NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Global: There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    On June 9, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast.

    The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.

    The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried — baby formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits — was confiscated. All passengers were detained and now face deportation.

    This interception has sparked international condemnation. Importantly, it also raises questions about whether Israel’s actions comply with international law.

    Legal conditions for naval blockades

    Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

    • it must be formally declared and publicly notified
    • it must be effectively enforced in practice
    • it must be applied impartially to all ships
    • it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
    • it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

    If even one of these conditions is not met, the blockade may be considered illegal under customary international humanitarian law.

    The fifth condition is especially important here. According to a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

    A blockade that prevents this could be in breach of international law.

    Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of varying degrees on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas came to power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claims the purpose of the blockade is to “prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas”. Critics say it amounts to collective punishment.

    The Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (from January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

    Freedom of navigation

    International law also strongly protects the freedom of navigation, particularly in international waters beyond any state’s territorial limits.

    There are only a few exceptions when a country can lawfully stop a foreign ship in international waters – if it is involved in piracy, slave trading, unauthorised broadcasting, or the vessel itself is stateless. A country can also stop a ship if it is enforcing a lawful blockade or acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    So, if Israel’s actions do not fully meet the international legal requirements for enforcing a blockade during wartime, it would not have the right to intercept the Madleen in international waters.

    Protections for humanitarian workers

    More broadly speaking, international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, protects civilians during conflict. This protection extends to people delivering humanitarian aid, so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

    To be considered directly participating in hostilities, a person must:

    • intend to cause military harm
    • have a direct causal link to that harm, and
    • be acting in connection with one side of the conflict.

    Bringing aid to civilians, even if politically controversial, does not meet this legal threshold. As a result, the Madleen’s passengers remain protected civilians and should not be treated as combatants or detained arbitrarily.

    International law also sets out how civilians detained in conflict situations must be treated. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, detainees must be given access to medical care, lawyers and consular representatives. They must also not be punished without fair legal processes.

    Reports that Madleen passengers have been detained and are facing deportation raise concerns about whether these standards are being upheld.

    In response to the ship’s interception, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, has filed a complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. The complaint alleges a number of breaches of international humanitarian law, including forcible detention, obstruction of humanitarian relief, and degrading treatment.

    Previous flotilla intercepted

    This is not the first time Israel has stopped an aid ship and faced accusations of violating the law of the sea and humanitarian law.

    In 2010, the Israeli military raided a flotilla of six ships organised by international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade.

    Violence broke out on the largest vessel, the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and injuries to dozens of others. The incident drew international condemnation. Israel agreed to ease its blockade after the incident.

    A fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel violated a number of international laws and that its blockade was “inflicting disproportionate damage upon the civilian population”.

    This is not just a political or moral issue – it’s a legal one. International law lays out clear rules for when and how a country can enforce blockades, intercept vessels and treat civilians.

    Based on these rules, serious legal questions remain about Israel’s handling of the Madleen and its passengers.

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

    – ref. There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions – https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dismal ticket sales, grumblings from fans and clubs – is FIFA’s latest attempt to establish a global club game doomed before it starts?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Stefan Szymanski, Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan

    FIFA is hoping that Lionel Messi can draw the crowds. Megan Briggs/Getty Images

    The FIFA World Club Cup, which kicks off in the U.S. on June 14, 2025, may seem like a new competition.

    Certainly, soccer’s governing body, FIFA, is promoting it as is it were, marketing the monthlong competition between 32 of the world’s biggest soccer teams as the “pinnacle of club football,” with up to US$125 million in prize money for the winning team and $250 million set aside for promoting “football solidarity.”

    In reality, the competition is the latest chapter in FIFA’s long-running quest – going all the way back to 1960 – to create a global championship that would determine which club really is the best in the world.

    The organizing body has trumpeted a $1 billion prize pot for the World Club Cup. But FIFA has been less vocal about the broadcasting deal underpinning the event, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia reportedly to tune of $1 billion. That deal was announced just days before Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host of the men’s 2034 World Cup – a lucrative prize for the Gulf kingdom.

    This sounds more like the FIFA we all know, with the whiff of corruption and dodgy dealing that has dogged the organizing body for decades.

    FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino.
    Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

    FIFA’s critics argue that the competition is nothing more than an attempt to line the governing body’s coffers. FIFA’s line is that it will not keep “one dollar” from the event, and instead plans to distribute revenue to the clubs.

    Not helping FIFA’s case is the fact that clubs and players are similarly unimpressed, protesting that the event is an unnecessary addition to an already-overburdened soccer calendar.

    As always, the litmus test for success will come from the fans. So far, things are not going well on that front. Falling prices on Ticketmaster bode ill for the competition. Just days before the games were due to begin, FIFA slashed prices for the opening match: MLS club Inter Miami against Egypt’s Al-Ahly. Reports suggest that less than a third of tickets at the 65,000-seat venue for the opener, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, had sold – despite the likely presence of soccer superstar Lionel Messi.

    Of course, the declining number of tourists coming to the U.S. since the second inauguration of Donald Trump – and the president’s recently announced travel ban affecting 19 countries – hasn’t helped encourage fans of the global game to the U.S., even if none of the competing clubs come from one of those countries.

    FIFA vs. UEFA

    So, given all the problems and controversies, why is FIFA so invested?

    As someone who has long researched the nexus of soccer, money and power, I see the World Club Cup as part of a struggle between UEFA, the European governing body that runs the Champions League – currently seen as the pinnacle of soccer club competition – and FIFA, which wants to supplant the Champions League with its own competition.

    UEFA’s power stems from hosting the world’s biggest clubs. Only one club from outside Europe appears in soccer data website Transfermarkt’s list of the 50 most valuable squads – with Palmeiras from Brazil squeaking in at 50.

    Top players in their prime rarely quit Europe to play on another continent – the high-profile names that opt to play in the U.S. or Saudi leagues tend to be veterans cashing in on their name.

    Meanwhile, the world’s soccer talent flocks to European clubs. It’s not just that big clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool or Bayern Munich that can pay top dollar for the star players – less storied clubs like Brentford, Real Sociedad or VfB Stuttgart have the wherewithal to fish in the global player market.

    The wealth and status of these clubs form the muscle behind UEFA. And the jewel in the UEFA crown is the Champions League, an annual competition that brings together the best clubs in Europe.

    A game of two halves

    While UEFA also has its own national competition, the Euros, its pull is nowhere near as great as FIFA’s World Cup.

    This division – with FIFA dominating the international team competition and UEFA the club competition – dates back to the 1960s and the early years of mass television.

    When the 1966 World Cup was hosted by England, it was one of the very first global sports events, watched by an estimated audience of 400 million people worldwide.

    The 1970 World Cup, a legendary event in the eyes of boomer soccer fans, established the four-year ritual that surpasses even the Olympics as a global sporting event.

    At this time, UEFA’s Euros were barely a competition at all. The 1968, 1972 and 1976 editions – played in Italy, Belgium and Yugoslavia, respectively – each had only four teams and only four or five games.

    UEFA had by then established its role in club competition. The European Cup, as the Champions League was then called, started in 1955.

    But the game remembered today for establishing the dominance of European club competition is the 1960 final between Real Madrid and Eintract Frankfurt – a 10-goal thriller that Los Blancos won 7-3.

    Ferenc Puskas of Real Madrid scores his team’s sixth goal during the European Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 18, 1960.
    Keystone/Getty Images

    Witnessed by a crowd of 128,000 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, the more important statistic was the estimated 70 million television audience in Europe.

    The 1968 final at London’s Wembley Stadium, when Manchester United overcame Benfica in honor of the “Busby Babes” – Manchester players who died in a 1958 Munich air disaster while traveling home from a European Cup game – saw a TV audience of 270 million.

    A history of failure

    The ambition to create a club world cup to rival the European Cup goes back to the 1950s. Soccer powerhouses Brazil and Argentina in particular promoted the idea that the top clubs in Europe should face off against the top South American teams.

    The resulting Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004, with the top teams from UEFA and CONMEBOL, the South American soccer federation, taking part.

    But played in midseason, it barely made an impression on the fans.

    In 2000, FIFA created the Club World Championship, with eight teams drawn from the five international federations.

    It also attracted little love, and the 2001-to-2004 editions had to be canceled for lack of financial backing.

    In the early years, it seemed like an excuse to emulate the Intercontinental Cup, and the first three winners were South American. However, since 2006, all the winners bar one – Brazil’s Corinthians in 2012 – have been European.

    Europe is ‘on the beach’

    Then, in 2017, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, announced plans to expand the competition and move it to the summer. With 32 teams, the competition will look more like the World Cup and will receive a lot of TV coverage.

    The fact that it will be free to watch will help. So too will the presence of Messi.

    Yet the overwhelming feeling going into the competition is that, like its predecessors, the revamped FIFA club competition is destined for failure.

    With the European domestic leagues all completed and the Champions League final – the unofficial marker of the end of the soccer season – having taken place on May 31, players and fans appear to be “on the beach,” to use a favorite phrase of soccer commentators.

    Ultimately, FIFA’s revamped World Club Cup faces the same issues that beset its forerunners: European teams are overwhelmingly tipped to win.

    Rather than the global soccer “solidarity” that FIFA hopes, the competition sets to reinforce the dominance of European clubs – and of Europe’s governing body when it comes to club competition.

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

    – ref. Dismal ticket sales, grumblings from fans and clubs – is FIFA’s latest attempt to establish a global club game doomed before it starts? – https://theconversation.com/dismal-ticket-sales-grumblings-from-fans-and-clubs-is-fifas-latest-attempt-to-establish-a-global-club-game-doomed-before-it-starts-258378

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Turning the tide: Cameroon commits to ocean protection

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Yaoundé, May 8, 2025 – Cameroon has taken a major step toward ocean protection by signing, on May 2, 2025, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). This agreement aims to establish a global, legally binding framework for the preservation of biodiversity in the high seas.

    The news comes just weeks before the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), strengthening Cameroon’s position on the international stage in ocean governance. “The Cameroonian government’s signature is a glimmer of hope for the future of our oceans,” says Dr. Aliou Ba, Oceans Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa. “We now hope for swift ratification so that this commitment can become reality.”

    The signed agreement is part of a global movement to close the legal gap surrounding international marine areas. It establishes binding rules to protect species, regulate human activities on the high seas and enhance scientific cooperation.

    However, vigilance remains crucial at the national level. A recent Mongabay investigation, published in April 2025, revealed serious threats to the Manyange na Elombo Campo Marine Park —the first marine protected area in Cameroon. This site, located near Kribi, is currently under threat from a controversial iron mining project.

    “This example highlights the contradictions between political commitments and on-the-ground realities,” notes Dr. Ba. “The treaty’s signature alone is not enough. It must be followed by strong measures to protect coastal areas and marine resources.”

    With 500 kilometers of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon is home to remarkable marine biodiversity: over 500 fish species, marine mammals, and plankton-rich ecosystems. These vital resources are now under threat from industrial exploitation, pollution and the effects of climate change.

    Greenpeace Africa is urging Cameroonian authorities to turn this signature into concrete action: strengthening conservation mechanisms, monitoring marine activities and honoring international commitments.

    “We applaud Cameroon’s example and call on other African nations to follow suit. This treaty is a historic opportunity for Africa to play a leading role in ocean protection—for the benefit of communities, biodiversity, and future generations.” concludes Dr. Ba.

    Media Contact:

    Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, [email protected], +237 656 46 35 45

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Director General Briefs Board on Iran Developments, Syria, Ukraine and More

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The IAEA’s Annual Report and the Technical Cooperation Report for 2024 were presented to the Board, showcasing the Agency’s work in science, international cooperation and innovation. 

    In his address, Mr Grossi highlighted the IAEA’s flagship initiatives: Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, Atoms4Food and NUTEC Plastics.

    The 2025 Rays of Hope Forum will be held in Ethiopia at the end of June and provides an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved over the past three years, as well as to foster collaboration and further mobilize resources. Rays of Hope aims to expand access to affordable cancer care where it is needed most; supporting countries in providing life-saving radiotherapy and building the capacities of radiation medicine professionals. More than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.

    The IAEA will continue to work with partners on Atoms4Food, its joint initiative with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to fight world hunger, Mr Grossi said. Part of the initiative, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture supports the use of nuclear technologies to boost global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

    Speaking about NUTEC Plastics, the IAEA initiative to combat plastic pollution, Mr Grossi said: “At this week’s UN Ocean Conference, we are showing what we are doing in very concrete terms to fight plastic pollution through new technology.”

    The IAEA is harnessing the power of nuclear technologies involving radiation to improve recycling and create bio-based plastics, which offer a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic products.

     With support from the NUTEC Plastics initiative, 104 Member States now use nuclear technologies to monitor microplastics, while 52 are collaborating with the IAEA on upcycling efforts.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Basketball Africa League Announces Roster of Partners for Playoffs and Finals Underway Now in South Africa

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

    PRETORIA, South Africa, June 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • Energade, Hyundai and Uber Join BAL’s Existing Partner Roster that Features Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, Wilson, Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy, RwandAir and ServiceNow.
    • Semifinals Tomorrow Will Feature Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) vs. APR (Rwanda) at 4:00 p.m. CAT and Al Ittihad (Egypt) vs. Petro de Luanda (Angola) at 7:00 p.m. CAT.

    The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (BAL.NBA.com) today announced the league’s roster of marketing and merchandising partners for the 2025 BAL Playoffs that are underway now at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and will culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14 at 4:00 p.m. CAT.  

    The new partners – Energade, Hyundai and Uber – are engaging fans in South Africa throughout the Playoffs and Finals and join the BAL’s existing partner roster that features Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson, as well as marketing partners Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy, RwandAir and ServiceNow. 

    The 2025 BAL Playoffs, which are being held in South Africa for the first time, have featured the top eight teams (https://apo-opa.co/4e0OKOy) from the three conference group phases that were held in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda in April and May.  The semifinals (https://apo-opa.co/3FwN7ePschedule) will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, June 11 when Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) takes on APR (Rwanda) at 4:00 p.m. CAT and Al Ittihad (Egypt) plays  Petro de Luanda (Angola) at 7:00 p.m. CAT.  Tickets are on sale now at BAL.NBA.com and Ticketmaster.co.za. 

    Below are highlights of the partner activations throughout the BAL Playoffs and Finals: 

    Energade 

    Hyundai 

    • As an Associate Partner of the BAL Playoffs and Finals, Hyundai is featured prominently with vehicle displays in the BAL Fan Zone and at the arena entrance.   Fans engaging with the brand have the opportunity to win Hyundai and BAL merchandise and prizes. 

    Uber 

    • Through the BAL’s collaboration with Uber Eats, fans can conveniently order food from in-arena vendors right from their seats, with pickup available at a dedicated area on the concourse.   

    Afreximbank 

    • As an Official Partner of the BAL, Afreximbank is supporting the off-court development of BAL players through BAL Advance, providing targeted training in areas such as nutrition, mental health, and financial literacy. 

    Castle Lite 

    • Castle Lite, the Official Beer Partner of the BAL, is engaging fans through a range of on-court and in-arena experiences.  

    Hennessy 

    • Hennessy, the Official Spirit of the BAL, is engaging fans with a premium courtside experience at The Hennessy Lounge.  The Hennessy Lounge is also hosting the brand’s guests, including celebrities and influencers.   

    NIKE 

    • Three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson is gifting gift pairs of her newly launched NIKE A’One sneakers to the girls participating in the BAL4Her U–23 camp that is being held in conjunction with the Playoffs and Finals, marking the first time her shoes are being distributed in Africa.  The camp is taking place from June 9–14, with former WNBA player Edniesha Curry returning as camp director for the second consecutive year.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Bishops demand “clarity on the death of Albert Ojwang in police custody”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We are deeply disturbed by the tragic and suspicious death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody. His death is not just a personal loss to his family, but a painful wound to our national conscience and a reminder of the urgent need for accountability in our justice system,” is what the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) expressed, demanding clarification on the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and influencer who died on June 8 while in pre-trial detention.Ojwang was arrested on June 6 at the family home in Kakot, Homa Bay County, following a social media post that allegedly defamed Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. He was taken more than 350 kilometers to Nairobi Central Police Station and charged with violating a cybercrime law. On June 8, he was found unconscious in his cell during a routine check, apparently with head injuries. Police alleged he had committed suicide by repeatedly banging his head against a wall, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mbagathi Hospital. However, the family’s lawyer reported that the body showed severe trauma, including head swelling, bruises, and bleeding from the nose and mouth, signs that do not match the official police account.Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an inquiry into his death. The Inspectorate General of Police has suspended six officers stationed at Nairobi Central Police Station as a precautionary measure while the exact circumstances of Ojwang’s death are investigated.” We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Albert Ojwang. We share in their grief and in the public’s rightful demand for truth and justice,” the episcopal statement continues.” We strongly support the directive by the Inspector General to interdict officers linked to this case and urge that investigations be swift, transparent, and free from interference. No one is above the law, and those found culpable must face full legal consequences,” the bishops add. Ojwang’s case comes amid a climate of growing social tension, following the Generation Z protests in 2024 (see Fides, 1/7/2024), which were harshly repressed by the authorities and left 60 dead.Furthermore, between 2020 and 2024, more than 100 deaths in custody were recorded, according to data from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has intensified demands for profound reform of the police force. In this context, the bishops called on Kenyan youth to remain calm. “At this difficult time, we call upon all Kenyans, especially the youth, to remain calm, peaceful, and prayerful. Let us not be provoked into violence or division. Our strength is in our unity and our collective demand for justice through lawful means.” “We remind our institutions: the measure of any just society is how it treats the vulnerable. Let this not be another case swept under the rug. Let Albert Ojwang’s name not be added to a growing list of forgotten victims,” the prelates conclude.The Supreme Council of Muslims of Kenya has also requested a transparent investigation into the death of the young teacher, while calling on the population to remain calm. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA – Bishops of Bangassou call for an end to violence in the diocese

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Bangui (Agenzia Fides) – “We, the Bishops of Bangassou, together with the entire Catholic community, are deeply concerned about the violence affecting Haut Mbomou,” emphasize Juan Josè Aguirre, Bishop of Bangassou and Aurelio Gazzera, Coadjutor Bishop of the diocese in the south-east of the Central African Republic, in a pastoral letter read on Sunday, June 8, during the Mass in the parishes of the diocese in the southeast of the Central African Republic.”We cannot accept that the southeast of our country, the Central African Republic, is the scene of violence of any kind, a land from which people are fleeing, a land of devastation,” the two bishops write. “We mourn the dozens of deaths in recent weeks,” they emphasize in this context. In their letter, Bishops Aguirre and Gazzera recall that “the southeast has been in mourning for decades, a region fought over and exploited first by LRA fighters, then by the Seleka rebels, and finally by the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe; the latter movement, founded to protect the population from the violence of the UPC and other former armed groups, is in danger of becoming a danger to the population itself.” The LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) is a guerrilla movement born in Uganda that has been active in this part of Central Africa for several years, while the Seleka movement brings together a number of militias that emerged during the 2012 civil war. The UPC (Unité pour la Paix en Centrafrique), on the other hand, is a group that emerged in 2014 from a split of the Seleka movement. These groups have recently been joined by mercenaries from the Russian private military company Wagner, who officially operate in support of the Armed Forces of Central Africa (FACA), but have been responsible for serious violence against innocent civilians. “In recent weeks, we have mourned deaths: FACA soldiers, but also civilians. Civilians have been shot, wounded, tortured, and executed – with complete impunity,” said Bishops Aguirre and Gazzera. “We think of the thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee Zemio, Mboki, and Djema, including tens of thousands on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo. We think of villages that have been bombed, looted, and set on fire.” “All of this must end: The violence will not stop. Quite the opposite! Violence only breeds more violence, division and misery, hatred, mistrust, and ultimately a vicious cycle of revenge,” the bishops warn. “We ask all those involved: Azande Ani Kpi Gbe, FACA, Wagner, and the population, to put an end to the violence and to commit themselves so that this remote and isolated region, without roads or transport links, can live in peace and become a territory where every woman, man, child, and young person can look to life and the future with hope,” Bishops Aguirre and Gazzera wrote in their pastoral letter. “The Catholic Church, which has opened the doors of the missions in Zemio, Mboki, and Obo in recent weeks, is always ready and willing to welcome all people of good will around the table to discuss and work on peace, reconciliation, and development in the region,” the two bishops emphasized. “This is not the time for war, but for dialogue! It is not the time for violence, but the time to listen! It is not the time for suspicion, resentment, accusations, and jealousies, but the time to listen to the poor, to hear their cry for peace! Let us pray and implore peace. But let us also be women and men of peace, in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Peace be with you!” the bishops conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Orezone Intercepts Further High-Grade Mineralization at Bomboré Including 11.33 g/t Gold Over 11.00m and 10.28 g/t Gold Over 5.00m

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) (the “Company” or “Orezone”) is pleased to provide additional drill results from its ongoing multi-year exploration campaign at its flagship Bomboré Gold Mine. These latest results are from multiple targets identified along the broader 14km long reserve defined Bomboré gold system, which remains open for further expansion.

    Selected Drill Highlights1:

    • 11.33g/t Au over 11.00m (BBC6960)
    • 10.28g/t Au over 5.00m (BBC7132)
    • 6.79g/t Au over 8.00m and 2.22g/t Au over 14.00m (BBC7141)
    • 7.40g/t Au over 6.70m (BBD1124)
    • 6.61g/t Au over 4.15m (BBD1341)
    • 2.96g/t Au over 10.00m (BBC7158)
    • 1.84g/t Au over 15.70m (BBD1346)
    • 1.53g/t Au over 17.00m (BBC7148)
    • 1.45g/t Au over 14.10m (BBD1344)
    • 1.23g/t Au over 9.65m (BBD1329)

    Patrick Downey, President and CEO stated, “These latest drill results further underscore the significant exploration upside at Bomboré and clearly illustrate that the broader system remains open to depth, along strike and outside of the currently delineated mineralized trends. At P17, drilling was successful in tracing higher-grade sub-zone mineralization a further 300m down plunge, while wide spaced step-out drilling at P16 and Siga have extended mineralization a respective 600m and 550m along strike. As we ramp up our exploration efforts at Bomboré, we continue to re-evaluate and update the project’s existing exploration framework. The latest results also provide clear evidence that the hanging wall and footwall of the broader 14km long reserve defined system are prospective for additional near-surface discoveries, which was not previously recognized.

    While Bomboré currently hosts a stated 5 million ounce global resource, which is the basis for the ongoing production expansion to 220,000 to 250,000 ounces per annum, the results of the current exploration program continue to provide support for the Company’s long-term targeted resource base of 7 to 10 million ounces.”

    P17 Trend: Higher-Grade Sub-Zones

    Drilling at P17 was successful in further illustrating the down plunge continuity of the higher-grade sub-zones, the highlight of which was an intercept of 7.40g/t Au over 6.70m (BBD1124), which marks a 300m down plunge extension from the previously reported 11.52g/t Au over 10.60m (BBD1081, Figure 3). Other notable sub-zone intercepts from this recent round of drilling include 5.22g/t Au over 4.00m (BBD1346), 20.14g/t Au over 2.00m (BBD1341) and 15.61g/t Au over 1.00m (BBD1335).

    While the Company continues to define the structural setting of the P17 Trend, and further develop a predictive model for future sub-zone targeting, a key takeaway from the recent drilling was a better understanding of the controls of the higher-grade mineralization which comprise these sub-zones. It is now recognized that the higher-grades are associated with a later-stage quartz veining event, within which multiple occurrences of visible gold were observed for the first time (Figure 1). This marks an important development in the Company’s understanding of the Bomboré system, which to date has been focused on a low grade, bulk tonnage open pit model. While still early-stage, the Company continues to evaluate the sub-zones along the P17 Trend, and other localized higher-grade areas along the broader 14km system, as future potential sources of higher-grade underground feed, beneath the open pits.

    Figure 1: P17 Drill Core Photos – highlighting visible gold within higher-grade sub-zone

    P17 Trend: selected high-grade sub-zone intercepts (previously reported):

    • 14.67g/t Au over 6.0m (BBD1066)
    • 16.58g/t Au over 4.6m (BBD0991)
    • 11.52g/t Au over 10.6m (BBD1081)
    • 9.44g/t Au over 10.0m (TYD0041)
    • 8.47g/t Au over 6.0m (BBD1132)
    • 7.08g/t Au over 7.0m (TYC0123)
    • 7.62g/t Au over 5.5m (TYD0035)

    Near Surface Strike Extensions

    In addition to extending the Bomboré mineral system to depth, and defining higher-grade sub-zones within, further delineating near-surface strike extensions to multiple resource areas continues to be another important area of investigation. A highlight of such recent targeting was at P16, where a series of step-out holes successfully identified mineralization an additional 600m to the north (Figure 2), as supported by intercepts of 0.92g/t Au over 14.35m (BBD1348), 0.71g/t Au over 9.00m (BBD1349), 0.68g/t Au over 17.00m (BBD1338) and 1.27g/t Au over 5.00m (BBC7180). These initial step-out results support the interpretation that P16 is a sub-parallel trend to the P17 Trend, which significantly expands the exploration model and potential within this area of the project.

    Future targeting of the P16 strike extension will be centered on backfill drilling, with the goal of delineating open pittable near-surface mineralization, as well as to further investigate the potential for higher-grade sub-zones, as is observed within the P16 resource area.

    P16 Trend: selected high-grade sub-zone intercepts (previously reported):

    • 10.63g/t Au over 14.0m (BBD0448)
    • 16.50g/t Au over 5.0m (BBD0448)
    • 9.03g/t Au over 12.0m (BBC3241)
    • 6.69g/t Au over 15.5m (BBD0443)
    • 5.91g/t Au over 15.0m (BBD0447)
    • 7.82g/t Au over 9.0m (BBD0213)
    • 58.91g/t Au over 3.0m (BBD0768)

    At Siga, initial testing of the southern strike extension yielded encouraging results, with mineralization intercepted approximately 550m to the south of the current mineral resource. This area of the project has not been previously explored with results of the initial scout drilling returning 5.93g/t Au over 0.85m and 6.35g/t Au over 1.00m (BBD1340). Follow-up drilling will comprise a series of wide spaced backfill fences to further delineate this broad southern extension.

    Additionally, significant potential remains to extend resources to the north of the existing open pit designs in the North Zone. Localized 50-100m step-outs along the broader North Zone strike extension have demonstrated promising continuity, with initial results of 2.22g/t Au over 14.00m and 6.79g/t Au over 8.00m (BBC7141) and 2.21g/t Au over 7.00m (BBC7201). Further drilling along this northern strike extension, which has seen limited testing to date, is planned for upcoming campaigns.

    Expanding Exploration Model

    In addition to testing the extent of known mineralization, the Company continues to challenge the broader exploration model at Bomboré. The previously established exploration framework was centered on gold mineralization being confined to the Bomboré Shear Zone, with limited prospects within the hanging wall and footwall of the broader system. However, more recent targeted drilling, and local surface excavations outside of the mining lease, provide evidence to the contrary. Initial testing within the immediate hanging wall to the Siga Zone has led to the discovery of the HK Zone (Figure 2), which is marked by intercepts of 11.33g/t Au over 11.00m (BBC6960), 10.28g/t Au over 5.00m (BBC7132), 1.35g/t Au over 9.00m (BBC6976), and 1.46g/t Au over 6.00m (BBC7120).

    With the prospects of identifying additional high-grade centers of mineralization outside of the Bomboré Shear Zone, the Company has recently commenced a near-mine and regional air core drill program, comprising a series of wide spaced drill fences within the mining lease and surrounding exploration tenements.

    Figure 2 – Bomboré Plan Map Highlighting Selected Intercepts

    Figure 3 – P17 Composite Long Section Highlighting Selected Intercepts (Looking West)

    Table 1 – Highlight Drill Intercepts

    Hole Zone Easting Northing Elv. Dip Azi. EOH
    (m)    		 From
    (m)    		 To
    (m)    		 Length*
    (m)    		 Grade
    (g/t Au)    		 Type
    BBD0206 P17 730599 1344300 267 -50 270 155 125.00 128.00 3.00 1.79 HR
    BBD1069 P17 S 730270 1343125 261 -51 270 277 225.00 226.00 1.00 9.53 HR
    and               251.75 260.60 8.85 1.39 HR
    incl.               257.60 259.60 2.00 3.58 HR
    BBD1084 P17 S 730355 1343175 261 -52 270 437 314.00 317.95 3.95 2.36 HR
    BBD1104 P17 S 730365 1343250 261 -52 269 401 355.00 358.00 3.00 2.09 HR
    incl.               357.00 358.00 1.00 5.17 HR
    BBD1124 P17 S 730425 1343375 261 -49 272 495 459.00 465.70 6.70 7.40 HR
    and               480.00 485.00 5.00 2.09 HR
    BBD1131 North Zone 730395 1343325 261 -51 270 452 395.00 398.00 3.00 1.66 HR
    and               416.00 419.00 3.00 1.01 HR
    and               425.00 428.30 3.30 1.82 HR
    BBD1329 North Zone 729034 1353901 283 -55 312 396 341.35 351.00 9.65 1.23 HR
    and               356.50 362.50 6.00 1.53 HR
    BBD1331 North Zone 728993 1353501 276 -52 312 330 42.00 43.00 1.00 8.06 OX
    BBD1334 P17 S 730483 1343350 261 -53 271 519 278.10 283.10 5.00 1.72 HR
    and               488.50 498.50 10.00 1.12 HR
    incl.               494.50 497.50 3.00 2.51 HR
    BBD1335 P17 S 730257 1343350 261 -50 270 396 47.00 48.00 1.00 15.61 HR
    BBD1338 P16 729508 1344364 259 -45 263 291 193.00 210.00 17.00 0.68 HR
    incl.               202.00 206.00 4.00 1.20 HR
    and               257.00 262.00 5.00 2.43 HR
    and               268.00 271.20 3.20 1.10 HR
    BBD1339 P16 729597 1344551 260 -50 270 336 334.00 336.00 2.00 2.95 HR
    BBD1340 P16 729000 1343900 260 -50 270 201 89.15 90.00 0.85 5.93 HR
    and               191.00 192.00 1.00 6.35 HR
    BBD1341 P17 S 730336 1342750 261 -50 270 156 123.75 127.90 4.15 6.61 HR
    incl.               125.90 127.90 2.00 20.14 HR
    BBD1343 P17 S 730392 1343125 261 -55 270 360 309.00 313.00 4.00 1.03 HR
    BBD1344 P17 S 730371 1343501 261 -50 270 528 323.00 337.10 14.10 1.45 HR
    incl.               323.00 332.70 9.70 1.87 HR
    and               428.00 431.00 3.00 1.79 HR
    BBD1345 P17 S 730340 1342800 261 -50 270 165 136.20 139.80 3.60 1.68 HR
    and               146.00 148.55 2.55 5.02 HR
    BBD1346 P17 S 730618 1344250 266 -50 270 225 137.25 141.00 3.75 1.17 HR
    and               178.00 193.70 15.70 1.84 HR
    incl.               186.70 190.70 4.00 5.22 HR
    BBD1348 P16 729566 1344413 259 -50 270 303 168.00 173.15 5.15 1.54 HR
    and               214.00 228.35 14.35 0.92 HR
    incl.               222.00 228.35 6.35 1.03 HR
    and               260.00 266.00 6.00 0.81 HR
    BBD1349 P16 729517 1344443 259 -50 270 312 241.00 250.00 9.00 0.71 HR
    and               255.00 270.00 15.00 0.57 HR
    BBC6946 HK 728515 1348358 277 -50 270 60 13.00 17.00 4.00 2.53 OX
    BBC6958 HK 728560 1348357 276 -50 270 75 70.00 75.00 5.00 1.19 OX
    BBC6960 HK 728536 1348408 274 -50 280 114 48.00 59.00 11.00 11.33 OX
    incl.               48.00 51.00 3.00 40.12 OX
    BBC6962 HK 728829 1348272 278 -50 250 129 56.00 62.00 6.00 0.68 OX
    BBC6963 HK 728844 1348280 277 -50 279 131 74.00 78.00 4.00 0.80 OX
    BBC6975 HK 728537 1348357 276 -50 270 96 84.00 93.00 9.00 0.65 HR
    BBC6976 HK 728564 1348402 275 -50 280 113 74.00 83.00 9.00 1.35 OX
    BBC7120 HK 728557 1348302 276 -50 270 100 69.00 75.00 6.00 1.46 HR
    BBC7122 HK 728563 1348386 275 -50 270 120 78.00 87.00 9.00 0.78 HR
    BBC7129 HK 728603 1348435 274 -50 270 120 110.00 117.00 7.00 0.79 HR
    BBC7132 HK 728524 1348333 278 -50 270 130 26.00 30.00 4.00 0.72 OX
    and               82.00 87.00 5.00 10.28 HR
    BBC7135 HK 728391 1348375 283 -50 270 60 32.00 36.00 4.00 1.31 OX
    BBC7136 HK 728493 1348224 286 -50 270 100 27.00 36.00 9.00 0.65 OX
    and               46.00 50.00 4.00 0.76 OX
    and               60.00 63.00 3.00 2.26 OX
    BBC7140 North Zone 729983 1354256 285 -50 312 126 8.00 11.00 3.00 0.67 OX
    and               16.00 25.00 9.00 0.53 OX
    incl.               21.00 24.00 3.00 1.09 OX
    BBC7141 North Zone 730390 1354301 278 -45 312 100 27.00 41.00 14.00 2.22 OX
    incl.               27.00 30.00 3.00 8.44 OX
    and               66.00 74.00 8.00 6.79 HR
    incl.               67.00 70.00 3.00 14.82 HR
    BBC7142 North Zone 730082 1354338 282 -50 312 152 109.00 114.00 5.00 1.51 HR
    BBC7147 P11 727951 1349499 291 -50 270 150 70.00 75.00 5.00 0.85 HR
    BBC7148 P11 727932 1349408 292 -50 270 120 32.00 49.00 17.00 1.53 OX
    incl.               39.00 41.00 2.00 7.62 OX
    and               77.00 83.00 6.00 3.15 HR
    incl.               77.00 80.00 3.00 5.32 HR
    BBC7149 P11 727950 1349449 291 -50 270 150 90.00 97.00 7.00 1.62 HR
    BBC7150 P11 727983 1349253 285 -50 270 125 87.00 93.00 6.00 0.92 HR
    BBC7152 P11 728107 1349249 281 -50 270 120 74.00 77.00 3.00 1.64 HR
    BBC7153 P11 728106 1349299 279 -50 270 118 49.00 53.00 4.00 1.01 OX
    BBC7154 P11 728013 1349400 282 -50 270 150 98.00 100.00 2.00 1.47 HR
    and               116.00 119.00 3.00 1.84 HR
    BBC7157 Siga W 727966 1347455 276 -50 250 140 11.00 16.00 5.00 0.77 OX
    and               90.00 101.00 11.00 0.96 HR
    BBC7158 Siga E 728340 1347910 283 -50 250 120 67.00 77.00 10.00 2.96 HR
    incl.               69.00 71.00 2.00 11.72 HR
    BBC7161 Siga E 728615 1347638 277 -50 250 120 62.00 63.00 1.00 5.99 HR
    BBC7162 Siga E 728669 1347497 274 -50 250 150 73.00 78.00 5.00 1.05 HR
    BBC7163 Siga E 728624 1347428 273 -50 250 80 18.00 26.00 8.00 1.00 OX
    and               30.00 33.00 3.00 1.35 OX
    BBC7164 Siga E 728681 1347449 271 -50 250 114 42.00 47.00 5.00 1.23 OX
    BBC7165 Siga E 728647 1347090 280 -50 250 126 96.00 99.00 3.00 5.26 HR
    incl.               96.00 97.00 1.00 14.67 HR
    BBC7166 Siga S 728213 1345896 266 -50 250 84 6.00 9.00 3.00 1.13 OX
    BBC7180 P16 729608 1345000 261 -50 270 72 47.00 49.00 2.00 6.52 HR
    and               54.00 59.00 5.00 1.27 HR
    BBC7185 P8P9 728636 1352003 267 -50 312 123 2.00 8.00 6.00 0.63 OX
    BBC7186 P8P9 728571 1351926 269 -50 312 138 2.00 9.00 7.00 0.86 OX
    and               64.00 71.00 7.00 0.82 OX
    incl.               64.00 68.00 4.00 1.12 OX
    BBC7187 P8P9 728527 1351968 268 -50 312 136 133.00 136.00 3.00 1.62 HR
    BBC7191 North Zone 729740 1354677 284 -49 310 69 5.00 15.00 10.00 1.12 OX
    incl.               9.00 14.00 5.00 1.74 OX
    and               30.00 35.00 5.00 0.59 OX
    BBC7193 North Zone 729758 1354661 282 -51 310 114 25.00 34.00 9.00 0.47 OX
    and               44.00 48.00 4.00 3.14 OX
    and               53.00 67.00 14.00 0.88 OX
    BBC7195 North Zone 729774 1354680 282 -51 310 113 47.00 49.00 2.00 2.58 OX
    BBC7200 North Zone 730379 1354345 286 -50 310 80 12.00 20.00 8.00 0.62 OX
    and               61.00 67.00 6.00 1.50 HR
    BBC7201 North Zone 730417 1354345 279 -49 310 83 0.00 7.00 7.00 2.21 OX
    and               12.00 20.00 8.00 0.62 OX
    and               61.00 67.00 6.00 1.50 HR

    * True widths for all zones are reported as a percentage of drilled lengths: North Zone 85%, P8/P9 70-85%, Siga 90%, P11 75-85%, P17S 70% and 90-100%, P17N 70% and HK 75-80%.

    About Orezone Gold Corporation

    Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its 90%-owned flagship Bomboré Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Bomboré mine achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022, and is now focused on its staged hard rock expansion that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves. Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets, and M&A.

    The technical report entitled Bomboré Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Company’s website.

    Contact Information

    Patrick Downey
    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Kevin MacKenzie
    Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

    Tel: 1 778 945 8977
    info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

    For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945 8977 or visit the Company’s website at www.orezone.com.

    The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.

    Qualified person

    Alastair Gallaugher (CGeol), Exploration Manager for Orezone, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.  

    QA/QC

    The mineralized intervals are based on a lower cut-off grade of 0.28g/t in the Oxide+Upper Transition zone, and 0.45g/t Au in the Lower Transition+Hard Rock zone. The half-core drilling samples were cut using a diamond saw by Orezone employees. The samples were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l. (“BIGS Global”) and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using Rotary Sample Dividers (“RSDs”). A 1kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWellTM catalyst. The leach residues from all samples with a leach grade greater than or equal to 0.25g/t Au were prepared by BIGS Global and then split by Orezone to 50g using RSDs. A 50g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at BIGS Global.

    Orezone employs a rigorous Quality Control Program including a minimum of 10% standards, blanks and duplicates. The composite width and grade include the final leach residue assay results for most of the drill intercepts reported.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain information that constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian Securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (together, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “potential”, “possible” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may”, “will”, “could”, or “should” occur.

    Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the exploration program and the significant exploration upside at Bomboré including that the broader system remains open to depth, along strike and outside of the currently delineated mineralized trends; the potential to materially expand the project’s resource base from the current global 5 million gold ounces, to a targeted 7 to 10 million gold ounces longer term and the ongoing production expansion to 220,000 to 250,000 ounces per annum; evidence that the hanging wall and footwall of the broader 14km long reserve defined system are prospective for additional near-surface discoveries; the initial step-out results support the interpretation that P16 is a sub-parallel trend to the P17 Trend, which significantly expands the exploration model and potential within this region of the project; and significant potential remains to extend resources to the north of the existing open pit designs in the North Zone.

    All forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, terrorist or other violent attacks, the failure of parties to contracts to honour contractual commitments, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, accidents and equipment breakdowns, political risk, unanticipated changes in key management personnel, the spread of diseases, epidemics and pandemics diseases, market or business conditions, the failure of exploration programs, including drilling programs, to deliver anticipated results and the failure of ongoing and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, and other factors described in the Company’s most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+ on www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to the Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

    Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a40af525-f516-45bc-adcf-ddfd80dde15d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fcc476e-2850-49f1-9a32-804e43b198f7

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c5ae8c5-c5e8-4cc3-8122-a66a865e8edf

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/399dba20-2f38-4610-844d-a799ab111e1a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Anti-Scam Report Shows AI-Related Scams Drive $4.6B in Crypto Losses in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its 2025 Anti-Scam Research Report in partnership with blockchain security firms SlowMist and Elliptic. The report reveals that global crypto scam losses surged to $4.6 billion in 2024, with deepfake technology and social engineering emerging as the dominant tactics behind high-value thefts. The publication marks the official launch of Bitget’s Anti-Scam Month, a month-long initiative dedicated to security education and ecosystem-wide awareness.

    The report highlights how AI-powered scams have moved beyond phishing emails to include fake Zoom calls, synthetic videos of public figures, and Trojan-laced job offers. Among its key findings, the report identifies three primary scam categories—deepfake impersonation, social engineering schemes, and Ponzi-style projects cloaked in DeFi or NFT branding—as the leading causes of user loss. It also outlines how stolen funds are funneled through cross-chain bridges and obfuscation tools before reaching mixers or exchanges, complicating enforcement and recovery efforts.

    Additional insights include case studies from major scam incidents in Hong Kong, the rising use of Telegram and X (Twitter) comment sections as phishing entry points, and the continued growth of professionally run fraud rings operating across borders.

    “The biggest threat to crypto today isn’t volatility—it’s deception. That’s why Bitget has designated the entire month of June as Anti-Scam Month—an initiative to elevate industry standards and user awareness. This report is the flagship release within that effort. AI has made scams faster, cheaper, and harder to detect. At Bitget, we believe fighting back requires both technological rigor and ecosystem-wide collaboration. Our goal is to help users trade smarter, not just faster,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    The report also details how Bitget’s Anti-Scam Hub, innovative detection systems, and a $500M+ Protection Fund are being actively deployed to mitigate user risks. SlowMist provided detailed forensic insights into scam tactics, ranging from address poisoning to job offer Trojans, while Elliptic examined the laundering patterns of stolen cryptocurrency through cross-chain bridges and mixer platforms.

    “Criminals are constantly evolving their methods of attack, using AI and finding new ways to scale their activities. This means that reciprocally, we are also working to scale our technology and blockchain capabilities to track and identify the new methods criminals are using. Our work with Bitget reflects a shared urgency to expose these evolving threats and give users the tools to protect themselves,” said Arda Akartuna, Lead Crypto Threat Researcher, Elliptic, APAC.

    “This report reflects the real-world patterns we’re seeing on-chain every day. From phishing rings to fake staking dApps, the tactics may change—but the psychology is always the same. Users must be informed, skeptical, and security-minded at all times,” said Lisa, Security Operations Lead, SlowMist.

    The report closes with actionable recommendations for both users and institutions, including scam red flag indicators and best practices for avoiding common traps in DeFi, NFT, and Web3 environments.

    For the full report, please visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c73d1c7-7419-4f43-a2ae-2e9c450fb8bd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message to the Global Young Academy General Meeting and International Conference of Young Scientists

    Source: United Nations – English

    extend my warm greetings to the Global Young Academy and the International Conference of Young Scientists.

    As an institutional partner of our Scientific Advisory Board, the Global Young Academy plays a vital role in ensuring that science – and scientists – are an essential part of global decision-making.

    Your gathering in Hyderabad is another example of the power of science to unite across borders, disciplines, and generations.  At a time when our world faces profound challenges – from the climate crisis, to raging conflict, to rising inequalities, to runaway technology without guardrails – your voices, research, and leadership are more vital than ever.

    As early-career researchers, you are not only the future of science – you are its present. Your work is essential to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

    We are inspired by your innovative research and encouraged by your efforts towards a future of open and accessible science.

    I look forward to further collaboration with the Global Young Academy and wish you the best of success for your Conference.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP expands footprint in Khartoum as families starts to return to devastated capital

    Source: World Food Programme

    This is a summary of what was said by Laurent Bukera, WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director (speaking from Port Sudan via Zoom) – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

    GENEVA – I’ve just returned from Khartoum State, where WFP opened a new office in Omdurman – Khartoum’s twin city. This marks a key milestone in re-establishing our presence closer to the communities we serve and reaffirms WFP’s commitment to deliver.

    The needs are immense. We saw widespread destruction, limited access to water, healthcare, and electricity, and a cholera outbreak. In parts of the city, life is returning – but many neighbourhoods remain abandoned, like a ghost city. 

     

    Over the past six months, WFP has reached nearly 1 million Sudanese in Khartoum with food and nutrition support. This momentum must continue – several areas in the south of the city are at high risk of famine. 

    Sudanese communities have been on the frontlines, hosting the displaced, but they are now at a breaking point. With returns expected to heavily damaged areas like Khartoum, pressure on overstretched resources will intensify. WFP is deeply concerned and meeting basic needs, especially food, is critical and urgent.

    Urgent action is needed to restore basic services and accelerate recovery – through coordinated efforts with local authorities, national NGOs, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners. 

    At the same time, funding shortfalls are already disrupting assistance in Khartoum, Blue Nile, Al Jazira and Sennar states. Oil and pulses have been removed from the food basket due to a lack of resources. Without new funding in the coming months, further cuts in assistance will have to be implemented. 

    In Khartoum, life-saving nutritional supplements for young children and pregnant or nursing mothers are out of reach – not because of access constraints, but due to a lack of resources. Without urgent support, we cannot deliver the full package that people need as they return to Khartoum. 

    WFP has a longstanding presence and deep expertise in Sudan, built over six decades of operations. As we scale up efforts to address urgent food needs, we are also laying the foundation for a long-term recovery – expanding cash assistance to revitalize local markets and supporting bakeries and small businesses in their reopening. There’s much we can do – and are doing – right now. 

    WFP is now reaching 4 million people a month across Sudan. This is nearly four times more than at the start of 2024. As access has expanded, including to previously unreachable areas like Khartoum, we’ve rapidly scaled up operations to meet increasing needs. We are aiming to reach 7 million people monthly, prioritizing those facing famine or other areas at extreme risk across Darfur, Kordofan, Al Jazira, and Khartoum states. With sustained support, we can do even more. 

    Progress remains fragile. The rainy season is now starting, compounding an already dire situation. At the same time, indiscriminate and unacceptable attacks on humanitarian personnel and operations are escalating – including last week’s strike on a WFP-UNICEF convoy when it was just hours from reaching besieged El Fasher in North Darfur. The convoy was about 80 km from the city. The convoy came under attack in Al Kuma, resulting in the tragic loss of five humanitarian personnel and injuries to others. In April, aid workers were killed during a major escalation of fighting in Zamzam camp also near El Fasher.

    These attacks must stop immediately. 

    While we can’t thank donor partners enough for their support to humanitarian and resilience activities, needs are at the moment outpacing the funding we have received. Despite generous contributions from our donor partners, we are running short of over $500 million for emergency food and cash assistance alone for the coming six months. 

    The international community must act now— by stepping up funding to stop famine in the hardest-hit areas and to invest in Sudan’s recovery. We must also demand respect for the safety and protection of the Sudanese people and aid workers. This is the moment to stand with the Sudanese people as they rebuild their lives, communities, and hope after two years of devastating conflict. 

    We demand respect and safety for civilians and humanitarian workers. Above all, the only solution is peace. 

                                             #                           #                            #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • WTC final: Proteas hunt maiden crown as Australia look to defend title at Lord’s

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Australia and South Africa will collide in the 2023–25 ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s, starting June 11, with the defending champions aiming to retain their title and the Proteas desperate to finally shake off decades of knockout heartbreak.

    Australia, led by Pat Cummins, qualified with a 67.54% points percentage across 19 Tests. South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, finished top with 69.44% from just 12 matches.

    Interestingly, the two sides have not met in the current WTC cycle. The clash at the ‘Home of Cricket’ marks their first red-ball encounter in over two years and only their second Test series meeting since the 2018 ‘sandpapergate’ scandal.

    Australia Hold Edge at Lord’s

    Australia boasts a strong history at Lord’s, with 18 wins and only seven defeats in 40 Tests. The team has won three of its last five Tests at the ground, including a controversial 2023 Ashes encounter overshadowed by the Jonny Bairstow stumping.

    Veteran batter Steve Smith will return to the venue where he made his debut in 2010. Smith has scored 525 runs at an average of 58.33 at Lord’s and requires 17 more to surpass Don Bradman as Australia’s highest run-scorer at the ground.

    South Africa’s Path to Final Raises Questions

    South Africa’s route to the final included a late surge of seven consecutive wins after an indifferent start to the cycle. The streak included series victories over West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

    Despite the impressive run, South Africa are yet to register a win over any of the top-four ranked sides during the current WTC period. Eight players in their 15-member squad have never played a Test at Lord’s.

    Australia Face Selection Dilemmas

    Australia are considering reshuffling their top order to accommodate all-rounder Cameron Green, who is returning from a back injury. Marnus Labuschagne could be promoted to open alongside Usman Khawaja, with teenager Sam Konstas likely to miss out.

    Green, who will not bowl, could be replaced in the seam department by either Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland, with all-rounder Beau Webster also under consideration. Australia enter the final with three batters – Khawaja, Smith and Travis Head – among the top ten run-scorers in the WTC cycle.

    South Africa’s Pace Attack Key to Upset

    South Africa will rely heavily on fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who returns after a one-month suspension. Rabada has taken 49 wickets against Australia at an average of 23.08 and boasts the best average at Lord’s among participating bowlers – 13 wickets at 19.38 from two Tests.

    He is likely to be supported by Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and one of Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson or Corbin Bosch. The Proteas could spring a surprise by fielding the uncapped Bosch, whose raw pace may challenge Australia’s experienced batting line-up.

    Squads:

    Australia Squad: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann

    South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Senuran Muthusamy, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch

     

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Launches Alpha Trading Zone, Ushering in New Era of Seamless On-Chain Asset Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially launched its Alpha Trading Zone, an innovative feature that seamlessly bridges centralized exchanges (CEX) with on-chain asset trading, offering users a convenient and efficient Web3 trading experience. To celebrate the launch, MEXC is introducing a special rewards event with exclusive benefits for users participating in Alpha Zone trading.

    MEXC Alpha Zone: Simplifying On-Chain Asset Trading

    With blockchain and DeFi rapidly evolving, users increasingly seek easy access to on-chain asset trading. To meet this demand, MEXC’s Alpha Trading Zone allows users to buy or sell on-chain assets including tokens on Solana and BNB Chain directly with their spot account assets such as USDT, eliminating the need for complex wallet management or cross-chain operations.

    The Alpha Trading Zone delivers four core advantages for users:

    • Seamless Trading Experience: Enables direct trading of on-chain tokens using Spot account assets without needing wallet management or cross-chain bridging.
    • Security and Efficiency: Powered by MEXC’s DEX+ technology, ensuring transparent pricing and secure execution of on-chain trades through system-managed addresses.
    • Multi-Chain Support: Supports trading across multiple blockchains including Solana, BNB Chain, TRX, and Base to meet diverse Web3 needs.
    • AI-Driven Token Selection: Utilizes AI to analyze real-time on-chain data daily, highlighting trending tokens and promising projects.

    Users can begin Alpha trading through three simple steps: log in to a MEXC account or register via the official MEXC website; navigate to the Alpha Zone from the MEXC homepage; select the desired on-chain asset trading pair and place orders using Spot account assets.

    Alpha Zone Launch Celebration Event

    MEXC is hosting a limited-time celebration event from June 10, 2025 – July 10, 2025. The event features four reward mechanisms:
    New User Reward: Qualified new users who join the event will receive a 20 USDT token airdrop, with a total prize pool limited to 50,000 USDT on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Leaderboard Reward: The top 1,000 qualified users by trading volume in the Alpha Zone will equally share a 20,000 USDT prize pool (20 USDT per person).
    Referral Reward: Invite friends to trade in the Alpha Zone and earn 10 USDT for each qualified referee.
    Points Reward: All users with over 100 USDT in Alpha Zone trading volume will receive 1.5x MEXC DEX+ Points for future DEX+ token airdrop redemptions.

    As a global leading cryptocurrency exchange, MEXC is committed to providing users with the most cutting-edge trading tools and premium service experiences. The successful launch of Alpha Zone further consolidates MEXC’s leadership position in the industry, and the platform will continue to deepen feature development to bring users more convenient and efficient trading solutions worldwide.

    To explore this innovative feature, users can log in to the MEXC official website and navigate to the Alpha Trading Zone from the homepage. For celebration event details and participation, please visit the event page.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, daily airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/097e837c-9066-4a1b-9b92-d29d7c7a2c3b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EWIA launches funding offering on Conda to drive solar business in Africa

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Raising capital for growth, expansion, and diversification
    • Tokenized participation certificate issuance
    • Geschäftsmodell mit dreifachem Impact

    Munich/Accra, 10 June, 2025 – EWIA Green Investments launched a new financing round today on the digital financing platform Conda (conda-capital.com). In order to raise additional equity capital for its growth strategy, the company is issuing tokenized participation certificates worth up to €2 million through a specially established special purpose vehicle (SPV). Since its founding in 2020, EWIA has become a major player in the commercial renewable energy segment in West Africa. Following the successful launch of solar financing and operation for commercial and industrial customers in Ghana, EWIA is now pushing ahead with expansion in Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as diversification into new business areas.

    “Power generation is too expensive and dirty in large parts of Africa, and blackouts are a daily occurrence,” says co-founder and managing director Ralph Schneider. ”EWIA is helping to meet Africa’s growing energy needs with clean, affordable, and reliable solar power.” In 2020, EWIA Green Investments launched in Ghana as a dedicated solar financier, helping medium-sized businesses transition from diesel generators to clean, cost-effective solar energy. By analyzing electricity demand and refinancing potential across various industries, EWIA designs tailored solar solutions that meet the specific needs of each client.Today, EWIA also installs PV systems in-house, acting as an EPC project developer responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction. A subsidiary builds solar-powered telecom towers for mobile network operators

    Triple Impact Investment

    “By transferring capital and know-how to sub-Saharan Africa, we help local businesses operate more successfully, become more competitive, and create jobs — all crucial factors for both the economic and social development of a continent with the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world,” says co-founder and managing director Timo Schäfer. “At the same time, we offer investors in Europe the opportunity to participate in the growth potential of this dynamic market.”

    With subsidiaries currently operating in three African countries, EWIA itself already employs 76 staff — including 31 women — in highly skilled roles with long-term career prospects.

    Financing growth

    With the acquisition of SunErgy GmbH in April, EWIA expanded into Cameroon, where it is electrifying entire villages. SunErgy has been licensed by the Republic of Cameroon to establish solar power supplies for 92 villages with approximately 600,000 people, as well as schools, health centers, and private and public companies in the southwestern region of the country. As part of the transaction, investment and asset manager KGAL acquired a stake in EWIA. At the same time, EWIA is pressing ahead with its expansion into the Nigerian market – the continent’s largest economy. Over the next five years, EWIA aims to expand its project portfolio to over €63 million and significantly increase its footprint in West Africa.

    Under the current offering, investors can subscribe to participation certificates in a special purpose vehicle that holds an interest in EWIA Green Investments GmbH for a minimum amount of €250 per share. The investment has no fixed term and is based on a company valuation of approximately €12.3 million.

    As with equity, investors participate in profits and in the development of the company’s value in proportion to their share equivalent. Detailed information is available at
    https://conda-capital.com/campaign/ewia-3-0-indirekte-beteiligung/.

    With the funds from the newly launched offering, EWIA aims to solidify its market position through scalable operations, a stronger team of skilled professionals, and the continued development of the EWIAFinance.de platform

    About EWIA Green Investments

    EWIA provides small and medium-sized businesses in Africa with access to clean solar energy and serves as a bridge builder to investors in Europe as well as for the transfer of technology know-how. Based in Munich, Germany, with operating entities in Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, EWIA offers private and institutional investors access to attractive impact investments in the fight against climate change and for sustainable economic growth in Africa. Private investors can also invest specifically in solar projects via ewiafinance.de.

    With EWIA’s flexible full-service financing solution, companies in Africa have the opportunity to obtain solar power, financing, security and service from a single source. In the infrastructure sector, EWIA funds and constructs mobile phone communication masts and traffic monitoring systems and equips them with PV systems. www.ewiainvestments.com

    Contact for queries:

    EWIA Green Investments GmbH
    Ralph Schneider, CEO
    ralph.schneider@EWIAinvestments.com
    +49 162 1366 984

    Schwarz Financial Communication
    Frank Schwarz
    schwarz@schwarzfinancial.com
    +49 611 58029290

    Disclaimer: Not for publication in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, or any other jurisdiction outside the EU, and in particular in jurisdictions that prohibit the offering or sale of these instruments.

    Risk warning: The purchase of this investment involves significant risks, including the possibility of total loss. Please inform yourself thoroughly before investing and seek professional advice. Detailed explanations can be found at Conda Capital Market.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Tragedy in the port of La Restinga (El Hierro) and EU responsibility for rescue and migration policies – E-002167/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002167/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)

    On 28 May 2025, an open boat carrying more than 180 people from Senegal capsized as it arrived in the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro in the Canaries. Despite being aided by members of Spain’s maritime rescue service just five metres from the quay, at least four women and three girls died, and one baby is missing. This incident once again highlights the painful consequences of the EU’s migration policies: a dearth of legal, safe routes; the criminalisation of migrants; and the lack of effective public resources for rescue operations.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission intending to investigate what happened in El Hierro and assess the actions of the Spanish authorities with regard to rescue operations at sea and the protection of people who migrate?
    • 2.What steps is the Commission going to take to ensure legal and safe routes and strengthen public rescue schemes in response to the outsourcing and militarisation of migration policy?
    • 3.Is the Commission intending to promote specific protection measures for women and girls who migrate, as victims of intersectional violence, in accordance with the gender equality strategy 2020-2025?

    Submitted: 29.5.2025

    Last updated: 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Nigeria: Girl survivors of Boko Haram still being failed by government inaction – new testimony

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Girls and young women who escaped Boko Haram captivity in north-east Nigeria are still being neglected by the country’s authorities, one year after Amnesty International’s landmark report and launch of the #EmpowerOurGirls campaign.

    In June 2024, Amnesty International published ‘Help us build our lives’: Girl survivors of Boko Haram and military abuses in north-east Nigeria, documenting how these girls and young women were requesting support as they attempted to heal and reintegrate into society.

    Now, survivors have told Amnesty International that the government is still failing to provide adequate reintegration services and they are unable to support themselves or their families.

    “One year later, it is unacceptable that the Nigerian authorities still cannot ensure these girls and young women are able to rebuild their lives in safety,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “The moment girls or young women leave Boko Haram should mark the start of their reintegration into society – and yet, many have told us they are still being left to fend for themselves and are struggling to survive.

    “Victims of Boko Haram abuses, including forced marriage and trafficking, are still not being identified and helped. Girl survivors are still overwhelmingly invisible to the government authorities.

    “We call on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government to take urgent action to support survivors of Boko Haram. These girls and young women must be empowered, and have immediate access to medical care, education, and livelihood support.”

    We call on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government to take urgent action to support survivors of Boko Haram.

    Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria

    In February 2025, Amnesty International remotely interviewed seven recently-escaped survivors who were forcibly married to Boko Haram members, and one survivor who lived in Boko Haram-controlled territory. Seven survivors were between the ages of 12 and 17; the other was a 22-year-old woman who was forcibly married to a Boko Haram fighter as a child.

    None of the survivors were offered any tailored reintegration services or made aware of available counselling, vocational training, or other support services. In seven cases, when child survivors encountered security forces after leaving Boko Haram, they were not transferred to civilian authorities for appropriate care, as specified by the terms of the handover protocol signed between the Nigerian government and the United Nations in 2022.

    According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nigeria should take steps “to promote [the] physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration” of children who are victims of armed conflict. The African Children’s Charter and the Maputo Protocol also oblige Nigeria to afford special protection to girls and women against early and forced marriage.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: USA: Trump’s travel ban is ‘discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The order restricts citizens from Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen

    Partial travel ban on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela

    ‘This blanket ban constitutes racial discrimination under international human rights law’ – Agnès Callamard

    In response to President Trump imposing a new discriminatory travel ban, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “President Trump’s new travel ban is discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel. By targeting people based on their race, religion, or nationality, from countries with predominantly Black, Brown and Muslim-majority populations, this blanket ban constitutes racial discrimination under international human rights law. It also spreads hate and disinformation, reinforcing the misleading idea that certain populations are more likely to pose security risks or engage in acts of violence. 

    “This arbitrary travel ban also violates the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution and the US obligation to protect them under international and national refugee law. With the right to seek asylum already non-existent at US borders, it will further inflict terrible suffering on people who are fleeing war-torn regions, massive human rights violations and other dangerous situations and seeking safety in the United States.

    “This travel ban is no different than the ones that President Trump put into place in his first term. It is based on racism and xenophobia and has nothing to do with national security or keeping anyone safe.

    “Through targeting and detaining immigrants for exercising their right to free speech, separating families, mass deportations and more, President Trump’s actions have already put tens of millions of people in the United States at risk. And now, this travel ban is yet another iteration of the Trump administration’s persistent trampling on the rights of immigrants and those seeking safety.

    “Communities thrive when governments prioritise the safety of all people, regardless of nationality, religion, or race. Amnesty International will never stop fighting for a world in which everybody is treated with dignity, immigrants and people seeking safety are welcomed and recognised for their contributions to society, and communities are united.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ocean Conference, Gaza, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
    ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
    Highlights:
    – Secretary-General/Ocean Conference
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Lebanon
    – Security Council
    – Nigeria

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/OCEAN CONFERENCE
    The Secretary-General delivered remarks this morning at the opening of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, which is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.  In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that although the sea that has sustained life for millennia, we are failing to protect the ocean – thanks to overfishing, plastic pollution and rising temperatures.
    He urged all countries that have not yet ratified the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction to do so. He also issued a strong call to all countries to agree on an ambitious and legally binding treaty on plastic pollution this year.
    Underscoring his support for the work of the International Seabed Authority, the Secretary-General said the deep sea cannot become the Wild West.
    Mr. Guterres urged Member States to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is unfortunately one of the least funded SDGs. He encouraged the conference participants to be bold in all their efforts, saying, “The ocean of our ancestors – teeming with life and diversity – can be more than legend. It can be our legacy.”
    In the afternoon, the Secretary-General spoke at the Africa for the Ocean event, co-hosted by Morocco and France. In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that with over 30,000 kilometres of coastline and 38 coastal states, Africa is a maritime powerhouse. “Its future is also written in its waters,” he said, adding that this blue wealth is too often undervalued and overexploited. He said that investments have too often bypassed Africa, even as its marine resources were exploited by others.
    Also this afternoon, the Secretary-General had a productive meeting with civil society representatives from around the world active in ocean action. He highlighted the current paradox: despite major breakthroughs —such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction— the crisis facing the oceans is worsening.
    The Secretary-General noted similar dynamics in climate action: while renewable energy is expanding rapidly, emissions continue to rise. The ocean-climate connection, he warned, is deteriorating —marked by rising temperatures, accelerating sea-level rise, glacier melt, coral bleaching, and growing plastic pollution. He also pointed to the threat of mass displacement from vulnerable river deltas.
    He emphasized the importance of civil society perspectives, momentum, and insights to accelerate progress and increase global attention on ocean, climate, and biodiversity action.
    On the sidelines of the conference, the Secretary-General held a number of bilateral meetings.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels of despair as people continue to go hungry across Gaza. Many are forced to risk their lives in search of food, as we receive more reports of people being killed and injured near non-UN distribution sites.
    According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, just this morning, 29 casualties arrived at the ICRC field hospital in west Rafah, eight of whom were dead. Almost all had explosive trauma wounds, with two others admitted with gunshot wounds. The UN reiterates that civilians must always be protected. No person, anywhere, should be forced to choose between risking one’s life and feeding one’s family.
    Fuel stocks in Gaza are critically low – putting further strain on critical services and humanitarian operations. Over the weekend, some 260,000 litres of fuel were looted in northern Gaza. Prior to this, the UN had repeatedly attempted to reach these stocks to retrieve them, but these attempts were denied by the Israeli authorities.
    Since 15 May, the missions to retrieve this fuel were denied by the Israeli authorities 14 times. The UN attempts to reach fuel supplies in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, also continue to be denied. The UN warns that unless a solution is found in the coming days, the entire aid operation could come to a standstill.
    Since the Israeli authorities allowed limited amounts of aid to enter Gaza on 19 May, the UN and its partners have only been able to collect about 4,600 metric tonnes of wheat flour from the Kerem Shalom crossing. Most of it was taken by desperate, starving people before the supplies reached their destinations. In some cases, the supplies were looted by armed gangs.

    Full Highlights:
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20June%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3T6VaM3ASY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CEM Africa Summit 2025: Leading the Future of Customer Experience with Artificial Intelligence Innovation

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

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The CEM Africa Summit 2025 is set to redefine the future of customer experience (CX) by placing Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the heart of the conversation. With the rapid evolution of AI technologies, the summit will bring together thought leaders, innovators, and industry experts to explore how AI is transforming CX across industries such as finance, retail, and telecoms.

    This year’s summit, taking place from 12 – 14 August, will feature an impressive lineup of speakers who are at the forefront of AI and CX. Notable figures include:

    • Ben Phillips, Head of Customer Experience Performance Centre, Fujitsu
    • Daryl Wilkes, Director of Customer Care, ASOS.com
    • Tatiana Ndluvo, Executive Head: Marketing Nedbank Africa Region, Nedbank
    • Gedeon Rossouw, Head of Client Care, Absa
    • Marnitz Van Heerden, Head of Customer Experience, Discovery
    • Francois Retief, Head of Customer Experience, FNB

    As a hub for senior CX and operational leaders, CEM Africa Summit will showcase cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping how companies interact with their customers. With over 700 senior leaders from across Africa’s leading industries in attendance, the summit offers a unique opportunity to explore how AI solutions can enhance personalization, predict customer needs, and streamline service delivery.

    Key Highlights of CEM Africa Summit 2025:

    • AI-driven CX Strategy Sessions: Learn from global leaders on how AI is transforming customer service, improving operational efficiencies, and personalizing experiences at scale.
    • Workshops on implementing AI tools in CX management, from chatbots to data analytics, with hands-on demonstrations from tech providers.
    • Networking Opportunities with decision-makers in CX and technology, helping brands connect with partners, suppliers, and key customers across industries.

    Agenda Insights

    The CEM Africa Summit 2025 will feature a series of forward-looking panels and workshops focused on AI in CX. Attendees can look forward to discussions on:

    • Harnessing AI for Real-Time Customer Insights: How AI-powered analytics can help businesses understand customer behavior and tailor experiences in real time.
    • AI and Automation in Contact Centers: Exploring how AI is streamlining customer interactions and empowering agents with intelligent tools for faster resolution.
    • Ethics of AI in Customer Experience: A panel of industry leaders will discuss the ethical implications of AI in customer service, focusing on data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and human-centric AI design.

    “We are excited to bring together thought leaders who are shaping the future of AI in customer experience,” said Terry Southam, Group Portfolio Director at VUKA Group. “The CEM Africa Summit 2025 will provide our audience with the knowledge and tools to adopt AI solutions that will transform their businesses and enhance their customer interactions.”

    CEM Africa Summit 2025 is a must-attend event for any business leader looking to stay ahead in the AI-powered future of customer experience. For more information on speakers, sessions, and how to attend, visit [Event Website].

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: APR (Rwanda) and Petro de Luanda (Angola) Advance to Basketball Africa League (BAL) Semifinals in Pretoria

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

    Pretoria, South Africa, June 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    APR (Rwanda)  punched its ticket to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com/) Semifinals with a commanding 104–73 victory over Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria). Nuni Omot led the charge with 21 points, while Aliou Diarra contributed a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Rwandan side shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc and 62.5% from the field overall. For the River Hoopers, Madut Akec paced the team with 21 points, and Raphael Putney chipped in 12.

    Meanwhile, the defending champions Petro de Luanda (Angola) are heading back to the BAL Semifinals after a 95–84 win over US Monastir (Tunisia). Kendrick Ray led all scorers with 20 points, while Yanick Moreira added 15. US Monastir was led by Patrick Hardy Jr. with 17 points, and Firas Lahyani added 15 in the loss.

    The BAL Semifinals are set for Wednesday, July 11. Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) will face APR at 4:00 p.m. CAT, followed by Al Ittihad (Egypt) vs. Petro de Luanda (Angola) at 7:00 p.m. CAT.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Scans Ahead at Solana Summit 2025 with QR-based Payment Rollout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, concluded an impactful showing at the Solana APAC Summit 2025, held in Da Nang, Vietnam from June 5 to 7. As a major sponsor of the summit, Bitget Wallet used the three-day event to debut its newest payment features, connect with builders from across the Solana ecosystem, and demonstrate how onchain tools can power real-world use cases across Asia and beyond.

    On the opening day, Bitget Wallet formally announced the integration of QR-based payment integrations, which includes Solana Pay and national QR payment systems, for seamless, multi-currency payments. This integration lives up to Bitget Wallet’s new identity of ‘Crypto for Everyone’, bridging the gap between blockchain and everyday commerce. Bitget Wallet also hosted a developer workshop showcasing the ease of integrating Solana dApps into the wallet’s infrastructure, including support for seamless swaps, staking, and native Solana trading via Jupiter DEX.

    Day 2 of the Summit saw Bitget Wallet’s Business Development Manager, Xavier Ow Yeong, take the stage to discuss how onchain finance is changing the way users spend, save, and access capital. That evening, Bitget Wallet co-hosted a meetup with Saros, previewing its upcoming VietQR payment feature in a live test environment. Over 150 community members attended the event, explored new Bitget Wallet integrations firsthand, and received exclusive merchandise alongside a live airdrop reward for early testers.

    The Solana APAC Summit marks a significant milestone in Bitget Wallet’s roadmap to turn crypto wallets from storage tools into everyday super apps. As part of a broader mission to scale real-world adoption, the event demonstrates how embedded payment infrastructure, cross-chain liquidity, and user-first design can unlock new crypto behaviors, whether in emerging markets or global hubs of Web3 development.

    Bitget Wallet’s participation in the Solana Summit is part of its ongoing initiative to expand crypto access across Asia, aligning ecosystem partners, developers, and communities around the next wave of practical, onchain tools.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91b54b94-4741-40ed-b89f-148168f60fdd
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55eded33-ff2f-4c2e-8049-588eba6af3f6
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0687e900-51a8-4caf-bebd-b9b229aa8fcd
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4a31e7f-1fa4-46f5-83f3-dd3536d378bb
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa35936b-7656-4156-995e-211e4d503db5
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0fd5bd5b-c1ae-46db-af86-08a14f2f75a9
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/205bbae6-30c4-4605-9d97-de11d0109ccf
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2be5f55d-8911-4f2f-a0be-e09dec432a1b
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff8c528-21a6-49ed-b61a-eef93d06febc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report

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

    Source: Afreximbank |

    Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report

    Fitch also acknowledges the Bank’s strong capitalization including its “strong equity to assets and guarantees ratio” and “excellent internal capital generation”

    The bank operates with a high level of collateral and credit risk mitigants and has already taken relatively large provisions on some sovereign exposures

    CAIRO, Egypt, June 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com) operates under very high standards of financial transparency. The Bank’s financial reporting strictly adheres to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including IFRS 9. This standard governs the classification and staging of loan performance, including the treatment of non-performing loans, amongst other matters. The Bank’s application of IFRS 9 is comprehensively detailed in its 2024 Financial Statements and further clarified in the external auditors’ report. As cited in the ratings report, dated 4 June 2025, “Fitch’s definition of NPLs differs from the Bank’s approach, which makes use of forward-looking information”.
    • It is important to note that Fitch acknowledges Afreximbank’s financial resilience, highlighting that “the bank operates with a high level of collateral and credit risk mitigants and has already taken relatively large provisions on some sovereign exposures, which would reduce any potential further negative financial impact for the bank”.
    • Fitch also acknowledges the Bank’s strong capitalization including its “strong equity to assets and guarantees ratio” and “excellent internal capital generation”.  Concentration risk is also reported as “low” and its liquidity assessment of “a” reflects the Bank’s “strong quality of treasury assets”. The Bank believes that these factors reinforce the overall soundness of the Bank’s risk management framework.
    • Fitch’s ‘negative outlook’ decision, which it says reflects “the risk that the debt owed to Afreximbank by some of its sovereign borrowers may be restructured”, is hinged on the erroneous view, in some quarters, that the treaty establishing Afreximbank, executed by its 53 participating African states, can be violated by the Bank without consequences. For clarity, the Bank establishment agreement is a treaty entered into by, and among, all participating states and between the participating states and the Bank. Accordingly, Afreximbank would like to reaffirm that it is not participating in debt restructuring negotiations related to any of its member countries. To do so would be inconsistent with the Bank establishment treaty. The treatment of its loans and other activities is governed by the treaty and not by classifications created outside its framework.
    • Afreximbank’s financial resilience, robust governance and unwavering commitment to excellence, and to Africa, are critical to the delivery of its mandate. The Bank remains committed to supporting its member countries in navigating their economic challenges while promoting trade-led growth, economic development and general macroeconomic stability.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report Fitch also acknowledges the Bank’s strong capitalization including its “strong equity to assets and guarantees ratio” and “excellent internal capital generation” CAIRO, Egypt, June 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com) operates under very high standards of financial transparency. The Bank’s financial reporting strictly adheres to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including IFRS 9. This standard governs the classification and staging of loan performance, including the treatment of non-performing loans, amongst other matters. The Bank’s application of IFRS 9 is comprehensively detailed in its 2024 Financial Statements and further clarified in the external auditors’ report. As cited in the ratings report, dated 4 June 2025, “Fitch’s definition of NPLs differs from the Bank’s approach, which makes use of forward-looking information”.
    • It is important to note that Fitch acknowledges Afreximbank’s financial resilience, highlighting that “the bank operates with a high level of collateral and credit risk mitigants and has already taken relatively large provisions on some sovereign exposures, which would reduce any potential further negative financial impact for the bank”.
    • Fitch also acknowledges the Bank’s strong capitalization including its “strong equity to assets and guarantees ratio” and “excellent internal capital generation”.  Concentration risk is also reported as “low” and its liquidity assessment of “a” reflects the Bank’s “strong quality of treasury assets”. The Bank believes that these factors reinforce the overall soundness of the Bank’s risk management framework.
    • Fitch’s ‘negative outlook’ decision, which it says reflects “the risk that the debt owed to Afreximbank by some of its sovereign borrowers may be restructured”, is hinged on the erroneous view, in some quarters, that the treaty establishing Afreximbank, executed by its 53 participating African states, can be violated by the Bank without consequences. For clarity, the Bank establishment agreement is a treaty entered into by, and among, all participating states and between the participating states and the Bank. Accordingly, Afreximbank would like to reaffirm that it is not participating in debt restructuring negotiations related to any of its member countries. To do so would be inconsistent with the Bank establishment treaty. The treatment of its loans and other activities is governed by the treaty and not by classifications created outside its framework.
    • Afreximbank’s financial resilience, robust governance and unwavering commitment to excellence, and to Africa, are critical to the delivery of its mandate. The Bank remains committed to supporting its member countries in navigating their economic challenges while promoting trade-led growth, economic development and general macroeconomic stability.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@afreximbank.com Website: www.Afreximbank.com

    Text copied to clipboard.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Africa Green Hydrogen Summit Media Launch

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Africa Green Hydrogen Summit Media Launch

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZv6EIwLGFI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: gjgj

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    gfgf

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtCQjkVlq7s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Frederick Forsyth, ‘Day of the Jackal’ author, dies at 86

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    British novelist Frederick Forsyth, who authored best-selling thrillers such as “The Day of the Jackal” and “The Dogs of War,” has died aged 86, his publisher said.

    A former correspondent for Reuters and the BBC, and an informant for Britain’s MI6 foreign spy agency, Forsyth made his name by using his experiences as a reporter in Paris to pen the story of a failed assassination plot on Charles de Gaulle.

    “The Day of the Jackal”, in which an English assassin, played in the film by Edward Fox, is hired by French paramilitaries angry at de Gaulle’s withdrawal from Algeria, was published in 1971 after Forsyth found himself penniless in London.

    Written in just 35 days, the book was rejected by a host of publishers who worried that the story was flawed and would not sell as de Gaulle had not been assassinated. De Gaulle died in 1970 from a ruptured aorta while playing Solitaire.

    But Forsyth’s hurricane-paced thriller complete with journalistic-style detail and brutal sub-plots of lust, betrayal and murder was an instant hit. The once poor journalist became a wealthy writer of fiction.

    “I never intended to be a writer at all,” Forsyth later wrote in his memoire, “The Outsider – My Life in Intrigue”. “After all, writers are odd creatures, and if they try to make a living at it, even more so.”

    So influential was the novel that Venezuelan militant revolutionary Illich Ramirez Sanchez, was dubbed “Carlos the Jackal”.

    Forsyth presented himself as a cross between Ernest Hemingway and John le Carre – both action man and Cold War spy – but delighted in turning around the insult that he was a literary lightweight.

    “I am lightweight but popular. My books sell,” he once said.

    His books, fantastical plots that almost rejoiced in the cynicism of an underworld of spies, criminals, hackers and killers, sold more than 75 million copies.

    Behind the swashbuckling bravado, though, there were hints of sadness. He later spoke of turning inwards to his imagination as a lonely only child during and after World War Two.

    The isolated Forsyth discovered a talent for languages: he claimed to be a native French speaker by the age of 12 and a native German speaker by the age of 16, largely due to exchanges.

    He went to Tonbridge School, one of England’s ancient fee-paying schools, and learned Russian from two emigre Georgian princesses in Paris. He added Spanish by the age of 18.

    He also learned to fly and did his national service in the Royal Air Force where he flew fighters such as a single seater version of the de Havilland Vampire.

    THE REPORTER

    Impressing Reuters’ editors with his languages and knowledge that Bujumbura was a city in Burundi, he was offered a job at the news agency in 1961 and sent to Paris and then East Berlin where the Stasi secret police kept close tabs on him.

    He left Reuters for the BBC but soon became disillusioned by its bureaucracy and what he saw as the corporation’s failure to cover Nigeria properly due to the government’s incompetent post-colonial views on Africa.

    It was in 1968 that Forsyth was approached by the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, and asked by an officer named “Ronnie” to inform on what was really going on in Biafra.

    By his own account, he would keep contacts with the MI6, which he called “the Firm”, for many years. His novels showed extensive knowledge of the world of spies and he even edited out bits of The Fourth Protocol (1984), he said, so that militants would not know how to detonate an atomic bomb.

    His writing was sometimes cruel, such as when the Jackal kills his lover after she discovers he is an assassin.

    “He looked down at her, and for the first time she noticed that the grey flecks in his eyes had spread and clouded over the whole expression, which had become dead and lifeless like a machine staring down at her.”

    THE WRITER

    After finally finding a publisher for “The Day of the Jackal,” he was offered a three-novel contract by Harold Harris of Hutchinson.

    Next came “The Odessa File” in 1972, the story of a young German freelance journalist who tries to track down SS man Eduard Roschmann, or “The Butcher of Riga”.

    After that, “The Dogs of War” in 1974 is about a group of white mercenaries hired by a British mining magnate to kill the mad dictator of an African republic – based on Equatorial Guinea’s Francisco Macias Nguema – and replace him with a puppet.

    The New York Times said at the time that the novel was “pitched at the level of a suburban Saturday night movie audience” and that it was “informed with a kind of post‐imperial condescension toward the black man”.

    Divorced from Carole Cunningham in 1988, he married Sandy Molloy in 1994. But he lost a fortune in an investment scam and had to write more novels to support himself. He had two sons – Stuart and Shane – with his first wife.

    His later novels variously cast hackers, Russians, al Qaeda militants and cocaine smugglers against the forces of good – broadly Britain and the West. But the novels never quite reached the level of the Jackal.

    A supporter of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, Forsyth scolded Britain’s elites for what he cast as their treachery and naivety.

    In columns for The Daily Express, he gave a host of withering assessments of the modern world from an intellectual right-wing perspective.

    The world, he said, worried too much about “the oriental pandemic” (known to most as COVID-19), Donald Trump was “deranged”, Vladimir Putin “a tyrant” and “liberal luvvies of the West” were wrong on most things.

    He was, to the end, a reporter who wrote novels.

    “In a world that increasingly obsesses over the gods of power, money and fame, a journalist and a writer must remain detached,” he wrote. “It is our job to hold power to account.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Video: AFRICA GREEN HYDROGEN SUMMIT LAUNCH

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    AFRICA GREEN HYDROGEN SUMMIT LAUNCH

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=layePzK4MfI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25/3374148_MSG+SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25.mp4

    The United Nations was built on a fundamental conviction: dialogue is the path to peace.

    On this First International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, we celebrate that conviction – and the rich diversity of civilizations as a force to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity.

    Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. 

    Where dialogue is missing, ignorance fills the void. 

    Around the world, we hear rising voices of intolerance and xenophobia, amplified by online misinformation and hate speech.

    In our fractured world, dialogue is not optional – it is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust.   

    So, too, is the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, re-enforced by the global platform for dialogue that it has created over the past two decades.
     
    This International Day is a call to action – to listen, to speak, to connect.

    Let’s answer hate with humanity.

    Let’s listen with open hearts and open minds.

    Let’s choose dialogue over division.

    And let us strive to be one human family, rich in diversity, united in solidarity, and equal in dignity and human rights.

    ***

    L’ONU est née d’une conviction fondamentale : c’est par le dialogue que peut advenir la paix.

    La première Journée internationale pour le dialogue entre les civilisations est l’occasion de mettre à l’honneur cette idée et de souligner que la grande diversité des civilisations sert de terreau fertile à la compréhension mutuelle et à la solidarité mondiale.

    Cette ambition est plus que jamais d’actualité.

    Lorsque le dialogue fait défaut, l’ignorance prospère.

    Partout dans le monde, les voix de l’intolérance et de la xénophobie gagnent du terrain, amplifiées par la mésinformation et les discours de haine en ligne.

    Dans notre monde fracturé, le dialogue est une nécessité : il est indispensable pour favoriser la compréhension et la confiance.

    Tel est également le rôle de l’Alliance des civilisations de l’ONU, dont les travaux s’appuient sur une plateforme mondiale de dialogue depuis deux décennies.

    Cette journée internationale nous invite à faire preuve d’écoute, à dialoguer et à nouer des liens.

    Répondons à la haine par l’humanité.

    Faisons preuve d’empathie et d’ouverture d’esprit.

    Privilégions le dialogue à la division.

    Et tâchons de former une seule et même famille humaine, riche de sa diversité, unie dans la solidarité et égale en dignité et en droits humains.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • France, Brazil launch initiative to scale up ocean-focused climate action

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    On the first day of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), France and Brazil have launched a landmark international initiative to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action.

    The Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge calls on all countries to place the ocean at the heart of their climate plans ahead of UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) which Brazil will host in November this year.

    Alongside Brazil and France, an inaugural group of eight countries – Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles – has already joined the initiative, committing to include the ocean in their updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement.

    These plans represent the centrepiece of each country’s efforts to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience, and represent the highest level of political will under the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC).

    Launched on Monday, and building on the momentum this year brings as countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the Blue NDC Challenge underscores the urgent need to recognise the ocean’s central role in addressing the climate crisis as a key ally.

    The initiative is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean and Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.

    In addition to its forests, Brazil is also an oceanic nation, with 40 per cent of its territory located at sea and hosting marine ecosystems of global significance — including the only coral reefs in the South Atlantic and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove belt along the Amazon coast.

    These ecosystems play a vital role in both climate adaptation and mitigation, serving as natural buffers against extreme weather events and contributing to carbon storage.

    “For Brazil, the Blue NDC Challenge represents a key opportunity to strengthen ocean-related climate action and to emphasise the essential role of ocean-based solutions in achieving emission reduction targets. Through this initiative Brazil seeks to advance international cooperation on ocean climate action in the lead-up to COP30, and to underscore the need for all countries to fully integrate the ocean into their national climate strategies,” said Marina Silva, Brazil Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

    “In its recently submitted NDC, Brazil has explicitly included, for the first time, ocean-based climate actions, recognising the ocean’s critical role in climate regulation. These include the implementation of national Marine Spatial Planning, the enhancement of coastal zone management, and the establishment of programs for the conservation and restoration of mangroves and coral reefs,” she noted.

    Governments joining the Blue NDCs Challenge commit to stepping up efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience through ocean-based solutions, while also delivering benefits for both nature and people.

    Under the leadership of the governments of Brazil and France, eight inaugural countries spanning the globe committed to include ocean action in their national climate plans.

    “Ultimately, industrial marine sectors and natural ecosystems are underused tools in addressing climate change and other development needs. As world leaders gather in Nice and prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), they can take inspiration from the Seychelles in championing ocean-based climate action,” said Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of Seychelles.

    “We are pleased to join the Blue NDC Challenge and work alongside COP30 host, Brazil, as well as France, Fiji, Seychelles, Mexico, Palau to highlight the vital role of the ocean in global efforts on climate change,” said Senator Murray Watt, Australia’s Environment Minister.

    (IANS)

  • Former India captain MS Dhoni inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Former India captain MS Dhoni has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, the sport’s global governing body said on Monday, recognising the wicketkeeper-batsman’s contribution to the game across all formats.

    Dhoni, 42, joins a class of seven inductees this year, including Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Hashim Amla. Known for his composure under pressure and sharp tactical acumen, Dhoni led India to three major ICC titles during his international career: the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

    “Celebrated for his calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous… Dhoni’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured,” the ICC said in a statement.

    Dhoni played 538 international matches between 2004 and 2019, scoring 17,266 runs and completing 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. He also holds the record for the most stumpings in ODIs (123) and captained India in 200 matches in the format — the most by any Indian player.

    Reacting to the honour, Dhoni said being named in the Hall of Fame was a moment of pride. “To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever,” he said.

    Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 but continues to play in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.

  • MIL-Evening Report: There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    On June 9, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast.

    The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.

    The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried — baby formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits — was confiscated. All passengers were detained and now face deportation.

    This interception has sparked international condemnation. Importantly, it also raises questions about whether Israel’s actions comply with international law.

    Legal conditions for naval blockades

    Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

    • it must be formally declared and publicly notified
    • it must be effectively enforced in practice
    • it must be applied impartially to all ships
    • it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
    • it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

    If even one of these conditions is not met, the blockade may be considered illegal under customary international humanitarian law.

    The fifth condition is especially important here. According to a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

    A blockade that prevents this could be in breach of international law.

    Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of varying degrees on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas came to power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claims the purpose of the blockade is to “prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas”. Critics say it amounts to collective punishment.

    The Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (from January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

    Freedom of navigation

    International law also strongly protects the freedom of navigation, particularly in international waters beyond any state’s territorial limits.

    There are only a few exceptions when a country can lawfully stop a foreign ship in international waters – if it is involved in piracy, slave trading, unauthorised broadcasting, or the vessel itself is stateless. A country can also stop a ship if it is enforcing a lawful blockade or acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    So, if Israel’s actions do not fully meet the international legal requirements for enforcing a blockade during wartime, it would not have the right to intercept the Madleen in international waters.

    Protections for humanitarian workers

    More broadly speaking, international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, protects civilians during conflict. This protection extends to people delivering humanitarian aid, so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

    To be considered directly participating in hostilities, a person must:

    • intend to cause military harm
    • have a direct causal link to that harm, and
    • be acting in connection with one side of the conflict.

    Bringing aid to civilians, even if politically controversial, does not meet this legal threshold. As a result, the Madleen’s passengers remain protected civilians and should not be treated as combatants or detained arbitrarily.

    International law also sets out how civilians detained in conflict situations must be treated. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, detainees must be given access to medical care, lawyers and consular representatives. They must also not be punished without fair legal processes.

    Reports that Madleen passengers have been detained and are facing deportation raise concerns about whether these standards are being upheld.

    In response to the ship’s interception, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, has filed a complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. The complaint alleges a number of breaches of international humanitarian law, including forcible detention, obstruction of humanitarian relief, and degrading treatment.

    Previous flotilla intercepted

    This is not the first time Israel has stopped an aid ship and faced accusations of violating the law of the sea and humanitarian law.

    In 2010, the Israeli military raided a flotilla of six ships organised by international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade.

    Violence broke out on the largest vessel, the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and injuries to dozens of others. The incident drew international condemnation. Israel agreed to ease its blockade after the incident.

    A fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel violated a number of international laws and that its blockade was “inflicting disproportionate damage upon the civilian population”.

    This is not just a political or moral issue – it’s a legal one. International law lays out clear rules for when and how a country can enforce blockades, intercept vessels and treat civilians.

    Based on these rules, serious legal questions remain about Israel’s handling of the Madleen and its passengers.

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

    – ref. There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions – https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –