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Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ITALY – Assembly of the International Union of Superiors General: Thank you Pope Francis, welcome to Pope Leo

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Pascale RizkRome (Agenzia Fides) – About 900 nuns from around the world gathered in Rome from May 5 to 9 to participate in the 23rd Assembly of the International Union of Superiors General, dedicated to the theme “Consecrated Life: a hope that transforms.”Founded on December 8, 1965, the last day of the Second Vatican Council, the International Union of Superiors General – a body that unites the superiors general of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life – celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. At the conclusion of the assembly, which takes place every three years, consecrated women from all over the world witnessed together the end of the Conclave and the election of the new Pope, Leo XIV.It was 6:09 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, when the hall of the Hotel Ergife, where the assembly was held, erupted with joy upon the announcement that “white smoke” was rising from the chimney on the roof of the Apostolic Palace. A few minutes earlier, Sister Mary Barron, the outgoing president of the UISG and a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), had commemorated May 8, 1994, when the Algerian martyrs suffered martyrdom in Hennaya, Algeria. Two of them, Brother Henri Vergès and Sister Paul-Hélène Saint-Raymond, had been murdered in the library of the diocese of Algiers, in the casbah, on May 8, 1994.”Pope Francis was a friend of the poor and forged bonds of friendship with all religions of the world. He was also humble, choosing humility as his throne and simplicity as his language,” read Sister Barron in the message on Pope Francis’s death, sent by the local Muslim community, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, a sign “of the transforming hope offered by the authentic witness of the Christian message.” The message went on to emphasize that Pope Francis’s pontificate “was a breath of fresh air, fragile but tenacious, with a heart that listened more than a voice that imposed. Today it is not only the Church that weeps, but all of humanity.”Martyrdom, love for Christ until the end, and dedication to the poor were some of the many themes discussed during the Assembly. From the Colombian Amazon, across the border between Mexico and the United States, to Myanmar, the Superiors General shared the testimonies of their sisters serving in lands of suffering and conflict. “The moon does not dominate, does not blind, it remains in the company of the stars, it dwells in the heaven of communion, and for this very reason, it becomes an image of the Church today: it reflects a light that is not its own, like consecrated women who shine only if they are oriented toward the Lord,” stated Sister Simona Brambilla, a Consolata missionary recently confirmed by Pope Leo XIV as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, in her address.“Night,” she added, “is not only darkness. It is also the space of creativity, of intuition, of birth. As on Easter night, it is the time of the birth of a new life, small, fragile, but full of hope.” In a world that fears the night, consecrated life reminds us that it is precisely there that God speaks, where hope germinates, where prophecy takes shape.”In their final declaration, the Superiors General expressed their gratitude for the dynamism that Pope Francis has brought to consecrated life and renewed their commitment as women of peace, present at the foot of the cross, at the borders, who keep watch in the night; women who accompany and foster evangelical and inclusive communities, and who, even in old age and illness, continue to be signs of hope. (Agenzia Fides, 10/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Club America, Cruz Azul reach Liga MX semifinals

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

    Club America and Cruz Azul reached the semifinals of Mexico’s Liga MX Clausura tournament by winning their respective quarterfinal ties on Sunday.

    After a goalless draw in the first leg, Club America raced to a 2-0 lead in its home clash against Pachuca courtesy of two goals in the opening half hour from United States international forward Alejandro Zendejas.

    The visitors were dealt another blow just before halftime when Morocco international winger Oussama Idrissi was sent off for a second yellow-card offense.

    Club America was in cruise control for most of the second half as it kept alive its bid for a fourth straight Mexican top-flight title.

    “We were consistent and clinical, which is exactly how I want us to be,” America manager Andre Jardine told a post-match news conference.

    “Whoever we come up against in the semifinals, we have to be prepared. We don’t feel like we are the favorites. The teams that have made it this far have done so on merit, and we know we have to be at our best to beat them.”

    Meanwhile, Cruz Azul edged to a 2-1 home victory over Leon to prevail in its quarterfinal 5-3 on aggregate.

    Ignacio Rivero put the hosts ahead from close range, but Jhonder Cadiz equalized with a composed finish on the counterattack.

    Chilean midfielder Rodrigo Echeverria gifted Cruz Azul the lead when he slid the ball into his own net while attempting to cut out a dangerous Amaury Morales cross from the right wing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • More than 100 dead after flooding in eastern Congo, official says

    Source: Government of India (4)

    More than 100 people have died after flooding in a village near the shores of Lake Tanganyika in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a local official said.

    The flooding, which affected the village of Kasaba, comes at a vulnerable moment for the Central African nation. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have intensified an offensive in the eastern region since the start of the year, with thousands killed in fighting in the first two months of the year.

    Samy Kalodji, administrator of Fizi territory in South Kivu province where the village is located, said late on Saturday that reports from the area “indicated more than 100 deaths.”

    The affected area is still under the administration of Kinshasa and is not among the zones taken by M23.

    Didier Luganywa, spokesperson for the South Kivu government, said in a statement the flooding incident occurred between Thursday night and Friday when torrential rains and strong winds caused the Kasaba river to overflow its banks.

    The statement gave a toll of 62 confirmed deaths with 30 injured.

    Local officials said the Kasaba area was only accessible via Lake Tanganyika and was not covered by the mobile phone network, which could delay humanitarian relief efforts.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the Day of Vesak [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+Vesak+Day+21+Feb+25/3341595_MSG+SG+DAY+OF+VESAK+21+FEB+25.mp4

    On this Day of Vesak, I extend my warmest wishes to Buddhists worldwide as they commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha.

    The Buddha’s teachings of compassion, tolerance and selfless service resonate deeply with the values of the United Nations.

    In an era of profound global challenges, these timeless principles must guide our shared path forward.

    As we honor this sacred occasion, may we be inspired to bridge divides, foster solidarity, and work together towards a more peaceful, sustainable and harmonious world.

    Happy Vesak Day to all.

    ***

    En ce jour du Vesak, je présente mes meilleurs vœux aux bouddhistes du monde entier qui commémorent la naissance, l’éveil et la disparition du Bouddha.

    Les enseignements du Bouddha sur la compassion, la tolérance et l’altruisme font parfaitement écho aux valeurs de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

    À une époque marquée par de graves problèmes mondiaux, ces principes intemporels nous montrent la voie que nous devons suivre ensemble.

    Que ce jour sacré nous incite à jeter des ponts, à favoriser la solidarité et à œuvrer de concert à la création d’un monde plus pacifique, plus durable et plus harmonieux.

    Bonne Journée du Vesak à toutes et tous.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: WuBlockchain Interviews BitMart’s New CEO Nenter (Nathan) Chow: Technological Innovation, Global Expansion, and Community Empowerment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mahe, Seychelles, May 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In an exclusive interview conducted by WuBlockchain, one of the cryptocurrency industry’s leading media platforms, BitMart’s newly appointed CEO, Nenter (Nathan) Chow, shares the key factors behind his transition from traditional finance to Web3, and how his background strengthens BitMart’s core competitiveness. He also outlines the platform’s strategic plans in technological innovation, global market expansion, and community building, while offering insights into emerging trends at the intersection of AI and blockchain.

    With over 17 years of experience in traditional finance, Chow was motivated to transition to the Web3 space due to a strong belief in the transformative potential of decentralized technologies to reshape global financial systems. Having spent years in investment banking at institutions like JP Morgan and Mitsubishi UFJ, Chow observed both the strengths and limitations of traditional finance, including inefficiencies in cross-border transactions and barriers to financial inclusion. Web3, with its foundation in blockchain, provided a decentralized, transparent, and accessible alternative that empowered individuals and communities worldwide. His transition was further supported by his experience in leveraged finance, M&A, and debt capital markets, which provided a deep understanding of capital flows and institutional needs, critical for scaling Web3 adoption. Joining Animoca Ventures gave Chow the opportunity to immerse himself in the Web3 space, forge connections with innovators and governments, and now, as BitMart’s CEO, he aims to leverage his expertise to build a platform that acts as a gateway to this new financial frontier.

    Chow’s previous role as a partner at Animoca Ventures also significantly influenced his strategic vision for BitMart’s future development. At Animoca, he led global expansion efforts, built relationships with top project founders and investors, and secured premium deal allocations, such as being one of the only Asian venture funds on Monad’s cap table. This experience underscored the value of bridging regional ecosystems, particularly between Asia and the West, to unlock unique opportunities. For BitMart, Chow envisions a platform that facilitates not only trading but also serves as a cornerstone of the Web3 ecosystem. His investment background guides his strategy of fostering innovation through strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Paxos and Banxa, and supporting emerging projects via the platform’s Launchpad. Furthermore, Chow’s work with Web3 support and accelerator programs in the MENA region reinforced the power of collaborating with governments and accelerators to drive adoption, positioning BitMart as a trusted partner for both institutional and retail users.

    In discussing BitMart’s positioning in today’s highly competitive exchange market, Chow emphasized that BitMart stands out due to its global, user-centric approach. Serving over 10 million users across 200 regions, BitMart’s core competitive advantages lie in its robust security framework, technological innovation, and localized engagement. BitMart’s security, highlighted by its multi-layered defense system and partnerships with firms like Fireblocks and Cobo, is critical in maintaining trust in a market facing heightened scrutiny. BitMart differentiates itself through empowering users, notably with its “Stake to Vote” mechanism, where users can stake BMX tokens to influence token listings, turning them into stakeholders. Additionally, BitMart’s third-generation trading system, capable of processing 80,000 orders per second with a 2-millisecond latency, sets an industry standard for speed and reliability. With support for 90 fiat currencies and 11 languages, BitMart ensures local relevance across diverse regions such as the EU, MENA, and LATAM, combining global reach with tailored experiences.

    Looking toward BitMart’s strategic goals for the next phase, Chow highlighted three key priorities: enhancing technological innovation, expanding global reach, and empowering communities. The platform is prioritizing AI integration and blockchain convergence, planning to roll out smart analytics and automated tools in 2025. BitMart also aims to strengthen its presence in both regulatory-mature markets, such as the EU, and high-growth regions like MENA and LATAM, leveraging localized strategies and partnerships. Additionally, BitMart is committed to transforming users into active stakeholders through initiatives like the decentralized wallet strategy, set to launch in Q3 2025, and the “Stake to Vote” program, aligning with its mission to build a sustainable and inclusive crypto ecosystem.

    In terms of BitMart’s latest global growth strategy, Chow explained that initiatives like the “Slippage Protection Program” and the “Global Community Partner Program” reflect the platform’s commitment to empowering users and promoting community participation. The Slippage Protection Program compensates users within one hour for slippage exceeding 0.05%, reinforcing BitMart’s position as a user-first platform that values transparency and reliability. Meanwhile, the Global Community Partner Program encourages decentralized engagement by empowering local ambassadors to host events and share insights. This initiative strengthens BitMart’s global-local balance and elevates its brand as a trusted, innovative exchange.

    Chow also noted that BitMart’s Slippage Protection Program stands apart from similar mechanisms in the market due to its speed, transparency, and user-centric design. Unlike other programs that may involve delays or complex processes, BitMart’s program compensates users quickly and efficiently, ensuring immediate relief for slippage exceeding 0.05%. The program’s seamless integration with BitMart’s third-generation trading system allows for real-time monitoring and rapid resolution of slippage issues, setting a new standard for trust in the trading environment.

    The launch of the Elite Trader Program was another significant initiative designed to attract top traders. The program offers substantial incentives, including a 50% share of followers’ profits, making it one of the most lucrative in the industry. BitMart attracts top traders by providing advanced tools such as its third-generation trading system, which ensures low-latency, high-throughput trading, as well as exclusive benefits like access to premium market insights and personalized support.

    Chow also discussed the delicate balance BitMart maintains between decentralized community building and a consistent brand image. Through programs like the Global Community Partner Program, BitMart empowers local ambassadors to engage with users while ensuring alignment with core values of security, transparency, and innovation. Regular training and clear communication guidelines help maintain brand consistency across diverse markets, while initiatives like “Stake to Vote” further engage the community and reinforce BitMart’s user-centric approach.

    Drawing from his experience with Web3 support and accelerator programs in the MENA region, Chow offered insights into the differences in Web3 ecosystem development across global regions. In MENA, government-backed initiatives prioritize institutional integration and public-private partnerships, providing fertile ground for Web3 innovation. In contrast, regions like North America and Asia rely more heavily on private sector innovation, with ecosystems built around venture capital and grassroots projects. These regional insights inform BitMart’s global strategy, allowing the platform to engage with governments in MENA, leverage venture capital networks in the West, and tap into Asia’s vibrant community for adoption.

    Chow expressed his strong belief in the convergence of AI and blockchain technology as a transformative force for finance, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and personalization. BitMart is actively exploring this convergence, with plans to roll out AI-powered smart analytics, automated trading tools, and personalized investment strategies in 2025. BitMart’s commitment to these technologies aims to position it as an industry leader in delivering intelligent, user-centric solutions for the Web3 ecosystem.

    Finally, Chow provided his perspective on the current trends in the broader cryptocurrency market. He pointed out the increasing adoption of stablecoins, the tokenization of real-world assets, and the rise of AI-blockchain integration as key developments to watch. BitMart is focused on capitalizing on these trends by advancing its technological capabilities, expanding its global footprint, and fostering community-driven initiatives, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry.

    This interview was conducted by WuBlockchain. Read the full article here: https://www.wublockchain.xyz/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=35&id=1320 

    About BitMart

    BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with more than 10 million users worldwide. Consistently ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, BitMart offers over 1,700 trading pairs with competitive fees. Committed to continuous innovation and financial inclusivity, BitMart empowers users globally to trade seamlessly. Learn more about BitMart at Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.

    Disclaimer:

    The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial assets. All information is provided in good faith. However, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of such information.

    All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Fuel depots fire under control, power gradually restored after Port Sudan drone attacks

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

    Smoke rises after a drone attack in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, on May 6, 2025. [Sudanese Ministry of Culture and Information/Handout via Xinhua]

    The fire at fuel depots in Port Sudan has been brought under control and electricity has been gradually restored in the eastern Red Sea State following drone attacks in early May, Sudan’s Civil Defense Forces and state-run Electricity Company said Sunday in separate statements.

    “The fire at the strategic storage facilities and other affected sites in Port Sudan has been completely extinguished,” Director of Sudan’s Civil Defense Forces Osman Al-Atta said in a statement, adding that firefighting was challenging due to large volumes of oil stored at the affected sites.

    “The return of electricity supply to cities in Red Sea State is underway gradually,” the Electricity Company said in a brief statement posted on its official Facebook page.

    Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, with the exact toll unknown.

    Recently, the RSF has intensified drone attacks on military sites and vital facilities within SAF-controlled areas.

    On May 4, the RSF reportedly launched drone attacks on Port Sudan, capital of Red Sea State, for the first time, targeting a military airbase and civilian facilities. On Monday, drones attacked fuel depots in the city, completely destroying them, triggering huge explosions, and causing fires that burned for days.

    On Tuesday, Sudan’s Electricity Company announced that the Port Sudan power transformer station was targeted by drones in the morning, leading to a complete power outage. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Footy’s ‘code wars’ are back, but which is actually the No. 1 Australian sport: the NRL or AFL?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney

    NRL Photos, Matt Turner/AAP, Wikimedia, The Conversation, CC BY

    Every now and then, so-called “code wars” erupt between the major Australia winter football codes: the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Australian Football League (AFL).

    This animosity likely stems from a phenomenon known as “the Barassi Line”, a cultural and geographical divide based on football preference which runs from Eden, NSW, through Canberra and up to Arnhem Land.



    Read more:
    The Barassi Line: a globally unique divider splitting Australia’s footy fans

    Recently, NRL chair Peter V’Landys claimed victory over the AFL in a strongly worded salvo:

    Rugby league has reaffirmed its standing as the No. 1 sporting code in Australia and the Pacific after the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced record-breaking attendances, TV audiences, participation, revenue and assets.

    But is he right to state the NRL as Australia’s No. 1 sport?

    A uniquely Australian battle

    The battleground in Australia is unique: most nations have only one major football code, soccer. Australia though has four – Australian rules football (AFL), rugby league (NRL), soccer and rugby union.

    More competition is good for the consumer and, in this case, the consumer is the Aussie sports fan.

    The way these fans watch, play and pour money into each sport is closely tracked by each league. And the competition for talent, fans, sponsors and eyeballs via TV, digital media and streaming grows every year.

    Thanks to Australian sports media experts SportsIndustryAU, we can now make a direct comparison between the codes.

    What the numbers say

    It’s important to note the NRL’s recent chest-beating refers to audiences in Australia and the Pacific, explaining the code’s push into Papua New Guinea (PNG) and potentially further expansion in New Zealand.



    Read more:
    Sports diplomacy: why the Australian government is spending $600 million on a new NRL team in PNG

    In terms of revenue, the AFL earned 39% more than the NRL in 2024: $1.04 billion compared to the NRL’s $744.8 million.

    In terms of profit, the NRL’s was 51% higher than the AFL in 2024. This was in large part due to the NRL having only half the operational expenses of the AFL.

    However, if we look at operating profit (gross profit minus operating expenses), the AFL was 13% higher than the NRL before it made its annual distributions to clubs. The AFL distributes its profits among its 18 clubs, with smaller clubs receiving more than the more powerful teams.

    In terms of net assets (the value of an organisation’s assets minus its liabilities), the AFL is also richer: it has net assets of $482.3 million compared to $322.4 million for the NRL. The AFL owns Marvel Stadium and a share in the sports data and analytics company Champion Data. By comparison, the NRL has shares in many hotels.

    In terms of TV audience, the NRL was 10% larger in terms of average aggregated audiences for free-to-air and paid subscription services in 2024: 153.7 million to the AFL’s 140.3 million. However, AFL matches go longer and the season features more games than the NRL. Also, these figures do not include streaming numbers, which will be part of future broadcast deals.

    In terms of attendance and membership, the AFL is a clear winner.

    The AFL welcomed 8.4 million fans through the gate in 2024, compared to 4.3 million for the NRL.

    For membership, the AFL’s clubs boasted 1.32 million collectively in 2024. In the NRL, there are slightly more than 400,000 club members (based on club data – the NRL does not release membership data).

    In terms of participation, Ausplay – a national tracking survey led by the Australian Sports Commission – estimates 641,390 Aussie rules players, compared to 531,323 for rugby league (which includes touch football and Oztag).

    No clear-cut answer

    While more of the numbers point to an AFL advantage, this heavyweight battle will never be completely settled, and both codes’ future expansion plans will further muddy the waters.

    The NRL has just announced the Perth Bears will join in 2027 or 2028. This team revives the old North Sydney Bears with a new Western Australia base. This will bring the number of NRL clubs to 19.

    A possible 20th team is slated for New Zealand, or Ipswich in the western Brisbane corridor.

    Similarly, the AFL is expanding, first to Tasmania, which is set to become its 19th club in 2028.

    Beyond that, it’s possible the league will look to the Northern Territory, Canberra or another team in Western Australia or South Australia to join as the 20th team.

    One key advantage for the NRL is its international appeal.

    For two years, it has hosted games in Las Vegas. And after the NRL’s successful Magic Round in Brisbane, CEO Andrew Abdo floated the possibility of taking the event overseas, with Hong Kong and Dubai reportedly expressing interest.

    Of course, as a domestic game, Australian rules football cannot logically expand beyond our shores.

    But whether beyond our boundaries or within, the NRL vs AFL rivalry will continue, and an unequivocal winner will never really be settled on.

    Tim Harcourt 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. Footy’s ‘code wars’ are back, but which is actually the No. 1 Australian sport: the NRL or AFL? – https://theconversation.com/footys-code-wars-are-back-but-which-is-actually-the-no-1-australian-sport-the-nrl-or-afl-256088

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Jaishankar speaks to Egyptian FM, reaffirms ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    xternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received a call from Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday, during which the two leaders discussed recent developments amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

    Jaishankar underlined the importance of “zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” The conversation also covered opportunities for economic cooperation between India and Egypt.

    “Received a call from FM Badr Abdelatty of Egypt. Apprised him of recent developments and emphasized the importance of zero tolerance for terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Discussed economic cooperation prospects between India and Egypt. Look forward to welcoming him in India,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

    Meanwhile, hours after Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement between the two nations, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the breach was a serious setback to the understanding reached, and India takes “very serious note of these violations.”

    Misri added that India’s Armed Forces have been instructed to respond firmly to any future violations, whether along the International Border or the Line of Control (LoC).

    Following the violation, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s unwavering stance on terrorism. “India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on the stoppage of firing and military action. India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so,” he said in a post on X.

    ANI

  • Over 100 terrorists killed in Pakistan terror hubs during Operation Sindoor: DGMO Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ore than 100 terrorists, including those linked to the 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, were killed in precision strikes conducted by Indian armed forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajeev Ghai said on Sunday.

    Addressing a press conference in the capital, Lt Gen Ghai said the operation was conceived with a clear military objective: to target the perpetrators and planners of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.

    “Operation Sindoor was conceptualised with a clear military aim—to punish the perpetrators and planners of terror and to destroy their infrastructure. What I will not reiterate here is India’s established resolve and intolerance for terrorism,” he said.

    Among those killed were high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed. According to officials, these individuals were directly involved in the hijacking of IC-814 and the Pulwama suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

    “Strikes across nine identified terror hubs eliminated more than 100 terrorists. Some of these locations were actively being used as launch pads and training centres,” Ghai said.

    He also confirmed that the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy played significant roles in executing the strikes. “The Air Force engaged several camps with precision targeting, and the Navy provided advanced munitions. The IAF maintained air dominance during the operations,” he added.

    In response to the strikes, Pakistani forces violated the Line of Control (LoC), leading to retaliatory engagements. Ghai described Pakistan’s reaction as “erratic and rattled”, pointing out that several civilian areas, including villages and religious sites such as gurdwaras, were hit during their response, resulting in civilian casualties.

    Ghai said the Pahalgam attack, along with a string of recent terror strikes, was a tipping point. “The brutal killing of 26 innocent civilians at Pahalgam on April 22, coupled with other attacks on our forces and defenceless civilians, made it imperative for India to respond decisively,” he said.

    Post-strike surveillance indicated that several terror hubs had been vacated in anticipation of Indian retaliation. “We undertook a thorough assessment of the terror infrastructure across the border. Many of these sites had been pre-emptively abandoned, likely fearing retribution,” he said.

    The government has not released an official count of casualties on the Pakistani side, reiterating that the mission’s objective was not body count but the neutralisation of terror networks.

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pope Leo XIV’s recent predecessors at the Vatican defended migrants. Will he do the same?

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Speranta Dumitru, Maitre de Conférences, Université Paris Cité

    Political language is sometimes used to describe the orientations of the Vatican. When the late Pope Francis defended migrants, it was suggested that he was a “left-wing” pope. Today, people are wondering whether Pope Leo XIV will adopt a “progressive” path or, on the contrary, a philosophy on immigration different from that of Francis.

    To answer this question, it is helpful to look at what successive popes have said about welcoming foreigners. We can see that they have defended not only migrants but also a right of immigration. Their approach has been universalist and it rejected all discrimination. Could it change?

    Supporting the right of immigration

    During the period between the second world war and the election of Leo XIV, the Vatican had six popes. The first, Pius XII (1939-1958), seems to have been more in favour of immigration than the United Nations. In 1948, when the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emigration was enshrined as a fundamental right: “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own.”

    This wording does not mention the right to enter a country that is not one’s own, and Pius XII called this vagueness into question. In his 1952 Christmas message, he argued that it resulted in a situation in which “the natural right of every person not to be prevented from emigrating or immigrating is practically annulled, under the pretext of a falsely understood common good”.

    Pius XII believed that immigration was a natural right, but linked it to poverty. He therefore asked governments to facilitate the migration of workers and their families to “regions where they could more easily find the food they needed”. He deplored the “mechanisation of minds” and called for a softening “in politics and economics, of the rigidity of the old framework of geographical boundaries”.

    In the Apostolic Constitution on the Exiled Family, also in 1952, he wrote about why migration was essential for the Church.

    Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) extended this argument in two encyclicals: Mater et magistra in 1961 and Pacem in terris in 1963. Whereas Pius XII had thought that the natural right to emigrate only applied to people in need, John XXIII included everyone: “among man’s personal rights we must include his right to enter a country in which he hopes to be able to provide more fittingly for himself and his dependents” (Pacem in terris 106).

    A refusal of discrimination

    For Paul VI (1963-1978), the Christian duty to serve migrant workers must be fulfilled without discrimination. In a 1965 encyclical, he maintained that “a special obligation binds us to make ourselves the neighbour of every person without exception and of actively helping him when he comes across our path, whether he be an old person abandoned by all, a foreign labourer unjustly looked down upon, a refugee… ” He also stated the requirement “to assist migrants and their families” (Gaudium et spes).

    John Paul II (1978-2005) made numerous statements in favour of immigration. For example, his speech for World Migration Day in 1995 was devoted to undocumented migrants. He wrote: “The Church considers the problem of illegal migrants from the standpoint of Christ, who died to gather together the dispersed children of God (cf Jn 11:52), to rehabilitate the marginalized and to bring close those who are distant, in order to integrate all within a communion that is not based on ethnic, cultural or social membership.”

    Benedict XVI (2005-2013) acknowledged the “feminization of migration” and the fact that”female emigration tends to become more and more autonomous. Women cross the border of their homeland alone in search of work in another country.“ (Message, 2006)

    Welcoming the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, he recalled: “The Church encourages the ratification of the international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families” (Message 2007).

    Pope Francis (2013-2025) embraced this globally inclusive tradition. His encyclical on “Fraternity and Social Friendship” calls for “recognizing that all people are our brothers and sisters, and seeking forms of social friendship that include everyone” (Fratelli tutti, 2020).

    He insisted that “for a healthy relationship between love of one’s native land and a sound sense of belonging to our larger human family, it is helpful to keep in mind that global society is not the sum total of different countries, but rather the communion that exists among them” (Fratelli tutti, 2020).

    On the question of migration, Francis maintained that “our response to the arrival of migrating persons can be summarized by four words: welcome, protect, promote and integrate” (Fratelli tutti, 2020).

    Not a political preference

    It appears that the pontificate of Leo XIV will reflect a similar commitment. However, this cannot be explained by political preference, or by personal and family history (the US-born pope is the grandson of immigrants and became a naturalized citizen of Peru). Popes do not defend immigrants because they are left-wing or progressive, but because they are at the head of an institution whose raison d’être is “to act in continuity with the mission of Christ”.

    For Christians, welcoming foreigners is meant to be a fundamental duty, a condition of salvation. In the gospel, Matthew has Jesus say that this is one of the criteria for the Last Judgement. Those who welcome the stranger will receive the kingdom of God “as an inheritance”. Others will receive eternal punishment: “For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me” (Matthew, 25:42-43).

    The stranger is at the heart of the New Testament revolution. Of course, the imperatives of hospitality are found in both the Old and New Testaments. It is a hospitality that is demanding (“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” [Leviticus 19:34]) and unconditional (“Show hospitality without complaining” [Peter 4:9]).

    But the New Testament revolution endows Christianity with a universal aspiration: human beings, by virtue of their origin, all become brothers. Belonging to Christianity itself is reflected by faith in this universality: “We know that we love the children of God when we love God” [John 5:2]. With this message, Christianity blurs the distinction between strangers and relatives: “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household” [Ephesians 2:19].

    According to the Letter to Diognetus, this is what makes Christians unique: “They reside each in his own country, but as dwelling strangers. Every foreign land is a homeland to them, and every homeland is a foreign land to them.”

    In his very first homily, Leo XIV suggested that the Christian faith might seem “absurd, reserved for the weak or the less intelligent”. But the institution of which he declared himself a “faithful administrator” has been preaching “universal mercy” for over 2,000 years.

    Les auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Pope Leo XIV’s recent predecessors at the Vatican defended migrants. Will he do the same? – https://theconversation.com/pope-leo-xivs-recent-predecessors-at-the-vatican-defended-migrants-will-he-do-the-same-256377

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 Presidency: Africa is ready

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa’s Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) is a “defining moment” not only for the country but for the entire African continent.

    This is according to Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, who was delivering remarks during the opening of the second G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday.

    “South Africa’s very proud to host the G20 for the first time on African soil. It’s a defining moment for South Africa and for the rest of the continent because the G20 nations represent 85% of the globally economy, 75% of international trade and 67% of the world’s population.

    “In partnership with the African Union, we will provide a vital voice in global discussions, especially concerning issues affecting developing nations on the continent. Now, we do not take this responsibility lightly because we need to highlight Africa’s developmental agenda and promote equity in global governance,” she said.

    De Lille highlighted that South Africa’s theme for its Presidency – Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability – is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future.

    “South Africa’s G20 Presidency highlights our commitment to tourism, innovation, investment and also enhancing air connectivity and developing inclusive and sustainable tourism practises. 

    “So far and for the rest of the year, we will be hosting more than 130 G20 related meetings across our country, providing unparalleled opportunities to showcase our country, our venues, our facilities, [and the] business collaboration because all of this in the end contributes to job creation and also driving investment.

    “This G20 Summit, to us, is more than just an event. It is a statement… that Africa is ready to take its rightful place in the global economic leadership. It also demonstrates our proven ability to host safe, world-class events on this scale in our country,” the Minister said.

    Tourism Working Group

    The Minister reminded meeting delegates of the key deliverables for the working group during their deliberations.

    These include:

    • People-centered artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation to enhance travel and tourism start-ups and SMMEs;
    • Tourism financing and investment to enhance equality and promote sustainable development;
    • Air connectivity for seamless travel, and
    • Enhanced resilience for inclusive and sustainable tourism development.

    “The Tourism Working Group also serves as a forum for the grow and development of sustainable tourism by promoting dialogue, and exchange of knowledge and best practice amongst the G20 members. Let us learn from each other. 

    “There’s not always a need to reinvent the wheel. Let us look at the tried and tested methods, solutions and experience that we find amongst the G20 Member States because sometimes we tend to do things, starting anew. Let us learn from those best practices.

    “And so, as the G20 Tourism Working Group, we must deliver on an action plan. I really look forward to your in-depth discussions for the work of the G20 to reach consensus on what needs to be done and what we need to achieve,” she said.

    In September this year, South Africa will host the G20 Ministers’ Meeting.

    De Lille said one of the main objectives of the meeting will be to discuss how to position tourism as a driver of economic, social and environmental change.

    “[The meeting will also] explore the potential for tourism and travel to support the economic recovery of many countries as well as long-term transformation to a green economy. 

    “We must also better articulate and communicate the economic and developmental case for tourism, and [lift] the mainstream travel and tourism sector voice in the global agenda by building a more effective voice for the sector. 

    “We must also mobilise a collective effort amongst us to build a sensible tourism policy framework that will help influence country level and international, economic and development policies,” she said.

    The Minister urged the delegates to come up with solutions that will propel the sector.

    “When we meet again later in September, I really want us to not only say that this is the first time that we are hosting the G20 on African soil. I want us also to say and acknowledge that having had the event here, that we were able to come up with solutions that are moving the tourism sector forward,” De Lille said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa Travel Indaba the ‘pride of African tourism’

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Sunday, May 11, 2025

    Some 1300 exhibitors and 1200 buyers from 55 countries will grace this year’s Africa Travel Indaba.

    The indaba is being hosted in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, under the theme: “Unlimited Africa”. It will kick off on Monday, 12 May.

    Speaking at the second G20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Durban on Sunday, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille described the indaba as the pride of tourism on the continent.

    “In May every year, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal are the host city and province to the biggest showcase of Africa’s tourism excellence. Africa’s Travel Indaba is the pride of African tourism. 

    “This year’s indaba welcomes over 1 300 exhibitors, delegates from 27 African countries, and over 1 200 vetted international buyers from 55 source markets. We are incredibly honoured to welcome new participants from Chad, St Helena, and Burkina Faso, whose presence affirms the indaba’s growing role as a genuinely continental platform,” she said.

    This year’s indaba will host:

    • Insightful sessions designed to drive the growth of the African tourism sector forward;
    • Opportunities to forge new and sustained partnerships through the various networking sessions;
    • Updates on South Africa’s global tourism marketing strategies;
    • A deeper focus on the economic significance and impact of the tourism industry, and
    • An overall showcase of the greater African tourism sector at work.

    Last year, the indaba proved an economic success for KwaZulu-Natal.

    “Africa’s Travel Indaba generated R226 million in direct economic activity in Durban and an additional R333 million across the KwaZulu-Natal province. 

    “More than 1 000 jobs were created through the event, and 120 tourism Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises were given a platform to engage with global buyers and media through the Department of Tourism’s Market Access Support Programme,” De Lille highlighted. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Omotoso faces contravention of Immigration Act charges

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Sunday, May 11, 2025

    The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed the arrest of controversial televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, in East London on Saturday.

    This after Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, were acquitted by the Gqeberha High Court of 32 serious charges, including allegations of rape, racketeering and human trafficking.

    “[Omotoso’s] arrest follows the decision of the Minister of Home Affairs [Leon Schreiber] to reject the application submitted by Omotoso in terms of section 8(7) of the Immigration Act, which sought to overturn the earlier decision of the Department of Home Affairs to declare Omotoso as a prohibited person,” the department said in a statement.

    The move means Omotoso is in South Africa illegally and is subject to deportation.

    “Omotoso earlier challenged his status as a prohibited person in court, and the court held that his status should be remitted back to the department for reconsideration. After carefully reconsidering the matter, the Minister upheld the decision to declare Omotoso as a prohibited person. 

    “In order to ensure compliance with the laws of the Republic, Omotoso is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, 12 May 2025, on charges of contravening provisions of the Immigration Act.

    “The Department of Home Affairs continues to be guided by our unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law without fear or favour,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government-Business Partnership focuses on jobs, economic growth

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Government and Business Partnership has committed to working closely over the next three months to accelerate the implementation of key reforms and priority initiatives aimed at driving economic growth and job creation.

    In a statement from the Presidency following a meeting of the partnership, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the need for expediting reforms and performance improvement was underscored. 

    “[This] is crucial to reducing the possible negative impact of the complex global and domestic environment, which continues to present substantial challenges and uncertainty.

    “GDP growth projections for 2025 have been revised down, and current forecasts remain far below the minimum 3% required to create the level of jobs needed to make an impact on the country’s high levels of unemployment,” the statement read.

    The Presidency highlighted that the strength of the Government-Business Partnership has given rise to the unlocking of “many constraints that undermine growth and job creation”.

    “While there is much to improve, the dedication and commitment from both government and business remains undiminished. The pace of our work must increase to match the scale of the challenge,” President Ramaphosa said.
     

    PHOTOS | Government-Business Partnership meeting

    Adrian Gore, BUSA Vice President and business co-convenor of the partnership, said: “We are entering this accelerated execution sprint with a real sense of urgency.

    “Progress has been made, but it’s not enough. This requires a step change in the pace of decision making and execution. 

    “We need to redouble our collective efforts to help shift the country onto a sustained upward trajectory and deliver on our shared ambition of a virtuous cycle of growth, jobs, a more positive narrative and increased investment.”

    Improving Eskom’s performance will remain in focus, while work at Transnet is aimed at increasing exports and revenue collection to support employment growth and the economy.

    “Important progress has been made to lay the groundwork for sustained accelerated action, including the finalisation of the Transnet Network Statement, the launch of a Request for Information to attract private investment in port and rail infrastructure, and NERSA’s approval of electricity wheeling regulations.

    “These reforms enable broader private sector participation in energy and transportation and logistics. Both the crime and corruption and the youth employment focal areas are largely tracking against their plans, which have a longer-term time horizon,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa engages USA on resettlement concerns

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has engaged its United States of America (USA) counterparts on the resettlement of South Africans claiming refugee status in that country.

    This follows reports that the US is preparing to fly at least 50 Afrikaaner South Africans to the US as early as this coming week.

    In a statement, DIRCO revealed that Deputy Minister Alvin Botes on Friday held a cordial discussion and raised concern with US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, in this regard.

    DIRCO noted the internationally recognised definition of refugees, as set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

    “The Convention defines a refugee as someone with a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. 

    “South Africa acknowledges that the determination of refugee status requires a factual assessment in light of the prevailing circumstances, having due regard for both subjective and objective factors,” the statement read.

    The department maintained that “allegations of discrimination are unfounded” in this particular regard.

    “The South African Police Service (SAPS) statistics on farm related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race. There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. 

    “Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law,” DIRCO said.

    The department said it was “most regrettable” that it appears that the resettlement, under the guise of being “refugees”, is “entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy”.

    “[South Africa is] a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again, including through the entrenchment of rights in our Constitution, which is enforced vigorously through our judicial system. 

    “In addition, it is not clear how the principle of non-refoulement will be applied in relation to these citizens once they are resettled,” DIRCO said.

    South Africa’s Constitution strictly prohibits any form of discrimination, directly or indirectly, against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

    “Through progressive judgements from the South African courts, particularly the Constitutional Court, our State has demonstrated a principled commitment to protect minorities and vulnerable groups. This shows the extent to which South Africa is working towards a country in which every citizen is free and protected,” the department said.

    Through diplomatic channels, DIRCO has requested the following information:

    • The status of persons that will be departing, whether as asylum seekers, refugees or ordinary citizens, and
    • Assurances as to whether the persons have been appropriately vetted by competent South African authorities to ensure that they do not have any outstanding criminal cases pending against them, amongst others.

    “Whilst South Africa challenges the United States’ assessments of alleged refugee status, it will not block citizens who seek to depart the country from doing so, as it also observes their right of freedom of movement and freedom of choice, specifically the right to leave the country, as contained in section 21(2) of the Constitution. 

    “However, it is essential that in doing so, South Africa ensures that it is compliant with other domestic laws and prescripts.

    “The Government of South Africa remains dedicated to constructive dialogue with United States of America, anchored in mutual respect for sovereignty, the rule of law, and a shared commitment to deepening mutually beneficial bilateral partnership,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Restrict animal movement as Foot and Mouth Disease spreads

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Agriculture has urged all farmers to limit or eliminate the movement of animals in the country following the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

    The disease was first reported in KwaZulu-Natal.

    “Two new cases, outside of KZN, have been confirmed. One farm in Mpumalanga, which was identified as part of trace-forward exercises, from a positive auction in Utrecht, KwaZulu Natal. Although these animals showed no clinical signs of disease, further investigation has confirmed that the virus has spread to adjacent camps on the same farm. There are no indications that other farms have become infected, but veterinary services are continuing with clinical inspection and testing of livestock on farms in the area. 

    “Another farm was reported in Gauteng. Clinical signs suspicious of FMD were noted in a feedlot that received animals from an auction in Heidelberg. Samples were collected and prioritised for testing. Laboratory results for these samples are positive and confirmed that this is the same virus that is circulating in parts of KwaZulu-Natal,” the department said.

    An epidemiological investigation is underway to “trace back and trace forward all other animals that were bought and sold at the same auction”.

    As a result of the outbreak, China has now suspended South African imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products, including beef.

    Caution to livestock owners and traders

    The department has called on livestock owners to note the incubation period for FMD.

    “This is a period of two to14 days, within which animals can appear clinically healthy, before they start showing clinical signs generally associated with FMD. 

    “This highlights the importance of keeping newly bought animals separated from the resident herd for at least 28 days, even if a health attestation was issued for the animals. The health attestation and 28-day separation have been a legal requirement since October 2022.

    “The department urges all livestock farmers in the whole country to limit animal movement as far as possible. We request auctioneers and livestock owners to be vigilant when buying cloven hoofed animals from provinces where there are active FMD outbreaks. No cloven-hoofed animals should be accepted from areas under restriction for FMD in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga,” the department said.

    Furthermore, it remains the legal obligation of livestock owners to ensure the health of their animals.

    Adverse health symptoms must be reported to the local State Veterinarian immediately.

    “Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act imposes a legal duty on any owner or manager of animals to take all reasonable steps to prevent their animals from becoming infected with any disease and to prevent the spread of any disease from their animals or land to other animals or other properties.

    “Essential biosecurity measures include limiting and/or postponing the introduction of new animals if at all possible and, if absolutely necessary, only introducing animals from known clean farms with a health declaration, preventing nose-to-nose contact of farm animals with animals outside the farm, maintaining secure farm boundaries, restricting access for people and vehicles as much as possible,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police keep fans safe at Soweto Derby

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Sunday, May 11, 2025

    At least five people have been arrested for different infringements during safety operations at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) where the Nedbank Cup Final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates was held.

    Leading up to the match, security concerns were raised after reports that some fans without tickets would attempt to storm the stadium.

    “The planning team put the necessary deployments in place, and the execution of such plans was second to none. On the day of the match, five suspects were arrested for different infringements of the law. 

    “Two suspects were arrested for unauthorised sale of matchday tickets; two more suspects were arrested for pitch invasion, which is in contravention of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act (Act No.2 of 2010), and one suspect was nabbed for an authorised flying of a drone within the perimeters of the stadium. Once processed, the suspects will face the wrath of the law,” police said in a statement.

    KZN Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, praised efforts to keep fans safe at the venue.

    “The province of KwaZulu-Natal is capable of safeguarding residents, visitors and tourists. For a major event of the calibre of the Soweto Derby to reach its conclusion without any major security concerns is proof enough that police in KwaZulu-Natal, working together with other law enforcement agencies, are up to the task of providing safety and security. 

    “I would like to show appreciation to football fans who respected law enforcement officers both on the roads and at the stadium. Real football lovers ignored a call by rogue elements, who wanted to create chaos around the match. Intelligence officers will continue to search for those who were instigating violence so that the law may take its cause”, Mkhwanazi said. – SAnews.gov.za   

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nine killed in Empangeni crash

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Sunday, May 11, 2025

    Some nine people have died in KwaZulu-Natal following a crash between a truck and a passenger van. 

    The crash occurred early on Sunday morning in Empangeni.

    KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma described the incident as “horrific”.

    “On this Mother’s Day, around 06h47, I received a report from our highly dedicated team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) informing me about a horrific accident that claimed the lives of nine people, mostly mothers.

    “According to a preliminary report, this accident, which happened along the N2 northbound after Mthunzini Toll Plaza, involved a tow truck and a Hyundai H-1, which was transporting 24 members of the Zion Christian Church,” Duma said.

    The members were travelling to Dukuduku in Umtubatuba.

    “We have been informed by the RTI and emergency rescue services that a tow truck struck the rear end of the Hyundai H-1, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. Those who were injured have been taken to hospitals and we wish them a speedy recovery.

    “Equally, we express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the church,” Duma said.

    A team has also been assembled to “liaise with the church and families during this difficult period”.

    “I have also mandated the RTI to immediately keep in touch with the Road Traffic Management Corporation to ensure that an investigation is conducted around this horrific accident.

    “We will be updating the people of KwaZulu-Natal as we move forward,” Duma said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to visit Côte d’Ivoire

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a working visit to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

    The President will be accompanied by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

    According to the Presidency, the visit centres on the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum, scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday.

    The forum serves as a platform for multinational CEOs on the continent, investors and government leaders to gather and conduct high-level meetings on innovation and business ideas.

    An Invest South Africa session will also be held on the sidelines of the forum.

    “The theme of this year’s session is: ‘Can a New Deal between State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?’. This theme resonates with the current priorities of the African continent, which seek to promote closer cooperation between the private sector and public sector in infrastructure and industrial development.

    “The President’s participation at the Africa CEO Forum will provide South Africa with an opportunity to consolidate its position as one of the leading investment destinations on the continent. Importantly, South Africa’s G20 Presidency will further enhance the country’s visibility at the forum,” the Presidency said.

    The visit to Côte d’Ivoire will also serve to strengthen the already existing bilateral relations between the two nations.

    READ | West Africa tour beneficial to SA: President Ramaphosa

    “In recent years, the two countries have consolidated their bilateral cooperation and intensified the exchange of high-level visits. In December 2021, President Ramaphosa undertook a successful high-level State Visit to Côte d’Ivoire. The following year, in July 2022, President Ouattara reciprocated by undertaking a State Visit to South Africa.

    “Several key South African companies have invested in Côte d’Ivoire, including MTN, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Nedbank, Debonairs Pizza, Stanbic, Investec, Rand Merchant Bank, Absa, Multichoice, Sanlam, Solenta Aviation and Carrick Wealth,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 2025 Child Protection Month: Let’s root out child abuse together

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Social Development (DSD) has launched a nationwide child protection programme to combat child abuse, following alarming statistics revealing that more than 26 000 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in the 2024/25 financial year.

    DSD Minister Sisisi Tolashe launched the 2025 Child Protection Month and 365 Days child protection programme, aimed at curbing violence against children, in Thaba Nchu in the Free State on Sunday afternoon.

    “This is the continuation of the work done in previous years, however with vigour and a sense of urgency to upscale interventions directed at ending violence against children, as our children are under siege, confronted with high levels of violence, despite progressive laws in place to protect them.

    “As a country, we have made strides, putting various measures in place such as child protection laws, policies, strategies and programmes to ensure the protection of children from abuse; however, our children continue to experience violence,” Tolashe said in written remarks for the occasion.

    The Minister revealed worrying statistics of child abuse, including that some 26 852 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in the 2024/25 financial year.

    “Cases of sexual abuse remained dominant in all provinces, with 9 859 cases throughout the country. Deliberate neglect is the second most prevalent in all provinces, with 9 485 cases, followed by physical abuse, with 3965 recorded cases and 595 cases of abandonment. 

    “Children falling pregnant as young as 10 to 14 years old is a concern and shows the deep-rooted evil against children, who are sexually abused and sexually exploited,” Tolashe said.

    All hands of deck

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly called child abuse and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) South Africa’s “second pandemic”.

    The President has also reiterated government’s commitment to rooting it out. He has called on Cabinet to develop and implement a 90-day strategy with impactful programmes to address this sustained violence.

    “In response to the President’s directive to Cabinet, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster Ministers and senior officials convened a special sitting on the 14th of April 2025. This urgent meeting was convened in response to the alarming surge in GBVF incidents across the country.

    “It culminated in the adoption of a 90-day acceleration programme to intensify the national response and fast track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. A dedicated GBVF priority committee has been established within the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure,” Tolashe said.

    On a global scale, South Africa has also lent its voice to movements against child abuse.

    Last year at the Global Ministerial Conference in Colombia, South Africa pledged to, in relation to ending violence against children:

    • Parent and caregiver support: Building capacity of parents and caregivers through parenting programmes and ensuring that the home environment is safe for children to help reduce the incidence of child abuse, neglect and exploitation, and stop the use of corporal and physical punishment.
    • Safe environments: Creating safety at home, schools and communities, including safety in digital platforms.
    • Child participation: Advocacy on children’s rights and engaging children in empowerment dialogues.
    • Response care, support and healing:  Promotion of availability and accessibility of psycho-social support, trauma counselling, and raising awareness about available services.
    • Norms and values: Implement social and behaviour change programmes to instil positive norms and values, and working with traditional and religious leaders to address harmful cultural practices and patriarchal norms that normalise the abuse of children.
    • Collaboration and coordination with the African Union: Strengthen collaboration with SADC and the African Union in strengthening child protection systems and creating a better continent that safeguards the well-being of children.
    • Income and economic strengthening: Increase access to the Child Support Grant to reach all vulnerable children in South Africa, and working with Home Affairs to upscale birth registration to enable access to social security and the basket of social protection measures in place to cushion children.

    “Implementing the above-mentioned breakthrough areas will ensure that we address the contributory factors to the high levels of violence against children, preventing its occurrence, whilst also responding to victims of violence,” Tolashe said.

    The Minister emphasised, however, that government cannot root out the scourge on its own and requires citizen participation.

    “[Government] alone cannot succeed in dealing with this monster that we are faced with, hence we appeal to parents, community, religious and traditional leaders to work closer in addressing social ills, harmful social, cultural and religious practices that are detrimental to the well-being of children, and change societal norms and values that perpetuate violence against children.

    “I urge that we continue to scale up interventions at local ward level with all hands on deck to end violence against children, promote care and the protection of children, with a focus on changing societal norms and values that perpetuate violence against children,” Tolashe said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How AI could help safeguard Indigenous languages

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anna Luisa Daigneault, PhD Student in Linguistic Anthropology, Université de Montréal

    If there are few speakers left of a language, how does a community revive it? In our current era, 3,000 languages are at risk of extinction due to the pressures of colonization, globalization, forced cultural assimilation, environmental devastation and other factors.

    According to Canada’s Commission for Indigenous Languages, “research shows that no Indigenous language in Canada is safe and that all are in varying stages of endangerment.”

    Our society is also being shaped by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Can AI be used for the benefit of Indigenous language survival in Canada and elsewhere?

    According to the World Economic Forum, most AI chatbots are trained on 100 of the world’s 7,000 languages. English is the main driver of most large language models.

    This scenario leaves the bulk of the world’s languages in the dust. In the coming years, will AI contribute to language revitalization, or language oppression?

    A language in a box

    In a 2023 TEDx talk, Northern Cheyenne computer engineer Michael Running Wolf shared his design of a cedar box that looks both ancient and contemporary. He described the dragonfly-adorned device as a “cedar-enclosed, offline Edge AI that contains the inner workings of a minimal voice-based language curricula — in other words, a language in a box.”

    He proposed that conversational AI technology, much like Amazon Alexa or Google Home, could help language learners improve their fluency.

    Running Wolf is the technical director of the First Languages AI Reality initiative at the Québec Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The program propels Indigenous scholars and technologists towards creating innovative solutions regarding language loss.

    A TEDx Talk by Michael Running Wolf on how AI can assist Indigenous langauge learning.

    Voice-controlled tools trained via machine learning could serve as AI assistants for speakers who wish to hear unfamiliar sounds pronounced accurately, and practice their own pronunciation. This technology could establish a new means for facilitating oral transmission, which is crucial when there are few fluent speakers left.

    At the heart of Running Wolf’s project is Indigenous data sovereignty, which ensures that Indigenous people retain control over their data.

    A place in the digital world

    Around the world in the Philippines, AI scholar and politician Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo is on a quest to support the Indigenous languages of her home country. She created NightOwlGPT, a new AI-powered translation app.

    In an email to me, Lamentillo wrote:

    “In the Philippines alone, we are working on nine languages, many of which are endangered. Our goal is to ensure that these languages — not just the dominant ones — have a place in the digital world.”

    NightOwlGPT creator Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo.
    (Arwin Doloricon)

    We have seen that in the hands of the powerful, AI software can lead to oppressive forms of control, such as excessive AI-powered surveillance by Amazon and the U.S. government’s unethical data mining tactics.

    When it comes to the survival or extinction of languages, it is important to question the power behind AI tools. Who controls them, and who benefits from them?

    When I asked about the democratization of AI, Lamentillo noted the need for inclusivity:

    “AI’s rapid advancement could parallel historical patterns of colonization. If AI is truly a black swan event — a disruptive moment in history — then what happens when 99 per cent of languages are left behind? This is more than just a linguistic issue; it’s a serious matter of accessibility, representation and digital equity.

    If we don’t change who is leading AI development, we risk creating a new form of colonization — one where only a small fraction of the world has the tools to thrive.”

    Diversity of voices

    Linguistics professor Emmanuel Ngué Um.
    (Emmanuel Ngué Um)

    At a recent workshop series on endangered languages, Emmanuel Ngué Um, a professor of linguistics at the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon, spoke on behalf of a research team of African linguists.

    They are currently using Mozilla’s Common Voice platform to create open-source datasets containing thousands of words and audio recordings in 31 African languages.

    The platform aims to make speech recognition and voice-based AI more inclusive by crowd-sourcing a massively multilingual speech corpus. But this process is not without significant challenges in Africa.

    Ngué Um noted that building datasets for languages with many dialects is not straightforward. There may not be a standardized spelling or pronunciation that should be used by AI as the accepted norms for the language.

    Because of postcolonial changes, many African languages do not have one unified or agreed-upon writing system. This issue can slow the creation of teaching tools, but many local efforts backed by UNESCO are underway to change this.

    So, how do automatic speech recognition tools deal with dialectical diversity? And how do text-to-speech models handle competing writing systems?

    As Ngué Um wrote in an email to me:

    “AI has been instrumental in delivering services that applied linguists have promised but are slow to deliver. This is not due to a lack of will or means on the part of linguists, but rather, because of the linguistic reality in Africa.

    Despite the impact of colonization and the imposition of a monolithic ideal on language reality, Africa reflects the plurality, fluidity and resourcefulness that drive human communication…If AI is informed by these intricacies at all phases of its implementation, it will adequately address the diversity of voices…in Africa.”

    It is clear that AI engineers and computational linguists need to integrate thoughtful approaches that take into account unique circumstances of languages.

    In the not-too-distant future, using AI tools to learn and communicate in under-resourced languages may become the norm. However, that shift depends on financial backing, accurate training data for machine learning, and community desire to embrace AI. Ultimately, data sovereignty and equitable access must be at the core of AI tools.

    Anna Luisa Daigneault volunteers for Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, a non-profit organization whose work is not connected to contents of this article.

    – ref. How AI could help safeguard Indigenous languages – https://theconversation.com/how-ai-could-help-safeguard-indigenous-languages-255359

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth over $1.1 million at airport (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth over $1.1 million at airport (with photo) 
    A 30-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Entebbe, Uganda via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in 7 pieces of cardboard inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
     
    After an investigation, the arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 12).
     
    Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
     
    Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:42

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Empowerment of Women Working Group 2nd Technical Meeting

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

    Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga addresses the Women Empowerment Working Group 2nd Technical meeting, Sun City, North West, 08 May 2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ2dKIql9NI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Global: G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    The G20 claims to be “the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

    But is it?

    As scholars of global economic governance, we are sceptical of this claim. Here are our main reasons.

    • The G20 is insufficiently representative of the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the small number of non-member states.

    • It is a self-selected group of 19 countries and the European and African Unions.

    • It has no mandate to act or speak on behalf of the international community.

    • It has no transparent or formal mechanisms through which it can communicate with actors who do not participate in the G20 but have a stake in its deliberations and their outcomes.

    The growing tensions in the world make it more urgent to improve the efficacy of the G20. Firstly, because there is growing evidence of the loss of interest in global cooperation. Secondly, because rich states are cutting their official development assistance and are failing to meet their commitments to help countries deal with loss and damage from climate impacts and make their economies more resilient to shocks.

    And thirdly, because rich countries are also reluctant to discuss financing sustainable and inclusive development in forums like the upcoming Fourth Financing for Development Conference or the UN, where all states can participate. They prefer exclusive forums like the G20.

    Here, after briefly describing the structure of the G20, we argue that its lack of representation is a major problem. We offer a solution and argue that, as chair of the G20 this year, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution.

    What is the G20 and how does it function?

    The G20 was established in the late 1990s in the wake of the East Asian financial crisis. Its members were invited by the US and Germany based on a proposal from the Canadian government. Initially only finance ministers and central bank governors of major advanced and emerging economies were involved. After the financial crisis of 2008-2009 it was upgraded to summit level with the same membership.

    A summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating presidency.

    The group accounts for 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade. The membership comprises 19 of the “weightiest” national economies plus the European Union and the African Union. The 19 national economies are the G7 (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada), plus Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. These countries are permanently “in”. The remaining 90% of countries in the world are excluded unless invited as “special guests” on an ad hoc basis.

    Representatives of a select group of international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization also participate, together with those from some UN entities.

    The G20’s work is managed by a troika consisting of the current president with the assistance of the past president and the incoming president. In 2025 this troika consists of South Africa as the current chair, Brazil as the past chair and the US, which will become the G20 president in 2026. The G20 has no permanent secretariat.

    The consistency in G20 membership has proven to be an advantage because it helps foster a sense of familiarity, understanding and trust at the technical level among the permanent members. This is helpful in times of crisis and in dealing with complex problems.

    But its exclusivity and informal status have limited its ability to address major challenges such as the global response to the economic and health consequences of the COVID pandemic. This is because an effective response required agreement and coordinated action by all states and not just those in the G20.

    A solution

    We think that the governance model of the Financial Stability Board offers a solution.

    The Financial Stability Board was established under the umbrella of the G20 in 2009. Its job is to coordinate international financial regulatory standard-setting, monitor the global financial system for signs of stress, and to make recommendations that can help avert potential financial crises.

    It is also an exclusive club. Its membership consists of the financial regulatory authorities in the G20 countries plus those in a few other countries that are considered financially systemically important.

    However, unlike the G20, the Financial Stability Board has made a systematic effort to learn the views of non-members. It has established six Regional Consultative Groups, one each for the Americas, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

    The objective is to expand and formalise the Financial Stability Board’s outreach activities beyond its membership and to better reflect the global character of the financial system.

    The regional consultative groups operate in a framework which promotes compliance within each region with the Financial Stability Board’s policy initiatives. The framework enables the group members to share among themselves and with the board their views on common problems and solutions and on the issues on the board’s agenda.

    Importantly, each regional group is co-chaired by an official from a Financial Stability Board member and an official from a non-member institution.

    Applying this model to the G20 would allow the current G20 membership to continue, while obliging the members to establish a consultation process with regional neighbours. This would create a limited form of representation for all the world’s states.

    It would also empower the smaller and weaker members of the G20 because it would enable them to speak with more confidence and credibility about the challenges facing their region.

    This arrangement would also establish a limited form of G20 accountability towards the international community.

    Next steps

    As chair of the G20 chair for 2025, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution to the group’s representation problem. It should work with the African Union to establish an African G20 regional consultative group. South Africa and the African Union could invite each African regional organisation to select one representative to serve on the initial consultative group.

    South Africa could also commit to convey the outcomes of G20 regional consultative group meetings to the G20.

    South Africa can then use this example to demonstrate to the G20 the value of having a G20 regional consultative group and advocate that other regions should adopt the same approach.

    Danny Bradlow, in addition to his position at the University of Pretoria, is the Senior G20 Advisor, South African institute of International Affairs.

    Robert Wade 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. G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists – https://theconversation.com/g20-is-too-elite-theres-a-way-to-fix-that-though-economists-255783

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    The G20 claims to be “the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

    But is it?

    As scholars of global economic governance, we are sceptical of this claim. Here are our main reasons.

    • The G20 is insufficiently representative of the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the small number of non-member states.

    • It is a self-selected group of 19 countries and the European and African Unions.

    • It has no mandate to act or speak on behalf of the international community.

    • It has no transparent or formal mechanisms through which it can communicate with actors who do not participate in the G20 but have a stake in its deliberations and their outcomes.

    The growing tensions in the world make it more urgent to improve the efficacy of the G20. Firstly, because there is growing evidence of the loss of interest in global cooperation. Secondly, because rich states are cutting their official development assistance and are failing to meet their commitments to help countries deal with loss and damage from climate impacts and make their economies more resilient to shocks.

    And thirdly, because rich countries are also reluctant to discuss financing sustainable and inclusive development in forums like the upcoming Fourth Financing for Development Conference or the UN, where all states can participate. They prefer exclusive forums like the G20.

    Here, after briefly describing the structure of the G20, we argue that its lack of representation is a major problem. We offer a solution and argue that, as chair of the G20 this year, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution.

    What is the G20 and how does it function?

    The G20 was established in the late 1990s in the wake of the East Asian financial crisis. Its members were invited by the US and Germany based on a proposal from the Canadian government. Initially only finance ministers and central bank governors of major advanced and emerging economies were involved. After the financial crisis of 2008-2009 it was upgraded to summit level with the same membership.

    A summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating presidency.

    The group accounts for 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade. The membership comprises 19 of the “weightiest” national economies plus the European Union and the African Union. The 19 national economies are the G7 (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada), plus Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. These countries are permanently “in”. The remaining 90% of countries in the world are excluded unless invited as “special guests” on an ad hoc basis.

    Representatives of a select group of international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization also participate, together with those from some UN entities.

    The G20’s work is managed by a troika consisting of the current president with the assistance of the past president and the incoming president. In 2025 this troika consists of South Africa as the current chair, Brazil as the past chair and the US, which will become the G20 president in 2026. The G20 has no permanent secretariat.

    The consistency in G20 membership has proven to be an advantage because it helps foster a sense of familiarity, understanding and trust at the technical level among the permanent members. This is helpful in times of crisis and in dealing with complex problems.

    But its exclusivity and informal status have limited its ability to address major challenges such as the global response to the economic and health consequences of the COVID pandemic. This is because an effective response required agreement and coordinated action by all states and not just those in the G20.

    A solution

    We think that the governance model of the Financial Stability Board offers a solution.

    The Financial Stability Board was established under the umbrella of the G20 in 2009. Its job is to coordinate international financial regulatory standard-setting, monitor the global financial system for signs of stress, and to make recommendations that can help avert potential financial crises.

    It is also an exclusive club. Its membership consists of the financial regulatory authorities in the G20 countries plus those in a few other countries that are considered financially systemically important.

    However, unlike the G20, the Financial Stability Board has made a systematic effort to learn the views of non-members. It has established six Regional Consultative Groups, one each for the Americas, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

    The objective is to expand and formalise the Financial Stability Board’s outreach activities beyond its membership and to better reflect the global character of the financial system.

    The regional consultative groups operate in a framework which promotes compliance within each region with the Financial Stability Board’s policy initiatives. The framework enables the group members to share among themselves and with the board their views on common problems and solutions and on the issues on the board’s agenda.

    Importantly, each regional group is co-chaired by an official from a Financial Stability Board member and an official from a non-member institution.

    Applying this model to the G20 would allow the current G20 membership to continue, while obliging the members to establish a consultation process with regional neighbours. This would create a limited form of representation for all the world’s states.

    It would also empower the smaller and weaker members of the G20 because it would enable them to speak with more confidence and credibility about the challenges facing their region.

    This arrangement would also establish a limited form of G20 accountability towards the international community.

    Next steps

    As chair of the G20 chair for 2025, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution to the group’s representation problem. It should work with the African Union to establish an African G20 regional consultative group. South Africa and the African Union could invite each African regional organisation to select one representative to serve on the initial consultative group.

    South Africa could also commit to convey the outcomes of G20 regional consultative group meetings to the G20.

    South Africa can then use this example to demonstrate to the G20 the value of having a G20 regional consultative group and advocate that other regions should adopt the same approach.

    – G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists
    – https://theconversation.com/g20-is-too-elite-theres-a-way-to-fix-that-though-economists-255783

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese men’s 4x400m team breaks national record at 2025 World Athletics Relays

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

    Team China celebrate after the men’s 4x400m relay heat at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 2025 in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, May 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

    Team China set a new national record in the men’s 4x400m in 3 minutes and 1.87 seconds at the 2025 World Athletics Relays on Saturday in rain.

    The competition serves as a main qualification for relay events at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, features 6 events including men’s, women’s and mixed 4x100m and 4x400m. The top 14 teams in each event (except for mixed 4x100m) will earn berths for Tokyo 2025.

    According to the rules, the top 14 teams in men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed 4x400m consist of 8 spots booked Saturday and 6 spots Sunday. In each event, the top 2 teams in each of the 4 heats qualified for the finals and Tokyo 2025, with the remaining teams competing for 6 other spots per event in the second qualification round Sunday.

    The Chinese squad for the men’s 4x400m, composed of rookies Liang Baotang, Li Yiqing, Zhang Qining and Fu Haoran, finished second in Heat 1, breaking the national record, reaching the final and qualifying for Tokyo 2025.

    “My mind was blank when I was running, just to do my best,” said the fourth leg Fu, who caught up to the second place by surpassing a Spainish runner.

    Mixed 4x100m is a newly-introduced event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, yet was not included in Tokyo 2025. In the event’s global debut, Team Canada finished first in qualification with a time of 40.90 seconds. The Chinese quartet of Huang Shuping, Kong Lingyao, Chen Jinfeng and Chen Guanfeng qualified for the final by clocking 41.30 seconds.

    “It’s interesting to mix and mingle boys and girls in 4X100m. We are really excited and happy for the introduction of the event,” said Chen Guanfeng.

    Veteran Xie Zhenye led Team China in men’s 4x100m, and the squad clocked 38.30 seconds to finish third in Heat 4, only 0.005 seconds shy of Team Italy, who finished second in the heat. South Africa and Japan set a new world-leading mark with 37.84 seconds.

    Drama unfolded in the women’s 4x100m as China’s third-leg runner Liang Xiaojing and fourth-leg runner Ge Manqi made a mistake in passing the baton, finishing sixth in the heat.

    Elsewhere, the United States made a world-leading mark of 3 minutes and 11.37 seconds in the mixed 4x400m. Spain set a new women’s 4x100m national record of 42.18 seconds. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Indonesia’s Pacific manoeuvres – money, military, and silencing West Papua

    ANALYSIS: By Ali Mirin

    On April 24, 2025, Indonesia made a masterful geopolitical move. Jakarta granted Fiji US$6 million in financial aid and offered to cooperate with them on military training — a seemingly benign act of diplomacy that conceals a darker purpose.

    This strategic manoeuvre is the latest in Indonesia’s efforts to neutralise Pacific support for the independence movement in West Papua.

    “There’s no need to be burdened by debt,” declared Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during the bilateral meeting at Jakarta’s Merdeka Palace.

    More significantly, he pledged Fiji’s respect for Indonesian sovereignty — diplomatic code for abandoning West Papua’s struggle for self-determination.

    This aligns perfectly with Indonesia’s Law No. 2 of 2023, which established frameworks for defence cooperation, including joint research, technology transfer, and military education, between the two nations.

    This is not merely a partnership — it is ideological assimilation.

    Indonesia’s financial generosity comes with unwritten expectations. By integrating Fijian forces into Indonesian military training programmes, Jakarta aims to export its “anti-separatist” doctrine, which frames Papuan resistance as a “criminal insurgency” rather than legitimate political expression.

    The US $6 million is not aid — it’s a strategic investment in regional complicity.

    Geopolitical chess in a fractured world
    Indonesia’s manoeuvres must be understood in the context of escalating global tensions.

    The rivalry between the US and China has transformed the Indo-Pacific into a strategic battleground, leaving Pacific Island nations caught between competing spheres of influence.

    Although Jakarta is officially “non-aligned,” it is playing both sides to secure its territorial ambitions.

    Its aid to Fiji is one move in a comprehensive regional strategy to diplomatically isolate West Papua.

    Flashback to West Papuan leader Benny Wenda (left) meeting Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva in February 2023 . . . At the time, Rabuka declared: “We will support them [ULMWP] because they are Melanesians.” Image: Fiji govt

    By strengthening economic and military ties with strategically positioned nations, Indonesia is systematically undermining Papuan representation in important forums such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), and the United Nations.

    While the world focuses on superpower competition, Indonesia is quietly strengthening its position on what it considers an internal matter — effectively removing West Papua from international discourse.

    The Russian connection: Shadow alliances
    Another significant yet less examined relationship is Indonesia’s growing partnership with Russia, particularly in defence technology, intelligence sharing, and energy cooperation

    This relationship provides Jakarta with advanced military capabilities and reduces its dependence on Western powers and China.

    Russia’s unwavering support for territorial integrity, as evidenced by its position on Crimea and Ukraine, makes it an ideal partner for Indonesia’s West Papua policy.

    Moscow’s diplomatic support strengthens Jakarta’s argument that “separatist” movements are internal security issues rather than legitimate independence struggles.

    This strategic triangulation — balancing relations with Washington, Beijing, and Moscow– allows Indonesia to pursue regional dominance with minimal international backlash. Each superpower, focused on countering the others’ influence, overlooks Indonesia’s systematic suppression of Papuan self-determination.

    Institutionalising silence: Beyond diplomacy
    The practical consequence of Indonesia’s multidimensional strategy is the diplomatic isolation of West Papua. Historically positioned to advocate for Melanesian solidarity, Fiji now faces economic incentives to remain silent on Indonesian human rights abuses.

    A similar pattern emerges across the Pacific as Jakarta extends these types of arrangements to other regional players.

    It is not just about temporary diplomatic alignment; it is about the structural transformation of regional politics.

    When Pacific nations integrate their security apparatuses with Indonesia’s, they inevitably adopt Jakarta’s security narratives. Resistance movements are labelled “terrorist threats,” independence advocates are branded “destabilising elements,” and human rights concerns are dismissed as “foreign interference”.

    Most alarmingly, military cooperation provides Indonesia with channels to export its counterinsurgency techniques, which are frequently criticised by human rights organisations for their brutality.

    Security forces in the Pacific trained in these approaches may eventually use them against their own Papuan advocacy groups.

    The price of strategic loyalty
    For just US$6 million — a fraction of Indonesia’s defence budget — Jakarta purchases Fiji’s diplomatic loyalty, military alignment, and ideological compliance. This transaction exemplifies how economic incentives increasingly override moral considerations such as human rights, indigenous sovereignty, and decolonisation principles that once defined Pacific regionalism.

    Indonesia’s approach represents a sophisticated evolution in its foreign policy. No longer defensive about West Papua, Jakarta is now aggressively consolidating regional support, methodically closing avenues for international intervention, and systematically delegitimising Papuan voices on the global stage.

    Will the Pacific remember its soul?
    The path ahead for West Papua is becoming increasingly treacherous. Beyond domestic repression, the movement now faces waning international support as economic pragmatism supplants moral principle throughout the Pacific region.

    Unless Pacific nations reconnect with their anti-colonial heritage and the values that secured their independence, West Papua’s struggle risks fading into obscurity, overwhelmed by geopolitical calculations and economic incentives.

    The question facing the Pacific region is not simply about West Papua, but about regional identity itself. Will Pacific nations remain true to their foundational values of indigenous solidarity and decolonisation? Or will they sacrifice these principles on the altar of transactional diplomacy?

    The date April 24, 2025, may one day be remembered not only as the day Indonesia gave Fiji US$6 million but also as the day the Pacific began trading its moral authority for economic expediency, abandoning West Papua to perpetual colonisation in exchange for short-term gains.

    The Pacific is at a crossroads — it can either reclaim its voice or resign itself to becoming a theatre where greater powers dictate the fate of indigenous peoples. For West Papua, everything depends on which path is chosen.

    Ali Mirin is a West Papuan from the Kimyal tribe of the highlands that share a border with the Star Mountain region of Papua New Guinea. He graduated with a Master of Arts in international relations from Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rebuilding Botswana’s Construction Future: African Development Bank bolsters Lobatse Clay Works revival

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 10, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The kilns are firing again—and with them, the economic hopes of a community. In the quiet town of Lobatse, southern Botswana, a decades-old industrial landmark is undergoing a remarkable renaissance. Lobatse Clay Works (LCW), a brick manufacturer that was once the cornerstone of Botswana’s construction industry, has been resurrected owing to a strategic investment from the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org). The financing has transformed not only the company but an entire community.

    “The buildings that shaped modern Botswana will rise again from our clay,” declares Anthony Moepeng, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Lobatse Clay Works.

    Founded in 1992 as a joint venture between Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and American firm Inter-Kiln, Lobatse Clay Works quickly established itself as the nation’s premier maker of bricks. For decades, its distinctive reddish-brown bricks were synonymous with Botswana’s construction boom, during which schools, hospitals, and government buildings all showcased the company’s craftsmanship.

    But in 2017 the company faced a perfect storm of challenges. Aging equipment, production inefficiencies, and rising fuel costs forced the shuttering of the once-thriving operation, leaving the factory idled — stripping the community of both jobs and identity.

    African Development Bank’s Catalytic Investment Powers Revival

    Recognizing Lobatse Clay Works’ potential, the African Development Bank provided a loan facility, in partnership with the Botswana Development Corporation to turn around the company’s fortunes, focusing on technological modernization and operational efficiency.

    The Bank’s investment enabled Lobatse Clay Works to acquire state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment that dramatically improved energy efficiency. A new hybrid fuel system slashed production costs, while enhanced kiln technology boosted output capacity and product quality.

    In 2023, the company, facing supply chain challenges and rising costs, secured an additional 48 million Pula (around $3.5 million) from the African Development Bank — bringing the total financing to 138 million Pula— to keep growth on track.

    This substantial investment enabled the plant to reopen in 2024.

    Beyond Bricks: Building Communities and Futures

    The revitalized facility has already created 148 direct jobs with hundreds more expected in supporting industries from transportation to services.

    The plant’s output of three million bricks per month is high enough to meet domestic construction demand and serve lucrative export markets in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, generating valuable foreign exchange for Botswana’s economy.

    African Development Bank’s Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola, stressed the broader significance of the investment. “This speaks directly to what we do at the African Development Bank. Lobatse is a small town, but almost one hundred percent of the factory workers are from the town. This project delivers on our High 5 development priority of improving the quality of life for Africans.”

    Most significantly, Lobatse Clay Works’s revival aligns perfectly with Botswana’s industrial diversification goal to reduce dependence on diamond revenues by strengthening manufacturing capability.

    “Through the African Development Bank funding, we have been able to commit BWP 4 million towards the refurbishment of the plant,” explains Benedicta Abosi, Acting Managing Director at BDC. “This has enabled us to restart operations and produce enough bricks for expansion opportunities into the region.”

    The company plans to expand from brick manufacturing to include tiles, further cementing its role in Botswana’s construction renaissance and economic diversification efforts.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Drone strike on western Sudan prison kills 19 – sources

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    KHARTOUM, May 10 (Xinhua) — At least 19 prisoners were killed and over 45 others were injured in a drone strike on the central prison in El Obeid town in western Sudan’s North Kordofan state on Saturday, a medical source and eyewitnesses said.

    A source at El Obeid Hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, told Xinhua that the hospital received 19 bodies of dead and 45 wounded, and that “the death toll is expected to rise.”

    An eyewitness who was near the central prison complex told Xinhua that “three drones fired about five missiles at the prison, with about three of them hitting the building and the inmates’ living quarters.”

    Another eyewitness noted: “Rescue operations inside the prison are still ongoing, with the number of dead and injured exceeding the reported figures.”

    There is no official statement regarding the incident at this time.

    Recently, the paramilitary Rapid Reaction Force has stepped up drone attacks on military targets and key infrastructure in areas under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces, including El Obeid. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on India and Pakistan

    Source: United Nations – English

    he Secretary-General welcomes the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan as a positive step toward ending current hostilities and easing tensions. He hopes the agreement will contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries.

    The United Nations stands ready to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

    MIL OSI Africa –