America healthier’ the Trump Administration’s HHS and CMS are doing their best to make it harder and more expensive for Americans to obtain health insurance and access care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “These sweeping changes would impose onerous verification requirements, junk health insurance premiums for some consumers, shorten enrollment periods in federal and state healthcare exchanges like Covered California, deprive up to 1.8 million Americans of health insurance, drive up out-of-pocket healthcare costs and so much more. It’s unlawful and it’s wrong – we’re meeting the Trump Administration in court to defend Americans’ healthcare coverage.”

Congress enacted the ACA in 2010 to increase the number of Americans with health insurance and decrease the cost of healthcare. Fifteen years later, the Act continues to meet its goals, with annual enrollment on the ACA marketplace doubling over the past five years, resulting in over 24 million people signing up for health insurance coverage in plan year 2025 on the ACA exchanges and receiving subsidies to make such coverage affordable, including millions of people in the Plaintiff States. Now, with less than four months until open enrollment for plan year 2026 begins, the Trump Administration’s final rule would abruptly reverse that trend, erecting a series of new barriers to enrollment that will deprive up to 1.8 million people of insurance coverage by the Administration’s own estimates, and significantly drive up the costs incurred by Plaintiff States in providing healthcare, including increasing state expenditures on Medicaid, uncompensated emergency care, and funding other services provided to newly uninsured residents.

California has approximately two million ACA plan enrollees, the third highest of any state. The final rule by HHS would make substantial changes to the operation of the ACA marketplaces, including adding new bureaucratic barriers, imposing an automatic monthly charge on all automatically reenrolled consumers who qualify for $0 premiums, shortening the open enrollment period for signing up for health coverage, and making other changes which will make coverage less affordable for millions of individuals nationwide. The final rule would also exclude gender-affirming care as an EHB on federal exchange plans, leaving states responsible for paying for the portion of insurance premiums attributable to any such coverage (but the availability of such care in California would not be impacted).

In the lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the HHS and CMS rule is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and would cause significant harm to states and their residents. All of the challenged marketplace changes implemented by the final rule will be harmful to individual consumers and state and local governments. The final rule imposes burdensome and costly paperwork requirements, limits the opportunities to sign up for health coverage, substantially increases cost-sharing limits, and forces exchanges and consumers to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to prove eligibility for coverage and subsidies. These changes will result in direct and immediate costs to States as well as harms tied to decreased enrollment.

In filing the lawsuit, California Attorney General Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Campbell, and New Jersey Attorney General Platkin are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

A copy of the complaint and motion for preliminary injunction will be made available here and here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: AssureSoft Represents LATAM in the Stevie® Awards for Great Employers
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Only Latin American-founded company offering nearshore software development services recognized among the winners in the 2025 Employer of the Year category.
- Judges recognized AssureSoft’s talent development strategy and its ongoing efforts to drive community impact, promote gender equity, and upskill tech professionals in Latin America.
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssureSoft, a nearshore software outsourcing company with operations in Latin America and the United States, has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Employer of the Year – Computer Software category.

The Stevie® Awards recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. This year, more than 1,000 nominations from organizations of all sizes in 35 nations were submitted for consideration in a wide range of HR-related categories.

Judges highlighted AssureSoft’s people-first culture, as well as the company’s integrated and inclusive talent development strategy, noting the impact of programs that blend community outreach with employee retention. Also, the company’s commitment to community impact, gender equity, and youth upskilling—especially within the Latin American context—was recognized, as it “highlights a deep, authentic investment in both people and purpose.”

“Our team members have always been the cornerstone of our success,” said Daniel Gumucio, CEO of AssureSoft. “This Stevie Award validates our long-standing investment in culture, inclusion, and talent development. We remain committed to building a workplace that inspires innovation, engagement, and long-term growth for both our talent and our clients.”

In 2024, AssureSoft achieved an eNPS of 70— above the Tech Industry average of 32—and maintained an attrition rate of 16%, compared to the 36.7% industry average.¹ These numbers stand out in a sector where retention and workplace culture are constant challenges.

Details about the Stevie Awards for Great Employers and the list of 2025 Stevie winners are available here.

To learn more about AssureSoft’s initiatives, read their latest Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion Report.

About AssureSoft

AssureSoft is a nearshore software outsourcing company with 19 years of experience. With a team of 500+ developers distributed across Latin America, the company provides tailored solutions to U.S. and Canada-based clients through staff augmentation, dedicated software development teams, and end-to-end software outsourcing services. AssureSoft’s headquarters are located in Miami; it operates offices in California and has development centers in four cities across Bolivia and Paraguay. Additionally, the company has development teams in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

AssureSoft adheres to global standards in information security compliance and talent development. The company is ISO 27001-certified and has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for five consecutive years. Discover more at www.assuresoft.com

¹The Tech Employee Experience

For Media Inquiries:
Catalina Soto Pizano
Corporate Communications Manager
AssureSoft
catalina.soto@assuresoft.com

The MIL Network –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senate Approves $9 Billion in DOGE Cut Savings for Taxpayers
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) released the following statement on this morning’s passage of S.Amdt.2853 to H.R.4, Rescissions Act of 2025. The package targets $9 billion in taxpayer-funded public broadcasting and wasteful foreign aid:

“This is the first step in the right direction to claw back wasteful spending and programs identified by DOGE. Oklahomans sent me to Washington to fight for them and ensure their hard-earned tax dollars are being used responsibly,” said Senator Mullin. “We have a lot of work left to do and we’re just getting started. President Trump and Senate Republicans will continue to work tirelessly to deliver for the American people.”

Below are just 10 of the cuts made by President Trump’s 2025 Rescissions Act:
1. $1.1 Billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
2. $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda
3. $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico
4. $8,000 for promoting vegan food in Zambia
5. $3.3 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe
6. $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
7. $1 million for Voter ID in Haiti
8. $18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry
9. $21 million on wind farms in Ukraine
10. $882,000 to fund social media mentorship in Serbia and Belarus
NOTE: This first recissions package targeted one tenth of one percent of the federal budget. For additional information on S.Amdt.2853 to H.R.4, click here.

Senator Mullin provided timely updates throughout the rescissions process in a series of social media posts, including here and here. If you missed Senator Mullin’s behind-the-scenes tours of the U.S. Capitol which he recorded last night between votes on the floor, follow @SenMullin on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy votes for rescissions package to eliminate $9 billion in wasteful spending
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

WASHINGTON – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved the Trump administration’s rescissions request to cut $9 billion in wasteful spending from the federal budget identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This package, H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act, which accounts for one-tenth of one percent of the federal budget, returns to the U.S. House of Representatives for final consideration.

“President Trump ran on a platform of reducing the size of government and cutting unnecessary, wasteful spending. Thanks to his bold leadership and the support of the DOGE team, your hard-earned taxpayer dollars will no longer be wasted on this outrageous spending porn. American taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill to fund woke foreign aid or activist media. Their taxpayer money should be spent on initiatives that improve their lives, put more money in their pockets, and protect our great country. I’m eager for the House to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk for his signature,” said Kennedy.

Background:
- The Trump administration’s initial rescissions package totals more than $9 billion in unnecessary spending.
- This package codifies spending cuts identified by DOGE, including $1.1 billion of cuts from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding to NPR and PBS, both politically biased and activist media systems, at taxpayers’ expense and $7.9 billion in radical and wasteful foreign aid spending at the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), among other programs.
Some examples of the wasteful spending porn that the Rescissions Act will cut:
- $18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry.
- $6 million for media organizations and civic life for Palestinians.
- $3.9 million for LGBTQI+ populations in the Western Balkans.
- $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.
- $2.5 million to teach children how to make environmentally friendly “reproductive health” decisions.
- $2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity.”
- $1 million for voter ID in Haiti.
- $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.
- $500,000 for biodiversity in Peru.
Legislative Process:
- The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires the Executive Branch to spend the money Congress allocates each year, even though Congress allocated that money when President Biden was in office and Democrats controlled the Senate.
- Under the Impoundment Control Act, a new administration can attempt to permanently halt previously appropriated spending by submitting a rescissions request for congressional approval.
- President Trump did just that. In his initial rescission request, made in May 2025, he asked Congress to rescind roughly $8.3 billion from wasteful foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting.
- The U.S. House of Representatives approved these initial cuts on June 12, 2025. The Impoundment Control Act only gives Congress 45 days to approve a rescissions request.
The full text of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act, is available here.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján: GOP Vote to Rip Away Public Broadcasting Funds Endangers Rural and Tribal Communities

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

1500+ Local Public Radio and TV Stations At Risk of Losing Funding

WATCH: Luján Offers Motion to Recissions Package to Protect AMBER & Emergency Alerts

WATCH: Luján Sounds Alarm on Dangerous GOP Plan to Gut Public Broadcasting

WATCH: Luján Joins Democratic Leadership Press Conference on Cuts Package

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted for President Trump’s reckless plan to steal funding from public broadcasting and foreign assistance:

“On the heels of the devastating GOP Budget Betrayal that threatens to strip health care and nutrition assistance from millions of Americans, Senate Republicans have now passed a reckless spending cuts package that slashes funding for public broadcasting, threatens public safety, and undermines our national security. This is a dangerous rubber stamp for Trump’s unchecked power.

“In rural and Tribal areas, when disaster strikes, public broadcasting is often the only source of evacuation notices, shelter locations, and updates from first responders and law enforcement. Yet Senate Republicans voted to steal millions from public broadcasting that help keep our communities informed and safe.

“Even Republican leadership has acknowledged that the Trump administration has no real plan for how these cuts would be implemented. Without fully understanding the consequences, Senate Republicans blindly voted to strip away bipartisan funding and turn their backs on the constituents they were elected to serve.”

Senator Luján offered a motion to the Republican recissions package to protect public broadcasting and the lifesaving emergency alerts it provides. Last week, Senator Luján took to the Senate floor to call out the Trump administration’s plan to defund public radio and television stations nationwide following deadly flooding in New Mexico and Texas. This week, Senator Luján joined Senate Democrats in continuing to sound the alarm on the dangers of cutting previously allocated federal funding for public broadcasting.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadorian National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Re-Entering the United States Following Prior Felony Conviction

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Greenbelt, Maryland – Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 33, a citizen and national of El Salvador, pled guilty to illegally re-entering the United States following a felony conviction for accessory after the fact, murder first degree.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty pleas with Acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), Baltimore Field Office.

According to court filings, Sanchez-Montiel voluntarily entered the United States around October 18, 2006, near Hidalgo, Texas, but United States Border Patrol apprehended him. Then the United States Border Patrol served Sanchez-Montiel with a Notice to Appear before the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review. On February 12, 2007, an immigration judge issued a decision ordering Sanchez-Montiel’s removal. Sanchez-Montiel failed to appear, so the hearing was held in absentia.

Then on January 23, 2023, law enforcement arrested Sanchez-Montiel, charging him with Accessory After the Fact, Murder First Degree. Sanchez-Montiel pled guilty and received a sentence of five years in prison with all but 18 months suspended.

On January 29, 2024, after he served his sentence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Sanchez-Montiel. Then on February 9, Sanchez-Montiel was removed from the United States to El Salvador via airplane, but he voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection by an immigration officer on an unknown date.

ICE officers again encountered Sanchez-Montiel in Montgomery County, Maryland, on July 27, where they took him into custody. Sanchez-Montiel did not obtain consent at any time from the Attorney General of the United States, or from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, for readmission into the United States. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke Oki and Joel Crespo who are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Carter, Bera Introduce Bill to Strengthen Palliative and Hospice Care Workforce

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter, Bera Introduce Bill to Strengthen Palliative and Hospice Care Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), bipartisan legislation to invest in training, education, and research for the palliative care and hospice workforce, allowing more practitioners to enter these in-demand fields.

Palliative and hospice care focus on providing comfort and quality of life improvements for those seriously ill, extending quality of life and reducing the length of hospital stays for many patients.

“Caring for someone living with serious illness or at the end of their life is one of the most compassionate, selfless things one can do, and we must ensure that these heroes have the assistance, training, education, and tools available to provide the highest quality care possible. As a pharmacist, I understand the toll burnout takes on the health care industry, and I am committed to bolstering the workforce so nurses, doctors, and all health care workers can continue to pursue their passion for helping others,” said Rep. Carter.

“As a doctor, I know how important it is to provide patients with comfort, clarity, and support when they’re facing serious illness,” said Rep. Bera. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is a smart, bipartisan step to ensure more health care professionals are trained to deliver this kind of care. By expanding training programs and strengthening our health care workforce, we will make sure that patients and families have access to the care they need to manage pain, make informed decisions, and live with dignity.”

In 2001, just 7% of U.S. hospitals with more than 50 beds had a palliative care program, compared with 72% in 2019. Those working in the field, 40% of whom are 56 years of age or older, report high rates of burnout, in response to the increasing number of patients requiring treatment.

Reps. Carter and Bera’s bill, which has a Senate companion led by Senators Baldwin and Capito, alleviates these strains through workforce training, education and awareness, and enhanced research.

“As we face a critical shortage of health professionals with expert knowledge and skills in palliative care, AAHPM applauds Representatives Carter and Bera for their leadership in introducing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act to ensure all patients facing serious illness or at the end of life can receive high-quality care,” said Kristina Newport, MD FAAHPM, HMDC, Chief Medical Officer of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. “We urge Congress to recognize the importance of a well-trained, interprofessional healthcare team to providing coordinated, person-centered serious illness care and to act now to build a healthcare workforce more closely aligned with America’s evolving healthcare needs. Advancing PCHETA will go a long way towards improving quality of care and quality of life for our nation’s sickest and most vulnerable patients, along with their families and caregivers.”

“Palliative care treats the whole person, not just the disease. Ensuring health care providers can be trained in this specialized, coordinated form of care and providing funding for robust public education through the Palliative Care Education and Training Act can help increase access to palliative care for cancer patients and make their cancer journey less difficult,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “We commend Reps. Carter and Bera for their leadership and steadfast commitment to palliative care and to improving quality of life for patients, including those impacted by cancer.”

“Every person living with serious illness or facing the end of life deserves compassionate, expert care that honors their choices and helps them live comfortably on their own terms. The Alliance celebrates Representatives Carter and Bera’s leadership in introducing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, which will ensure families have access to the trained professionals they need during life’s most difficult moments. As our population ages, this critical investment in education and training will help us meet the growing demand for quality palliative and hospice care,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO for the National Alliance for Care at Home.

Supporting Organizations Include: Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physician Associates, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Surgeons, American Geriatrics Society, American Heart Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychosocial Oncology Society, The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of Oncology Social Work, Association of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Nurses, Association of Professional Chaplains, The California State University Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care, Cambia Health Solutions, Cancer Support Community, CaringKind, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Center to Advance Palliative Care, Children’s National Health System, Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Courageous Parents Network, The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, GO2 for Lung Cancer, The HAP Foundation, HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, LEAD Coalition, LeadingAge, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Motion Picture & Television Fund, National Alliance for Care at Home, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Brain Tumor Society, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Marrow Donor Program, National Palliative Care Research Center, National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National POLST Paradigm, Oncology Nursing Society, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition, PAs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Second Wind Dreams, Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network, Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Supportive Care Matters, Susan G. Komen, Trinity Health, West Health Institute, The Alliance for the Advancement of End-of-Life Care, Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Arizona Association for Home Care, Arizona Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, California Association for Health Services at Home, The Center for Optimal Aging at Marymount University, Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition, Delaware Association for Home & Community Care, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Georgia Association for Home Health Agencies, Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Granite State Home Health & Hospice Association (NH), Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Home Care Association of Florida, Home Care Association of NYS, Home Care Association of Washington, Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado, Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Iowa, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York, Hospice Care and Kentucky Home Care Association, Hospice Council of West Virginia, Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts, Idaho Health Care Association, Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Indiana Association for Home, Kokua Mau, LeadingAge California, LeadingAge Georgia, LeadingAge New Jersey/Delaware, LeadingAge Ohio, LifeCircle-South Dakota’s Hospice and Palliative Care Network, Louisiana Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Maryland-National Capital Homecare Association, Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association, Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care, Missouri Alliance for Home Care, Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Nebraska Association for Home Healthcare and Hospice, Nebraska Home Care Association, Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice, Ohio Health Care Association, Oklahoma Association for Home Care and Hospice, South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association, The Oregon Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice, Texas ~ New Mexico Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Virginia Association for Home Care and Hospice, VNAs of Vermont, The Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and West Virginia Council for Home Care and Hospice.

Read full bill text here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Vasquez Leads Bipartisan Border Legislation to Combat Cartels’ Exploitation of American Youth and Crack Down on Smugglers

Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the No More Narcos Act and the Stop COYOTES Act, two critical bipartisan bills designed to address the continued threat of organized criminal activity in border communities. The legislation targets drug cartels and human traffickers who exploit vulnerable populations, particularly children, and strengthens law enforcement’s ability to respond through enhanced coordination and accountability.

“Representing 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, I’ve had the opportunity to hear directly from law enforcement, educators, and families about the very real challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations in border towns,” said Vasquez. “My bipartisan bills strengthen our ability to disrupt cartel activity, protect our kids from exploitation, and equip local law enforcement with the tools and coordination they need to keep communities safe.”

The No More Narcos Act creates a coordinated educational campaign led by the Department of Justice in partnership with the DEA, DHS, the Department of Education, and other federal, state, and tribal agencies. The campaign will directly engage middle and high school students within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border about the dangers of working with cartels and other Transnational Criminal Organizations. This legislation was introduced with Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and is supported by the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico.

The Stop COYOTES Act improves public safety by imposing harsher penalties against human smugglers and fentanyl traffickers while also improving information sharing and reporting between DHS and local law enforcement along the border. Under the bill, DHS must report on trafficking trends, smuggling routes, and cartel activity — ensuring that local communities have the data they need to respond in real time. This legislation was introduced with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).

Both bills are supported by the Sunland Park Police Department and Las Cruces Police Department.

“For too long, dangerous criminals have exploited our border crisis to traffic innocent children and smuggle deadly narcotics into our nation,” said McCaul. “It’s time we finally put a stop to these predators and ensure law enforcement agencies have the information-sharing infrastructure to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. I am proud to co-lead this bill alongside Rep. Vasquez to protect innocent children across Texas and support our local law enforcement officers as they work to counter cartel-sponsored crime.”

“New Mexico’s educators are on the frontlines of keeping our communities safe, and we know that protecting our students from the influence of criminal organizations requires both vigilance and leadership. We applaud Congressman Vasquez for continuing to prioritize student safety through action, not just words, and we remain committed to supporting efforts that safeguard the wellbeing of every student in our schools,” said Whitney Holland, President of AFT New Mexico.

“Border communities such as Sunland Park, New Mexico, are on the front lines of problems posed by human smugglers, fentanyl traffickers, and cartels seeking to recruit American teens,” said Chief Eric Lopez, Sunland Park Police Department. “Through these bills, Rep. Vasquez is leading on the sort of real-world solutions that will crack down on criminals to actually make our schools and streets safer. Working collaboratively with a common goal will ensure our border region stays safe and continues to thrive.”

“I thank Congressman Vasquez for prioritizing the needs of New Mexicans and working in a bipartisan way to find solutions that will support law enforcement and improve public safety,” said Chief Jeremy Story, Las Cruces Police Department. “These bills strike the right balance between prevention, education, and enforcement, and they send a strong message that exploiting our kids or flooding our communities with fentanyl will not be tolerated.”

Vasquez is committed to delivering smart, bipartisan solutions that protect New Mexico’s youth, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen the resilience of border communities. Earlier this year, Vasquez led a bipartisan letter to the State Department supporting efforts to combat cartels and urging the Department to work collaboratively with border communities while protecting cross-border trade. He also backed legislation to crack down on dangerous car chases in border communities.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boost for British business as new partnership breaks down barriers to infrastructure delivery in South Africa
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Boost for British business as new partnership breaks down barriers to infrastructure delivery in South Africa

Chancellor launches new Infrastructure Partnership with South Africa, opening up significant investment and export opportunities for UK firms.
Best-in-class British expertise will speed up delivery of major projects in the country, helping to deliver growth and good jobs as part of our Plan for Change.

Builds further on the first-of-its-kind UK Growth & Investment Partnership launched globally with the nation at the end of 2024.

British businesses will have more opportunities to expand, invest and export to South Africa through a flagship partnership launched today, 17 July.

At an event in Durban, Chancellor Rachel Reeves hailed the agreement as having the potential to be transformative for the best and brightest British firms doing business in the country who had long been looking for government support in unlocking commercial opportunities in areas like architectural design, engineering, and professional and business services.

The UK is the biggest international investor in South Africa, but businesses have faced challenges such as project delays due to blockers on infrastructure delivery. British expertise will be brought in to unblock these barriers on building, speeding up a pipeline of projects which British firms are well-placed to win tenders for. This will help growth and development in South Africa, and also help Britain get better return on its investments in the country.

This model of Government-to-Government (G2G) Infrastructure Partnership has previously delivered strong growth and jobs in countries such as Peru, with companies such as Arup and Turner & Townsend building a track-record of international delivery and bringing economic growth to the UK.

The Chancellor saw first-hand how those two businesses have already been showcasing British expertise in designing, planning and building infrastructure in South Africa during her visit in February to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town – a site expansion project which Arup and Turner & Townsend won the contracts for.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

This is exactly what our Plan for Change is all about – backing British businesses who have been held back for too long to compete and win on the global stage. By unlocking these opportunities, we’re opening doors for British expertise in engineering, design and project management, creating a pipeline of work in South Africa to support good jobs paying decent wages.

When British businesses thrive abroad, it strengthens our economy at home – delivering security for working people and putting more money in their pockets. That’s the foundation of sustainable growth that our Plan for Change is designed to deliver.

South Africa’s Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, said:

This landmark partnership with the UK reflects our vision to ensure that public assets deliver real value for our people and to turn South Africa into a construction site which will help grow our economy and create jobs. By injecting technical expertise and delivery support into stalled projects within the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, we are turning neglected buildings and land into opportunities for job creation, economic growth, and restored dignity.

This agreement is about far more than bricks and mortar; it’s about ensuring every rand spent on public assets advances the public good, accelerates infrastructure delivery, and grows our economy.

Funded with a mix of UK ODA and non-ODA, the G2G Partnership will formalise UK support via technical assistance for new initiatives to improve South Africa’s management of public assets, accelerate project delivery in selected local municipalities, and launch an initiative to bring in external consultants to drive major projects and override longstanding inefficiencies.

The G2G Partnership enhances the thriving collaboration between the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and South Africa’s Department of Public Works & Infrastructure. It builds on the close business relationship between both countries and paves the way to unlocking new export opportunities for UK businesses, primarily in the professional and business services and infrastructure sectors, bringing economic growth to the UK.

Today’s announcement also further builds on the UK’s Growth and Investment Partnership with South Africa, a first-of-its-kind collaboration initiated by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to Cape Town in November 2024. Projects announced to date through the Growth and Investment Partnership include initiatives around inclusive agriculture, export promotion, and rail reform delivered by Crossrail international.

It comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the UK-Germany Treaty in London this afternoon. Included within this is a commitment for public financial institutions in the UK and Germany to work together in mobilising private capital into high-growth industries, opening up opportunities for innovative British businesses. Reeves will mark the agreement in a meeting with her counterpart Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, in Durban later this afternoon.

Coupled with the launch of the UK-SA Infrastructure Partnership, the agreements recognise infrastructure as key to growth and that cooperating with international partners to invest in that infrastructure is a route to delivering the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy: with more good jobs and more money in the pockets of working people across our countries.

Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said:

Our Modern Industrial Strategy, and Trade Strategy, are about playing to the UK’s strengths.

Our businesses lead the way in engineering and major infrastructure projects, and partnerships like these help unlock new exports, investment and job-creating contracts.

This Government-to-Government Partnership builds on the UK’s thriving business relationship with South Africa and shows how our Plan for Change is paving the way for growth at home by unlocking new opportunities abroad.

As the government unlocks infrastructure pipelines abroad, it has today published its pipeline of infrastructure projects at home through the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

The 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy includes investment of at least £725 billion into infrastructure over the next decade across eight growth-driving sectors where Britain holds a cutting-edge on the world stage, while the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure – cutting unnecessary red tape which stifles delivery. The measures in the Bill are expected to boost the UK economy by £7.5 billion over the next 10 years – with planning reforms having the largest positive growth effect from a single measure ever scored by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

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Published 17 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation

Source: US FBI

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 7, 2025, United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Ángel Alexis Vázquez-Sánchez to 300 months (25 years) in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for child exploitation. Vázquez-Sánchez, 27, from Jayuya, PR, was indicted on March 5, 2024, and plead guilty on January 29, 2025.

According to court documents, from December 2021 throughout May 2023, Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez sexually exploited four different minor females, between the ages of 12 and 16, with the intent that the minors engage in sexual activity, and to obtain sexually explicit images of the minors.

Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez plead guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children. From December 2021 through May 2023, the defendant used his cellular device, social media, and communication platforms to communicate in a sexually explicit manner via text, still images, video and voice notes, with four female minors ranging from 12 to 16 years of age to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce the female minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. The defendant solicited and received such images via his cellular device and requested that the female minors engage in sexual acts or sexual contact and produced the images and videos of the sexually explicit conduct of the minors.

The FBI investigated the case, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG) provided significant assistance during the ongoing investigation.

Assistant US Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega, Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit Chief, prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

###

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Former Federal Task Force Agent Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Corruption

Source: US FBI

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Antonio Pizarro Adorno, a former Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau (“NIE” as known in Spanish) officer who was assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé to 15 months in prison and three years of Supervised Release Term for corruptly concealing $170 during a law enforcement seizure.

On March 13, 2025, after a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Antonio Pizarro Adorno. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 27, 2023, Pizarro Adorno, took $170 in cash seized by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives related to drug trafficking in a community in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI San Juan Field Office, Public Corruption Unit investigated the case, with the collaboration of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy prosecuted the case.

###

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: When grief involves trauma − a social worker explains how to support survivors of the recent floods and other devastating losses
Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Liza Barros-Lane, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Houston-Downtown

Rain falls over a makeshift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River on July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. AP Photo/Eric Gay

The July 4, 2025, floods in Kerr County, Texas, swept away children and entire families, leaving horror in their wake. Days later, flash floods struck Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing three people, including two young children.

These are not just devastating losses. When death is sudden, violent, or when a body is never recovered, grief gets tangled up with trauma.

In these situations, people don’t only grieve the death. They struggle with the terror of how it happened, the unanswered questions and the shock etched into their bodies.

I’m a social work professor, grief researcher and the founder of The Young Widowhood Project, a research initiative aimed at expanding scholarship and public understanding of premature spousal loss.

I was widowed when I was 36. In July 2020, my husband, Brent, went missing after testing a small, flat-bottomed fishing boat called a Jon boat. His body was recovered two days later, but I never saw his remains.

Both my personal loss and professional work have shown me how trauma changes the grieving process and what kind of support actually helps.

To understand how trauma can complicate grief, it’s important to first understand how people typically respond to loss.

Grief isn’t a set of stages

Many people still think of grief through the lens of psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief, popularized in the early 1970s: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

But in fact, this model was originally designed for people facing their own deaths, not for mourners. In the absence of accessible grief research in the 1960s, it became a leading framework for understanding the grieving process – even though it wasn’t meant for that.

Despite this misapplication, the stages model has shaped cultural expectations: namely, that grief ends once people reach the “acceptance” stage. But research doesn’t support this idea. Trying to force grief into this model can cause real harm, leaving mourners feeling they’re grieving “wrong.”

In reality, mourning is often lifelong. Most people go through an acute period of overwhelming pain right after the loss. This is usually followed by integrated grief, where the pain softens but the loss is still part of everyday life, returning in waves.

Although grief is unique to each person and relationship, researchers have found that mourners often strive to a) make sense of the death; b) adjust to a world without their loved one; c) form an ongoing connection with their deceased loved one in new ways; and d) figure out who they are without their loved one.

It’s difficult and at times disorienting work, but most people find ways to carry their grief and keep living.

Julia Mora embraces her granddaughter, Isla Meyer, during a vigil for Texas flood victims on July 11, 2025.
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

When grief and trauma collide

However, some losses carry an extra layer of pain, confusion and trauma.

Sudden, unexpected, accidental, violent or deeply tragic deaths – like those experienced during the recent floods – can lead to what researchers call traumatic bereavement: grief that is disrupted by the traumatic nature of the death.

People experiencing traumatic bereavement often endure a longer and more intense acute grief period. They may be haunted by disturbing images, nightmares or relentless thoughts about how their loved one died or suffered. Many wrestle with dread, spiritual disorientation and a shattered sense of safety in the world.

Some of these deaths are also considered “ambiguous” – unclear or unconfirmed loss – such as when a body is never recovered or is too damaged to view. Without physical confirmation, mourners often feel stuck in disbelief and helplessness.

This was true in my case. Not seeing my husband’s body left a part of me suspended between knowing and not knowing. I knew he had died but couldn’t fully believe it, no matter how much I lived with the reality of his absence. For a long time, I caught myself repeating these words every morning: “Brent is dead. Brent is dead.”

In many cases, these reactions aren’t short term. Many people affected by traumatic loss remain overwhelmed and sometimes physically and emotionally impaired for years. Symptoms may taper over time, but they rarely disappear entirely.

Supporting mourners

Traumatic bereavement can feel unbearable. Many mourners struggle with intense, long-lasting reactions that can leave them feeling helpless, altered or even unrecognizable to themselves. They may appear withdrawn, forgetful or emotionally drained because their systems are overwhelmed. Coping can look messy or self-destructive, but these are often survival strategies, not conscious choices. I’ve also seen how those same struggles become more survivable when mourners don’t have to carry them alone. If you’re supporting someone through traumatic loss, here are three ways to help.
- Make space for the horror. Listen without flinching. Acknowledge the full weight of what happened and how terrifying and unjust the loss was. This means saying things like, “This should never have happened,” or “What you went through is beyond words.” It means staying present when the mourner speaks about what haunts them. Let them know they don’t have to carry this alone. You may feel the urge to say something hopeful such as, “At least the body was recovered,” but there is no silver lining in these cases. Instead, say: “There’s nothing I can say to fix this, but I’m not going anywhere.”
- Help them find others who can understand. Trauma can be isolating. Mourners often feel uniquely overwhelmed or confused. Support groups, peer companions and therapists trained in treating grief and trauma can offer the kind of recognition and validation that even the most devoted friend may not be able to provide.
- Take care of yourself, too. Being present for someone in deep grief takes energy, especially if you were personally affected by the loss. Stay connected to replenishing people, practices and routines. If you don’t, you may begin to experience trauma, too. Taking care of yourself will help you remain grounded so that you can show up.
I believe supporting someone through traumatic bereavement is one of the most meaningful things you can do. You don’t need perfect words or a plan. What sustains them won’t be advice or solutions, but your simple, powerful act of staying.

Liza Barros-Lane does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. When grief involves trauma − a social worker explains how to support survivors of the recent floods and other devastating losses – https://theconversation.com/when-grief-involves-trauma-a-social-worker-explains-how-to-support-survivors-of-the-recent-floods-and-other-devastating-losses-260908
MIL OSI Analysis –
July 18, 2025
China threatens to block Panama ports deal unless its shipping giant gets stake, WSJ reports

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

China is threatening to block the sale of more than 40 ports, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, to BlackRock BLK.N and MediteAAACrranean Shipping Company (MSC) if Chinese shipping company Cosco does not get a stake, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify the WSJ report.

CK Hutchison, MSC, BlackRock and Cosco did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for a comment, while the Chinese government could not be immediately reached outside office hours.

Chinese officials have told BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison that if Cosco is left out of the deal, Beijing would take steps to block Hutchison’s proposed sale of the ports, the newspaper said.

Tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison in March announced it would sell its 80% holding in the ports business, which encompasses 43 ports in 23 countries. The business has an enterprise value of $22.8 billion, including debt.

After much scrutiny and criticism in China, Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison confirmed in May Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s family-run MSC, one of the world’s top container shipping groups, was the main investor in a group seeking to buy the ports.

BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison all are open to Cosco taking a stake, WSJ said.

However, the parties would likely not reach a deal before a previously agreed upon July 27 deadline for exclusive talks between BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison, the report added.

The proposed sale has also drQAawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to reduce Chinese influence around the Panama Canal and termed the deal a “reclaiming” of the waterway after it was first announced.

(Reuters)

July 18, 2025
China threatens to block Panama ports deal unless its shipping giant gets stake, WSJ reports

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

China is threatening to block the sale of more than 40 ports, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, to BlackRock BLK.N and MediteAAACrranean Shipping Company (MSC) if Chinese shipping company Cosco does not get a stake, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify the WSJ report.

CK Hutchison, MSC, BlackRock and Cosco did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for a comment, while the Chinese government could not be immediately reached outside office hours.

Chinese officials have told BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison that if Cosco is left out of the deal, Beijing would take steps to block Hutchison’s proposed sale of the ports, the newspaper said.

Tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison in March announced it would sell its 80% holding in the ports business, which encompasses 43 ports in 23 countries. The business has an enterprise value of $22.8 billion, including debt.

After much scrutiny and criticism in China, Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison confirmed in May Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s family-run MSC, one of the world’s top container shipping groups, was the main investor in a group seeking to buy the ports.

BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison all are open to Cosco taking a stake, WSJ said.

However, the parties would likely not reach a deal before a previously agreed upon July 27 deadline for exclusive talks between BlackRock, MSC and Hutchison, the report added.

The proposed sale has also drQAawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to reduce Chinese influence around the Panama Canal and termed the deal a “reclaiming” of the waterway after it was first announced.

(Reuters)

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Begins Shipments of IQ Battery 5P with Higher Domestic Content to Meet New U.S. Federal Requirements

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FREMONT, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced initial shipments of the IQ^® Battery 5P supplied from manufacturing facilities in the United States with higher domestic content than previous models. The higher domestic content batteries comply with the new requirement in the U.S. federal budget law, signed on July 4, 2025, which retroactively enforces a 45% U.S.-sourced materials threshold for solar and battery products starting June 16, 2025.

To remain eligible for key federal tax incentives, products must meet this threshold, which will increase to 50% in 2026 and 55% in 2027, where it will remain in effect at that level thereafter. The new IQ Battery 5P units with “DOM” SKUs (IQBATTERY-5P-1P-NA-DOM) are being built now to meet these higher standards — not just for today’s 45% requirement, but also for all expected future thresholds — thanks to the substantial use of U.S.-sourced materials. These batteries are helping support American jobs and manufacturing, and a more resilient domestic supply chain.

“Our customers consistently want Enphase for the seamless integration between their solar and storage systems,” said Joel McClure CEO of NexGen Solar, an installer of Enphase products in California. “The IQ Battery 5P’s modular design allows us to right-size each installation, and the increased domestic content helps customers comply with evolving federal requirements.”

“Enphase continues to lead with reliable, high-performance energy storage solutions,” said Orlando Diaz, CEO of Planet Solar, an installer of Enphase products in Puerto Rico. “With the IQ Battery 5P now meeting the new federal domestic content requirements, our customers can benefit from lower costs on our offering with a product that’s built for resilience and long-term value.”

The IQ Battery 5P is a modular design with a 5 kWh capacity and can be paired with Enphase IQ8™ Microinverters to provide homeowners with reliable electricity to use whenever they need it. Homeowners can also use the Enphase^® App to monitor performance and intelligently manage their battery systems, including the self-consumption feature to reduce the use of electricity from the grid.

“We’re pleased to begin U.S. shipments of the IQ Battery 5P with increased domestic content,” said Ken Fong, senior vice president and general manager of the Americas and APAC at Enphase Energy. “The IQ Battery 5P delivers top-tier performance, and now, with domestic content that meets the latest federal requirements, our installer partners are better positioned to enjoy the value of federal tax incentives, grow their businesses, and bring energy storage to more homes across the country.”

Watch a video about Enphase’s manufacturing process in Texas here. For more information about the IQ Battery 5P, please visit the Enphase website.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power — and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 81.5 million microinverters, and approximately 4.8 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in over 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, IQ8, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase Energy’s technology and products, including safety, quality, and reliability; and ability of the IQ Battery 5P to maximize the value of federal tax incentives. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents filed by Enphase Energy from time to time with the SEC. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

Contact:

Enphase Energy

press@enphaseenergy.com

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: El Salvador: Community-led mangrove restoration through Green Life Insurance
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

This case study was collected through a Call for Good Practices on Reducing Risk across SDG Transitions, launched by the UNDRR Focal Points Group in 2024.

SDGs addressed: 13 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 10

Coastal Barra de Santiago has lost 60 % of its mangroves in 50 years. The Green Life Insurance initiative, driven by Davivienda Seguros and the ARISE leader FUNDEMAS, channels part of each policy premium into community restoration. With technical support from GIZ and permits from the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources (MARN), residents-led by the women’s association AMBAS-have restored 8 ha and planted 26 200 mangroves, sequestering 1 892 t CO₂ and improving habitat across the 11 500-ha Ramsar site.

Innovation & Success Factors
- Finance-nature link – insurance premiums fund measurable ecological gains.
- Women-centred governance empowers AMBAS (60 % female workforce) and secures local buy-in.
- Outcome-based payments tie funding to survival rates and canopy growth.
Key impacts
- Disaster-risk reduction – mangroves buffer storm surge, erosion and flooding.
- Livelihoods – 70 families receive paid restoration work and nursery jobs.
- Carbon storage – 1 892 t CO₂ captured.
- Biodiversity – habitat revived for fish, birds and turtles; fish stocks rising.
- Replication pipeline – plan to restore 10 ha more and replicate model in Honduras & Costa Rica.
Lessons learned for replication or adaptation
1. Community ownership sustains effort; locals plan, plant and monitor.
2. Tying finance to ecological metrics secures long-term funding.
3. Public-private-community governance speeds permits and aligns incentives.
4. Gender focus increases impact and ensures broad social acceptance.
5. Baseline & monitoring data from GIZ proved vital for adaptive management.
Other resources / Explore further

Organisations involved
- Private sector: Davivienda Seguros (insurer & funder)
- UN system: UNDRR via ARISE Private Sector Alliance
- National NGO: FUNDEMAS (ARISE El Salvador leader)
- Government: Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources (permits)
- Technical partner: GIZ (capacity-building, biodiversity monitoring)
- Community group: Asociación de Mujeres de la Barra de Santiago (AMBAS)
MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Costa Rica: Multi-hazard probabilistic risk assessment for resilience
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

This case study was collected through a Call for Good Practices on Reducing Risk across SDG Transitions, launched by the UN DRR Focal Points Group in 2024.

SDGs addressed: 2 | 4 | 6

Costa Rica is exposed to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and landslides. Historically, risk studies focused on direct physical losses, leaving indirect economic impacts invisible. In 2022-23 the National Commission for Emergencies (CNE), UNDRR and technical contractor ERN International completed an 18-month probabilistic, multi-hazard risk assessment-the first of its kind at national scale in the region. Through multi-sector data sharing and stakeholder workshops, the project produced validated loss curves for infrastructure, housing, water and sanitation, capturing supply-chain and public-service disruptions. The results now inform resilient-investment decisions and new disaster-risk-financing instruments.

Innovation & Success Factors
- Indirect-loss modelling revealed macro-economic ripple effects previously overlooked.
- Peril-agnostic methodology-the same framework can add hurricanes or landslides when data mature.
- Risk-literacy workshops turned complex outputs into decision-ready information for ministries and insurers.
Key impacts
- Authoritative national loss curves for earthquakes & floods (direct + indirect).
- Financial innovation – data underpin risk-transfer tools (e.g., catastrophe bonds, Global Shield discussions).
- Policy leverage – evidence feeds new regulations for resilient infrastructure and DRR financing.
- Capacity built – 80+ officials, academics and private-sector actors trained in probabilistic analysis.
- Replication path – same arithmetic can down-scale to provincial level, subject to data availability.
Lessons learned for replication or adaptation
1. Include indirect impacts to expose hidden vulnerabilities.
2. Organised national datasets accelerate modelling.
3. Embed capacity-building for sustained use and updates.
4. Engage finance stakeholders early so risk data translate into investment criteria.
5. Start with high-impact hazards, expand incrementally as data improve.
Organisations involved
- Lead UN entity: UNDRR
- National lead: National Commission for Emergencies (CNE)
- Technical partner: ERN International
- Advisory group: RSTAG members in Costa Rica
MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/BRAZIL – Father Mario Lanciotti, Xaverian missionary, among myths, tales, and legends of the indigenous people of the Amazon

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Thursday, 17 July 2025

by Gianluca FrinchillucciRome (Agenzia Fides) – A new light is shining on missionary witness among the peoples of the Amazon. Professor Mario Polia, anthropologist, historian of religions, and profound expert on Andean cultures, has published a valuable collection of oral accounts collected by Father Mario Lanciotti, a Xaverian missionary active in Brazil in the 1960s, and a former missionary in China and Japan.The work brings together myths, tales, legends, and cosmogonic tales passed down orally for generations by the indigenous people of the Amazon. Father Lanciotti heard them directly from the faithful of his missions, during long evenings in the villages, often by moonlight, to the sound of crickets and night frogs. “For me,” he wrote, “it was not a pastime: I considered it indispensable for my missionary work.” “I have always tried to better understand the people to whom I was sent and to help them according to my abilities and capabilities. I have tried to love and accept them as they are, avoiding noise and paternalism,” he recounted in one of his testimonies. Furthermore, in a letter to a friend, he wrote words of luminous serenity: “I am here, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Xingu River. I am happy. When I came to work in this abandoned place, I was over 71 years old, but now I feel rejuvenated by 40. Here I truly feel at home as a missionary. The Lord has been so good to me in my old age! If you want to be happy, come with me!”“Father Lanciotti,” Polia affirms, “knew how to compile these oral testimonies, even though he was aware that, for many, these beliefs needed to be overcome. As he himself said, old superstitions remain in the deepest layers of the soul, like posters glued one on top of the other: when you tear off the first one, the previous one reappears. Lanciotti’s great intelligence was understanding that, to evangelize, you must first understand the other’s way of thinking. His compilation is an act of respect and listening.”“I spent a long period in the Xingu River area, on the border between the lands occupied by the whites and the forests where the indigenous tribes still live,” Father Lanciotti noted in another account. “I spent many afternoons with the ‘civilized’ Indians. We sat on the grass, in the moonlight, while crickets, toads, and night birds accompanied us. After religious instruction, I encouraged my indigenous interlocutors to tell me stories of the jungle and mythological events handed down through the centuries.” Father Mario Lanciotti (1901-1983), originally from Cupra Marittima (Ascoli Piceno, Italy), was a Xaverian missionary for fifty years in China, Japan, and finally Brazil. He worked in the most difficult areas of Pará and the Xingu, dedicating his life to serving the most disadvantaged. Almost blind, he asked to live out his final years in a nursing home in Belém, “the poorest among the poor.” He was buried in Abaetetuba, on the banks of the Amazon River. (Agenzia Fides, 17/7/2025)

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MIL OSI Europe News –

July 17, 2025
Global oil prices likely to decline, India ready for any sanctions fallout: Hardeep Puri

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday expressed confidence that global oil prices could see a decline in the coming months. He also played down concerns about possible US sanctions over India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia.

“The price of oil will come down as more sources of supplies are coming. We have enough oil around,” Puri said, underlining India’s strategy of tapping into a wider pool of suppliers to ensure energy security.

In response to questions about potential US secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian energy, Puri said he was “not worried at all.”

“If something happens, we will deal with it,” he said, adding, “Ek darwaza band hota hai to doosra khul jata hai” (When one door closes, another one opens).

The minister highlighted that India has significantly broadened its oil import network. “India has diversified the sources of supplies from 27 to 40 countries now. 16 per cent of oil market growth has come from India, and studies show it may go up to 25 per cent.”

Addressing the global dependence on Russian oil, Puri said that Russia accounts for 10 per cent of global crude production. “Our analysis shows that if Russia were not included, prices would have gone up to 130 dollars a barrel. Even Turkey, China, Brazil, and the EU have purchased oil and gas from Russia,” he said.

ANI

July 17, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

Source: Government of South Africa

States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

In a significant multilateral initiative, a coalition of countries from various regions has agreed on six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures aimed at restraining Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and upholding international law.

The Emergency Conference of The Hague Group, jointly organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs, brought together 30 nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

“In the deliberations at the Bogotá conference, all 30 participating States unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end – and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation – along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire,” a joint statement issued at the end of the conference read.

To initiate this process, 12 countries from around the world – Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa – convened in Bogotá, Colombia, for two days.

READ | Israel’s disregard for ICJ rulings undermines global governance, says Dangor

The countries committed to immediately implement six measures through their domestic legal and administrative systems.

The leaders have scheduled a meeting for 20 September, coinciding with the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to invite more countries to join this initiative. Consultations with governments worldwide are currently underway.

The countries have since announced several measures to be adopted based on the States’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks. This includes a ban on arms shipments to Israel, a prohibition on ships transporting such arms, and a review of public contracts to identify any links to companies benefiting from the Israeli occupation.

In addition, the group supports “universal jurisdiction mandates”, which would enable States or international bodies to prosecute serious international crimes, regardless of where they occurred.

“These 12 States have taken a momentous step forward,” said UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese.

“The clock is now ticking for States – from Europe to the Arab world and beyond – to join them.”

The conference agreed to set a deadline for States’ final decisions by September 2025, in line with the 12-month timeframe mandated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.

That resolution called on all States to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support — within one year of adoption.

“We came to Bogotá to make history – and we did,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

“Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity. These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable.”

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, said what they have achieved is a collective affirmation that no State is above the law.

“The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious and that coordinated State action is possible,” said Lamola.

The Executive Secretary of The Hague Group, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, said the conference marks a turning point – not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system.

“For decades, States, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 07/17/2025 – 10:27

MIL OSI Africa –

July 17, 2025
MIL-OSI: 21Shares Releases Mid-Year 2025 State of Crypto: Predictions Realised, Trends Solidified
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

21Shares reflects on a transformative first half – where bold forecasts became reality

Zurich, 17 July 2025 – 21Shares, one of the world’s leading providers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), today published its mid-year 2025 edition of the State of Crypto, offering a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of market performance and trends across the digital asset ecosystem.

The report revisits 21Shares’ bold predictions for 2025, first laid out in December 2024, and evaluates how each thesis has unfolded across key narratives – from nation-state adoption of Bitcoin to stablecoins leading crypto’s real-world adoption. Many of the forward-looking theses put forward at the end of 2024 have already materialised, and the report highlights how early conviction in structural shifts around crypto has proven prescient.

Among the standout findings:
- Nation-states are adopting Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset: Our prediction that another nation would adopt Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset in 2025 has largely come to fruition. By launching its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the U.S. became the largest public Bitcoin holder with over 200,000 BTC. Countries like Bhutan and El Salvador continue to maintain sizable Bitcoin holdings, Japan and the Czech Republic are now actively exploring Bitcoin reserve strategies, and Pakistan recently announced the creation of its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
- Crypto ETPs will drive further institutional adoption, and will reach $250 billion in AUM globally: Total AUM in global crypto ETPs has already reached $180 billion, and, if macro conditions improve, a 38% rise in valuations alone would push global AUM past our prediction of $250 billion. Another key sub-prediction has also come to pass – one Bitcoin ETF has officially entered the world’s top 25 ETFs by AUM.
- Solana will continue to eat Ethereum’s market share and will reach an all-time high in total value locked: Our prediction that Solana would cement its position as Ethereum’s top challenger has been decisively confirmed. Real economic value, a measure of actual blockchain usage via user-paid fees shows a shifting landscape. Solana has narrowed the gap with Ethereum from $73M vs. $142M in October 2024 to $30.5M vs. $39M in June 2025. Despite softer market activity, the reality is that Solana is gaining momentum and biting into Ethereum’s market share.
- Many jurisdictions are reconsidering retail crypto bans: We predicted that 2025 would mark a turning point in global retail access to crypto, and that shift is now visibly underway. In the UK, regulators are moving to lift the retail ban on crypto ETNs, exactly as forecasted. Japan has proposed legalizing Bitcoin ETFs, while South Korea lifted its corporate crypto trading ban and is preparing to open the door to crypto ETFs.
- Stablecoins lead crypto’s real-world adoption: Stablecoin AUM stands at an all-time high of $252 billion, with 35.7 million active addresses. Our prediction that nation-states, financial institutions, and Web2 companies would deepen their stablecoin adoption is playing out. In the US, stablecoin legislation through the GENIUS Act is gaining momentum. Internationally, Hong Kong has launched a stablecoin sandbox alongside a licensing regime, and Thailand is piloting a retail baht-backed stablecoin. In traditional finance, global banks are beginning to step in.
“This report reflects just how much the industry has matured,” said Adrian Fritz, Head of Research at 21Shares. “We’re seeing Bitcoin redefined as a macro asset, Solana leading real-world adoption, and stablecoins transforming global finance – all while institutional and regulatory frameworks finally catch up.”

The State of Crypto is produced by 21Shares’ research team and is part of the firm’s broader commitment to investor education.

To read the full report, click here.

About 21Shares

21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers and offers the largest suite of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialised research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21Shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.

21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralised finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com

Contact: matteo.valli@21shares.com

DISCLAIMER

This report has been prepared and issued by 21Shares AG for publication globally. All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report. Crypto asset trading involves a high degree of risk. The crypto asset market is new to many and unproven and may have the potential to not grow as expected.

Currently, there is relatively small use of crypto assets in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively large use by speculators, thus contributing to price volatility that could adversely affect an investment in crypto assets. In order to participate in the trading of crypto assets, you should be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment and be able to bear the economic risk of losing your entire investment.

Nothing should be considered as an offer by 21Shares AG and/or its affiliates to sell or solicitation by 21Shares AG or its parent of any offer to buy bitcoin or other crypto assets or derivatives. This report is provided for information and research purposes only and should not be construed or presented as an offer or solicitation for any investment. The information provided does not constitute a prospectus or any offering and does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to invest in any jurisdiction.

Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The information contained herein may not be considered as economic, legal, tax, or other advice and users are cautioned against basing investment decisions or other decisions solely on the content hereof.

###

Attachment
- StateOfCrypto_Issue15_MarketOutlook
The MIL Network –
July 17, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: 12 countries agree to confront Israel collectively over Gaza after Bogotá summit

ANALYSIS: By Mick Hall

Collective measures to confront Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people have been agreed by 12 nations after an emergency summit of the Hague Group in Bogotá, Colombia.

A joint statement today announced the six measures, which it said were geared to holding Israel to account for its crimes in Palestine and would operate within the states’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks.

Nearly two dozen other nations in attendance at the summit are now pondering whether to sign up to the measures before a September deadline set by the Hague Group.

New Zealand and Australia stayed away from the summit.

The measures include preventing the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel and dual-use items to Israel and preventing the transit, docking or servicing of vessels if there is a risk of vessels carrying such items. No vessel under the flag of the countries would be allowed to carry this equipment.

The countries would also “commence an urgent review of all public contracts, in order to prevent public institutions and public funds, where applicable, from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory, to ensure that our nationals, and companies and entities under our jurisdiction, as well as our authorities, do not act in any way that would entail recognition or provide aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

The countries will prosecute “the most serious crimes under international law through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, in compliance with our obligation to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes”.

They agreed to support universal jurisdiction mandates, “as and where applicable in our legal constitutional frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes in the Occupied Palestine Territory”.

This will mean IDF soldiers and others accused of war crimes in Palestine would face arrest and could go through domestic judicial processes in these countries, or referrals to the ICC.

The statement said the measures constituted a collective commitment to defend the foundational principles of international law.

It also called on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to commission an immediate investigation of the health and nutritional needs of the population of Gaza, devise a plan to meet those needs on a continuing and sustained basis, and report on these matters before the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Following repeated total blockades of Gaza since October 7, 2023, Gazans have been dying of starvation as they continue to be bombed and repeatedly displaced and their means of life destroyed.

The official death toll stands at nearly 59,000, mostly women and children, although some estimates put that number at over 200,000.

The joint statement recognised Israel as a threat to regional peace and the system of international law and called on all United Nations member states to enforce their obligations under the UN charter.

It condemned “unilateral attacks and threats against United Nations mandate holders, as well as key institutions of the human rights architecture and international justice” and committed to build “on the legacy of global solidarity movements that have dismantled apartheid and other oppressive systems, setting a model for future co-ordinated responses to international law violations”.

Countries face wrath of US
Ministers, high-ranking officials and envoys from 30 nations attended the two-day event, from July 15-16, called to come up with the measures. It is now hoped some of those attendees will sign up to the statement by September.

For countries like Ireland, which sent a delegation, signing up would have profound implications. The Irish government has been heavily criticised by its own citizens for continuing to allow Shannon Airport as a transit point for military equipment from the United States to be sent to Israel.

It would also face the prospect of severe reprisals by the US, as would others thinking of adding their names to the collective statement. The US is now expected to consult with nations that attended and warn them of the consequences of signing up.

The summit had been billed by the UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, as “the most significant political development of the last 20 months”.

Albanese had told attendees that “for too long, international law has been treated as optional — applied selectively to those perceived as weak, ignored by those acting as the powerful”.

“This double standard has eroded the very foundations of the legal order. That era must end,” she said.

Co-chaired by Colombia and South Africa, the Hague group was established by nine nations in late January at The Hague in the Netherlands to hold Israel to account for its crimes and push for Palestinian self-determination.

Colombia last year ended diplomatic relations with Israel, while South Africa in late December 2023 filed an application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide, which was joined by nearly two dozen countries.

The ICJ has determined a plausible genocide is taking place and issued orders for Israel to protect Palestinians and take measures to stop genocide taking place, a call ignored by the Zionist state.

Representatives from the countries arrived in Bogota this week in defiance of the United States, which last week sanctioned Albanese for attempts to have US and Israeli political officials and business leaders prosecuted by the ICC over Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it an illegitimate “campaign of political and economic warfare”.

It followed the sanctioning of four ICC judges after arrest warrants were issued in November last year for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Ahead of the Bogota meeting, the US State Department accused The Hague Group of multilateral attempts to “weaponise international law as a tool to advance radical anti-Western agendas” and warned the US would “aggressively defend” its interests.

Signs of division in the West
Most of those attending came from nations in the Global South, but not all.

Founding Hague Group members Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa attended the Summit. Joining them were Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iraq, Republic of Ireland, Lebanon, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

However, in a sign of increasing division in the West, NATO members Spain, Portugal, Norway, Slovenia and Turkey also attended.

Inside the summit, former US State Department official Annelle Sheline, who resigned in March over Gaza, defended the right of those attending “to uphold their obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”.

“This is not the weaponisation of international law. This is the application of international law,” she told delegates.

The US and Israel deny accusations that genocide is taking place in Gaza, while Western media have collectively refused to adjudicate the claims or frame stories around Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the strip, despite ample evidence by the UN and genocide experts.

Since 7 October 2023, US allies have offered diplomatic cover for Israel by repeating it had “a right to defend itself” and was engaged in a legitimate defensive “war against Hamas”.

Israel now plans to corral starving Gazans into a concentration camp in the south of the strip, with many analysts expecting the IDF to exterminate anyone found outside its boundaries, while preparing to push those inside across the border into Egypt.

Asia Pacific and EU allies shun Bogota summit
Addressing attendees at the summit yesterday, Albanese criticised the EU for its neo-colonialism and support for Israel, criticisms that can be extended to US allies in the Asia Pacific region.

Independent journalist Abby Martin reported Albanese as saying: “Europe and its institutions are guided more by colonial mindset than principle, acting as vessels to US Empire even as it drags us from war to war, misery to misery.

“The Hague Group is a new moral centre in world politics. Millions are hoping for leadership that can birth a new global order, rooted in justice, humanity and collective liberation. It’s not just about Palestine. This is about all of us.”

The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was asked why Foreign Minister Penny Wong did not take up an invite to attend the Hague Group meeting. In a statement to Mick Hall in Context, a spokesperson said she had been unable to attend, but did not explain why.

She said Australia was a “resolute defender of international law” and added: “Australia has consistently been part of international calls that all parties must abide by international humanitarian law. Not enough has been done to protect civilians and aid workers.

“We have called on Israel to respond substantively to the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“We have also called on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the ICJ, including to enable the unhindered provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.”

When asked why New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters had failed to take up the invitation or send any of his officials, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokesperson simply refused to comment.

She said MFAT media advisors would only engage with “recognised news media outlets”.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as well as a number of his ministers, have been referred to the ICC by domestic legal teams, accused of complicity in the genocide.

Evidence against Albanese was accepted into the ICC’s wider investigation of crimes in Gaza in October last year, while Luxon’s referral earlier this month is being assessed by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Delegates told humanity at stake
Delegates heard several impassioned addresses from speakers on what was at stake during the two-day event in Bogota.

Palestinian-American trauma surgeon, Dr Thaer Ahmad, told the gathering that Palestinians seeking food were being met with bullets, describing aid distribution facilities set up by the US contractor-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as “slaughterhouses”. More than 800 starving Gazans have been killed at the GHF aid points so far.

“People know they could die but cannot sit idly by and watch their families starve,” he said.

“The bullets fired by GHF mercenaries are just one part of the weaponisation of aid, where Palestinians are ghettoised into areas where somebody in military fatigues decides if you are worthy of food or not.”

Palestinian diplomat Riyad Mansour had urged the summit attendees to take decisive action to not only save the Palestinian people, but redeem humanity.

“Instead of outrage at the crimes we know are taking place, we find those who defend, normalise, and even celebrate them,” he said.

“The core values we believed humanity agreed were universal are shattered, blown to pieces like the tens of thousands of starved, murdered and injured civilians in Palestine.

“The mind and heart cannot fathom or process the immense pain and horror that has taken hold of the lives of an entire people. We must not fail — not just for Palestine’s sake — but for humanity’s sake.”

At the beginning of the summit, Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir told summit delegates the Palestinian genocide threatened the entire international system.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote in The Guardian last week: “We can either stand firm in defence of the legal principles that seek to prevent war and conflict, or watch helplessly as the international system collapses under the weight of unchecked power politics.”

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers, as well as Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met in Brussels at the same time as the Bogota summit, to discuss Middle East co-operation, but also possible options for action against Israel.

At the EU–Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas put forward potential actions after Israel was found to have breached the EU economic cooperation deal with the bloc on human rights grounds. As expected, no sanctions, restricted trade or suspension of the co-operation deal were agreed.

The EU has been one of Israel’s most strident backers in its campaign against Gaza, with EU members Germany and France in particular supplying weapons, as well as political support.

The UK government has continued to supply arms and operate spy planes over Gaza over the past 21 months, launched from bases in Cyprus, while its military has issued D-Notices to censor media reports that its special forces have been operating inside the occupied territories.

Mick Hall is an independent Irish-New Zealand journalist, formerly of RNZ and AAP, based in New Zealand since 2009. He writes primarily on politics, corporate power and international affairs. This article is republished from his substack Mick Hall in Context with permission.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 17, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: 12 countries agree to confront Israel collectively over Gaza after Bogotá summit

ANALYSIS: By Mick Hall

Collective measures to confront Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people have been agreed by 12 nations after an emergency summit of the Hague Group in Bogotá, Colombia.

A joint statement today announced the six measures, which it said were geared to holding Israel to account for its crimes in Palestine and would operate within the states’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks.

Nearly two dozen other nations in attendance at the summit are now pondering whether to sign up to the measures before a September deadline set by the Hague Group.

New Zealand and Australia stayed away from the summit.

The measures include preventing the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel and dual-use items to Israel and preventing the transit, docking or servicing of vessels if there is a risk of vessels carrying such items. No vessel under the flag of the countries would be allowed to carry this equipment.

The countries would also “commence an urgent review of all public contracts, in order to prevent public institutions and public funds, where applicable, from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory, to ensure that our nationals, and companies and entities under our jurisdiction, as well as our authorities, do not act in any way that would entail recognition or provide aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

The countries will prosecute “the most serious crimes under international law through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, in compliance with our obligation to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes”.

They agreed to support universal jurisdiction mandates, “as and where applicable in our legal constitutional frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes in the Occupied Palestine Territory”.

This will mean IDF soldiers and others accused of war crimes in Palestine would face arrest and could go through domestic judicial processes in these countries, or referrals to the ICC.

The statement said the measures constituted a collective commitment to defend the foundational principles of international law.

It also called on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to commission an immediate investigation of the health and nutritional needs of the population of Gaza, devise a plan to meet those needs on a continuing and sustained basis, and report on these matters before the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Following repeated total blockades of Gaza since October 7, 2023, Gazans have been dying of starvation as they continue to be bombed and repeatedly displaced and their means of life destroyed.

The official death toll stands at nearly 59,000, mostly women and children, although some estimates put that number at over 200,000.

The joint statement recognised Israel as a threat to regional peace and the system of international law and called on all United Nations member states to enforce their obligations under the UN charter.

It condemned “unilateral attacks and threats against United Nations mandate holders, as well as key institutions of the human rights architecture and international justice” and committed to build “on the legacy of global solidarity movements that have dismantled apartheid and other oppressive systems, setting a model for future co-ordinated responses to international law violations”.

Countries face wrath of US
Ministers, high-ranking officials and envoys from 30 nations attended the two-day event, from July 15-16, called to come up with the measures. It is now hoped some of those attendees will sign up to the statement by September.

For countries like Ireland, which sent a delegation, signing up would have profound implications. The Irish government has been heavily criticised by its own citizens for continuing to allow Shannon Airport as a transit point for military equipment from the United States to be sent to Israel.

It would also face the prospect of severe reprisals by the US, as would others thinking of adding their names to the collective statement. The US is now expected to consult with nations that attended and warn them of the consequences of signing up.

The summit had been billed by the UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, as “the most significant political development of the last 20 months”.

Albanese had told attendees that “for too long, international law has been treated as optional — applied selectively to those perceived as weak, ignored by those acting as the powerful”.

“This double standard has eroded the very foundations of the legal order. That era must end,” she said.

Co-chaired by Colombia and South Africa, the Hague group was established by nine nations in late January at The Hague in the Netherlands to hold Israel to account for its crimes and push for Palestinian self-determination.

Colombia last year ended diplomatic relations with Israel, while South Africa in late December 2023 filed an application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide, which was joined by nearly two dozen countries.

The ICJ has determined a plausible genocide is taking place and issued orders for Israel to protect Palestinians and take measures to stop genocide taking place, a call ignored by the Zionist state.

Representatives from the countries arrived in Bogota this week in defiance of the United States, which last week sanctioned Albanese for attempts to have US and Israeli political officials and business leaders prosecuted by the ICC over Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it an illegitimate “campaign of political and economic warfare”.

It followed the sanctioning of four ICC judges after arrest warrants were issued in November last year for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Ahead of the Bogota meeting, the US State Department accused The Hague Group of multilateral attempts to “weaponise international law as a tool to advance radical anti-Western agendas” and warned the US would “aggressively defend” its interests.

Signs of division in the West
Most of those attending came from nations in the Global South, but not all.

Founding Hague Group members Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa attended the Summit. Joining them were Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iraq, Republic of Ireland, Lebanon, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

However, in a sign of increasing division in the West, NATO members Spain, Portugal, Norway, Slovenia and Turkey also attended.

Inside the summit, former US State Department official Annelle Sheline, who resigned in March over Gaza, defended the right of those attending “to uphold their obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”.

“This is not the weaponisation of international law. This is the application of international law,” she told delegates.

The US and Israel deny accusations that genocide is taking place in Gaza, while Western media have collectively refused to adjudicate the claims or frame stories around Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the strip, despite ample evidence by the UN and genocide experts.

Since 7 October 2023, US allies have offered diplomatic cover for Israel by repeating it had “a right to defend itself” and was engaged in a legitimate defensive “war against Hamas”.

Israel now plans to corral starving Gazans into a concentration camp in the south of the strip, with many analysts expecting the IDF to exterminate anyone found outside its boundaries, while preparing to push those inside across the border into Egypt.

Asia Pacific and EU allies shun Bogota summit
Addressing attendees at the summit yesterday, Albanese criticised the EU for its neo-colonialism and support for Israel, criticisms that can be extended to US allies in the Asia Pacific region.

Independent journalist Abby Martin reported Albanese as saying: “Europe and its institutions are guided more by colonial mindset than principle, acting as vessels to US Empire even as it drags us from war to war, misery to misery.

“The Hague Group is a new moral centre in world politics. Millions are hoping for leadership that can birth a new global order, rooted in justice, humanity and collective liberation. It’s not just about Palestine. This is about all of us.”

The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was asked why Foreign Minister Penny Wong did not take up an invite to attend the Hague Group meeting. In a statement to Mick Hall in Context, a spokesperson said she had been unable to attend, but did not explain why.

She said Australia was a “resolute defender of international law” and added: “Australia has consistently been part of international calls that all parties must abide by international humanitarian law. Not enough has been done to protect civilians and aid workers.

“We have called on Israel to respond substantively to the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“We have also called on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the ICJ, including to enable the unhindered provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.”

When asked why New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters had failed to take up the invitation or send any of his officials, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokesperson simply refused to comment.

She said MFAT media advisors would only engage with “recognised news media outlets”.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as well as a number of his ministers, have been referred to the ICC by domestic legal teams, accused of complicity in the genocide.

Evidence against Albanese was accepted into the ICC’s wider investigation of crimes in Gaza in October last year, while Luxon’s referral earlier this month is being assessed by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Delegates told humanity at stake
Delegates heard several impassioned addresses from speakers on what was at stake during the two-day event in Bogota.

Palestinian-American trauma surgeon, Dr Thaer Ahmad, told the gathering that Palestinians seeking food were being met with bullets, describing aid distribution facilities set up by the US contractor-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as “slaughterhouses”. More than 800 starving Gazans have been killed at the GHF aid points so far.

“People know they could die but cannot sit idly by and watch their families starve,” he said.

“The bullets fired by GHF mercenaries are just one part of the weaponisation of aid, where Palestinians are ghettoised into areas where somebody in military fatigues decides if you are worthy of food or not.”

Palestinian diplomat Riyad Mansour had urged the summit attendees to take decisive action to not only save the Palestinian people, but redeem humanity.

“Instead of outrage at the crimes we know are taking place, we find those who defend, normalise, and even celebrate them,” he said.

“The core values we believed humanity agreed were universal are shattered, blown to pieces like the tens of thousands of starved, murdered and injured civilians in Palestine.

“The mind and heart cannot fathom or process the immense pain and horror that has taken hold of the lives of an entire people. We must not fail — not just for Palestine’s sake — but for humanity’s sake.”

At the beginning of the summit, Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir told summit delegates the Palestinian genocide threatened the entire international system.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote in The Guardian last week: “We can either stand firm in defence of the legal principles that seek to prevent war and conflict, or watch helplessly as the international system collapses under the weight of unchecked power politics.”

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers, as well as Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met in Brussels at the same time as the Bogota summit, to discuss Middle East co-operation, but also possible options for action against Israel.

At the EU–Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas put forward potential actions after Israel was found to have breached the EU economic cooperation deal with the bloc on human rights grounds. As expected, no sanctions, restricted trade or suspension of the co-operation deal were agreed.

The EU has been one of Israel’s most strident backers in its campaign against Gaza, with EU members Germany and France in particular supplying weapons, as well as political support.

The UK government has continued to supply arms and operate spy planes over Gaza over the past 21 months, launched from bases in Cyprus, while its military has issued D-Notices to censor media reports that its special forces have been operating inside the occupied territories.

Mick Hall is an independent Irish-New Zealand journalist, formerly of RNZ and AAP, based in New Zealand since 2009. He writes primarily on politics, corporate power and international affairs. This article is republished from his substack Mick Hall in Context with permission.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 17, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – India gains trade momentum amid tariff and global supply chain shakeup, says GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

In a rapidly evolving global trade landscape, India stands out with its competitive advantage stemming from relatively lower tariff rates compared to several key trading partners. With a tariff rate of 26%, as of July 2025, which might reduce to below 20% amid speculations of a trade deal with the US, India is positioned to leverage its trade potential, particularly in sectors such as chemicals, electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals, textiles and agricultural goods, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Ramnivas Mundada, Director of Economic Research and Companies at GlobalData, comments: “India’s tariff rate is relatively lower than other countries, including China (30%), Mexico (30%), and the EU (30%). This favorable environment not only presents a unique opportunity for Indian exporters to but also enhances the price competitiveness of Indian goods and encourages foreign investment, fostering innovation and growth. Against this backdrop, GlobalData forecasts an average growth rate of 6.5% from 2025 to 2027, positioning India to become the third-largest economy by 2027.”

According to NITI Aayog, India can capitalize on 78 product categories (HS 4 codes) for exports to the US, accounting for 52% of its current exports. In the HS 2 code category, India enjoys lower tariffs than competitors in 22 of the top 30 products. This advantage arises from significant tariff hikes on goods from China, Canada, and Mexico. Although India faces slightly higher tariffs in six product categories, there remains a substantial growth potential, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, textiles, and electrical machinery, enhancing India’s export competitiveness.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry reveals that India’s exports to the US increased by 23.5% in June 2025 and by 22.2% from April to June 2025 compared to the same period last year. This growth has positioned the US as India’s largest trading partner for the quarter.

Sector-wise opportunities

India has a notable comparative advantage in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. With China facing increased tariffs, Indian exporters have a prime opportunity to capture the US chemical import market.

India accounted for about 5% of the US apparel and clothing accessories imports in 2024, according to the ITC Trade Map. With new tariffs affecting Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Indonesia, Indian manufacturers have a significant opportunity. To achieve this, improvements in cost efficiency, lead times, and support for large-scale textile manufacturers will be essential.

The tariff hikes on Asian countries create an opportunity for India to boost its agricultural exports to the US. With relatively lower tariffs, India can position itself as a viable alternative supplier of a range of products, including agricultural goods, livestock, processed foods, and scrap materials.

Companies shifting operations to India

In the first half of 2025, several multinational companies have begun shifting their manufacturing bases to India to capitalize on tariff advantages and reduce reliance on China. Notably, Apple rerouted 97% of Foxconn’s Indian iPhone exports to the US during March to May 2025, up from 50.3% in 2024, reflecting a strategic pivot amid US-China trade tensions. Similarly, in July 2025, Samsung Electronics announced plans to diversify smartphone production by moving some manufacturing from Vietnam to India.

India’s trade competitiveness

To capitalize on the evolving trade dynamics, India must extend Production-Linked Incentive schemes to labor-intensive sectors like leather and handicrafts, while rationalizing electricity tariffs to enhance competitiveness. Additionally, pursuing a services-centric trade agreement with the US is essential, focusing on IT, finance, and digital trade. Addressing non-tariff barriers in sectors like pharmaceuticals is also crucial for unlocking export potential.

In June 2025, India urged the WTO to address non-tariff barriers impacting its merchandise exports, highlighting issues like opaque regulations and delays in dispute resolution that hinder competitiveness for Indian exporters, particularly MSMEs.

Mundada concludes: “Even if India’s anticipated trade deal with the US falls short of expectations, the broader shifts in global tariffs present a strategic opportunity for India to reposition itself as a key export partner. With its resilience and sectoral strengths, India is well-equipped to diversify its export base. By implementing supportive trade and industrial policies, India can transform global tariff challenges into significant economic advantages. As the world navigates these changing trade landscapes, India’s potential as a competitive exporter remains bright, promising growth and resilience in the face of adversity.”

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

July 17, 2025