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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Assault – Nightcliff

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The NT Police Force are calling for information in relation to an assault that occurred at the intersection of Dick Ward Drive and Progress Drive yesterday evening.

    About 10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a female was allegedly physically and sexually assaulted by a male who then ran from the area.

    Members of the public intervened and assisted police in locating the suspect, who was arrested a short time later. The 19-year-old male was taken into police custody and investigations are ongoing. The detail of any relationship between the parties forms part of the investigation.

    The victim was conveyed to the Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Caragh Hen said, “This incident occurred in a very public place, in full view of pedestrians and motorists.  The reported offending is abhorrent and brazen and has no place in our Community.”

    Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and reference job number NTP2500070146. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    If you have CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, it may be uploaded here: https://ntpol.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ntp2500070146

    The NT Police Force thanks the witnesses who intervened on this occasion to protect the victim and prevent further violence.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (131 114).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Mission Reviews China’s Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.

    Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service  (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.

    With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.

    “Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

    Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.

    The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security. 

    Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.

    “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.

    During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).

    They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.

    They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:

    • Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
    • Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.

    Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:

    • Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
    • Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
    • Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
    • Enhancing its processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.

    The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.

    “China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”

    Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.

    “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A new exhibition is a thoughtful examination of the lasting relationship between Asia and Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne

    Jacky Cheng, Imaginary Homelands, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025. Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Almost 60 years after former prime minister Harold Holt began to dismantle the White Australia Policy, The Neighbour at the Gate at Sydney’s National Art School Gallery presents a thoughtful examination of the consequences when good neighbours become good friends.

    Street posters promoting the exhibition feature an image of a magpie. Advertising always distorts. Pardu (Tirritpa) by James Tylor, who has Kaurna and Mãori heritage, is a series of groupings of exquisite small bird daguerreotypes. Their shadowed silver surface gives the impression of antiquity, which is Tylor’s intention.

    In Kaurna, the names of birds come from the songs they sing. This is also how birds are named in many Asian languages. Onomatopoeia makes a bridge between cultures. A QR code on the wall next to each grouped images of birds allows the viewer to hear blends of birdsong with human music.

    James Tylor, Pardu (detail), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy the artist and the National Art School © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Remembering the past

    The visitor enters the exhibition through Imaginary Homelands, Jacky Cheng’s installation in the shape of a traditional Chinese paifang (牌坊).

    The 1,110 strips of paper, with fragments of Chinese characters, represent a poem she learnt as child in Kuala Lumpur. But some of the language has been lost by the distortions of time. She now lives on Yawuru country (Broome), an Australian town with close links to many South East Asian cultures.

    In remembering her past, she grasps elements of her Malay Chinese heritage.

    Dennis Golding’s Bingo is possibly as fragmented a memory as Cheng’s. Golding, a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay man, has made a tribute to the community space his Nan and Aunty created in an abandoned terrace house in the Block at Redfern, where at night they would play bingo.

    Dennis Golding, Bingo, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Each of the etchings scattered across the wall is the size of brick; each quotes small details of community life in Redfern before it was “discovered” by the gentrifiers. The exquisite etchings appear to be scattered at random, but a careful look will show the word “Bingo” in white in the spaces on the wall.

    Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson’s God of War is a beautiful and sensual video on love, rage, reconciliation and the emotional journey of being a refugee.

    Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, God of War, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Eshraghian-Haakansson is a second generation Iranian-Australian whose work is shaped in part by the experience of her mother and grandmother, whose Baha’i faith placed them in peril in 1979 after the Ayatollahs seized power. The different segments of this elegant video are deliberately broken by rough insertions, giving it a sense of a work reclaimed from history.

    Along the water

    Jenna Mayilema Lee’s complex installation in three parts is both a universal statement on the integration that is the long-term consequence of the meeting of cultures, and a personal statement on her own circumstances.

    Each component – the photographic mural, the video and the billabong sculpture – can be seen as an independent work, but when combined they form magic.

    Lee is truly a modern Australian, descended from Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman, KarraJarri people as well as having Japanese, Filipino, Chinese and Anglo ancestors.

    Jenna Mayilema Lee, Portal to the Bangarr (billabong), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    The lotus sculptures in the billabong are constructed from copies of immigration documentation. Her Chinese ancestors were living in Australia well before the White Australia policy of 1901. When they needed to travel, bureaucracy demanded multiple forms.

    She has layered the forms with a hand print from one of her Japanese ancestors which, much to her pleasure, she discovered is the same size as her own hand.

    The billabongs of northern Australia, especially in Larrakia country, are filled with lotus plants. The ancestors of the lotus plants of northern Australia floated across the narrow seas from Asia many years ago, in much the same way as people.

    Water does not always bring life. James Nguyen’s Homeopathies_where new trees grow, is a reminder of another consequence of colonisation.

    James Nguyen, Homeopathies_where new trees grow (detail), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy the artist and the National Art School © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    As with many other Vietnamese Australians, his family lives near the Parramatta and Duck rivers, west of central Sydney. One of the horrors of the Vietnam war was the way Agent Orange, destroyed both the jungle and the lives of people who came into contact with it.

    Agent Orange was made by Union Carbide, near the Parramatta River. When the factory closed the contaminated site was not properly sealed and the poison seeped into the river.

    Nguyen’s giant floating textile is of made of raw cotton and silk strips, dyed with mud and weeds contaminated by dioxin and Agent Orange. The evil of contamination is countered by clay pinchpot incense holders which line the stairs and entrances to the exhibition.

    The cleansing smoke of incense is another link between the cultures of Asia and those of Australia’s First Nations people.

    The Neighbour at the Gate is a generous and inclusive exhibition, a reminder of a common humanity. Clothilde Bullen, who heads the curatorium with Micheal Do and Zali Morgan, sees art as a way of countering divisions in society.

    She told me:

    If we are to work as a society and if we are to work as a community then we have to call people in, and we have to be prepared to embrace that difference. And so that is really what this show is all about.

    The Neighbour at the Gate is at the National Art School Galleries, Sydney, until October 18.

    Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council

    – ref. A new exhibition is a thoughtful examination of the lasting relationship between Asia and Australia – https://theconversation.com/a-new-exhibition-is-a-thoughtful-examination-of-the-lasting-relationship-between-asia-and-australia-259040

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Mission Reviews China’s Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.

    Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service  (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.

    With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.

    “Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

    Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.

    The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security. 

    Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.

    “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.

    During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).

    They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.

    They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:

    • Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
    • Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.

    Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:

    • Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
    • Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
    • Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
    • Enhancing its processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.

    The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.

    “China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”

    Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.

    “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Announces Tom Green and San Saba Counties Added to the Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance Support from FEMA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    SAN ANGELO, TX — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) announced that Tom Green and San Saba counties have officially been added to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration for individual assistance support from FEMA. The list now includes Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson Counties for Individual Assistance. In addition, Kendall, Kimble, Menard, and San Saba Counties were added for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance.

    You can read the amended declaration HERE.

    “Texas has experienced unimaginable tragedy over the past week from these floods,” said Rep. Pfluger. “Several counties were hit especially hard, and while they face a long road to recovery, thankfully, they no longer have to face it alone. I am grateful that President Trump has officially added Tom Green and San Saba counties to the Major Disaster Declaration, allowing them to receive the critical assistance they need. My team and I have worked closely with local leaders and officials throughout the week to gather the necessary data to secure this support. I’m always proud to be a Texan—especially in moments like this, when I see our community come together in the moments that matter most.”

    “I’m so grateful for President Trump including Tom Green County in his major disaster declaration,” said Tom Green County Judge Lane Carter. “All of our efforts in formulating the data needed from our citizens are finally coming to fruition. We owe a huge thanks to Congressman August Pfluger and his office for assisting with this and moving the ball down the field. With the declaration, our citizens will now have the possibility of applying for federal funds to aid in their recovery. Without the declaration, this wouldn’t be possible. We owe a tremendous amount of thanks to the volunteers who assisted our citizens in this effort. The recovery efforts are one step at a time, but at this rate, we will overcome! Tom Green County Strong!”

    “San Saba County expresses its gratitude to President Trump and his administration, with a special thanks to US Rep. August Pfluger, for helping us through this disaster. It is a privilege to have a President who cares about our great state of Texas and even a small population county like San Saba,” said San Saba County Judge Jody Fauley.

    “Citizens of San Angelo and Tom Green County, with this newly announced FEMA IA disaster declaration, the efforts of our citizens over the past six days have truly paid off,” said San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson. “This means that residents of San Angelo may now be eligible to apply for individual assistance through FEMA. This IA declaration will also potentially open up additional federal recovery funding programs for our citizens & businesses. On behalf of the City, I want to sincerely thank every person who completed a disaster assessment and every volunteer who stepped up to help. This is a great step forward towards the road of recovery for our community. We will continue to share recovery program information updates as they become available. To every citizen of San Angelo—you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Thank you. A special thank you to President Trump, Rep. August Pfluger, Sen. Charles Perry, Rep. Drew Darby, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Sen. John Cornyn for their assistance in getting this designation for our community.”

    If you have been impacted by the floods, please visit the FEMA website to request support: www.DisasterAssistance.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Sensex, Nifty open lower amid uncertainty around Trump tariffs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian equity market indices opened lower on Friday amid lingering uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s trade policies, as he continues to threaten higher tariffs across various sectors and countries.

    At 9:20 am, the Sensex was down 224 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 82,965, while the Nifty shed 65 points, or 0.26 per cent, to trade at 25,289.

    Marginal buying was seen in midcap and smallcap stocks. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 60 points, or 0.10 per cent, at 59,220, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 11 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 18,967.

    According to analysts, given the current environment marked by uncertainty and heightened volatility, traders are advised to adopt a cautious “wait and watch” approach, especially with leveraged positions. Booking partial profits during rallies and using tight trailing stop-losses is recommended.

    In the Sensex pack, HUL, Asian Paints, Axis Bank, NTPC, Power Grid, Tata Steel, SBI, Adani Ports, Sun Pharma, and ITC were among the major gainers. TCS, Infosys, M&M, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, and Trent were the prominent losers.

    On the sectoral front, PSU banks, financial services, pharma, FMCG, and metal stocks were trading in the green, while auto, IT, realty, and media sectors were in the red.

    In Asia, stock markets traded mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI were trading flat, while China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained over one per cent.

    Overnight in the US, Wall Street’s major indices, the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, closed at record highs. The Dow Jones climbed 0.43 per cent and the S&P 500 rose 0.27 per cent.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 221 crore on July 10, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth Rs 591 crore on the same day.

    President Trump has announced 35 per cent tariffs on Canada and warned of higher levies if Ottawa retaliates. These tariffs will come into effect on August 1. Recently, Trump also threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian imports unless Brazil halts legal proceedings against former President Bolsonaro.

    —IANS

  • New Zealand braces for severe weather as storm threatens flooding

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Heavy rain and strong winds lashed parts of New Zealand on Friday as a cold front moved east across the country, and authorities warned conditions could worsen over the next 24 hours, triggering floods and landslides.

    The northern regions of both the South Island and North Island of the country could be severely affected by the wild weather, the country’s weather bureau said in its latest update.

    New Zealand‘s MetService said the wind would pick up from Friday afternoon, with gusts of up to 120 kph (75 mph) forecast for some regions. There could be severe thunderstorms later on Friday, MetService’s Heather Keats said.

    A state of local emergency has been declared for the Nelson Tasman region for the second time in as many months with officials warning that rivers could rise quickly because the ground remains wet following floods at the end of last month.

    Motorists have been urged to stay off the roads, while the authorities have asked residents in the Nelson Tasman region to evacuate their homes if they feel unsafe.

    “In these conditions, it’s just not worth the risk,” the Tasman District Council said in a post on social media.

    “We have a number of roads already closed … and we’re expecting more closures to happen in the coming hours due to tree falls from heavy winds and significant surface flooding.”

    (Reuters)

  • Armed men kidnap, kill nine bus passengers in Pakistan, say officials

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Armed men killed nine bus passengers after kidnapping them in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Friday.

    The passengers had been kidnapped from multiple buses on Thursday evening, said the provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind.

    Their bodies with bullet wounds were found in mountains overnight, another government official Naveed Alam said.

    No one has claimed responsibility.

    Separatist Baloch militants have in the past been involved in such incidents, killing passengers after identifying them as coming from the eastern Punjab province.

    The Baloch Liberation Army is the strongest of a number of insurgent groups long operating in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region.

    The ethnic Baloch militants blame authorities in Pakistan for stealing their regional resources to fund spending in Punjab province.

    (Reuters)

  • Shubhanshu Shukla to begin journey back to Earth on July 14: Axiom Space

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is expected to begin his journey back to Earth on July 14, Axiom Space announced on Friday.

    Shukla, along with three other crew members — Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu — will undock from the Harmony module’s space-facing port inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for their return to Earth.

    “The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to undock from the @Space_Station no earlier than Monday, July 14, at 7:05 a.m. ET (4:35 pm IST),” Axiom Space said in a post on social media platform X.

    A splashdown is expected several hours after undocking, near the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean.

    “We are working with the station programme, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission, and the current target to undock is July 14,” Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said at a press conference.

    IAF Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day mission to the ISS. He is the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian astronaut in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984.

    During his time aboard the orbital outpost, Shukla carried out seven India-specific experiments, marking an important step for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. His experiments focused on topics such as decoding muscle loss in microgravity, developing a brain-computer interface, and sprouting green gram and fenugreek seeds in space.

    Shukla also interacted with students from Kerala and Lucknow via video conferencing from the ISS. The students asked him about life in space — from what astronauts eat and how they sleep, to what happens if someone falls sick.

    They also wanted to know about the benefits of India’s space programme and which part of the mission he found most enjoyable.

    Describing the launch experience of Axiom Mission 4, Shukla told the students it was “amazing” and “dynamic”.

    “It is fun actually, because in space there is no floor and no ceiling. So if you were to visit the station, you would find someone sleeping on the walls and someone on the ceiling,” he told them with a smile.

    —IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU developed a board game “Startup Race”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    NSU Startup Studio developed a board game “Startup Race”, which simulates the actions of a startup in a real market. The game includes all stages of a startup’s life – from developing an idea to exiting the project. It allows you to show students and anyone interested in and planning to engage in entrepreneurship in a simple form what awaits them in the market. The game is implemented in a rare genre of “strategic puzzle”, at the moment there are no analogues on the market. In the near future, a boxed version of the game will appear, which will be available for pre-order. Anyone can buy it.

    The game is structured as follows: participants roll dice in accordance with the stage of the startup’s life, which is announced in advance by the game host. They draw cards from the deck, presented as Tetris figures. The figures build a line, which, in essence, reflects the entire life cycle of the project. Cards or figures are opportunities (for example, fundraising) or risks.

    The first stage of startup development is the idea, when the project is just emerging. It is the easiest for players, since at the very beginning, participants have the most cards and it is easiest to lay the foundation for further development of the project. The next stage is MVP (Minimum Viable Product), that is, the creation of a minimum viable product. At this stage, some obstacles to the development of the project appear, for example, the idea has not come true or the participant cannot achieve certain technical indicators. The number of figures decreases.

    The next stage is Product-Market Fit (PMF), i.e. checking the product’s compliance with the market. At this stage, players develop a concept taking into account the real market situation, a marketing plan, and the project gets its first real clients. At the same time, risks arise that can destroy the project.

    Next comes the scaling stage, when the project can already attract fundraising funds, which is also reflected in the game. Fundraising funds are special cards that provide a significant boost to the further development of the project. The last stage is exiting the project, which is associated with the greatest risks for the creator. Investments can also be attracted at this stage, but the opportunities for scaling are limited. This is one of the longest stages for the project and its founder. Possible exit strategies include selling the business, shares, public offering of shares (IPO), etc.

    — A player can develop several projects simultaneously and build different strategies on several markets — tracks. It is very important that your main project, on which you place a high bet, has repeating figures. There are risks — these are cards that can remove one of the figures within the entire chain, which can lead to the collapse of the project. There are specialized cards — fundraising, which, on the contrary, give you additional opportunities. In terms of Tetris, these are the most “favorable” figures — for example, a long straight line. You can simultaneously invest in several projects or develop only one, but in any case, your task is to successfully develop the project, go through all the stages and bring the startup to the final stage as quickly as possible, — explained Konstantin Kravtsov, an employee of the NSU Startup Studio.

    The game simulates market competition, so within its framework you can hinder or, conversely, help your rivals. Also here are such mandatory elements of entrepreneurial activity as risk assessment and diversification, choice of development strategy – conservative or risky. Thus, the game in a simplified mechanical form simulates the actions of a person who develops his startup on the market.

    The game is designed for different groups of people, including those who are not very knowledgeable about the startup market; children also actively play it.

    — The Startup Race is not just entertainment, but a tool for involving the general public in entrepreneurship. It helps to understand that a startup is not just a “cafe”, but an innovative, fast-growing business that scales. The NSU Startup Studio team plans to replicate the game. At first, it will be packaged in a boxed version, and then it will be available for pre-order. The possibility of creating an elite version of the game, which can be used as representative gifts, is also being considered, — emphasized Alexey Starostin, a representative of the NSU Startup Studio.

    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 Australia: MEDIA RELEASE: ‘Same job same pay’ orders for BHP coal mines

    Source:

    Statement by Steve Knott AM, Chief Executive
    Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA)

    The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has today granted “same job same pay” orders covering Operations Services (OS) employees working at three BHP Queensland coal mines, finding OS employees were supplied to BHP Coal for their labour rather than to provide services.

    The decision is considered an important test case of the same job same pay laws, marking the first time an employer has sought to rely upon provisions that prevent the FWC from making orders where arrangements are for the provision of services rather than the supply of labour.

    Known as the “service contractor exemption”, these provisions were negotiated into the same job same pay laws by AREEA when it became clear in late 2023 that the Albanese Government had enough support in the Senate to legislate their long-held policy.

    To determine whether an arrangement is for the provision of a service or for the supply of labour, the FWC must consider several criteria including how involved the employer is in the performance of work, who supervises or controls employees, and which entity supplies the systems, equipment and structures of work.

    Today’s decision reflects the FWC’s considerations of how work is performed at the relevant BHP sites and its view that the BHP-OS arrangements do not satisfy the service contractor exemption.

    Having carefully reviewed the Full Bench’s conclusions, it’s clear the FWC is prevented from making orders covering genuine service contracting arrangements.

    This exemption will apply to any service business – from specialist mining contractors to cleaning and catering companies – where they demonstrate they supervise their own employees, control their performance of work, supply them with equipment, and other factors.

    As stated by the Full Bench:

    Subsection (1) confers the power, and obligation, to make a regulated labour hire arrangement order. That section is rendered inoperative unless the Commission is positively satisfied that the performance of work is not or will not be for the provision of a service, rather than the supply of labour.
     – Paragraph 23, [2025] FWCFB 134

    AREEA intervened in this important FWC matter to reaffirm the commitments made by the Government at the time of our negotiations that it did not intend for the same job same pay laws to cover genuine service contracting arrangements.

    We note it is open to the affected employers to appeal the FWC’s decision to the Federal Court should they believe jurisdictional or factual errors have been made.

    With the Federal Government focused on national productivity, it’s also important to consider the wider commercial ramifications of such decisions.

    Increasing labour costs at some of Australia’s most productive mining operations, in this case to the tune of some $1.3 billion, will fundamentally impact long-term investment and employment decisions.

    This will be to the detriment of the mining sector workforce, regional communities, and all the small and medium businesses that service large project operators along the supply chain.

    AREEA’s position is amendments are needed to ensure the ‘same job same pay’ is targeted at clear cases where there is evidence that labour hire is being used to undermine, undercut or avoid the payment of enterprise agreement wages.

    Businesses that supply labour to clients via legitimate and lawful above-award arrangements provide an invaluable service to the economy, and they must be allowed to do so with certainty and confidence.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tryg A/S – interim report Q2 and H1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tryg’s Supervisory Board has today approved the interim report for Q2 and H1 2025.

    Tryg reported an insurance service result of DKK 2,307m (DKK 2,020m) and a combined ratio of 77.2% (78.8%) in Q2 2025. The higher insurance service result was supported by a growth of 4.0% (3.9%) in local currencies and a continued underlying profitability improvement. The investment result was at DKK 110m (DKK 538m). Pre-tax profit was DKK 2,035m (DKK 2,129m) and profit after tax was DKK 1,531m (DKK 1,642m). Ordinary dividend of DKK 2.05 (DKK 1.95) per share for the quarter, is an increase of more than 5% from last year. The reported solvency ratio at the end of Q2 2025 was 199% (195% Q1 2025), supportive of future shareholder remuneration.

    Financial highlights Q2 2025

    • Insurance revenue growth of 4.0% in local currencies (3.9%)
    • Insurance service result of DKK 2,307m (DKK 2,020m)
    • Combined ratio of 77.2% (78.8%)
    • Expense ratio of 13.5% (13.6%)
    • Investment result of DKK 110m (DKK 538m)
    • Profit before tax of DKK 2,035m (DKK 2,129m)
    • Ordinary dividend of DKK 2.05 (DKK 1.95) per share and solvency ratio of 199% (195% Q1 2025)

    Financial highlights H1 2025

    • Insurance revenue growth of 3.9% in local currencies (4.4%)
    • Insurance service result of DKK 3,846m (DKK 3,300m)
    • Combined ratio of 80.7% (82.7%)
    • Expense ratio of 13.4% (13.6%)
    • Investment result of DKK 430m (DKK 650m)
    • Profit before tax of DKK 3,526m (DKK 3,136m)
    • Ordinary dividend of DKK 4.10 (DKK 3.90) per share and solvency ratio of 199%

    Customer highlights Q2 2025

    • Customer satisfaction score of 82 (baseline 2024 is 81)

    Statement by Tryg Group CEO, Johan Kirstein Brammer:
    In the past quarter, we have continued to strengthen our core business, allowing us to report a strong insurance service result for Q2 2025 and maintaining a solid combined ratio. We have once again managed to increase our customer satisfaction, while at the same time improving our underlying claims ratio. We are sustaining strong early progress as we execute our 2027 strategy as a result of several targeted initiatives across our markets such as continued profitability improvements in Norway, while we are firmly in control of developments in the motor portfolio as frequencies and average claims develop favourably.

    New accounting policy: Adjusted financial key figures

    In March 2025, Tryg published a newsletter on a change in the hedging strategy of inflation risk related to long-tailed lines of business. In accordance with accounting regulation, comparison figures have been restated. Q2 2024 was significantly affected, hence a comparison of reported and restated figures are shown below. The restatement simply moves income between the insurance service result and the investment result, and hence the profit/loss before tax is unchanged. For more details on the inflation hedge, see the IR newsletter.

    Restated key figures for Q2 2024 (*):

    DKKm Q2 2025 Q2 2024
    reported    		 Q2 2024
    restated
    Insurance service result 2,307 2,212 2,020
    Net investment result 110 347 538
    Other income and costs -381 -430 -430
    Profit/loss before tax 2,035 2,129 2,129


    Conference call
    Tryg hosts a conference call today at 10:00 CET. CEO Johan Kirstein Brammer, CFO Allan Kragh Thaysen, CTO Mikael Kärrsten and Head of Financial Reporting, SVP Gianandrea Roberti will present the results in brief followed by Q&As.

    The conference call will be held in English. An on-demand version will be available shortly after the conference call has ended.

    Conference call details:
    Danish participants:        +45 78 76 84 90
    UK participants:        +44 203 769 6819
    US participants:        +1 646 787 0157
    PIN: 560768

    The interim report material can be downloaded on www.tryg.com/downloads-2025 shortly after the time of release.

    Contact information:

    Visit tryg.com for more information.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tryg Forsikring A/S half-year report 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tryg Forsikring A/S has published its half-year report 2025. Download the report at www.tryg.com

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tryg A/S – Financial Calendar for 2026

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

     Tryg A/S hereby publishes the financial calendar for the calendar year 2026.

    22 Jan. 2026 Annual Report 2025
    26 Mar. 2026 Annual General Meeting
    15 Apr. 2026 Interim report Q1 2026
    10 Jul. 2026 Interim report Q2 and H1 2026
    09 Oct. 2026 Interim report Q1-Q3 2026

    Contact information:

    Visit tryg.com for more information.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on July 11, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 7-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,50,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.49
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)     

    Press Release: 2025-2026/694

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on July 11, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 7-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,50,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.49
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)     

    Press Release: 2025-2026/694

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Bitcoin jumps to record on institutional investor demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bitcoin rallied to an all-time high on Friday, powered by demand from institutional investors and friendly policies of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

    The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose to a peak of $116,781.10 in the Asian session on Friday, taking its gains for the year thus far to more than 24%.

    In March, Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies. He has also appointed several crypto-friendly individuals, including Securities and Exchange Commission Paul Atkins and White House artificial intelligence czar David Sacks.

    Trump’s family businesses have also made forays into cryptocurrencies. Trump Media & Technology Group is looking to launch an exchange-traded fund to invest in multiple crypto tokens including Bitcoin, a SEC filing on Tuesday showed.

    Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, similarly jumped more than 5% to last trade at $2,964.02, after earlier hitting a five-month high of $2,998.41.

    (Reuters)

  • Ashadha Purnima observed with spiritual fervour at Sarnath

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The sacred grounds of Sarnath resonated with deep devotion on Thursday as Ashadha Purnima, marking the auspicious Dhammachakra Pravartana Divas, was commemorated at the historic Mulagandha Kuti Vihara. The event, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Mahabodhi Society of India, drew monastics, scholars, and devotees from around the world to honour the day when Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon.

    As dusk fell and the full moon of Ashadha illuminated the skies, the programme began with a serene circumambulation (parikrama) of the Dhamek Stupa by monks, nuns, and lay practitioners in a gesture of reverence. The ancient stupa, glowing in the fading sunlight, stood as a powerful reminder of the Buddha’s first teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

    In his opening address, Ven. Summitananda Thero, In-charge of the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, spoke of the enduring sanctity of Sarnath, a place that has safeguarded the Dharma for centuries. He reflected on the quiet strength and spiritual resonance of the land that witnessed the birth of the Buddhist Sangha.

    Ven. Dieu Tri, a senior nun from Vietnam, offered heartfelt remarks about the recent exposition of sacred Buddha relics in her country, where an astounding 17.8 million devotees paid homage across nine cities. A short film presented by the IBC captured the emotional response of the Vietnamese people to this historic spiritual journey.

    Vice Chancellor of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Ven. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, emphasized the unity of knowledge and practice in the Dharma. He highlighted the spiritual significance of Ashadha Purnima, not only as the day of the first sermon but also as a symbolic marker of the Buddha’s conception and the founding of the monastic order.

    Most Ven. Sumedha Thero, President of the Indo–Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association, expressed his deep gratitude to the Indian government for selecting Sarnath as the centrepiece of this year’s celebration. He underscored the timeless cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Sri Lanka, forged through the shared wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings.

    The programme concluded with a message from Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, Secretary General of the IBC, who called for global Buddhist unity and interfaith harmony. He urged the global community to embrace empathy and inclusive dialogue as the foundation for a peaceful world.

    Ven. Seelawanso Thero, Principal of the Pali and Buddhist Dhamadoot College, delivered the vote of thanks, encapsulating the collective spirit of gratitude and reverence that defined the evening.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian scientist receives Chinese Xihu Friendship Award

    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

    BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) — Nikolai Polyakov, a Russian scientist from the Yangtze River Delta Biomedical Technology Research Park in Deqing County, east China’s Zhejiang Province, has been awarded the Xihu Friendship Award, county authorities said.

    The award ceremony was held recently in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, where West Lake is located, an iconic landmark and symbol of the city’s culture, which gave the award its name.

    Nikolay Polyakov is a leading scientist in the biomedical field in the above-mentioned park. He works on introducing advanced technologies related to mechanochemistry and magnetic resonance imaging in China, having contributed to the establishment of a joint laboratory in the field of mechanochemistry by Zhejiang Province and the Russian side.

    N. Polyakov actively participated in the creation of a platform between research institutions and universities in China and foreign countries for academic exchanges and cooperation, making important contributions to education, scientific research and international cooperation, according to a statement from local authorities.

    Established in 1997, the 2025 Xihu Friendship Prize has been awarded to a total of 50 foreign experts working in Zhejiang in recognition of their contributions to the province’s socio-economic development. -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 Russia: Xinhua Analytical Center Releases Report on China’s Experience in Poverty Alleviation

    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

    BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) — The Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency, on Friday released a report on China’s experience in poverty reduction.

    The report, titled “Striving for a Better Life for the People: China’s Practical and Theoretical Innovations to Consolidate and Expand Achievements in Intensive Poverty Alleviation,” was released simultaneously in Chinese and English for worldwide distribution. -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 Russia: China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that ran telecom fraud in northern Myanmar

    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

    Xinhua | 11.07. 2025

    Keywords: China, crime, telecommunications fraud

    Source: Xinhua

    China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that carried out telecom fraud in northern Myanmar China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that carried out telecom fraud in northern Myanmar

    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 Russia: About 2,000 families in Syria’s Latakia affected by forest fires

    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

    DAMASCUS, July 11 (Xinhua) — Some 1,900 Syrian families have been directly affected and thousands more are at risk as wildfires continue to rage in northwestern Syria’s Latakia province for the eighth day in a row, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday.

    The forest fires, which have been burning since July 2, have engulfed more than 40 sites, burning vast tracts of pine forest, farmland and the outskirts of villages, the department said in a report.

    The wildfires have led to significant displacement of people and increased humanitarian needs, particularly for shelter, water and other basic services.

    OCHA reported that areas where returning refugees had settled were the hardest hit, with a marked reduction in returnees following the bushfires.

    Syria launched a rapid response program on Wednesday in cooperation with the World Food Program to help those affected by forest fires in Latakia, state news agency SANA reported, citing agriculture minister Amjad Badr.

    According to him, the total area of forest fires is estimated at about 15 thousand hectares. The victims will be provided with the necessary support, such as agricultural supplies and infrastructure services. –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 Russia: One dead, four injured after tree branches fall at Southern California summer camp

    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

    LOS ANGELES, July 11 (Xinhua) — An eight-year-old boy was killed and four others were injured when tree branches fell at a summer camp in Calabasas, 40 km west of downtown Los Angeles, U.S., on Wednesday afternoon, local authorities said.

    Local news station ABC11 reported Thursday that several oak tree branches fell on nine children around 3 p.m. local time.

    The children were reportedly gathered under the shade of the tree, waiting to be picked up. The cause of the tree’s branches falling remains unclear. –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 Russia: Israel Ready to Discuss Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza on Condition of Hamas Disarmament – B. Netanyahu

    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

    JERUSALEM, July 11 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel is ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire in Gaza during the proposed 60-day truce, but only on the condition that the territory is completely demilitarized.

    “At the beginning of the truce, we will begin negotiations on a permanent end to the war, that is, a permanent ceasefire,” B. Netanyahu said in a video message from Washington, where he is currently on a visit.

    “To achieve this, the basic conditions we have set must be met: Hamas must lay down its arms, Gaza must be demilitarized, and Hamas can no longer have any governance or military potential,” the Israeli prime minister said.

    Delegations from Israel and Hamas arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday to negotiate a temporary truce following the group’s deadly attack in October 2023. Israeli military operations that followed the attack devastated the enclave, killing more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. –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 Russia: Two killed, 27 injured after bus plunges into ravine in southern Philippines

    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

    MANILA, July 11 (Xinhua) — A bus plunged into a ravine in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines on Thursday, killing two people and injuring 27 others, local authorities said.

    The accident occurred around 8 a.m. local time. The bus carrying the students was heading to a military training camp, said Ronnie Villanueva, an official with the provincial disaster risk reduction and management agency.

    One student died at the scene, and another elderly passenger died later at a local hospital, he said. Twenty-seven people received various injuries.

    An initial police investigation revealed that the bus’s brakes failed as it made a turn, causing it to fall off the cliff.

    College students were sent to a training camp to participate in preparation for military service in case of emergency. –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 United Nations: Anti-discrimination champion from India and global network of population scientists receive the 2025 United Nations Population Award

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    UNITED NATIONS, New York, 11 July 2025 – The laureates of the fortieth edition of the United Nations Population Award are Ms. Varsha Deshpande, Founder, Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal of India in the individual category, and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) in the institution category. 

    Ms. Varsha Deshpande is a pioneering women’s rights activist with more than 35 years of experience working on gender-based violence, discrimination and gender. She founded the Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal in 1990 to advance women’s rights and gender justice. She tirelessly works to empower grassroots women by building their vocational skills, connecting them to vital resources and services, and fostering their financial independence. 

    At the helm of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, Ms. Deshpande has spearheaded numerous programmes, including ones addressing child marriage through the empowerment of adolescent girls and engagement with men and boys; safeguarding the rights of women in the informal sector; and promoting joint property registration to boost women’s access to assets. She is a respected member of various statutory bodies established by the Government of India and state-level governments, and has provided instrumental support for the law aimed at preventing gender-biased sex selection in India.

    The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), founded in 1927, has played a pivotal role in advancing population science and policy. It has been instrumental in addressing critical population challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, by fostering collaborative research, building capacity among early-career and mid-career demographers, and providing platforms for knowledge exchange. 

    The IUSSP helped establish regional population associations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and tackles key global issues relating to reproductive health, gender, migration, climate change, and the linkages between population dynamics and sustainable development. IUSSP’s work bridges the gap between research and policy, and ensures that population issues remain at the forefront of global development agendas.

    About the UN Population Award

    Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honors an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It is now in its fortieth year. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is composed of a quorum of 8 UN Member States, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members. Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year. UNFPA serves as its Secretariat. 

    For more information, please contact: media@unfpa.org 

    About UNFPA

    UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: CARICOM meeting reports on progress of regional Migration Policy Framework (CMPF)

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Georgetown, Guyana – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) hosted a virtual technical meeting on Thursday, 3 July 2025 to bring together representatives from CARICOM Member States, regional institutions and development partners for an update and planning session on the Draft CARICOM Migration Policy Framework (CMPF).  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ sends 43 more firefighters to Canada

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says Fire and Emergency New Zealand is deploying an additional 43-person taskforce to Manitoba, Canada on Sunday 13 July to bolster support of Canada’s response to severe wildfires.

    “This deployment is in addition to the seven firefighters who left New Zealand on Wednesday. As wildfires continue to burn across Canada it is important that New Zealand supports the firefighting efforts by Canadian crews,” says Ms van Velden.

    The taskforce consists of an agency representative, two taskforce leaders and eight five-person arduous firefighting crews. Like the specialist team, it is intended that they will be deployed for approximately five weeks.

    “I would like to commend all of those being deployed for answering the call of our Canadian colleagues in their time of need, giving up time with their families to do this important work.”

    “As well as benefitting the Canadian crews, the deployment is also valuable experience for personnel at Fire and Emergency New Zealand.”

    Across Canada there are 518 active wildfires. 105 of these are in the Manitoba province, with fourteen new fires starting in the last 24 hours.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Four years on: Planning for Baby Anahera’s community service underway

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A burial for a newborn baby who was found deceased at an Auckland recycling plant almost four years ago will be held next month.

    Baby Anahera, as she has been named by the community, was discovered at an Auckland recycling plant on August 16, 2021.

    Auckland City CIB’s Detective Inspector Scott Beard says despite extensive enquires over the years investigators have been unable to identify the mother, father, or wider family.

    “We have worked with the Coroner so that she can be laid to rest,” he says.

    “Now she can be released, we will work through the arrangements for a community service for her.”

    Police is aware of community plans for a service on 16 August, which will mark four years since she was found.

    No matter how much time has passed, Detective Inspector Beard wants to reiterate to the family Police want to help resolve this for the baby and her family.

    “It’s not too late for the baby’s mother or someone within her immediate circle of family or friends to come forward,” he says.

    “We urge them and anyone else who might know what happened to do the right thing and talk to somebody, whether it’s Police or someone who can notify us on their behalf.”

    Anyone with information is urged to contact 105 quoting file number 210816/2825 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS.

    Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Driver stumped after crash and court

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A lead foot motorist who attempted to branch out and hide from Police has been caught up a tree in Haruru.

    At about 8am yesterday, a vehicle travelling on Puketona Road sped away after noticing a nearby Police car.

    Far North Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Richard Garton, says the vehicle was not signalled to stop and a short time later the driver lost control and crashed.

    “Officers then observed the man get out of the vehicle and flee on foot.

    “The Police Dog Unit was contacted and managed to track the man, who was located a short distance away hiding up a tree.”

    The man was taken into custody without further incident.

    “Thankfully no one was injured, however these types of situations are extremely concerning for our staff and I hope our quick response reassures the community that we have absolutely no tolerance for incidents like these.”

    A 36-year-old man appeared in Kaikohe District Court charged with dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –