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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business Secretary fortifies UK steel industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Business Secretary launches the Plan for Steel Consultation, seeking views from stakeholders to inform development of the Steel Strategy.

    British steelmakers are being backed today by the Government as the Business Secretary launches the Plan for Steel Consultation. 

    This will look at the long-term issues facing the industry like high electricity costs, unfair trading practices, and scrap metal recycling – to protect jobs and living standards in the UK’s industrial heartlands. 

    Up to £2.5 billion will be put towards supporting the steel industry, as per the manifesto commitment, including via the National Wealth Fund. This could benefit regions across the UK – like Scunthorpe, Rotherham, Redcar, Yorkshire, and Scotland – which have a strong history of steel production. It will be spent on initiatives that will give the industry a long future – such as electric arc furnaces, or other improvements to UK capabilities. 

    This will drive growth in the economy – the priority of the Plan for Change – and protect our industrial heartlands for the long term. 

    But the Government is wasting no time in taking immediate action to support the industry. Just this week, Heathrow Airport announced a multimillion-pound investment, which will require 400,000 tonnes of steel – enough to build the Empire State Building.  

    This will give the industry a strong pipeline of business that will secure supply chains for years to come – and will drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change. 

    This week the Government also simplified public procurement and aligned it with the Government’s missions, including the Industrial Strategy, to put UK firms – like the steel industry – in the best possible position to compete for and win public contracts. 

    That is on top of delivering a better deal for Port Talbot within weeks of taking office which will transform production at Port Talbot and deliver a modern Electric Arc Furnace, and implementing the British Industry Supercharger which will cut electricity costs for steel firms and bring prices more in line with international competitors. 

    This delivers on a manifesto commitment to secure the future of Britain’s steel industries – building on initiatives like the £22 billion investment in Carbon Capture Usage and Storage in Teesside and Merseyside – because the country’s industrial heartlands are too important to Britain’s heritage and will be supported by this Government.  

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, said: 

    The UK steel industry has a long-term future under this Government. We said that during the election, and we are delivering on it now.  

    The deal announced by Heathrow this week will secure a strong industry pipeline for years to come – and we are putting the full weight of Whitehall behind the industry to build on this success. 

    Britain is open for business, and this Government has committed up to £2.5 billion to the future of steel to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs, and drive growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    The Plan for Steel will help with the issues which have been holding the industry back for too long. It will look at ways to: 

    • Identify where there are opportunities to expand UK steelmaking to better support UK manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and growth – and secure UK jobs and livelihoods 

    • Protect the steel sector from unfair trading practices abroad 

    • Improve our scrap processing facilities so they can best support the steel-making of the future 

    • Encourage high usage of UK-made steel in public projects 

    To make the UK competitive globally, the Plan for Steel will examine the electricity costs for steel companies. 

    The Plan will also look at ways to improve the UK’s scrap metal processing capabilities, in light of the industry’s ongoing transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking which recycles scrap steel by melting it to produce high-quality steel and other metals. 

    It will assess the UK’s primary steelmaking capabilities and primary production technologies with a commissioned independent review, currently being carried out by the not-for-profit Material Processing Institute, based in Teesside. 

    The Steel Strategy will also explore what can be done to protect the steel sector from unfair trading practices abroad and look at how it can attract and retain skilled talent in the UK. It will leverage the UK’s world-leading research and development capabilities to support the industry, aligning closely with the Government’s Trade Strategy, Strategic Defence Review and its upcoming Industrial Strategy. 

    The Government will work closely with the Steel Council towards the launch of the Steel Strategy in Spring, and the Council will continue to meet regularly following its publication to help drive investment into steelmaking communities across the country. 

    Gareth Stace, Director-General of UK Steel, commented: 

    “Developing the Steel Strategy must be a collaborative process, and the consultation is an open invitation for all stakeholders to help shape the future of UK steel. 

    “The Government’s commitment to our steel sector is both vital and welcome. A robust, bold, and ambitious Steel Strategy has the power to reverse the sector’s decline, particularly as we face increasing competition from imports benefiting from more favourable business conditions. By setting out a clear business plan and roadmap for investment, the Government can secure a brighter future for our industry, safeguard jobs, and support steelworkers and their families.” 

    Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said: 

    “After years of dithering, today’s plan provides desperately needed funding for our once proud, now beleaguered steel industry. 

    “As the world becomes more volatile, primary domestic steel making capacity is vital for both our economy and domestic security.” 

    Jon Bolton, Steel Council co-chair, said: 

    “Publishing a consultation so quickly after the launch of the Steel Council demonstrates the importance the government places on the steel strategy and the important role it plays as part of an Industrial Strategy.   

    “Thorough consultation is key, with a first round table held with steel consumers chaired by The Industry Minister where future market dynamics were discussed including the demand for Green Steel.   

    “This work will continue over the coming weeks and I urge all stakeholders to respond to the consultation, with the issuing of the Steel Strategy in the spring a key moment for the sector.” 

    Roy Rickhuss CBE, Community General Secretary, said:  

    “After a long era of neglect under the previous government, we welcome the government’s firm commitment to our steel industry.  

    “The new green paper sets out some of the main challenges and opportunities our steel sector will face over the years ahead – this consultation is an important step towards developing the government’s new steel strategy, and we look forward to engaging with the process at every step of the way.” 

    Notes to editors

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whitehorse — Whitehorse RCMP seek public assistance in locating a missing man

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP is seeking public assistance in locating Gordon Chambers who was last seen on February 13 at 2:50 pm when he left Whitehorse General Hospital on a city bus. Police are concerned for Mr. Chamber’s well being.

    Gordon Chambers is a First Nations male, 65-year-old, approximately 6 feet tall, 140 lbs, and has grey hair and brown eyes. He is known to walk with a shuffle.

    Mr. Chambers was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, and a black baseball hat.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gordon Chambers is urged to contact their local police immediately or Whitehorse RCMP at 867-667-5555.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New renal centre will provide life-saving care for patients

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Hundreds of patients from the central North Island will be supported at Waikato’s new renal facility, which officially opened today, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

    “Delivering improved health infrastructure is a priority for the Government. I am pleased for those patients who will be able to access life-saving care at the new Waikato Regional Renal Centre.

    “This is an essential service for those on dialysis and kidney transplant patients living in the central North Island. Having a purpose-built, high-tech building is a positive step in enhancing patient outcomes for the local community.

    “Combining all outpatient renal services into a single site will make a real difference for patients who can now access comprehensive, coordinated care in one place.

    “The facility, which is 70 per cent larger than the previous centre, provides a welcoming environment for renal patients receiving care and their families, many of whom will be with the service for years.

    “It has been designed to allow for future growth, offering a long-term solution that meets both the needs of the community and international standards for dialysis care.

    “Infrastructure like this makes a significant difference in improving access to timely healthcare and bringing services closer to home for Kiwis.  

    “The Government has invested a record $16.68 billion to ensure access to timely, quality healthcare, including renal care. I look forward to many more patients being able to access this local, life-saving service in the future,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Young entrepreneurs revitalise retail

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The “experience centre” operated by Raymond Yam and his partner in a government shopping centre is not what you would typically expect to find in such a location. Motivated by their desire to reshape perceptions of stray animal adoption, it is not quite a pet shop and not quite a cat café. It facilitates cat adoptions and hosts workshops aimed at educating the public about responsible pet ownership, but also allows customers to play board games while interacting with the centre’s feline residents.

    Changing perceptions

    The workshops, promoting cat welfare, are run in collaboration with veterinarians and animal care instructors.

    “We want to develop a sense of responsibility in children,” said Mr Yam. “We will teach them how to interact with cats and the importance of caring for animals.”

    Challenging misconceptions about the adoption of strays is also a key focus. “Most people think adopting stray or abandoned cats is unappealing,” Mr Yam explained. “After they come here and see our cats, they think they are just great and they even forget they were once strays.”

    Overcoming obstacles

    Mr Yam’s entrepreneurial journey has not been straightforward. For years, his plans to start a business focused on helping stray cats were hindered by financial constraints. The turning point came when he applied to the Housing Authority’s Well Being·Start-Up programme.

    “The major difficulty that we faced was the pressure of rent,” Mr Yam recalled, adding that this concern was addressed directly by the programme. “This project is different from other incubation programmes. They provide a rental space rather than financial support, and I think this is a great idea for us to try different kinds of business.”

    Strategic initiative

    Targeting individuals aged 35 or below, the Well Being·Start-Up programme seeks to revitalise vacant retail spaces in government shopping centres, while fostering youth innovation.

    Housing Department Chief Estate Surveyor/Commercial Properties Evelyne Fung described the programme as a “win-win” solution. She explained that a challenging retail environment of late has resulted in rising numbers of vacant shops in shopping centres on government estates. The department perceived that this presented an opportunity to help young people launch new businesses in empty retail spaces. “Instead of reletting them for those traditional trades such as grocery shops or pharmacies, we might take this chance to introduce some new image and new elements into our shopping centres.”

    Comprehensive support

    Participants in the programme receive more than just retail spaces. The scheme provides mentorship from experienced business owners and offers essential shop renovations. “For example, we provide air-conditioning, we provide carpeting and basic wall-painting for the shops, so that the young people can start their business very shortly as soon as they get the shop,” Ms Fung outlined.

    Having received positive feedback from residents in participating housing estates, the department is now exploring the possibility of inviting private developers and shopping centre owners to join the programme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With Saudi Minister of Defense, His Royal Highness Khalid bin Salman

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman held an introductory call today to reaffirm the critical defense partnership between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Secretary welcomed Saudi Arabia’s contributions to regional security and encouraged continued collaboration on shared challenges. They agreed to remain in touch and coordinate closely on areas of mutual interest.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Investigation launched after man critically injured in firearms incident

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are making enquiries after a firearms incident early this morning that has left a man in critical condition.

    Emergency services were called to Winstone Ave about 5am after reports of shots heard.

    A short time later, a man presented to hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.

    He remains there in critical condition.

    Police are now working to establish what has occurred and to speak to all those believed to be involved.

    A scene examination will take place at the property today, and cordons will be in place on Winstone Ave.

    Investigators would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who might have information about those involved.

    If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 250216/7665.

    You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Lewis Pass Road fire update #4

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Firefighters have contained the vegetation fire burning on SH7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction in Canterbury.
    Fire and Emergency NZ Assistant Commander Dave Key says that 30 firefighters and an incident management team are working on the fire this morning, supported by multiple fire appliances, two helicopters and an excavator.
    No houses or other structures were lost overnight, and crews are continuing to carry out structure protection today. The size of the fireground remains at 40 hectares.
    The Lewis Pass Rd is open with a 30km/hr speed limit and Dave Key has asked drivers to stick to that speed to keep firefighters safe. People driving through the area should expect to see smoke and may observe flames at times. If anyone sees anything of concern, they should call 111 and report it.
    Fire Investigators are back at the fireground today to continue establishing the origin and cause of the fire, which was reported about 2.30pm yesterday. Dave Key says several people have already come forward with very useful information, photos and video footage of the early stages of the fire.
    “This is very helpful for our fire investigators, so if anyone else has information or footage from yesterday, please email canterbury-crrteam@fireandemergency.nz or message our Canterbury District Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FENZCanterburyDistrict).
    Conditions are expected to become more challenging this afternoon, with high temperatures and strong winds forecast.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Experts appointed to lead anti-bullying rapid review

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    The Albanese Labor Government is working together with states and territories on a national standard to address bullying in Australian schools.

    This includes a new Anti-Bullying Rapid Review to examine current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.

    Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson have been appointed as co-chairs of the Review.

    The Review will inform the development of a national standard to addressing bullying in schools.

    Bullying has no place in our schools. Students, teachers and staff should always feel safe in the classroom.

    That’s why we will listen to the experts and develop a national strategy that is grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences.

    Dr Keating and Dr Robinson will consult broadly with key stakeholders across Australia, including parents, teachers, students, parent groups, state education departments and the non-government sector. 

    It will draw on work already underway across the country to address bullying in schools.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of the national mobile phone ban in all public schools, vaping reforms and introducing a minimum age of 16 years for Australian children to access social media.

    The Review will be conducted over the next six months with recommendations then provided to Education Ministers.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “Bullying is not just something that happens in schools, but schools are places where we can intervene and provide support for students.

    “All students and staff should be safe at school, and free from bullying and violence.

    “That’s why we’re taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools. 

    “Last year we worked together to ban mobile phones in schools. This is another opportunity for us to support students, teachers and parents across the country. 

    “I have asked Dr Keating and Dr Robinson to work with parents, teachers, students and the states and territories to get this right.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 276 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Ukrainian firefighters have been working around the clock in freezing weather to completely extinguish small fires that still smoulder after Friday’s drone strike on the building containing the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

    The IAEA team based at the site was granted unrestricted access to the site of the explosion and conducted an extensive walkdown to assess the damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC), where the drone that struck early yesterday morning pierced a hole through the roof of the large arch-shaped structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor and protect it from external hazards.

    The IAEA experts saw smoke coming from the NSC roof and smelled burning plastic.

    The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fuelled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage to the NSC, which was completed in 2019 on top of the sarcophagus that was erected in the immediate aftermath of the accident nearly four decades ago.

    Despite significant damage caused by the drone impact, the IAEA team was informed that there had been no change in the radiation levels at the site. This was also confirmed by the team’s own measurements which showed normal dose rate values near the NSC compared to those that the IAEA has recorded since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.

    “This was clearly a very serious incident, with a drone hitting and damaging a large protective structure at a major nuclear site. As I have stated repeatedly during this devastating war, attacking a nuclear facility is an absolute no-go, it should never happen,” Director General Grossi said.

    “It is especially concerning as it comes as we are also seeing an increase in military activity in the area around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to help prevent a nuclear accident. Judging by recent events, nuclear safety remains very much under threat,” he said.

    During today’s walkdown at the NSC, the IAEA team members observed that a large area had been affected by the impact of the drone strike and the subsequent blaze. The team confirmed that both the outer and inner cladding of the NSC arch had been breached, causing a hole measuring approximately six metres in diameter and also damaging some equipment as well as electrical cables. However, the structural support beams did not appear to have suffered major damage.

    The IAEA team was also shown some of the drone debris remaining at the site, including parts of the wings. The damaged drone had been removed by Ukrainian specialists and taken away for further analysis.

    The team was informed that the plant plans to install additional sensors for measuring dose rates and aerosol concentrations near the area impacted by the drone. However, this task cannot be carried out until the remaining fires are totally eliminated to avoid damage to the sensors.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: M23 rebels are marching across eastern DRC: the interests driving players in the conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kristof Titeca, Professor in International Development, University of Antwerp

    The current conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resemble the situation during the Second Congo War between 1998 and 2003. This resulted in millions of deaths, with neighbouring countries – especially Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi – playing a significant role.

    The pan-African weekly The Continent has already raised alarms. A February 2025 cover features a cartoon referencing the 1884 Berlin Conference, but instead of colonial powers carving up the Congo, it depicts regional states dividing the country among themselves. Kristof Titeca, who has extensively studied the dynamics of conflict in the DRC, unpacks the interests of the key players.

    The DRC

    The M23 rebel group entered the outskirts of Bukavu, a city of 1.3 million in eastern DRC, in mid-February 2025. This happened two weeks after Goma, another city in the region, came under the control of M23 rebels. With support from the Rwandan army, M23 already controls vast territory in eastern DRC.

    The current situation doesn’t look good for DRC president Felix Tshisekedi. The further M23 advances, the more it highlights the failure of his policies in eastern Congo and weakens his legitimacy. Notably, he was not physically present at a peace summit in Tanzania on the conflict in early February 2025. In the same month, he also called off peace talks in Paris at the last minute. On social media, videos are circulating of Congolese soldiers fleeing the towns they should be protecting.

    Kinshasa is filled with rumours about internal political and military tensions: fears of a coup could have prevented Tshisekedi from travelling to the earlier peace talks. The president’s personal security is handled by an Israeli security firm, indicating the level of distrust towards his own security services.

    As it stands, Kinshasa seems to have lost control over the situation in the east. Tshisekedi has largely pinned his hopes on international pressure. Yet, many international actors have expressed frustration with his erratic and sometimes unrealistic decisions in addressing the conflict. Tshisekedi has purchased new and sophisticated weapons instead of tackling the structural weaknesses of the army (such as widespread corruption). He also decided to collaborate with a wide range of armed groups under the “Wazalendo” banner to stop rebel forces.

    Rwanda

    In theory, M23 is fighting to protect the Rwandophone community in eastern Congo (particularly the Tutsi community). Under the Alliance Fleuve Congo – the political wing of the M23 rebellion – this goal later expanded into a broader national agenda aiming to overthrow the regime in Kinshasa.

    Whether this will actually happen remains uncertain. What is, however, certain is that Rwanda’s interests mainly lie in the east of the country. These interests are a mix of political, economic and security factors – strongly rooted in history.

    Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame in the past has publicly questioned the borders between Rwanda and Congo. This narrative on “Greater Rwanda” would mean extending Rwanda beyond its colonial borders. Access to resources plays a role in Rwanda’s presence in the DRC, as does (in)security.

    Rwanda wants influence and control. This is where M23 plays a crucial role. In Kigali, the idea of eastern DRC as a “buffer zone” is openly used. This would mean having an armed actor, such as the M23, govern provinces in the eastern region to protect Rwanda’s political, security and economic interests.

    Uganda

    Shortly after the fall of Goma, neighbouring Uganda deployed around 1,000 additional troops to Congo. In private conversations with me, diplomats estimate the country already had between 3,000 and 7,000 troops in the DRC. Officially, Uganda is there to fight another rebel group – the Allied Democratic Forces, which is linked to the Islamic State. However, these newly deployed troops have been moving towards the M23 rebels.

    Uganda has always played an ambiguous role in the conflict. On the one hand, it wants to continue joint military operations with the Congolese army against the Allied Democratic Forces. On the other hand, it cannot allow its long-standing “frenemy” Rwanda to be the only power exerting influence over eastern Congo and M23.

    For the past 30 years, these two neighbouring countries have competed for control in eastern Congo – sometimes cooperating, but often in direct competition.

    Like Rwanda, Uganda’s main export is gold, and just like Rwanda, the vast majority of this gold comes from eastern Congo.

    Several prominent Ugandan political and military figures – including Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the Ugandan army and son of the president – have openly voiced their support for M23 and questioned Congo’s borders. And shortly after M23 entered Bukavu, Muhoozi announced – again – an expansion of the Ugandan operation in DRC, threatening an attack in the town of Bunia in the eastern province of Ituri.

    In the current context, the movement of Ugandan troops could be seen as a clear signal to Rwanda: this is our zone of influence. In doing so, the conflict concerningly starts to look like the Second Congo War when Uganda and Rwanda divided Congolese territory. Uganda claimed Ituri, while Rwanda claimed the North and South Kivu provinces.

    Burundi

    Burundian troops are present in Congo at the invitation of Kinshasa. Meanwhile, tensions between Burundi and Rwanda are rising. UN reports indicate that both Burundi and Rwanda have resumed supporting rebel groups against each other’s governments in eastern Congo. These reports also claim that the Rwandan army has issued direct orders to target Burundian soldiers in the region.

    Burundian president Évariste Ndayishimiye has warned of an escalating regional war, and even suggested that Rwanda is planning to invade Burundi.

    With the M23 entering Bukavu, the group is getting increasingly close to the Burundian border, increasing the country’s concerns of regional escalation.

    International community

    The risk of an escalation of the DRC conflict underscores a number of issues. Most obviously, any attempt to resolve the crisis needs to involve the regional countries involved.

    It also shows the importance of international pressure on Rwanda. It is generally accepted by analysts that this pressure – such as a US$240 million aid cut by a variety of donors – played a key role in ending the 2012-2013 M23 conflict.

    While actors such as the European Union and United States have firmly condemned Rwanda, this has materialised into little action. So far, Germany has suspended aid talks with Rwanda, and the United Kingdom has threatened to cut aid. Other than that, there has been no action – a striking difference from 2012-2013.

    Given US president Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, eyes are on the European Union to take action. However, internal differences are so far making this difficult. Belgium has been pushing for sanctions, while France has been taking the lead in blocking these. France’s national interests are a key reason for this: Rwandan peacekeeping troops are key in Mozambique, where a major TotalEnergies gas project – worth US$20 billion – is on hold because of an ongoing insurgency.

    Next steps

    The structural weaknesses of the Tshisekedi government should not be used as an excuse by international actors to fail to pressure Rwanda. At the moment, there is a major risk of the violence in eastern DRC escalating to the region.

    Further, there is already a major humanitarian crisis. Since the beginning of the year alone, more than 700,000 people in the DRC have been displaced by the M23 conflict. The World Health Organization has warned that a public health “nightmare” is unfolding. Since the fall of Goma, M23 has unlawfully ordered tens of thousands of displaced people to leave the camps around the city. To prevent a bigger regional humanitarian crisis, urgent action is therefore needed.

    Kristof Titeca is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute (Brussels).

    – ref. M23 rebels are marching across eastern DRC: the interests driving players in the conflict – https://theconversation.com/m23-rebels-are-marching-across-eastern-drc-the-interests-driving-players-in-the-conflict-249738

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: M23 rebels are marching across eastern DRC: the interests driving players in the conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kristof Titeca, Professor in International Development, University of Antwerp

    The current conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resemble the situation during the Second Congo War between 1998 and 2003. This resulted in millions of deaths, with neighbouring countries – especially Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi – playing a significant role.

    The pan-African weekly The Continent has already raised alarms. A February 2025 cover features a cartoon referencing the 1884 Berlin Conference, but instead of colonial powers carving up the Congo, it depicts regional states dividing the country among themselves. Kristof Titeca, who has extensively studied the dynamics of conflict in the DRC, unpacks the interests of the key players.

    The DRC

    The M23 rebel group entered the outskirts of Bukavu, a city of 1.3 million in eastern DRC, in mid-February 2025. This happened two weeks after Goma, another city in the region, came under the control of M23 rebels. With support from the Rwandan army, M23 already controls vast territory in eastern DRC.

    The current situation doesn’t look good for DRC president Felix Tshisekedi. The further M23 advances, the more it highlights the failure of his policies in eastern Congo and weakens his legitimacy. Notably, he was not physically present at a peace summit in Tanzania on the conflict in early February 2025. In the same month, he also called off peace talks in Paris at the last minute. On social media, videos are circulating of Congolese soldiers fleeing the towns they should be protecting.

    Kinshasa is filled with rumours about internal political and military tensions: fears of a coup could have prevented Tshisekedi from travelling to the earlier peace talks. The president’s personal security is handled by an Israeli security firm, indicating the level of distrust towards his own security services.

    As it stands, Kinshasa seems to have lost control over the situation in the east. Tshisekedi has largely pinned his hopes on international pressure. Yet, many international actors have expressed frustration with his erratic and sometimes unrealistic decisions in addressing the conflict. Tshisekedi has purchased new and sophisticated weapons instead of tackling the structural weaknesses of the army (such as widespread corruption). He also decided to collaborate with a wide range of armed groups under the “Wazalendo” banner to stop rebel forces.

    Rwanda

    In theory, M23 is fighting to protect the Rwandophone community in eastern Congo (particularly the Tutsi community). Under the Alliance Fleuve Congo – the political wing of the M23 rebellion – this goal later expanded into a broader national agenda aiming to overthrow the regime in Kinshasa.

    Whether this will actually happen remains uncertain. What is, however, certain is that Rwanda’s interests mainly lie in the east of the country. These interests are a mix of political, economic and security factors – strongly rooted in history.

    Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame in the past has publicly questioned the borders between Rwanda and Congo. This narrative on “Greater Rwanda” would mean extending Rwanda beyond its colonial borders. Access to resources plays a role in Rwanda’s presence in the DRC, as does (in)security.

    Rwanda wants influence and control. This is where M23 plays a crucial role. In Kigali, the idea of eastern DRC as a “buffer zone” is openly used. This would mean having an armed actor, such as the M23, govern provinces in the eastern region to protect Rwanda’s political, security and economic interests.

    Uganda

    Shortly after the fall of Goma, neighbouring Uganda deployed around 1,000 additional troops to Congo. In private conversations with me, diplomats estimate the country already had between 3,000 and 7,000 troops in the DRC. Officially, Uganda is there to fight another rebel group – the Allied Democratic Forces, which is linked to the Islamic State. However, these newly deployed troops have been moving towards the M23 rebels.

    Uganda has always played an ambiguous role in the conflict. On the one hand, it wants to continue joint military operations with the Congolese army against the Allied Democratic Forces. On the other hand, it cannot allow its long-standing “frenemy” Rwanda to be the only power exerting influence over eastern Congo and M23.

    For the past 30 years, these two neighbouring countries have competed for control in eastern Congo – sometimes cooperating, but often in direct competition.

    Like Rwanda, Uganda’s main export is gold, and just like Rwanda, the vast majority of this gold comes from eastern Congo.

    Several prominent Ugandan political and military figures – including Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the Ugandan army and son of the president – have openly voiced their support for M23 and questioned Congo’s borders. And shortly after M23 entered Bukavu, Muhoozi announced – again – an expansion of the Ugandan operation in DRC, threatening an attack in the town of Bunia in the eastern province of Ituri.

    In the current context, the movement of Ugandan troops could be seen as a clear signal to Rwanda: this is our zone of influence. In doing so, the conflict concerningly starts to look like the Second Congo War when Uganda and Rwanda divided Congolese territory. Uganda claimed Ituri, while Rwanda claimed the North and South Kivu provinces.

    Burundi

    Burundian troops are present in Congo at the invitation of Kinshasa. Meanwhile, tensions between Burundi and Rwanda are rising. UN reports indicate that both Burundi and Rwanda have resumed supporting rebel groups against each other’s governments in eastern Congo. These reports also claim that the Rwandan army has issued direct orders to target Burundian soldiers in the region.

    Burundian president Évariste Ndayishimiye has warned of an escalating regional war, and even suggested that Rwanda is planning to invade Burundi.

    With the M23 entering Bukavu, the group is getting increasingly close to the Burundian border, increasing the country’s concerns of regional escalation.

    International community

    The risk of an escalation of the DRC conflict underscores a number of issues. Most obviously, any attempt to resolve the crisis needs to involve the regional countries involved.

    It also shows the importance of international pressure on Rwanda. It is generally accepted by analysts that this pressure – such as a US$240 million aid cut by a variety of donors – played a key role in ending the 2012-2013 M23 conflict.

    While actors such as the European Union and United States have firmly condemned Rwanda, this has materialised into little action. So far, Germany has suspended aid talks with Rwanda, and the United Kingdom has threatened to cut aid. Other than that, there has been no action – a striking difference from 2012-2013.

    Given US president Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, eyes are on the European Union to take action. However, internal differences are so far making this difficult. Belgium has been pushing for sanctions, while France has been taking the lead in blocking these. France’s national interests are a key reason for this: Rwandan peacekeeping troops are key in Mozambique, where a major TotalEnergies gas project – worth US$20 billion – is on hold because of an ongoing insurgency.

    Next steps

    The structural weaknesses of the Tshisekedi government should not be used as an excuse by international actors to fail to pressure Rwanda. At the moment, there is a major risk of the violence in eastern DRC escalating to the region.

    Further, there is already a major humanitarian crisis. Since the beginning of the year alone, more than 700,000 people in the DRC have been displaced by the M23 conflict. The World Health Organization has warned that a public health “nightmare” is unfolding. Since the fall of Goma, M23 has unlawfully ordered tens of thousands of displaced people to leave the camps around the city. To prevent a bigger regional humanitarian crisis, urgent action is therefore needed.

    – M23 rebels are marching across eastern DRC: the interests driving players in the conflict
    – https://theconversation.com/m23-rebels-are-marching-across-eastern-drc-the-interests-driving-players-in-the-conflict-249738

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

    The Secretary-General and the President discussed ongoing political and governance issues.  They also discussed the ongoing transition to the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, including efforts underway to secure predictable financing in line with Security Council Resolution 2767.

    The Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations continued commitment to supporting Somalia in the period ahead including on governance and the electoral process.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi. They discussed efforts to promote socio-economic development in the country.

    The Secretary-General and the President also exchanged views on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

    ****

    Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. M. Evariste Ndayishimiye, Président de la République du Burundi.  Ils ont discuté des efforts visant à promouvoir le développement socio-économique du pays.

    Le Secrétaire général et le Président ont également échangé sur la situation à l’est de la République démocratique du Congo.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, South Head Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died following a single-vehicle crash on South Head Road early this morning.

    Emergency services were called to the scene about 4.30am.

    One person died at the scene, and another was transported to hospital to be assessed.

    The road remains closed while emergency services work at the scene.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information after assault, Miramar

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are asking for the public’s help after a man was assaulted and seriously injured in Miramar yesterday.

    Emergency services were called about 4.55pm to Miramar Ave, after the man had been approached by a group of young people.

    He has then reportedly been assaulted and has fallen, striking his head on the concrete.

    The man was transported to hospital in a serious condition and continues to receive treatment.

    Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of the incident, and locate those believed to be responsible.

    We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident or the group, or who might have CCTV footage of the incident or the surrounding time period.

    If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 250215/6620.

    You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Qatari Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani held an introductory call today to reaffirm the bilateral defense partnership and discuss opportunities to work together in support of regional security. The Secretary thanked Qatar for hosting U.S. and coalition forces at Al Udeid Air Base and urged continued support for Trump Administration efforts to secure the release of the hostages from Gaza.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information after crash, Flaxmere

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are asking for the public’s help after a crash last night where a vehicle struck a house.

    Emergency services were called about 9.30pm to Birkenhead Crescent, Flaxmere, after a vehicle left the road and went onto a property.

    Fortunately, the occupants of the house were not injured. The driver and a passenger fled the scene.

    Police are now working to locate the driver and understand the full circumstances of what has occurred.

    We are asking to hear from anyone who may have seen a poorly painted blue Ford Falcon with no registration plates driving around the area before the crash, who could help establish its movements.

    We would also like to hear from anyone who might have CCTV footage from the area that may have captured footage of the incident or the vehicle/occupants.

    If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 250216/6819.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement: February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, 15 February 2025.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference for the first time under Canada’s 2025 Presidency.

    The G7 members discussed Russia’s devasting war in Ukraine.  They underscored their commitment to work together to help to achieve a durable peace and a strong and prosperous Ukraine and reaffirmed the need to develop robust security guarantees to ensure the war will not begin again.  

    The G7 members welcomed their discussion today with Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.  They recalled the G7’s important contribution towards ending the war in Ukraine, including through measures pursuant to the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, by supporting Ukraine financially through the use of extraordinary revenues stemming from Russian Sovereign Assets, by imposing further cost on Russia, if they do not negotiate in good faith, through caps on oil and gas prices, and by making sanctions against Russia more effective. Any new, additional sanctions after February should be linked to whether the Russian Federation enters into real, good-faith efforts to bring an enduring end to the war against Ukraine that provides Ukraine with long-term security and stability as a sovereign, independent country.  The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

    The G7 members discussed the provision to Russia of dual-use assistance by China and of military assistance by DPRK and Iran.  They condemned all such support.

    The G7 members discussed political, security and humanitarian issues in the Middle East, including in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, and their commitment to advancing regional peace and stability.  They underscored the importance of a durable, Israeli-Palestinian peace.  They reaffirmed their support for the full implementation of the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, including for the release of all hostages and the expansion of humanitarian aid in Gaza.  The G7 members stand behind the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in continuing to work towards a permanent ceasefire.  They reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and the need to ensure that Hamas neither reconstitutes militarily nor participates in governance.  They recognized Israel’s inherent right to self-defence, consistent with international law. 

    The G7 members welcomed the outcomes of the International Conference on Syria, hosted by France on February 13, 2025.  They reiterated their shared commitment to the people of Syria and their support for an inclusive political transition process, in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.  They welcomed, as well, positive developments in Lebanon, including the recent election of President Joseph Aoun, the designation of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister, and the formation of a new government.  The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to both countries’ stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

    The G7 members unequivocally condemned Iran’s destabilizing actions, including its rapid advancement of uranium enrichment without credible civil justification, its facilitation of terrorism organizations and armed groups across the Middle East and Red Sea, its proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, and its transnational repression and violation of fundamental human rights.

    The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region, grounded in respect for the rule of law and sovereignty.  They strongly opposed any attempts to change unilaterally the status quo using force and underscored the importance of resolving disputes peacefully.  They strongly opposed China’s attempts to restrict freedom of navigation through militarization and coercive activities in the East and South China Sea. 

    The G7 members expressed serious concern over the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They underscored that direct DPRK support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security. They urged the DPRK to cease immediately all assistance for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including by withdrawing its troops. The called upon DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    The G7 members also discussed urgent situations of conflict and instability elsewhere in the world, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, and in Haiti and Venezuela.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers looked forward to their meeting in Canada in Charlevoix, Quebec on March 12-14.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: School construction reaches warp speed

    [. To keep pace with fast-rising enrolment, the province announced $8.6 billion to accelerate school construction and introduced a new approach to funding school projects, so they can advance to the next stage of construction as soon as they are ready.

    As a result of this new funding approach, Alberta’s government has sped up 11 previously announced school projects in the Calgary Metropolitan Region and Edmonton from the design stage to full construction funding. This means that these projects are now closer to having shovels in the ground building new schools for Alberta’s students. These projects will create more than 12,000 new student spaces between Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere, Edmonton, and Okotoks.   

    “There is no two ways about it, Alberta is growing and growing fast, so we need to build schools now. That’s why we are making a generational investment of $8.6 billion, and fast-tracking school construction process. Our commitment to building schools will help us build and open 200,000 spaces for students in communities that need them the most all within the next seven years.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    It is anticipated that these 11 school projects will be delivered through two public-private partnership bundles, with next steps being contractor selection and project design. Additional details such as total project costs and timelines will be available once contractors have been selected.

    “Regardless of what stage of construction we are in, our priority is to get students into desks as quickly as possible, while ensuring their classrooms are well-built for years of learning. As Alberta communities continue to grow, this announcement allows us to meet demands for spaces faster and more efficiently. I’m excited to continue working with my ministry and industry partners on school builds, modernizations and renovations, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the province and boosting our local and provincial economies.”

    Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure

    “We are grateful to the provincial government for this new high school in Cornerstone and new elementary school in Redstone. These urgently needed new schools will benefit students in the northeast corner of Calgary, which is experiencing strong growth. Across Calgary, the CBE has over 11,000 CBE students who are waiting for new schools to be announced this year, so they can attend school closer to home, and these two school announcements today are great news for over 3,000 of our students and their families.”

    Patricia Bolger, board chair, Calgary Board of Education

    “Rocky View Schools looks forward to opening a new high school in Airdrie and a new K-9 school in Chestermere to help relieve space pressures in some of our most over-utilized schools. These projects are critical for two of our fastest-growing communities; we are very grateful for the government’s support in moving them forward from the design phase to full construction funding.”

    Fiona Gilbert, board chair, Rocky View Schools

    Funded as part of a $2.1 billion school capital investment by Alberta’s government last year, these 11 school projects are part of the government’s overall commitment to build and modernize more than 200,000 student spaces within the next seven years. The province will invest an additional $8.6 billion over the next three budget cycles to kick-start up to 90 new schools and as many as 24 renovations or replacements and roll out more modular classrooms.

    Quick facts

    • Since the introduction of the accelerated school construction process, a total of 22 previously announced school projects have been approved to move forward to the next stage of the construction process.
    • The 11 projects advancing to construction funding were initially approved for design funding in March 2024. The projects are as follows:

    Community

    School division

    Project type/Name

    Airdrie

    Rocky View Schools

    new 9-12 school

    Calgary

    Calgary Board of Education

    new 10-12 school in Cornerstone

    Calgary

    Calgary Board of Education

    new K-4 school in Redstone

    Calgary

    Calgary Catholic School District

    new K-6 school in Redstone

    Chestermere

    Rocky View Schools

    new K-9 school

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Catholic Schools

    new K-9 school in Laurel

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Catholic Schools 

    new K-9 school in River’s Edge

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools

    new K-6 school in Glenridding Heights

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools 

    new K-6 school in Rosenthal

    Edmonton

    Edmonton Public Schools

    new 7-9 school in McConachie 

    Okotoks

    Foothills School Division

    new 10-12 school

    Related news

    • Fast-tracking new schools for Alberta students | La province accélère la construction de nouvelles écoles pour les élèves de l’Alberta (September 18, 2024)
    • **UPDATED New schools in Alberta’s growing communities | **MIS À JOUR De nouvelles écoles dans les communautés albertaines en pleine croissance (March 11, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Meetings With the President of the Republic of Poland President Andrzej Duda and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot provided the following readout:
         
    On Feb. 14, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with the President of the Republic of Poland, President Andrzej Duda, and his Polish Defense counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of National Defense (MoND) Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. In both meetings, Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship and delivered a clear message that Poland is a model ally on defense spending and modernization efforts – setting the example for NATO burden-sharing commitments and European leadership within the alliance. Secretary Hegseth recognized Poland’s hospitality and host nation support for the largest number of U.S. forces on NATO’s eastern flank. On Feb. 15, Secretary Hegseth and DPM/MoND Kosiniak-Kamysz visited U.S. and Polish Soldiers in Powidz, who, as one team, are training together, improving readiness, and strengthening deterrence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TACP conduct Target Acquisition, Distributed C2 Operations during exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1

    Source: United States Air Force

    U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party teams from the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing enabled critical Command and Control and sensing capabilities for exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1 across America and islands in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 10-14, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Announces Appointments to the White House Office of Legislative Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>Jordan Cox will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to this role, he worked as Executive Director of Political Operations for House Republican Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler.  Andrew (Drew) Dziedzic: Drew Dziedzic will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate. Prior to joining the White House, he served as Legislative Director for Sen. Eric Schmitt (MO).  Taylor LaJoie: Taylor LaJoie will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate.  He has worked on Capitol Hill in a variety of legislative roles, including Senior Legislative Assistant to then-Senator JD Vance (OH), as well as Legislative Director in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Natalie McIntyre: Natalie McIntyre will serve as the Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate. Previously, Natalie was the Legislative Director for Senator Bill Hagerty (TN). Prior to joining the Senator’s office, she was the Deputy to the Associate Director for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the first Trump Administration. She previously served as the Senior Policy Advisor and White House Liaison at the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  Jack Rosemond: Jack Rosemond will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining the White House, he served as Senior Advisor to Chairman Jason Smith (MO) at the House Ways and Means Committee, where he previously held the position of Director of Member Services. Stephen Siao: Stephen Siao will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. He most recently served as Staff Director of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security and as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Mark Green (TN).
    About the Office of Legislative Affairs: The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) reports to Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair.  The Office is managed by Deputy Assistant to the President and OLA Director James Braid.  Braid has three OLA Deputy Directors, Deputy Assistants to the President Jay Fields (internal lead), Jeff Freeland (House lead), and Pace McMullan (Senate lead).  White House Legislative Affairs Liaisons are commissioned as Special Assistants to the President and report up to the Deputy OLA Director that leads their respective portfolios.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Niagara-Tokanui Highway, Southland

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    One person has died in a crash on Niagara-Tokanui Highway at Quarry Hills, Southland, last night.

    About 8.35pm, emergency services were informed that a ute had rolled, between McManus Roa and Quarry Hills Fortification Road.

    Sadly, one person died at the scene. The two other occupants received critical and serious injuries.

    The cause of the crash remains under investigation and Police are providing support to the victims’ whānau.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary: Bad peace deal with Russia will cause damage far beyond Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    The Foreign and Defence Secretaries have written a joint Op-Ed in the Daily Telegraph on how to reach a strong and durable peace in Ukraine.

    For 20 years, Vladimir Putin has been repeating the mistakes of Russia’s past: by seeking to recreate the Russian empire and suffocate the countries around its borders.

    Too often in the past, the West has let him. We did too little in 2008, when he invaded Georgia, and in 2014, when he first went into Ukraine.

    When he launched his full-scale attack almost three years ago, he thought it would be more of the same. Putin believed that he would win his war in three days. Yet the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and the support of their friends.

    Putin only responds to strength. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have both spoken of their desire to achieve “peace through strength”. And the support we give to Ukraine provides the strength to achieve that peace. Ukraine, Britain, Europe and the US all agree.

    In Brussels this week, at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – which we as the UK chaired for the first time – Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, confirmed that, like us, the US wants to see a sovereign, prosperous Ukraine.

    Like us, the US wants a lasting peace, after almost three years of war.

    Like us, the US recognises the failure of Minsk agreements, deals made from a position of division and weakness.

    At the Munich Security Conference this weekend, our message to our allies is the need for us all to continue to unite and show strength.

    The Prime Minister has signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine – a testament to our long-term commitment and confidence in the country’s future. Including the new loans we are giving, which will be repaid using the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets, our support extends to £15 billion.

    And we are going farther still: this week, we announced an additional £150 million military package, part of the record £4.5 billion in support we are providing this coming year.

    A year on from the death of Alexei Navalny, we are also putting new sanctions on Putin’s inner circle, adding to 2,000 sanctions Britain has already put on Russia.

    From opposition and in government, we have been clear that Europe and the UK must do more together to share the burden of our continent’s security.

    [POLITICAL CONTENT REDACTED]

    We were clear we need our friends in Europe to invest more in defence and seize the opportunities of closer UK-EU cooperation.

    This has already begun. Europe is united on the need to step up. We are – and we will.

    Europe has now committed almost two thirds of all aid to Ukraine, and well over half the military aid. In 2021, the UK and US were two of only six allies meeting Nato’s 2 per cent defence spending target. That number is now 23.

    And we all need to turn up the pressure on Russia. Putin’s economy is struggling. Last year, the Kremlin spent more on military aid than social welfare for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

    Sanctions on energy are a particular priority: the UK has sanctioned more than 100 ships, as well as Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas, two of Russia’s big four oil companies.

    While Russia is weakened, it remains undeniably dangerous. Just this weekend, our Royal Navy will track Russian warships passing close to British waters. These ships are retreating from Syria after Putin abandoned his ally Bashar al-Assad, yet they remain armed and full of ammunition. We will be watching their every move.

    Ultimately, we need a strong peace. A durable peace. A peace that allows Ukrainians a secure future and deters any future Russian aggression. That is why there must be no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine, and we must give Mr Zelensky the strongest possible hand in those talks.

    A bad peace would not only harm our security, but our economies, too: Putin’s 2022 invasion took 1.5 per cent off global GDP and added 3 per cent to European inflation. China, Iran and North Korea are all watching.

    A durable peace must be based on new security arrangements: Europe doubling down to do more on our own continent’s security; a continuing, long-term US commitment to its allies through Nato; and British support to the US and allies in the Indo-Pacific – such as through the Aukus security partnership. That is the way to make us all stronger.

    On Feb 24, we will mark a grim milestone – three years since Putin’s full-scale invasion. Yet despite all the challenges, Ukrainians are showing astonishing tenacity. Now is the time to turn up the pressure on the Kremlin. With strength and unity, we will prevail.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Africa ‘brimming with hope and possibility’: Guterres

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Economic Development

    The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasized the potential of Africa and its young population and called for global reforms to right the injustices of the past, in remarks delivered to the high-level African Union (AU) summit on Saturday.

    “The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has never been stronger,” said the UN chief, striking a positive tone from the outset. “Together, we see an Africa brimming with hope and possibility.”

    The Secretary-General noted the “booming, enterprising” young population of the continent and the wealth of renewable resources it offers, and expressed high hopes for the future of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to reduce trade barriers between African countries.

    Mr. Guterres was speaking on the first day of the annual meeting of the regional organization, held at African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, amid conflict and tensions in several AU member states, notably Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Time for reparations and reform

    In a reference to the theme of this year’s summit – Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations – Mr. Guterres acknowledged that decolonization and independence, a major preoccupation of the UN’s work during its early years, had not solved the underlying challenges faced by Africans, many of which are a legacy of colonialism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, two “colossal and compounded injustices.”

    Many of the UN’s member states were still colonies when multilateral systems were created in the mid-Twentieth Century, and the Secretary-General pointed the finger at the need for reform of his own organization, describing the lack of permanent African representation on today’s Security Council as inexcusable. “I will keep working with the African Union and all Member States to ensure the representation Africa needs and the justice you deserve – including with two permanent members of the Security Council,” he promised.

    Mr. Guterres went on to reiterate calls he has made on several occasions for reform of the international financial architecture, which is hampering the development of many African economies, beset by expensive debt repayments and high borrowing costs, which limits their capacity to invest in education, health and other essential needs.

    ‘Sudan is being torn apart before our eyes’

    The UN chief outlined peace and security as a priority area for multilateral action, drawing particular attention to Sudan, the largest displacement and famine crisis in the world, and a country “being torn apart before our eyes.” Here, the strong links between the African Union and the UN can provide an “anchor” for a coalition to end the war, he proposed.

    © Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital

    Many departments of the hospital are closed following the bombardments. .

    As he spoke, international broadcasters carried news of the latest military gains made by the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The group has reportedly entered Bukavu, DRC’s second city, facing little resistance from the Congolese army.

    The offensive threatens to “push the entire region over the precipice,” warned Mr. Guterres, adding that there is no military solution to the country’s conflict, and that it can only be solved by dialogue. Meanwhile, he declared, MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in DRC, will continue to provide support.

    Drive progress towards development and a ‘renewables revolution’

    Mr. Guterres then turned to development, proposing that progress can be driven by gender equality, clean energy, food systems transformation, and digitalization. The Pact for the Future, a landmark international agreement adopted by the nations of the world in 2024, outlines support for reforming the international financial architecture, which currently sees African countries pay up to eight times more to borrow than developed countries, and commits wealthier nations to advancing a development stimulus package of $500 billion a year.

    The climate crisis was characterized as both the cause of numerous disasters and an opportunity for the continent to play a leading role in the transition to a clean, low carbon global economy.

    UNECA/Daniel Getachew

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks at the 2025 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Africa currently receives just two per cent of global renewables investment, but financial reforms could help the continent to become a “global clean energy powerhouse,” and help to redress an unjust situation, in which Africa suffers disproportionately from man-made changes to the environment caused by the actions of the developed world.

    Bridging the “Digital Divide” by supporting Africa’s capacity to benefit from new technology, notably artificial intelligence, was also flagged by the Secretary-General as a key area of concern. Almost two-thirds of all Africans have no reliable internet access, and by 2035 more young Africans will enter the job market annually than the rest of the world combined.  “They need the skills to thrive,” he declared.

    Forthcoming UN actions to help boost access to the digital economy include a report on initiatives to help the Global South harness AI for the benefit of all, a proposal for an International Scientific Panel on AI, and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to find climate data and science the Trump administration removed from government websites

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eric Nost, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Guelph

    Government scientists at NOAA collect and provide crucial public information about coastal conditions that businesses, individuals and other scientists rely on. NOAA’s National Ocean Service

    Information on the internet might seem like it’s there forever, but it’s only as permanent as people choose to make it.

    That’s apparent as the second Trump administration “floods the zone” with efforts to dismantle science agencies and the data and websites they use to communicate with the public. The targets range from public health and demographics to climate science.

    We are a research librarian and policy scholar who belong to a network called the Public Environmental Data Partners, a coalition of nonprofits, archivists and researchers who rely on federal data in our analysis, advocacy and litigation and are working to ensure that data remains available to the public.

    In just the first three weeks of Trump’s term, we saw agencies remove access to at least a dozen climate and environmental justice analysis tools. The new administration also scrubbed the phrase “climate change” from government websites, as well as terms like “resilience.”

    Here’s why and how Public Environmental Data Partners and others are making sure that the climate science the public depends on is available forever.

    Why government websites and data matter

    The internet and the availability of data are necessary for innovation, research and daily life.

    Climate scientists analyze NASA satellite observations and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather records to understand changes underway in the Earth system, what’s causing them and how to protect the climates that economies were built on. Other researchers use these sources alongside Census Bureau data to understand who is most affected by climate change. And every day, people around the world log onto the Environmental Protection Agency’s website to learn how to protect themselves from hazards — and to find out what the government is or isn’t doing to help.

    If the data and tools used to understand complex data are abruptly taken off the internet, the work of scientists, civil society organizations and government officials themselves can grind to a halt. The generation of scientific data and analysis by government scientists is also crucial. Many state governments run environmental protection and public health programs that depend on science and data collected by federal agencies.

    Removing information from government websites also makes it harder for the public to effectively participate in key processes of democracy, including changes to regulations. When an agency proposes to repeal a rule, for example, it is required to solicit comments from the public, who often depend on government websites to find information relevant to the rule.

    And when web resources are altered or taken offline, it breeds mistrust in both government and science. Government agencies have collected climate data, conducted complex analyses, provided funding and hosted data in a publicly accessible manner for years. People around the word understand climate change in large part because of U.S. federal data. Removing it deprives everyone of important information about their world.

    Bye-bye data?

    The first Trump administration removed discussions of climate change and climate policies widely across government websites. However, in our research with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative over those first four years, we didn’t find evidence that datasets had been permanently deleted.

    The second Trump administration seems different, with more rapid and pervasive removal of information.

    In response, groups involved in Public Environmental Data Partners have been archiving climate datasets our community has prioritized, uploading copies to public repositories and cataloging where and how to find them if they go missing from government websites.

    Most federal agencies decreased their use of the phrase ‘climate change’ on websites during the first Trump administration, 2017-2020.
    Eric Nost, et al., 2021, CC BY

    As of Feb. 13, 2025, we hadn’t seen the destruction of climate science records. Many of these data collection programs, such as those at NOAA or EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, are required by Congress. However, the administration had limited or eliminated access to a lot of data.

    Maintaining tools for understanding climate change

    We’ve seen a targeted effort to systematically remove tools like dashboards that summarize and visualize the social dimensions of climate change. For instance, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool mapped low-income and other marginalized communities that are expected to experience severe climate changes, such as crop losses and wildfires. The mapping tool was taken offline shortly after Trump’s first set of executive orders.

    Most of the original data behind the mapping tool, like the wildfire risk predictions, is still available, but is now harder to find and access. But because the mapping tool was developed as an open-source project, we were able to recreate it.

    Preserving websites for the future

    In some cases, entire webpages are offline. For instance, the page for the 25-year-old Climate Change Center at the Department of Transportation doesn’t exist anymore. The link just sends visitors back to the department’s homepage.

    Other pages have limited access. For instance, EPA hasn’t yet removed its climate change pages, but it has removed “climate change” from its navigation menu, making it harder to find those pages.

    During Donald Trump’s first week back in office, the Department of Transportation removed its Climate Change Center webpage.
    Internet Archive Wayback Machine

    Fortunately, our partners at the End of Term Web Archive have captured snapshots of millions of government webpages and made them accessible through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The group has done this after each administration since 2008.

    If you’re looking at a webpage and you think it should include a discussion of climate change, use the “changes” tool“ in the Wayback Machine to check if the language has been altered over time, or navigate to the site’s snapshots of the page before Trump’s inauguration.

    What you can do

    You can also find archived climate and environmental justice datasets and tools on the Public Environmental Data Partners website. Other groups are archiving datasets linked in the Data.gov data portal and making them findable in other locations.

    Individual researchers are also uploading datasets in searchable repositories like OSF, run by the Center for Open Science.

    If you are worried that certain data currently still available might disappear, consult this checklist from MIT Libraries. It provides steps for how you can help safeguard federal data.

    Narrowing the knowledge sphere

    What’s unclear is how far the administration will push its attempts to remove, block or hide climate data and science, and how successful it will be.

    Already, a federal district court judge has ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s removal of access to public health resources that doctors rely on was harmful and arbitrary. These were put back online thanks to that ruling.

    We worry that more data and information removals will narrow public understanding of climate change, leaving people, communities and economies unprepared and at greater risk. While data archiving efforts can stem the tide of removals to some extent, there is no replacement for the government research infrastructures that produce and share climate data.

    Eric Nost is affiliated with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative and the Public Environmental Data Partners.

    Alejandro Paz is affiliated with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative.

    – ref. How to find climate data and science the Trump administration removed from government websites – https://theconversation.com/how-to-find-climate-data-and-science-the-trump-administration-removed-from-government-websites-249321

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Get Started with BexBack: 100x Leverage, No KYC, Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the price of bitcoin once again trading below $100,000, many analysts believe it will enter a long period of high volatility. Holding spot positions may not continue to generate profits in the short term. BexBack Exchange is stepping up its efforts to provide traders with irresistible preferential packages. The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and a 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, creating unparalleled opportunities for investors.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?

    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign up on BexBack now, claim your exclusive bonus and start accumulating more BTC today!

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7c665a64-15ba-4c5f-8baa-30318ba6c420
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9eda6b7e-6b6d-4d19-8666-aed8c1e8ca31
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3364a04b-93cf-430d-b812-dba3b543681e
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/194b9f4a-91e6-41ca-9269-95d555c452a3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Keeping Education Accessible and Ending Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
         Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Some school districts and universities continue to coerce children and young adults into taking the COVID-19 vaccine by conditioning their education on it, and others may re-implement such mandates.  Parents and young adults should be empowered with accurate data regarding the remote risks of serious illness associated with COVID-19 for children and young adults, as well as how those risks can be mitigated through various measures, and left free to make their own decisions accordingly.  Given the incredibly low risk of serious COVID-19 illness for children and young adults, threatening to shut them out of an education is an intolerable infringement on personal freedom.  Such mandates usurp parental authority and burden students of many faiths.    It is the policy of my Administration that discretionary Federal funds should not be used to directly or indirectly support or subsidize an educational service agency, State educational agency, local educational agency, elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education that requires students to have received a COVID-19 vaccination to attend any in-person education program.
         Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:  (a)  The term “educational service agency” has the meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1401(5).(b)  The term “elementary school” has the meaning given in 34 C.F.R. 77.1(c). (c)  The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a). (d)  The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given in 34 C.F.R. 77.1(c).(e)  The term “secondary school” has the meaning given in 34 C.F.R. 77.1(c). (f)  The term “State educational agency” has the meaning given in 34 C.F.R. 77.1(c).
         Sec. 3.  Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Coercion.  (a)  The Secretary of Education shall as soon as practicable issue guidelines to elementary schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education regarding those entities’ legal obligations with respect to parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection under law, as relevant to coercive COVID-19 school mandates.(b)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall provide to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, a plan to end coercive COVID-19 school mandates, consistent with applicable law, and including, as appropriate, any proposed legislation.  Such plan shall also include:(i)   a list of discretionary Federal grants and contracts provided to elementary schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education that are non-compliant with the guidelines issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; and(ii)  each executive department or agency’s process for, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, preventing Federal funds from being provided to, and rescinding Federal funds from, elementary schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education that are non-compliant with the guidelines issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
         Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov met with the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Meeting of Denis Manturov with the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

    February 15, 2025

    Meeting of Denis Manturov with the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

    February 15, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Meeting of Denis Manturov with the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

    First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov met with Vice President of the United Arab Emirates Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    The meeting was also attended by Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina.

    The parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the topic of mutual settlements and interaction in the financial and banking sector.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique. The Secretary-General expressed the readiness of the United Nations system to support the announced governance reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, rule of law and human rights.

    The Secretary-General and President Chapo discussed the impact of cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, as well as security developments in Cabo Delgado Province.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –