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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft launches new European security initiative

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft launches new European security initiative

    As AI and digital technologies advance, the European cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, presenting new challenges that require stronger partnerships and enhanced solutions. Ransomware groups and state-sponsored actors from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea continue to grow in scope and sophistication, and European cyber protection cannot afford to stand still.

    That is why, today, in Berlin, we are announcing a new Microsoft initiative to expand our longstanding work to help defend Europe’s cybersecurity. Implementing one of the five European Digital Commitments I shared in Brussels five weeks ago, we are launching a new European Security Program that adds to the company’s longstanding global Government Security Program.

    This new program expands the geographic reach of our existing work and adds new elements that will become critical to Europe’s protection. It puts AI at the center of our work as a tool to protect traditional cybersecurity needs and strengthens our protection of digital and AI infrastructure.

    We are launching the European Security Program with three new elements:

    • Increasing AI-based threat intelligence sharing with European governments;
    • Making additional investments to strengthen cybersecurity capacity and resilience; and
    • Expanding our partnerships to disrupt cyberattacks and dismantle the networks cybercriminals use.

    We are making this program available to European governments, free of charge, including all 27 European Union (EU) member states, as well as EU accession countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican.

    Together, these efforts reflect Microsoft’s long-term commitment to defending Europe’s digital ecosystem—ensuring that, no matter how the threat landscape evolves, we will remain a trusted and steadfast partner to Europe in securing its digital future.

    The need for new steps – the current threat environment

    Microsoft continues to observe persistent threat activity targeting European networks from nation state actors, with Russian and Chinese activity being particularly prolific in Europe. Unsurprisingly, Russia continues to be especially focused on targets in Ukraine and European nations providing support to Ukraine. Nation-state actors, including those engaging in malicious activity from Iran and North Korea, are predominantly pursuing espionage objectives in Europe through credential theft or the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain access to corporate and government networks. Several campaigns, including those from China, have also targeted academic institutions, compromising accounts to access sensitive research data or conduct geopolitical espionage against think tanks. Cybercriminals continue to develop Ransomware-as-a-Service beyond nation-state threats. We have seen the emergence of illicit websites rapidly gaining followings by leaking ransomware insights to be used by criminal groups to conduct attacks across Europe.

    The rise of AI is also augmenting and evolving threat actor behavior. Microsoft has observed AI use by threat actors for reconnaissance, vulnerability research, translation, LLM-refined operational command techniques, resource development, scripting techniques, detection evasion, social engineering, and brute force attacks. This is why Microsoft now tracks any malicious use of new AI models we release and proactively prevents known threat actors from using our AI products. This also underscores the importance of secure development and rigorous testing of AI models, leveraging AI to benefit cyber defenders, and close public-private partnerships to share the latest insights about AI and cybersecurity.

    Increasing AI-based threat intelligence sharing with governments

    Microsoft’s Government Security Program (GSP) has long provided governments with confidential security information and resources to help them better understand our products and the evolving threat landscape, particularly threats from nation-state actors. Building on existing efforts, our new European Security Program will increase the flow and expand access to actionable threat intelligence to European governments. Tailored to discrete national threat environments using AI insights, and delivered, when possible, in real time, this program is designed to help governments stay ahead of advancing cyber threats through:

    • Leveraging threat intelligence insights – Microsoft tracks the most sophisticated nation-state cyber activity, offering timely insights into evolving global threats. We use AI to support our analysis, which has improved our visibility and accelerated our ability to share the latest intelligence on the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by advanced persistent threat actors, including the malicious use of AI. By providing more information and faster, Microsoft will help European governments strengthen their cyber resilience and enable proactive defense.
    • Expanding cybercrime reporting – The Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) plays a critical role in detecting and disrupting global cybercriminal infrastructure, generating invaluable real-time intelligence in the process. As part of this new effort, we are expanding the availability of this intelligence to trusted European partners to support rapid response and coordinated enforcement action through the Cybercrime Threat Intelligence Program (CTIP).
    • Providing foreign influence operations updates – The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) continues to monitor influence operations in Europe, which are increasingly using AI to mislead and deceive with deepfake synthetic media. MTAC also uses AI to look for commonalities across operations and will provide regular intelligence briefings on foreign influence, offering timely insights into the tactics, narratives, and digital platforms leveraged by state-affiliated actors. These briefings help policymakers and security stakeholders stay ahead of evolving disinformation campaigns and hybrid threats targeting democratic institutions and public trust.
    • Identifying vulnerabilities and prioritizing security communications – Microsoft is committed to proactive and transparent security communications, particularly in the face of emerging threats and evolving vulnerabilities. We provide customers with timely, actionable intelligence through structured programs such as the Threat Microsoft Security Update Guide, Vulnerability Reporting process, and Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management. As part of this expanded commitment, we will offer prioritized notice of security communications, including vulnerability remediation guidance to our European Security Program partners, helping to enhance situational awareness and enabling faster responses.

    Participating governments will have a dedicated Microsoft point of contact to coordinate responses and escalate concerns. These efforts are designed to improve situational awareness and to support faster, more coordinated action across borders.

    Making additional investments to strengthen cybersecurity capacity and resilience

    Digital resilience—the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to cyber threats and disruptions—requires more than technology. It requires investment in people, institutions, and partnerships. As part of the European Security Program, we are investing additional resources to further our work with European governments, civil society, and innovators to strengthen local capabilities and build long-term resilience. Highlights include:

    • Strengthening public-private collaboration – Microsoft has launched a new pilot program with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), embedding Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) investigators at EC3 headquarters in The Hague to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination. Through this enhanced collaboration, we will enable joint investigations, identify faster threat identification, and be better positioned to disrupt cybercriminal activity targeting European institutions and citizens more effectively.
    • Supporting civil society and defending against ransomware – Microsoft has renewed our three-year partnership with the CyberPeace Institute to support NGOs and to promote accountability for bad actors, including nearly 100 Microsoft employees volunteering their time and expertise to help defend the most vulnerable in cyberspace. We will continue to support the Institute’s efforts to trace ransomware origins, identify safe havens, and uncover potential links to nation-state actors.
    • Expanding cybersecurity support to the Western Balkans – Through a new collaboration with the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), Microsoft will scale cybersecurity in a region where malicious actors have long sought to destabilize countries bordering the EU. Microsoft stands firmly in defense of Ukraine and is now extending that commitment with WB3C to help scale cybersecurity capabilities in a geopolitically sensitive and digitally under-resourced region, aligning with broader European cybersecurity priorities.
    • Advancing AI security and innovation – Microsoft is investing additional resources to support research, expand the cybersecurity talent pipeline, and test advanced AI-assisted security tools in real-world environments using Microsoft’s security stack and Azure and Copilot capabilities. We’re working with the UK’s Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), a public-private partnership established to advance AI security in support of UK’s national security and economic prosperity. Together, we’re launching a joint research program focused on AI-cybersecurity challenges with a focus on critical infrastructure and agentic AI security, with an initial investment from Microsoft and research-collaboration between LASR and Microsoft Security Research Center.
    • Securing open-source innovation – Through the recently launched GitHub Secure Open Source Fund, we will support open-source projects that underpin the digital supply chain, catalyze innovation, and are critical to the AI stack. By raising the security posture for European projects such as Log4J and Scancode, which are critical to the IT systems of governments and companies across the continent, the program aims to reduce future security vulnerabilities. Ensuring these tools can continuously withstand and sustainably defend against sophisticated cyber threats is essential to strengthening cyber resilience.

    These new and enhanced initiatives reflect our belief that cybersecurity is a collective endeavor—and that Europe’s digital resilience must be built from the ground up.

    Expanding partnerships to disrupt cyberattacks and dismantle cybercriminal networks

    Finally, as part of our European Security Program we are expanding our partnerships with law enforcement and regional actors to proactively identify new and innovative ways to disrupt malicious and criminal activity.

    For instance, last month, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) worked with Europol and others to take down Lumma, a prolific infostealer malware used to steal passwords, financial data, and crypto wallets. In just two months, Lumma infected nearly 400,000 devices globally, many of them in Europe. The operation seized or blocked over 2,300 command-and-control domains. Off the back of this action, we are working with Europol to identify new opportunities to continue to meaningfully disrupt and deter cybercrime.

    Lumma-infected devices by country in Europe

    To accelerate future takedowns, we also launched the Statutory Automated Disruption (SAD) Program in April 2025. This initiative automates legal abuse notifications to hosting providers, enabling faster removal of malicious domains and IP addresses. Focused initially on Europe and the U.S., SAD raises the cost of doing business for cybercriminals and makes it harder for them to operate at scale.

    In addition, we’re working with local internet service providers to help remediate affected users and ensure governments have greater visibility into emerging threats.

    The DCU has long played a leading role in proactively combating cyber threats, including those originating from nation-state actors. Since 2016, Microsoft has filed seven legal actions to spotlight and disrupt nation-state threat actors from countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which we refer to internally by the weather-themed names Blizzard, Typhoon, Sandstorm, and Sleet, respectively. Most recently, in September 2024, Microsoft initiated a disruption action against the Russian actor Star Blizzard, mentioned above, known for hacking political targets surrounding UK’s 2022 elections and targeting NATO countries to advance its geopolitical interests involving Ukraine. Microsoft exposed the Russian actors and directly seized over 140 malicious domains in total, substantially blunting ongoing campaigns and forcing Star Blizzard to significantly alter its attack methods to other platforms, which Microsoft Threat Intelligence thereafter publicly exposed in a security blog. We will continue to act against those seeking to harm customers, governments, and individual users. These efforts are part of our broader strategy to partner with law enforcement across Europe. We are already working on coordinated disruptions to protect the digital ecosystem, and we stand ready to provide robust incident response services during crises, ensuring our partners and customers are never alone in the face of cyber adversity.

    We also believe that deterrence is a critical pillar of modern cybersecurity. The EU’s Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox plays a vital role in this effort, helping to coordinate crisis response and send a clear message that malicious activity will not go unanswered—legally, operationally, or reputationally.

    Taken together, operations like the Lumma disruption, the launch of SAD, and future coordinated disruptions are helping to prevent cybercriminals and state actors from establishing malicious infrastructure in Europe.

    * * *

    At Microsoft, our commitment to Europe is deep, enduring, and unwavering. We believe that Europe’s digital future is one of the most important opportunities of our time—and protecting that future is a responsibility we share. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with European governments, institutions, and communities to defend against threats, build capacity, and strengthen resilience. We are proud to be a trusted partner to Europe, and we will continue to work every day to earn trust through transparency, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to protecting what matters most.

    Tags: Brad Smith, cybersecurity, Digital commitments, Europe

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travelling Gallery’s 2025 tour continues with SEEDLINGS: Diasporic Imaginaries

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Continuing Travelling Gallery’s 2025 programme is a group exhibition exploring ways to connect with our worlds through other-than-human perspectives. Challenging the boundaries between culture and nature, the exhibition looks to destabilise colonial systems, categories, and hierarchies, that tend to favour scientific theory and marginalise ancestral knowledges and indigenous cosmologies.

    Curated with Jelena Sofronijevic, and featuring work by artists Emii Alrai, Iman Datoo, Remi Jabłecki, Radovan Kraguly, Zeljko Kujundzic, Leo Robinson, and Amba Sayal-Bennett, the exhibition brings together a variety of contemporary artistic practices, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture and film, that reimagine our collective understandings and visions of places and times.

    Common across the works in the exhibition is the use of the seed as a means to think about and connect themes concerning ecologies, environments, and migration. For some, the seed represents a world of its own, a self-contained body or cell, capable of crossing borders. For others, it serves as a starting point for alternative possibilities and ways of being. Many of the artists have researched specific seeds, in their ‘native’ soils, and displaced in banks and libraries. The potato is offered as an incidental ‘root’ to many of their works. In the film, Kinnomic Botany (2022), Iman Datoo draws upon research in the Commonwealth Potato Collection at the James Hutton Institute near Dundee, the UK’s largest collection of potato seeds, to challenge dominant taxonomies or ways of classifying lives.

    More speculative connections can be made between Remi Jabłecki and Radovan Kraguly’s practices. The former’s futuristic sculptures remind us of the otherworldly, even alien qualities of these most earthly and everyday British crops, with the artist using them as a means to think about transformation and personal growth. Kraguly’s prints,though as detailed as scientific and botanical illustrations, are similarly cosmic, avoiding categorisation in their ambiguous representations and titles. Reflecting on relations of control between humans and nature, his works also illustrate the role of different pastoral and agricultural environments in the formation of the artist’s own identity and early adoption of ‘climate politics’, connecting his formative experiences growing up on a farm in the former Yugoslavia, to his later practice in rural Wales.

    Amba Sayal-Bennett’s architectural sculptures Kern (2024) and Phlo (2024) are part of the artist’s investigations into rubber, a commodity once so highly demanded its value surpassed that of silver. In a mission facilitated by the British government, Henry Wickham stole and trafficked 70,000 rubber seeds from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil in 1876. Transported to Kew Gardens in London, they were then dispersed to British colonies for cultivation. Its plural uses and potential for profit led to its proliferation across the globe – yet the soil in India refused to take the seeds, which the artist puts forward as a form of environmental resistance to the colonial project. Artist Emii Alrai, by contrast, focusses on excavation, exploring archaeology, Western museological structures, and the complex process of ruination.

    Scotland has proved fertile land for many of the artists’ practices, yet, for some, SEEDLINGS presents the first opportunity to experience their works in these contexts. Born in Subotica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Zeljko Kujundzic lived and worked in Edinburgh between 1948 and 1958, before moving with his partner and frequent collaborator, Ann, and their children, to British Columbia (BC). His developed, complex work in ceramic sculpture, often featuring the thunderbird, a mythological bird-like spirit widespread in North American indigenous and First Nation cultures and storytelling, is deeply rooted in these early experiences. Yet his part in Edinburgh’s growing artistic community, and work with artists and writers like Ian Hamilton Finlay, Nannie Katharin Wells, Bernard Leach, and Joan Faithfull, has, thus far, been walked over, in more conventional art histories. A selection of archive materials concerning his invention of the solar kiln, unearthed from public and private collections across the UK and Canada, are presented here for the first time – the exhibition itself seeking to germinate future research.

    The exhibition will also include a newly commissioned essay, How does a tree fit inside a seed?, exploring the artists’ works, both individually, and as constellated in the exhibition, by the curator Jelena Sofronijevic. The text journeys through the construction and overlapping uses of terms like ‘native’ and, ‘invasive’, ‘indigenous’, ‘naturalisation’, and ‘dispersal’, to challenge binaries between beings, and consider ideas of home, identity, and belonging in the context of diasporas.
    Launching in Edinburgh on Calton Hill (outside the Collective Gallery) on Friday 6 June from 11am to 5pm, the exhibition will tour to arts venues, community centres, high streets and schools across Scotland including in the Western Isles, Glasgow, Falkirk,Clackmannanshire, North Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders before culminating at Edinburgh Art Festival in August.

    It is accompanied by a series of interventions on social media, highlighting the artists’ connections to the places of our tour, and a number of talks, tours, and workshops, including with artist Leo Robinson.

    Details of confirmed tour dates and venues can be found on the Travelling Gallery website. 

    Louise Briggs, Curator, Travelling Gallery said:

    It has been a real pleasure to work with Jelena Sofronijevic on this exhibition and to be introduced to the work of a number of artists, many of whom have interesting connections to Edinburgh and Scotland through their work & research as well as their personal & professional lives. This exhibition continues to explore our annual theme looking at The Environment and Climate Emergency. We hope SEEDLINGS will offer visitors a new way of thinking about our relationship with, and connection to nature and may encourage them to perhaps think about our worlds and our interconnectedness in different ways.

    Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham, said: 

    The Travelling Gallery is a unique and fantastic example of how art can and should be accessible for all. I’m delighted that, with our support, the Gallery has been able to remove barriers to art by taking powerful and thought-provoking exhibitions into communities across Scotland.

    This year’s exhibition not only invites us to engage with outstanding contemporary works but also encourages us to reflect on the world through different lenses. With such a talented group of artists involved, I encourage everyone to visit when the gallery sets off this week.

    Additional thanks go to: All of the exhibiting artists; Nena Kraguly; Family and Friends of Kujundzic; The City of Edinburgh Council; Creative Scotland; City Art Centre, Edinburgh; Government Art Collection; Ingleby Gallery; Carbon 12 Gallery; Palmer Gallery; and the University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
     
     
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Report shows Alberta producing more oil and less emissions

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Reintroduces Bill to Evaluate NATO-Style Alliance in the Indo-Pacific

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 6/4/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act, legislation that would establish a task force to evaluate the feasibility of a NATO-style collective security framework for the Indo-Pacific region.

    The task force would assess current security challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party and the North Korean government, and explore whether a formal multilateral defense agreement among the United States and Indo-Pacific allies could serve as a credible deterrent to further aggression in the region.

    “As Chairman of the MENA Subcommittee, I see every day how our adversaries, notably China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, are coordinating to undermine global stability and democracy,” said Congressman Lawler. “This bill is about ensuring our allies in the Indo-Pacific have the support and structure they need to stand firm in the face of that aggression, and that we can too.”

    “There is certainly appetite in the Indo-Pacific, our allies want a deeper, more reliable security cooperation with the United States,” continued Lawler. “A NATO-style alliance in the region may be the best way to bolster deterrence and ensure long-lasting peace.”

    “We can’t afford to take a wait-and-see approach while the CCP threatens Taiwan, coerces its neighbors, and expands its military reach,” Lawler concluded. “This task force will help lay the groundwork for a strategic alliance rooted in democratic values, mutual defense, and long-term security in the Indo-Pacific.”

    The Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act is part of Congressman Lawler’s broader effort to strengthen U.S. alliances and reinforce American leadership on the global stage.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Yoga Sangam 2025 draws unprecedented participation with over 30,000 organisations registered

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a show of unity and wellness, more than 30,000 organisations across India have registered to participate in Yoga Sangam 2025, the main event of this year’s International Day of Yoga (IDY), underscoring the nation’s deepening commitment to holistic health and community well-being.

    Organised by the Ministry of Ayush, the 2025 edition of Yoga Sangam reflects a growing movement that transcends traditional Yoga practice, positioning it as a nationwide initiative to promote mindfulness, resilience, and harmony. From educational institutions and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to NGOs, corporate bodies, and government organisations, entities from across the country have enthusiastically registered their intent to host events on June 21, the day observed globally as the International Day of Yoga.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” continues to inspire a unified and inclusive movement, bridging geographies and cultures. The 11th edition of IDY will witness Yoga sessions in diverse settings—from the serene peaks of Ladakh to the vibrant beaches of Kerala, school grounds to corporate campuses, and historic temple courtyards to bustling railway stations—turning over one lakh locations into sanctuaries of wellness and unity.

    A key feature of IDY 2025 is the integration of technology for tracking participation. The Ministry of Ayush has launched a dedicated portal—yoga.ayush.gov.in/yoga-sangam—where organisations can register their events, conduct Yoga sessions on June 21, and upload participation data to receive an official Certificate of Appreciation. This digital interface ensures seamless documentation and enhances transparency and visibility of the initiative at a national level.

    Significantly, premier academic institutions such as IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities are actively contributing to the movement. These centres of excellence are not only hosting large-scale Yoga demonstrations but are also promoting its relevance in mental health, leadership development, and emotional well-being.

    As the countdown to June 21 begins, the Ministry of Ayush invites all citizens, institutions, and communities to come together in shared movement and breath, making Yoga Sangam 2025 a cornerstone of India’s global leadership in wellness.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major £4 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Major £4 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first

    More than £3 billion drive towards autonomous systems to shape UK military future and boost export potential, supporting the Plan for Change

    UK troops and warships will be protected by drone and laser weapon technology through a major £4 billion investment, as the UK seeks to become the leading edge of innovation in NATO under the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and driven by lessons from Ukraine. 

    The major funding package includes more than £3 billion for autonomous systems and a further investment of nearly £1 billion for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) this Parliament – including the iconic DragonFire laser – boosting frontline capabilities while creating 300 skilled jobs across the country. 

    DragonFire is set to be the first high power laser capability entering service from a European nation, with the first Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer due to be fitted in 2027.  

    The SDR recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy. To help achieve this, it says Defence must incorporate uncrewed and autonomous systems in high numbers over the next five years and make targeted investment in the development of novel directed energy weapons.  

    Today’s autonomous systems investment – of which more than £2 billion is new funding following the Government‘s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027– will see autonomous systems, including drones improve accuracy and lethality for our Armed Forces, and boost UK export potential. 

    It comes after major announcements ahead of the SDR publication, including: the building of up to a dozen new attack submarines for the Royal Navy; up to 7,000 new UK-built long-range weapons to procured; at least six new munitions and energetics factories in the UK; more than £1.5 billion to improve the state of military housing; and more than £1 billion for pioneering technology to spearhead battlefield engagements.

    The new DEW capabilities will give the UK an edge, creating low cost and sustainable alternatives to missiles to shoot down targets, such as drones, at the speed of light, reduce collateral damage and have a low-cost per shot, reducing reliance on expensive ammunition.   

    The systems will be tailored to the conditions in which they will operate – whether at sea, on land, or in the air – and will work alongside crewed assets, such as current and future fighter jets.  

    Both investments reflect the SDR’s vision for UK innovation to be driven by the lessons from Ukraine – harnessing drones, data and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. 

    The SDR sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It ends the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and will also drive innovation, jobs and growth across the country, allowing the UK to lead in a stronger NATO as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    These investments will mean the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades. We will ensure our Armed Forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

    We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review’s vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops.

    This Government’s Plan for Change will harness the benefits of technology, create hundreds of new jobs and make defence a powerful engine for economic growth.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:  

    A strong economy needs a strong national defence. That’s why we are delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War—putting innovation and industrial strength at the centre of our national security strategy.

    Additional funding for autonomous systems maximises the defence industry’s potential to drive long term economic growth and productivity – helping us deliver our Plan for Change while keeping the UK safe.

    A new DEW will be created for the British Army this decade, alongside DragonFire being integrated on four Royal Navy warships, with the first ship due to be fitted in 2027, forming part of a layered air defence system to better protect UK forces while reducing collateral damage and reducing reliance on expensive ammunition. 

    DEW technology already supports 200 high-skilled UK jobs, with a further 300 positions to be created across the Ministry of Defence and industry partners. It’s another example of defence as an engine for UK economic growth, delivering on the Plan for Change.  

    In addition, a new Drone Centre will be established to accelerate exploitation of small, uncrewed air systems across all three military services, helping to deliver them to the front line faster.   

    The Centre will provide a central knowledge base to tackle any emerging legislative changes, develop best practice and better manage the interaction with industry. Crucially, it will apply battlefield lessons from Ukraine where drones now kill more people than traditional artillery. Detailed organisational arrangements will be developed over the coming months. 

    During the SDR process, 1,700 individuals, political parties, and organisations submitted more than 8,000 responses. 200 companies provided written contributions, more than 120 senior experts took part in the review and challenge panels, and nearly 50 meetings took place between the Reviewers and our senior military figures.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Huffman Invites Federal Employees Pressured or Pushed Out Under Trump to Share Their Stories

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    May 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) launched a submission form on the Natural Resources Committee Democrats’ website for current and former federal employees to share how they’ve been impacted by the Trump administration’s political interference, retaliation, or pressure campaigns.

    Share Your Story

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: For Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, ‘reproduction is like a death sentence’

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Masaya Llavaneras Blanco, Assistant Professor of Development Studies, Huron University College, Western University

    On May 9, Lourdia Jean-Pierre, a 32-year-old Haitian migrant woman, died after giving birth in her rural home in El Ceibo, Dominican Republic. The cause of death was a postpartum hemorrhage, according to a news report in The Haitian Times.

    Despite needing medical attention, Jean-Pierre was reportedly afraid to go to the hospital. Why? She feared being deported.

    Jean-Pierre was not wrong to be afraid. Soon after her death, paramedics arrived with police officers to check on the newborn and detain her husband, Ronald Jean. Jean left the newborn with a relative as he waited to be deported.

    Between April 21 and the end of May this year, 900 lactating or pregnant women were deported from the Dominican to Haiti. They are part of the new, extreme tough-on-immigration policies in the Dominican Republic. In May alone, 22,778 Haitians were deported to Haiti.

    A new wave of mass deportations

    Last October, the Dominican government initiated a new wave of mass deportations as President Luis Abinader ordered a quota of 10,000 Haitians deported per week. On April 6, he announced new extraordinary measures to control immigration.

    The rollout of this policy began on April 21. Migration officials were assigned to work in hospitals and required migrants to show their documents before receiving medical care or face deportation.

    The new protocol does not specify pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, it effectively targets them in hospitals. Evidence of this is the fact that the policy was immediately implemented in the 33 hospitals “that report the largest number of pregnant migrant women — mainly those of Haitian origin.”

    The targeting of pregnant women is not new

    The targeting of pregnant migrants in the DR isn’t new. In September 2021, the Ministry of the Interior and Police announced a protocol to limit pregnant migrant women’s access to health care in the DR.

    Dozens of deportation raids were carried out in maternity wards in the capital and other large urban centres. According to immigration officials, attendance at pre-natal appointments fell by 80 per cent by the end of 2021.

    Deportation raids in maternity wards slowed down between 2022 and 2024, but women were still afraid to go for their check-up appointments. Pre-natal care is essential in preventing maternal deaths.

    According to a media report, the Dominican’s National Health System estimates that Haitian women accounted for 56 per cent of maternal deaths in the first half of 2022.

    No documents, no health care

    There are almost no ways for Haitians in the Dominican Republic to apply for or renew visas. And Dominican consulates in Haiti have been closed since September 2022.

    There is a long history of a lack of documentation among Dominicans of Haitian ancestry, exacerbated by the denationalization of up to 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian ancestry in 2013. That means Dominican-Haitians are also at risk of being deported when accessing health care.

    This happened to Mirryam Ferdinad who, according to community reports, went to a hospital for a programmed Caesarean section and was instead detained in Haina, the country’s largest migrant detention centre. Ferdinad was released one week on Saturday May 31st. Is it possible to add that update with this link? https://www.instagram.com/p/DKWAD44N_N7/?igsh=cXY5a21xY2pud2tp

    Deportations are expected to occur after people recover from their ailments. But human rights organizations report that deportations regularly take place in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, in trucks filled beyond capacity.

    Structural racism

    Elena Lorac, co-founder of Reconocido, an advocacy group of denationalized Dominicans of Haitian descent, said the situation is exacerbated by structural racism.

    Anti-Black racism and anti-Haitianism runs through the politics of the Dominican Republic, whereby Blackness is associated with undesirable cultural and physical traits, and linked to neighbouring Haiti.

    In contrast, DR’s nationalist groups, such as the Antigua Orden Dominicana, emphasize their colonial Spanish roots.

    Reproductive health rights under attack

    Haitian pregnant women are between a rock and a hard place. Hemorrhages and unsafe abortions are among the main causes of maternal mortality. Most of these cases are preventable if pregnant people have access to health services.

    Haiti has the highest maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere.

    Maternal mortality in the DR is lower. But its mistreatment of pregnant migrants, and its criminalization of abortion in all circumstances, pose significant risks for women.

    Haiti: A country in humanitarian crisis

    Deported migrants usually have no family or social networks in the locations they are deported at. And they have limited to no access to health services and social services.

    Dominican-Haitians also get deported because they have no legal documents despite having lived there their whole lives. They often have never been to Haiti, and barely speak Haitian Creole.

    In Haiti, about 40 per cent of primary health care was funded by the now almost completely defunded United States Agency for International development (USAID).

    Though there are some groups supporting deportees, global cuts to humanitarian agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration are affecting personnel on the ground. The humanitarian conditions in Haiti are increasingly challenging.

    Financial cuts worsen the extremely precarious living conditions. Nine per cent of the population is internally displaced. More than half the population is expected to experience acute food insecurity by June.

    Protesting violence

    On May 28, 13 organizations led a demonstration in front of the Dominican Republic Health Ministry. Peasant women, domestic workers, artists and feminists demanded an end to deportation raids in maternity wards and the removal of immigration officials from hospitals.

    Sirana Dolis, co-founder of Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women MUDHA, said of the situation:

    “Haitian women and women of Haitian descent are a people who love life, but under these circumstances, reproduction is like a death sentence.”

    Masaya Llavaneras Blanco receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

    – ref. For Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, ‘reproduction is like a death sentence’ – https://theconversation.com/for-haitian-migrants-in-the-dominican-republic-reproduction-is-like-a-death-sentence-257427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 4 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    DfE Update: 4 June 2025

    Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    DfE Update further education: 4 June 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update academies: 4 June 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update local authorities: 4 June 2025

    HTML

    Details

    Latest for further education

    Article Title
    Information Adult skills fund (ASF) 2024 to 2025 related reference data (postcode datasets)
    Information Publication of updated college financial benchmarking tool and related dataset
    Information Maths and English progress measures
    Reminder Year-end funding claim for 2024 to 2025
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service

    Latest information for academies

    Article Title
    Action Primary PE and sport premium 2024 to 2025 digital expenditure reporting return
    Action Budget Forecast Return 2025 is now live
    Information Capital funding 2025 to 2026
    Information Moving to a termly early years census from 2026 to 2027
    Information Maths and English progress measures
    Reminder Year-end funding claim for 2024 to 2025
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service
    Events and webinars DfE Energy for schools: simplified buying of gas and electricity
    Events and webinars Hiring supply teachers and agency workers for your school webinar
    Events and webinars Academy finance professionals June power hour: Budget Forecast Return
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Employment Law workshop
    Events and webinars Buying catering services for your school
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Employment Law workshop
    Events and webinars Q&A drop-in sessions: Academies chart of accounts and automation

    Latest information for local authorities

    Article Title
    Action Primary PE and sport premium 2024 to 2025 digital expenditure reporting return
    Information 2025 to 2026 import/export data and special free schools adjustment data sent to local authorities
    Information Adult skills fund (ASF) 2024 to 2025 related reference data (postcode datasets)
    Information Capital funding 2025 to 2026
    Information Moving to a termly early years census from 2026 to 2027
    Information Maths and English progress measures
    Reminder Deadline for incorporation of new/changes to split sites into the 2026 to 2027 schools NFF
    Reminder Year-end funding claim for 2024 to 2025
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service
    Events and webinars DfE Energy for schools: simplified buying of gas and electricity
    Events and webinars Hiring supply teachers and agency workers for your school webinar
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Employment Law workshop
    Events and webinars Buying catering services for your school
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Employment Law workshop

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 June 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Recognizes Deafblind Awareness Month

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 4, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan has officially proclaimed June 2025 as Deafblind Awareness Month in recognition of individuals in the Deafblind community and the organizations that support them. 

    “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to recognize Deafblind Awareness Month, and we value the important work of Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Deafblind Community Services,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. “We look forward to continuing to build strong, inclusive communities for persons with disabilities alongside our disability services community partners.” 

    Deafblind Awareness Month raises awareness about the unique experiences and contributions of individuals who are Deafblind. It also highlights the importance of accessible programs, services and supports that promote inclusion and independence. 

    Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Deafblind Community Services (DBCS) provides specialized support and advocacy for individuals with combined vision and hearing loss. Across Canada, DBCS offers intervenor services, life-skills training and advocacy to help individuals overcome barriers, build independence and enhance their quality of life. 

    “We commend the Government of Saskatchewan for proclaiming June as Deafblind Awareness Month and for its ongoing commitment to accessibility and inclusion,” CNIB Deafblind Community Services Vice-President Sherry Grabowski said. “This recognition is an important step in amplifying the voices of the Deafblind community and raising awareness of the unique barriers they face. We look forward to working together to ensure every person with a dual sensory loss can thrive and participate fully in their communities.” 

    On December 3, 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan released its first Accessibility Plan, required by The Accessible Saskatchewan Act, to improve the accessibility of government services. Over the next three years, government will provide leadership on accessibility and inclusion in the province; work to improve knowledge and awareness to support a diverse and inclusive workforce; and enhance the accessibility of digital content, provincial parks and government buildings.  

    For more information about the Government of Saskatchewan’s accessibility initiatives, visit: accessiblesk.saskatchewan.ca. 

     To learn more about CNIB Deafblind Community Services, visit: deafblindservices.ca.  

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Amazon Plans to Invest $10 Billion in North Carolina for AI Infrastructure

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Amazon Plans to Invest $10 Billion in North Carolina for AI Infrastructure

    Governor Stein Announces Amazon Plans to Invest $10 Billion in North Carolina for AI Infrastructure
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced that Amazon is planning to invest $10 billion to launch a new high-tech cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation campus in Richmond County, creating at least 500 new high-paying, high-tech jobs. 

    “Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work and innovate, and I am pleased that North Carolina will stay at the forefront of all that’s ahead as we continue to attract top technology companies like Amazon,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Amazon’s investment is among the largest in state history and will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs and an economic boost to Richmond County.”

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud computing solution, and its data centers enable customers of all sizes and across all industries, such as automotive, health care, manufacturing, financial services, public sector, and more, to transform their businesses. The new data centers will contain computer servers, data storage drives, networking equipment, and other forms of technology infrastructure used to power cloud computing capabilities and generative AI technologies. North Carolina’s business-friendly environment, abundance of infrastructure resources, availability of skilled labor, and growing technology sectors made it a natural hub for building world-class data center infrastructure.

    “Amazon’s $10 billion investment in North Carolina underscores our commitment to driving innovation and advancing the future of cloud computing and AI technologies,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon’s Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer. “This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth. We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent.”

    “I am excited for Amazon’s $10 billion investment in our community,” said Senator David Craven. “This project will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs and significant investment to our area for many years to come.”

    “Richmond County is delighted to welcome Amazon to our community,” said Representative Ben Moss. “The new jobs created by this facility will change hundreds of lives for the better. Rural communities like ours can lead the way in technology advancements, including artificial intelligence, which is an ever-increasing presence in the world.”

    “The Richmond County, NC Board of County Commissioners, is pleased to announce and welcome Amazon as our newest corporate partner,” said Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Rick Watkins. “Their selection of the Energy Way Industrial Park represents the largest Cap-ex investment in the history of North Carolina and will serve as a catalyst to transform the local economy, provide high paying jobs for citizens, and improve the quality of life for all residents. We stand ready to work together with Amazon as they continue to build capacity and innovate their cloud computing platform. Working together, our possibilities are limitless!    

    Jun 4, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The establishment of an ecological compensation mechanism for the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers is planned to be completed by 2027

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) — China will establish a unified inter-basin ecological compensation mechanism for the main rivers of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers by 2027 as part of a broader effort to improve water management, the Ministry of Finance announced Wednesday.

    According to a plan jointly released by the ministry and four other government departments, the mechanism will be extended to main channels and major tributaries of key river basins including the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers by 2035.

    Compensatory measures will become richer in content, more diverse in methods, improved in standards and mature in mechanisms.

    The central government will actively play a coordinating and guiding role in the implementation of this mechanism, rationally determining compensation indicators and funding volumes to ensure that they correspond to the situation with the protection of the aquatic ecological environment and an acceptable burden on local budgets.

    China first unveiled plans to establish compensation mechanisms for the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Since then, the country has made significant progress in preserving and restoring the ecology of these rivers.

    For example, the Yangtze River Basin has seen a recovery in aquatic biodiversity since a 10-year fishing ban was imposed in 2020. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 344 native fish species were recorded in the river between 2021 and 2024, 36 more than in the 2017-2020 period before the ban took effect.

    The Yellow River, China’s second-longest waterway, has also seen steady environmental improvements, including improved water security and environmental quality. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes Japan will reconsider its historical crimes and firmly adhere to the path of peaceful development – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) — China hopes Japan will deeply reflect on its historical crimes, earnestly learn from the past, and firmly adhere to the path of peaceful development, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday.

    The diplomat made the statement at a regular briefing for journalists, responding to a question about Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s recent statement that Japan must remember the painful experiences and lessons of history and not repeat the mistakes of the war period.

    “China attaches great importance to this position,” Lin Jian noted.

    The official spokesperson recalled that during the meeting of the leaders of China and Japan in November 2024 in Lima, Peru, Shigeru Ishiba assured that the Japanese side would adhere to the spirit of looking honestly at history and focusing on the future, firmly following the path of peaceful development.

    “In his speech, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba particularly emphasized the need to understand the historical past, learn lessons from history, and prevent the mistakes of the war period from being repeated. We attach great importance to this position,” Lin Jian added.

    Correctly understanding and treating history, expressing remorse and apology for the war of aggression through concrete actions are key prerequisites for Japan’s post-war reintegration into the international community, Lin Jian stressed, noting that these issues concern not only the political basis of Sino-Japanese relations, but also Japan’s ties with neighboring countries, as well as its international image.

    “We call on Japan to completely abandon any attempt to whitewash or conceal the history of its aggression, take a responsible stance toward history, its people and the future, firmly adhere to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through real actions,” Lin Jian concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ukraine and Russia to conduct prisoner exchange on 500-500 basis this weekend – V. Zelensky

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Kyiv, June 4 /Xinhua/ — Ukraine and Russia plan to hold another prisoner exchange on June 7-8. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following bilateral consultations held on Wednesday, as reported by the Ukrinform agency.

    According to him, Russia expressed its readiness to hand over 500 people to Ukraine. Kyiv will release the same number of prisoners.

    At the same time, V. Zelensky noted that Ukraine has not yet received a list of persons whom the Russian Federation is preparing for exchange.

    On June 2, the second round of peace talks between Ukraine and the Russian Federation since 2022 took place in Istanbul. At the talks, the parties agreed to exchange prisoners according to the “all for all” formula for two categories of servicemen: seriously ill and those aged 18 to 25. V. Zelensky stated that journalists and political prisoners could also return to Ukraine as part of this exchange. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: 74Software joins Euronext Tech Leaders, the initiative for high-growth and leading Tech companies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    74Software joins Euronext Tech Leaders, the initiative for high-growth and leading Tech companies

    Paris, June 4, 2025 – 74Software is delighted to announce its inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment, an initiative dedicated to supporting high-growth and leading tech companies. This significant recognition validates the continuous commitment of the company to excellence in entreprise software development and its contribution to digital innovation for nearly 25 years.

    Launched in June 2022, the Euronext Tech Leaders initiative is backed by a strong network of partners and aims to highlight high-growth and leading tech companies listed on Euronext markets. It features a segment of 110 European companies, an index tracking their performance, and a dedicated programme of services and visibility opportunities designed to support them throughout their listing journey.

    This announcement follows the 2025 annual review of the Euronext Tech Leaders segment, which saw eight new companies added across diverse sectors including Aerospace & Defence, Biotech, Cleantech, Hardware and Software.

    In addition to joining the Euronext Tech Leaders Index, members benefit from a range of services and exclusive access to investor forums and conferences across Europe, providing valuable networking opportunities.

    For more information on the criteria for inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment, please visit the Euronext Tech Leaders criteria.

    74Software looks forward to the opportunities this inclusion brings and to leveraging the resources and network provided by the Euronext Tech Leaders initiative to accelerate growth and innovation in the tech sector.

    About 74Software

    74Software is an enterprise software group founded through the combination of Axway and SBS – independently operated leaders with unique experience and capabilities to deliver mission-critical software for a data driven world. A pioneer in enterprise integration solutions for 25 years, Axway supports major brands and government agencies around the globe with its core line of MFT, B2B, API, and Financial Accounting Hub products. SBS empowers banks and financial institutions to reimagine tomorrow’s digital experiences with a composable cloud-based architecture that enables deposits, lending, compliance, payments, consumer, and asset finance services and operations to be deployed worldwide. 74Software serves more than 11,000 companies, including over 1,500 financial service customers. To learn more, visit 74Software.com

    Contacts – Investor Relations:

    Arthur Carli – +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 – acarli@74software.com
    Chloé Chouard – +33 (0)1 47 17 21 78 – cchouard@74software.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Raskin, Keating, Foushee, Balint Introduce Resolution Urging the Immediate Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Becca Balint (VT-AL) are today introducing a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza and to bring about the release of the hostages.

    “Innocent civilian lives — children and babies — can be saved by ensuring that much-needed aid gets to Gazans,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “This humanitarian crisis is man-made and can be solved by allowing aid trucks to enter Gaza. Every diplomatic tool in our toolbox must be used to ensure that this happens.”

    “Each passing day brings new suffering to people in Gaza, who are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Congressman Raskin. “Our Resolution recognizes that America must act now to save countless lives in the region. Just as the time is long overdue to bring all the remaining Israeli hostages home from their captivity at the hands of Hamas, it is time to assure the delivery of desperately needed food and humanitarian aid into Gaza to end the prolonged humanitarian crisis of Palestinians living there.”

    “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire and devastating. The entire U.S. government must urgently use all diplomatic tools available to bring about the release of the hostages in Gaza, facilitate the delivery of food and humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and work towards an end to the conflict in Gaza which moves us closer to a two-state solution,” said Congressman Keating. “This important bicameral resolution sends a strong message that we believe the U.S. must immediately do more to end the suffering in Gaza.”

    “The entire Gaza Strip is facing acute levels of hunger after a nearly two-and-a-half-month blockage on humanitarian aid. Although this blockade was recently lifted, aid groups do not have the resources or food available to properly provide immediate support to the millions of people facing starvation,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “I’m proud to join my fellow colleagues in introducing this resolution that will help address the dire situation in Gaza, and I implore my colleagues to support this critical step towards ensuring an enduring ceasefire that will alleviate suffering, save lives, and return the hostages safely to their families.”

    “It is indisputable that death is imminent for hundreds of thousands in Gaza and the level of starvation for children is catastrophic. We cannot waste another minute, aid must get to Gaza now,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “We must use every tool at our disposal to pressure to alleviate this crisis. The United States may not remain complicit in the face of the unimaginable suffering and dire need for aid and supplies.”

    The entire population of Gaza, an estimated 2,200,000 people, is facing acute levels of hunger. Over two months ago, Israel began a blockade on aid into the Gaza Strip. While some food is now being allowed into Gaza, it is not being allowed to do so fast enough to save lives. Since the start of the conflict, at least 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and 120,000 have been injured.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Donald Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), André Carson (IN-08), Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herbert Conaway Jr. (NJ-03), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Jim Himes (CT-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Doris Matsui  (CA-07), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), James P. McGovern (MA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Bennie G. Thompson  (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek T. Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

    This resolution is endorsed by 18 Million Rising, 99 Coalition , A New Policy , Action Corps, ActionAid USA, American Friends of Combatants for Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International USA, Arab American Institute (AAI), Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Center for Victims of Torture, Charity & Security Network, Church World Service, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), DAWN, Demand Progress, Doctors Against Genocide , Emgage Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Hindus for Human Rights, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Human Rights Watch, IfNotNow Movement, International Refugee Assistance Project, J Street, KinderUSA, MADRE, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC), Migrant Roots Media, MoveOn, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, Muslims United PAC, National Council of Churches, New Israel Fund, New Jewish Narrative, No Dem Left Behind, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Oxfam America, Partners for Progressive Israel, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Reconstructing Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, ReThinking Foreign Policy, RootsAction, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, Sisters of Mercy of the America – Justice Team, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, The Borgen Project, United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), UNRWA USA National Committee, Win Without War, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, US Section (WILPF US), CAIR Washington, Christian-Jewish Allies for a Just Peace for Israel/Palestine, Church Women United in New York State, Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights , FOSNA Pittsburgh, Harrisburg Palestine Coalition, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, MARUF CT, Minnesota Peace Project, Nepa for Palestine, Northern California Friends of Sabeel (NorCal Sabeel)Sabeel), Oasis Legal Services, Peace Action WI, Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!, Progressive Democrats of America – Central New Mexico, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom DC-Metro Action Group, UPTE Members for Palestine, Valley View Church.

    Senator Peter Welch (VT) is leading the resolution in the Senate with the support of nearly all Democrats.

    The full text of the resolution can be read here.

    Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Van Hollen Introduce Life-Saving Hepatitis C Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced life-saving legislation to cure low-income and hard-to-reach Americans with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cassidy and Van Hollen’s Cure Hepatitis C Act will establish a voluntary drug subscription model to connect HCV patients to treatment and stop the spread of the disease. Today’s treatment for HCV cures more than 95% of cases with almost no side effects.
    “We can virtually eliminate hepatitis C in a fiscally responsible way,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Curing hepatitis C makes Americans healthy again while also saving the federal government billions by eliminating the need for chronic care. It’s a win for patients, and it’s a win for the taxpayers.” 
    “Hepatitis C claims thousands of American lives every year – but we have a proven model that can make this preventable public health crisis a thing of the past. Our bipartisan legislation offers a solution towards ensuring communities most at risk have access to the highly effective treatments that are available – saving lives while also saving billions in taxpayer dollars that are currently spent on costly chronic care,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 is based on a successful pilot program in Louisiana, as well as in other countries. The five-year subscription model allows the federal government to procure HCV drugs through a competitive bidding process between the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and manufacturers and distribute them to HCV patients. Participation is optional, and there are no terms requiring manufacturers to engage in the subscription model. The subscription model is not one-size-fits-all and can be tailored to different populations in need of treatment. State Medicaid programs can opt-in to participate, ensuring that individuals can receive treatment. In addition, individuals receiving care in the Indian Health Program and in federal correctional facilities will have access to HCV treatments through the subscription model. State correctional facilities may opt-in if they choose to do so.
    When hepatitis C goes untreated, it can lead to a lifetime of chronic health issues and ultimately be fatal. Chronic health issues are a driving cost for Medicaid and Medicare and increase the amount federal taxpayers spend. Senator Cassidy and Senator Van Hollen’s proposal to reduce the number of hepatitis C cases has been estimated to save $6.6 billion in taxpayer dollars.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Battery storage procurement process was ‘transparent’

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Electricity and Energy has confirmed the integrity of the outcome of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP).

    This after a political party in Parliament raised concern about the five preferred bidders chosen under Bid Window 3 of the BESIPPPP last week.

    “The Minister [Kgosientsho Ramokgopa] wishes to reaffirm that the procurement process was conducted under the established frameworks of the Independent Power Producer Office [IPPO], guided by the principles of transparency, competitiveness, and value for money. 

    “The process was subject to rigorous legal, technical, and financial due diligence, consistent with national legislation and the prescripts of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, including the objectives of ensuring that public procurement fosters inclusive growth for previously marginalised communities, including women and youth,” the department said.

    Some 10 bid windows have been undertaken since the IPPO’s inception which has brought at least R292 billion infrastructure investment in renewable energy projects that reached financial close.

    “R112 billion [has been] recorded as the actual spend on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment [BBBEE], representing 74% of the total procurement. The local content spent [actual] reached R81.2 billion by December 2024.

    “The shareholding of Black South Africans has now reached 38.1% with 8.8% held by local communities. Over R4 billion has been invested in socio-economic and enterprise development programmes with over 90 000 employment opportunities created in construction and operation stages

    “In addition, 147.2 million kilolitres water savings was achieved since programme inception, with 124.5 Mton CO, offset by electricity generated by these projects. These significant investments in South Africa and her people, was achieved without a single finding of fraud, corruption and malfeasance,” the department said.

    READ I Minister announces preferred bidders under BESIPPPP Bid Window 3

    The department noted concerns raised about the process and added that the Minister “welcomes robust democratic scrutiny and regards public accountability as a cornerstone of good governance”.

    “In this spirit, and in full recognition of Parliament’s oversight role, the Minister will formally write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy to request that the department and the IPPO be granted an opportunity to brief the committee on the appointment process and respond to any concerns that may be raised by Members of Parliament,” the department said.

    In addressing the allegations put forward by the MK Party, Minister Ramokgopa affirmed the department’s commitment to integrity. “We remain committed to ensuring that all procurement conducted under the department’s auspices is beyond reproach and reflects the highest standards of probity and public trust,” he said.

    Citizens with “concrete evidence of wrongdoing” are urged to submit such information through the appropriate legal and institutional channels.

    “Furthermore, the Minister emphasised government’s willingness to engage constructively with all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society and industry, in strengthening the integrity and developmental impact of South Africa’s energy programmes,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Employment and Labour brings services to Knysna residents 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, June 4, 2025

    A service delivery initiative designed to unlock a comprehensive range of government services directly to the community of Knysna is currently underway in the Western Cape.

    Taking place at the Apostolic  Faith Mission Hall in Ward 8 on Wednesday and Thursday, the outreach pogramme forms part of the Department of Employment and Labour’s “Yazini” programme, meaning “Know Your Department/ Ministry”, which aims to extend services beyond traditional office settings and into the heart of communities. 

    As part of the programme, the department will conduct inspections within the construction and hospitality sectors to ensure compliance with labour regulations.

    “Minister Meth has emphasised that the department must take services where the people reside because communities lack the means to travel to urban areas for their needs. This programme is a direct response to this call,” the department said in a statement. 

    Services offered are as follows:
    •    Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) services: claims, inquiries, and registration for the UIF.
    •    Employment Services South Africa (ESSA) registration: on-site registration on the ESSA system for job seekers and employers as well as work-seeker registrations.
    •    Compensation Fund (CF): assistance with registration, claims, and compliance for workplace injuries.
    •    Labour inspections: workplace compliance checks in the construction and hospitality sectors.
    •    Workplace rights education: information on labour laws, fair treatment, and dispute resolution.

    Community members are encouraged to bring along their ID card/book, certificates, UI-19, curriculum vitae when coming for services from 8am-4pm.

    Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth is expected to interact with the community on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Unprecedented interest to RFI for rail, port projects

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Transport has received 162 formal responses from the private sector in the Request for Information (RFI) in rail and port projects.

    This, as part of government’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the country’s rail and port systems.

    These include 51 responses for the iron ore and manganese corridor, 48 responses for the coal and chrome corridor and 63 responses for the container and automotive intermodal corridor. 

    In March 2025, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy launched an online Request for Information to develop an enabling environment for private sector participation and enhanced investment in rail and port infrastructure and operations.

    “Creecy indicated in March 2025 that South Africa’s rail and port infrastructure faces substantial challenges, including declining performance; theft and vandalism; under- investment, and operational inefficiencies. All of these hinder trade and economic growth.

    “The limited availability of state resources to fund infrastructure development and address backlogs has intensified these challenges, severely restricting the ability of state-owned entities to fulfil their critical mandates,” the department said on Wednesday.

    Government, together with Transnet, has received numerous unsolicited proposals from the private sector offering investment, skills, and expertise to support the rehabilitation and reform of the country’s struggling rail and port systems.

    This overwhelming interest made it clear that the department and Transnet needed to engage in broad and inclusive market engagement before issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to ensure that these RFPs are well responded to.

    READ | Government approves R51 billion guarantee facility for Transnet

    According to the department, the RFI portal on the departmental website recorded 11 600 visits, which is an indication of a huge amount of interest. 

    The RFIs were completed online and accessed through the Department of Transport website. 
    “The portal remained open for eight weeks, from 24 March to 9 May 2025. However, due to an overwhelming interest from the stakeholders, the deadline was extended to 30 May 2025.”

    The department has commenced with its assessment of the responses to the RFI with all information submitted being treated with strict confidentiality and used exclusively to inform the development of potential Private Sector Participation (PSP) projects.
    In addition, the department intends to make further announcements in due course regarding the commencement of any procurement programme in respect of the PSP projects.

    In this initial phase of the PSP process, the RFI focuses on the following corridors:
    •    Northern-Cape to Saldanha Bulk Minerals Corridor PSP Project primarily for iron ore and manganese exports, and the Northern-Cape to Nelson Mandela Bay Corridor, primarily for manganese exports.
    •    Limpopo and Mpumalanga to Richards Bay Bulk Minerals Corridor PSP Project for coal and chrome exports, including coal exports from mines in Lephalale, Limpopo; chrome exports from the ‘Western Limb’ mines in the Rustenburg- Brits region in North-West; and coal exports from various mines across Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal to the Port of Richards Bay.
    •    Intermodal Supply Chain PSP Project focusses on the container and automotive sectors, on the Gauteng—Durban port (KZN), Gauteng—Eastern Cape (East London, Port Elizabeth, Ngqura), and Gauteng—Western Cape (Cape Town) corridors.

    In July 2025, a second batch of the RFI will be released which will focus on passenger rail initiatives. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Parliament updated on work undertaken to set up Transformation Fund

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The establishment of the R100 billion Transformation Fund marks a significant step towards addressing the historical funding gaps that have hindered the growth of black-owned businesses in South Africa.

    This is according to the Acting Deputy Director-General (DDG) of Transformation and Competition at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Susan Mangole.

    She was part of a delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, who briefed the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry during a virtual meeting on the work the department has undertaken so far to set up the fund.

    READ I Transformation Fund to drive inclusive economic growth

    In March, the department published a draft concept document on the Transformation Fund and called for public comments in a period that ended on 28 May 2025. The department further undertook a public engagement process which targeted different stakeholders to elicit their inputs into the document. 

    During the briefing, Mangole emphasised that the fund does not seek to bring additional tax burdens on businesses or any other requirements beyond mechanisms that already exist in line with the Section 11(2)(b) of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act 2003. 

    “The Transformation Fund will be anchored by the B-BBEE policy provisions and therefore the R100 billion over the next five years will be sourced from the Competition Commission’s public interest commitments, Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) funds, Equity Equivalent Investments from multinational companies, and other government funding initiatives,” Mangole said.

    In her presentation, Mangole highlighted some of the inputs received during the window of the public participation process and indicated the department is currently reviewing them.

    “Some of the comments and inputs received include a call for clarity on how the fund will work with existing ESD funds, particularly those that are well functioning, a clear transformation index on how to measure the impact of the fund and that it must be complemented by compliance by big corporations in terms of market access, technical skills development, infrastructure development and support, and other non-financial support,” Mangole said.

    She added that a partnership between government and the private sector in administering the fund and an oversight committee consisting of nine members from both sides will be established to provide oversight in the running of the fund. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Home Affairs takes Child Protection Outreach to KZN

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, June 4, 2025

    Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza is scheduled to take the 365 Days of Child Protection Outreach to Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal this weekend.

    This as the Deputy Minster has adopted the MusaweNkosi home for orphaned and vulnerable children.

    The Deputy Minister is also expected to support the Class of 2025 Mid-term Readiness Programme at Umdlamfe Secondary School in eSikhawini, Richards Bay, where he will handover Smart ID Cards to the learners.

    Home Affairs officials recently visited Umdlamfe Secondary School and the MusaweNkosi home to assist children who wanted to apply for IDs and those requiring Late Registration of Birth for their rightful place on South Africa’s National Population Register and birth certificates. 

    Identity documents (IDs) are vital for learners’ admission to their life-changing school examinations.

    “Children who will be receiving for the first time in their lives their own IDs and birth certificates, will be empowered to seek and enjoy protection from abuse and neglect, a deliverable of the 365 Days of Child Protection Campaign and will be enabled to access government and other services,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.

    “The Deputy Minister will donate Uninterrupted Power Supply units to the home to help improve living conditions ahead of the biting cold winter nights,” the department said.

    READ | 2025 Child Protection Month: Let’s root out child abuse together

    – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Spaza Shop Support Fund information session to be held in Limpopo

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Limpopo spaza shop owners will get an opportunity to learn more about how they can access financial and non-financial support from the Spaza Shop Support Fund at an interactive session at the George Phadagi Town Hall, in Thohoyandou, on Friday.

    The session is part of a countrywide campaign aimed at creating awareness about the Spaza Shop Support Fund. 

    The campaign, which began in KwaZulu-Natal last month, is hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSDB). 

    The R500 million fund was launched by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, and the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, in Soweto, on 8 April 2025. 

    The national education and awareness campaign is being held in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the agencies of the DSBD and the dtic, respectively, which will be responsible for administering the fund. 

    The interactive session with spaza owners in the Vhembe District Municipality will be an opportunity to learn more about how to apply for the fund and which requirements will they be expected to comply with.

    According to Minister Tau, government is taking a concrete step to formalise and empower the informal sector with the fund. 

    Tau said supporting spaza shops would enable entrepreneurs, often women and young people, to participate fully in the economic process.

    “These small businesses generate employment, drive local commerce, and channel much-needed income into communities that have long been underserved. Studies show that small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation in South Africa. 

    “By providing spaza shop owners with financial support, infrastructure upgrades, and essential business training, we are setting the stage for sustainable job creation,” Tau said.

    Minister Ndabeni said the role played by Sedfa and NEF was truly appreciated and that the department believed this fund would go a long way in assisting shop owners that are registered and have operating permits.

    “Our partnership ensures that spaza shop owners are not only funded but are also trained, mentored, and integrated into reliable supply chains. This is about building long-term sustainability for township retail,” Ndabeni said.

    The aim of the fund is to support South African-owned township community convenience shops, including spaza shops, to increase their participation in the townships and rural areas’ retail trade sector and to provide critical financial and non-financial support to township businesses, including community convenience stores and spaza shops.

    The fund also provides various types of support including the initial purchase of stock via delivery channel partners, upgrading of building infrastructure, systems, refrigeration, shelving and security, as well as training programmes which includes Point of Sale devices, business skills, digital literacy, credit health, food safety, business compliance. 

    The fund also seeks to bolster the broader supply chain by fostering partnerships with local manufacturers, black industrialists and wholesalers. 

    Through bulk purchasing arrangements and the promotion of locally produced goods, spaza shops will benefit from reduced costs and increased access to quality products. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)’s 2024 Annual Report Highlights Record Trade Support, Empowering Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Economies and Expanding Global Impact

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 4, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Annual Report, titled “Reaching New Frontiers.” The report captures a landmark year showcasing a period of transformative growth, expanded geographic reach, record trade finance approvals, and strengthened commitments to sustainable and inclusive development across its Member Countries.  

    In 2024, ITFC demonstrated agility and resilience amidst persistent geopolitical and economic challenges, prioritizing trade finance, facilitation, and trade development to support member countries’ national development agendas. 

    Highlights from the 2024 Annual Report 

    Record Trade Finance Approvals 

    • In 2024, ITFC approved a total of US$ 7.3 billion in trade finance across 110 operations in 26 countries. Of this amount, US$ 6.7 billion was successfully disbursed 
    • Notably, 38% of the approved financing was directed toward Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs), underscoring ITFC’s commitment to inclusive development 
    • Furthermore, 41% of the total portfolio, equivalent to US$ 3 billion, was allocated to non-energy sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and financial services 
    • ITFC successfully mobilized US$ 4.2 billion through Islamic syndications in 2024, representing 57% of its total trade finance approvals. 

    Accelerating Intra-OIC Trade 

    • A total of US$ 4.85 billion was dedicated to promoting trade among OIC member countries, marking a 6.5% increase compared to 2023 
    • These intra-OIC trade approvals accounted for 67% of ITFC’s total trade finance operations, reinforcing the Corporation’s role in fostering regional economic integration and cooperation 

    Strengthening the Private Sector 

    • In a continued effort to support private sector growth, ITFC provided US$ 1.2 billion in financing, reflecting a 14% increase over the previous year 
    • This support reached 47 financial institutions and included engagements with 19 new clients across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia 

    Delivering on Food Security Commitments 

    • To address food insecurity, ITFC approved US$ 1.75 billion in financing for agriculture and food-related operations across 10 OIC countries  
    • Since the launch of the IsDB Group’s Food Security Response Program (FSRP) in 2022, ITFC has mobilized US$ 4.73 billion in food security financing, exceeding its initial commitment of US$ 4.5 billion. 
    • ITFC financing has helped Member Countries secure stable supplies of essential food commodities, reduce price volatility, and support agricultural resilience. 
    • In Tajikistan alone, ITFC’s food security financing contributed to reaching over 200,000 households—benefiting nearly 900,000 individuals—by ensuring access to staple goods such as wheat, sugar, and edible oil. 

    Sustainability Milestone 

    • ITFC launched its first Environmental and Social (E&S) Policy in October 2024 
    • The policy rollout included a 10-year E&S action plan, a 5-year carbon reduction strategy, and strengthened governance to embed ESG principles across all operations 

    The report also highlights that the Corporation was ranked at the top as Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner in global Islamic syndications by both Refinitiv and Bloomberg, a reflection of its global leadership and strong investor confidence.  

    Additionally, the 2024 Annual Report spotlights the achievements of ITFC’s flagship programs: 

    • The Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program actively supported the development of regional value chains by hosting targeted B2B meetings and launching Africa’s first textile and leather standards program, paving the way for improved quality and competitiveness across the continent 
    • The Aid for Trade Initiative for the Arab States (AfTIAS 2.0) Program saw the implementation progress on 21 ongoing projects across Arab States, with a strategic focus on job creation, trade facilitation, and export development. These initiatives continue to empower local economies and enhance regional trade capacity 
    • Trade Connect Central Asia+ (TCCA+): ITFC advanced regional integration among six Central Asian countries through projects that promote agri-business development, investment attraction, and food security, strengthening economic ties and resilience in the region 
    • The Global SMEs Program expanded its footprint in West Africa and officially launched in Cameroon, enhancing access to trade finance and advisory services for small and medium-sized enterprises and fostering inclusive economic growth 

    In addition to its flagship programs, ITFC delivered a diverse range of integrated trade solutions and targeted interventions in 2024 that reflect its holistic development approach. Through tailored capacity-building programs, reverse linkage initiatives, and trade facilitation tools, ITFC addressed specific needs across sectors such as energy, agriculture, finance, and trade policy. Highlights include the Indonesian Coffee Export Development Program enhancing sustainable farming practices; capacity-building workshops on Islamic finance in Nigeria, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan; technical support to Togo and Mali’s electricity sectors; and the rollout of electronic Certificates of Origin to boost cross-border trade in West Africa.  

    With an eye on the future, ITFC remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the evolving priorities of its Member Countries. By driving innovation, strengthening strategic partnerships, and delivering high-impact trade finance solutions, the Corporation is poised to chart new frontiers and accelerate progress toward sustainable and inclusive development across the OIC region. 

    Read the full English version here- https://apo-opa.co/3T78A0R 

    Read the full Arabic version here- https://apo-opa.co/3FMasch

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Why services can’t realistically be tariffed and shouldn’t be 

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Why services can’t realistically be tariffed and shouldn’t be 

    In today’s digital economy, cross-border services are essential to how businesses operate, grow and compete. But while goods have long been subject to customs tariffs, applying tariffs to services would be both impractical and create significant legal, operational, and economic risks. 

    This is because services are fundamentally different from goods, making them virtually unworkable to tax at borders. Unlike physical products that customs agents can see and inspect, services are intangible—think of things like consulting, software, or design work—that often cross borders digitally or through the movement of people, rather than in shipping containers.  

    This creates multiple challenges: there is no clear moment when a service ‘enters’ a country, no global classification system comparable to the Harmonized System for goods, and no consistent method to assess what should be taxed.   

    Even when governments try to tax cross-border services – such as digital services taxes (DSTs) or withholding regimes – they face legal challenges, high enforcement costs, and risks of international retaliation, as these approaches often violate established rules or conflict with trade and tax agreements. 

    In contrast, some countries have opted for a more neutral approach by applying VAT to cross-border services—treating domestic and foreign providers equally.  

    Beyond feasibility, there is also a strong economic argument to be made against tariffs on services. Services account for more than half of global trade on a value-added basis and are vital enablers of productivity, innovation, and inclusion. Imposing tariffs would raise costs, fragment global supply chains, and disproportionately harm MSMEs and developing economies that rely on affordable cross-border services to grow and compete, including legal advice, design, IT support and marketing.  

    Tariffs on services would also increase compliance burdens and administrative costs for governments, requiring entirely new systems to monitor digital transactions, register providers, and audit contracts.  

    Exporters would not be spared either: many countries are net exporters of services in areas like finance, education, and media. Tariff measures could trigger retaliation and reduce market access for these firms. 

    In short: services can’t realistically be tariffed – and they shouldn’t be. Instead, policymakers should:  

    • Reaffirm multilateral norms by supporting the continuation of the WTO E-Commerce Moratorium and rejecting tariffs on services.  
    • Avoid unilateral tariff-like measures — such as DSTs or withholding regimes —that risk legal conflict, trade retaliation, and fragmentation. 
    • Pursue multilateral cooperation through appropriate multilateral and regional bodies to develop common rules for the taxation of the digital economy. 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Jitendra Singh calls for time-bound pension grievance redressal at 13th Pension Adalat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday emphasized the urgent need for a time-bound redressal mechanism for pension-related grievances, aligning the initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s citizen-centric governance approach. Speaking at the 13th All India Pension Adalat in New Delhi, the Minister declared that “no retiree should have to chase their rights,” stressing that administrative efficiency and empathy must guide pension governance.

    The event brought together pensioners, senior government officials, and departmental representatives from across India to address long-pending grievances. Dr. Singh highlighted the success of the Pension Adalat model, calling it one of the most effective and citizen-friendly reforms in recent years. He urged departments to move from reactive grievance handling to a proactive, technology-enabled, and compassionate approach, emphasizing a “whole-of-government” strategy to resolve issues efficiently.

    Since the inception of the Pension Adalats in September 2017, 12 sessions have been held nationwide, addressing over 25,000 cases, with 18,157 grievances successfully resolved—a resolution rate of more than 71%. Citing this figure as a testament to the initiative’s success, Dr. Singh also shared moving stories of pensioners like Jasoda Devi, who received her dues after 36 years, and Anita Kanik Rani, who was granted ₹20 lakh in family pension arrears on the same day her case was heard.

    At the Adalat, the Minister released a booklet titled “Brave Soldiers and Veer Naariyan”, showcasing success stories from the 12th Pension Adalat. The collection highlights resolved cases, particularly involving defence pensioners and widows of armed forces personnel. Dr. Singh noted that these narratives represent the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity and justice for retired personnel, especially women and family pensioners.

    This year’s Adalat centered around family pension issues, with a significant number of cases presented by women, either as claimants or recipients. Dr. Singh commended the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) for focusing on this critical and often overlooked area.

    The Minister also stressed the importance of expanding digital access for pensioners unable to attend in person. Initiatives like CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), integrated portals, and real-time grievance dashboards were highlighted as key tools in making grievance redressal faster and more transparent.

    Calling for stronger inter-departmental coordination, Dr. Singh urged officials to treat pensioners not just as beneficiaries, but as valued members of the administrative family. “Pension Adalats are not just forums for grievance resolution—they are indicators of administrative accountability and public trust,” he said.

    As the Adalats become a regular feature of the governance calendar, they have emerged as a vital bridge between the government and retired central employees, defence personnel, and family pensioners. Dr. Singh concluded by calling for more citizen-centric innovations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring senior citizens are treated with respect, care, and administrative urgency.

  • Pressure mounts on Netanyahu as opposition moves to dissolve parliament

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A member of Israel’s right-wing coalition threatened to quit the cabinet on Wednesday and support an opposition motion to dissolve parliament tabled for next week, piling pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Latest opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu’s coalition would lose power if an election was held today, with many voters unhappy over the continued war in Gaza prompted by the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel in October 2023.

    United Torah Judaism, one of two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, said it would withdraw from the government unless it secured last-minute concessions formalising an exemption for ultra-Orthodox men from military service.

    The opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former prime minister Yair Lapid, put forward a parliamentary vote for next week to topple the government, even as the Israeli army continues battling Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It would require the support of 61 out of the 120 members of the parliament to succeed.

    “This Knesset (parliament) is finished. It has nowhere to go,” Lapid said.

    Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has remained silent on the looming crisis.

    A spokesperson for United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf told Reuters the party would vote in favour of dissolving parliament unless exemption legislation was passed.

    With a week until the vote, Netanyahu and his allies still have time to negotiate over an issue that has dogged the coalition for months.

    A source close to the government said, on condition of anonymity, that negotiations within the coalition were continuing.

    Netanyahu’s coalition of secular right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties holds an 8-seat majority in parliament. United Torah Judaism has 7 seats while its ally, Shas, the other ultra-Orthodox party, has 11.

    BETTING ON A BLUFF

    The coalition is sharply divided over whether young ultra-Orthodox men who are studying in religious seminaries should be exempt from mandatory military service.

    Failing to pass an exemption risks a walkout by ultra-Orthodox lawmakers, while approving it could trigger a protest exit by secular parties.

    Coalition member Ohad Tal of Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party criticized Goldknopf for threatening to trigger elections and called on the ultra-Orthodox lawmaker to resign.

    He urged others to negotiate a new arrangement but that a blanket exemption from military service could no longer stand.

    Former Knesset member Ofer Shelah said Netanyahu was likely betting the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers were bluffing, given the polls suggested they faced defeat in any early election.

    In March, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers threatened to bring down the government over the same issue, but time passed without any action. Resentment over the informal exemption given to religious seminary students is growing and lawmakers from the ruling coalition and opposition ranks say it is no longer tenable.

    Netanyahu won election in 2022 and does not have to return to the polls until 2026. Historically, few Israeli governments serve a full term.

    He has faced widespread criticism for failing to prevent the surprise October 2023 Hamas attack that killed roughly 1,200 people, and is facing growing calls from protesters and families of hostages still held in Gaza to end the war to secure their release.

    But some in his coalition say the war must continue until Hamas is eradicated.

    Political analysts say that the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers could simply quit the government to protest their failure to secure concessions, without toppling the ruling coalition.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: HTX Reveals Evolving Listing Strategy: Decoding the Future of Memes and Narratives from HPOS10I to Moonpig

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today unveiled key insights into its refined asset listing strategy, demonstrating a significant pivot from traditional evaluation metrics towards a focus on genuine community consensus, compelling narratives, and project transparency. This strategic evolution sets HTX apart from other major exchanges and reflects a deeper understanding of the shifting dynamics within the crypto market.

    Major exchanges have historically adopted divergent listing approaches. Binance often prioritizes projects with established user bases, reputable teams, or substantial strategic investments, reinforcing “official incubation” labels like Alpha and Launchpool to highlight platform empowerment and compliance. Conversely, OKX leverages its robust wallet ecosystem to foster community engagement, with on-chain performance serving as a crucial indicator of liquidity.

    HTX, however, has carved out a unique position in its latest assets listings. Moving beyond reliance on funding rounds or established venture capital, HTX’s criteria now heavily weigh community buzz, compelling narratives, and project transparency. This fresh perspective underpins a listing philosophy centered on identifying “genuine consensus”.

    The diversity of new additions in HTX’s recent New Listing zone—HPOS10I, SOON, and Moonpig—clearly demonstrates this approach. These projects, spanning viral memes, innovative technology, and organic community-driven initiatives, reflect different dimensions of the market. This illustrates how HTX Exchange develops its system for identifying high-quality assets with strong growth potential—through the lens of the platform, the project, and the user.

    Platform Perspective: Community-Led, Deep Narratives, and On-Chain Activity Define a New Listing Formula

    Exchange listings have typically focused on backend support, capital influence, or strategic wagers. However, HTX’s latest selection strategy signals a notable shift: while traffic remains a key factor, greater scrutiny is placed on the source of that traffic and the sustainability of its growth narrative.

    “HarryPotterObamaSonic10Inu” (HPOS10I), dubbed the “ultimate meme,” rose to prominence with its unique blend of chaotic narrative, community autonomy, and extensive cultural reach. What caught HTX’s attention was the genuine self-organizing power of its community and the rich narrative potential spanning NFTs, e-commerce, and multiple brand IPs. HTX’s decision to list HPOS10I signals a shift in trends: exchanges are moving beyond chasing short-term traffic to valuing the combined potential of deep narratives and ecosystem growth.

    Project Perspective: Where Tech Meets Meme with True Innovation

    In a narrative-driven market, purely technical projects often struggle to attract early liquidity without rapidly establishing an emotional connection. SOON effectively addresses this challenge.Its “Super App Stack (SAS)” model provides not only an L1-facing Rollup solution but also seamlessly integrates Web2 user scenarios, such as live streaming platforms and content portals, with on-chain technology. This establishes a closed loop from foundational technology to the end-user experience.

    HTX’s listing of SOON sends a clear message: exchanges are now encouraging “narrative-friendly tech.” “Tech that can tell a story” is becoming more sought after than purely complex, “hard-core” technical stacks.

    User Perspective: Fair Launch Grassroots Projects Can Gain Mainstream Platform Recognition

    Moonpig is a typical Pump.fun-native project, launched with no pre sales or VC backing, and driven entirely by its community. Its rapid surge in community engagement, powered by fair-launch mechanics and a lighthearted, meme-driven culture, reflects a deeply decentralized ethos. Moonpig serves as clear proof that even grassroots projects can gain recognition from centralized platforms.

    By listing Moonpig, HTX has delivered an obvious message: more organically grown, on-chain grassroots projects will have real opportunities for recognition and official listings on centralized platforms. Meme projects that organically emerge and grow within on-chain communities and meet the criteria for transparency and engagement can also earn the trust of exchanges and gain access to valuable resources.

    HTX’s Three Pillars for Spotting Tomorrow’s Valued Assets

    Based on the newly listed assets, HTX’s current listing strategy crystallizes into three core principles:

    1. Meme Projects with Lasting Narratives: The focus is on memes supported by authentic, self-governed communities and enduring cultural relevance—projects that evolve from simple memes into valuable IP beyond mere speculation.
    2. Narrative-Driven Tech Infra: Essential elements include solid tech, approachable narratives, and quick user attraction. Infra projects must leverage clear branding and “meme-like” narratives to connect with users and liquidity, rather than remaining obscure in complex whitepapers.
    3. Grassroots On-Chain Native Projects: Success depends on fair on-chain launches and genuine community consensus. “Grassroots Memes” with transparent operations, equitable beginnings, and a clean short-term track record are the next dark horses ready to gain recognition.

    As an established mainstream trading platform, HTX has distinctly shifted its listing strategy in this new cycle, shifting from a reactive “hotspot tracking” model to a more proactive, narrative-driven approach. The rationale is clear: the meme market has advanced beyond simple image-based jokes to embody deeper cultural identities and community affiliations. Concurrently, technical projects are gaining mainstream recognition not through traditional business development, but by embedding themselves into core communities through fresh narratives that better resonate with user contexts.

    Amidst this evolution, the role of exchanges is also transforming. They are no longer simply facilitators for asset listings, but increasingly act as critical selectors of compelling cultural narratives and robust consensus value.

    About HTX

    Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

    As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

    To learn more about HTX, please visit HTX Square or https://www.htx.com/, and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.

    For further inquiries, please contact Ruder Finn Asia glo-media@htx-inc.com

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ccc59d1-b279-4582-a5c9-79268d2fffc8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The atmosphere is getting thirstier and it’s making droughts worse – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Solomon Gebrechorkos, Reserach Fellow in Climate Change Attribution, University of Oxford

    luchschenF/Shutterstock

    Droughts are becoming more severe and widespread across the globe. But it’s not just changing rainfall patterns that are to blame. The atmosphere is also getting thirstier.

    In a new study published in Nature, my colleagues and I show that this rising “atmospheric thirst” – also known as atmospheric evaporative demand (AED) – is responsible for about 40% of the increase in drought severity over the last four decades (1981-2022).

    Imagine rainfall as income and AED as spending. Even if your income (rainfall) stays the same, your balance goes into deficit if your spending (AED) increases. That’s exactly what’s happening with drought: the atmosphere is demanding more water than the land can afford to lose.

    As the planet warms, this demand grows – drawing more moisture from soils, rivers, lakes, and even plants. With this growing thirst, droughts are getting more severe even where rain hasn’t significantly declined.

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    The process of AED describes how much water the atmosphere wants from the surface. The hotter, sunnier, windier and drier the air is, the more water it requires – even if there isn’t less rain.

    So even in places where rainfall hasn’t changed much, we’re still seeing worsening droughts. This thirstier atmosphere is drying things out faster and more intensely and introducing more stress when this water is not available.

    Our new analysis reveals that AED doesn’t just make existing droughts worse – it expands the areas affected by drought. From 2018 to 2022, the global land area experiencing drought rose by 74%, and 58% of that expansion was due to increased AED.

    Our study highlights that the year 2022 stood out as the most drought-stricken year in over four decades. More than 30% of the world’s land experienced moderate to extreme drought conditions. In both Europe and east Africa, the drought was especially severe in 2022 – this was driven largely by a sharp increase in AED, which intensified drying even where rainfall hadn’t dropped significantly.

    Crop yields are severely affected by water stress.
    Scott Book/Shutterstock

    In Europe alone, widespread drying had major consequences: reduced river flows hindered hydropower generation, crop yields suffered due to water stress, plus many cities faced water shortages. This put unprecedented pressure on water supply, agriculture and energy sectors, threatening livelihoods and economic stability.

    My team’s new research brings clarity to the dynamics of drought. We used high-quality global climate data, including temperature, wind speed, humidity and solar radiation – these are the key meteorological variables that influence how much water the atmosphere can draw from the land and vegetation. The team combined all these ingredients to measure AED – essentially, how “thirsty” the air is.

    Then, using a widely recognised drought index that includes both rainfall and this atmospheric thirst, we could track when, where and why droughts are getting more severe. With this metric, we can calculate how much of that worsening is due to the atmosphere’s growing thirst.

    The future implications of this increasing atmospheric thirst are huge, especially for regions already vulnerable to drought such as western and eastern Africa, western and south Australia, and the southwestern US where AED was responsible for more than 60% of drought severity over the past two decades.

    Without factoring in AED during drought monitoring and planning, governments and communities may underestimate the true risk they face. With global temperatures expected to rise further, we can expect even more frequent and severe droughts. We need to prepare. That involves understanding and planning for this growing atmospheric thirst.

    Driving drought

    Knowing what is causing droughts in each specific location enables smarter climate adaptation. AED must be a central part of how we monitor, model and plan for drought.

    Identifying the specific drivers of drought is essential for tailoring effective ways to cope with drought. If droughts are mainly due to declining rainfall, then the focus should be on water storage and conservation. But if AED is the main driver – as it is in many places now – then strategies must address evaporative loss (i.e. the amount of water lost from the surface and plants to the atmosphere) and plant water stress. This might involve planting drought-resistant crops, constructing irrigation systems that use water more efficiently, improving soil health or restoring habitats to keep moisture in the land.

    As our research shows, rising AED – driven by global warming – is intensifying drought severity even where rainfall hasn’t declined. Ignoring it means underestimating risk.

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    Solomon Gebrechorkos receives funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO; grant no. 201880) and the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC; grant no. NE/S017380/1).

    – ref. The atmosphere is getting thirstier and it’s making droughts worse – new study – https://theconversation.com/the-atmosphere-is-getting-thirstier-and-its-making-droughts-worse-new-study-258022

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Chairs Homeland Hearing Focused on Mass Gathering Events

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, led a hearing entitled, “Mass Gathering Events: Assessing Security Coordination and Preparedness” as the U.S. gears up for a historic stretch of major international events. 

    The hearing assessed how state and local law enforcement and the private sector coordinate with the federal government for mass gathering events.  

    “By their very nature, mass gathering events draw large crowds in concentrated areas, making them attractive targets for malicious actors. Ensuring their safety requires complex coordination among federal, state, and local authorities – including law enforcement and emergency services. It also requires close collaboration with partners in the sports and entertainment industries,” said Representative Dale Strong.  

    The United States is entering an unprecedented period of hosting major international sporting events, including the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

    The 2026 World Cup alone will include 78 matches played in 11 U.S. cities, drawing an anticipated 5 million fans from around the globe, and as many as 6 billion viewers watching online. Given these staggering figures, the focus on safety has never been more important. 

    The events will test the country’s ability to manage crowds, protect international visitors, and mitigate threats from terrorists and criminals. Effective security depends on strong coordination between federal, state, local, and private partners to protect people and infrastructure, prevent attacks, and manage crowds.  

    “I witnessed the scale of these challenges firsthand when I led a congressional delegation to New Orleans to survey security preparations for the Super Bowl following the New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street. That incident, and others like it, serve as stark reminders that terrorist threats persist and underscore our shared responsibility to safeguard such gatherings,” said Strong.  

    To meet these challenges, Congress and the White House have launched new efforts to strengthen event security. On March 7, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order Establishing the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.  

    At the same time, the House Committee on Homeland Security formed its own bipartisan “Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States,” focused on special events such as the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the United States’ 250th Anniversary. Congressman Strong will serve as a member of this task force, which will work in coordination with its counterparts in the White House to ensure the United States demonstrates global leadership in its security practices. 

    “I applaud Vice Chairman McCaul, who will be chairing the task force, and Chairman Green for their leadership on this issue. I’m honored to have been selected to join the task force,” said Strong.  

    In advance of these high-profile events, the task force will visit select event sites, hold hearings, host roundtables, and release a final report on their findings as part of the Committee’s oversight of National Special Security Events (NSSEs) and major Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) events. 

    MIL OSI USA News –