Category: Middle East

MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB Group and BBVA provide €185 million for sustainable housing projects promoted by small businesses and mid-caps
Source: European Investment Bank
- The EIB Group has invested more than €90 million in a BBVA asset-backed securitisation operation.
- This EIB investment will allow BBVA to mobilise some €185 million in financing for sustainable housing projects in Spain.
- The operation is backed by InvestEU, an EU programme that aims to unlock over €372 billion in investment by 2027.
The EIB Group – made up of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) – has signed a new €93 million synthetic securitisation operation with BBVA for 100% green projects. This investment will allow BBVA to mobilise around €185 million to finance the construction of residential buildings with near-zero emissions by small and medium firms (SMEs) and mid-caps in Spain’s real estate sector.

The operation is guaranteed by InvestEU, the EU programme to mobilise public and private investment. It will give SMEs and mid-caps that promote sustainable housing easier access to financing on favourable terms that would not otherwise be available for such projects.

The projects financed by this operation will improve energy efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions and help mitigate climate change. A significant number of these projects are expected to be implemented in cohesion regions where the income per capita is below the EU average.

This operation is one more demonstration of the EIB Group’s role of promoting new financial instruments like securitisation that help unlock capital for green projects, reduce the risk borne by sponsoring financial institutions and strengthen the EU capital markets union.

The agreement with BBVA supports the strategic priorities of the EIB Group, which include climate action, access to affordable and sustainable housing, cohesion and the capital markets union.

The securitisation is on a portfolio of over €1.4 billion in loans to SMEs in which BBVA will retain the senior and junior tranches, and the EIB Group will guarantee the mezzanine tranche of €93 million. It has been structured to meet the STS criteria (simple, transparent and standardised), and includes a synthetic excess spread mechanism and uses pro rata amortisation (which may be changed to sequential).

Background information

EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.

The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high -impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

About InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

About BBVA

BBVA is a global financial services group founded in 1857. The bank is present in more than 25 countries, has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and Turkey.

BBVA contributes with its activity to the progress and welfare of all its stakeholders: shareholders, clients, employees, providers and society in general. In this regard, BBVA supports families, entrepreneurs and companies in their plans, and helps them to take advantage of the opportunities provided by innovation and technology. Likewise, BBVA offers its customers a unique value proposition, leveraged on technology and data, helping them improve their financial health with personalized information on financial decision-making.
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Update of the EU entry price system: protecting the citrus sector against unfair competition – E-000705/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
1. The EU applies an Entry Price System (EPS) to 15 types of fruit and vegetables, including citrus fruits. These are listed in Annex VII to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891[1]. The Commission calculates and publishes the Standard Import Value (SIV) daily, for the respective period of application. If the SIV or import price is lower than the Entry Price, a specific import levy is applied. For the import of citrus fruits from Egypt, the EU is bound by conditions laid down in the EU-Egypt Association Agreement on agricultural, processed agricultural and fisheries products[2].

2. Entry price levels, which vary by product and period, are fixed in the EU’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) Schedule of concessions as part of the WTO Agreement and reflected in the EU’s common customs tariff. Adjusting the minimum entry price for citrus would require reopening the EU’s WTO schedule in multilateral negotiations, which is not feasible due to its complexity and potential compensation demands.

3. The Commission closely monitors the market situation, for citrus and other products, and publishes monthly data on production, prices and trade[3]. While data show that orange imports from Egypt have increased over the years, applying the safeguard clause in the bilateral EU-Egypt Association Agreement would require an investigation to determine whether imports have caused or are threatening to cause serious injury to a domestic industry. Should the Commission receive a duly substantiated request to this effect, it would assess the request on its merits and, if appropriate, initiate an investigation.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2017/891/oj/eng

[2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2010/240/oj

[3] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/data-and-analysis/markets/overviews/market-observatories/fruit-and-vegetables/citrus-fruit-statistics_en
Last updated: 2 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 3, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Minutes – Tuesday, 1 April 2025 – Strasbourg – Final edition

Source: European Parliament

PV-10-2025-04-01

iPlPv_Sit

Minutes

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 – Strasbourg

Abbreviations and symbols

+	adopted
–	rejected
↓	lapsed
W	withdrawn
RCV	roll-call votes
EV	electronic vote
SEC	secret ballot
split	split vote
sep	separate vote
am	amendment
CA	compromise amendment
CP	corresponding part
D	deleting amendment
=	identical amendments
§	paragraph

IN THE CHAIR: Roberta METSOLA
President

1. Opening of the sitting

The sitting opened at 09:01.

2. Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025 (debate)

European Council and Commission statements: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025 (2024/2980(RSP))

António Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Iratxe García Pérez, on behalf of the S&D Group, Kinga Gál, on behalf of the PfE Group, Nicola Procaccini, on behalf of the ECR Group, Valérie Hayer, on behalf of the Renew Group, Terry Reintke, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Manon Aubry, on behalf of The Left Group, Alexander Sell, on behalf of the ESN Group, Dolors Montserrat, Raphaël Glucksmann, Jean-Paul Garraud, Patryk Jaki, Billy Kelleher, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Pasquale Tridico, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Ruth Firmenich, Siegfried Mureşan, Paolo Borchia, Nicolas Bay, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Hannah Neumann, Li Andersson, Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Željana Zovko, Alex Agius Saliba, Anna Bryłka, Charlie Weimers, Hilde Vautmans, Reinier Van Lanschot, Paulo Cunha, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Christel Schaldemose, Gilles Pennelle, Carlo Fidanza, Svenja Hahn, Tom Berendsen (the President spoke about Siegbert Frank Droese’s behaviour following Hannah Neumann’s speech), Javier Moreno Sánchez, Harald Vilimsky, Johan Van Overtveldt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Reinhold Lopatka, Dan Nica, Emmanouil Fragkos, Ľubica Karvašová, Danuše Nerudová, Marta Temido, Anna Zalewska, Karlo Ressler, Elio Di Rupo, François-Xavier Bellamy, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Brando Benifei.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Dariusz Joński, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Anna Maria Cisint, Sebastian Tynkkynen, João Oliveira, Siegbert Frank Droese, Lukas Sieper, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Bruno Gonçalves and Seán Kelly.

The following spoke: Maroš Šefčovič (Member of the Commission) and António Costa.

The debate closed.

3. Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: standing with Ukraine and upholding justice (debate)

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: standing with Ukraine and upholding justice (2025/2635(RSP))

The President said that there would be only one round of political group speakers and no catch-the-eye procedure or blue-card questions.

Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

The following spoke: Sandra Kalniete, on behalf of the PPE Group, Thijs Reuten, on behalf of the S&D Group, Anders Vistisen, on behalf of the PfE Group, Michał Dworczyk, on behalf of the ECR Group, Petras Auštrevičius, on behalf of the Renew Group, Villy Søvndal, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Martin Schirdewan, on behalf of The Left Group, and René Aust, on behalf of the ESN Group.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

The debate closed.

4. Amendment of the agenda

In accordance with Rule 164(2), the President proposed the following amendment of the agenda, with the agreement of the political groups:

Wednesday/Thursday

The vote on ‘Energy-intensive industries’ (item 24 on the agenda) would be held over until voting time on Thursday.

Parliament agreed to the proposal.

The agenda was amended accordingly.

(The sitting was suspended at 11:54.)

IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
Vice-President

5. Resumption of the sitting

The sitting resumed at 12:01.

6. Voting time

For detailed results of the votes, see also ‘Results of votes’ and ‘Results of roll-call votes’.

6.1. Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements ***I (vote)

Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements (COM(2025)0080 – C10-0038/2025 – 2025/0044(COD)) – JURI Committee

REQUEST FOR AN URGENT DECISION by the PPE Group (Rule 170(6))

Approved

The following tabling deadlines had been set:

– amendments: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 13:00
– requests for separate votes and split votes: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 19:00.

Vote: 3 April 2025.

The following had spoken:

Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the PPE Group (the author of the request), and Manon Aubry against.

Detailed voting results

6.2. Request for waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová (vote)

Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová [2024/2035(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Krzysztof Śmiszek (A10-0029/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0040)

Detailed voting results

6.3. Request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron (vote)

Report on the request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron [2024/2048(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Dominik Tarczyński (A10-0030/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0041)

Detailed voting results

6.4. Request for waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wąsik (vote)

Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wąsik [2024/2043(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mario Furore (A10-0031/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0042)

Detailed voting results

6.5. Request for waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kamiński (vote)

Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kamiński [2024/2046(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mario Furore (A10-0032/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0043)

Detailed voting results

6.6. Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors – Lucian Romașcanu (vote)

Report on the nomination of Lucian Romașcanu as a Member of the Court of Auditors [05958/2025 – C10-0010/2025 – 2025/0801(NLE)] – Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský (A10-0039/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)
(Secret ballot (Rule 133(3)))

APPOINTMENT OF LUCIAN ROMAȘCANU

Approved (P10_TA(2025)0044)

The list of Members voting is annexed to these minutes (minutes of 1.4.2025 Annex 1)

Detailed voting results

6.7. Common data platform on chemicals, establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common data platform on chemicals, laying down rules to ensure that the data contained in it are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable and establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals [COM(2023)0779 – C9-0449/2023 – 2023/0453(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0018/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0045)

REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

Approved

The following had spoken:

Dimitris Tsiodras (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).

Detailed voting results

6.8. Re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency [COM(2023)0781 – C9-0448/2023 – 2023/0454(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0019/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0046)

REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

Approved

The following had spoken:

Detailed voting results

6.9. Re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 401/2009, (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals [COM(2023)0783 – C9-0447/2023 – 2023/0455(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0020/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0047)

REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

Approved

The following had spoken:

Detailed voting results

6.10. Macro-financial assistance to Jordan ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on providing macro-financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan [COM(2024)0159 – C9-0146/2024 – 2024/0086(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Céline Imart (A10-0038/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved (P10_TA(2025)0048)

Parliament’s first reading thus closed.

Detailed voting results

The following had spoken:

Michael McGrath (Member of the Commission), before the vote, to make a statement.

6.11. Macro-financial assistance to Egypt ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on providing macro-financial assistance to the Arab Republic of Egypt [COM(2024)0461 – C10-0009/2024 – 2024/0071(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Céline Imart (A10-0037/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

Approved (P10_TA(2025)0049)

REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

Approved

Detailed voting results

Procedural motions:

– Michael McGrath (Member of the Commission), before the vote, to make a statement.

– Céline Imart (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).

6.12. Customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the USA ***I (vote)

Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/196 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2018 on additional customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the United States of America [COM(2025)0027 – C10-0007/2025 – 2025/0012(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Bernd Lange (A10-0034/2025)

(Majority of the votes cast)

PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0050)

Parliament’s first reading thus closed.

Detailed voting results

(The sitting was suspended at 12:27.)

IN THE CHAIR: Sabine VERHEYEN
Vice-President

7. Resumption of the sitting

The sitting resumed at 12:31.

8. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

9. CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

Report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – 2024 annual report [2024/2080(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: David McAllister (A10-0010/2025)
Report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024 [2024/2082(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (A10-0011/2025)

David McAllister and Nicolás Pascual de la Parte introduced the reports.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy).

The following spoke: Michael Gahler, on behalf of the PPE Group, Sven Mikser, on behalf of the S&D Group, Kinga Gál, on behalf of the PfE Group, Adam Bielan, on behalf of the ECR Group, Urmas Paet, on behalf of the Renew Group, Marc Botenga, on behalf of The Left Group, Stanislav Stoyanov, on behalf of the ESN Group, Rasa Juknevičienė, Tobias Cremer, António Tânger Corrêa, Alberico Gambino, Bart Groothuis, Hannah Neumann, Özlem Demirel, Marcin Sypniewski, Monika Beňová, Łukasz Kohut, Yannis Maniatis, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Rihards Kols, Hilde Vautmans, Jaume Asens Llodrà, Lynn Boylan, Hans Neuhoff, Francisco José Millán Mon, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Nathalie Loiseau, Hanna Gedin, Salvatore De Meo, Hana Jalloul Muro, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Petras Auštrevičius, Davor Ivo Stier, who also answered a blue-card question from Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Tonino Picula, Lucia Yar, Vangelis Meimarakis, who also answered a blue-card question from Petras Gražulis, Thijs Reuten, Marta Wcisło, Riho Terras, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Mārtiņš Staķis, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and Sebastian Tynkkynen.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Tomislav Sokol, João Oliveira, Željana Zovko, Lukas Sieper and Michał Szczerba.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas, David McAllister and Nicolás Pascual de la Parte.

The debate closed.

Vote: 2 April 2025.

10. Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 (debate)

Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 [2024/2081(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Isabel Wiseler-Lima (A10-0012/2025)

Isabel Wiseler-Lima introduced the report.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy).

The following spoke: Abir Al-Sahlani (rapporteur for the opinion of the FEMM Committee), Antonio López-Istúriz White, on behalf of the PPE Group, Francisco Assis, on behalf of the S&D Group, Christophe Bay, on behalf of the PfE Group, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, on behalf of the ECR Group, Barry Andrews, on behalf of the Renew Group, Catarina Vieira, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kathleen Funchion, on behalf of The Left Group, Petr Bystron, on behalf of the ESN Group, Reinhold Lopatka, Elisabeth Grossmann, Silvia Sardone, Sophie Wilmès, Mounir Satouri, Alvise Pérez, Liudas Mažylis, Marco Tarquinio, András László, who also answered a blue-card question from Catarina Vieira, Loucas Fourlas, Chloé Ridel, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Hermann Tertsch, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Evin Incir and Alice Teodorescu Måwe.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sunčana Glavak, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Lukas Sieper and Michał Wawrykiewicz.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

IN THE CHAIR: Roberts ZĪLE
Vice-President

The following spoke: Isabel Wiseler-Lima.

The debate closed.

Vote: 2 April 2025.

11. Presentation of the new European Internal Security Strategy(debate)

Commission statement: Presentation of the new European Internal Security Strategy (2025/2608(RSP))

Magnus Brunner (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the PPE Group, Birgit Sippel, on behalf of the S&D Group, Fabrice Leggeri, on behalf of the PfE Group, Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group, Malik Azmani, on behalf of the Renew Group, Saskia Bricmont, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giuseppe Antoci, on behalf of The Left Group, Mary Khan, on behalf of the ESN Group, Jeroen Lenaers, Thijs Reuten, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Alessandro Ciriani, Moritz Körner, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper, Lena Düpont, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Petra Steger, Mariusz Kamiński, François-Xavier Bellamy, Marieke Ehlers, Charlie Weimers, Javier Zarzalejos, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Dariusz Joński, Paulo Cunha, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Elena Donazzan, Maciej Wąsik and Gheorghe Piperea.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Dariusz Joński, José Cepeda, João Oliveira, Sunčana Glavak, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Ana Miguel Pedro and Lukas Sieper.

The following spoke: Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President of the Commission).

The debate closed.

12. EU Preparedness Union Strategy (debate)

Commission statement: EU Preparedness Union Strategy (2025/2641(RSP))

Hadja Lahbib (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Lena Düpont, on behalf of the PPE Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Pina PICIERNO
Vice-President

The following spoke: Yannis Maniatis, on behalf of the S&D Group, Roberto Vannacci, on behalf of the PfE Group, Beata Szydło, on behalf of the ECR Group, Grégory Allione, on behalf of the Renew Group, Diana Riba i Giner, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Ana Miranda Paz, on the language used by a Member during this debate (the President agreed), Merja Kyllönen, on behalf of The Left Group, Christine Anderson, on behalf of the ESN Group (the President reminded the House of the rules on conduct), Lukas Mandl, Christophe Clergeau, Christophe Bay, Elena Donazzan, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Ville Niinistö, Catarina Martins, Cecilia Strada, who referred to the speech of Roberto Vannacci (the President reiterated the need to respect the rules on conduct), Kostas Papadakis, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Tomislav Sokol, Heléne Fritzon, Barbara Bonte, Adrian-George Axinia, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Alvise Pérez, Nathalie Loiseau, Lena Schilling, Luke Ming Flanagan, Massimiliano Salini, Annalisa Corrado, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Grégory Allione, Michał Dworczyk, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Leire Pajín, Matej Tonin, Tobias Cremer, Victor Negrescu and Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Hélder Sousa Silva, Laura Ballarín Cereza, Ana Miranda Paz, Cecilia Strada, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, João Oliveira and Maria Zacharia.

The following spoke: Hadja Lahbib.

The debate closed.

13. Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (debate)

Council and Commission statements: Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (2025/2648(RSP))

Adam Szłapka (President-in-Office of the Council) and Raffaele Fitto (Executive Vice-President of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Andrey Novakov, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mohammed Chahim, on behalf of the S&D Group, Rody Tolassy, on behalf of the PfE Group, Denis Nesci, on behalf of the ECR Group, Ľubica Karvašová, on behalf of the Renew Group, Cristina Guarda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Elena Kountoura, on behalf of the The Left Group, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Marcos Ros Sempere, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Ciaran Mullooly, Gordan Bosanac, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper.

IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
Vice-President

The following spoke: Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Victor Negrescu, Antonella Sberna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Christian Doleschal, Carla Tavares, who also answered a blue-card question from Ana Miranda Paz, Elsi Katainen, Elena Nevado del Campo, who also answered a blue-card question from Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Estelle Ceulemans, Joachim Streit, Jacek Protas and Hannes Heide.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Nikolina Brnjac, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Ana Miranda Paz, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Francisco José Millán Mon, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral and Maria Grapini.

The following spoke: Raffaele Fitto and Adam Szłapka.

The debate closed.

14. Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (2025/2630(RSP))

Marta Kos (Member of the Commission) made the statement on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The following spoke: Sebastião Bugalho, on behalf of the PPE Group, Nils Ušakovs, on behalf of the S&D Group, António Tânger Corrêa, on behalf of the PfE Group, Małgorzata Gosiewska, on behalf of the ECR Group, Irena Joveva, on behalf of the Renew Group, Virginijus Sinkevičius, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Milan Uhrík, on behalf of the ESN Group, Andrey Kovatchev, Francisco Assis, Hermann Tertsch, Alexandr Vondra, Dan Barna, Mary Khan, who also answered a blue-card question from Tomáš Zdechovský, Erik Kaliňák, who also answered a blue-card question from Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Ondřej Kolář, Robert Biedroń, Virginie Joron, Rihards Kols, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Petar Volgin, Fidias Panayiotou, Rasa Juknevičienė, Hannes Heide, Csaba Dömötör, who also answered a blue-card question from Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Laurence Farreng, Elena Yoncheva, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Evin Incir, who also answered a blue-card question from Fidias Panayiotou, and Julien Sanchez.

IN THE CHAIR: Antonella SBERNA
Vice-President

The following spoke: Helmut Brandstätter, Mika Aaltola, Michał Kobosko, Alice Teodorescu Måwe and Tomáš Zdechovský.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Radan Kanev, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă and Gabriella Gerzsenyi.

The following spoke: Marta Kos.

The debate closed.

15. Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (debate)

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (2025/2642(RSP))

Marta Kos (Member of the Commission) made the statement on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The following spoke: Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, on behalf of the PPE Group, Nacho Sánchez Amor, on behalf of the S&D Group, Susanna Ceccardi, on behalf of the PfE Group, Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group, Malik Azmani, on behalf of the Renew Group, Vladimir Prebilič, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giorgos Georgiou, on behalf of The Left Group, Michalis Hadjipantela, Kathleen Van Brempt, Mathilde Androuët, Bernard Guetta, Mélissa Camara, Özlem Demirel, Reinhold Lopatka, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Željana Zovko, Nikos Papandreou, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi and Dario Nardella.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ana Miranda Paz, Hanna Gedin, Maria Zacharia, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Lukas Sieper and Fidias Panayiotou.

The following spoke: Marta Kos.

The debate closed.

16. Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (debate)

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (2025/2644(RSP))

Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

The following spoke: Hildegard Bentele, on behalf of the PPE Group, Evin Incir, on behalf of the S&D Group, Fabrice Leggeri, on behalf of the PfE Group, Bert-Jan Ruissen, on behalf of the ECR Group, Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group, Villy Søvndal, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Irene Montero, on behalf of The Left Group, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Hana Jalloul Muro, Barry Andrews, Ana Miranda Paz, Giorgos Georgiou, Ondřej Kolář, who also answered a blue-card question from Rima Hassan, and Matjaž Nemec.

IN THE CHAIR: Ewa KOPACZ
Vice-President

The following spoke: Tomáš Kubín, Leoluca Orlando, Danilo Della Valle, Céline Imart, who also answered a blue-card question from Benedetta Scuderi, Marta Temido, Saskia Bricmont, Estrella Galán, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Mimmo Lucano, and Marit Maij and Benedetta Scuderi, on the language sometimes used during this debate (the President took note).

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Davor Ivo Stier, Daniel Attard, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Vladimir Prebilič and Marc Botenga.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

The debate closed.

17. Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security (debate)

Council and Commission statements: Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security (2025/2612(RSP))

Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

The following spoke: Lukas Mandl, on behalf of the PPE Group, Marit Maij, on behalf of the S&D Group, Thierry Mariani, on behalf of the PfE Group, Patryk Jaki, on behalf of the ECR Group, Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group, Mounir Satouri, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Marc Botenga, on behalf of The Left Group, Tomasz Froelich, on behalf of the ESN Group, Wouter Beke, Francisco Assis, György Hölvényi, Alexander Sell, Nikolaos Anadiotis, Reinhold Lopatka, Anja Arndt, Ingeborg Ter Laak and Davor Ivo Stier.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Saskia Bricmont, Bert-Jan Ruissen and Sebastian Tynkkynen.

The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

Motions for resolutions tabled under Rule 136(2) to wind up the debate: minutes of 3.4.2025, item I.

The debate closed.

Vote: 3 April 2025.

18. Explanations of vote

18.1. Written explanations of vote

Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 201 appear on the Members’ pages on Parliament’s website.

19. Agenda of the next sitting

The next sitting would be held the following day, 2 April 2025, starting at 09:00. The agenda was available on Parliament’s website.

20. Approval of the minutes of the sitting

In accordance with Rule 208(3), the minutes of the sitting would be put to the House for approval at the beginning of the afternoon of the next sitting.

21. Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 22:07.

LIST OF DOCUMENTS SERVING AS A BASIS FOR THE DEBATES AND DECISIONS OF PARLIAMENT

I. Documents received

The following documents had been received from committees:

– Report on Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026 (2024/2111(BUI)) – BUDG Committee – Rapporteur: Matjaž Nemec (A10-0048/2025)

ATTENDANCE REGISTER

Present:

Aaltola Mika, Abadía Jover Maravillas, Adamowicz Magdalena, Aftias Georgios, Agirregoitia Martínez Oihane, Agius Peter, Agius Saliba Alex, Alexandraki Galato, Allione Grégory, Al-Sahlani Abir, Anadiotis Nikolaos, Anderson Christine, Andersson Li, Andresen Rasmus, Andrews Barry, Andriukaitis Vytenis Povilas, Androuët Mathilde, Angel Marc, Annemans Gerolf, Annunziata Lucia, Antoci Giuseppe, Arias Echeverría Pablo, Arimont Pascal, Arłukowicz Bartosz, Arnaoutoglou Sakis, Arndt Anja, Arvanitis Konstantinos, Asens Llodrà Jaume, Assis Francisco, Attard Daniel, Aubry Manon, Auštrevičius Petras, Axinia Adrian-George, Azmani Malik, Bajada Thomas, Baljeu Jeannette, Ballarín Cereza Laura, Barley Katarina, Barna Dan, Barrena Arza Pernando, Bartulica Stephen Nikola, Bartůšek Nikola, Bausemer Arno, Bay Nicolas, Bay Christophe, Beke Wouter, Beleris Fredis, Bellamy François-Xavier, Benifei Brando, Benjumea Benjumea Isabel, Beňová Monika, Bentele Hildegard, Berendsen Tom, Berger Stefan, Berlato Sergio, Bernhuber Alexander, Biedroń Robert, Bielan Adam, Bischoff Gabriele, Blaha Ľuboš, Blinkevičiūtė Vilija, Blom Rachel, Bloss Michael, Bocheński Tobiasz, Boeselager Damian, Bogdan Ioan-Rareş, Bonaccini Stefano, Bonte Barbara, Borchia Paolo, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Borvendég Zsuzsanna, Borzan Biljana, Bosanac Gordan, Boßdorf Irmhild, Bosse Stine, Botenga Marc, Boyer Gilles, Boylan Lynn, Brandstätter Helmut, Brasier-Clain Marie-Luce, Braun Grzegorz, Brejza Krzysztof, Bricmont Saskia, Brnjac Nikolina, Brudziński Joachim Stanisław, Bryłka Anna, Buchheit Markus, Buczek Tomasz, Buda Daniel, Buda Waldemar, Budka Borys, Bugalho Sebastião, Buła Andrzej, Bullmann Udo, Burkhardt Delara, Buxadé Villalba Jorge, Bystron Petr, Bžoch Jaroslav, Camara Mélissa, Canfin Pascal, Carberry Nina, Cârciu Gheorghe, Carême Damien, Casa David, Caspary Daniel, Castillo Laurent, del Castillo Vera Pilar, Cavazzini Anna, Cavedagna Stefano, Ceccardi Susanna, Cepeda José, Ceulemans Estelle, Chahim Mohammed, Chaibi Leila, Chastel Olivier, Chinnici Caterina, Christensen Asger, Ciccioli Carlo, Cifrová Ostrihoňová Veronika, Ciriani Alessandro, Cisint Anna Maria, Clausen Per, Clergeau Christophe, Cormand David, Corrado Annalisa, Costanzo Vivien, Cotrim De Figueiredo João, Cowen Barry, Cremer Tobias, Crespo Díaz Carmen, Cristea Andi, Crosetto Giovanni, Cunha Paulo, Dahl Henrik, Danielsson Johan, Dauchy Marie, Dávid Dóra, David Ivan, Decaro Antonio, de la Hoz Quintano Raúl, Della Valle Danilo, Deloge Valérie, De Masi Fabio, De Meo Salvatore, Demirel Özlem, Deutsch Tamás, Devaux Valérie, Dibrani Adnan, Diepeveen Ton, Dieringer Elisabeth, Dîncu Vasile, Di Rupo Elio, Disdier Mélanie, Dobrev Klára, Doherty Regina, Doleschal Christian, Dömötör Csaba, Do Nascimento Cabral Paulo, Dorfmann Herbert, Dostalova Klara, Dostál Ondřej, Droese Siegbert Frank, Düpont Lena, Dworczyk Michał, Ecke Matthias, Ehler Christian, Ehlers Marieke, Eriksson Sofie, Erixon Dick, Eroglu Engin, Estaràs Ferragut Rosa, Everding Sebastian, Ezcurra Almansa Alma, Falcă Gheorghe, Falcone Marco, Farantouris Nikolas, Farreng Laurence, Farský Jan, Ferber Markus, Ferenc Viktória, Fernández Jonás, Fidanza Carlo, Fiocchi Pietro, Firea Gabriela, Firmenich Ruth, Fita Claire, Flanagan Luke Ming, Fourlas Loucas, Fourreau Emma, Fragkos Emmanouil, Freund Daniel, Frigout Anne-Sophie, Friis Sigrid, Fritzon Heléne, Froelich Tomasz, Fuglsang Niels, Funchion Kathleen, Furet Angéline, Furore Mario, Gahler Michael, Gál Kinga, Galán Estrella, Gálvez Lina, Gambino Alberico, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Garraud Jean-Paul, Gasiuk-Pihowicz Kamila, Geadi Geadis, Gedin Hanna, Geese Alexandra, Geier Jens, Geisel Thomas, Gemma Chiara, Georgiou Giorgos, Gerbrandy Gerben-Jan, Germain Jean-Marc, Gerzsenyi Gabriella, Geuking Niels, Gieseke Jens, Giménez Larraz Borja, Girauta Vidal Juan Carlos, Glavak Sunčana, Glück Andreas, Glucksmann Raphaël, Goerens Charles, Gomes Isilda, Gómez López Sandra, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, González Casares Nicolás, González Pons Esteban, Gori Giorgio, Gosiewska Małgorzata, Gotink Dirk, Gozi Sandro, Grapini Maria, Gražulis Petras, Gregorová Markéta, Griset Catherine, Gronkiewicz-Waltz Hanna, Groothuis Bart, Grossmann Elisabeth, Grudler Christophe, Gualmini Elisabetta, Guarda Cristina, Guetta Bernard, Guzenina Maria, Győri Enikő, Gyürk András, Hadjipantela Michalis, Hahn Svenja, Haider Roman, Halicki Andrzej, Hansen Niels Flemming, Hassan Rima, Hauser Gerald, Häusling Martin, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Heide Hannes, Heinäluoma Eero, Henriksson Anna-Maja, Herbst Niclas, Herranz García Esther, Hetman Krzysztof, Hohlmeier Monika, Hojsík Martin, Holmgren Pär, Hölvényi György, Homs Ginel Alicia, Humberto Sérgio, Ijabs Ivars, Imart Céline, Incir Evin, Inselvini Paolo, Iovanovici Şoşoacă Diana, Jalloul Muro Hana, Jamet France, Jarubas Adam, Jerković Romana, Jongen Marc, Joński Dariusz, Joron Virginie, Jouvet Pierre, Joveva Irena, Juknevičienė Rasa, Junco García Nora, Jungbluth Alexander, Kalfon François, Kaliňák Erik, Kaljurand Marina, Kalniete Sandra, Kamiński Mariusz, Kanev Radan, Kanko Assita, Karlsbro Karin, Kartheiser Fernand, Karvašová Ľubica, Katainen Elsi, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Kelleher Billy, Keller Fabienne, Kelly Seán, Kemp Martine, Kennes Rudi, Khan Mary, Kircher Sophia, Knafo Sarah, Knotek Ondřej, Kobosko Michał, Kohut Łukasz, Kolář Ondřej, Kollár Kinga, Kols Rihards, Konečná Kateřina, Kopacz Ewa, Körner Moritz, Kountoura Elena, Kovařík Ondřej, Kovatchev Andrey, Krištopans Vilis, Kruis Sebastian, Krutílek Ondřej, Kubín Tomáš, Kuhnke Alice, Kulja András Tivadar, Kulmuni Katri, Kyllönen Merja, Kyuchyuk Ilhan, Lakos Eszter, Lalucq Aurore, Lange Bernd, Langensiepen Katrin, Laššáková Judita, László András, Latinopoulou Afroditi, Laurent Murielle, Laureti Camilla, Laykova Rada, Lazarov Ilia, Lazarus Luis-Vicențiu, Leggeri Fabrice, Lenaers Jeroen, Leonardelli Julien, Lewandowski Janusz, Lexmann Miriam, Liese Peter, Lins Norbert, Loiseau Nathalie, Løkkegaard Morten, Lopatka Reinhold, López Javi, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Lövin Isabella, Lucano Mimmo, Luena César, Łukacijewska Elżbieta Katarzyna, Lupo Giuseppe, McAllister David, Madison Jaak, Maestre Cristina, Magoni Lara, Maij Marit, Maląg Marlena, Manda Claudiu, Mandl Lukas, Maniatis Yannis, Mantovani Mario, Maran Pierfrancesco, Marczułajtis-Walczak Jagna, Maréchal Marion, Mariani Thierry, Marino Ignazio Roberto, Martins Catarina, Marzà Ibáñez Vicent, Mato Gabriel, Matthieu Sara, Mavrides Costas, Maydell Eva, Mayer Georg, Mazurek Milan, Mažylis Liudas, McNamara Michael, Mebarek Nora, Mehnert Alexandra, Meimarakis Vangelis, Mendes Ana Catarina, Mendia Idoia, Mertens Verena, Mesure Marina, Metsola Roberta, Metz Tilly, Mikser Sven, Milazzo Giuseppe, Minchev Nikola, Miranda Paz Ana, Molnár Csaba, Montero Irene, Montserrat Dolors, Morace Carolina, Morano Nadine, Moreira de Sá Tiago, Moreno Sánchez Javier, Moretti Alessandra, Motreanu Dan-Ştefan, Mularczyk Arkadiusz, Müller Piotr, Mullooly Ciaran, Mureşan Siegfried, Muşoiu Ştefan, Nagyová Jana, Nardella Dario, Navarrete Rojas Fernando, Negrescu Victor, Nemec Matjaž, Nerudová Danuše, Nesci Denis, Neuhoff Hans, Neumann Hannah, Nevado del Campo Elena, Nica Dan, Niebler Angelika, Niedermayer Luděk, Niinistö Ville, Nikolaou-Alavanos Lefteris, Ní Mhurchú Cynthia, Noichl Maria, Nordqvist Rasmus, Novakov Andrey, Nykiel Mirosława, Obajtek Daniel, Ódor Ľudovít, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Ohisalo Maria, Oliveira João, Omarjee Younous, Ó Ríordáin Aodhán, Orlando Leoluca, Ozdoba Jacek, Paet Urmas, Pajín Leire, Palmisano Valentina, Panayiotou Fidias, Papadakis Kostas, Papandreou Nikos, Pappas Nikos, Pascual de la Parte Nicolás, Paulus Jutta, Pedro Ana Miguel, Pedulla’ Gaetano, Pellerin-Carlin Thomas, Peltier Guillaume, Penkova Tsvetelina, Pennelle Gilles, Pérez Alvise, Peter-Hansen Kira Marie, Petrov Hristo, Picaro Michele, Picierno Pina, Picula Tonino, Piera Pascale, Pietikäinen Sirpa, Pimpie Pierre, Piperea Gheorghe, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita, Pokorná Jermanová Jaroslava, Polato Daniele, Polfjärd Jessica, Popescu Virgil-Daniel, Pozņaks Reinis, Prebilič Vladimir, Princi Giusi, Protas Jacek, Pürner Friedrich, Rackete Carola, Radev Emil, Radtke Dennis, Rafowicz Emma, Ratas Jüri, Razza Ruggero, Rechagneux Julie, Regner Evelyn, Repasi René, Repp Sabrina, Ressler Karlo, Reuten Thijs, Riba i Giner Diana, Ricci Matteo, Ridel Chloé, Riehl Nela, Ripa Manuela, Rodrigues André, Ros Sempere Marcos, Roth Neveďalová Katarína, Rougé André, Ruissen Bert-Jan, Ruotolo Sandro, Rzońca Bogdan, Saeidi Arash, Salini Massimiliano, Salis Ilaria, Salla Aura, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Sanchez Julien, Sancho Murillo Elena, Saramo Jussi, Sardone Silvia, Šarec Marjan, Sargiacomo Eric, Satouri Mounir, Saudargas Paulius, Sbai Majdouline, Sberna Antonella, Schaldemose Christel, Schaller-Baross Ernő, Schenk Oliver, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Schieder Andreas, Schilling Lena, Schneider Christine, Schwab Andreas, Scuderi Benedetta, Seekatz Ralf, Sell Alexander, Serrano Sierra Rosa, Serra Sánchez Isabel, Sidl Günther, Sienkiewicz Bartłomiej, Sieper Lukas, Simon Sven, Singer Christine, Sinkevičius Virginijus, Sippel Birgit, Sjöstedt Jonas, Śmiszek Krzysztof, Smith Anthony, Smit Sander, Sokol Tomislav, Solier Diego, Solís Pérez Susana, Sommen Liesbet, Sonneborn Martin, Sorel Malika, Sousa Silva Hélder, Søvndal Villy, Squarta Marco, Staķis Mārtiņš, Stancanelli Raffaele, Ştefănuță Nicolae, Steger Petra, Stier Davor Ivo, Storm Kristoffer, Stöteler Sebastiaan, Stoyanov Stanislav, Strack-Zimmermann Marie-Agnes, Strada Cecilia, Streit Joachim, Strik Tineke, Strolenberg Anna, Sturdza Şerban Dimitrie, Stürgkh Anna, Sypniewski Marcin, Szczerba Michał, Szekeres Pál, Szydło Beata, Tamburrano Dario, Tânger Corrêa António, Tarczyński Dominik, Tarquinio Marco, Tarr Zoltán, Târziu Claudiu-Richard, Tavares Carla, Tegethoff Kai, Temido Marta, Teodorescu Georgiana, Teodorescu Måwe Alice, Terheş Cristian, Ter Laak Ingeborg, Terras Riho, Tertsch Hermann, Thionnet Pierre-Romain, Timgren Beatrice, Tinagli Irene, Tobback Bruno, Tobé Tomas, Tolassy Rody, Tomac Eugen, Tomašič Zala, Tomaszewski Waldemar, Tomc Romana, Tonin Matej, Toom Jana, Topo Raffaele, Torselli Francesco, Tosi Flavio, Toussaint Marie, Tovaglieri Isabella, Toveri Pekka, Tridico Pasquale, Trochu Laurence, Tsiodras Dimitris, Turek Filip, Tynkkynen Sebastian, Uhrík Milan, Ušakovs Nils, Vaidere Inese, Valchev Ivaylo, Vălean Adina, Valet Matthieu, Van Brempt Kathleen, Van Brug Anouk, van den Berg Brigitte, Vandendriessche Tom, Van Dijck Kris, Van Lanschot Reinier, Van Leeuwen Jessika, Vannacci Roberto, Van Overtveldt Johan, Van Sparrentak Kim, Varaut Alexandre, Vasconcelos Ana, Vasile-Voiculescu Vlad, Vautmans Hilde, Vedrenne Marie-Pierre, Verheyen Sabine, Verougstraete Yvan, Veryga Aurelijus, Vešligaj Marko, Vicsek Annamária, Vieira Catarina, Vigenin Kristian, Vilimsky Harald, Vincze Loránt, Vind Marianne, Vistisen Anders, Vivaldini Mariateresa, Volgin Petar, von der Schulenburg Michael, Vondra Alexandr, Voss Axel, Vozemberg-Vrionidi Elissavet, Vrecionová Veronika, Vázquez Lázara Adrián, Waitz Thomas, Walsh Maria, Walsmann Marion, Warborn Jörgen, Warnke Jan-Peter, Wąsik Maciej, Wawrykiewicz Michał, Wcisło Marta, Wechsler Andrea, Weimers Charlie, Werbrouck Séverine, Wiesner Emma, Wiezik Michal, Wilmès Sophie, Winkler Iuliu, Winzig Angelika, Wiseler-Lima Isabel, Wiśniewska Jadwiga, Wölken Tiemo, Wolters Lara, Yar Lucia, Yon-Courtin Stéphanie, Yoncheva Elena, Zacharia Maria, Zalewska Anna, Žalimas Dainius, Zarzalejos Javier, Zdechovský Tomáš, Zdrojewski Bogdan Andrzej, Zijlstra Auke, Zīle Roberts, Zingaretti Nicola, Złotowski Kosma, Zoido Álvarez Juan Ignacio, Zovko Željana, Zver Milan

ANNEX 1 – Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors – Lucian Romașcanu

MEMBERS VOTING IN THE SECRET BALLOT

ECR:
Alexandraki, Axinia, Bartulica, Bay Nicolas, Berlato, Bielan, Bocheński, Brudziński, Buda Waldemar, Cavedagna, Ciccioli, Ciriani, Crosetto, Donazzan, Dworczyk, Erixon, Fidanza, Fiocchi, Fragkos, Gambino, Geadi, Gemma, Gosiewska, Inselvini, Jaki, Junco García, Kamiński, Kartheiser, Kols, Krutílek, Madison, Magoni, Maląg, Mantovani, Maréchal, Milazzo, Mularczyk, Müller, Nesci, Ozdoba, Peltier, Picaro, Piperea, Polato, Pozņaks, Procaccini, Razza, Ruissen, Rzońca, Sberna, Solier, Squarta, Storm, Sturdza, Szydło, Tarczyński, Târziu, Teodorescu, Terheş, Timgren, Tomaszewski, Torselli, Trochu, Tynkkynen, Valchev, Van Dijck, Van Overtveldt, Veryga, Vivaldini, Vondra, Vrecionová, Wąsik, Weimers, Wiśniewska, Zalewska, Zīle, Złotowski

ESN:
Anderson, Arndt, Aust, Bausemer, Borvendég, Boßdorf, Buchheit, David, Droese, Froelich, Gražulis, Jongen, Jungbluth, Khan, Knafo, Laykova, Mazurek, Neuhoff, Sell, Stoyanov, Sypniewski, Tyszka, Uhrík, Volgin

NI:
Anadiotis, Beňová, Blaha, Braun, De Masi, Dostál, Firmenich, Geisel, Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Kaliňák, Konečná, Laššáková, Lazarus, Nikolaou-Alavanos, Panayiotou, Papadakis, Pérez, Pürner, Roth Neveďalová, Sonneborn, von der Schulenburg, Warnke, Yoncheva, Zacharia

PPE:
Aaltola, Abadía Jover, Adamowicz, Aftias, Agius, Arias Echeverría, Arimont, Arłukowicz, Beke, Beleris, Bellamy, Benjumea Benjumea, Bentele, Berendsen, Berger, Bernhuber, Bogdan, Brejza, Brnjac, Buda Daniel, Budka, Bugalho, Buła, Carberry, Casa, Caspary, Castillo, Chinnici, Crespo Díaz, Cunha, Dahl, Dávid, de la Hoz Quintano, De Meo, Doherty, Doleschal, Do Nascimento Cabral, Düpont, Ehler, Estaràs Ferragut, Ezcurra Almansa, Falcă, Falcone, Farský, Ferber, Fourlas, Gahler, Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Gerzsenyi, Geuking, Gieseke, Giménez Larraz, Glavak, González Pons, Gotink, Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Hadjipantela, Halicki, Hansen, Hava, Herbst, Herranz García, Hetman, Hohlmeier, Humberto, Imart, Jarubas, Joński, Juknevičienė, Kanev, Kemp, Kircher, Kohut, Kolář, Kollár, Kopacz, Kovatchev, Kulja, Lakos, Lazarov, Lenaers, Lexmann, Liese, Lins, Lopatka, López-Istúriz White, Łukacijewska, McAllister, Mandl, Marczułajtis-Walczak, Mato, Maydell, Mažylis, Mehnert, Meimarakis, Mertens, Millán Mon, Montserrat, Morano, Motreanu, Mureşan, Navarrete Rojas, Nerudová, Nevado del Campo, Niedermayer, Novakov, Nykiel, Pascual de la Parte, Pedro, Pereira, Pietikäinen, Polfjärd, Popescu, Princi, Protas, Radev, Radtke, Ratas, Ressler, Ripa, Salini, Salla, Saudargas, Schenk, Schwab, Seekatz, Sienkiewicz, Simon, Smit, Solís Pérez, Sommen, Sousa Silva, Stier, Szczerba, Tarr, Teodorescu Måwe, Ter Laak, Terras, Tobé, Tomašič, Tomc, Tonin, Tosi, Tsiodras, Vaidere, Van Leeuwen, Verheyen, Voss, Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Vázquez Lázara, Walsh, Walsmann, Warborn, Wawrykiewicz, Wcisło, Weber, Wechsler, Winkler, Winzig, Wiseler-Lima, Zarzalejos, Zdechovský, Zdrojewski, Zoido Álvarez, Zovko, Zver

PfE:
Androuët, Annemans, Bartůšek, Bay Christophe, Blom, Bonte, Borchia, Borrás Pabón, Brasier-Clain, Bryłka, Buczek, Buxadé Villalba, Bžoch, Ceccardi, Cisint, Dauchy, Deloge, Deutsch, Diepeveen, Dieringer, Disdier, Dömötör, Dostalova, Ehlers, Ferenc, Frigout, Furet, Gál, Garraud, Girauta Vidal, Griset, Győri, Gyürk, Haider, Hauser, Hölvényi, Jamet, Joron, Knotek, Kovařík, Krištopans, Kruis, Kubín, László, Latinopoulou, Leggeri, Leonardelli, Mariani, Mayer, Moreira de Sá, Nagyová, Pennelle, Piera, Pimpie, de la Pisa Carrión, Pokorná Jermanová, Rougé, Sanchez, Sardone, Schaller-Baross, Sorel, Stancanelli, Steger, Stöteler, Szekeres, Tânger Corrêa, Tertsch, Thionnet, Tolassy, Tovaglieri, Turek, Vandendriessche, Vannacci, Varaut, Vicsek, Vilimsky, Vistisen, Werbrouck, Zijlstra

Renew:
Agirregoitia Martínez, Allione, Al-Sahlani, Auštrevičius, Azmani, Baljeu, Barna, Bosse, Boyer, Brandstätter, Canfin, Chastel, Christensen, Cotrim De Figueiredo, Cowen, Devaux, Eroglu, Farreng, Friis, García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Gerbrandy, Glück, Goerens, Gozi, Groothuis, Grudler, Guetta, Hahn, Henriksson, Ijabs, Joveva, Karlsbro, Karvašová, Katainen, Kelleher, Keller, Kobosko, Körner, Kulmuni, Kyuchyuk, Loiseau, McNamara, Minchev, Mullooly, Ní Mhurchú, Ódor, Oetjen, Paet, Petrov, Šarec, Singer, Strack-Zimmermann, Streit, Stürgkh, Tomac, Toom, Van Brug, van den Berg, Vasconcelos, Vasile-Voiculescu, Vautmans, Vedrenne, Verougstraete, Wiesner, Wiezik, Wilmès, Yar, Žalimas

S&D:
Agius Saliba, Andriukaitis, Angel, Annunziata, Arnaoutoglou, Assis, Attard, Bajada, Ballarín Cereza, Barley, Benifei, Biedroń, Bischoff, Blinkevičiūtė, Bonaccini, Borzan, Bullmann, Burkhardt, Cârciu, Cepeda, Ceulemans, Chahim, Clergeau, Corrado, Costanzo, Cremer, Cristea, Danielsson, Decaro, Dibrani, Dîncu, Di Rupo, Dobrev, Ecke, Eriksson, Fernández, Firea, Fita, Fuglsang, Gálvez, García Pérez, Geier, Germain, Glucksmann, Gomes, Gómez López, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, Gori, Grapini, Grossmann, Gualmini, Guzenina, Heide, Heinäluoma, Homs Ginel, Incir, Jalloul Muro, Jerković, Jouvet, Kalfon, Kaljurand, Lalucq, Lange, Laurent, Laureti, López, López Aguilar, Luena, Lupo, Maestre, Maij, Maniatis, Maran, Mebarek, Mendes, Mikser, Molnár, Moreno Sánchez, Moretti, Muşoiu, Nardella, Negrescu, Nemec, Nica, Noichl, Ó Ríordáin, Pajín, Papandreou, Pellerin-Carlin, Penkova, Picula, Rafowicz, Regner, Repasi, Repp, Reuten, Ricci, Ridel, Rodrigues, Ros Sempere, Sánchez Amor, Sancho Murillo, Sargiacomo, Schaldemose, Scheuring-Wielgus, Schieder, Serrano Sierra, Sidl, Sippel, Śmiszek, Strada, Tarquinio, Temido, Tinagli, Tobback, Topo, Ušakovs, Van Brempt, Vešligaj, Vigenin, Vind, Wölken, Wolters, Zingaretti

The Left:
Andersson, Antoci, Arvanitis, Aubry, Barrena Arza, Botenga, Boylan, Carême, Chaibi, Clausen, Della Valle, Demirel, Everding, Farantouris, Flanagan, Fourreau, Funchion, Furore, Galán, Georgiou, Hassan, Kennes, Kountoura, Kyllönen, Lucano, Martins, Mesure, Montero, Morace, Oliveira, Omarjee, Palmisano, Pappas, Pedulla’, Rackete, Salis, Saramo, Schirdewan, Sjöstedt, Smith, Tamburrano, Tridico

Verts/ALE:
Andresen, Asens Llodrà, Bloss, Boeselager, Bosanac, Bricmont, Camara, Cavazzini, Cormand, Eickhout, Freund, Geese, Gregorová, Guarda, Häusling, Holmgren, Kuhnke, Langensiepen, Lövin, Marino, Marquardt, Marzà Ibáñez, Matthieu, Metz, Miranda Paz, Neumann, Niinistö, Nordqvist, Ohisalo, Orlando, Paulus, Peter-Hansen, Prebilič, Reintke, Riba i Giner, Riehl, Satouri, Sbai, Schilling, Scuderi, Sinkevičius, Søvndal, Staķis, Ştefănuță, Strik, Strolenberg, Tegethoff, Toussaint, Van Lanschot, Van Sparrentak, Vieira, Waitz

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 3, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Was the Cyprus problem discussed at Kallas’ meeting with Fidan? – E-002806/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
In April 2024, the European Council reiterated the particular importance the EU gives to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation[1]. This emphasises that the topic is a priority on the European agenda.

In line with this political guidance, EU officials regularly raise this topic in their meetings with Turkish counterparts, at all levels. This meeting was thus not an exception.

The High Representative/Vice-President will continue to reiterate the need for a constructive Turkish engagement on the Cyprus issue in all her future meetings with the Turkish Foreign Minister.

The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis.

It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects.

Welcoming the recent steps taken by the UN Secretary-General towards a resumption of settlement talks, the EU remains ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal[2].

[1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/m5jlwe0p/euco-conclusions-20240417-18-en.pdf

[2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16983-2024-INIT/en/pdf
Last updated: 2 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Israel’s disinformation campaign against UNRWA – E-003022/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The EU is one of the main supporters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The European Council condemned any attempt to repeal the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA and to attempt to obstruct its capacity to operate its mandate[1].

It is of utmost importance to counter the disinformation campaign aimed at UNRWA. For this reason, the European External Action Service monitors and documents the campaign closely, within the mandate ‘to counter and expose disinformation in countries neighbouring the Union’ outlined in the 2018 Action Plan for Disinformation[2].

The EU and its Member States also continue to reach out to the Israeli authorities, and to highlight concerns through diplomatic outreach and public statements.

The European Council, on 21 March[3], 27 June[4], 17 October[5] and 19 December 2024[6] has consistently reiterated that the services provided by UNRWA are essential.

The High Representative/Vice-President discussed ways of supporting UNRWA with foreign ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council.

The EU will continue to provide both political and financial support to UNRWA. In 2024, the EU provided EUR 92 million in support to UNRWA. This came in addition to the EUR 48.5 million of EU humanitarian funding in 2024.

[1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf

[2] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/b654235c-f5f1-452d-8a8c-367e603af841_en?filename=eu-communication-disinformation-euco-05122018_en.pdf

[3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/70880/euco-conclusions-2122032024.pdf

[4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/qa3lblga/euco-conclusions-27062024-en.pdf

[5] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf

[6] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/jhlenhaj/euco-conclusions-19122024-en.pdf
Last updated: 2 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the Item 10 General Debate

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the Item 10 General Debate

UK Statement at the 58th Human Rights Council for the Item 10 General Debate. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

We would like to begin by commending Bangladesh’s interim government for inviting the UN Human Rights Office to investigate last summer’s events. We are encouraged by Bangladesh’s continued engagement with OHCHR and we hope to see ongoing collaboration with the UN and international partners to build an inclusive, democratic future. The UK supports efforts to safeguard and promote human rights in Bangladesh, including through the consensus-led reform process.

We remain concerned by the human rights situation in Yemen which is undermined by a lack of both security and stability. In consultation with the government of Yemen, and in collaboration with international partners, we have launched a Flexible Funding Mechanism that will provide technical advisory support to promote effective and sustainable governance.

In Georgia, we are deeply concerned about the violence used by authorities against protestors, journalists, and the opposition. Their attacks on democratic protesters are unacceptable. They tarnish Georgia’s international standing and go against its constitutional commitment to a Euro-Atlantic future.

We are grateful for OHCHR’s work to provide technical assistance and support in this increasingly challenging environment. In particular, we welcome the recent establishment of new multi-country offices in Nairobi and Sarajevo.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Postgraduate student of Samarkand University Sanzhar Kenzhaev: “Everything is perfectly organized at the Polytechnic”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

A postgraduate student of the Samarkand State University named after Sharaf Rashidov, Sanjar Kenjaev, spent one semester at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University under the academic mobility program, working on algorithms for intelligent processing of heterogeneous data. In this interview, Sanjar shares his impressions of cooperation with Russian colleagues, talks about the difficulties and achievements, as well as plans to implement his developments in Uzbekistan.

— Sanzhar, why did you decide to go to the Polytechnic?

— I studied in Uzbekistan, majoring in System Analysis, Information Processing, and Management. We were offered several universities for an internship, and the St. Petersburg Polytechnic was the closest to my topic. I wrote to the teachers — they agreed to accept me. In addition, there is a memorandum of cooperation between our universities, which simplified the process.

— What exactly did you do during your internship?

— My dissertation is devoted to algorithms for intelligent processing of heterogeneous data. The tasks were ambitious: to optimize the storage and processing of data, including unstructured data, in real time. Under the guidance of Polytechnic professors, for example, Vadim Pak, I finalized the chapters of the dissertation, participated in seminars and prepared articles for conferences. It is important that there is an opportunity to use the capacity of the SPbPU supercomputer — this significantly accelerated the experiments.

— What achievements can you highlight?

— We managed to adjust the title of the dissertation to a more precise one — “Algorithms for Intelligent Processing of Heterogeneous Data”. In collaboration with colleagues from the Polytechnic University, we prepared four articles for international conferences. We also agreed on the remote participation of SPbPU professors in further research in the laboratories of SSU.

— How do you like Saint Petersburg and the university?

— The city amazed me with its atmosphere, although the sun is a rare guest here. But this is compensated by the openness of the people. Everything is organized perfectly at the Polytechnic: a clear schedule, teachers are always in touch, libraries and laboratories are equipped with the latest technology. I remember how professors instantly connected colleagues from other departments to solve complex issues — this is an indicator of the level of teamwork.

— Were there any difficulties?

— There were no problems with the language — I know Russian well. But I had to worry about the documents: registration, access control… But I think this is a general situation for Russia, and not specific to the Polytechnic.

— How did you communicate with other graduate students?

— There were guys from different countries living in the dormitory: China, Iraq, Lithuania. We discussed scientific tasks, shared conference contacts. We even found common topics with those whose direction was different. It’s just a pity that I didn’t get to the Interclub events — I learned about them too late.

— What are your plans after returning to Uzbekistan?

— I want to develop cooperation between SSU and SPbPU: offer exchange programs and summer schools to students. I have already discussed the possibility of joint projects with colleagues. And also — continue research using data from the partner UzInfocom. Well, after a successful defense, I will remain in the academic environment — teach and, of course, constantly collaborate with the international department.

— What advice would you give to future postgraduate students who want to go to the Polytechnic?

— Don’t be afraid to take the initiative! The teachers here appreciate your interest. And be sure to participate in conferences — this is a great chance to make yourself known. And yes, take warm clothes with a hood — the St. Petersburg weather requires it.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Critical medicines running out in Gaza after one month of Israeli blockade

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

Jerusalem – A month-long siege imposed by Israeli authorities in Gaza, Palestine, means some critical medications are now short in supply and are running out, leaving Palestinians at risk of losing vital healthcare, warns Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). As Israeli forces continue to bomb the Gaza Strip, depriving people of basic needs, including food, water, and medicines may lead to a high number of health complications and deaths. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to immediately cease the collective punishment of Palestinians, end their inhumane siege of Gaza, and to uphold their responsibilities as an occupying power to facilitate humanitarian aid at scale.

For over a month, no aid or commercial trucks have entered Gaza, marking the longest period since the start of the war without any trucks entering the Strip and on 2 March, Israeli authorities imposed a complete siege of Gaza. On 9 March they cut the electricity, needed to power water desalination plants. This total blockade of aid and electricity has deprived people of most basic services, amounting to collective punishment.

“The Israeli authorities have condemned the people of Gaza to unbearable suffering with their deadly siege,” says Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza. “This deliberate infliction of harm on people is like a slow death; it must end immediately.”

The siege has forced MSF teams to start rationing medications such as pain killers, providing less effective treatment or turning patients away. Teams are also running out of surgical supplies such as anaesthetics, paediatric antibiotics and medicines for chronic conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and diabetes. As a result of rationing, our teams in some clinics conduct wound dressings for injured people without providing them with any pain relief.

In addition, MSF teams are no longer able to donate blood bags to Nasser hospital due to a lack of stock, while the influxes of patients war-wounded by relentless Israeli forces attacks continue.

The lack of soap and clean water for people means in clinics across the Strip, our teams are seeing an increase of people with skin conditions. In February, MSF teams treated 565 cases of skin conditions at the Al-Hekker clinic in Deir Al-Balah and 1,198 cases at the Al-Attar clinic in Khan Younis. Just in two weeks in March, the number of cases at Al-Hekker had already reached 437—nearly 80 per cent of February’s total—while at Al-Attar, 711 cases had been treated, almost 60 per cent of the number seen in February.

A Palestinian child with scabies is receiving medical treatment at MSF Mawasi Rafah clinic, south of Gaza Strip, Palestine, March 2025.
Nour Alsaqqa/MSF

The blockade has left MSF teams unable to provide medication to treat skin conditions, just small amounts of lotion to alleviate the pain. Skin conditions like scabies require treatment for the entire family to prevent spread and reinfection, but without medications and clean water this is impossible.

For people with non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, the consequences of the lack of treatment may lead to severe complications, such as permanent disabilities and in some cases even death. Since the blockade, we have only been able to give patients medication to cover their needs for seven to 10 days.

“I don’t have any blood pressure medication left. My son searched for two days and couldn’t find any,” explains Sobheya Al-Beshiti, a patient of the MSF clinic in Al-Attar, Khan Younis. “What can I do? Stay without treatment? If I don’t take my blood thinner, my nose starts bleeding, and I start coughing blood.”

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid, patients in MSF clinics are reporting weight loss and lack of access to proper food.

“Right now, my blood levels are low, and my weight is also low. There aren’t enough food supplies to help me gain weight or increase my blood levels,” explains a pregnant mother in an MSF clinic in Mawasi, Khan Younis. “The rising prices are a huge problem in the city: people simply cannot afford to buy necessities because of how expensive everything is.”

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MIL OSI NGO –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza: Critical medical supplies running out one month into deadly siege imposed by Israeli authorities – MSF

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Shortage of medication is forcing MSF teams to dress wounds with no pain relief and ration essential medicines. Israeli authorities must end collective punishment of people in Gaza.

Jerusalem, 2nd April – A month-long siege imposed by Israeli authorities in Gaza, Palestine, means some critical medications are now short in supply and are running out, leaving Palestinians at risk of losing vital healthcare, warns Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). As Israeli forces continue to bomb the Gaza Strip, depriving people of basic needs, including food, water, and medicines may lead to a high number of health complications and deaths. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to immediately cease the collective punishment of Palestinians, end their inhumane siege of Gaza, and to uphold their responsibilities as an occupying power to facilitate humanitarian aid at scale.

For over a month, no aid or commercial trucks have entered Gaza, marking the longest period since the start of the war without any trucks entering the Strip and on 2 March, Israeli authorities imposed a complete siege of Gaza. On 9 March they cut the electricity, needed to power water desalination plants. This total blockade of aid and electricity has deprived people of most basic services, amounting to collective punishment.

“The Israeli authorities’ have condemned the people of Gaza to unbearable suffering with their deadly siege,” says Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza. “This deliberate infliction of harm on people is like a slow death; it must end immediately.”

The siege has forced MSF teams have already to start rationing medications such as pain killers, providing less effective treatment or turning patients away. Teams are also running out of surgical supplies such as anaesthetics, paediatric antibiotics and medicines for chronic conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and diabetes. As a result of rationing, our teams in some primary health care clinics conduct wound dressings for injured people without providing them with any pain relief.

In addition, MSF teams are no longer able to donate blood bag donations to Nasser hospital due to a lack of stock, while the influxes of patients war-wounded by relentless Israeli force’s relentless continue.

The lack of soap and clean water for people means in primary health care clinics across the Strip, our teams are seeing an increase of people with skin conditions. In February, MSF teams treated 565 cases of skin conditions at the Al Hekker clinic in Deir Al Balah and 1,198 cases at the Al Attar clinic in Khan Younis. Just in two weeks in March, the number of cases at Al Hekker had already reached 437—nearly 80 percent of February’s total—while at Al Attar, 711 cases had been treated, almost 60 percent oof the number seen in February.

The blockade has left MSF teams are unable to provide medication to treat skin conditions, just small amounts of lotion to alleviate the pain. Skin conditions like scabies require treatment for the entire family to prevent spread and reinfection, but without medications, and clean water this is impossible.

For people with non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, the consequences of the lack of treatment may lead to severe complications, such as permanent disabilities and in some cases even death. Since the blockade, we have only been able to give patients medication to cover their needs for seven to 10 days.

“I don’t have any blood pressure medication left. My son searched for two days and couldn’t find any,” explains Sobheya Al-Beshiti, a patient of the MSF clinic in Attar, Khan Younis. “What can I do? Stay without treatment? If I don’t take my blood thinner, my nose starts bleeding, and I start coughing blood.”

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid, patients in MSF clinics are reporting weight loss and lack of access to proper food.

“Right now, my blood levels are low, and my weight is also low. There aren’t enough food supplies to help me gain weight or increase my blood levels,” explains pregnant mother in an MSF clinic in Mawasi, Khan Younis. “The rising prices are a huge problem in the city: people simply cannot afford to buy necessities because of how expensive everything is.”

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Can you tell the difference between real and fake news photos? Take the quiz to find out

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University

A (real) photo of a protester dressed as Pikachu in Paris on March 29 2025. Remon Haazen / Getty Images

You wouldn’t usually associate Pikachu with protest.

But a figure dressed as the iconic yellow Pokémon joined a protest last week in Turkey to demonstrate against the country’s authoritarian leader.

And then a virtual doppelgänger made the rounds on social media, raising doubt in people’s minds about whether what they were seeing was true. (Just to be clear, the image in the post shown below is very much fake.)

This is the latest in a spate of incidents involving AI-generated (or AI-edited) images that can be made easily and cheaply and that are often posted during breaking news events.

Doctored, decontextualised or synthetic media can cause confusion, sow doubt, and contribute to political polarisation. The people who make or share these media often benefit financially or politically from spreading false or misleading claims.

How would you go at telling fact from fiction in these cases? Have a go with this quiz and learn more about some of AI’s (potential) giveaways and how to stay safer online.

How’d you go?

As this exercise might have revealed, we can’t always spot AI-generated or AI-edited images with just our eyes. Doing so will also become harder as AI tools become more advanced.

Dealing with visual deception

AI-powered tools exist to try to detect AI content, but these have mixed results.

Running suspect images through a search engine to see where else they have been published – and when – can be a helpful strategy. But this relies on there being an original “unedited” version published somewhere online.

Perhaps the best strategy is something called “lateral reading”. It means getting off the page or platform and seeing what trusted sources say about a claim.

Ultimately, we don’t have time to fact-check every claim we come across each day. That’s why it’s important to have access to trustworthy news sources that have a track record of getting it right. This is even more important as the volume of AI “slop” increases.

T.J. Thomson receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is an affiliated researcher with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society.

– ref. Can you tell the difference between real and fake news photos? Take the quiz to find out – https://theconversation.com/can-you-tell-the-difference-between-real-and-fake-news-photos-take-the-quiz-to-find-out-253539

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: King Pushes Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee to Always Offer “Straight Advice”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
A full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pushed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee if he would resist political pressures if confirmed, and offer candid advice to the President, Vice President, National Security Council (NSC), and Congress. In the conversation with Lt. General Dan Caine, King asked if he would give a ‘straight ahead commitment’ to advise the executive with the best military advice.
“We have discussed, almost every member of this panel has discussed the importance of giving straight advice to the President and the Secretary of Defense. These are two very strong personalities. The oval office is probably the most intimidating room in the world. I hope you will reiterate — you mentioned you owe it to them to give the best advice, but you also owe it to the country to give them the best advice. You mentioned to me when we discussed this before: you have been retired, you did not expect this job, you don’t need this job. Give me your straight ahead commitment that when the chips are down you are going to argue for your best military advice,” asked Senator King.
“Senator, I don’t know any other way to operate as a leader. My job, if confirmed, is to always provide the best military advice to the President, the Secretary, the NSC, and to Congress and to do so with candor every day,” replied Lt. Gen. Caine.
Senator King then asked the nominee about his strategy and willingness to combat the increasing resurgence of terrorism across the world.
“What I am very worried about now is resurgence of terrorism. Syria potentially could become another base for ISIS. There are thousands of ISIS fighters in jail in Syria. If they are released, that could be a major challenge. West Africa is now a major area of Al Qaeda activity. Talk to me about the terrorism threat and the fact that we can’t forget it because 19 people changed American history on September 11. It does not take many terrorists to create serious problems for this country and for people around the world,” said Senator King.
“Sir, I don’t know that I could say it any better than you just did. We have to keep our pressure on the terrorists who would continue—,” Lt. Gen. Caine started.
“Could you make sure you have it in the record what he just said?” Senator King asked.
“It is not something, unfortunately, we can ever take our eyes off of completely. The challenge that somebody who would want to do harm to us or to our interests around the world is not going to go away anytime soon,” continued Lt. Gen. Caine.
“One of the concerns I have, we always talk about deterrence. That is the main spring of our defense strategy. But deterrence does not work with a terrorist with a nuclear weapon. They don’t have a capitol to blow up, they don’t care about dying. The defense against that eventuality, which I think is absolutely terrifying, is intelligence. I hope you will continue to focus the forces in the Pentagon on intelligence and intervening if there is any threat of nuclear material getting into the hands of a terrorist organizations,” replied Senator King.
A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Senator King has previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies.
Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. He previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech – The world spent $8.5 trillion on IT devices in a decade, more than Germany and the UK’s economies combined

Source: Techgaged.com

Every year, consumers and businesses pour staggering amounts of money into IT devices- desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and printers. While annual spending has fluctuated since 2021, the past three years have seen steady growth, pushing the market toward a record-breaking $810 billion in 2025. This massive figure will push the total spending over the past decade to shocking highs.

According to data presented by Techgaged.com, the world has spent a jaw-dropping $8.5 trillion on IT devices in a decade, surpassing the combined economies of Germany and the United Kingdom.

If IT device spending were a country, it would be the third-largest economy in the world

The surging popularity of AI applications, IoT devices, and hybrid work models has fueled the need for high-performance devices, and this trend will only speed up in 2025. According to the new survey, global spending on IT devices hit $735 billion in 2024, or 6% more than the year before that. However, 2025 is set to witness an even bigger growth, with the annual spending surging by 10.3% to a record $810.2 billion. Moreover, this means 2025 will see the second-largest spending increase in a decade, trailing only the COVID-19-driven boom in 2021, when it soared by 15%.

Even the world’s wealthiest billionaires wouldn’t have enough to cover this bill, as $810 billion is more than the combined net worth of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. But this shocking figure is just a fraction of the total amount the world spent on IT devices over the past decade. With a record $810 billion in spending in 2025, the cumulative 10-year figure will hit a jaw-dropping $8.5 trillion.

To put this into perspective, If IT device spending were a country, it would be the world’s third-largest economy, following China and the United States. Also, the ten-year spending of $8.5 trillion outpaces three years’ worth of global defense budgets, and it is enough money to fund NASA for 85 years, with its annual budget being around $100 billion.

The world spends 25% more on IT devices annually than a decade ago

The data also revealed how much annual spending on IT devices has increased over the past ten years. Back in 2014, consumers and companies spent $646 billion on IT devices. The next three years saw similar annual spending before it hit over $700 billion for the first time in 2017. The next major leap came in 2021 when the pandemic fueled a massive surge in tech purchases, reaching over $808 billion that year.

According to the latest forecast, with a projected $810 billion in 2025, the world is now spending 25% or $164 billion more on PCs, tablets, and smartphones per year than a decade ago. For context, that $164 billion increase is more than the entire GDP of a country like Kuwait and close to that of Ukraine. In other words, in just ten years, global IT device spending has grown larger than the entire GDP of a mid-sized economy.

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Nomination

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today chaired a hearing examining the nomination of Lieutenant General (ret.) John D. Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In his opening statement, Chairman Wicker underscored the tremendous responsibility that Lt. Gen. Caine would have if confirmed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. As the Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup and the other three members of the Axis of Aggressors – Russia, Iran, and North Korea – continue to band together in opposition to the United States, Chairman Wicker noted that Lt. Gen. Caine will work to give strong and decisive military advice to President Trump.

Chairman Wicker also praised Caine’s diverse background as a former intelligence community liaison, defense technology innovator, as well as his experience both in the active-duty and national guard components of the Air Force. This track record would serve him exceptionally well as the President’s principal military advisor in a complex threat environment, Chairman Wicker argued.

As for the proper role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs within the national defense decision-making complex ecosystem, Chairman Wicker noted that he had utmost confidence in Caine’s ability to remain nonpartisan and retain the trust of President Trump.

Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered below.

This morning, the committee meets to consider the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Caine has a tremendous responsibility before him. I believe President Trump has made an excellent choice in selecting him to meet the challenges, so I thank General Caine for his willingness to serve our country, especially in this hour of need.

We live in the most dangerous national security moment since World War II. An Axis of Aggressors, led by the Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putin’s Russia, means us harm. This axis does not want this century to be an American-led century or a freedom-led century. Our adversaries have started two wars against Ukraine and Israel. They threaten to open a third front against Taiwan.

We must restore peace, and we can do that only through strength. Since his nomination was announced, some people have written that General Caine is unqualified. They point out that he has not served as a combatant commander, as a service chief, or as a vice chairman – roles which are contemplated in 10 USC 152.

I would suggest these same people read or reread the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. Those who read that law and then read General Caine’s resume will see that the architects of that legislation would conclude that their reforms were successful.

The driving force behind Goldwater-Nichols was to inspire and, in some cases, require jointness. So, let’s talk about jointness with regard to Lieutenant General Caine. They believe that when our military services work together, those services are greater than the sum of their parts. General Caine agrees, and his record reflects that.

He began his career as an Air Force fighter pilot in 1992. By the time he was done, General Caine had operated in every domain, and he had developed relationships with every service. That would not have been true 40 years ago. General Caine flew and commanded aircraft, but he’s also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, having helped in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the midst of a bird flu outbreak. At the White House, General Caine wrote early homeland security strategies. He deployed and commanded repeatedly to Iraq and Syria, serving within various special operations forces units. He ran our most secretive programs for all military services. General Caine worked extensively as the CIA’s senior military officer, again collaborating with every military service and combatant command.

It’s difficult to imagine a better joint and interagency background for a nominee of this position. Our threat environment is complex, and General Caine understands how the services can work together to meet today’s dangers. We have much work to do, as this committee knows. We need to grow our defense budget. We need to reform the Pentagon’s processes drastically.

If confirmed, General Kaine would play a significant role in providing military advice to the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States on both of those topics. In particular, the Chairman plays a significant role in the requirements process. I hope he will make a priority to modernize this critical aspect.

The statutory role of the chairman may be limited, but the position is explicitly the voice of the combatant commanders. That voice matters because the commanders are largely absent from our requirements and budgeting processes.

The Chairman can and should also be an advocate for a more agile planning process – one that considers the problems. And I’m going to use two big words here: the problems of simultaneity and protracted warfare – I guess that’s three big words and two big terms. These are technical terms for fairly straightforward facts. First, that our adversaries are likely to act against us in a coordinated fashion – simultaneity. And secondly, that once that war breaks out it tends to take on a life of its own – protracted warfare.

Lastly, a Chairman is responsible to deliver a serious, honest Chairman’s risk assessment to this committee as soon as possible. I look forward to General Caine’s thoughts on each of these points.

Based on my conversations with the nominee, and based on his actions in uniform, I’m confident that General Caine will give President Trump his best military advice. He will do so without bias, as he’s required to do. He would not consider whether the president may like or dislike that advice that’s exactly what a United States president deserves.

I’m convinced that General Caine sees this role as absolutely nonpartisan. We can argue politics up here on this dais, but I expect General Caine to stay out of it, no matter the subject.

I thank the nominee for his service and for appearing today, and I turn now to my friend and colleague Ranking Member Reed for his opening remarks.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

Senators to Attorney General: “These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined 30 Senate Democrats in urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate whether government officials violated federal criminal laws in connection with a reported security breach involving the commercial messaging app Signal. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had inadvertently included him in a group Signal chat with several high-ranking national security officials. The group reportedly shared and discussed highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information via the unsecure Signal group chat.

“In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” wrote the Senators. “Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”

The Signal group chat, started by Mr. Waltz, included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and at least 18 other government officials. The group reportedly discussed not only the foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but also real-time operational details, including the timing of planned attacks, types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and strike outcomes. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude, involving some of the highest-ranking officials in the federal government, constitutes the type of extraordinary circumstance the Special Counsel regulations were designed to address.

“These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” continued the Senators.

The Senators warned that the use of Signal for such communications may violate federal law. For example, grossly negligent handling national of national defense information can violate the Espionage Act. Additionally, the Federal Records Act requires preservation of certain government communications, and the destruction of such records may constitute a separate criminal offense. Statements made by the officials involved — in testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees — raise further concerns about possible violations of laws prohibiting false statements, perjury, inducement to perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.

“During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” concluded the Senators.

The letter was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In addition to Senator Padilla, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

Senator Padilla has been outspoken about the Trump Administration’s dangerous mishandling of sensitive and classified information. Last week, he called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign, citing his staggering incompetence and lack of judgment, carelessly exposing troops to greater danger.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.

Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.

The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.

These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.

These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.

Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.

During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Lawler Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Iran

Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Media Contact 202-321-9747

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Michael Lawler delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “A Return to Maximum Pressure: Comprehensively Countering the Iranian Regime’s Malign Activities.”

Watch Here

-Remarks-

Good afternoon, and again, thank you, Chairman Mass, for putting on this hearing and to Ranking Member Meeks for presiding today. I also want to thank our witnesses for their expertise and their attention to this pressing matter. When President Trump left office over 4 years ago, the Iranian regime and its terror proxies were on their heels. The Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy had devastated Iran’s economy and denied the regime access to critical resources. Mathematically, Iran was cornered and isolated like never before. The Abraham Accord saw Israel normalize relations with three Arab nations. It was a direct blow to Iran’s influence and put the Middle East on a path towards unity against Tehran’s aggression. Militarily, the message was unmistakable. The United States would not flinch. The decisive strike that took out Soleimani, Iran’s mastermind of its terror proxies, crushed Iran’s confidence and deterred provocations. By 2021, the Middle East stood on the brink of a new era of peace and stability. Iran was contained, its proxies weakened, and the region almost freed from the looming threat of Iranian terror.

Enter Joe Biden. President Biden desperately tried to revive a dead nuclear deal with Iran, even as the regime continued to expand its nuclear program in violation of its Nonproliferation Treaty-related obligations. The Biden administration pursued deals that would have provided the regime with sanctions relief while also allowing it to continue to expand its enrichment capabilities, including with support from Russia. And when the Biden administration came up short on a nuclear deal, it pursued a misguided $6 billion giveaway to Iran, and less than 2 months later, Hamas, with support from Iran, launched the heinous October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. Under the last administration, we occasionally heard tough language, but that was rarely backed up with concrete action. This lack of resolve emboldened Iran and its proxies, offering them a free hand to escalate attacks against the US and its partners and allies with few, if any, consequences. Under the Biden administration, Iran, China, and Russia joined forces to form an unholy alliance aimed at destabilizing the free world. Yet even as Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel, fueled Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and were used to threaten US service members, the Biden administration did little to prevent the lapse of the UN’s missile embargo on Iran in October 2023. As a result, Iran now has a free hand to proliferate its missiles and long-range drones unchecked. Joe Biden’s foreign policy decisions in the Middle East were ill conceived, disorganized, and at times fatal, including for US service members as we tragically saw at Tower 22 in Jordan. And in the end, he left the world more volatile and less safe than he found it.

It’s clear that the Biden administration’s blatant refusal to enforce sanctions against Iran contributed to instability across the region and the globe. Under his administration, we witnessed an unprecedented trade in illicit oil between Iran and China, opening a lifeline for the IRGC to fund its malign activities, and it didn’t work. Appeasing terrorists does not work. And that is why I’m pleased that President Trump has since put US policy towards Iran back on track, restoring the much-needed and most effective maximum pressure campaign. Since taking office just over 2 months ago, the Trump administration has made great strides to implement an aggressive and comprehensive Iran policy that restores much-needed deterrents. This is a welcome change from the days of hand-wringing we saw under President Biden, whose policy towards Iran was all carrots and no sticks. The strategy now is to execute the maximum pressure campaign and deny the regime every ounce of grace given to them by the Biden administration.

As part of this strategy, we must clamp down on the Iranian oil trade. Last year, Iran made over $50 billion from its illicit oil trade, much of which is controlled by its Revolutionary Guard Corps. As part of the maximum pressure, we must fully enforce existing sanctions to stop this illicit oil trade, specifically cutting off Iran’s oil trade with China, which accounts for roughly 90% of oil exports. We must also take all available steps to stop Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. A nuclear Iran is not an option, and the safety of the American people and everything we love is dependent on our success here. One way or another, Iran’s nuclear ambitions are finished. And once Iran loses hope for nuclear capacity and we’ve decimated their bank accounts with the halt to the oil trade, they won’t be able to fund terror proxies any longer. President Trump’s support for Israel in the war against Iran-backed terror is absolute, and I hope to see other partners in the region step up their commitment to working with the US and Israel to address this shared threat to ensure Iran no longer threatens our security or that of the free world. As this hearing will demonstrate, there are a number of measures that can and should be taken, and I look forward to exploring that with our witnesses today and seeing the path forward.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Issues Warning to Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei

Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Media Contact 202-321-9747

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered a message to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran to kick off a full a full committee hearing on countering the Iranian regime’s malign activities.

Watch Here

-Remarks-

President Trump will work with you to peacefully end your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, or President Trump will destroy your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. You get to choose the remedy, Ayatollah.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Steube Reintroduces Iranian Terror Prevention Act to Designate IRGC-Linked Militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

April 01, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today reintroduced the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, legislation that requires the Secretary of State to designate and codify 29 Iranian-backed militias and terror groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as any foreign entity or organization controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The bill is part of the Republican Study Committee’s broader initiative to counter Iran’s global terror network and hold its proxies accountable. Among the designated groups are the Badr Organization, Kata’ib al-Imam Ali, Sarayya al-Jihad, Ansarallah (also known as the Houthis), and other militias linked to the IRGC.
“For far too long, Iran has employed proxy militias to carry out its terrorist agenda across the Middle East. These groups are responsible for attacking American forces, threatening our allies, and destabilizing the region,” said Rep. Steube. “My bill directs the State Department to formally recognize the threat these groups pose and treat them as the terrorists they are.”
The bill directs the Secretary of State to designate each listed group as an FTO within 90 days of enactment. It also requires the President to determine, within 60 days, whether sanctions under Executive Order 13224 should be imposed on any of these entities or their affiliates, agents, or proxies.
Additionally, the legislation requires ongoing reporting to Congress. The Secretary of State must submit a report every 180 days identifying any new entities that meet the criteria for FTO designation or sanctions under Executive Order 13224. The President must also report to Congress with a detailed explanation of any listed organizations not sanctioned.
The Iranian Terror Prevention Act holds Iran’s terror network accountable and directs U.S. policy to confront the growing threat of IRGC-linked militias operating in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and beyond.This legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.), Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas), Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa.), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Ind.), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.).Read the bill text here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Fellow Louisianan, Trump VA General Counsel Nominee

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced President Trump’s nominee for General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Lieutenant Colonel James Baehr of New Orleans, Louisiana, during his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“In Louisiana, James is known for his passion for service,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Currently, he serves as a military judge in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and on the Louisiana Veterans Affairs Commission, where he has been a tireless advocate for Louisiana’s veterans. But this just scratches the surface of his impressive career.”
“I am confident that James will bring legal excellence, integrity, and a mission-first mindset to the role of General Counsel. And most of all, I know he will put our veterans at the forefront of every decision he makes,” concluded Dr. Cassidy. “He has my full support.”
Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Thank you, Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Blumenthal.
Today I have the privilege to introduce Lieutenant Colonel James Baehr for his nomination as General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I also want to welcome his wife, Jasmine, and their newborn son, James, Jr.
Secretary Collins will try to say he’s hiring a fellow Georgian, but Louisiana is going to claim James.
In Louisiana, James is known for his passion for service. And I know he will bring this passion to the VA.
Currently, he serves as a military judge in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and on the Louisiana Veterans Affairs Commission, where he has been a tireless advocate for Louisiana’s veterans.
But this just scratches the surface of his impressive career.
James has served in the Marine Corps for nearly 20 years as a defense counsel, a Civil Affairs officer, and was deployed during Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq as a staff officer for Lt. General Paul Funk.
It was during his time under General Funk, that James earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Service Achievement Medal.
These accolades can speak for themselves, but having a statement of support from a General doesn’t hurt either.
In a statement submitted to this committee, General Funk states that James’ “personal leadership contributed to the superb success of our mission. This great Marine officer did what Marines do, he added clarity to chaos, and competence where calamity once prevailed. In a complex operational environment, Lieutenant Colonel Baehr played a key role in shaping how our mission was seen by the outside world. His work reflected not just logistical excellence, but sound judgment and strategic insight.”
Off the battlefield, James prosecuted violent crime and civil corruption as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He also clerked on the Fifth Circuit and advised President Trump on veterans’ issues as a Special Assistant to the President during his first term.
While advising the White House, he worked to expand access to health care, improve suicide prevention measures, and better the lives of our veterans.
These are issues James knows first-hand as a veteran.
He has received care at the New Orleans VA Medical Center. He’s a husband who used a VA home loan to buy his house. And he’s a father who transferred his GI Bill benefits to his son.
We all know that our VA can do more for our veterans. That starts with having strong leadership.
I am confident that James will bring legal excellence, integrity, and a mission-first mindset to the role of General Counsel.
And most of all, I know he will put our veterans at the forefront of every decision he makes.
He has my full support.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Paul, Sen. Merkley Seek Information on Yemen Strikes

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul
Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to new U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Dr. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined forces to urge the Trump Administration to seek more information regarding potential future actions in Yemen.
Dr. Paul and Sen. Merkley wrote in their letter to President Trump, “U.S. military action must have a clear strategy that advances our country’s long-term national security objectives and is compliant with the law of armed conflict. Congress should be briefed about the recent strikes against the Houthis and the total cost expected to be incurred by this campaign at the American taxpayer’s expense. The Administration must also explain to Congress and the American people its expected path forward given the failure of previous such efforts and statements from the Administration that the military campaign will continue and possibly expand to include military action against Iran.”
“We also recognize that any U.S. military response—especially sustained military engagement—must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Although the Constitution assigns the President the role of commander in chief of the U.S. military, it is Congress that is entrusted with the power to declare war—and Congress has not done so with respect to the Houthis,” the Senators strongly emphasized.
Dr. Paul and Sen. Merkley reminded the president of the requirements under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to notify Congress in the event of military engagement. They asked for a classified briefing within 10 days to address their concerns.
Full text of the letter can be read HERE or below:
Dear President Trump:
We write in regard to recent and ongoing U.S. military strikes against Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis.
Since at least October 2023, the U.S. military has engaged in fending off Houthi attacks against Israel, commercial shipping and U.S. military assets. The Houthi attacks, backed by Iran, have threatened global commerce, endangered U.S. and allied forces, and threatened freedom of navigation in a critical international waterway. We strongly condemn these attacks and support efforts to protect U.S. and allied interests.
However, neither the U.S. strikes since October 2023 ordered by President Joe Biden, nor the previous years-long campaign against the Houthis conducted by Saudi Arabia were successful in establishing deterrence against the Houthis. Rather, these campaigns only served to embolden the Houthis and rally their recruiting base. The rare instances in which the Houthis have calmed their recent efforts to harass Red Sea shipping lanes were during sustained ceasefire periods in the Israel-Hamas war.
U.S. military action must have a clear strategy that advances our country’s long-term national security objectives and is compliant with the law of armed conflict. Congress should be briefed about the recent strikes against the Houthis and the total cost expected to be incurred by this campaign at the American taxpayer’s expense. The Administration must also explain to Congress and the American people its expected path forward given the failure of previous such efforts and statements from the Administration that the military campaign will continue and possibly expand to include military action against Iran.
We also recognize that any U.S. military response—especially sustained military engagement—must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Although the Constitution assigns the President the role of commander in chief of the U.S. military, it is Congress that is entrusted with the power to declare war—and Congress has not done so with respect to the Houthis.
Further, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires that the president consult with Congress before introducing U.S. Armed Forces into “hostilities” or “situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances” and to notify Congress within 48 hours of having done so. This law helps ensure that U.S. military action is subject to rigorous congressional oversight and deliberation.
As such, we request a classified briefing from your Administration within 10 days to address the following questions:
·         What was the basis for the strikes conducted against the Houthis? Was there intelligence on an imminent attack against commercial shipping?
·         Does your administration consider U.S. armed forces to have been introduced into hostilities under the War Powers Resolution as a result of recent U.S. military action against the Houthis?
·         Does your administration intend to seek congressional authorization for continued U.S. military action against the Houthis?
·         What is your strategy to ensure U.S. strikes will now be effective and change the Houthis’ behavior?
·         What role, if any, will U.S. allies play in future strikes against the Houthis?
·         Given your recent statements suggesting possible military action against Iran, does your administration intend to seek congressional authorization prior to such use of force?
·         Has your administration ensured that U.S. strikes are consistent with the law of armed conflict?
·         What are the estimated contingency costs associated with ongoing and potential future operations in the region, and how will they be accounted for in the defense budget?
Ensuring the security of U.S. forces, allies, and global commerce is a priority we all share. We also believe it is critical that the United States avoids stumbling into another costly and unnecessary war.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We look forward to a prompt response.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: US files civil forfeiture complaint for $47 million in proceeds from Iranian oil sale following ICE investigation

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

WASHINGTON – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its Qods Force, designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

The forfeiture was announced by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., for the District of Columbia; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office.

“Through the work of HSI’s Counterproliferation Investigations group, alongside the FBI, the U.S. government has seized $47 million worth of funds allegedly meant for terrorist groups intent on causing catastrophic harm,” said ICE HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The expertise of HSI personnel, coupled with federal law enforcement’s whole-of-government approach, ensures the wellbeing of the United States and our innocent foreign counterparts, alike. We are relentlessly utilizing every tool at our disposal in pursuit of any and all security threats.”

The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage facility and port authority, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage at the Croatian facility in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company, which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

“We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran, in furtherance of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “With the continued seizures of Iranian oil and U.S. dollar profits, we are sending a clear message to Iran that bypassing the sanctions put in place by the U.S. Government is not as easy as playing a shell game with tankers filled with oil. We remain committed to thwarting Iran’s devious attempts, and to deprive its terrorists of the funding they desire.”

“The FBI will not allow hostile regimes to evade U.S. sanctions or exploit our financial systems to fund designated terrorist organizations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Winston. “The FBI, alongside our partners, will relentlessly enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and safeguard U.S. national security by disrupting illicit networks that seek to profit from sanctioned oil sales.”

Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

ICE HSI New York and FBI Minneapolis Field Office are investigating the case.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Pam Bondi Appoints Gregory W. Kehoe As Interim United States Attorney

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Tampa, FL – Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Gregory W. Kehoe as Interim United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” This appointment took effect on March 31, 2025.

Mr. Kehoe worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a prosecutor for over 20 years with postings in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. While serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was responsible for prosecuting a number of high-profile cases involving financial institutions and corporate fraud allegations, as well as racketeering charges.

Mr. Kehoe also led the team of lawyers and investigators which advised the Iraqi Special Tribunal, an ad hoc court formed to prosecute Saddam Hussein and members of his former regime.

Most recently, Mr. Kehoe was a shareholder at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.

Mr. Kehoe received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College, summa cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University.

MIL Security OSI –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for April

Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

The Security Council in April will convene two of its annual meetings on peacekeeping operations and on displaced persons and refugees at a “particular time for multilateralism” as “we are confronting a number of crises, including armed conflicts and funding”, its President for the month told reporters at a Headquarters conference today.

“All of this is compelling multilateralism to think long and hard about its methods and about its capacities to tackle the challenges which it was established to address,” said Jérôme Bonnafont (France), who took up the French ambassadorship on 17 March and whose delegation holds the 15-member organ’s rotating presidency for this month.

The above-mentioned meetings will convene on 7 April and 28 April focusing on peacekeeping operations and refugees and displaced persons, respectively. On 2 April, the Council is also set to hold a briefing on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Mr. Bonnafont told reporters that the UN’s principles are not just fundamental, “they are the bedrock of the multilateral system and international law”. And in the Security Council, they must be harnessed for global peace and security.

On the Ukrainian front, he said the question now is whether discussions will produce a ceasefire that leads to a just and lasting peace, underpinned by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. This must ensure respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “The Council must guide proceedings towards that outcome,” he stressed.

In the Middle East, “we cannot rule out a regional escalation”, he warned, adding that the Council, on 29 April, will hold a meeting on the matter to be chaired by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. The Council will also meet on Lebanon, Syria and Libya in April.

The 15-member organ will focus on Africa, as well, holding several meetings throughout the month on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, where entire populations have been compelled to flee, the French Permanent Representative said. In the Americas region, the Council will hold a briefing on 21 April on Haiti, where there is “pressing need” for a UN mission, he added.

Asked about the ceasefire in Ukraine, he said that the UN must support a peace that is based on the UN Charter, also noting relevant Council resolutions adopted last month. “What is going on right now between the United States, Ukraine and the Russian Federation” must be “pushed in the right direction by the UN”, he went on to add.

When asked about what “tools” the UN and European Union have in their toolbox to push talks in the right direction, he said that support to Ukraine from Europe is multifaceted. “We are on the side of Ukraine which was aggressed by Russia,” he reiterated, also adding that Europe is financially and militarily supporting Kyiv, as well.

Answering about Council “relevancy” in a time of protracted wars in Ukraine and Gaza, he said that the Council is actively working to develop processes, but that “there is no magical wand” to put an end to wars. The Council has a mandate to support processes and deploy operations. “It is no easy task,” he went on to emphasize, underscoring the importance of “political dynamics” to support peace on the ground.

On Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and whether there could be a ceasefire achieved in April, he said work is being done to convince Hamas to liberate hostages with dignity. Clearly, the bombing needs to stop, he said, urging Israeli forces to return to a ceasefire and calling on all parties to return to logic. In the medium term, the international community must start preparing for Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.

Asked about the security situation in Haiti, he said that the UN must deploy a mission there, but doing so is contingent on sufficient financing and logistical arrangements. The security situation in that country, he stressed, is very complex and challenging.

As to whether the Council will consider sanctioning Rwandan parties for their involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said that mediation efforts are currently being supported including by Angola and Qatar. The Council did express its view on the urgency of a ceasefire a few days ago, he noted.

Responding to a question about protecting Syria’s minorities, he said the Council demanded that Syrian authorities act “as is expected of them, namely that they respect the civilian population and minorities”. There is a transitional government in Syria “made up of people from different groups”. For Syria to see a definitive return to peace, it must respect its own diversity and must be inclusive, he said.

On the bombing of Lebanon, he said it is a very critical moment for Beirut, “which has a chance to engage in efforts for a lasting peace” and become a peaceful country that can coexist with its neighbours.

For the full programme of work, please see: www.un.org/securitycouncil/events/calendar.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Lebanon: UN expresses deep concern over latest Israeli airstrikes, in call for restraint

Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

1 April 2025 Peace and Security

The United Nations on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the latest escalation of violence in Lebanon, despite the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, following an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut that reportedly killed four people – including a woman – and injured several others.

Tuesday morning’s strike reportedly targeted a Hezbollah official who Israel accused of aiding Hamas in planning an imminent terror attack against civilians.

It was the second Israeli strike in the southern suburb in five days.

“The UN reiterates the calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further escalatory activities, which endanger civilians and jeopardize the progress already made to restore stability on both sides of the Blue Line,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at a regular press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.

He emphasised the importance of fully implementing Security Council resolution 1701, which was adopted in August 2006 to end the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The resolution called for a cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the creation of a demilitarized zone.

“It remains crucial that the parties undertake tangible steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and uphold their commitments made under the cessation of hostilities agreement,” Mr. Dujarric said.

He added that the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the UN Interim Force in the country (UNIFIL) remain in contact with all stakeholders to dial down tensions.

Shots fired at peacekeepers

He also reported that over the weekend, the Israeli army fired warning shots from a machine gun at UN peacekeepers across the Blue Line – which separates Israeli and Lebanese armed forces – near Rmeish in the south.

The incident was “a clear violation of resolution 1701,” Mr. Dujarric said.

In a separate incident, the peacekeepers reported that an IDF patrol aimed a laser at them.

“Any attempt to interfere with peacekeepers’ mandated duties and any act that compromises their safety is unacceptable,” Mr. Dujarric stressed, adding that the security of peacekeepers must be respected.

He said UN peacekeepers remain in position in southern Lebanon and continue to monitor and report on the situation on the ground.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Studying Ice for the Future of Flight

Source: NASA

Thomas Ozoroski, a researcher at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, takes icing accretion measurements in October 2024 as part of transonic truss-braced wing concept research.
In the future, aircraft with long, thin wings supported by aerodynamic braces could help airlines save on fuel costs – but those same wings could be susceptible to ice buildup. In the historic Icing Research Tunnel at NASA Glenn, scientists and engineers are testing a concept for a transonic truss-braced wing. Their goal: to collect important data to inform the design of these potential efficient aircraft of the future.
NASA Glenn can simulate icing conditions in its Icing Research Tunnel to identify potential challenges for new aircraft designs. These tests provide valuable information about how ice builds up on wings and can help identify the most critical icing conditions for safety.
Read more about icing testing at NASA Glenn.
Image credit: NASA/Jordan Cochran

MIL OSI USA News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Bemidji Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

MINNEAPOLIS – Patrick Burton Strong, a Bemidji man, has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of a machinegun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents, between March 31, 2024, and April 20, 2024, Patrick Burton Strong, 29, conspired to distribute fentanyl and illegally possessed a machinegun. On March 31, 2024, Strong traveled with co-defendants Danielle Diane Goodman, 27, and Leticia Jean Sumner, 24, from Bemidji to Minneapolis, where Strong purchased $10,000 worth of fentanyl.

The next day, Strong, Goodman, and Sumner were driving back toward Bemidji when a Minnesota State Patrol trooper stopped their vehicle for traffic violations, then came to suspect Strong, Goodman, and Sumner were trafficking drugs. The trooper searched the SUV and found a backpack belonging to Strong. In Strong’s backpack, the trooper found approximately 100 grams of fentanyl powder; a ghost gun with a switch—that is, a privately manufactured 9mm pistol bearing no serial number, equipped with a conversion device enabling the pistol to be fired as a fully automatic weapon; and a large-capacity magazine filled with more than 30 rounds of ammunition.

Law enforcement obtained a warrant and searched Strong and Sumner’s apartment in Bemidji. Officers found a 12-gauge Radikal Turkey P3 shotgun next to Strong’s clothing, and 23 grams of methamphetamine.

Later, while Strong and Sumner were in custody in the Morrison County Jail, law enforcement officers found them in possession of approximately 30 grams of fentanyl.

“Strong possessed a gun equipped with a switch, an item with no purpose other than killing people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “He trafficked in fentanyl—the deadliest illegal drug commonly sold today. And he intended to sell that deadly fentanyl into Native communities in the Bemidji area, communities that experience the highest overdose rates in Minnesota. He is well-deserving of a 72- month federal sentence. Minnesota is safer with Strong off the streets.”

Strong pleaded guilty on November 7, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of illegal possession of a machinegun. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez.

Goodman and Sumner each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled at later dates.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrison County Community Corrections.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: Killings of paramedics and rescue workers in Gaza must be investigated

Source: Amnesty International –

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has resulted in an unprecedented number of aid workers being killed

Human rights investigators are still unable to access Gaza to monitor alleged war crimes

‘Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators’ – Erika Guevara Rosas

There must be an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances in which at least 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers, who went to southern Gaza for a rescue operation, were shot dead after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicles, said Amnesty International today, reiterating calls for independent monitors to be granted immediate access to the occupied Gaza Strip.

Those killed included eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) health workers, one UNRWA staff member, and six members of the Palestinian Civil Defense. One further PRCS paramedic remains missing.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, said:

“These men were paramedics and rescue workers who put their lives on the line day after day, braving bombs and bullets, and working in harrowing conditions to save lives. The fact that they were killed while trying to rescue people is deeply distressing and an absolute tragedy.

“Medical personnel carrying out their humanitarian duties must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers are prohibited by international law and constitute war crimes.

“When medics and humanitarian workers are stopped from doing their lifesaving work, all victims of conflict suffer. These killings must be independently and impartially investigated, and the perpetrators must be held to account.”

Israel must allow access to human rights investigators

Amnesty will continue to investigate the details of this incident. Efforts to investigate violations and crimes under international law in Gaza continue to be severely hampered by Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, including its refusal to allow access to human rights investigators, including forensic experts.

Continuing, Erika Guevara Rosas said:

“Israeli authorities must not be allowed to continue to obstruct investigations into atrocity crimes, in defiance of legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice. They must immediately allow for impartial and independent investigations to be carried out and vital evidence to be collected and stored by professional investigators, including those mandated by the UN and the International Criminal Court, as well as those working for Palestinian and international human rights organisations. Without such investigations Israel is denying victims any prospect for justice and reparation.

“In light of Israel’s brazen defiance of international law, including the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, states cannot continue to remain silent and inactive. They have clear obligations to ensure Israel respects international humanitarian law and to bring an end to Israel’s genocide and other gross violations of international law against Palestinians. Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators.”

Investigation needed

According to a member of the Palestinian Civil Defense interviewed by Amnesty, the victims had travelled to the Hashashin area in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip on 21 March on a joint rescue mission by PRCS and the Palestinian Civil defense. They had gone to the area to provide assistance to a number of wounded people, including a PRCS medic, Mustafa Khafaja, who himself had been injured after going to the area to provide first aid to people injured as a result of Israeli shelling. The PRCS crew had been missing for days before their bodies were found on 30 March in a mass grave after an agonising nine-day search. One of the paramedics was detained by Israeli forces and then released on 23 March.

The Israeli military said an initial inquiry found that its troops opened fire on vehicles it deemed “suspicious”, acknowledging that they had shot at Palestinian ambulances and fire trucks. Israeli forces had been in full control of the area at the time.

Amnesty will continue to investigate the details of this incident. Efforts to investigate violations and crimes under international law in Gaza continue to be severely hampered by Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, including its refusal to allow access to human rights investigators, including forensic experts.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has already resulted in an unprecedented number of aid workers being killed, the vast majority of whom are Palestinians. In total, since 7 October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, including at least 280 UNRWA staff and 34 PRCS staff.

MIL OSI NGO –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/ OPT: Investigate killings of paramedics and rescue workers in Gaza

Source: Amnesty International –

There must be an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances in which at least 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers, who went to southern Gaza for a rescue operation, were shot dead after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicles, said Amnesty International today, reiterating calls for independent monitors to be granted immediate access to the occupied Gaza Strip.

Those killed included eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) health workers, one UNRWA staff member, and six members of the Palestinian Civil Defense. One further PRCS paramedic remains missing.

These killings must be independently and impartially investigated, and the perpetrators must be held to account.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns.

“These men were paramedics and rescue workers who put their lives on the line day after day, braving bombs and bullets, and working in harrowing conditions to save lives. The fact that they were killed while trying to rescue people is deeply distressing and an absolute tragedy. Medical personnel carrying out their humanitarian duties must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers are prohibited by international law and constitute war crimes. When medics and humanitarian workers are stopped from doing their lifesaving work, all victims of conflict suffer. These killings must be independently and impartially investigated, and the perpetrators must be held to account,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns.

According to a member of the Palestinian Civil Defense interviewed by Amnesty International victims had travelled to the Hashashin area in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip on 21 March 2025 on a joint rescue mission by PRCS and the Palestinian Civil defense. They had gone to the area to provide assistance to a number of wounded people, including a PRCS medic, Mustafa Khafaja, who himself had been injured after going to the area to provide first aid to people injured as a result of Israeli shelling. The PRCS crew had been missing for days before their bodies were found on 30 March in a mass grave after an agonizing nine-day search.

One of the paramedics was detained by Israeli forces and then released on 23 March.

The Israeli military said an initial inquiry found that its troops opened fire on vehicles it deemed “suspicious”, acknowledging that they had shot at Palestinian ambulances and fire trucks. Israeli forces had been in full control of the area at the time.

Amnesty International will continue to investigate the details of this incident. Efforts to investigate violations and crimes under international law in Gaza continue to be severely hampered by Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, including its refusal to allow access to human rights investigators, including forensic experts.

“Israel’s continued denial of entry to Gaza for forensic experts and independent investigators, including from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and international human rights organizations like Amnesty International will strengthen impunity and embolden perpetrators of war crimes from all parties,” said Erika Guevara Rosas.

“Amnesty International’s research indicates Israel is responsible for war crimes and genocide in Gaza. The Israeli authorities must not be allowed to continue to obstruct investigations into atrocity crimes, in defiance of legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice. They must immediately allow for impartial and independent investigations to be carried out and vital evidence to be collected and stored by professional investigators, including those mandated by the UN and the ICC, as well as those working for Palestinian and international human rights organizations. Without such investigations Israel is denying victims any prospect for justice and reparation.

Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns.

“In light of Israel’s brazen defiance of international law, including the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, states cannot continue to remain silent and inactive. They have clear obligations to ensure Israel respects international humanitarian law and to bring an end to Israel’s genocide and other gross violations of international law against Palestinians. Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators.”

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has already resulted in an unprecedented number of aid workers being killed, the vast majority of whom are Palestinians. In total, since 7 October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, including at least 280 UNRWA staff and 34 PRCS staff.

MIL OSI NGO –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Threads of Progress

Source: Government of India

Threads of Progress

How Make in India is Shaping the Future of Textiles and Apparel Industry

Posted On: 01 APR 2025 7:46PM by PIB Delhi

Introduction

The Make in India initiative, launched in 2014, has played a crucial role in positioning India as a global textile manufacturing and export hub. The textile and apparel industry is one of the largest contributors to India’s economy, providing employment to millions and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. With strong policy support, infrastructure development, and a skilled workforce, India has emerged as a preferred investment destination in the global textile sector.

Overview of India’s Textile Industry

The textile and apparel industry contributes 2.3% to our GDP, 13% to industrial production, and 12% to exports. India exported textile items worth US$ 34.4 billion in 2023-24, with apparel constituting 42% of the export basket, followed by raw materials/semi-finished materials at 34% and finished non-apparel goods at 30%. It is also the second largest employment generators, after agriculture, with over 45 million people employed directly, including many women and the rural population. As further evidence of the inclusive nature of this industry, nearly 80% of its capacity is spread across Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clusters in the country.

The sector also has perfect alignment with the Government’s overall objectives of Make in India, Skill India, Women’s Empowerment, Rural Youth Employment and inclusive growth. The industry produces about 22,000 million pieces of garments per year, with the market size projected to reach US$ 350 billion by 2030, from the current $174 billion.

Recently, the Ministry of Textiles reported a 7% increase in textile and apparel exports, including handicrafts, from April to December 2024, compared to the same period the previous year. In line with the growth roadmap, the Indian textile market currently ranks fifth globally, and the government is actively working to accelerate this growth to a rate of 15-20% over the next five years.

Impact of ‘Make in India’ on the Textile Industry

The Make in India initiative has catalyzed textile manufacturing and exports through key policy interventions, enhanced infrastructure, and incentives. In the Union Budget 2024-25, to promote domestic textile production, two more types of shuttle-less looms are added to fully exempted textile machinery by the government. The government has introduced multiple schemes to enhance textile production, boost investments, and promote exports, including:

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles

Objective: To increase manufacturing in man-made fibre (MMF) and technical textiles.
Budget: ₹10,683 crore.
Incentives: Financial incentives for large-scale textile manufacturers.

PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Parks

Objective: To develop world-class industrial infrastructure for textile manufacturing.
Focus: On developing integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for total value-chain of the textile industry like spinning, weaving, processing, garmenting, textile manufacturing, processing & textile machinery industry.
Budget: ₹4,445 crore for a period 2021-22 to 2027-28.
Key Benefits: Reduced logistics costs, increased FDI, and better competitiveness in global markets.
Current Status: A total of 7 Parks established in states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.

Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)

Objective: To incentivise credit flow for benchmark credit linked technology upgradation in this MSME driven Textile Industry for supporting capital investment.
Budget: ₹17,822 crore.
Incentives: Capital subsidies for technology upgradation.

Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector)

Objective: To provide skill training to workers in the textile industry, in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
Budget Allocation: An amount of ₹115 crores was sanctioned during the FY 2023-24, out of which ₹114.99 crores (99.9%) were disbursed.
Current Status: As of March 27, 2025, more than 4.78 lakh users have been registered on the Samarth portal. As on March 19, 2025, a total of 3.82 lakh beneficiaries have been trained (passed) and 2.97 lakh beneficiaries (77.74%) have been placed.

Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS)

Objective: To create an integrated workspace and linkages-based ecosystem for existing as well as potential textile units/clusters to make them operationally and financially viable.
Benefits: Cluster development model of TCDS will bring benefits of critical mass for customization of interventions, economies of scale in operation, competitiveness in manufacturing, cost efficient, better access to technology and information, etc.
Budget: ₹853 crore.
Current Status: As of March 18, 2025, about 1.22 lakh employment opportunities have been generated under the scheme. During 2024-25, ₹34.48 crore have been released.

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)

Objective: To boost Technical Textiles in the country.
Target Years: 2020-21 to 2025-26
Budget: ₹1480 crore
Focus: The Mission focuses on (i) research, innovation and development, (ii) promotion and market development (iii) education and skilling and (iv) export promotion in technical textiles to position country as global leader in technical textiles.
Current Status: As on January 1, 2025, 168 projects of value ₹509 crores (approx.) have been approved in the category of Specialty fibres and Technical Textiles.

Union Budget Allocations for Ministry of Textiles

The Union Budget announced an outlay of ₹5272 crores for the Ministry of Textiles for 2025-26. This is an increase of 19% over budget estimates of 2024-25 (Rs. 4417.03 crore).

Key Highlights

Cotton Mission: A five-year plan to improve cotton productivity, especially extra-long staple varieties, with science and technology support.
Tax Exemptions on Looms: Duty removed on select shuttle-less looms to reduce costs and modernize weaving.
Customs Duty on Knitted Fabrics: Increased from “10% or 20%” to “20% or ₹115 per kg, whichever is higher” to curb cheap imports.
Handicraft Exports: Time for export extended from six months to one year, with more items eligible for duty-free input imports.
MSME Boost: Focus on exports, credit enhancement, and policies like the National Manufacturing Mission, Export Promotion Mission, Bharat Trade Net, and Fund of Funds to promote employment and entrepreneurship.

These measures aim to boost domestic manufacturing, support MSMEs, modernize the textile sector, and enhance India’s global competitiveness.

Export Growth and Market Expansion

India is the 6th largest exporter of Textiles & Apparel in the world. The share of textile and apparel (T&A) including handicrafts in India’s total exports stands at a significant 8.21% in 2023-24. India has a share of 3.91% of the global trade in textiles and apparel. Major textile and apparel export destinations for India are USA and EU and with around 47% share in total textile and apparel exports. The textile and apparel sector has witnessed significant export growth due to government incentives and trade agreements.

The government has taken several steps to enhance exports in textiles and apparels, including:

Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL): On 7th March 2019, Government approved Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme to rebate all embedded State and Central taxes/levies on export of Apparel/Garments and Made-ups to provide support and enhance competitiveness of these sectors.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles: Under this scheme, as per the Quarterly Review Reports (QRRs) released on 31.03.2024, the turnover achieved was Rs. 1,355 crore including export of Rs.166 crore.
Free Trade Agreements: India has so far signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) including recently concluded agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia and TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement) with EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Norway & Liechtenstein. India has 6 Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with various trading partners. India is presently engaged in FTA negotiations with some of its trading partners notable among these FTAs are India-UK Free Trade Agreement, India- EU Free Trade Agreement, and India-Oman FTA.
Quality Control Orders: The Ministry has actively taken up notification of standards for textile products in co-ordination with Bureau of Indian Standards and Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are issued to regulate quality and curb sub-standard imports.
Textile Advisory Group on Man-Made Fibre (MMF): The Ministry has constituted a “Textile Advisory Group on Man-made Fibre (MMF)” comprising stakeholders of the country’s entire Man-Made Fibre (MMF) including viscose to deliberate and make recommendations on the issues and concerns of the sector.
Exports Promotion Councils (EPCs): There are eleven Exports Promotion Councils (EPCs) representing various segments of the textiles & apparel value chain from Fibre to finished goods as well as traditional sectors like handloom, handicrafts and carpets. These Councils work in close cooperation with the Ministry of Textiles and other Ministries to promote the growth and export of their respective sectors in global markets.

FDI in Textile and Apparel Industry

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a role in the Indian textile and apparel sector. From January 2000 to March 2024, the textile sector received US$ 4,472.79 million (₹28,304.10 crore) in FDI equity. FDI in textile sector over the years can be traced in the graph below:

BHARAT TEX 2024

Bharat Tex 2024, a global textile expo was successfully organized during February 26 to February 29, 2024 by the consortium of 11 Textiles Export Promotion Councils with the support of Ministry of Textiles. Built on the twin pillars of trade and investment and with an overarching focus on sustainability, the 4-day event attracted besides policymakers and global CEOs, 3,500 Exhibitors, 3,000 Buyers from 111 Countries and over one lakh trade visitors. An exhibition spread across nearly 2 million sq ft of area and encompassing the entire textile value chain, including an artistically curated story of textiles- Vastra Katha were the highlights of the event. The event was hosted simultaneously at two state of the art venues in Delhi – Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi with both venues fully subscribed.

This global scale conference with 70 sessions and 112 international speakers saw engaging discussions on key textile issues of the day including Textile Mega Trends, Sustainability, resilient global supply chains and Manufacturing 4.0.

BHARAT TEX 2025

Bharat Tex 2025, India’s largest global textile event, was successfully organized from February 14 to 17, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event spanned 2.2 million square feet and featured over 5,000 exhibitors, providing a comprehensive showcase of India’s textile ecosystem. More than 1,20,000 trade visitors, from 120+ countries including global CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders, attended the event.

Bharat Tex 2025 served as a platform to accelerate the government’s “Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets” vision. India’s textile exports have already reached ₹3 lakh crore, and the goal is to triple this to ₹9 lakh crore by 2030 by strengthening domestic manufacturing and expanding global reach. The event demonstrated India’s leadership in the textile sector and its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration.

Innovation in Textile Sector

As far as innovation in textiles sector is concerned, Ministry of Textiles has conducted an Innovation Challenges in collaboration with Startup India & DPIIT. In this challenge, 9 winners were recognised and awarded, while incubation opportunities were presented to 6 awardees under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Apart from this, 3 separate innovations challenges were conducted by nature fibre boards on their respective problem statements i.e.

NJB Technological Innovation Grand Challenge in which 3 winners were recognised and awarded out of 125 applicants.
CSB Start-up Grand Challenge in which 4 winners were recognised and awarded out of 58 applicants.
CWDB Wool Innovation Challenge in which 3 winners were recognised and awarded out of 24 applicants.
17 of the total above-mentioned winners are directly engaging in activities such as textile waste recycling, biobased fibres or sustainable garment production.

Cotton Industry in India

Cotton is a vital commercial crop in India, contributing about 24% to global cotton production and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of farmers and workers. It plays a crucial role in India’s foreign exchange earnings through exports of raw cotton, intermediate products, and finished goods. India holds the largest cotton acreage in the world.

Acreage and Yield: India has the largest cotton acreage globally; ranks 36th in productivity.
Production and Consumption: India is the 2nd largest producer and consumer of cotton in the world.
Cotton Species: India grows all four species of cotton: G. Arboreum, G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).

Major Growing Zones: Cotton is primarily grown in the Northern, Central, and Southern zones of India.

Production and Consumption of Cotton (in lakh bales)

Cotton Year	Production	Consumption
2021-22	311.17	322.41
2022-23	336.60	313.63
2023-24 (P)	325.22	323.00

Import and Export of Cotton (in lakh bales)

Cotton Season	Import (in lakh bales)	Export (in lakh bales)
2021-22	21.13	42.25
2022-23	14.60	15.89
2023-24*	6.73	26.24

* Position up to 30.06.2024

Government Schemes and Initiatives:

Minimum Support Price (MSP) Operations to ensure remunerative prices to cotton farmers.
“Cott-Ally” mobile app for cotton farmers.
Aadhar-based farmer registration for MSP benefits.
E-auction for transparent sale of cotton stock.
QR code using Block Chain Technology for traceability of cotton.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme for branding Indian Cotton.

Silk Industry in India

Silk is an insect fibre known for its lustre, drape, and strength. It is called the “Queen of Textiles” worldwide. India has a long history with silk and is the second largest producer and the largest consumer of silk in the world. India is unique in producing all four commercial varieties of silk: Mulberry, Tropical & Oak Tasar, Muga, and Eri. The Indian sericulture industry is important because it provides a lot of employment, requires low capital, and gives good income to silk growers. India produced 38,913 MT of silk, making it the second largest producer globally, after China.

Years	Mulberry	Tasar	Eri	Muga	Total
2004-05	14,620	322	1,448	110	16,500
2014-15	21,390	2,434	4,726	158	28,708
2020-21	23,896	2,689	6,946	239	33,770
2021-22	25,818	1,466	7,364	255	34,903
2022-23	27,654	1,318	7,349	261	36,582
2023-24	29,892	1,586	7,183	252	38,913
2024-25 (April-September)	14,233	106	3,924	92	18,355

Source: Central Silk Board, Bengaluru

The Indian government supports the silk industry through various initiatives and schemes:

The Central Silk Board (CSB) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles that was established in 1948 to develop the silk industry.
The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) under the Silk Samagra Scheme.
In 2023-24, the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, allocated ₹25 crore for the implementation of the SCSP for sericulture. The entire funds allocated under SCSP were fully utilized/released for implementation of beneficiary-oriented components.
The government is also working on research and development in the silk sector to improve productivity and quality. This includes promoting soil testing, organic farming, and the use of silkworm by-products. They are also upgrading reeling technology and promoting indigenous automatic reeling machines to boost the Make in India program.
The industry also focuses on product design development and diversification to promote Indian silks and help manufacturers and exporters create innovative designs and fabrics.

Jute Industry in India

The jute industry is a major player in India’s economy, particularly in the eastern regions like West Bengal. It’s a vital source of employment, providing livelihoods for workers in organized mills and diversified units, and supporting numerous farm families. The Indian government actively supports the jute sector through various initiatives aimed at improving productivity, ensuring fair prices for farmers, and promoting the use of jute products.

The jute industry provides direct employment to 4 lakh workers in organized mills and diversified units, including the tertiary sector and allied activities.
It supports the livelihood of 40 lakh farm families.
As per the Office of Jute Commissioner, there are 116 composite jute mills.
West Bengal has the highest number of jute mills (86).
Government of India provides support to the jute growers through MSP operations by the Jute Corporation of India and also through direct purchase of jute sacking.
Average land area under raw jute & mesta cultivation is 799 thousand hectares (average of last four years).
Average production of raw jute & mesta is 10,990 thousand bales (average of last four years).
Average export of jute goods is 133 thousand MT per annum with a value of Rs. 21,150 million per annum (average of last four years).
Jute – ICARE has been launched for improving fibre quality and productivity, reducing the cost of jute production, and increasing the income of jute farmers.
The schemes for the promotion of the jute sector are primarily implemented by the National Jute Board.

Conclusion

The Make in India initiative has significantly enhanced India’s position in global textile manufacturing and exports through targeted policies, infrastructure development, and investment promotion. With sustained efforts, India is poised to become a global textile leader, driving economic growth and employment generation.

References

https://www.texmin.nic.in/textile-data

https://jutecomm.gov.in/FAQ.html

https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/textiles-apparel

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089306

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098352

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2099411

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114277

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2104423

https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/echapter.pdf

https://www.texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/Indian%20Jute%20At%20a%20Glance.pdf

https://www.texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/Note%20on%20Cotton%20Sector_0.pdf

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AU4118_0othg1.pdf?source=pqals

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AS245_n0CCI6.pdf?source=pqals

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AU2877_YZdL4e.pdf?source=pqals

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AU2873_sOQ5IE.pdf?source=pqals

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AS110_T8V4VD.pdf?source=pqals

https://www.texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/FDI%20inflow%20at%20a%20glance.pdf

https://www.texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/Table-2%20Raw%20Silk%20Production%20Statistics.pdf

https://texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/MOT%20Annual%20Report%20English%20%2807.11.2024%29.pdf

https://www.texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/FDI%20inflow%20%28Finacial%20year%20wise%29.pdf

https://ddnews.gov.in/en/india-sets-new-record-with-7-rise-in-textile-exports-government-implements-multiple-schemes-to-boost-sector/

Threads of Progress

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Make in India (T&A) | Explainer | 05

Santosh Kumar | Sheetal Angral | Rishita Aggarwal

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: Diamondback Energy, Inc. Announces Closing of Double Eagle Acquisition

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIDLAND, Texas, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) (“Diamondback” or “the Company”) today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of certain subsidiaries of Double Eagle IV Midco, LLC (“Double Eagle”).

About Diamondback

Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding Diamondback’s: future performance; business strategy; future operations (including drilling plans and capital plans); estimates and projections of production, revenues, losses, costs, expenses, returns, cash flow, and financial position; reserve estimates and its ability to replace or increase reserves; anticipated benefits or other effects of strategic transactions (including the pending drop down transaction with Viper Energy, Inc., the Double Eagle Acquisition and other acquisitions or divestitures); and plans and objectives of management (including plans for future cash flow from operations) are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “model,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions (including the negative of such terms) as they relate to Diamondback are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Although Diamondback believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, they involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, beyond Diamondback’s control. Accordingly, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and Diamondback’s actual outcomes could differ materially from what Diamondback has expressed in its forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to) the following: changes in supply and demand levels for oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, and the resulting impact on the price for those commodities; the impact of public health crises, including epidemic or pandemic diseases and any related company or government policies or actions; actions taken by the members of OPEC+ and Russia affecting the production and pricing of oil, as well as other domestic and global political, economic, or diplomatic developments, including any impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war on the global energy markets and geopolitical stability; instability in the financial markets; trade wars; inflationary pressures; higher interest rates and their impact on the cost of capital; regional supply and demand factors, including delays, curtailment delays or interruptions of production, or governmental orders, rules or regulations that impose production limits; federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, including the effect of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; physical and transition risks relating to climate change; those risks described in Item 1A of Diamondback’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2025, and those risks disclosed in its subsequent filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Diamondback’s website at www.diamondbackenergy.com/investors.

In light of these factors, the events anticipated by Diamondback’s forward-looking statements may not occur at the time anticipated or at all. Moreover, Diamondback operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. Diamondback cannot predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements it may make. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release or, if earlier, as of the date they were made. Diamondback does not intend to, and disclaims any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

Investor Contact:
Adam Lawlis
+1 432.221.7467
alawlis@diamondbackenergy.com

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Myanmar, Haiti & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (1 April 2025) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Myanmar/ Humanitarian
– Myanmar / Special Envoy
– Central Asia
– Haiti
– Deputy Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
– Lebanon/Israel
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Syria
– South Sudan
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Central African Republic
– Ukraine
– Briefing

MYANMAR/ HUMANITARIAN
The Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator ad interim for Myanmar, Marcoluigi Corsi, today called on the world to step up support for the people of Myanmar.
Mr. Corsi returned yesterday from a two-day visit to Nay Pyi Taw territory, where he witnessed the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and bridges.
He said the most urgent needs are drinking water, hygiene, shelter, food, and medicine.
The UN and its partners, many of whom were in Myanmar already, are actively delivering supplies while conducting assessments to determine the full scale of the needs. Some of these supplies include food, drinking water, shelter and medicine.
The UN Refugee Agency have also rushed emergency supplies from Yangon to some 25,000 earthquake survivors in the Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw areas and are mobilizing more relief items from their existing stocks in Myanmar.
UNICEF and its partners have begun delivering emergency water, sanitation and hygiene kits, medical kits and nutrition supplies – all from its pre-positioned stocks.
The agency is also mobilizing an additional 80 metric tonnes of critical supplies from its global hubs. But, they say this is not enough given the scale of the disaster people of Myanmar are facing.
Telecommunications disruptions, damaged roads and debris continue to hinder the response. Severe shortages of medical supplies, including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines and tents for health workers.
Search-and-rescue operations continue and responders work tirelessly to save those trapped under collapsed buildings. Currently, 25 urban search-and-rescue teams from 13 countries are operating in the country.
The UN remains deeply committed to reaching people in Myanmar who need aid and we must act swiftly to provide relief before the upcoming monsoon season, which risks worsening the crisis.
Even before this disaster, Myanmar faced an overwhelming humanitarian crisis, with nearly 20 million people in need due to conflict and climate-induced disasters, including recent severe flooding.
Yet, the humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, with $56 million received so far, which is just 5 per cent of the $1.1 billion required.

MYANMAR / SPECIAL ENVOY
The Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, said she stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar as the devastating earthquake has worsened an already dire situation. Many victims still cannot be reached due to severe damage, she said, adding that the earthquake has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing Myanmar’s people and underscored the need for sustained international attention to the broader crisis.
She called for all sides to urgently allow space for humanitarian relief and ensure that aid workers can operate in safety.
Continuing military operations in disaster-affected areas risk further loss of life, Ms. Bishop said, as she called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and focus their efforts on the protection of civilians, including aid workers, and the delivery of life-saving assistance.
A number of countries including Myanmar’s neighbors and ASEAN mechanisms have provided immediate support. The Special Envoy appeals to Member States and other donors to swiftly provide flexible funding to scale up the response.

CENTRAL ASIA
The Secretary-General welcomes the trilateral summit of the leaders of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, which took place on 31 March in Khujand, Tajikistan.
The summit saw the signing of a trilateral agreement defining the Junction Point of the State Borders of the three countries. It follows the earlier signing of the Treaty on the State Border between the Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan on 13 March. 
The Secretary-General welcomes and encourages further steps to strengthen the spirit of mutual trust, good-neighbourly relations and cooperation in Central Asia. 

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=01%20April%202025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3dFvgGypjA

MIL OSI Video –

April 2, 2025

Category: Middle East

UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the Item 10 General Debate

Updates to this page

Access to water, electricity and fuel blocked in Gaza amidst shattered ceasefire

MSF condemns Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Gaza, calls for protection of health facilities

Mass displacement in northern West Bank takes a dramatic toll on Palestinians

Dealing with visual deception

Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

Shots fired at peacekeepers

Threads of ProgressHow Make in India is Shaping the Future of Textiles and Apparel Industry

Threads of Progress

How Make in India is Shaping the Future of Textiles and Apparel Industry