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Category: Trade

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: US State of California

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

    Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

    According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

    To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

    After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

    As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

    The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

    If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – ATIDI Guarantee Backs Lending Consortium Led by BPR Bank Rwanda plc for Rwanda’s New International Airport, Boosting Regional Trade and Integration

    Source: Media Fast

    ·       ATIDI has approved a USD $84 million counter-guarantee to support issuance of bonds and guarantees for the construction of Rwanda’s New International Airport in Bugesera District.
    ·       BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent, leads a consortium of lenders enabling the transaction.
    ·       The Project is a vital infrastructure that will accelerate Rwanda’s Vision 2050, its national strategy to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income economy by 2050.
    ·       This transaction is aligned with ATIDI’s strategic focus on empowering its member states to deliver impactful, transformative investments that spur growth, sustainability and regional integration.

    Kigali, 11th July 2025 – ATIDI has approved a USD84 million counter-guarantee to support three local Rwandan banks and one regional bank in issuing bonds and guarantees totaling over USD322 million. These guarantees have been extended to a joint venture of three contractors undertaking the construction of the New Bugesera International Airport, a transformative project poised to elevate Rwanda as a strategic hub for trade and logistics in Africa.

    The project, jointly developed by the Governments of Rwanda and Qatar, is a vital infrastructure that will accelerate Rwanda’s Vision 2050, its national strategy to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income economy by 2050. The airport is also aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, facilitating the free movement of goods, services and people across the continent.

    The airport, which is valued over USD2 billion, is scheduled for completion by mid-2028. ATIDI’s cover supports the three local banks including BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, Bank of Kigali (BK), and the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), benefitted directly from ATIDI’s risk mitigation, enabling them to issue guarantees beyond their Single Obligor Limits (SOL). The de-risking provided by ATIDI offers banks capital relief while ensuring smoother execution of infrastructure projects.

    The lending consortium led by BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent on behalf of the contractors, also includes KCB Bank Kenya, a regional lender, which participated in the syndicate without recourse to ATIDI’s guarantee.

    Quote from Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, ATIDI

    “ATIDI is proud to partner in Rwanda’s transformation and continental ambitions through this catalytic project, a central piece of the country’s development strategy. The new airport is not just about infrastructure, it’s about unlocking regional value chains and ensuring Africa trades more with itself. Our support demonstrates the value addition of ATIDI’s de-risking solutions in scaling up lending capacity and unlocking financing by banks to Rwanda’s development priorities”

    Quote from BPR (Mandated Lead Arranger)

    Patience Mutesi, Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, remarked “We are honored to lead this transformational financing effort. As Mandated Lead Arranger, BPR Bank Rwanda Plc is proud to play a pivotal role in unlocking capital for a project that will reshape Rwanda’s connectivity and competitiveness. This collaboration with ATIDI and our partner banks reflects our firm commitment to financing national development priorities and enabling long-term value through strategic infrastructure.”

    This transaction is aligned with ATIDI’s strategic focus on empowering its member states to deliver impactful, transformative investments that spur growth, sustainability and regional integration. Rwanda, a founding member of ATIDI, has been a consistent partner in leveraging risk mitigation to unlock capital and de-risk essential sectors.

    Currently, ATIDI has issued policies worth over USD1.45 billion in transaction value and holds a gross exposure of over USD611.9 million in Rwanda. These transactions span multiple sectors vital to the country’s development, including agriculture, forestry; fishing; construction; energy and gas; financial activities; information and communication; manufacturing; other services activities; public administration; trade and transportation; transporting and storage; as well as wholesale and retail trade.

    This broad sectoral engagement demonstrates ATIDI’s critical and transversal role in de-risking investments and catalyzing trade, infrastructure and socio-economic development across Africa.

    About ATIDI

    ATIDI was founded in 2001 by African States to cover trade and investment risks of companies doing business in Africa. ATIDI predominantly provides Political Risk, Credit Insurance and, Surety Insurance. Since inception, ATIDI has supported USD88 billion worth of investments and cross border trade into Africa. For more than a decade, ATIDI has consistently maintained a Financial Strength and Counterparty Credit rating of ‘A/Stable’ from Standard & Poor’s. In 2019, Moody’s assigned ATIDI an A3/Positive rating, which was subsequently upgraded to A2/Stable in 2024 and reaffirmed in 2025, reflecting the organization’s robust financial position and strong risk management practices. In recognition of its growing impact, ATIDI was named the Development Finance Institution (DFI) of the Year at the 2025 African Banker Awards.

    www.atidi.africa

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Presents Credentials

    Source: United Nations 4

    The new Permanent Representative of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations, Thongphane Savanphet, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

    (As provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

    Date of Birth:    28 June 1964

    Place of Birth:   Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR

    Marital Status:   Married to Mrs. Dalavanh SAVANPHET and has three daughters

    Education and Training:

    1997-1998   – M.A. in Diplomatic Studies, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    1983-1988   – M.A. in Public International Law, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), Moscow, Russia (Former Soviet Union)

    1990        – English Training Course, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

    1982-1983   – Russian Language, Institute of Foreign Languages, Kiev, Ukraine (Former Soviet Union)

    1970-1982   – Primary and High Schools completed in Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR

    Employment:

    Sept 2016-Present – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

    2013- 2016  – Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to the United Nations Office, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva; 

                         – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Switzerland; and Non-resident Ambassador of the Lao PDR                         to the Hellenic Republic (Greece), the Republic of Italy, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Republic of Malta and the                                     Republic of Turkey

    2011-2013   – Director-General, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Vientiane, Lao PDR

    2010-2011   – Deputy Director-General, Department of Economic Affairs, MFA

    2002-2010   – Assistant Director/Head, ASEAN Political Cooperation Division (2009 -2010) and ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and Republic of Korea) Division (2007-2009); Senior Officer and Coordinator, ASEAN Plus Three Unit (2003-2006); and Senior Officer, Social Development Unit (2002-2003), ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia

    1996-2002   – Director (2001-2002), Deputy Director (1999-2001) and Official (1996-1999), ASEAN Political and Security Cooperation Division, Department of ASEAN Affairs, MFA

    1993-1996   – Third Secretary, Embassy of the Lao PDR, Canberra, Australia

    1989-1993   – Official, Department of International Organizations, MFA

    Others:

    – Governor for the Lao PDR to the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) (Singapore) (2011-2013)

    – Council Director for the Lao PDR to the ASEAN-Japan Centre (Tokyo, Japan) ) (2011-2013)

    – Council Member for the Lao PDR to the Mekong Institute (Khon Kaen, Thailand) ) (2011-2013)

    Foreign Languages:  English, Russian

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Megabill to Cut Over $6.6 Billion from WA Hospitals

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on new data showing that Washington hospitals will lose an estimated $662 million a year, or over $6.6 billion over the next decade, because of Trump and Republicans’ megabill that was signed into law last week.

    “The ripple effects of this law will be felt like a tsunami in Washington’s health care system. These cruel cuts will kick 330,000 Washingtonians off their health coverage. Regardless of what kind of health coverage someone has, they will feel the impact. Hospitals across Washington are estimated to lose over $6.6 billion because of the Apple Health cuts. It will force hospitals and providers to close facilities and scale back services, and insurers to raise insurance premiums across the board.

    “All of this so Republicans can give billionaires another massive tax break.”

    Some of the largest estimated annual cuts in Western Washington include:

    • Over $56 million cut to Harborview Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Over $45 million cut to the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Nearly $30 million cut to Swedish Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Nearly $29 million cut to Providence Regional Medical Center (Everett)
    • Over $12 million cut to Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Over $11 million cut to Evergreen Health (Kirkland)
    • Over $7.8 million for Overlake Hospital (Bellevue)
    • Over $1.9 million cut to Evergreen Health (Monroe)

    What Washington Health Systems Are Saying:

    “The federal cuts to Medicaid payments are a disaster for hospitals across the country. In Washington State alone, hospital payments for services delivered will be cut by more than $6 billion over the next ten years. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people will lose coverage. There is no way hospitals can absorb this level of cuts in the Medicaid program without impacting everyone’s access to services. Important hospital services will disappear, nurses and doctors will be laid off, and some hospitals are at risk of full closure,” said Jacqueline Barton True, Vice President, Advocacy and Rural Health, Washington State Hospital Association.

    “Medicaid funding is critical to keep hospitals open and operating for all patients. This is especially true for public safety net health systems like UW Medicine. The federal budget reconciliation bill will significantly reduce both patient eligibility for coverage and Medicaid funding going directly to hospitals for daily operations,” said Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine and Dean University of Washington School of Medicine. “It is not simply Medicaid patients who will be impacted; these cuts will disrupt the financial foundation that supports the entire health care system, reducing resources and access to care for everyone. As Washington state’s largest public hospital system and safety net provider of health care, the loss of Medicaid reimbursements will have a profound impact on UW Medicine’s ability to serve the community and meet our mission of improving the health of the public by treating every patient who needs our care.”

    “From a patient’s perspective, the biggest concerns about the law are the numerous provisions, including significant Medicaid cuts, that will make it harder for patients to get health insurance coverage and keep that coverage. When people lose their coverage, their medical needs don’t go away. Lack of health insurance coverage can end up exacerbating those needs, as patients without insurance genuinely don’t receive the preventive care that they desperately need that keep patients and populations healthy. Patients may even ration food or skip medication altogether. All this adds up to patients who, when they do seek care, will require higher level care—which is also more expensive,” said Jon Duarte, President & CEO, MultiCare Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, CEO, North Sound Region. “In addition, they often enter the health care system through an emergency department, putting increased stress, not only on them, but on other patients in emergency department care as well. In accordance with our mission at MultiCare, we provide care for all who need it, any day, any hour of the day as well, regardless of their ability to pay. When patients lose access to health insurance, hospitals like Overlake will have no choice but to care for those patients and absorb the increased costs associated with providing uncompensated care, creating a financially unintentional and unsustainable situation for health systems. Ultimately, we may have to cut services, causing entire communities to lose important access to care.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Megabill to Cut Over $6.6 Billion from WA Hospitals

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on new data showing that Washington hospitals will lose an estimated $662 million a year, or over $6.6 billion over the next decade, because of Trump and Republicans’ megabill that was signed into law last week.

    “The ripple effects of this law will be felt like a tsunami in Washington’s health care system. These cruel cuts will kick 330,000 Washingtonians off their health coverage. Regardless of what kind of health coverage someone has, they will feel the impact. Hospitals across Washington are estimated to lose over $6.6 billion because of the Apple Health cuts. It will force hospitals and providers to close facilities and scale back services, and insurers to raise insurance premiums across the board.

    “All of this so Republicans can give billionaires another massive tax break.”

    Some of the largest estimated annual cuts in Western Washington include:

    • Over $56 million cut to Harborview Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Over $45 million cut to the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Nearly $30 million cut to Swedish Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Nearly $29 million cut to Providence Regional Medical Center (Everett)
    • Over $12 million cut to Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle)
    • Over $11 million cut to Evergreen Health (Kirkland)
    • Over $7.8 million for Overlake Hospital (Bellevue)
    • Over $1.9 million cut to Evergreen Health (Monroe)

    What Washington Health Systems Are Saying:

    “The federal cuts to Medicaid payments are a disaster for hospitals across the country. In Washington State alone, hospital payments for services delivered will be cut by more than $6 billion over the next ten years. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people will lose coverage. There is no way hospitals can absorb this level of cuts in the Medicaid program without impacting everyone’s access to services. Important hospital services will disappear, nurses and doctors will be laid off, and some hospitals are at risk of full closure,” said Jacqueline Barton True, Vice President, Advocacy and Rural Health, Washington State Hospital Association.

    “Medicaid funding is critical to keep hospitals open and operating for all patients. This is especially true for public safety net health systems like UW Medicine. The federal budget reconciliation bill will significantly reduce both patient eligibility for coverage and Medicaid funding going directly to hospitals for daily operations,” said Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine and Dean University of Washington School of Medicine. “It is not simply Medicaid patients who will be impacted; these cuts will disrupt the financial foundation that supports the entire health care system, reducing resources and access to care for everyone. As Washington state’s largest public hospital system and safety net provider of health care, the loss of Medicaid reimbursements will have a profound impact on UW Medicine’s ability to serve the community and meet our mission of improving the health of the public by treating every patient who needs our care.”

    “From a patient’s perspective, the biggest concerns about the law are the numerous provisions, including significant Medicaid cuts, that will make it harder for patients to get health insurance coverage and keep that coverage. When people lose their coverage, their medical needs don’t go away. Lack of health insurance coverage can end up exacerbating those needs, as patients without insurance genuinely don’t receive the preventive care that they desperately need that keep patients and populations healthy. Patients may even ration food or skip medication altogether. All this adds up to patients who, when they do seek care, will require higher level care—which is also more expensive,” said Jon Duarte, President & CEO, MultiCare Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, CEO, North Sound Region. “In addition, they often enter the health care system through an emergency department, putting increased stress, not only on them, but on other patients in emergency department care as well. In accordance with our mission at MultiCare, we provide care for all who need it, any day, any hour of the day as well, regardless of their ability to pay. When patients lose access to health insurance, hospitals like Overlake will have no choice but to care for those patients and absorb the increased costs associated with providing uncompensated care, creating a financially unintentional and unsustainable situation for health systems. Ultimately, we may have to cut services, causing entire communities to lose important access to care.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Joint Trades Letter re: Expeditious Consideration of DOI Nominees

    Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America

    Headline: Joint Trades Letter re: Expeditious Consideration of DOI Nominees

    Jul 10, 2025 Joint Trades Letter re: Expeditious Consideration of DOI Nominees

    Posted at 17:16h in Letters and Comments by

    Dear Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Chairman Lee, and Ranking Member Heinrich:

    We write to express our gratitude for the Senate’s confirmation of President Donald Trump’s picks to lead the Department of the Interior (DOI) – Secretary Doug Burgum and Deputy Secretary Katharine MacGregor – and to express our strong support for the expeditious consideration of all remaining DOI nominees who are currently awaiting Senate floor action. …

    Continue Reading

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anand meets with China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 11, 2025 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Wang Yi,  China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Association of Southeast Nations Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    Highlighting the importance of regular communication channels, the ministers reiterated support for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission, the next round of consular consultations and forthcoming counternarcotics discussions.

    The ministers exchanged views on a range of global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The ministers also discussed challenges and opportunities in the bilateral relationship and agreed to remain in touch with each other.

    Related product

    Associated links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Democratic Republic of the Congo formally accepts WTO Agreements on Fisheries Subsidies, Trade Facilitation

    Source: World Trade Organization

    DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am very grateful to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for joining so many other WTO members in taking this step to protect the global commons. We are now just seven ratifications away from the entry into force of this landmark Agreement to curb harmful fisheries subsidies and better preserve our oceans!” 

    Minister Kahongya said: “By ratifying the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its commitment to the principles of multilateralism and to ensuring sustainable management of the world’s marine resources. The ratification reflects our country’s determination to contribute actively to preserving the environment, combating overfishing and promoting international trade based on equity, sustainability and solidarity. We also hope that the implementation of this crucial international legal instrument will allow the Democratic Republic of the Congo to participate more actively in world trade.”

    The Director-General also received from the Democratic Republic of Congo its acceptance of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).  Concluded in 2013, the TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods which will enhance regional trade integration and connectivity.

    Formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required for the Agreement to enter into force — representing 111 members. The list of the 104 WTO members which have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the WTO is available here.

    At the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted by consensus the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

    Ministers also recognized the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments that have formally accepted the Agreement to implement the new obligations.

    The Fish Fund launched a Call for Proposals on 6 June, inviting developing economies and LDCs that have ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the Agreement. The WTO Fish Fund portal can be found here.

    WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues. The objective is to find consensus on additional provisions to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.

    Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Public procurement as key tool to tackle health issues discussed at WHO-WIPO-WTO webinar

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Public procurement as key tool to tackle health issues discussed at WHO-WIPO-WTO webinar

    The event also presented procurement as a mechanism for fostering innovation, technology transfer and local manufacturing.
    Clive Ondari from the WHO Secretariat noted that in many countries, access to medical technologies is driven by public procurement as pharmaceuticals are often made available through public funding or subsidies.To ensure efficient procurement, systems must rely on quality medical products obtained in a timely manner in the required quantities and at affordable prices. These elements are particularly important in the health sector given the large expenditures, with some programmes paying considerably more than necessary for medicines.
    Amy Dietterich from the WIPO Secretariat emphasized the role of collaboration and tailored strategies to ensure procurement serves as an effective tool for innovation and access. Learning how governments develop laws and policies, how different initiatives determine strategies and priorities to support procurement practices, and how this tool benefits from an integrated view of public health, intellectual property (IP), and trade is important.
    Roger Kampf from the WTO Secretariat highlighted the importance of a cross-disciplinary approach, including IP, procurement and competition frameworks to effectively address global health challenges. He noted that beyond obtaining best value for money, sound procurement can foster technology transfer, boost local manufacturing capacities and strengthen research and development (R&D) capacities as well as supply chain resilience.
    The webinar featured presentations examining the health, IP and trade dimensions of public procurement alongside case studies from experts representing various regional and local mechanisms, who highlighted their respective approaches to public procurement.
    Lisa Hedman from the WHO Secretariat highlighted procurement as a lever in the context of the WHO Roadmap on Access to Medicines 2025 – 2030 to improve affordability, availability, accessibility and acceptability for health products and technologies.
    Giovanni Napolitano from the WIPO Secretariat explained the role of public procurement as a key driver of innovation in the healthcare area. IP may influence access, pricing and innovation by informing who holds rights to key technologies (patent landscapes), delimiting freedom to operate and avoiding IP infringement, encouraging voluntary licensing for broader access, and assessing the impact of data exclusivity on competition. Well-designed, pro-competitive tenders are essential for rewarding R&D, preventing monopolies and improving access. He emphasized the importance of IP due diligence early in procurement processes, building capacity for IP management within agencies and fostering public-private partnerships around IP.
    Astghik Solomonyan from the WTO Secretariat addressed the benefits of combining pooled public procurement with international trade. At the country level, pooled procurement with its implied larger orders and trade agreements (e.g. the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement 2012) with their market access and good governance guarantees can attract international suppliers offering competitive prices or superior quality. At the international level, recent experience has highlighted the importance of global supply chain resilience. Trade agreements provide international suppliers with the market access needed to establish additional production and distribution facilities while pooled procurement helps to generate the level of demand necessary to keep such facilities operational.
    Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Ministry of Health Indonesia representative, shared how the country has strategically positioned public procurement as a key instrument to drive national innovation and industrial development by boosting local production, ensuring market access for domestic products and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders.
    The representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Santiago Cornejo, explained the Revolving Fund mechanism, which enables countries across the Americas to access quality vaccines, essential medicines and health products, including diagnostics, using pooled procurement, which consolidates reliable and predictable demand from member states. He also mentioned the reorientation of the Fund in response to COVID-19 toward supporting innovation, technology transfer and local manufacturing.
    The EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) representative, Katarzyna Motyka, presented the EU joint procurement mechanism based on the lessons learned from COVID-19. She highlighted how the mechanism ensures equitable access to essential health products among member states, complements national initiatives and strengthens public procurement systems across Europe on a voluntary basis.
    The representative of the Gulf Health Council, Fathi Alkathiry, clarified how the Gulf Joint Procurement Program has, through the years, developed efficient decision-making processes for a multi-country pooled procurement tendering to facilitate the procurement of medicines and medical supplies. The Gulf Cooperation Council has also taken measures to promote local manufacturing, including the use of procurement to develop local industries. These efforts have contributed to regional growth in the industrial sector. In 2024, the Gulf region counted 74 pharmaceutical factories and 140 medical supply factories.
    Lastly, the representative from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Regional Economic Communities, Wesley Ronoh, shared Africa’s experience with public procurement, highlighting the role of the East African Community, Southern African Development Community, and Economic Community of West African States in fostering collaboration. He further noted that public procurement plays a critical role in national health strategies in Africa as an estimated 40% of health spending in many African countries occurs through it. The African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, established in 2024, was also presented.
    The video recording of the webinar is available here.
    Trilateral collaboration of WHO, WIPO and WTO
    The secretariats of the WHO, WIPO and the WTO organize capacity building and technical assistance activities on current issues to enhance the flow of updated and technical information related to innovation and access to health technologies. The objective of the Trilateral Cooperation workshops and webinars is to strengthen the capacity of law and policymakers and experts in member governments by facilitating access to expertise, data and evidence and deepen discussions of critical issues at the intersection of public health, IP and trade.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members address trade concerns, current trade tensions at Goods Council meeting

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Trade concerns

    The CTG reviewed 36 trade concerns, with a new concern raised by Australia regarding India’s certification process for cotton bales (Quality Control Order) 2023. It also considered, under other business, a request by the Republic of Korea to discuss the United Kingdom’s safeguard measure on certain steel products.  

    Trade concerns previously raised in the CTG have covered a wide range of measures relating to trade in goods across the WTO membership, including non-tariff barriers, environmental policies, import taxes, import/export restrictions, national security measures, halal certification, subsidy schemes, export controls, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, discriminatory domestic taxes, administrative procedures and reciprocal tariffs.

    They have also encompassed a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, semi-conductors and semi-conductor-manufacturing equipment, shipbuilding and food products as well as specific products, such as critical minerals, electric vehicles, electric batteries, liquors, air conditioners, apples and pears, cheese, pulses, cosmetics and tyres.

    Current trade tensions

    The United States made a statement in response to the notifications by the European Union, India, Japan and the United Kingdom proposing to suspend concessions under Article 8.2 of the WTO’s Agreement on Safeguards in response to US tariff measures (G/C/W/863, G/C/W/864, G/C/W/865, G/C/W/866).

    The United States said the tariffs imposed by President Trump were taken under Section 232, a national security statute, and the US was maintaining these actions pursuant to the essential security exception in Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. As these actions are not safeguard measures, the US said, the suspension of concessions under the Agreement on Safeguards was not applicable.

    The EU, India, Japan and the United Kingdom took the floor to explain that they considered the characteristics of the measures as those of safeguards and thus had reserved their rights to suspend concessions under the Safeguards Agreement, without prejudice to ongoing negotiations.

    Canada, the European Union and Norway made statements regarding the fragmentation of global trade through tariffs and the resulting global costs. They said the recent tariffs announced or implemented by the United States continued to severely disrupt global trade and undermine predictability in the international trading system, with rising economic costs across the globe for consumers and companies. They also voiced their support for the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, but also recognized the need for reform of the organization and its rules to reflect today’s economic realities.

    Thirteen other WTO members took the floor to comment on the item, including the United States, which considered that the trading system had been unable to address trade imbalances and non-market policies and practices.  The US called for WTO reform, based on fairness and reciprocity.

    Improving the functioning of the Council for Trade in Goods

    The Chair of the CTG, Ambassador Gustavo Nerio Lunazzi (Argentina), reported on his consultations with members on improving the functioning of the CTG. Recommendations from members included enhancing the value of trade concerns discussions by focusing on their political aspects, avoiding repetition on technical issues raised at subsidiary bodies, and encouraging bilateral engagement. Members also proposed improving transparency through better use of digital tools, more effective notification processes and regular reporting on thematic sessions.

    The Chair recommended continuing discussions in an informal meeting in September to further explore these ideas and foster inclusive, member-driven engagement. Ten members made statements under this agenda item, supporting the Chair’s report and suggestions.

    Following on from discussions that took place earlier in the year, the CTG adopted a decision on the recording of the resolution of trade concerns, which takes into account the practices of the WTO’s Committees on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Three members took the floor to express their support for the draft as a positive symbol and move towards the Council’s further efficiency. 

    Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

    Members considered a request from the United States for a waiver from WTO rules for trade preferences provided under the Caribbean Basin Recovery Act.  The United States noted the waiver is similar to the one the CTG approved in 2019, except for programmes related to Haiti that have yet to receive the necessary legislative re-authorization. The initiative creates opportunities to expand trade between the United States and the Caribbean, thus promoting economic opportunity and growth in the region, the US added.

    Several Caribbean members took the floor, encouraging members to favourably consider the request.  The CTG agreed to forward the draft decision to the General Council so it can be considered at its upcoming meeting.

    Next meeting

    The next formal meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods will take place on 27-28 November, and the next informal meeting is scheduled for 24 September.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/11/2025 Blackburn, Cotton, Kustoff Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Protect Americans from Violent Criminals

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) introduced the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act, which would reinstate an important tool for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties against violent, repeat offenders:

    “Violent, repeat offenders have no business being back on our streets,” said Senator Blackburn.“We’ve seen the heartbreaking consequences of rewarding repeat offenders with the freedom to victimize more law-abiding Americans. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act would empower prosecutors to keep dangerous felons behind bars and prevent future tragedies.”

    “Violent, repeat criminals should be behind bars, not roaming the streets threatening law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Cotton. “The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will give back federal prosecutors the tool they need to lock up hardened, repeat offenders.”

    “Career criminals are a danger to our citizens and our communities,” said Representative Kustoff. “The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will reinstate a critical tool that allows prosecutors to seek tougher penalties for violent career criminals. I appreciate Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Tom Cotton for their work on this important bill.”

    BACKGROUND

    • The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), which became law in 1984, requires a minimum 15-year prison sentence for felons convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses, which must have been committed on three different occasions. These are the worst-of-the worst, career criminals. 
    • The ACCA defines serious drug offenses as those punishable by imprisonment for 10 years or more. It defines violent felonies as those:
      • That have an element of threat, attempt, or use of physical force against another person;
      • That involve burglary, arson, or extortion; or
      • That constitute crimes similar to burglary, arson, or extortion under what is known as the ACCA’s “residual clause.” This is any crime that otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another person.
    • In 2015, the Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States declared the residual clause unconstitutionally vague and thus effectively void. 
      • Many criminals were sentenced under the ACCA and their premature release following the Johnson decision resulted in tragic consequences.
      • In 2016, Cornelius Spencer, a gang member with nine felony convictions—including drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and robbery—was released a full five years before his sentence was up. In 2018, he was charged with raping two Arkansans, including a 62-year-old woman and a 21-year-old autistic, homeless man. These crimes would never have occurred if Spencer had not been prematurely released.
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has labeled Memphis, Tennessee, as the “homicide capital of America.”
      • Memphis leads the United States in homicides per capita.

    o    The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act would give federal prosecutors in Memphis the tools they need to keep violent criminals behind bars.

    THE RESTORING THE ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL ACT

    • The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act would do away with the concepts of “violent felony” and “serious drug offense” and replace them with a single category of “serious felony.” The bill defines “serious felony” as any crime punishable by 10 years or more.
    • By defining “serious felony” solely based on the potential term of imprisonment, the bill would address the vagueness issue and remove any discretion or doubt about which offenses qualify.
    • Importantly, the bill would give federal prosecutors an additional tool to go after the most dangerous, career criminals and would not apply to low-level offenders.

    Click here for bill text.

    ENDORSEMENTS

    The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act is endorsed by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition:

    “I am grateful for Congressman Kustoff and Senator Blackburn’s leadership on this important legislation that ensures serious federal time for dangerous criminals. Career criminals with guns put our communities at risk.  This legislation restores prosecutors’ ability to seek appropriate enhanced penalties for dangerous repeat offenders while ensuring the law meets constitutional standards. This common-sense approach will keep violent criminals off our streets,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

    “Senator Blackburn’s Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will empower federal prosecutors to target Memphis’ most dangerous career criminals, delivering a much-needed boost in tackling Memphis’ crime challenge. Her relentless focus on Shelby County’s safety will help us restore law and order. As I work to Make Memphis Matter, Senator Blackburn’s partnership ensures we’ll Make Memphis Safe Again,” said Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor.

    “This bill empowers law enforcement and the justice system to better protect the public—especially at a time when some of our nation’s cities are still struggling to bring down violent crime rates. The Fraternal Order of Police firmly stands behind this effort to bring clarity, consistency, and safety back to our neighborhoods,” said Patrick Yoes, the Fraternal Order of Police National President.

    “Congress passed the Armed Career Criminal Act in 1984 to protect our nation’s communities from the most dangerous violent criminals. Unfortunately, this important law was essentially voided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 due to part of the definition of “violent felony” being unconstitutionally vague, taking away an important tool that law enforcement used to get the worst career criminals off our streets. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will fix and restore the Act, giving law enforcement and prosecutors back a significant resource in the fight against violent crime. We thank Senator Blackburn for her leadership and support,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

    “The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC) strongly supports the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act, led by Senator Blackburn and Congressman Kustoff, because it gives law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to keep communities safe. Violent, repeat offenders continue to drive much of the serious crime in our neighborhoods, and this legislation ensures they can be effectively identified and prosecuted. By clearly defining serious felonies, the bill strengthens our ability to focus federal resources where they’re most needed. We appreciate Senator Blackburn and Congressman Kustoff’s leadership on this important public safety measure,” said Eric Brown, President of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.

    RELATED

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  • MIL-OSI Banking: BSTDB Forum “Armenia – Accelerating Regional Success” Held in Yerevan

    Source: Black Sea Trade and Development Bank

    Event | 10-Jul-2025

    Advancing Regional Integration and Economic Resilience through High-Level Dialogue

    Regional cooperation and economic resilience took center stage in Yerevan as the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) hosted the high-level Business Forum “Armenia – Accelerating Regional Success” under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Vahagn Khachaturyan.

    Bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, and international financial institutions, the Forum offered a platform to explore how targeted investment, cross-border collaboration, and multilateral partnerships can strengthen the growth prospects of smaller economies in the Black Sea Region.

    Held in the margins of BSTDB’s Annual Meeting, the Forum opened with a welcome address by Ambassador-at-Large Artur Javadyan, Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Economic Perspectives Foundation and BSTDB Govenor for Armenia. In his inaugural remarks, President Vahagn Khachaturyan emphasized Armenia’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, positioning the country as a vital player in advancing regional cooperation. Dr. Serhat Köksal, President of BSTDB, followed with an opening statement highlighting the Bank’s growing footprint in Armenia and its role in unlocking economic potential across the region.

    The first panel discussion, titled “Supporting Resilience: International Synergies for Smaller Economies,” was moderated by Panayotis Gavras, Director for Policy and Strategy at BSTDB. The conversation brought together Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, and Avag Avanesyan, Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia, who shared insights into the country’s financial landscape and policy priorities. They were joined by Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, who spoke on the role of regional institutions in fostering economic stability, and Koba Gvenetadze, the IMF’s Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, who contributed an international perspective on resilience-building in smaller economies.

    The second session, “Partnering with BSTDB: Insights and Experiences,” was moderated by David Nahapetyan, Board Member of the Central Bank of Armenia. The panel featured Edmond Vardumyan, CEO of the National Mortgage Company, who spoke about BSTDB’s innovative solutions for advancing Armenia’s housing sector. Leonid Sidorenko, BSTDB’s Director for General Industries, and Larisa Manastirli, the Bank’s Director for Financial Institutions, offered perspectives from within the Bank, focusing on how BSTDB tailors its financing to meet diverse partner needs. Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia, emphasized the importance of long-term collaboration between BSTDB and the Armenian banking sector.

    The Forum concluded with a series of signing ceremonies, with local clients, namely ARMECONOMBANK, DICA, Inecobank and SAS Group, reinforcing BSTDB’s strong partnership with Armenia and its broader commitment to accelerating economic success in the region.

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.

     

    Contact: Haroula Christodoulou

    : @BSTDB

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kazakhstan plans to temporarily ban export of non-ferrous metals

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    ALMATY, July 11 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan plans to impose a ban on the export of non-ferrous metal blanks and ingots by all modes of transport until December 31, 2025, the press service of the Kazakh prime minister said on Friday.

    This became known at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade Policy and Participation in International Economic Organizations chaired by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin.

    The ban applies to unwrought copper, aluminium slabs and billets and lead ingots.

    According to the department, this measure is aimed at providing the domestic market with strategic raw materials, preventing the export of products with low added value and stimulating the processing of non-ferrous metals within the country. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Jamaica accedes to Afreximbank, strengthening ties to Global Africa

    Source: APO

    Jamaica has officially acceded to the Establishment Agreement of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), becoming the 13th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State of the African Multilateral Financial Institution. The historic signing took place on the sidelines of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.

    Jamaica’s accession marks a major achievement in the growth of Global Africa: an intercontinental partnership committed to economic transformation and self-determination for African nations and their diaspora. The move unlocks an additional US$1.5 billion financing for Jamaica and other Caribbean economies, raising Afreximbank’s total approved facility for the region to US$3 billion, contingent upon full CARICOM membership.

    Commenting at the signing ceremony, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, emphasised the mutual benefits to both parties:

    “We are thrilled to welcome Jamaica into the Afreximbank family. Jamaica’s accession to the Partnership Agreement marks a pivotal step towards realising the vision of our forefathers—a united and prosperous Global Africa, built on a platform of South-South cooperation. The Partnership Agreement unlocks Afreximbank’s financing solutions, trade facilitation tools, and investment opportunities, empowering Jamaican businesses to access African markets while fostering reciprocal trade.

    Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, expressed his optimism for Jamaica’s membership of the Bank:

    “This is a significant and strategic step that strengthens Jamaica’s ability to access increased trade financing, investment support, and technical assistance. The agreement creates real opportunities for Jamaica to benefit from Afreximbank’s expanding suite of financial instruments, including trade guarantees, project financing, and capital support tailored to the needs of developing economies. It positions Jamaica to tap into new sources of funding for critical sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and the creative industries, while laying the foundation for deeper collaboration between African and Caribbean businesses.”

    This historic signing builds on the momentum of the inaugural AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF), held in Bridgetown, Barbados in September 2022, where Caribbean nations reaffirmed their commitment to closer Africa-Caribbean cooperation. Since then, Afreximbank has hosted successive ACTIFs in Guyana (2023) and The Bahamas (2024), with the fourth forum scheduled for 28–29 July 2025 in Grenada.

    Since establishing its regional office, Afreximbank has approved over US$700 million in financing across the Caribbean, with a pipeline exceeding US$2 billion. Investments have supported key sectors such as energy, tourism, education, and small business development across Barbados, St. Lucia, Suriname, Grenada, and The Bahamas. The Bank also provided over US$4.3 million in pandemic-related assistance through the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) to The Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, and Trinidad & Tobago.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact:
    Vincent Musumba
    Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
    Email: press@afreximbank.com

    Follow on Social Media: 
    X: https://apo-opa.co/3Iphrco
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4loiEis
    LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4kEeSR5
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/44rvTcq

    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Channel crossings: what is a safe and legal route?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gillian McFadyen, Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University

    Since figures were first recorded in 2018, more than 170,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, hoping to claim asylum in the UK. Over 20,000 have crossed this year alone, and many dozens have died.

    Over the years, UK governments have tried a number of tactics – returns agreements, increased law enforcement, deportation schemes, and “smashing” organised smuggling gangs – to try and put an end to this dangerous practice. The latest attempt is the government’s new “one in, one out” pilot migration deal with France, which would see the UK accept some asylum seekers with legitimate claims to life in the UK, while sending an equivalent number back to France.



    Read more:
    How UK-France ‘one in, one out’ migration deal will work – and what the challenges could be

    Campaigners, academics and groups that support asylum seekers have long called for the UK to introduce “safe and legal routes”. They argue that this is the only way to reduce demand for unsafe Channel crossings. The logic is that people seeking protection are turning to smugglers and small boats because, for most, there are no other options to enter the UK and claim asylum.

    But what are these routes?

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    A safe and legal route is a scheme or journey approved by the UK government that allows people to enter the country without a visa in order to claim asylum. The 1951 refugee convention says that people have the right to claim asylum. But UK law requires someone to be physically present in the country to do so.

    A safe and legal route stresses that arriving irregularly – for instance, by crossing the Channel in a small boat – is illegal, even though the UN refugee convention is explicit that refugees should not be penalised for how they arrive to claim refuge.

    Does the UK have safe and legal routes?

    The UK has had safe and legal routes available for refugees in the recent past.

    Most schemes are restricted to certain populations and limited in accessibility. For example, two nationality-specific schemes for Afghans were set up in January 2022, after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. These have resettled roughly 34,000 Afghans in the UK.

    The schemes prioritised those who had worked or assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan, as well as assisting vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and minority groups. Both routes are now shut.

    The UK also has schemes for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers. The Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukrainians and the now-closed Ukrainian Family Scheme), established in March 2022, have resettled 217,000 to the UK. The Hong Kong scheme is only eligible for British National Overseas status holders and their dependants. Most of these are not recognised, and nor do they identify, as refugees. Since opening in January 2021, 179,000 have been granted a visa to live in the UK.

    There is also the family reunion pathway for those already granted protection in the UK, who can invite spouses or other dependants to join them. This can be viewed as a safe route, but it is specifically for those already with status (refugee or otherwise) in the country. Importantly, those who gain access this way are not given refugee status in their own right, but granted leave to remain that is connected to their family member’s status.

    The UK has also worked closely with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, since March 2021. The UNHCR identifies vulnerable candidates for resettlement direct from regions of conflict, primarily the Middle East and North Africa. This scheme highlights the value of safe and legal routes and the potential for developing a humane asylum route, but at present it is limited in scope, with only 3,798 people granted safe and dignified resettlement in the UK via this route.

    The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has stressed that the new pilot with France will be limited to people “who have not tried to enter the UK illegally” and who have a strong case for asylum in the UK – again highlighting the strict access and eligibility for this “safe and legal” route.

    A refugee camp in Greece in 2016.
    Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock

    If we look at the map of international conflict today, the majority of people in conflict zones would be ineligible for these schemes. Afghans, Eritreans, Syrians, Iranian and Sudanese are some of the top nationalities arriving via the Channel crossing to the UK, but are provided with no safe or legal routes to sanctuary. Yet, in claiming asylum, 68% of small boat arrivals are ultimately granted status.

    Conflicts in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have not led to any bespoke humanitarian refugee protection rights from the UK. In practice, it is legally impossible for most asylum seekers to reach the UK via a safe and legal route as the schemes are so limited in scope.

    Smashing the gangs

    In January 2025, the Refugee Council, an organisation that supports asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, urged the UK to introduce a safe and legal route – in the form of a limited number of refugee visas – in order to stop deaths in the Channel.

    Between 2018 and April 2025, 147 people have died attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, with 2024 being the deadliest year for child migrant deaths.

    The UK government’s most recent approach has been to “smash the gangs” to prevent small boat crossings. But evidence shows that a criminal justice approach, while popular, ultimately leads smugglers to change their business practices – often jeopardising people further as they take longer routes or put more people into boats.

    More safe and legal routes would, on the other hand, reduce demand for smuggling across the Channel, by giving people another option.

    Crucially, even if the UK were to successfully “smash the gangs”, this does not eradicate peoples’ need for protection when fleeing war zones. Safe and legal routes would introduce a compassionate and humane refugee system which adheres with the UK’s obligations under international refugee law.

    Gillian McFadyen receives funding from ACE Hub Wales, Public Health Wales for the project ‘A Welsh Pathways to Peace: Digital Storytelling and Forced Migration’ (2025-2026).

    – ref. Channel crossings: what is a safe and legal route? – https://theconversation.com/channel-crossings-what-is-a-safe-and-legal-route-246931

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The CBSA launches investigations into the alleged dumping and subsidizing of cast iron soil pipe from China

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 11, 2025
    Ottawa, Ontario

    The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is initiating investigations to determine whether cast iron soil pipe originating in or exported from China is being sold at unfair prices in Canada (dumping) and/or subsidized. These practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting prices, which undermines fair competition.

    The CBSA is investigating because of a complaint filed by Canada Pipe Company ULC, d/b/a Bibby-Ste-Croix (Bibby). Bibby alleges that as a result of an increase in the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports, they have suffered material injury in the form of lost market share, price undercutting, price suppression and depression, and adverse impacts on market share, production, capacity utilization, inventory levels, financial performance and profitability, employment, wages, operations, investment and ability to raise capital.

    The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) both play a role in the investigations. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming the Canadian producer and will issue a decision by September 9, 2025. Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and/or are being subsidized, and will make a preliminary decision by October 9, 2025.

    Currently, there are 158 special import measures in force in Canada, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. In 2024, these measures have directly helped to protect approximately 45,000 Canadian jobs and $18.4 billion in Canadian production.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP surged 8% in a day, and the logic of crypto investment is being reshaped: JA Mining builds a dual profit model of “fixed income + currency price appreciation”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the Ripple ecosystem continues to expand, XRP has become one of the strongest performing crypto assets in the past 24 hours, with prices reaching $2.64 at one point, a daily increase of more than 8%, and trading volume exceeding $7.8 billion, setting a new daily high in nearly three months. The rise was driven by two good news: first, Ripple and BNY Mellon established a custody partnership for the stablecoin RLUSD; second, the market heard that XRP is expected to be included in an upcoming blue-chip crypto ETF, triggering accelerated capital inflows.

    Many research institutions pointed out that the current rise in XRP prices is no longer a short-term market speculation, but a structural market driven by infrastructure construction, ecological synergy and institutional configuration. Against this background, more and more investors are turning from high-volatility currency price speculation to seeking more stable and predictable ways of making profits.

    JA Mining becomes a new entry point for structured crypto investment

    In this trend of “reshaping the logic of returns”, JA Mining, as a new generation of cloud mining platform, is gaining wide attention. The platform focuses on the three core positionings of “low threshold, high transparency, and strong compatibility”, helping users to participate in cryptocurrency mining through contracts, without the need to purchase mining machines, electricity bills, and technical maintenance, and can achieve daily automated returns.

    JA Mining currently supports mainstream crypto assets including BTC, DOGE, and XRP, and builds a global distributed mining architecture through intelligent allocation of multi-currency computing power and deployment of high-efficiency green data centers. Users can choose the contract amount and period as needed, the platform settles on a daily basis, and the returns are directly credited to the account, which is highly controllable and flexible.

    JA Mining has multiple advantages:

    • Equipment-free and maintenance-free: No need to purchase mining machines or management systems by yourself, all operations can be completed with one click, suitable for ordinary users to quickly get started.
    • Support mainstream currencies: Comprehensive coverage of popular assets such as BTC, DOGE, XRP, ETH, etc., to meet the investment preferences of different users.
    • Daily settlement of income: Daily income distribution within a fixed period, transparent process, and controllable risks.
    • Invitation rebate mechanism: Recommend others to join to enjoy up to 7% continuous commission rewards and build a personal mining network.

    Another advantage worth emphasizing is that:

    JA Mining adopts a daily income settlement mechanism denominated in US dollars to ensure that users lock in stable income during the entire contract period. After the contract expires, users can choose to withdraw their income to mainstream cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and XRP. This design brings significant strategic flexibility – based on the certainty of income, users can choose to withdraw when the market price rises, thereby achieving the dual profit of “fixed US dollar income + currency price appreciation“. For example, if a user withdraws money when the price of a currency is rising, he or she will receive more equivalent cryptocurrencies at a higher exchange rate, thereby amplifying the actual returns.

    The following are some examples of popular contracts：

    Whether you are trying a small amount or pursuing high returns, JA Mining provides a flexible contract portfolio that suits various risk preferences and investment sizes.

    Investment behavior is being reshaped: “Trading thinking” gives way to “income model”

    Since the second quarter of 2025, the user structure of JA Mining has been changing. Data shows that the number of high-net-worth individuals and family office users has increased significantly, the average holding period has been extended to more than 4.2 days, and the reinvestment rate has exceeded 63%. This shows that the market is increasingly inclined to regard cloud mining as a “passive cash flow configuration tool” rather than a short-term gaming platform.

    Against the backdrop of continued increase in currency price volatility, the importance of structural income models has been re-recognized. The compound mechanism of “computing power leasing + US dollar income + withdrawal autonomy” represented by JA Mining may constitute a new framework for mainstream crypto investment in the future.

    Media Contact:

    Full Name: Anna W Hitchens
    Position: Manager
    Phone: +44 7751696528
    Email: info@jamining.com
    Website: https://jamining.com
    Download App:https://jamining.io/jamining/

    Company Address:
    JA Financial Services Limited, 11 The Elms, Leek Wootton, Warwick, England, CV35 7RR, London, UK

    Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, legal advice, or investment recommendations. Stock Trading involves risk and market volatility. Please research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. Jamining.com and associated parties are not liable for any financial loss incurred.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 July 2025 Departmental update Public procurement as a key tool to tackle health issues discussed at WHO-WIPO-WTO webinar

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) co-hosted a technical webinar on July 3rd, 2025, discussing the role of public procurement, including pooled procurement, to promote global, equitable and timely access to health technologies. The webinar underscored that effective public procurement procedures depend on access to quality and up-to-date information on health product markets, a clear understanding of the needs, and the ability of suppliers to deliver required quality products at affordable prices. It also presented procurement as a mechanism to foster innovation, technology transfer and local manufacturing.

    Clive Ondari from the WHO Secretariat noted that in many countries, access to medical technologies is driven by public procurement, as pharmaceuticals are often made available through public funding or subsidies. To ensure efficient procurement, systems must rely on quality medical products obtained in a timely manner in the required quantities and at affordable prices. These elements are particularly important in the health sector given the large expenditures, with some programmes reportedly paying considerably more than necessary for medicines.

    Amy Dietterich from the WIPO Secretariat emphasized the role of collaboration and tailored strategies to ensure procurement serves as an effective tool for innovation and access. Learning how governments develop laws and policies, how different initiatives determine strategies and priorities to support procurement practices, and how this tool benefits from an integrated view of public health, intellectual property (IP), and trade is important.

    Roger Kampf from the WTO Secretariat highlighted the importance of a cross-disciplinary approach, including IP, procurement, and competition frameworks to effectively address global health challenges. He noted that beyond obtaining best value for money, sound procurement can foster technology transfer, boost local manufacturing capacities, and strengthen R&D capacities as well as supply chain resilience.

    The webinar featured presentations examining the health, IP, and trade dimensions of public procurement, alongside case studies from experts representing various regional and local mechanisms, who highlighted their respective approaches to public procurement.

    Lisa Hedman from the WHO Secretariat in her presentation highlighted procurement as a lever in the context of the WHO Roadmap on Access to Medicines 2025 – 2030 to improve affordability, availability, accessibility and acceptability for health products and technologies.

    Giovanni Napolitano from the WIPO Secretariat in his presentation explained the role of public procurement as a key driver of innovation in the healthcare area. IP may influence access, pricing, and innovation by informing who holds rights to key technologies (patent landscapes), delimiting freedom to operate and avoiding IP infringement, encouraging voluntary licensing for broader access, and assessing the impact of data exclusivity on competition. Well-designed, pro-competitive tenders are essential for rewarding R&D, preventing monopolies, and improving access. He emphasized the importance of IP due diligence early in procurement processes, building capacity for IP management within agencies, and fostering public-private partnerships around IP.

    Astghik Solomonyan from the WTO Secretariat in her remarks addressed the benefits of combining pooled public procurement with international trade. At the country level, pooled procurement with its implied larger orders, and trade agreements (e.g. the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement 2012) with their market access and good governance guarantees, can attract international suppliers offering competitive prices or superior quality. At the international level, recent experience has highlighted the importance of global supply chain resilience. Trade agreements provide international suppliers with the market access needed to establish additional production and distribution facilities while pooled procurement helps to generate the level of demand necessary to keep such facilities operational.

    Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Ministry of Health Indonesia representative, shared how the country has strategically positioned public procurement as a key instrument to drive national innovation and industrial development by boosting local production, ensuring market access for domestic products, and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders.

    The representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Santiago Cornejo, explained the Revolving Fund mechanism which enables countries across the Americas to access quality vaccines, essential medicines, and health products including diagnostics, using pooled procurement, which consolidates reliable and predictable demand from member states. He also mentioned the reorientation of the Fund in response to COVID-19 toward supporting innovation, technology transfer, and local manufacturing.

    The EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) representative, Katarzyna Motyka, presented the EU joint procurement mechanism based on the lessons learned from COVID-19. She highlighted how the mechanism ensures equitable access to essential health products among member states, complements national initiatives and strengthens public procurement systems across Europe on a voluntary basis.

    The representative of the Gulf Health Council, Fathi Alkathiry, clarified how the Gulf Joint Procurement Program has, through the years, developed efficient decision-making processes for a multi-country pooled procurement tendering to facilitate the procurement of medicines and medical supplies. The Gulf Cooperation Council has also taken measures to promote local manufacturing, including the use of procurement to develop local industries. These efforts have contributed to regional growth in the industrial sector. In 2024, the Gulf region counted 74 pharmaceutical factories and 140 medical supply factories.

    Lastly, the representative from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Regional Economic Communities, Wesley Ronoh, shared Africa’s experience with public procurement, highlighting the role of the East African Community, Southern African Development Community, and Economic Community of West African States in fostering collaboration. He further noted that public procurement plays a critical role in national health strategies in Africa, as an estimated 40% of health spending in many African countries occurs through it. The African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, established in 2024 was also presented.

    The video recording of the webinar is available here.

    The Trilateral collaboration of WHO, WIPO and WTO

    The Secretariats of the WHO, WIPO, and the WTO organize capacity building and technical assistance activities on current issues to enhance the flow of updated and technical information related to innovation and access to health technologies. The objective of the Trilateral Cooperation workshops and webinars is to strengthen the capacity of law and policymakers and experts in Member governments by facilitating access to expertise, data, and evidence and deepen discussions of critical issues at the intersection of public health, IP, and trade.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on June Labour Force Survey results

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s  Labour Force Survey for June 2025:

    “Today’s Labour Force Survey data demonstrates the work B.C. is doing to push forward on job creation, investment and economic development, despite the uncertain and challenging geopolitical climate we are facing from south of the border.

    “In June, B.C. held steady with a gain of 5,000 jobs compared to last month with overall increases for six of B.C.’s seven regions. So far this year, B.C. has gained 50,700 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces.

    “Women’s employment increased by 6,700 this month. So far this year, B.C. has had the highest increase in women’s full-time employment among provinces at 28,700.  

    “Our unemployment rate is 5.6%, down from 6.4% last month, the third-lowest in Canada and below the national average of 6.9%. And B.C. continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $37.62, the second-highest among provinces.

    “The data shows that in June, B.C. had employment increases in the accommodation and food-services sector at 8,000 jobs, and retail trade increased by 2,800 jobs.

    “We know that the uncertainty of U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s tariff threats is proving extremely challenging for businesses. We’re doing everything we can to defend B.C. businesses and help open new markets and new opportunities so they can continue to grow.

    “This past month, B.C. continued to drive forward the work to grow a stronger, more diverse economy and help protect and create good-paying jobs. We doubled down on our efforts to diversify trade in Asia and Europe, and remove interprovincial trade barriers across Canada.

    “This week, British Columbia became one of the 10 signatories to the Committee on Internal Trade’s memorandum of understanding on direct-to-consumer sales of wine, spirits, beer or other alcoholic beverages, effective May 2026. There are already positive results for businesses due to the work to advance B.C. and Alberta’s direct-to-consumer wine sales, with a seven-fold increase in product moving across our border. 

    “In the face of significant headwinds from south of the border, we’re standing strong for B.C., working with communities, workers and businesses to strengthen our economy and continue to create good jobs and prosperity throughout B.C.”

    Learn More:

    To learn more about B.C.’s response to tariffs, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/tariffs

    To see the July 8, 2025, communique from the Committee of Internal Trade, visit:
    https://www.canada.ca/en/intergovernmental-affairs/news/2025/07/committee-on-internal-trade-meets-to-strengthen-canadas-economy.html

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia’s Foreign Trade Surplus Down 19.3% in January-May

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 11 (Xinhua) — Russia’s positive foreign trade balance for the first five months of 2025 amounted to 52.6 billion US dollars, down 19.3 percent from a year earlier, according to data published by the Russian Federal Customs Service on Friday.

    Exports for this period decreased by 6.2 percent and amounted to $162.1 billion. Imports increased by 1.7 percent, to $109.5 billion. The country’s foreign trade turnover for the first five months of 2025 amounted to $271.5 billion, which is 3.2 percent less than for the same period a year earlier.

    In the structure of Russian exports in January-May, the largest share was occupied by mineral products /91.1 billion dollars/, metals and products made from them /26.1 billion dollars/, agricultural products /15.3 billion dollars/. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: As Bitcoin prices soar, OurCryptoMiner launches new contracts to enjoy platform bonuses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, the price of Bitcoin has soared to a record high of $118,000. Since the beginning of this year, Bitcoin has risen by more than 23%. The rise is mainly due to the increased acceptance of cryptocurrencies by traditional financial market participants, the increase in risk appetite, and the continued growth of institutional demand. At the same time, OurCryptoMiner, the world’s leading cloud mining platform, has attracted much attention due to its deep integration with BTC technology. According to a spokesperson for the OurCryptoMiner platform, some investors have made profits of up to $33,000 in a short period of time, with daily returns exceeding $6,700.

    This integration also enhances the core advantages of OurCryptoMiner
    Real-time monitoring of BTC and other cryptocurrency network difficulty, fees, and market fluctuations, and dynamically allocates computing power to the most profitable mining pools or currencies.
    When the BTC network is active, the system can automatically adjust the working strategy of the miner to obtain more transaction incentives and obtain higher returns.
    High-performance 10 data centers ensure the stability of network and power, and ensure that users’ income is uninterrupted and undelayed
    You can start mining with simple operations
    Registration: Get a $12 reward for free, get $0.6 for daily check-in, and experience the fun of mining
    Use BTC or other popular cryptocurrencies to start the mining machine and start mining
    OurCryptoMiner launches a variety of popular contracts:

    ⦁【New User Experience Contract】: Investment amount: $100, investment period 2 days, total net profit: $100 + $8.

    ⦁【Canaan Avalon Miner 1466】: Investment amount: $1,200, investment period 12 days, total net profit: $1,200 + $190.08.

    ⦁【Canaan Avalon A15XP】: Investment amount: $3,500, investment period 25 days, total net profit: $3,500 + $1,216.25.

    ⦁【Bitmain Antminer S23 Immersion】: Investment amount: $7900, investment period 32 days, total net profit: $7900 + $3665.6.

    ⦁【[Bitmain Antminer S23 XP+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $10000, investment period 37 days, total net profit: $10000 + $5735.

    ⦁【Avalon Air Cooling Mining Box-40ft】: Investment amount: $27000, investment period 45 days, total net profit: $27000 + $21748.5.

    Once the contract starts, your mining operation will be continuously run by the secure data center of the OurCryptoMiner platform.
    Daily income collection: Daily mining income will be automatically calculated and distributed to your account 24 hours a day. When your account balance reaches $100, you can withdraw at any time, and you can also flexibly reinvest the income to maximize your income.

    What makes OurCryptoMiner a leader in the cloud mining space?
    Aiming to assist consumers at every stage of cryptocurrency mining, OurCryptoMiner offers more than just the traditional network. Some of its unique features are as follows:
    Wide range of settlement options: Users can mine Bitcoin, LTC, and DOGE, in addition, it also provides settlement options for mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, XRP, BCH, DOGE, SOL, USDT, etc.
    Environmentally friendly mining: All operations are carried out using 100% renewable energy methods, reflecting the platform’s strong commitment to sustainable development.
    Affiliate rewards: Every user can join a reward pool of more than $200,000 and receive up to 5% referral commission.
    Scalable solution: Traders can expand their profits from $100 to $1 million per day.
    In addition to these very favorable offers, OurCryptoMiner allows every user to mine efficiently through environmentally friendly and community-driven infrastructure.
    Join OurCryptoMiner now and embark on your cloud mining journey!

    Official website: http://ourcryptominer.com

    Official email: info@ourcryptominer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siili Solutions Plc       Announcement  11.7.2025
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025  
         
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange    
         
    Trade date           11.7.2025  
    Bourse trade         Buy  
    Share                  SIILI  
    Amount             800 Shares
    Average price/ share    6,4600 EUR
    Total cost            5 168,00 EUR
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc now holds a total of 28 228 shares
    including the shares repurchased on 11.7.2025  
         
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation 
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
         
    On behalf of Siili Solutions Plc    
         
    Nordea Bank Oyj    
         
    Sami Huttunen Ilari Isomäki  
         
    Further information:    
    CFO Aleksi Kankainen    
    Email: aleksi.kankainen@siili.com    
    Tel. +358 50 584 2029    
         
    www.siili.com    
         
         
         
         
         

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siili Solutions Plc       Announcement  11.7.2025
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025  
         
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange    
         
    Trade date           11.7.2025  
    Bourse trade         Buy  
    Share                  SIILI  
    Amount             800 Shares
    Average price/ share    6,4600 EUR
    Total cost            5 168,00 EUR
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc now holds a total of 28 228 shares
    including the shares repurchased on 11.7.2025  
         
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation 
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
         
    On behalf of Siili Solutions Plc    
         
    Nordea Bank Oyj    
         
    Sami Huttunen Ilari Isomäki  
         
    Further information:    
    CFO Aleksi Kankainen    
    Email: aleksi.kankainen@siili.com    
    Tel. +358 50 584 2029    
         
    www.siili.com    
         
         
         
         
         

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siili Solutions Plc       Announcement  11.7.2025
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 11.7.2025  
         
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange    
         
    Trade date           11.7.2025  
    Bourse trade         Buy  
    Share                  SIILI  
    Amount             800 Shares
    Average price/ share    6,4600 EUR
    Total cost            5 168,00 EUR
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc now holds a total of 28 228 shares
    including the shares repurchased on 11.7.2025  
         
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation 
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
         
    On behalf of Siili Solutions Plc    
         
    Nordea Bank Oyj    
         
    Sami Huttunen Ilari Isomäki  
         
    Further information:    
    CFO Aleksi Kankainen    
    Email: aleksi.kankainen@siili.com    
    Tel. +358 50 584 2029    
         
    www.siili.com    
         
         
         
         
         

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Fisheries Subsidies: Democratic Republic of the Congo’s acceptance

    Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

    On 11 July, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from the Minister for International Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya. Just seven more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force.

    Download this video from the WTO website:
    https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoGEooxt3T4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Fisheries Subsidies: Democratic Republic of the Congo’s acceptance

    Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

    On 11 July, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from the Minister for International Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya. Just seven more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force.

    Download this video from the WTO website:
    https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoGEooxt3T4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Fisheries Subsidies: Democratic Republic of the Congo’s acceptance

    Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

    On 11 July, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from the Minister for International Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya. Just seven more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force.

    Download this video from the WTO website:
    https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoGEooxt3T4

    MIL OSI Video –