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Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI China: Strong Chinese economy in Q1 demonstrates resilience, say pundits

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s economy delivered a strong start in the first quarter, demonstrating steady performance and resilience, economists and observers have said.

    The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4 percent year on year to 31.8758 trillion yuan (about 4.42 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Wednesday.

    Describing China’s improved GDP as “excellent news,” Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham in Britain, told Xinhua that China has been shifting away from a focus on exports combined with infrastructure investment to a more balanced approach that includes an increase in consumer demand within China.

    “This process of rebalancing means that some of the drivers of national economic growth are being localized,” Bryson said, adding that the outcome of this rebalancing exercise is seen with the release of the latest GDP figures.

    A rebalanced Chinese economy with more local consumer demand represents one approach to ensuring national economic sustainability, Bryson said.

    China’s GDP grew 5 percent year on year in 2024 and the country has targeted its full-year economic growth at around 5 percent for this year. The strong performance of the Chinese economy in the first quarter of 2025 shows its resilience, positioning the country to better weather global uncertainties.

    Despite the ongoing global economic headwinds and U.S. tariff pressures, China’s focus on domestic demand expansion and consumption promotion through policies like trade-in programs appears to be bolstering its economic resilience and stability, said Moteb Alshammary, chief of staff of Hisense Electronics in Saudi Arabia.

    “The Chinese economy possesses significant internal strength, capable of navigating external uncertainties,” Alshammary added.

    A series of measures taken by the Chinese government have enabled China’s economy to maintain rapid and stable growth, said Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul-based tourism agency Ligarba Travel. “In the field of consumption, the Chinese government has implemented many preferential policies, which have brought real benefits to the people and also driven the production and sales of various industries in China.”

    Seeing the Chinese economy as a “stabilizer” of global economic growth, experts believe that China’s sustained economic growth has a profound impact on the world economy.

    James Shikwati, a Kenyan economist, said that in the context of international trade friction and the U.S. tariffs, China’s economic growth is of great significance in boosting world confidence and promoting the world economy.

    The Chinese economy is important to the rest of the world, said Dawie Roodt, a senior economist at South African wealth management company Efficient Group, adding that China will help maintain global economic growth by continuing to expand domestic demand and boost consumption.

    In the views of Abu Bakr al-Deeb, advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies, China’s sustained economic expansion and its persistent efforts to integrate itself into the global economy have generated opportunities for nations worldwide.

    “The size of China’s domestic market presents a matchless consumer base as this vast market translates into substantial potential for companies across many industries,” the expert noted.

    By maintaining policy stability and action predictability, China has emerged as a pivotal force in overcoming global turbulence, said Marcos Pires, a professor at the Department of Political and Economic Sciences at Sao Paulo State University in Brazil, adding that amid a landscape of global uncertainties, China serves as a safe harbor and predictable anchor for nations and businesses alike.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China reinforces documentary heritage protection with new UNESCO designations

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng is pictured in Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China has shown the world its unrelenting commitment to protecting humanity’s shared cultural legacy with three new documentary heritage items added to the Memory of the World (MoW) Register of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday.

    With the latest additions — the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng, the Steles of Shaolin Temple (566-1990) and Trilingual Inscription (TribhashaSellipiya) — China now has 18 entries in the international register, which was launched by UNESCO in 1992 to facilitate preservation of the world’s documentary heritage, enable universal access to documentary heritage worldwide and enhance public awareness.

    Dubbed the world’s first “sound-producing music textbook,” the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng, dating back more than 2,400 years, is currently on display at the Hubei Provincial Museum in central China. The bronze percussion instrument weighs nearly 5 tonnes, and comprises 65 bianzhong, or chime bells.

    The bells, which are arranged across three tiers and eight groupings at the exhibition, featured 3,755 inscribed Chinese characters — the only known systematic musical treatise from the 5th century B.C.

    In 2024, the museum reported more than 5 million visits. During peak periods, daily visits to the bianzhong exhibition exceeded 30,000 people, said Zhang Xiaoyun, curator of the museum.

    To better preserve such documentary heritage, in 1984, the museum commissioned a full set of replicated chime bells to be used for performances and research, allowing the ancient instrument to resonate beyond museum walls. Three years later, the museum established a bianzhong performance troupe, with its members having performed to over 10 million live spectators worldwide.

    For more than 40 years, specialists in archaeology, metallurgy, acoustics, astronomy, ancient writing, chemistry, music and other fields from across the globe have researched the chime bells and their inscriptions.

    UNESCO’s recognition is also reflected through the continuous conservation work at the Shaolin Temple in the central Henan Province, where 499 ancient steles chronicle the extensive exchanges and interactions between the temple — the birthplace of kung fu — and ancient officials, celebrities, overseas Buddhists and secular society between 556 and 1990.

    The steles distributed at the temple and its surrounding areas are protected according to each monument’s condition and location. “We have installed glass cases around fragile inscriptions or protective railings around exposed pieces,” said Yang Hongrui, the temple’s chief archivist.

    According to Yang, the temple has collaborated with institutions to digitally archive the entire collection and establish a digital archives exhibition hall.

    “During its trial operation last September, the digital archives exhibition hall, spanning approximately 100 square meters, drew overwhelming crowds, averaging 14 visitors per minute with some staying for up to two to three hours,” Yang said.

    Yang added that to celebrate its inclusion in the MoW Register, the hall will officially open to the public ahead of May, and there are plans for international touring exhibitions of these archival treasures at the temple’s 168 overseas cultural centers.

    Similar to the Shaolin steles, Trilingual Inscription (TribhashaSellipiya), jointly submitted by China and Sri Lanka, also provides evidence of China’s interactions with other civilizations.

    The monument, brought to Sri Lanka over 600 years ago by renowned Chinese navigator Zheng He during his third voyage, is held by the national museum in Colombo as one of the most precious collections. It is a testament to cultural exchanges between China and the outside world, as inscriptions written in Chinese, Persian and Tamil recorded ceremonial offerings to a sacred mountain shrine by Zheng’s fleet.

    “The joint efforts underscore the mutual respect and commitment to cultural preservation that Sri Lanka and China have cultivated over the years. Such recognition will undoubtedly encourage further collaborations in fields such as archaeology, education and tourism,” Ruwan Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka’s deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, told Xinhua.

    China made its first application to the MoW Register in 1997, establishing itself as one of the earliest participants and the first nation to create a dedicated national committee for the program.

    “The inclusion in the MoW Register underscores the remarkable richness of Chinese archival heritage. This designation highlights the nation’s wealth of documentary resources worthy of preservation,” said professor Chen Shaofeng from Peking University. He noted that authorities can focus on more ethnic minority documents for future UNESCO nominations.

    To date, China has officially recognized 198 items or groups of archival heritage at the national level. The National Archives Administration of China has further urged provincial-level archives authorities to develop regional catalogues to expand and refine the global memory preservation framework. 

    This undated file photo shows a stele in Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, central China’s Henan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Visitors look at the Trilingual Inscription at the Colombo National Museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 17, 2025.  [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Statement On Supreme Court Hearing Birthright Citizenship Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after the Supreme Court of the United States announced it would hear oral arguments on President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship, which is a major pull factor for illegal immigration into the United States.

    “I’m very pleased to hear that the Supreme Court will review President Trump’s executive order to end the abuses of birthright citizenship.

    “I have long believed that the 14th amendment does not require granting citizenship to the children of illegal aliens or foreign nationals here on temporary, nonimmigrant visas. To that end, last year I introduced legislation to limit birthright citizenship.

    “One of the greatest pull factors for illegal immigration is birthright citizenship. In addition, birth tourism, particularly involving China, is a large industry where people obtain tourist visas for the purpose of giving birth in the U.S. and establishing U.S. citizenship for that child. It is far past time for the United States to recognize the original, constitutional definition of birthright citizenship, as the current practice is being abused in so many ways.

    “It is my hope the Court will settle this issue once and for all, and that my legislation to stop the abuse of birthright citizenship will pass quickly.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Two Chinese geoparks enter UNESCO Global Geoparks Network

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PARIS, April 17 — Two Chinese geoparks have officially been added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced on Thursday.

    The decision was made during the 221st session of the Executive Board of UNESCO, which approved a list of 16 new entries into the Global Geoparks Network. Among them are two geoparks from China: Kanbula National Geopark, situated on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and Yunyang Geopark in southwest China.

    Now designated as the Kanbula UNESCO Global Geopark, the site is renowned for its striking geological formations shaped by complex natural processes. Highlights include the Maixiu volcanoes and the Yellow River, according to a UNESCO press release.

    “While the geopark works to preserve this rich geological heritage, it also plays a vital role in protecting local communities from river-related risks, coordinating warning systems and forecasts, and raising awareness on how to respond to flooding and landslides,” UNESCO noted.

    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 2, 2023 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Yunyang Geopark earned its place in the network for its extraordinary landscapes formed nearly 250 million years ago. The site features the famous “Great Wall of Dinosaur Fossil” – an 18-km stretch of rock layers containing fossils dating back around 170 million years. It also includes dramatic karst formations, such as one of the world’s deepest sinkholes, which plunge 335 meters and serve as a key site for scientific research.

    UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay highlighted the broader significance of UNESCO Global Geoparks. “UNESCO Geoparks have become models for the conservation of geological heritage,” she said. “But their role goes much further – they support educational projects, promote sustainable tourism, and keep the knowledge and traditions of these territories alive through the active participation of local and indigenous communities.”

    Established in 2015, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network brings together sites recognized for their significant geological heritage that reflect the Earth’s history, evolution, and climate. With the addition of 16 new geoparks, the network now encompasses 229 sites worldwide.

    An aerial drone photo taken on April 10, 2025 shows the scenery in the Yunyang Geopark in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Jordan — IMF Staff Reach Staff Level Agreement on the Third Review under the Extended Fund Facility and Make Progress Toward a Program Supported under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    April 17, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • Jordan’s economic program supported by an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement is firmly on track despite considerable external headwinds. The authorities continue to demonstrate strong commitment to sound macro-economic policies and structural reforms to strengthen Jordan’s resilience, confront uncertainty, and accelerate growth.
    • After a slowdown in 2024, affected by the spillovers from the conflicts in the region, domestic demand and tourism show signs of recovery. This combined with steadfast implementation of structural reforms to create a more dynamic private sector is expected to bring growth to 2.7 percent in 2025. Inflation is expected to remain around 2 percent, as the CBJ continues to successfully safeguard monetary stability and the peg to the US dollar.
    • Substantial progress was made toward agreement on an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility to address Jordan’s long-term vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and to enhance its ability to address health emergencies, including future pandemics. Discussions are expected to be continued with the aim to reach agreement soon.

    Amman: A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Ron van Rooden, visited Amman during April 6–17, 2025, for discussions on the third review under the arrangement under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which was approved by the IMF’s Executive Board on January 10, 2024 (Press Release). Discussions were also held on an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. van Rooden issued the following statement:

    “We are pleased to announce that the IMF team and the Jordanian authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the third review of the authorities’ economic reform program supported by the EFF arrangement, approved in January 2024. Program performance continues to be strong, despite a challenging external environment. All quantitative performance criteria for the third review were met and steady progress is being made toward achieving the program’s overall objectives, including strong progress toward meeting the structural benchmarks for this and future reviews. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s management and the Executive Board. The completion of this review will make SDR 97.784 million (about US$130 million) available, out of the approved program size of SDR 926.370 million (about US$1.2 billion).  

    “Jordan’s economy continues to show resilience and macro-economic stability has been maintained, despite considerable external headwinds from the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and heightened uncertainty, thanks to authorities’ steady pursuit of sound macro-economic policies and international support. Growth slowed somewhat, but still reached 2.5 percent and inflation remained low, at less than 2 percent in 2024. The budget deficit target was met, as strong measures offset the loss in revenues due to lower domestic demand and lower prices of key export commodities. The current account deficit widened somewhat to 5.9 percent of GDP, in part reflecting lower tourism receipts.

    “Despite increased global uncertainty, including as a result of higher trade tensions and continued conflicts in the region, growth in Jordan has started to pick up pace and is projected to reach 2.7 percent in 2025, as domestic activity and tourism are recovering and investment inflows have increased. The current account deficit is expected to be contained at 5.5 percent of GDP, with higher tourism receipts offsetting higher imports and possible adverse effects on exports from higher trade barriers. Inflation is expected to remain low, at just over 2 percent, reflecting the CBJ’s unwavering commitment to maintaining monetary stability. The CBJ remains firmly committed to the exchange rate peg to the U.S. dollar, which is supported by strong international reserves. Meanwhile, the banking sector continues to demonstrate resilience, with strong capitalization and sound financial health. Barring additional shocks, growth is expected to pick up pace further in the coming years, to over 3 percent, fueled by several large investment projects, including the Aqaba Amman Conveyor project, while deeper regional economic integration, notably with Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, could further enhance growth prospects.

    “The authorities remain committed to their fiscal policy anchor of placing public debt on a steady downward path, while protecting priority social and development spending. To achieve this, and to cement the progress made in the last few years, the authorities are committed to continuing efforts at mobilizing revenues, improving spending efficiency, and ensuring the financial viability and efficiency of public utilities and the social security corporation (SSC). Steady fiscal consolidation will continue in 2025–28, aiming to bring public debt to 80 percent of GDP by 2028.

    “The authorities are determined to step up the pace of structural reforms to achieve stronger growth and generate more jobs, which is particularly important given that unemployment remains high, particularly among the youth and women. Reforms will focus on improving the business environment, to attract more investment, by enhancing competition and labor market flexibility, while further strengthening the social safety net. Efforts will also focus on streamlining regulation and digitalization of government services, including tax and customs administration.  

    “Substantial progress was made in discussing policies to address Jordan’s long-term vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and to enhance its ability to address health emergencies, including future pandemics, and which could be supported by an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Discussions are expected to be continued in the coming days aiming to be concluded in Washington DC.

    “The staff team is grateful to the authorities for the candid and constructive discussions. The team met with Prime Minister Hassan, Minister of Finance Shibli, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Toukan, Minister of Economic Affairs Shehadeh, Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan Al-Sharkas; and other Ministers and senior government and CBJ officials.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/04/17/pr25113-jordan-imf-staff-reach-sla-3rd-rev-under-eff-make-prog-toward-program-supp-under-rsf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The region is developing steadily – Yuri Trutnev on the rate of socio-economic growth of the Magadan Region

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the issue of socio-economic development of the Magadan Region

    April 17, 2025

    Awarding of the public and business prize “Star of the Far East”

    April 17, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev inspected the recreational complex on Zavyalova Island

    April 17, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev inspected the recreational complex on Zavyalova Island

    April 17, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev at the Military Training Center at SVGU

    April 17, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the issue of socio-economic development of the Magadan Region

    Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the issue of socio-economic development of the Magadan Region.

    “The region is developing steadily. Investments in fixed assets have grown by 3%. This is not the best indicator in the Far East, but there is positive dynamics. The industrial production index has grown by 5.9%, which is already quite a high indicator. Magadan Region confidently ranks second in the Far East in terms of wages. The growth rate of average monthly wages in 2024 was 114.8% compared to 2023. Consolidated budget revenues in 2024 increased by 30%. This is also a good result, which allows us to do a lot of useful things,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

    The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that the Russian Government continues to work to create conditions for comfortable living for people in the region. “A number of social facilities have been built and reconstructed in the region as part of the presidential unified subsidy. Thanks to the Far Eastern Mortgage program, 2,460 families have improved their housing conditions. More than 2,600 people in the region have received a Far Eastern hectare. On the instructions of the President of Russia, the master plan for the urban district of Magadan is being implemented. The plan provides for infrastructure measures totaling 159 billion rubles. The Government is working to ensure that master plans are financed on time and in full,” he said.

    Magadan Region Governor Sergey Nosov reported on the dynamics of the region’s socio-economic development. The region’s income grew by 143.6%. It was due to the price situation on the precious metals market and the growth of gold production. A record of 54 tons of gold production was achieved. The second stage of the plant at the Pavlik deposit reached its design capacity. As a result of the introduction of the flotation shop by Polyus, the metal recovery rate at the Natalkinskoye deposit was increased. Large investors in the field of mineral extraction are entering the region.

    Energy development issues were discussed. 30 investment projects with a total maximum capacity of energy receiving devices of 490.85 MW are planned for technological connection from 2025.

    Issues of support for the fishing industry were considered. In particular, in order to restore coastal fisheries, as part of the implementation of the instructions of the Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the restoration of the Magadan sea fishing port continues through the implementation of the project “Magadan Sea Logistics Center”.

    The agenda included issues of improving the quality of tourist services. This year, the opening of the first stage of the tourist center on Zavyalova Island is expected. The boutique hotel “Territory” has been built. The balneological resort “Talaya” is getting ready to open. The construction of a four-star hotel has begun. The construction of a sea tourist center continues.

    Yuri Trutnev drew the attention of those present to the introduction of new measures to support investors. The State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill on the creation of a priority development area in the region. “We hope that the result of creating a priority development area will be the development of shipbuilding and ship repair, logistics, tourism, and servicing of mining equipment,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the implementation of the Magadan master plan continues. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us to implement the master plans approved by the Russian President. The amounts of funds that are planned to be invested in the construction of new social infrastructure, engineering infrastructure, have never been invested in the Far East. These are really very large amounts of funds. We must ensure thorough implementation of the plans. Ensure that all the money comes to the right place, that all the projects are completed,” emphasized Yuri Trutnev.

    The implementation of the Magadan master plan began in 2019. Within the framework of the master plan, 24 objects were commissioned. The most significant of them was the FOK “Presidential”. Since 2023, the master plan has been implemented within the framework of the long-term comprehensive development plan approved by the order of the Government of Russia. During this time, five objects have been commissioned. The largest of them is the airport terminal complex of Magadan airport, it began operating in December 2024. At the end of the year, a building of the polytechnic college, which had stood unfinished in the city center for more than 30 years, was also opened. An engineering school was commissioned. The Okhotsky Briz boarding house for the elderly and disabled began operating. A cultural development center was opened. A building of the martial arts school was erected with extra-budgetary funds. The improvement of the left bank of the Dukcha River has been completed, a children’s playground is being equipped in the Dukcha Park. This year, the fourth stage of Mayak Park is planned to be commissioned – a cultural and social center and a fountain.

    In 2025, four facilities are planned to be commissioned within the framework of the infrastructure menu, three of which are being built using the Far Eastern concession mechanism, including a multidisciplinary rehabilitation center for 50 people. According to the head of the region, Sergei Nosov, the work will continue in all sectors. “There can be no trifles here. The tasks have been set. The result of this meeting were very specific instructions on the issues that were voiced by people directly working on this land. The solution of the tasks set will allow us to improve the work, indicators, including revenues to the regional budget,” he noted.

    “There is a lot of work. Some of the issues are related to the work of federal ministries. We just need to solve the problems together with the region. I can only say one thing. We have no right to work carelessly. I would like to emphasize that the region is working purposefully, honestly and trying to achieve results,” Yuri Trutnev summed up the meeting.

    On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister familiarized himself with the implementation of investment projects and visited a number of sites. In particular, he arrived at the military training center at SVGU, where he familiarized himself with the presentation of UAVs manufactured within the framework of the Patriotic priority development area, inspected the construction of a marine tourist center in Nagaev Bay, inspected a recreational complex on Zavyalova Island, visited a shooting sports site under construction in the Staraya Vesyolaya microdistrict, and talked with the management of the Rynda cultural and exhibition center, an independent art venue created to develop the artistic environment of the city and the region.

    Yuri Trutnev also met with Natalia Sivakova, who became the winner of the “Everything for Victory” nomination of the seventh public and business award “Star of the Far East”. The award was given to the project of the school of unmanned aerial vehicles based on the OGUP “Aviation of Kolyma”, within the framework of which not only military personnel are trained, but also drones are assembled.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Conclude the 2025 Article IV Discussions and Reach Staff-Level Agreement with Tanzania on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility and the Second Review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility

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

    WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 17, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • The IMF and Tanzanian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Once approved by the IMF Executive Board, Tanzania will gain access to US$441 million in financing.
    • Tanzania’s economic outlook is favorable, with robust growth, low inflation, an improved current account, and increased foreign exchange liquidity. In FY25/26, well-balanced public revenue measures are expected to maintain fiscal and debt sustainability, while safeguarding priority social spending.
    • Continuing implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation policies, supported by the RSF, will help strengthen resilience to climate-related risks.

    A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Nicolas Blancher, visited Tanzania during April 2-17, 2025, and held discussions on the 2025 Article IV consultation, the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, the reviews will make available SDR 326.47 million (about US$440.8 million), bringing the total IMF financial support under the ECF arrangement to SDR 682.21 million (about US$907.4 million), and SDR 255.72 million (about US$343.6 million) under the RSF.

    At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. Blancher issued the following statement:

    “I am pleased to announce that the IMF team and the Tanzanian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the policies needed to complete the fifth review under Tanzania’s ECF-supported program, and the second review of the RSF arrangement. The IMF’s Executive Board will discuss these reviews in the coming weeks.

    “Tanzania’s economic activity has been strong, with real GDP growth reaching 5.5 percent in 2024 and projected to increase to 6 percent in 2025. Inflation, at 3.3 percent in March (yoy), has remained subdued and below the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) target of 5 percent. While the economic outlook is favorable, risks are tilted to the downside. The external environment is uncertain, with risks from a slowdown in the global economy and trade, geoeconomic fragmentation, further intensification of the conflict in the DR Congo, and reduced foreign development assistance. On the domestic front, the upcoming national elections may increase risks of fiscal pressures or, more broadly, reform slowdown.

    “Fiscal consolidation is expected to pause in FY24/25 with the adoption of a supplementary budget in February 2025 aimed at increasing public spending by about 0.4 percent of GDP relative to the initial budget, through higher expenditures on education and health, clearance of domestic arrears, and other priority areas. It will be essential to resume growth-friendly fiscal consolidation in FY25/26 to preserve debt sustainability and rebuild fiscal space, especially in light of pressing social spending needs. To this effect, the authorities are committed to reducing the domestic primary deficit by 0.4 percentage points of GDP to 0.8 percent in FY25/26 through revenue measures yielding 0.9 percent of GDP, while safeguarding priority social spending at 7.1 percent of GDP.

    “With inflation remaining below the BoT’s 5 percent target maintaining the CBR at 6 percent, a level which the mission considers to be neutral or mildly stimulatory, will help preserve price stability in the period ahead. It will also be important to continue allowing exchange rate flexibility and conducting FX interventions in line with the BoT’s FX intervention policy. Increased tolerance for exchange rate flexibility, together with reforms to improve the functioning of the foreign exchange market, have been successful in bringing back FX flows into the formal market, increasing its liquidity and reducing the parallel market premium.

    “The current account deficit is estimated to have narrowed to 2.6 percent of GDP in CY2024, from 3.8 percent of GDP in CY2023. This was driven by strong exports of minerals and agricultural products, as well as record tourist arrivals, against a moderate increase in imports of capital goods and declining oil imports. In 2025, high gold prices are expected to support the export momentum and help further reduce the current account deficit. Gross international reserves stood at an adequate level of US$5.7 billion (about 3.8 months of imports) in March 2025.”

    “In the context of the Article IV consultation, the mission was also an opportunity to discuss longer-term prospects for the Tanzanian economy with a range of government and other counterparts. To meet the ambitious goals laid out in the Tanzania Vision 2050, it will be critical to ensure that sufficient resources are dedicated to the education and health of a young and rapidly growing population, and to create an enabling environment for private sector-led growth and job creation. In particular, further efforts to improve the availability and access to finance, streamline business regulations, and strengthen judicial and anti-corruption institutions, are key structural reform priorities.

    “Continuing the implementation of climate reforms, supported by the RSF, will enhance climate resilience and sustainability. The government has already started to strengthen the institutional framework for climate policies and public investment management in line with climate risks. Accelerating implementation of RSF reforms with technical and financial assistance from the IMF, the World Bank and other development partners, will help build resilience and catalyze support for the climate agenda in Tanzania.

    “The mission met with Minister of Finance, Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, Bank of Tanzania Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Tutuba, other senior officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations. The IMF team would like to thank the Tanzanian authorities and other counterparts for their hospitality, and the candid and productive discussions.”

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: How DHS is Combating Child Exploitation and Abuse

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Fact Sheet: How DHS is Combating Child Exploitation and Abuse

    very day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leads the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA)

    As part of the Department’s critical mission to combat crimes of exploitation and protect victims, we investigate these abhorrent crimes, spread awareness, collaborate with interagency and international partners, and expand our reach to ensure children are safe and protected

    “At the Department of Homeland Security, our mission is to protect the American people, and that includes protecting our children

    The internet has completely changed how we connect, but it has also opened new doors for predators who want to harm our kids,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

    “It’s a topic that should unite all of us, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the work of Homeland Security Investigations and all that they do to combat online child exploitation

    ”
    DHS battles online CSEA using all available tools and resources department-wide, emphasizing its commitment to the Department’s homeland security mission to “Combat Crimes of Exploitation and Protect Victims

    ” In recognition of President Trump’s proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, DHS is committed to raising awareness of these heinous crimes, preventing child exploitation and abuse, and bringing perpetrators to justice

    As part of the Department’s ongoing work in this area, today DHS is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Know2Protect, the U

    S

    government’s first prevention and awareness campaign to combat online CSEA

     
    Between April 2024 and February 2025:

    DHS launched Know2Protect®, a first of its kind national public awareness campaign to combat online CSEA

    The campaign enhances the Department’s capabilities to combat online CSEA by partnering with the private sector to deliver its awareness messaging and coordinating federal efforts to confront and prevent this growing epidemic

    The Department has successfully entered into over 20 Know2Protect® Memoranda of Understanding with leading technology companies, national and international sports leagues, youth-serving organizations and nonprofits, and other private sector partners to raise awareness of this crime and help children stay safer online

    DHS increased the footprint of law enforcement partners at the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3) to enhance coordination across all DHS agencies and offices to combat cyber-related crimes and further the Department’s mission to combat online CSEA

    Several partners are collocated and work together every day at the DHS C3, including the United States Secret Service (USSS), U

    S

    Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS),      U

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    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)

     
    The Blue Campaign, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, hosted 170 national trainings on the indicators of forced labor and sex trafficking and how to report these crimes with more than 24,000 participants from the federal government, non-governmental organizations, law enforcement, and other external stakeholders

    DHS identified and rescued 1,567 child victims of online CSEA through the work of HSI and made 4,460 arrests for crimes involving online CSEA

    Learn more in the U

    S

     Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report
    HSI and ERO have instituted a collaborative operational initiative to locate unaccompanied alien children (UAC) released from the care and custody of the U

    S

    Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS-ORR)

    The UAC initiative   identifies and locates UACs to ensure immigration obligations are met, and investigate any potential indicators of forced labor, sex trafficking, or other exploitation

    To accomplish this work, DHS coordinates with law enforcement at home and abroad to enforce and uphold our laws, protects victims with a victim-centered approach that prioritizes dignity and respect, and works to stop this heinous crime through public education and outreach

    Enforcing Our Laws
    DHS works with domestic and international partners to enforce and uphold the laws that protect children from abuse

    The Department works collaboratively with  Department of Justice prosecutors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U

    S Marshals, INTERPOL, Europol, and other international law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute perpetrators

    DHS increased U

    S

    government and law enforcement efforts to combat financial sextortion, a crime targeting children and teens by coercing them into sending explicit images online and extorting them for money

    From FY22 to FY24, HSI received more than 4,900 CyberTipline reports related to sextortion predators from Côte dʼIvoire

    From these reports, 652 children have been identified and supported by HSI

    In an effort to combat this crime, HSI sent special agents to Côte d’Ivoire to provide online CSEA training to local law enforcement and supported local law enforcement efforts in locating and apprehending offenders residing there

    The CCHT works alongside the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to identify and pursue the recovery of underage victims of sex trafficking

    The CCHT emphasizes victim identification operations which allows HSI field offices to rescue these children while implementing a victim centered approach

    The CCHT supports HSI field operations throughout the investigation and prosecution of these traffickers and their networks

    DHS partnered with 61 regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces to investigate people involved in the online victimization of children, including those who produce, receive, distribute and/or possess child sexual abuse material, or who engage in online sexual enticement of children

    DHS researched and developed modern tools and technologies that equip domestic and international law enforcement partners with advanced forensic capabilities to accomplish their mission to identify victims and apprehend child sexual abusers

    The Science and Technology Directorate developed StreamView, a digital forensics and data analytics tool designed to assist law enforcement in effectively addressing child exploitation cases

    By aggregating, organizing, and analyzing investigative leads, StreamView enables investigators to determine crime locations, identify victims, and bring perpetrators to justice more efficiently

    Since May 2023, StreamView has identified and rescued over 133 child and adult victims, dismantled more than 29 criminal networks, generated over 600 leads and referrals, and arrested of over 120 criminal actors

    The platform has also contributed to 10 convictions and 8 life sentences, significantly improving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) investigations

    The U

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    Secret Service provides forensic, technical, and investigative assistance to NCMEC and state/local/tribal law enforcement in cases involving missing and exploited children

     Support includes polygraph examinations, age progression/regression, composite sketches, audio/image/video enhancement, speaker identification/recognition, questioned document analysis, fingerprint development and examination, geospatial information mapping system, digital forensics

    U

    S

    Customs and Border Protection screens all undocumented unaccompanied children and other arriving minors for indicators of abuse or exploitation, human trafficking, extraterritorial sexual exploitation of children, sexual predators involved in crimes of exploitation, and all suspected criminal cases are referred to HSI

    Transportation Security Administration (INV) Special Agent Polygraph Examiners provide their expertise to advance investigative and prosecutorial efforts in support of child sexual exploitation investigations

    INV developed evidence of child sexual exploitation and/or abuse in 15 criminal specific and pre-employment examinations

    INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiners, assigned to its Special Operations Division, conduct examinations on behalf of INV, HSI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, federal and local law enforcement agencies

    In a case involving a child victim, an INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiner administered a specific issue polygraph examination, which resulted in the arrest of an individual attempting to solicit a child and identified six other victims ranging in age from 5-16 years of age

    Protecting and Supporting Victims

    The Angel Watch Center (AWC) within DHS C3 proactively identifies U

    S

    persons traveling abroad who have been convicted of sexual crimes against children

    By using travel related information and publicly available state sex offender registries, the AWC notifies destination countries of these individuals’ pending arrivals to help prevent potential child sex tourism and other forms of exploitation

    The HSI AWC sent over 4,800 travel notifications to foreign governments on convicted, registered U

    S

    child sex offenders, leading to over 900 denials of entry

    These efforts build international cooperation to ensure all countries are safe from sexual predators

    In July 2023, HSI launched the first U

    S

    -based international victim identification surge, “Operation Renewed Hope (ORH)

    ” To date, there have been three yearly operations: ORHI, ORHII, and ORHIII, to identify and rescue child victims of online exploitation

    In these operations, HSI and its domestic and international partners work on child sexual abuse material contained in HSI holdings, teams expertly comb through and analyze unidentified series of child sexual abuse material to identify children and offenders and create lead packages for appropriate investigative partners in furtherance of associated law enforcement actions

    In the Spring of 2025, HSI conducted ORHIII, which resulted in 386 probable identifications and 56 victims who have been identified and rescued

    Once victims of child exploitation are identified and/or rescued, the HSI Victim Assistance Program (VAP) supports them and their non-offending caretaker(s) by using highly trained forensic interview specialists to conduct victim-centered and trauma-informed forensic interviews

    In addition, VAP’s victim assistance specialists provide resources to victims such as crisis intervention, referrals for short and long term medical and/or mental health care and contact information for local social service programs and agencies to assist in the healing process

    HSI provides short-term immigration protections to human trafficking victims, including victims of child sex trafficking

    U

    S

    Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants immigration benefits to eligible child victims of human trafficking, abuse, and other crimes, including T nonimmigrant status, U nonimmigrant status, and immigrant classification under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

    Educating and Increasing Public Awareness

    The Know2Protect® campaign has garnered over 518 million impressions across various media platforms, in large part due to donated advertising from signed partners and other partner activations

    The top visited pages on Know2Protect

    gov are Take Action, How2Report, and Know the Threats

    Project iGuardian is the official in-person educational program of the Know2Protect campaign

    Led by HSI, Project iGuardian offers in-person presentations designed to inform children, teens, parents, and trusted adults on the threat of online CSEA, how to implement preventive strategies, and report suspected abuse to law enforcement

    Since the start of FY24, more than 400 special agents have been trained to give Project iGuardian presentations

    In FY24, HSI gave more than 1,100 presentations to more than 122,000 children, teens, parents, and teachers domestically and internationally

    These presentations yielded more than 75 victim disclosures and 77 investigative leads for online CSEA

    So far in FY 25, HSI has given more than 760 iGuardian presentations to over 69,000 children and adults, which have yielded more than 41 victim disclosures and 13 investigative leads

    In April 2024, the Blue Campaign announced a partnership with rideshare company Lyft to train their drivers, who interact with millions of riders per year, on how to recognize indicators of human trafficking among their passengers, and how to report it

      From July to September 2024, Blue Campaign collaborated with NCMEC to promote human trafficking awareness across various social media platforms, targeting both minors and those who work with minors

    The campaign garnered more than 2 million impressions on Twitch, 14 million on Facebook, 3million on Snapchat, and 4 million through display ads

    The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) covers child sexual exploitation and abuse awareness in its Human Trafficking lesson plan

    In FY2024, FLETC trained nearly 4,400 individuals in human trafficking awareness

    USSS Childhood Smart Program Ambassadors educated more than 112,000 children, parents, and teachers across 31 states and the District of Columbia about how to prevent online child sexual exploitation and child abduction

    The Childhood Smart Program provides age-appropriate presentations to children as young as five as well as to adults

    Presentations focus on internet and personal safety as well as other topics such as social media etiquette and cyber bullying

    The HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center trained more than 800 individuals across the interagency on female genital mutilation or cutting, a severe form of child abuse and a crime under federal law when done to individuals under the age of 18

    The Blue Campaign Blue Lightning Initiative, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, trained more than 260,000 aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and victims of forced labor and sex trafficking, to include child sex trafficking, and report their suspicions to law enforcement in FY 2023

    The Initiative added 31 new partners this past year, raising its total partners to 136 aviation industry organizations, including its first two official international partners

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency administers SchoolSafety

    gov, an interagency website that includes information, guidance and resources on a range of school safety topics

    SchoolSafety

    gov includes a child exploitation section that houses more than 60 resources to help school communities identify, prevent and respond to child exploitation

    Since its launch in January 2023, child exploitation section has been viewed more than 35,600 times

    What You Can Do and Resources Available

    Visit  www

    Know2Protect

    gov to access free resources to understand the threats of online CSEA and learn preventative strategies to stop future victimization

    Request an educational presentation tailored for school children and trusted adults:

    Visit SchoolSafety

    gov for resources to help educators, school leaders, parents, and school personnel identify, prevent, and respond to child exploitation

    Learn more from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

    Visit https://www

    dhs

    gov/blue-campaign for resources about how to prevent, identify and report human trafficking

     
    How to report suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse in the United States:
    Contact your local, state, campus, or tribal law enforcement officials directly

    Call 911 in an emergency

    If you suspect a child has been abducted or faces imminent danger, contact your local police and the NCMEC tip line at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

    If you suspect a child might be a victim of online child sexual exploitation, call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 and report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Food Manufacturer Expanding Operations in Fredonia

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that AgriAmerica Fruit Products LLC has completed the revitalization and upgrade of a 69,000-square-foot grape juice processing facility located at 200 Water Street in the Village of Fredonia. After the initial investment was made to acquire the property in 2018, the company invested more than $2.5 million to purchase and install new machinery within the existing facility that had not been used for any type of production for several years. This project by AgriAmerica has increased Western New York’s fruit processing capacity to better serve the grape farmers in the region.

    “The expansion of AgriAmerica’s processing capabilities provides a much-needed production facility for Chautauqua County grape farmers,” Governor Hochul said. “This Western New York Regional Economic Development Council investment is just another example of how we are helping upstate businesses take advantage of the region’s resources to generate growth, opportunity, and create jobs as we work together to initiate future economic prosperity.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This expansion of a Western New York grape processor is a great example of the positive results we can achieve through strategic state investment. By leveraging existing resources, we can support the growth of local companies like AgriAmerica. I am very pleased ESD could help ensure such an important food manufacturer expand and support area farmers in Chautauqua County.”

    New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York’s grape growers lead our nation in the production of this specialty crop that supports our agricultural community and grape-related businesses, crafting value-added products, across New York State. The expansion of the AgriAmerica processing facility will provide our state’s producers with another market opportunity and bring New York grape juice to consumers around the world.”

    AgriAmerica LLC — a commercial grape farming entity owned by Eric Huddy and Richard Jozwiak — formed AgriAmerica Fruit Products LLC (AAFP) in 2018 specifically to fill the need for a locally owned and operated fruit processing and juice storage facility in Chautauqua County. Just prior to Huddy and Jozwiak taking action, three area grape juice processing plants had closed or went through significant fruit intake reductions. This left more than 25,000 tons of grape crop unprocessed — causing an annual loss of over $3.5 million to local growers.

    AAFP serves the Lake Erie Fruit Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative with nearly 100 family farm members who are contracted to locally grow more than 10,000 tons of grapes annually. AAFP’s revitalized and upgraded grape juice factory affords the Cooperative an opportunity to provide a viable and sustainable market for its grape growing members. Crop sale returns are distributed amongst members by the Cooperative in a fair and equitable manner in proportion to the tonnage and quality grade of the fruit delivered by each member. In turn, AAFP processes the freshly harvested grapes and manufactures bulk-shipped single strength juices, juice concentrates, pulps and purees. AAFP remains the only grape processing facility in the Lake Erie Region where 100 percent of the products manufactured are export-grade and Kosher for Passover certified. With this, AAFP has been able to establish long-term product supply relationships with well-known Kosher branded juice and wine bottling companies including Royal Wine Corporation and Kedem Foods.

    AgriAmerica Fruit Products, LLC, Founding Partner and Managing Member Eric Huddy said, “My business partner Richard Jozwiak and I shared a vision for the future of the old vacant factory in Fredonia. Here in the rural western New York State, the grape industry is absolutely critical. Based on this understanding, AgriAmerica’s Fredonia Grape Juice Factory Revitalization Project received overwhelming support not only from the Village of Fredonia and County of Chautauqua but also throughout the New York’s Lake Erie and Finger Lake grape growing regions, which included numerous towns and counties that had vineyard operators who stood to benefit from this project. We are truly grateful for the awesome level of support we received for this project from the community, the farmers and government at the local, county and state level. The completion of this project will greatly assist AAFP toward remaining as a competitive manufacturer of nearly 2-million gallons of grape juice annually.”

    The expansion project consisted of design, engineering, consulting, facility construction/renovations and the installation of new fixtures and machinery. More specifically, the project will allow AAFP to more efficiently and dependably process fresh fruit, pasteurize and chill juices and refrigerate bulk juice storage tank rooms. In addition to bringing the old, existing systems up-to-date, a brand-new, state-of-the-art juice concentration system was installed.

    Rather than importing machines from overseas or out-of-state, AgriAmerica selected local companies based in Buffalo, New York to design, manufacture and install the new juice concentration system. Now, the facility is able to manufacture new concentrate products while achieving a high level of transportation savings and promoting a positive impact on the environment because hauling concentrate requires much less transportation than hauling single strength juice. The completion of this project will greatly assist AAFP toward remaining as a competitive manufacturer of nearly 2 million gallons of grape juice annually. On the supply side, the new processing facility has created a stable outlet for family farms to sell their local grape crop. On the demand side, the Fredonia facility is responsible for producing an equivalent of approximately 32-million servings of grape juice per year to people all around the world.

    This project will create an additional five full-time jobs and numerous seasonal positions at the Fredonia processing facility, as well as 469 full-time equivalent jobs over the next four years mainly in the agriculture sector and industries allied with agriculture. The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC), through Empire State Development (ESD), provided a $498,600 capital grant for this priority project through Round 8 of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

    WNYREDC Co-Chair and Campus Labs Co-Founder Eric Reich said, “We are always looking to support solid projects that generate jobs and economic opportunity. Because of the Governor’s unwavering commitment to upstate companies, they are taking their business to the next level, growing their workforces and fueling economic opportunities statewide.”

    Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. said, “AgriAmerica’s investment in Chautauqua County represents more than just the revitalization of a facility—it’s a commitment to the hardworking grape growers who define our region’s agricultural identity. This expansion ensures that local family farms have a reliable, local partner for their harvests and strengthens our position as a leader in juice and wine production. I commend AgriAmerica and Empire State Development for their collaboration on this vital project that brings jobs, opportunity, and long-term growth to our community. I’d also like to thank Mark Geise, our Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, for his steadfast leadership in helping to move this project forward. Multi-level partnerships like this—between the state, our county IDA, and local stakeholders—are what make doing business in Chautauqua County strong and why this region continues to be a great place to grow and invest.”

    County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency CEO Mark Geise said, “I am glad the CCIDA had the opportunity to work with Mr. Huddy and his team at Agri-America, along with the State, to provide financial incentives to bring the Fredonia-based facility back to life thereby creating good paying jobs and supporting the Concord grape farmers in the region.”

    Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said, “We are proud to have AgriAmerica as a part of our Fredonia landscape. Our history was built on agriculture and becoming the world’s largest concord grape region, but for a while many farmers struggled to get their grapes processed. We are thrilled to see the expansion of grape processing capacity and production in our community.”

    To learn more about the WNYREDC, click here.

    About the Regional Economic Development Councils
    The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Click here to learn more.

    About Empire State Development
    ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through ILOVENY. For more information, please visit ESD’s website here, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

    Source: Government of India

    India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

    World Heritage Day 2025

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi

    “Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.”

    ~ Prime Minster Narendra Modi

    • World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April to honor and protect cultural and natural heritage.
    • This year theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
    • The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972.
    • World Heritage Convention was adopted by countries around the world to protect important cultural and natural sites.
    • As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
    • India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.

    Introduction

    Our heritage is not just built of stones, scripts or ruins. It lives in every whisper of a temple wall, every carving on ancient forts and every folk song passed down through generations. It tells stories of who we were, what we stood for and how we endured. World Heritage Day is a heartfelt reminder that these timeless treasures are not only to be admired, but protected. This year’s theme: “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions” reminds us that preserving our past is key to protecting our future.

    The Story Behind World Heritage Day

    World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April. It is also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is meant to honor and protect human heritage. It also appreciates the people and groups who work to preserve it. The day was started in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). Later, in 1983, UNESCO officially adopted it. Every year, ICOMOS gives a special theme for the day. Based on this theme, people and groups hold events and activities around the world to celebrate and protect heritage.

    Understanding the World Heritage Convention

    UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, works to protect and preserve important cultural and natural heritage around the world. To help with this, UNESCO’s member countries adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. This agreement explains what countries need to do to find and take care of special sites that can be added to the World Heritage List. India became part of this Convention in November 1977. Today, the World Heritage List includes 1,223 sites that are considered valuable to all of humanity. These include 952 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 sites that have both cultural and natural importance. As of October 2024, 196 countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.

    World Heritage Sites: Protecting Future

    World Heritage Sites are special places on Earth that have great value for all of humanity. These can be cultural, natural, or a mix of both. They are protected under an international agreement led by UNESCO. UNESCO gives the World Heritage title to places that are culturally, historically or scientifically important.

    Over the years, India has steadily expanded its presence on the World Heritage List. In July 2024, a proud addition was made with the inscription of “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam as a cultural property. With this, India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 62 more on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The country’s journey began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. These sites are preserved not only as symbols of history but also as learning spaces for generations to come.

    Government’s Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage

    India has taken several meaningful steps to protect, restore, and promote its vast cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s timeless traditions and historical treasures.

    • Retrieval of Antiquities: Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.

     

    • Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme: The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was launched in 2017 and revamped as “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” in 2023. It allows private and public groups to help develop facilities at protected monuments using their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. So far, 21 MoUs have been signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and various partner organisations across different states under this programme.
    • 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee: Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, successfully hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21st to 31st July 2024. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries. Delegates gathered to discuss and collaborate on preserving cultural, natural and mixed heritage marking a significant step in India’s global role in heritage protection.

     

    • Building Monuments of National Importance: India has 3,697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for their conservation and maintenance. It also ensures basic amenities at these sites, such as pathways, signages, benches, facilities for differently-abled visitors, sound and light shows, and souvenir shops.

     

    • Revival and Redevelopment of Heritage Sites: India has revived key heritage sites through conservation and development projects. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakaal Lok in Ujjain, and Ma Kamakhya Corridor in Guwahati enhance pilgrim experiences and boost tourism. The Chardham Road Project improves connectivity to sacred sites. Additionally, projects in Somnath and the Kartarpur Corridor promote cultural heritage and easier access for devotees.

     

    • Must See Portal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has created a portal to showcase “Must-See Monuments and Archaeological Sites of India.” It highlights nearly a hundred prominent sites, including World Heritage properties and UNESCO Tentative List sites. The portal provides essential information such as history, access details, facilities and panoramic views. It aims to promote these sites for global visitors. Visit: asimustsee.nic.in

     

    • Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), set up in 2007, works to digitize and document India’s heritage and antiquities. So far, over 12.3 lakh antiquities and 11,406 heritage sites have been recorded. For 2024–25, ₹20 lakh was allocated to the mission. The Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) initiative further aims to use digital technology to preserve and present India’s cultural legacy through immersive tools and research support.

     

    • Status of Classical Languages: On October 3, 2024, the Government granted classical language status to Assamese, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, and Bengali, raising the total to 11 classical Indian languages. This move reflects India’s strong commitment to preserving its diverse and ancient linguistic heritage.

     

    • India’s first Archaeological Experiential Museum: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar on 16th January 2025. Built at a cost of ₹298 crore, the museum covers 12,500 square meters. It showcases Vadnagar’s 2,500-year-old history with over 5,000 artifacts, including ceramics, coins, tools and skeletal remains. It features nine galleries and a 4,000-square-meter excavation site offering an immersive experience of ongoing archaeological discoveries.

     

    • Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum: On 29th July 2024, a state-of-the-art museum spanning 100,000 square feet was inaugurated at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi. The museum showcases the site’s rich history, architecture, and conservation journey, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience.

     

    • India’s Literary Milestone on the MOWCAP Register: In a historic achievement, three of India’s literary treasures: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayāloka-Locana, were inscribed into the 2024 Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) Regional Register. This recognition, announced on 8th May 2024 in Mongolia, underscores the global significance of India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.

    Conclusion

    World Heritage Day reminds us that protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. From ancient monuments to timeless literature, India continues to preserve its cultural and natural legacy through strong national efforts and global collaboration. These efforts ensure that our rich heritage inspires, educates, and unites generations to come.

    References

    Click here to see PDF.

    *****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria

    (Release ID: 2122423) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final defendant sentenced in local Indian Arts and Crafts Act case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The defendants sold over $1 million worth of fraudulent artwork throughout the conspiracy.

    JUNEAU, Alaska – A Washington man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a scheme to sell hundreds of products produced in the Philippines as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork, violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

    According to court documents, between July and August 2021, Cameron Losi, fka “Cameron Lawrence,” 39, conspired with others, including the owners of Alaska Stone Arts LLC and Rail Creek LLC, stores located in Ketchikan, to sell items falsely represented to be authentic Alaska Native art. Losi was employed as a salesperson for Alaska Stone Arts LLC, which primarily sold stone carvings. Rail Creek LLC primarily sold wood totem poles.

    Court documents explain that from April 2016 to December 2021, Cristobal Rodrigo, 59, his wife Glenda Rodrigo, 46, and their son Christian Rodrigo, 24, all from Washington, were the owners and operators of the stores and were co-conspirators in the case. The investigation revealed that the carvings and totem poles sold in both stores were sourced from Rodrigo Creative Crafts, a company owned by Glenda Rodrigo and located in the Philippines. The company used Filipino labor to produce the artwork before shipping them to the Rodrigo’s stores in Alaska, where they were sold as authentic Alaska Native art.

    According to court documents, the Rodrigos hired Alaska Natives and non-Alaska Native employees at both Ketchikan stores to help with day-to-day operations and represent and sell Philippine produced artwork as their own authentic Native artwork. Aside from Losi, who is of American Indian descent, the Rodrigos also hired Travis Lee Macasaet, 39, of Ketchikan, Simeon Cabansag, 39, of Ketchikan, and Jessie Reginio, 28, of Seattle, Washington. Macasaet and Cabansag were two of the Alaska Natives hired by the family. Reginio was one of the non-Alaska Native employees hired by the family.

    Losi conspired with the other co-defendants to sell the artwork to customers and falsely represent that the art was all produced from locally sourced materials and made by Alaska Natives or by members of an American Indian tribe. Court documents outline that Losi misrepresented to customers that he was the sole artisan of the stone carvings under the name “Cameron,” and that other employees were Alaska Native family members who carved and sold stone and wood totem poles in both businesses. 

    During the course of the conspiracy, Losi and others involved in the scheme sold hundreds of stone and wood carvings produced in the Philippines as authentic Alaska Native carvings.

    Losi was sentenced to five years’ probation and 250 hours of community service. Losi is required to pay over $12,200 in restitution to his victims in this case and is required to write an apology letter to the victims and the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes to be published publicly.

    “This sentencing marks a crucial step toward justice, finally holding accountable all defendants responsible for this betrayal of Alaska Native artisans, whose craftsmanship is not only their livelihood but their pride,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “The fraudulent actions of all seven defendants resulted in over a million dollars in illegal profits, undermining the integrity of genuine artists and exploiting the very cultural heritage that some defendants are connected to. Through our collaboration with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, we have secured justice for tribal communities and the victims who were deceived through forgery and misrepresentation.”

    “Counterfeit Alaska Native art, such as the carvings Cameron Losi sold to unwitting customers at the Alaska Stone Arts business in Ketchikan, are an affront to Alaska Native culture, tradition, and heritage,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton.  “The Indian Arts and Crafts Board by statute is responsible for administering the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), an anti-counterfeiting law that protects Indian artists and consumers.  Mr. Losi’s actions undermine Alaska Native economies and the hard work of Alaska Native artists who are dedicated to celebrating their unique culture and using their artwork to pass to down their traditions and skills from one generation to the next.  His actions also erode consumers’ confidence in the Alaska Native art market, particularly with respect to the many tourists traveling through Southeast Alaska each year.  Due to the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Alaska and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IACA Investigative Unit, Mr. Losi is being held accountable and the message is clear.  For those selling counterfeit Alaska Native art it is important to know that wherever you are we will diligently work to find you and prosecute you under the IACA.”

    “Cameron Losi collaborated with the Rodrigos and others to misrepresent Philippine-made stone carvings and totem poles as Alaskan Native made,” said Doug Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Losi used his American Indian heritage to defraud customers by knowingly selling Philippine-made stone carvings and totem poles at premium prices. These deceptive business practices cheated customers and undermined the economic livelihood of Alaskan Native artists. Our special agents investigate crimes in violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Protecting Alaska Native culture and traditions is a critical part of the act. We thank the U.S. Department of Justice for their assistance with this investigation.”

    Co-conspirators in this case include:

    • Cristobal Rodrigo: Sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for his role in the scheme. His sentence was reduced to 18 months in June 2024 but remains the longest sentence a defendant has received for any Indian Arts and Crafts Act violation in the U.S., according to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
    • Glenda Rodrigo: Sentenced to up to six months’ home confinement and 240 hours of community service on July 8, 2024.
    • Christian Rodrigo: Sentenced to up to three months’ home confinement and 200 hours of community service on July 8, 2024.
    • Travis Macasaet: Sentenced to five years’ probation and 250 hours of community service on Nov. 12, 2024.
    • Simeon Cabansag: Sentenced to three years’ supervised release, time served and 150 hours of community service on Nov. 12, 2024.
    • Jessie Reginio: Sentenced to three years’ probation, a $5,000 fine and $10,000 in restitution on Nov. 12, 2024.

    The Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Customs and Border Protections, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

    If you suspect potential Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations are being committed, a complaint may be submitted through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s online complaint form, www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation, by emailing iacb@ios.doi.gov, or by calling 888-278-3253.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner Leads Roundtable on Impact of Trump Tariffs on Rhode Islanders

    Source: US Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    CRANSTON, RI — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives of the construction, hospitality, health care and manufacturing sectors in Rhode Island to address the negative impact of President Trump’s recent tariffs on workers, consumers and small businesses.

    “Presient Trump’s tariffs are the largest tax increase on the Middle Class in decades,” said Magaziner. “Tariff rates now are the highest that we have had since before the Great Depression.”

    View full video remarks from all speakers during today’s press conference here.

    View or download photos from today’s full roundtable discussion here.

    Speakers included:

    • Justin Kelley, Director of Organizing and Strategic Planning for the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council, who spoke about the risk of construction projects being cancelled or scaled back due to tariffs imposed on building materials.
    • Ryan Moot, Manager of Business Development and Government Affairs, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, who spoke on the impact tariffs would have on local restaurants due to rising food costs and decreased tourism.
    • Lauryn T. Estrella, Executive Director, Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES), who spoke about how the tariffs will make durable medical equipment more expensive and harder for patients to access.
    • Darryl Lindie, Owner of AA Sign & Awning in Warwick, who spoke about the impact to project-based small businesses.

    BACKGROUND

    The roundtable comes less than two weeks after President Trump’s unprecedented and chaotic tariff rollout on over 90 countries. A 10 percent tariff tax remains on goods from most countries, with significantly higher tariffs on many goods from China, Mexico and Canada.. Trump’s erratic tariff policy has resulted in continued sharp changes in the stock market, fueling economic uncertainty for consumer prices and businesses. 

    The group discussed how tariffs affect the cost of construction and housing materials, increase prices on medical devices that raise healthcare costs, impact Rhode Island’s vital tourism and travel industry, and make it difficult for Rhode Island small businesses to manage the cost of their inputs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fact Sheet: How DHS is Combating Child Exploitation and Abuse

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Every day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leads the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). As part of the Department’s critical mission to combat crimes of exploitation and protect victims, we investigate these abhorrent crimes, spread awareness, collaborate with interagency and international partners, and expand our reach to ensure children are safe and protected.

    “At the Department of Homeland Security, our mission is to protect the American people, and that includes protecting our children. The internet has completely changed how we connect, but it has also opened new doors for predators who want to harm our kids,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “It’s a topic that should unite all of us, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the work of Homeland Security Investigations and all that they do to combat online child exploitation.”

    DHS battles online CSEA using all available tools and resources department-wide, emphasizing its commitment to the Department’s homeland security mission to “Combat Crimes of Exploitation and Protect Victims.” In recognition of President Trump’s proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, DHS is committed to raising awareness of these heinous crimes, preventing child exploitation and abuse, and bringing perpetrators to justice.

    As part of the Department’s ongoing work in this area, today DHS is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Know2Protect, the U.S. government’s first prevention and awareness campaign to combat online CSEA. 

    Between April 2024 and February 2025:

    • DHS launched Know2Protect®, a first of its kind national public awareness campaign to combat online CSEA. The campaign enhances the Department’s capabilities to combat online CSEA by partnering with the private sector to deliver its awareness messaging and coordinating federal efforts to confront and prevent this growing epidemic. The Department has successfully entered into over 20 Know2Protect® Memoranda of Understanding with leading technology companies, national and international sports leagues, youth-serving organizations and nonprofits, and other private sector partners to raise awareness of this crime and help children stay safer online.
    • DHS increased the footprint of law enforcement partners at the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3) to enhance coordination across all DHS agencies and offices to combat cyber-related crimes and further the Department’s mission to combat online CSEA. Several partners are collocated and work together every day at the DHS C3, including the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS),      U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).  
    • The Blue Campaign, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, hosted 170 national trainings on the indicators of forced labor and sex trafficking and how to report these crimes with more than 24,000 participants from the federal government, non-governmental organizations, law enforcement, and other external stakeholders.
    • DHS identified and rescued 1,567 child victims of online CSEA through the work of HSI and made 4,460 arrests for crimes involving online CSEA. Learn more in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report
    • HSI and ERO have instituted a collaborative operational initiative to locate unaccompanied alien children (UAC) released from the care and custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS-ORR). The UAC initiative   identifies and locates UACs to ensure immigration obligations are met, and investigate any potential indicators of forced labor, sex trafficking, or other exploitation.

    To accomplish this work, DHS coordinates with law enforcement at home and abroad to enforce and uphold our laws, protects victims with a victim-centered approach that prioritizes dignity and respect, and works to stop this heinous crime through public education and outreach.

    Enforcing Our Laws

    DHS works with domestic and international partners to enforce and uphold the laws that protect children from abuse. The Department works collaboratively with  Department of Justice prosecutors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S Marshals, INTERPOL, Europol, and other international law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute perpetrators.

    • DHS increased U.S. government and law enforcement efforts to combat financial sextortion, a crime targeting children and teens by coercing them into sending explicit images online and extorting them for money. From FY22 to FY24, HSI received more than 4,900 CyberTipline reports related to sextortion predators from Côte dʼIvoire. From these reports, 652 children have been identified and supported by HSI. In an effort to combat this crime, HSI sent special agents to Côte d’Ivoire to provide online CSEA training to local law enforcement and supported local law enforcement efforts in locating and apprehending offenders residing there.
    • The CCHT works alongside the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to identify and pursue the recovery of underage victims of sex trafficking. The CCHT emphasizes victim identification operations which allows HSI field offices to rescue these children while implementing a victim centered approach. The CCHT supports HSI field operations throughout the investigation and prosecution of these traffickers and their networks.
    • DHS partnered with 61 regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces to investigate people involved in the online victimization of children, including those who produce, receive, distribute and/or possess child sexual abuse material, or who engage in online sexual enticement of children.
    • DHS researched and developed modern tools and technologies that equip domestic and international law enforcement partners with advanced forensic capabilities to accomplish their mission to identify victims and apprehend child sexual abusers.
      • The Science and Technology Directorate developed StreamView, a digital forensics and data analytics tool designed to assist law enforcement in effectively addressing child exploitation cases. By aggregating, organizing, and analyzing investigative leads, StreamView enables investigators to determine crime locations, identify victims, and bring perpetrators to justice more efficiently. Since May 2023, StreamView has identified and rescued over 133 child and adult victims, dismantled more than 29 criminal networks, generated over 600 leads and referrals, and arrested of over 120 criminal actors. The platform has also contributed to 10 convictions and 8 life sentences, significantly improving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) investigations.
    • The U.S. Secret Service provides forensic, technical, and investigative assistance to NCMEC and state/local/tribal law enforcement in cases involving missing and exploited children. Support includes polygraph examinations, age progression/regression, composite sketches, audio/image/video enhancement, speaker identification/recognition, questioned document analysis, fingerprint development and examination, geospatial information mapping system, digital forensics.
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection screens all undocumented unaccompanied children and other arriving minors for indicators of abuse or exploitation, human trafficking, extraterritorial sexual exploitation of children, sexual predators involved in crimes of exploitation, and all suspected criminal cases are referred to HSI.
    • Transportation Security Administration (INV) Special Agent Polygraph Examiners provide their expertise to advance investigative and prosecutorial efforts in support of child sexual exploitation investigations. INV developed evidence of child sexual exploitation and/or abuse in 15 criminal specific and pre-employment examinations. INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiners, assigned to its Special Operations Division, conduct examinations on behalf of INV, HSI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, federal and local law enforcement agencies. In a case involving a child victim, an INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiner administered a specific issue polygraph examination, which resulted in the arrest of an individual attempting to solicit a child and identified six other victims ranging in age from 5-16 years of age.

    Protecting and Supporting Victims

    • The Angel Watch Center (AWC) within DHS C3 proactively identifies U.S. persons traveling abroad who have been convicted of sexual crimes against children. By using travel related information and publicly available state sex offender registries, the AWC notifies destination countries of these individuals’ pending arrivals to help prevent potential child sex tourism and other forms of exploitation. The HSI AWC sent over 4,800 travel notifications to foreign governments on convicted, registered U.S. child sex offenders, leading to over 900 denials of entry. These efforts build international cooperation to ensure all countries are safe from sexual predators.
    • In July 2023, HSI launched the first U.S.-based international victim identification surge, “Operation Renewed Hope (ORH).” To date, there have been three yearly operations: ORHI, ORHII, and ORHIII, to identify and rescue child victims of online exploitation. In these operations, HSI and its domestic and international partners work on child sexual abuse material contained in HSI holdings, teams expertly comb through and analyze unidentified series of child sexual abuse material to identify children and offenders and create lead packages for appropriate investigative partners in furtherance of associated law enforcement actions.
      • In the Spring of 2025, HSI conducted ORHIII, which resulted in 386 probable identifications and 56 victims who have been identified and rescued. Once victims of child exploitation are identified and/or rescued, the HSI Victim Assistance Program (VAP) supports them and their non-offending caretaker(s) by using highly trained forensic interview specialists to conduct victim-centered and trauma-informed forensic interviews. In addition, VAP’s victim assistance specialists provide resources to victims such as crisis intervention, referrals for short and long term medical and/or mental health care and contact information for local social service programs and agencies to assist in the healing process.
    • HSI provides short-term immigration protections to human trafficking victims, including victims of child sex trafficking. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants immigration benefits to eligible child victims of human trafficking, abuse, and other crimes, including T nonimmigrant status, U nonimmigrant status, and immigrant classification under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

    Educating and Increasing Public Awareness

    • The Know2Protect® campaign has garnered over 518 million impressions across various media platforms, in large part due to donated advertising from signed partners and other partner activations. The top visited pages on Know2Protect.gov are Take Action, How2Report, and Know the Threats.
    • Project iGuardian is the official in-person educational program of the Know2Protect campaign. Led by HSI, Project iGuardian offers in-person presentations designed to inform children, teens, parents, and trusted adults on the threat of online CSEA, how to implement preventive strategies, and report suspected abuse to law enforcement.
      • Since the start of FY24, more than 400 special agents have been trained to give Project iGuardian presentations.
      • In FY24, HSI gave more than 1,100 presentations to more than 122,000 children, teens, parents, and teachers domestically and internationally. These presentations yielded more than 75 victim disclosures and 77 investigative leads for online CSEA.
      • So far in FY 25, HSI has given more than 760 iGuardian presentations to over 69,000 children and adults, which have yielded more than 41 victim disclosures and 13 investigative leads.
    • In April 2024, the Blue Campaign announced a partnership with rideshare company Lyft to train their drivers, who interact with millions of riders per year, on how to recognize indicators of human trafficking among their passengers, and how to report it.  From July to September 2024, Blue Campaign collaborated with NCMEC to promote human trafficking awareness across various social media platforms, targeting both minors and those who work with minors. The campaign garnered more than 2 million impressions on Twitch, 14 million on Facebook, 3million on Snapchat, and 4 million through display ads.
    • The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) covers child sexual exploitation and abuse awareness in its Human Trafficking lesson plan. In FY2024, FLETC trained nearly 4,400 individuals in human trafficking awareness.
    • USSS Childhood Smart Program Ambassadors educated more than 112,000 children, parents, and teachers across 31 states and the District of Columbia about how to prevent online child sexual exploitation and child abduction. The Childhood Smart Program provides age-appropriate presentations to children as young as five as well as to adults. Presentations focus on internet and personal safety as well as other topics such as social media etiquette and cyber bullying.
    • The HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center trained more than 800 individuals across the interagency on female genital mutilation or cutting, a severe form of child abuse and a crime under federal law when done to individuals under the age of 18.
    • The Blue Campaign Blue Lightning Initiative, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, trained more than 260,000 aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and victims of forced labor and sex trafficking, to include child sex trafficking, and report their suspicions to law enforcement in FY 2023. The Initiative added 31 new partners this past year, raising its total partners to 136 aviation industry organizations, including its first two official international partners.
    • The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency administers SchoolSafety.gov, an interagency website that includes information, guidance and resources on a range of school safety topics. SchoolSafety.gov includes a child exploitation section that houses more than 60 resources to help school communities identify, prevent and respond to child exploitation. Since its launch in January 2023, child exploitation section has been viewed more than 35,600 times.

    What You Can Do and Resources Available

    • Visit  www.Know2Protect.gov to access free resources to understand the threats of online CSEA and learn preventative strategies to stop future victimization.
    • Request an educational presentation tailored for school children and trusted adults:
    • Visit SchoolSafety.gov for resources to help educators, school leaders, parents, and school personnel identify, prevent, and respond to child exploitation.
    • Learn more from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Visit https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign for resources about how to prevent, identify and report human trafficking.  
    • How to report suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse in the United States:
    • Contact your local, state, campus, or tribal law enforcement officials directly. Call 911 in an emergency.
    • If you suspect a child has been abducted or faces imminent danger, contact your local police and the NCMEC tip line at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
    • If you suspect a child might be a victim of online child sexual exploitation, call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 and report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Katy Perry’s celebrity spaceflight blazed a trail for climate breakdown

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Westlake, Lecturer, Environmental Psychology, University of Bath

    What’s not to like about an all-female celebrity crew riding a rocket into space? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

    Katy Perry and her companions were initially portrayed in the media as breaking down gender barriers. On their return to Earth, the team enthused about protecting the planet and blazing a trail for others. Perry even sang What a Wonderful World during the flight, and kissed the ground on exiting the spacecraft.

    But the backlash was swift. Fellow celebrities piled in to highlight the “hypocrisy” of such an energy-intensive endeavour from a former Unicef climate champion. Evidence was quickly presented to dispute the pollution-free claims of the Blue Origin rocket, which is fuelled by oxygen and hydrogen. (In fact, the water vapour and nitrogen oxide emissions it creates add to global heating, on top of the emissions from the programme as a whole.)

    But it’s the negative social effects of this kind of display from celebrities (of any gender) that our research sheds light on. I’m part of a team of social scientists researching the powerful effects of politicians, business leaders and celebrities who lead by example on climate change – or don’t.

    Social kickback

    Space tourism, and other energy-intensive activities by people in the public eye, such as using helicopters and private jets, have a much wider knock-on effect than the direct damage to the climate caused by the activity itself.

    We carried out focus groups with members of the public to understand their reactions to the high-carbon behaviour of leaders in politics, culture and business. We also conducted experiments and surveys to test the effects of leaders “walking the talk” on climate change. We found that observing unnecessary high-carbon behaviour demotivates people and reduces the sense of collective effort that is essential for a successful societal response to climate change.

    Solving climate change and other environmental crises requires fundamental changes to economies, societies and lifestyles according to climate science. Using much less energy, not just different kinds of energy, can play a big part in halting the damage. And it is the wealthiest people in the richest countries who use the most energy and set the standards and aspirations for the rest of society. That’s why the Blue Origin dream (of space exploration for the unfathomably wealthy) is a nightmare for the climate because it perpetuates an unsustainable culture.

    Our findings reveal that when people see public figures behaving like this, they are less willing to make changes to their own lives. “Why should I do my bit for the climate when these celebrities are doing the opposite?” is the question people repeatedly asked in our research.

    Many of the changes to behaviour necessary to tackle climate change will require people to accept trade-offs and embrace alternative ways of living. This includes using heat pumps instead of gas boilers, trading in large, fossil-fuelled vehicles (or even avoiding cars altogether) and forgoing flights – because there is no way to decarbonise long-distance flights in time.

    When celebrities (or politicians and business leaders, for that matter) ignore the environmental damage of their choices, it sends a powerful signal that they are not really serious about addressing climate change.

    Not only does this undermine people’s motivation to make changes, it reduces the credibility of leaders. That in turn makes coordinated climate action less likely, because shifting to a low-carbon society will require public trust in leadership and a sense of collective effort.

    Individual choices matter

    The widespread aversion to Perry’s space flight contradicts the popular argument that tackling the climate crisis “is not about individual behaviour”.

    On the contrary, the response shows that these actions from celebrities and other leaders have much greater symbolic meaning than is captured by the idea of an “individual choice”. People are highly attuned to the behaviour of others because it signals and reinforces the values, morals and norms of our society. As such, few if any choices are truly “individual”.



    Read more:
    Think your efforts to help the climate don’t matter? African philosophers disagree

    This message of collective responsibility is one our current economic and political system works hard to suppress by championing unlimited freedom to consume, while ignoring the loss of freedom that such behaviour causes: freedom to live in a stable climate, freedom from pollution, freedom from extreme weather, freedom for future generations.

    In fact, research reveals that most people understand the interconnectedness of society and the need for a coordinated response to the climate crisis. Climate assemblies, which convene ordinary citizens to discuss and deliberate a course of climate action, have revealed a willingness to curtail some activities in a fair way.

    When it comes to preserving a liveable planet and a stable climate, most people know that space tourism and ultra-high-carbon living are off the agenda. Celebrities have a positive role to play in leading by example. It’s not rocket science.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Steve Westlake has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

    – ref. Why Katy Perry’s celebrity spaceflight blazed a trail for climate breakdown – https://theconversation.com/why-katy-perrys-celebrity-spaceflight-blazed-a-trail-for-climate-breakdown-254824

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke secures government approval to publish the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill General Scheme

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    17th April 2025

    Minister James Browne to publish new planning guidance

    Minister Peter Burke has today secured Cabinet approval to publish the General Scheme of the new Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. The legislation will introduce a register for all Short Term Lets (STLs) in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024.

    Minister for Housing James Browne has also secured approval from government to publish a National Planning Statement on Short Term Letting, in order to give greater clarity to the sector with regards planning in advance of the commencement of the new legislation.

    Minister Burke said:

     “This is a very important piece of legislation that will enable the introduction of new regulatory controls for the Short-Term Letting sector. The self-catering and wider short-term letting sector is an important element of the Irish tourism ecosystem and for the first time, we will have up to date and accurate data on the numbers and spread of this accommodation.

    “Tourism is of critical importance to the Irish economy, providing 228,000 jobs and €6 billion income to our economy in 2024. The long-term development of the tourism sector requires that an appropriate balance is achieved between the short-term letting sector and long-term housing market, and the wider needs of local communities, both economically and socially.”

    Minister Burke went on to say:

    “I am aware of the genuine concerns regarding the impacts on rural tourism and local economies of removing a significant cohort of STL properties from the tourism and other short-term letting market and I continue to engage with the sector in this regard. However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critically important consideration and government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people.”

    The new STL register will be available online and will provide a full picture of the stock of registered tourist accommodation across the state. Hosts offering STL accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland and hold a valid registration number that must be displayed when advertising their STL property.

    The EU STR Regulation and Ireland’s new registration requirements for STLs will both come into full force on 20 May 2026. Fáilte Ireland will apply the enforcement mechanisms provided for in the legislation in respect of non-compliant STL hosts by means of Fixed Payment Notices and/or summary proceedings in the District Court.

    The STLT Bill also provides for the introduction of an administrative sanction procedure (ASP) for infringements by online short-term rental platforms of their obligations under the STR Regulation. This will enable the State to impose large financial penalties (a maximum of 2% of turnover) to enforce compliance where necessary.

    Minister Burke will appoint an independent panel to determine the level of financial sanction to be imposed.

    The Cabinet also approved, for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, the drafting of new planning guidance and any necessary legislative changes to implement the new Planning Guidelines in the form of a National Planning Statement on short-term letting. That Planning Statement is an important input in balancing local housing, tourism and economic needs and will provide the necessary clarity to the STL sector on the planning requirements around STL properties. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will publish these guidelines in advance of the final enactment of the STLT Bill.

    Minister Browne said:

    “In advance of commencement of the legislation, I will be publishing new planning guidance to give greater clarity to the short term letting sector and to allow those in tourism to plan accordingly. This guidance will seek to recognise the needs of tourism and those who visit Ireland, while also acting on the urgent aim of this government to increase domestic rental supply.”

    This new housing policy is to generally preclude new planning permissions for short term lets in cities and towns with a census population in excess of 10,000 persons, or as may be set by regulations, and to enable local authorities have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in the guidance.

    At present, all STL properties with the exception of your principal private residence (PPR) based in rent pressure zones are required to have appropriate planning permission. If you rent out a room in your PPR, planning permission is generally not required, however if you rent out the entire PPR property for more than 90 days planning permission is necessary.

    Minister Burke and his department will consider the full implications for the tourism sector as we await the planning clarification from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

    ENDS

    Back to Department News

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Thailand’s fragile democracy takes another hit with arrest of US academic

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia

    Despite the challenges faced by local democratic activists, Thailand has often been an oasis of relative liberalism compared with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

    Westerners, in particular, have been largely welcomed and provided with a measure of protection from harassment by the authorities. Thailand’s economy is extremely dependent on foreign tourism. Many Westerners also work in a variety of industries, including as academics at public and private universities.

    That arrangement now seems under pressure. Earlier this month, Paul Chambers, an American political science lecturer at Naresuan University, was arrested on charges of violating the Computer Crimes Act and the lèse-majesté law under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code for allegedly insulting the monarchy.

    Chambers’ visa has been revoked and he now faces a potential punishment of 15 years in jail.

    The lèse-majesté law has become a common tool for silencing Thai activists. At least 272 people have been charged under the law since pro-democracy protests broke out in 2020, according to rights groups.

    Its use against foreigners has, until now, been limited. No foreign academic has ever been charged with it. Because of the law, however, most academics in Thailand usually tread carefully in their critiques of the monarchy.

    The decision to charge a foreign academic, therefore, suggests a hardening of views on dissent by conservative forces in the country. It represents a further deterioration in Thailand’s democratic credentials and provides little optimism for reform under the present government.

    Thailand’s democratic deficit

    Several other recent actions have also sparked concerns about democratic backsliding.

    Following a visit by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to China in February, the government violated domestic and international law by forcibly returning 40 Uyghurs to China.

    The Uyghurs had fled China a decade earlier to escape repression in the western Xinjiang region and had been held in detention in Thailand ever since. They now potentially face worse treatment by the Chinese authorities.

    Then, in early April, Thailand welcomed the head of the Myanmar junta to a regional summit in Bangkok after a devastating earthquake struck his war-ravaged country.

    Min Aung Hlaing has been shunned internationally since the junta launched a coup against the democratically elected government in Myanmar in 2021, sparking a devastating civil war. He has only visited Russia and China since then.

    In addition, the military continues to dominate politics in Thailand. After a progressive party, Move Forward, won the 2023 parliamentary elections by committing to amend the lèse-majesté law, the military, the unelected Senate and other conservative forces in the country ignored the will of the people and denied its charismatic leader the prime ministership.

    The party was then forcibly dissolved by the Constitutional Court and its leader banned from politics for ten years.

    In February, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission criminally indicted 44 politicians from Move Forward for sponsoring a bill in parliament to reform the lèse-majesté law. They face lifetime bans from politics if they are found guilty of breaching “ethical standards”.

    Even the powerful former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, whose daughter is also the current prime minister, is not immune from the lèse-majesté law.

    He was indicted last year for allegedly insulting the monarchy almost two decades ago. His case is due to be heard in July.

    This continued undermining of democratic norms is chipping away at Thailand’s international reputation. The country is now classified as a “flawed democracy” in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, with its ranking falling two years in a row.



    Read more:
    Thailand’s democracy has taken another hit, but the country’s progressive forces won’t be stopped

    Academic freedom at risk

    The lèse-majesté law has always represented something of a challenge to academic freedom in Thailand, as well as freedom of speech more generally. Campaigners against the law have paid a heavy price.

    The US State Department has provided a statement of support for Chambers, urging the Thai government to “ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression”. However, given the Trump administration’s attacks on US universities at the moment, this demand rings somewhat hollow.

    Academic freedom is a hallmark of democracies compared with authoritarian regimes. With the US no longer so concerned with protecting academic freedom at home, there is little stopping flawed democracies around the world from stepping up pressure on academics to toe the line.

    The undermining of democracy in the US is already having palpable impacts on democratic regression around the world.

    With little international pressure to adhere to democratic norms, the current Thai government has taken a significant and deleterious step in arresting a foreign academic.

    In the future, universities in Thailand, as in the US, will find it harder to attract international talent. Universities – and the broader society – in both countries will be worse off for it.

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

    – ref. Thailand’s fragile democracy takes another hit with arrest of US academic – https://theconversation.com/thailands-fragile-democracy-takes-another-hit-with-arrest-of-us-academic-254706

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Extra £4.4 million UKSPF funding for community organisations, good causes and to support skills and development

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 17th April 2025

    Local organisations, good causes and the city’s ongoing Centenary celebrations are all set to benefit from a multi-million-pound funding boost.

    The Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) scheme has been extended to the end of March 2026 – with the city council allocated a further £4.4 million to distribute for the next 12 months.

    If approved by Cabinet on 29th April – and pending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government – the money will be used for a raft of projects.

    Some £500,000 will go towards extending a crackdown on anti-social behaviour which has helped make Stoke-on-Trent a safer, cleaner city.

    There will be support for Ford Green Hall and Etruria Industrial Museum, and small grants to support the city’s vital hospitality and tourism sectors.

    The city council will also expand a Money MOTs scheme to help people claim money they are entitled to – it has already helped identify around £4 million in unclaimed benefits since it was launched 18 months ago.

    UKSPF funds will also support a masterplan to transform the city centre and drive economic growth.

    Other projects include

    • A new worker to keep city-centre streets clean and tidy;

    • Arts projects to brighten up the city – including street art and canal side murals;

    • Small grants for community events to attract new visitors;

    • Support for innovation among small businesses and social enterprises;

    • Extending the Inclusive Employability Hub, which supports people to find work;

    • Fully-funded adult maths courses to improving numeracy skills;

    • AI-focused training to allow people to benefit from new technologies and open up new job opportunities;

    • Skills Hubs to support small businesses to upskill their workers.

    The projects – chosen by an expert investment board – all directly support the council’s mission to drive up skill levels and make the city a healthier, wealthier, safer, greener, cleaner and fairer place.

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This extra UKSPF funding gives us a fantastic opportunity to work with residents, businesses and community organisations to benefit the city as a whole and build on the work of the last two years.

    “It is a mix of funding the continuation of successful ongoing projects, which are making a real difference, and providing a boost to a range of new initiatives.”

    In 2023, the city council secured almost £9.5 million from the UKSPF to support key initiatives over a two-year period.

    Around £3 million was allocated to a number of priority projects to help tackle key issues within the city; while £6 million was awarded to businesses and local groups.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke T.D. secures Government approval to publish the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill General Scheme Minister James Browne to publish new planning guidance

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    17th April 2025

    When:  17th April – 17th April 2028

    Minister Peter Burke has secured Cabinet approval to publish the General Scheme of the new Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill.  The legislation will introduce a register for all Short Term Lets (STLs) in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024.

    Minister for Housing James Browne has also secured approval from Government to publish a National Planning Statement on Short Term Letting, in order to give greater clarity to the sector with regards planning in advance of the commencement of the new legislation.

    Minister Burke said

    “This is a very important piece of legislation that will enable the introduction of new regulatory controls for the Short-Term Letting sector. The self-catering and wider short-term letting sector is an important element of the Irish tourism ecosystem and for the first time, we will have up to date and accurate data on the numbers and spread of this accommodation. Tourism is of critical importance to the Irish economy, providing 228,000 jobs and €6 billion income to our economy in 2024.   The long-term development of the tourism sector requires that an appropriate balance is achieved between the short-term letting sector and long-term housing market, and the wider needs of local communities, both economically and socially.”

    Minister went on to say

    “I am aware of the genuine concerns regarding the impacts on rural tourism and local economies of removing a significant cohort of STL properties from the tourism and other short-term letting market and I continue to engage with the sector in this regard. However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critically important consideration and Government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people”.

    The new STL register will be available online and will provide a full picture of the stock of registered tourist accommodation across the state. Hosts offering STL accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland and hold a valid registration number that must be displayed when advertising their STL property.

    The EU STR Regulation and Ireland’s new registration requirements for STLs will both come into full force on 20 May 2026. Fáilte Ireland will apply the enforcement mechanisms provided for in the legislation in respect of non-compliant STL hosts by means of Fixed Payment Notices and/or summary proceedings in the District Court.

    The STLT Bill also provides for the introduction of an administrative sanction procedure (ASP) for infringements by online short-term rental platforms of their obligations under the STR Regulation. This will enable the State to impose large financial penalties (a maximum of 2% of turnover) to enforce compliance where necessary.

    Minister Burke will appoint an independent panel to determine the level of financial sanction to be imposed.

    The Cabinet also approved, for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., the drafting of new planning guidance and any necessary legislative changes to implement the new Planning Guidelines in the form of a National Planning Statement on short-term letting. That Planning Statement is an important input in balancing local housing, tourism and economic needs and will provide the necessary clarity to the STL sector on the planning requirements around STL properties. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will publish these guidelines in advance of the final enactment of the STLT Bill.

    Minister Browne said:

    “In advance of commencement of the legislation, I will be publishing new planning guidance to give greater clarity to the short term letting sector and to allow those in tourism to plan accordingly. This guidance will seek to recognise the needs of tourism and those who visit Ireland, while also acting on the urgent aim of this Government to increase domestic rental supply. This new Housing policy is to generally preclude new planning permissions for Short term lets in cities and towns with a Census population in excess of 10,000 persons, or as may be set by Regulations, and to enable local authorities have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in the guidance. At present, all STL properties based in rent pressure zones are required to have appropriate planning permission in instances where a secondary property is being rented out for more than 90 days per year.  If you rent out a room in your principal private residence, planning permission is generally not required.”

    Minister Burke and his Department will consider the full implications for the Tourism sector as we await the planning clarification from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil reviews key Projects of Wildlife Institute of India under the aegis of National Mission for Clean Ganga

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil reviews key Projects of Wildlife Institute of India under the aegis of National Mission for Clean Ganga

    Shri C. R. Patil launches a Digital Platform to Boost Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation

    Union Minister lauds the commendable work being carried out by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Wildlife Institute of India

    MoJS releases a series of knowledge products developed under the initiatives

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 2:37PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, chaired a review meeting of various projects implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and supported by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry and WII.

    The union Minister expressed his appreciation for the commendable work being carried out by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and WII in restoring aquatic biodiversity, improving river health, building local capacities, and engaging communities in conservation. He acknowledged the impact of extensive outreach and capacity-building programs conducted across the basin and highlighted the role of WII in mass awareness initiatives, particularly those involving Ganga Praharis. Additionally, he suggested organizing a Ganga Prahari Conclave to strengthen continued engagement with volunteers and advised exploring new conservation initiatives focused on the Mugger crocodile in the rivers.

    During the event, Shri C. R. Patil also released a series of knowledge products developed under these initiatives. These included Hydrophytes: Green Lungs of Ganga Volumes I & II and Protocols for Collection, Storage and Transportation of Biological Samples of Freshwater Macrofauna. These publications represent the strong scientific foundation and practical relevance of the Ministry’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

    It emerged in the review that a structured and multidisciplinary conservation plan was initiated by WII under the aegis of NMCG. The core aim of the project was to establish a science-based aquatic species conservation strategy for the Ganga River through a six-pronged approach: creating a dedicated conservation monitoring center, planning aquatic species restoration, building institutional capacity, establishing rescue and rehabilitation centers, initiating community-based conservation programs, and spreading education on biodiversity conservation.

    A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of an important digital platform –information dashboard www.rivres.in, developed under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and WII. The dashboard – part of the Ganga Aqualife Conservation Monitoring Centre/National Centre for River Research – serves as a comprehensive digital hub offering ecological insights, conservation case studies, and information on physiography, biodiversity, and community engagement activities across major Indian rivers, including the Ganga, Barak, Mahanadi, Narmada, Godavari, Cauvery, and Pamba.

    Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this conservation model. Thousands of stakeholders—including forest officers, veterinarians, schoolteachers, NSS volunteers, and local communities—have been trained through over 130 capacity-building programs. More than 5,000 Ganga Praharis, many of them women, have been mobilized to act as frontline conservation volunteers. Their involvement has enhanced biodiversity monitoring, supported rescue operations, and strengthened local stewardship.

    A massive river survey, covering over 12,000 kilometers across 22 rivers, was conducted using advanced technologies like GPS-enabled data collection, SONAR-based depth profiling, and ecological monitoring apps. Project Dolphin was launched, aiming to conserve dolphins and their habitat while supporting local livelihoods through eco-tourism and other initiatives.

    The review concluded with a vote of thanks and a renewed commitment to advance data-driven, inclusive, and sustainable freshwater ecosystem conservation efforts through the continued partnership between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Wildlife Institute of India.

    ***

    Dhanya Sanal K

    (Release ID: 2122386) Visitor Counter : 69

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NOIA Statement on Offshore Wind Work Stoppage & Review

    Source: National Ocean Industries Association – NOIA

    Headline: NOIA Statement on Offshore Wind Work Stoppage & Review

    NOIA Statement on Offshore Wind Work Stoppage & Review
    Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued the following statement after Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum halted construction activities of the Empire Wind offshore wind project and ordered a review of both existing and pending offshore wind permits:
    “NOIA fully supports the President and Secretary Burgum’s energy dominance objectives. Our industry is committed to advancing an energy dominant future that strengthens economic growth, environmental stewardship, and national security for the benefit of all Americans. NOIA members along the Gulf Coast and nationwide, many of whom are integral to the offshore wind supply chain, bring extensive expertise in engineering, designing, constructing, and operating offshore oil, gas, wind, and emerging energy projects. Decades of experience ensures these industries coexist seamlessly with vital marine activities, including fishing, military operations, tourism, and maritime commerce.
    “We are committed to working closely and expeditiously with federal agencies, stakeholders, and the administration to quickly resolve any concerns and deliver energy solutions that align with national priorities.”

    ##
    About NOIA The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Where will the high-speed trains to St. Petersburg stop in Moscow?

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Four stops for high-speed rail (HSR) trains to St. Petersburg will be prepared in the capital. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, we continue working on the high-speed railway project to St. Petersburg. There will be four stops for high-speed trains in Moscow: Leningradsky Station, Rizhskaya, Petrovsko-Razumovskaya and Zelenograd-Kryukovo. In total, at the four high-speed railway stops, it will be possible to transfer to 14 metro stations and Moscow Central Diameters, as well as to ground city transport. Each station will become a real city railway station and will be equipped with everything necessary for passengers. It will become more convenient for residents of not only Moscow, but also the nearest Moscow region,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    Thanks to the location of the intermediate stations, residents of the north of Moscow and nearby cities in the Moscow region will be able to significantly save travel time without unnecessary trips to the center.

    For residents of the Timiryazevsky and Marfino districts, as well as those traveling from the north of the Moscow region – from Lobnya, Dolgoprudny, Khimki and other cities – Petrovsko-Razumovskaya is suitable. Here you can transfer from the first and third Moscow Central Diameters, as well as two metro lines – Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya and Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya. For residents of Dolgoprudny, the trip to St. Petersburg will be cut in half – to about 2.5 hours without unnecessary transfers.

    Residents of the Ostankino, Maryina Roshcha, and Alekseevsky districts will be able to use the convenient Rizhskaya city station. Here you can transfer to three diameters at once, as well as to two metro lines, including the Big Circle. Travel time to St. Petersburg from Rizhskaya will be just over two hours.

    It will also become more convenient for residents of Zelenograd, as well as the Molzhaninovsky District and Khimki: new high-speed trains will stop at the Zelenograd-Kryukovo station. For residents of Khimki, with the appearance of a new station in Zelenograd, the travel time to the Northern capital will be reduced from five to two and a half hours.

    The Moscow-St. Petersburg HSR-1 will connect the country’s largest urban agglomerations, where more than 40 million people live in total — about 30 percent of Russia’s population. Travel time between Moscow and St. Petersburg will be reduced almost twofold, to two hours and 15 minutes.

    The launch of the highway will also help develop tourism and business, and create new jobs. Environmentally friendly rail transport will reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere and reduce the number of road accidents.

    To launch the VSM-1, a completely new high-speed rolling stock will be developed, which will reach speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour. The contract with the manufacturer for the supply of 41 such trains was signed in 2024. In total, 43 trains will be produced and supplied for the VSM-1 by the end of 2030, taking into account the previously concluded contract.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152698073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets New Zealand delegation from All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-04-15
    President Lai meets delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone 
    On the afternoon of April 15, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Panapasi Nelesone and his wife. In remarks, President Lai thanked Tuvalu for its staunch and long-term backing of Taiwan’s international participation. The president said he looks forward to our nations deepening bilateral ties in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology and working together toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I extend a very warm welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and Madame Corinna Ituaso Laafai as they lead this delegation to Taiwan. Our distinguished guests are the first delegation from Tuvalu that I have received at the Presidential Office this year. During my visit to Tuvalu last year, I met and exchanged views with Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and the ministers present. I am delighted to meet you again today and thank you once again for the hospitality you accorded my delegation. The culture of Tuvalu and the warmth of its people are not easily forgotten. Tuvalu’s support for Taiwan has also touched us deeply. I want to take this opportunity to thank Tuvalu for staunchly backing Taiwan’s international participation over the past several decades. Our two countries have supported each other like family and have together made contributions in the international arena. Last Tuesday, I received the credentials of Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae and expressed my hope for Taiwan and Tuvalu continuing to deepen bilateral relations. This visit by Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone is an important step in that regard. Our two countries will be signing a labor cooperation agreement and an agreement concerning the recognition of training and certification of seafarers. This will expand bilateral cooperation at multiple levels and bring our relations even closer. Taiwan and Tuvalu are maritime nations and share the values of democracy and freedom. Our two countries have stood shoulder to shoulder to protect marine resources and address the challenges posed by climate change and authoritarianism, and we aspire to work toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. Our nations have produced fruitful results in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology. I anticipate that, with the support of Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and our distinguished guests, we can continue to employ a more diverse range of strategies to begin a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. Together, we can make even greater and more concrete contributions to regional development. Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his kind words of welcome and the warm hospitality extended to his delegation. On behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, he conveyed their gratitude to the president and the people of Taiwan for the generous support, as well as for the enduring friendship we share. He said that Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to our bilateral relationship has been instrumental in advancing our shared values of democracy, resilience, and sustainable development. From vital development assistance to cooperation in health, education, and climate change resilience, he added, Taiwan’s contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of the people of Tuvalu.  For Taiwan’s recent generous donation of shoes for Tuvaluan primary school students, Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone expressed thanks to President Lai. He commented that these gifts, which underscore a deep commitment to the welfare of their youth, transcend mere material support; they are symbols of care, friendship, and hope for the future generations. Noting that our bilateral relationship is built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for sustainable development in the Pacific, he expressed confidence that this partnership will continue to flourish and will serve as a beacon of cooperation and solidarity within our region.  The delegation also included Tuvalu Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Trade Paulson Panapa; Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure Development and Water Ampelosa Tehulu, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Tuvalu Ambassador Faavae.

    Details
    2025-04-10
    President Lai pens Bloomberg News article on Taiwan’s response to US reciprocal tariffs
    On April 10, an article penned by President Lai Ching-te entitled “Taiwan Has a Roadmap for Deeper US Trade Ties” was published by Bloomberg News, explaining to a global audience Taiwan’s strategy on trade with the United States, as well as how Taiwan will engage in dialogue with the aim of removing bilateral trade barriers, increasing investment between Taiwan and the US, and reducing tariffs to zero. The following is the full text of President Lai’s article: Last month, the first of Taiwan’s 66 new F-16Vs rolled off the assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina. Signed during President Donald Trump’s first term, the $8 billion deal stands as a testament to American ingenuity and leadership in advanced manufacturing. Beyond its economic impact – creating thousands of well-paying jobs across the US – it strengthens the foundations of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.  This deal is emblematic of the close interests shared between Taiwan and the US. Our bond is forged by an unwavering belief in freedom and liberty. For decades, our two countries have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in deterring communist expansionism. Even as Beijing intensifies its air force and naval exercises in our vicinity, we remain resolute. Taiwan will always be a bastion of democracy and peace in the region. This partnership extends well beyond the security realm. Though home to just 23 million people, Taiwan has in recent years become a significant investor in America. TSMC recently announced it will raise its total investment in the US to $165 billion – an initiative that will create 40,000 construction jobs and tens of thousands more in advanced chip manufacturing and R&D. This investment will bolster the emergence of a new high-tech cluster in Arizona. Taiwan is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in manufacturing and innovation. As a trade-dependent economy, our long-term success is built on trade relationships that are fair, reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Encouraging Taiwanese businesses to expand their global footprint, particularly in the US, is a vital part of this strategy. Deepening commercial ties between Taiwanese and American firms is another. These core principles will guide our response to President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. First, we will seek to restart trade negotiations with a common objective of reducing all tariffs between Taiwan and the US. While Taiwan already maintains low tariffs, with an average nominal rate of 6%, we are willing to further cut this rate to zero on the basis of reciprocity with the US. By removing the last vestiges to free and fair trade, we seek to encourage greater trade and investment flows between our two countries. Second, Taiwan will rapidly expand procurement of American goods. Over the past five years, rising demand for semiconductors and AI-related components has increased our trade surplus. In response to these market trends, Taiwan will seek to narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy, agriculture and other industrial goods from the US. These efforts will create thousands of new jobs across multiple sectors.  We’ll also pursue additional arms procurements that are vital to our self-defense and contribute to peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait. During President Trump’s first term, we secured $18 billion in arms deals, including advanced fighter jets, tanks and anti-ship missiles. Future purchases, which are not reflected in trade balances, build on our economic and security partnership while being essential to Taiwan’s “Peace Through Strength” approach. Third, new investments will be made across the US. Already, Taiwanese firms support 400,000 jobs throughout all 50 states. Beyond TSMC, we also see emerging opportunities in electronics, ICT, energy and petrochemicals. We will establish a cross-agency “US Investment Team” to support bilateral trade and investment – and we hope that efforts will be reciprocated by the Trump administration. Fourth, we are committed to removing non-tariff trade barriers. Taiwan will take concrete steps to resolve persistent issues that have long impeded trade negotiations. And finally, we will strongly address US concerns over export controls and improper transshipment of low-cost goods through Taiwan. These steps form the basis of a comprehensive roadmap for how Taiwan will navigate the shifting trade landscape, transforming challenges in the Taiwan-US economic relationship into new opportunities for growth, resilience and strategic alignment. At a time of growing global uncertainty, underpinned by growing Chinese assertiveness, closer trade ties are more than sound economics; they are a critical pillar of regional security. Our approach is long-term and principled, grounded in a lasting commitment to our friendship with the US, a firm belief in the benefits of fair and reciprocal trade, and an unwavering dedication to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We are confident that our shared economic and security interests will not only overcome turbulence in the international trade environment – they will define the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Details
    2025-04-08
    President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae  
    On the morning of April 8, President Lai Ching-te received the credentials of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lily Tangisia Faavae. In remarks, President Lai welcomed the ambassador to her new post and thanked Tuvalu for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also noted that joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. He expressed his hope that we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a great pleasure today to receive the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu Lily Tangisia Faavae. On behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to you. Last year, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Feleti Teo visited Taiwan in May last year for the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and again in October for our National Day celebrations. When I visited Tuvalu last December, I was warmly received by the government and people of Tuvalu, and I deeply felt that our two countries were like family. Ambassador Faavae’s posting to Taiwan demonstrates the importance Prime Minister Teo places on our ties. Widely recognized for her exceptional talent, Ambassador Faavae is an outstanding official with extensive experience in public service. Moreover, during her term as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she voiced support for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly. I believe that with her assistance, our two nations will further advance cooperation and exchanges. I want to thank the government of Tuvalu for long supporting Taiwan’s international participation. Furthermore, joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. Last year, Prime Minister Teo and I signed a joint communiqué on advancing the comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Going forward, we will stand together in tackling the challenges we face, including climate change and expanding authoritarianism. And we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. Once again, I warmly welcome Ambassador Faavae to her new post in Taiwan. Please convey warmest regards from Taiwan to Prime Minister Teo and all of our friends in Tuvalu. I wish you all the best in work and life during your term in Taiwan. Ambassador Faavae then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor and privilege to meet with President Lai today as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to Taiwan, and to present to him her letter of credence. She then extended, on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, her warmest greetings and deep respect to the president and people of Taiwan. The letter of credence, she noted, signifies the trust and confidence that her government and governor-general have placed in her to represent their nation and to foster and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our countries. Ambassador Faavae said that our two countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship of 45 years based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared values. She added that we have collaborated, and continue to do so, in such fields as education, health, climate change adaptation and sea level rise mitigation, agriculture, clean energy, and internet connectivity.  Ambassador Faavae pointed out that Tuvalu remains committed to deepening ties with Taiwan and that it values people-to-people connections and our shared Austronesian heritage. She noted that the people of Tuvalu, a small developing nation, have greatly benefited from Taiwan’s advanced technical expertise and diverse financial assistance. She said she believes Tuvalu and Taiwan share a common interest and are united in our efforts and commitment to upholding democracy, peace, stability, and prosperity for our people and making the world better and safer.  Ambassador Faavae stated that as ambassador of Tuvalu to Taiwan, she pledges to work diligently and respectfully to enhance our bilateral relations, promote mutual understanding, and facilitate collaboration in areas of shared concern. The ambassador said she looks forward to collaborating closely with the Taiwan government and other stakeholders to achieve our common objectives and to continue building a more prosperous and harmonious future for our nations. In closing, she thanked President Lai for the opportunity to serve and to further the enduring friendship between our two countries.  

    Details
    2025-03-28
    President Lai meets British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones
    On the afternoon of March 28, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones. In remarks, President Lai welcomed Representative Bradley-Jones as she takes up her post in Taiwan, and thanked the United Kingdom government and parliament for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. The president indicated that Taiwan and the UK enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well, with great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. He stated that he looks forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to meet Representative Bradley-Jones here at the Presidential Office for this exchange. I understand that she has proactively called at many government agencies since taking up her post last month. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome. Taiwan and the UK are partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. In recent years, our bilateral relations have continued to deepen. With the efforts of Representative Bradley-Jones and our respective governments, I look forward to the expansion of dialogue and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. This will further elevate our bilateral ties. Especially in the face of expanding authoritarianism, the UK is not only playing an important role in crafting a unified European response; it is also demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through various channels. For example, joint statements released after the Australia-UK ministerial consultations, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, underlined a high level of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The UK government has publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s international participation on multiple occasions. And last November, the UK House of Commons passed a motion clearly asserting that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. These actions attest to the UK’s belief in supporting democracy and peace, and have further solidified our countries’ friendship. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to the UK government and parliament.  Currently, the UK is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe and second largest source of investment from Europe. We enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well. There is also great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. We look forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience. We also hope the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that together, we can work with more like-minded partners, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. Once again, I welcome Representative Bradley-Jones to Taiwan and wish her all the best with her work. I anticipate that Taiwan-UK relations will continue to steadily advance through our joint efforts. Representative Bradley-Jones then delivered remarks, first saying in Mandarin that she is honored to meet with President Lai to discuss topics of mutual concern and jointly deepen Taiwan-UK relations, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. She went on to say that she came to Taiwan last August to study Mandarin, and began her post as British Office Taipei representative in February this year, noting that every day she learns more about and gains a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Last year, she said, she visited Tainan and Wanli, and found Tainan’s wetlands and the scenery in Wanli very impressive. She added that she has also tried many different Taiwanese foods, and is looking forward to experiencing even more of Taiwan’s local culture and customs over the next four years. Continuing her remarks in English, Representative Bradley-Jones stated that since taking up her post, she has borne witness to the strength of the relationship between Taiwan and the UK and the potential for it to continue to grow. She said that on trade and investment, there is significant complementarity between Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s Industrial Strategy, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Both governments are also together supporting Taiwan and UK businesses through our Enhanced Trade Partnership and annual trade talks, she said. Representative Bradley-Jones went on to say that on science and technology, Taiwan and the UK can and should do more together. She noted that the UK has the third largest tech sector in the world and is valued at over US$1.1 trillion, while Taiwan is the center of the semiconductor and AI hardware world. Given our complementary strengths, especially in areas such as semiconductors, space, and communications technology, she said, the UK has stepped up its level of activity in Taiwan, including by regularly hosting a UK Pavilion at SEMICON and funding 18 joint R&D programs through our new collaborative R&D fund, and looks forward to doing more together in the future.  In support of Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience, the representative said, the UK is supporting valuable exchanges, co-hosting GCTF (Global Cooperation and Training Framework) workshops, sharing lessons on financial sector resilience, and reaching out to mayors and community leaders across Taiwan. From financial resilience to cyber resilience, she said, the UK’s public sector and private industries have plenty to share and learn. Representative Bradley-Jones stated that on people-to-people links, parliamentarians, civil society, and academics are continuing to deepen contact, and that she is particularly excited by a new smart parliament partnership agreed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which aims to facilitate cross-party, cross-society, and cross-border exchanges on issues such as democratic governance, AI, inclusive policy-making, and public safety. The representative indicated that the examples she mentioned just scratch the surface of the full potential of the Taiwan-UK relationship. She said that the UK’s longstanding policy remains unchanged, and fundamentally, that is because we share a common set of values and interests. We are together focused on how to make our societies safer and more prosperous tomorrow than they are today, she said, and as like-minded democracies, innovative economies, and practical partners, the sincere and pragmatic cooperation between Taiwan and the UK is bringing material benefits to the prosperity and well-being of our people every day. 

    Details
    2025-03-21
    President Lai meets Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
    On the morning of March 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. In remarks, President Lai said that Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan, and that we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Alaska will have more frequent engagement and exchanges so that our relations can continue to grow to create prosperous development for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to our guests. This is Governor Dunleavy’s first visit to Taiwan, and last night, we both attended the Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with Governor Dunleavy today at the Presidential Office for further dialogue. Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan. Our sister-state relationship was established in 1988, and we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. Currently, Taiwan is Alaska’s eighth largest export market and ninth largest source of imports. This goes to show just how close our trade and economic ties are and how much potential there is for further growth. As I said in my remarks at last night’s Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, Taiwan is interested in buying Alaskan natural gas. I am sure that Governor Dunleavy’s visit will help us explore even more opportunities for cooperation and continue to deepen Taiwan-United States relations. In the face of such challenges as expanding authoritarianism, climate change, and pandemics, we look forward to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan and the US. By drawing on our strengths, we can jointly build non-red supply chains to bolster our economic resilience and drive the advancement of global technology. I want to thank the US government for reiterating the importance it attaches to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. These statements backing Taiwan help in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. Once again, I thank Governor Dunleavy for traveling such a long way to Taiwan. We hope to see more frequent engagement and exchanges between Taiwan and Alaska so that our relations can continue to grow, and we can create prosperous development for both sides. Governor Dunleavy then delivered remarks, saying that their trip to visit friends in Taiwan has been fantastic, thanking President Lai for the invitation to meet, and thanking all the staff. Governor Dunleavy said that as the pandemic was raging, the world went from “before COVID” to “after COVID.” Before COVID, he said, the world relied on a number of systems that were in place for decades after World War II involving supply chains, alliances, sources of energy, trading partners, and friends. He went on to say that as we go beyond COVID, we are reestablishing and reevaluating who our friends are, where we are going to get our energy, and who our trading partners are going to be. The governor said that we are creating a new world for the next 50 years with the new administration in Washington, and this is an opportunity for us to reevaluate and reinvest with our friends for the next 50 years in each other, our futures, and our security. Governor Dunleavy stated that one thing is for certain: that Taiwan is a friend of the US and a friend of Alaska, and has been for many, many decades. He said that it is their hope in this trip and subsequent trips to establish an even tighter bond among their friends in Taiwan, the US, and Alaska. The governor also said that we have much in common in that we are members of the Pacific family, are democracies, and believe in freedom, free speech, and capitalism. He indicated that he has much optimism for the future, and that as we reestablish relationships throughout the world, energy is going to be the key and the basis for our economic development, our national security, and our friendship. Governor Dunleavy said that he believes this trip is going to lay the groundwork for a fantastic future between Taiwan, Alaska, and the US, and that with President Lai’s support as well as the support of the US administration, we can work together to build even better relationships.

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 17 April 2025 Kamchatka Falconry Centre expands cooperation with the region’s tourism industry The Kamchatka Falconry Centre, a resident of the Kamchatka Advanced Development Territory (ADT), and the Kamchatka Tourism Industry Association (KTIA), which unites 59 companies in the region’s tourism industry, signed a cooperation agreement that provides for the inclusion of the Centre’s excursion programmes in the region’s eco-routes. The agreement was the result of an earlier general meeting of KTIA members, which discussed the development of the tourism industry in Kamchatka Territory.

    Source: Eastern Economic Forum

    17 April 2025

    Kamchatka Falconry Centre expands cooperation with the region’s tourism industry

    The Kamchatka Falconry Centre, a resident of the Kamchatka Advanced Development Territory (ADT), and the Kamchatka Tourism Industry Association (KTIA), which unites 59 companies in the region’s tourism industry, signed a cooperation agreement that provides for the inclusion of the Centre’s excursion programmes in the region’s eco-routes. The agreement was the result of an earlier general meeting of KTIA members, which discussed the development of the tourism industry in Kamchatka Territory.

    “The cooperation agreement signed today with KTIA will be a powerful stimulus for the development not only of the Falconry Centre, but also of eco-tourism in the region and Russia as a whole. This cooperation will provide an opportunity to introduce guests to the amazing world of birds of prey and will become an important tool for popularizing environmental culture and drawing attention to nature conservation issues. Tourism, based on the principles of respect for the environment, contributes to the formation of a careful attitude towards nature,” said Kristina Alekseeva, Director of the Kamchatka Falconry Centre.

    Thus, the document defines the general principles of partnership, which opens wide opportunities for travel companies to promote and organize visits to this unique site. In order to simplify the interaction, a draft model agreement between travel agencies and the Centre has been developed, taking into account all legal aspects. An important stage was the approval of the tariffs for visits for individual travellers and organized groups, ensuring a balance between the interests of both tourists and the Centre itself. Special attention was paid to seasonality and its impact on the content of excursions, which will allow to offer guests the most interesting and relevant programmes depending on the time of year. Tourists will have access to a detailed description of all the proposed excursions, allowing them to get acquainted with the programme in advance and choose the most suitable option. It is noted that group and individual visits, as well as special programmes for school groups are available for tourists and residents of the peninsula. In addition, regulations for visiting the Kamchatka Falconry Centre have been developed and approved, ensuring bird safety and comfort for all visitors.

    “Active cooperation with the Kamchatka Falconry Centre in 2025 will be an important step in the development of eco-tourism in the region and will attract more tourists interested in wildlife observation, as well as increase the visibility of Kamchatka as an attractive eco-tourism destination internationally. KTIA member tour companies will be key partners in creating new tourism products and providing quality and safe service to our guests,” noted Elena Lassal, Chairperson of KTIA.

    The Kamchatka Falconry Centre was established in 2017 in close cooperation with experts from Arab countries and Russia, with the support of the Roscongress Foundation. The project is implemented in accordance with order of the President of the Russian Federation No. Pr-1991 dated 25 September 2019 and is aimed at rehabilitation, conservation and introduction of rare species of hunting birds.

    The investment platform of the Roscongress Foundation – RC Investments – acts as a co-investor of the project, creating conditions for scientific initiatives. Earlier in 2024, the Roscongress Foundation and the Kamchatka Falconry Centre signed a cooperation agreement with the Supreme Council for Ecology of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Under this partnership, joint conservation initiatives, exchange of experience and development of technologies for the conservation of rare birds of prey are being implemented. Joint projects will be presented at international venues, including the Eastern Economic Forum and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Tourism programmes of the Kamchatka Falconry Centre will be presented at the Let’s Travel! Tourism Forum to be held in Moscow at VDNKh on 10–15 June 2025.

    According to the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC), residents of Kamchatka Territory are implementing 148 projects, of which 53 have already been successfully put into operation. Businesses have invested over RUB 91 billion in the region’s economy and created jobs for over 9,600 residents of the region.

    Residents of ADT have access to reduced insurance premiums of up to 7.6% for 10 years, zero property and profit taxes for the first 5 years, the possibility of obtaining land and infrastructure support, application of the free customs zone procedure, promotion of products and services, legal protection and other effective tools for accelerated start-up and comfortable business operations.

     

    Read more

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Economic Vision for Dundee

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A new vision to help drive Dundee’s economy forward for the future could be set to get the go ahead. 

    Public sector bodies would join forces with local businesses through the Dundee Business & Economic Forum to produce an action plan based around the concept of ‘Dundee’s Growth Story’.

     Councillors will hear that the plan would identify opportunities that the city can build on to deliver economic growth. 

    These include the transition to a knowledge economy, culture and tourism, Dundee Waterfront, city centre investment and clean growth. Stimulating population growth, tackling unemployment, job creation, improving earning levels and supporting businesses with the transition to net zero are among the challenges that have been identified. 

    The Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee will be told that seven key themes will be explored. 

    These are: 

    • Promoting the city 

    • Growing the population and talent base 

    • Building the new Dundee 

    • Powering the entrepreneurial city 

    • Expanding the knowledge economy 

    • Community Wealth Building 

    Sustainable economic growth and diversification,

    The plan will be discussed by council officials, business leaders and other stakeholders at the Dundee Economic Summit in June. 

    Once a plan is developed, a draft will be brought back to councillors. 

    Committee Convener Councillor Steven Rome said: “Already, through our City Plan and Council Plan, local partners are showing a real commitment to tackling economic challenges and developing new opportunities for the future. 

    “However, nobody is under any illusion about the scale of the task facing us and that is why it is so important that we leave nothing to chance. “Development of a new economic vision for the future of Dundee is more vital than ever given the scale of current events.  I would like as many stakeholders and interested parties as possible to take part in the formulation of the plan. 

    “We will be keen to underline our commitment to fair work and sustainability as these are key parts of our drive to make the city a better place for everyone. “I look forward to hearing the input of partners and to seeing the plan take shape.” 

    The Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee meets on Monday April 21.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Investors will be able to restore three premises in the capital’s historic buildings

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The city will put up for auction three non-residential premises located in cultural heritage sites of regional significance. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The city will put up for auction three non-residential premises in historical buildings in the Central and Southern administrative districts. Their total area is about 660 square meters. According to the terms of the sale, the new owners must comply with security obligations. This will guarantee the preservation of the capital’s architectural heritage,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Entrepreneurs buy cultural heritage sites or parts of them at auctions and always put them in order before using them. As a result, the unique architecture of the city is preserved, and businesses have the opportunity to develop in areas with high business, consumer and tourist activity.

    All premises are conveniently located – close to Moscow metro stations.

    Properties in historic buildings are attractive not only because of the potential for a large flow of customers, but also because they are located in developed areas of the city with high business activity.

    “All three premises occupy the basements of residential buildings. In the Meshchansky and Presnensky districts, the area of the objects is about 50 square meters, which is suitable for opening a small point of sale. Not far from the Shabolovskaya metro station, a premises with an area of almost 560 square meters will be put up for auction. The future owner will be able to open, for example, a co-working center there,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    One of the premises is located in the Tryndins’ apartment building on Bolshaya Lubyanka, a cultural heritage site of regional significance. On Krasnaya Presnya, the commercial premises are located in the apartment building of merchant Moisei Kochubei. On Lesteva Street, a premises in the Khavsko-Shabolovsky residential complex from 1927-1930, built according to the design of architects N. Travin and B. Blokhin, which is also a cultural heritage site of regional significance, will be put up for auction.

    All information about the premises put up for auction is presented on the capital’s investment portal. You can learn more about them, study the lot documentation and the rules for conducting auctions in the section “Property from the city”The organizer of the auctions is Moscow City Department of Competition Policy.

    The development of electronic services for entrepreneurs is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Data Economy”.

    Investors can purchase a large space in a historic building on Lesteva StreetThe city will put up for auction the premises in the Tryndins’ apartment building

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152679073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Public toilets could be the jewels in our cities’ crowns – if only governments would listen

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Tietz, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, UNSW Sydney

    A New South Wales Senate inquiry into public toilets is underway, looking into the provision, design and maintenance of public toilets across the state.

    Whenever I mention this inquiry, however, everyone nervously laughs and the conversation moves on. It’s not something people feel comfortable talking about.

    Yet, a public toilet goes to the heart of what a city provides for its inhabitants and visitors. It is a critically important piece of public infrastructure that sets the tone for public behaviour, expectations and conduct.

    And we could be doing so much better with our public toilets.

    An important first impression

    Public toilets communicate social values. They show how we provide for our citizens and what we expect of them in return.

    A public toilet is often the first thing someone new to a place sees and wants; it creates an important first impression.

    As communication theorist Paul Watzlawick said, “One cannot not communicate.” Infrastructure is no exception.

    So public toilets play an important social role and, through their design, help communicate and shape relationships between citizens.

    As one person’s submission put it: ‘It’s important that public toilets don’t look like prisons’.
    ThatHolisticMom888/Shutterstock

    They not only provide relief for our urgent bodily needs; in them, we are equal humans. External hierarchies are largely removed.

    Their appearance and design influences whether we feel cared for, trusted and appreciated, seen and acknowledged.

    This is reflected in what members of the public have said to the current NSW senate inquiry. One submission, for instance, noted:

    It’s important that public toilets don’t look like prisons.

    If they are perceived as such, then the message is we can’t be trusted. We are assumed to damage or destroy them and behave like criminals.

    Public toilets should be appealing, inviting, visually interesting – and anticipate and provide for the many different needs for which people visit them.

    Designing and maintaining with this in mind means they’ll delight the user, rather than making them feel like a criminal.

    Might that not then help inspire a sense of gratitude toward governments, ratepayers and taxpayers and, by extension, broader society?

    Public toilet design can and should be beautiful.
    Caito/Shutterstock

    Costs, yes. But also benefits

    Access to adequate public toilets is a basic right. But they are also used to administer medication, breastfeed, care for children, access drinking water and find a quiet place to rest. Public toilets are often the only private space in public.

    So, how can a communal space like the public bathroom evolve accordingly? One issue emerging in several inquiry submissions so far is the issue of public toilets being routinely locked at night.

    As one submission writer puts it:

    We don’t have a curfew, we are aloud (sic) out at night. If you don’t want people pissing in the street, then leave them open.

    Cost is the greatest concern. Councils know how much their toilet blocks cost, but not how many people use them.

    A submission from Blacktown City Council states their 218 public toilets cost more than A$15 million annually, involving six staff and three vehicles to service these facilities.

    This equals more than $68,800 per toilet per year.

    On the other hand, good public toilets could help grow the economy. A submission by Guide Dogs Australia quotes Deloitte Access Economics estimates that inclusive public spaces could add $12.7 billion to Australia’s economy annually and boost GDP by about $1.2 billion through increased workforce participation.

    And a submission by Bathurst Regional Access Committees notes:

    The disability tourism trade is worth well over $8 billion dollars annually. Tourism is what keeps many regions alive.

    Decent and accessible toilets may even help attract more people to a local area, activating public spaces and building community.

    Flipping the toilet script

    We need to flip the way we think about public toilets and those who clean them.

    They must radiate thoughtful care, pride, civic engagement and delight.

    Australian urban designer David Engwicht’s community consultation approach to public space provides a great blueprint. He advocates recognising that place making is similar to home making; it can create memorable and potentially transformative experiences. It can help bring us into the present, creating a feeling of rootedness and connection.

    This stunning public toilet in Tokyo was designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.
    Tada Images/Shutterstock

    The toilet can transcend its shameful, dirty, grimy image and last resort status. It can become a privilege to maintain, clean and keep in pristine condition for the public good.

    The public toilet could become a valuable asset, an attraction, a sought after destination, a jewel in the crown of the government’s public offering.

    They could be pieces of enchanting infrastructure sponsors line up to support.

    Tokyo toilets

    The Tokyo Toilet project is a great example.

    In this project, 17 toilets were designed by world-leading Japanese architects and designers and their cleaners’ uniforms by a famous fashion designer.

    The toilets were equipped with custom high quality toilet paper, cleaned three times a day, and given their own stunning interactive website.

    German filmmaker Wim Wenders even made a feature film, Perfect Days, about a man who cleans these toilets.

    Credit: The Match Factory/YouTube.

    These toilets, sponsored by the non-profit Nippon Foundation in collaboration with Shibuya City government and Shibuya Tourism Association, represent a highly innovative approach.

    Here, the public toilet is celebrated as an international attraction, while providing an excellent service to the public.

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

    – ref. Public toilets could be the jewels in our cities’ crowns – if only governments would listen – https://theconversation.com/public-toilets-could-be-the-jewels-in-our-cities-crowns-if-only-governments-would-listen-253526

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rustam Minnikhanov became an Honorary Doctor of SPbPU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A solemn ceremony of presenting the mantle and diploma of Honorary Doctor of SPbPU to Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The event was attended by honorary doctors of SPbPU: Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, General Director of the Scientific and Technical Center of Gazprom Neft Mars Khasanov, as well as the Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Taliya Khabriyeva, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Roman Shaikhutdinov and other honored guests. The ceremony began with the performance of the anthem of the Polytechnic University by the youth choir of SPbPU “Polyhymnia”.

    Today is a ceremonial meeting of the Academic Council, dedicated to a very important historical event. You can talk about Rustam Nurgalievich for a long time, and still not reveal the breadth of soul, mind, intellect, talents that were given to him. It is a great honor and joy for us to see such a legendary person among polytechnics, – emphasized the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

    The new honorary doctor was introduced by the Scientific Secretary of the Polytechnic Dmitry Karpov, who greeted the guests in the Tatar language. He reported that the members of the Academic Council of our university unanimously voted to award the title to Rustam Nurgalievich on November 27, 2023.

    The long-standing and in every sense friendly interaction of our university with universities, enterprises and administrative institutions of Tatarstan is seen as one of the most convincing and positive symbols of the unity of our multinational and multi-confessional country. And just as the bear has become a significant symbol of a large, strong, powerful Russia since ancient times, the winged white leopard on the coat of arms of the Republic of Tatarstan is significant for us – a sacred symbol of purity of thoughts and heavenly protection, a symbol of nobility and rebirth, – noted Dmitry Karpov.

    Under the leadership of Rustam Minnikhanov, the republic is actively developing: 6th place among the subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of gross regional product, 5th and 3rd in terms of industrial and agricultural production, 2nd in terms of construction scale. Today, Tatarstan produces over 7% of all Russian oil, produces over 40% of synthetic rubbers, and produces every third truck produced in the country. In the quality of life rating in 2024, the Republic of Tatarstan took 2nd place after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

    Kazan today is one of the largest economic, industrial, scientific and cultural centers of our country, a popular tourist city that has a registered brand “Third Capital of Russia”. Elabuga, a city with more than a thousand years of history, has become a special economic zone “Alabuga”, recognized as the best in the country. Innopolis is one of four science cities in Russia, created from scratch, a special economic zone. Five Advanced Engineering Schools have been created in Tatarstan within the framework of a federal project.

    Outstanding results are behind many significant awards of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. Rustam Nurgalievich has more than 40 orders, medals and badges of distinction – state, regional, departmental, public, religious, as well as dozens of certificates, gratitude from the President, honorary titles.

    Rustam Minnikhanov is a holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland for his great contribution to solving socio-economic problems and many years of conscientious work, the holder of the Order of Alexander Nevsky for special personal services to the state and great contribution to strengthening the international authority of the Russian Federation, as well as the Stolypin Medal of the 2nd degree for services in solving strategic problems of the country’s socio-economic development and many years of conscientious work. A professional race car driver, Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation, multiple Russian autocross champion, Rustam Nurgalievich also makes a great contribution to the development of sports.

    The robe and diploma of the Honorary Doctor of SPbPU are symbols that have a lot of meaning for our university, and for Rustam Nurgalievich personally, and for Tatarstan universities and enterprises, and for the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, whose project group we are expecting for an internship in October of this year at the request of the President of the Academy Rifkat Nurgalievich Minnikhanov. I would like to especially note that the badge of the Honorary Doctor of the Polytechnic University of Rustam Nurgalievich turned out to be doubly symbolic: our university celebrated 125 years since its foundation, and the number of the badge that will be awarded is 125, – Dmitry Karpov emphasized.

    The doctoral robe and cap were brought into the Academic Council hall by students in the uniform of the Polytechnic University of the early 20th century. Traditionally, the Polyhymnia choir performed the Gaudeamus anthem. Andrei Rudskoy presented Rustam Nurgalievich with a book about honorary doctors of the Polytechnic University, which has a page dedicated to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. As a sign of special respect, the book is also made in the Tatar language.

    Rustam Minnikhanov expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him.

    It is a great honor for me to become an Honorary Doctor of the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, the leading university in the country, a world-class university. Mechanical engineering, the oil industry, energy, and IT are actively developing in the Republic of Tatarstan. In recent years, we have been working very closely with the Polytechnic University, collaborating in many areas, and are in touch with Andrey Ivanovich. This is for the benefit of everyone. Thank you very much, Rustam Minnikhanov said in his response.

    After the ceremony, Rustam Nurgalievich met with students who came to study at SPbPU from the Republic of Tatarstan. The polytechnicians asked questions about employment opportunities and prospects for young specialists. They were interested in what measures are being taken in Tatarstan to attract graduates of technical universities, what bonus programs exist.

    Polytechnic University is a world-class university, I have once again seen this today. You are very lucky to be studying at one of the best technical universities in Russia. We will be sincerely happy if you find a job in Tatarstan, which needs strong and well-trained personnel, the head of the republic emphasized.

    The meeting participants left their contact details so that representatives of the relevant structures and services of the Republic of Tatarstan could contact them and provide detailed information. The students also suggested diversifying the menu of the Polytechnic donut shop with Tatar cuisine.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: CHEMUNG COUNTY IS ON FRONTLINES OF TARIFF WAR, RAISING PRICES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES & FAMILIES ACROSS UPSTATE NY; STANDING AT WARD APPARATUS, SENATOR REVEALS HOW TARIFFS ARE HURTING LOCAL…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Ward Apparatus Manufactures Emergency Response & Rescue Vehicles For Fire Departments; Due To Tariffs On Aluminum From Canada And Materials From Other Countries They Along With Dozens Of Other Local Businesses Are Seeing Costs SKY-ROCKET – This Means Higher Prices For Customers And Firefighters Due To Tariffs
    Over 17,000 New Yorkers Across The Southern Tier – Including 5,100 In Chemung, Steuben & Schuyler Counties – Work In Industries Directly Impacted By Tariffs, With Thousands More In Adjacent Fields Like Tourism That Are Seeing Huge Drops As Canadians Cancel Trips To Upstate NY
    Schumer: We Need To Save Our Small Businesses From The Administration’s Tariff War That Is Raising Prices On Everyone And Killing Jobs
    With Trump’s tariff war hitting Main Street businesses across Upstate NY, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood with Southern Tier business leaders like Ward Apparatus, a company that builds emergency rescue and response vehicles for fire departments and is feeling the pain with major hits to their bottom line due to tariffs on Canada and other countries. The senator said this destructive and un-strategic tariff war that Trump has started has Upstate NY businesses, seniors and working- and middle-class families footing the bill with increased costs.
    Schumer said every day this chaos continues, it risks 17,000 jobs in the Southern Tier in industries impacted by the tariffs and even more jobs in Upstate NY’s vital tourism sector, and revealed he will push for the Senate to vote on a resolution to end this destructive trade war.
    “Chemung County and the Southern Tier are on the frontlines of the destructive Trump tariff war. Let’s be clear: these tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate NY. This trade war is raising costs up for families, small businesses, and in the case of Chemung County’s Ward Apparatus, which manufactures emergency vehicles, it is raising costs for first responders, fire departments, and municipalities that need this lifesaving machinery,” said Senator Schumer. “If this tariff war continues, it could devastate Upstate NY’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic. Small businesses are struggling to figure out how to make ends meet and being forced into difficult decisions, including if the increase in costs means they will need to lay off staff or even close their business altogether, and that is unacceptable. That’s why when the Senate returns, I will force a vote to end this reckless trade war that is hurting families and small businesses throughout the Southern Tier and across Upstate New York.”
    Schumer explained that Ward Apparatus operations in Chemung County, along with dozens of other businesses in the area, and thousands across Upstate NY, have been rattled by the trade war. Aluminum is a key component in the emergency response vehicles they build for firefighters, and it currently faces a 25% tariff, as the majority of aluminum comes from Canada. With more tariffs on the way, and through no fault of their own, prices for Ward Apparatus’s trucks could go up 10% for customers – as much as $30,000 or $40,000 – a cost which gets footed by the firefighters and municipalities that need to purchase them.
    Schumer added, “We don’t want to see departments and agencies compromising on the safety of the fleets their first responders operate, or the ability they have to adequately meet and respond to the needs of the public they are tasked to protect, because Trump’s tariffs have made it too cost-prohibitive. Our first responders deserve the best, and the public should not be worried about impacts to their safety.”
    Scott Beecher, CEO/Owner of Ward Apparatus/Ward Diesel stated, “We try to source domestic parts, materials, and components as local as possible, but there are many not available or cannot be 100% sourced domestically.  Having tariff uncertainty makes it very difficult to plan out production over an extended period of time.  I agree with efforts to bolster manufacturing in the US, but unintended negative consequences hurt business’s and add to already long lead-times.  These costs will have to be passed on to the end users and in our case that’s local fire departments, municipalities, and communities. The more predictability and stability we can have, the better we can supply our incredible firefighters with our trucks and equipment we manufacture.”
    Ward Apparatus is one of many Southern Tier-based businesses struggling to prepare for the impacts of tariffs to their bottom line. Schumer was also joined by Rimco Plastic and Swift Glass, local businesses that are feeling the impacts.
    Rimco Plastics Corporation, also located in Chemung County, manufactures and supplies thermoformed plastic trays and lids for businesses’ shipping, handling, and production needs. The uncertainty of market conditions as a result of tariffs has created challenges for the business in obtaining the raw material, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), needed to produce their products. Suppliers of PVC have halted their orders due to the uncertainty of pricing. As a result, Rimco has had to decline orders, even from long-standing customers, because this material is unavailable.
    For almost 100 years, Swift Glass has been a fabricator of quality and custom glass, providing a variety of custom glass parts for biomedical, appliance, industrial and commercial, optical, and aerospace applications. Given the custom nature of their products, a large segment of the glass and materials they purchase are sourced around the globe to accommodate the unique needs of their product’s applications, items that will be subjected to tariff increases in the coming months.
    “For Swift Glass, the brunt of the tariff issue will be felt with our far material purchases. About 50% of glass we buy comes from Europe and we were notified that starting in June, there would be an 8% increase added to what we have been paying,” said Charlie Burke, Vice President of Sales at Swift Glass. “This material is specifically used for defense applications, medical diagnostics, and the semiconductor industry. Unfortunately, there is no equivalent made in the United States so this tariff increase, if it does occur, will be passed on to these customers.”   
    According to the Main Street Alliance, a network of small businesses, 81.5% of small business respondents to a recent survey indicated they would raise prices for consumers due to tariffs and 31.5% indicated they would lay off employees as a result of the increased costs from tariffs. Tariffs are also creating uncertainty for families and jobs. If implemented again, tariffs are expected to increase costs for the average American family by as much as $5,000 a year, and families are struggling to plan for the future without assurances about their jobs. According to a New York Times analysis, over 17,000 New Yorkers across the Southern Tier including 2,500 in Chemung County work in industries targeted by the administration’s tariffs, which does not even account for all the related jobs, such as jobs in the tourism industry, that are also being impacted by the damage of this trade war.
    Schumer explained that planned tariffs hurt small businesses across the country, especially because they can’t stockpile raw materials for future orders before tariffs take effect and often have very slim margins to adapt to increased costs. The whiplash and uncertainty over tariffs have also sent the economy into a tailspin. Trump previously delayed the start of his tariffs twice and canceled across-the-board tariffs six days after implementing them. Uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, causing chaos for small businesses to operate, and shaking the job market.
    Schumer said the Senate has a plan to end this dangerous trade war and protect Upstate NY businesses. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada and urged the House to pass it as well. Schumer also said when the Senate returns it will vote on a resolution to reverse these new taxes of 10% on all imported goods and end the looming threat of additional tariffs of up to 49% on products Americans buy from other countries. Schumer said ending this costly trade war is key to protecting New York from price increases and job losses as a result of tariffs on Canada.
    “I am all for addressing trade imbalances, I have always been a China hawk and have long fought against unfair trade practices, but these sweeping, ill-conceived tariffs are creating chaos and undermining those goals. Rather than uniting the world against China, Trump has united them against us! No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to skyrocket for consumers. If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country. We need everyone, especially NY Republicans, to stand up against Trump’s senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax on Upstate New Yorkers,” concluded Schumer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China reports record railway passenger trips in Q1

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An aerial drone photo shows a bullet train running on China-Laos Railway in Jinghong City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s railway passenger trips hit a new high in the first quarter of 2025 thanks to robust travel demand and increasing transport capacity.

    About 1.074 billion passenger trips were registered in the railway system in the period, up 5.9 percent year on year, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said in a statement on Thursday. In particular, the number of trips made by foreign travelers surged 30 percent year on year to 3.66 million.

    The railway operator said it actively enhanced transport capacity to meet rising travel demand, with a 7.4 percent increase in daily trains, more scientific arrangements backed by big data, and continued operation of “slow trains” to remote areas to ensure public welfare.

    To boost tourism and consumption, the company also deployed 187 tourist trains in the January-March period, up 30 percent year on year. It also worked to ensure the smooth operation of the China-Laos Railway, which carried 85,000 cross-border passengers in the period, up 32.2 percent.

    Meanwhile, railway freight volume also expanded steadily. Data from the National Railway Administration said about 1.25 billion tonnes of cargo were transported through railways in the first quarter, up 1 percent from a year ago.

    In the period, the amount of containers, metallic ores, and mineral and construction materials sent through railways increased 20.4 percent, 11.1 percent, and 42.1 percent in tonnes from a year ago, respectively.

    The fixed-asset investment in the railway sector gained 5.2 percent year on year to 131.2 billion yuan (about 18 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter, also a record high.

    The steady increases in both passenger trips and freight volume offered strong support for a stable economy, the administration said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Commerce minister calls to expand service consumption

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A staff member works at an oil-paper umbrella shop in Huangling Village of Wuyuan County, east China’s Jiangxi Province, July 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has called for multiple measures to bolster service consumption, amid efforts to spur domestic demand and economic growth.

    He made the remarks in a signed article published Wednesday in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

    Expanding service consumption is an important lever for stimulating domestic demand across the board, a task that has been identified as the top priority for 2025 in China’s government work report, according to the commerce minister.

    In recent years, service consumption has gained steam in China. Per capita service consumption expenditure in 2024 among residents rose 7.4 percent compared to the previous year, contributing 63 percent to the overall growth in per capita consumption expenditure.

    China has tailwinds to expand service consumption, driven by the unlocking of market potential, upgrading consumption structure and accelerating industry development, according to Wang.

    However, the minister cautioned that several challenges, such as the relatively low level of service industry openness, insufficient supply of high-quality services, and the room for improvement in consumption environment, still pose constrains on the sector’s expansion.

    To further stimulate service consumption, the government plans to roll out policies that support sectors such as household services and digital consumption, Wang said, adding that support will also be directed toward industries related to tourism, ultra-high-definition, the sports events economy, and traditional Chinese medicine health services.

    China will develop fiscal, tax, and financial policies to introduce targeted and practical measures, he said.

    A fresh move in this direction, China on Wednesday unveiled a work plan to boost service consumption. The plan proposes 48 specific measures across a broad spectrum of industries, covering both main service sectors as well as new forms of business and new consumption scenarios.

    MIL OSI China News –