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Category: Africa

  • Israel sends tanks into Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah, raising concerns among hostages’ families

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern areas of the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes some of the remaining hostages may be being held.

    Gaza medics said at least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded in tank shelling that hit eight houses and three mosques in the area, and which came a day after the military ordered residents to leave, saying it planned to fight Hamas militants.

    The raid and bombardment pushed dozens of families who had remained to flee and head west towards the coastal area of Deir Al-Balah and nearby Khan Younis.

    In Khan Younis, earlier on Monday, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a man, his wife, and their two children, in a tent, medics said.

    There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents.

    Israel’s military said it had not entered the districts of Deir Al-Balah subject to the evacuation order during the current conflict and that it was continuing “to operate with great force to destroy the enemy’s capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area.”

    Israeli sources have said the reason the army has so far stayed out is that they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to be still alive.

    Families of the hostages expressed their concern for their relatives and demanded an explanation from the army of how it would protect them.

    HUNGER CRISIS

    The military escalation comes as Gaza health officials warned of potential “mass deaths” in the coming days due to mounting hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, according to the territory’s health ministry.

    Health officials said hospitals were running out of fuel, food aid, and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations.

    Health ministry spokesperson, Khalil Al-Deqran, said medical staff have been depending on one meal a day, and that hundreds of people flock to hospitals every day, suffering from fatigue and exhaustion because of hunger.

    At least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday as they waited for UN aid trucks to enter Gaza.

    Israel’s military said its troops had fired warning shots towards a crowd of thousands of people in northern Gaza to remove what it said was “an immediate threat.”

    It said initial findings suggested reported casualty figures were inflated, and it “certainly does not intentionally target humanitarian aid trucks.”

    The new raid and escalating number of fatalities appeared to be complicating ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel that are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with U.S. backing.

    A Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that the militant group was angered over the mounting deaths and the hunger crisis in the enclave, and that this could badly affect ceasefire talks underway in Qatar.

    Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect talks in Doha aimed at reaching a 60-day truce and hostage deal, although there has been no sign of breakthrough.

    UNRWA, the U.N. refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said in a post on X on Monday, it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff as food prices have increased 40-fold.

    “Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale,” it said.

    Israel’s military said on Sunday that it “views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance, and works to enable and facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community.”

    The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

    The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Japan Contributes $2 Million to Help WFP Prevent Worsening Hunger in Yemen

    Source: World Food Programme

    ADEN, Yemen – The Government of Japan has contributed US$2 million (approximately 300 million Japanese Yen) to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), enabling life-saving food assistance at a time when millions in Yemen face deepening hunger.

    Japan’s support will enable WFP to provide vegetable oil as part of food rations for 700,000 people, helping prevent further deterioration in food security.

    “We are incredibly grateful for Japan’s timely support,” said WFP’s Head of Global Partner Countries Division Abdallah Alwardat. “We are witnessing unprecedented levels of need in Yemen. Families are increasingly telling us they can no longer afford enough food, while our resources continue to shrink. This contribution allows us to deliver food assistance that families urgently need.”

    Contributions like Japan’s are critical to sustaining WFP food assistance in Yemen, which remains one of the few lifelines for millions of Yemenis.

    This generous contribution comes as food insecurity levels in Yemen are the third worst globally, after Gaza and Sudan. By September, over 18 million people, more than half of the population, are projected to face acute food insecurity, with 41,000 people at risk of slipping into catastrophic, famine-like conditions. This is the worst outlook since 2022.

    “Yemen continues to suffer from dire human security situations due to lingering conflict, deteriorating economy, and subsequent collapse of local services. In light of this critical and deteriorating humanitarian situation, and in line with the 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, Japan has decided to provide support in partnership with the WFP. We stand in firm solidarity with the Yemeni people,” stated H.E. Mr. Yoichi Nakashima, Ambassador of Japan to Yemen.

    Japan has been a consistent and valued partner of WFP in Yemen, contributing approximately US$160 million since 2016 to help address one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. This latest contribution reaffirms Japan’s continued commitment to fighting hunger and supporting the people of Yemen.

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

    Follow us on X @WFPYemen

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Receives Her German Counterpart on Her First Visit to Egypt to Discuss Strengthening the Strategic Economic Partnership Between the Two Countries

    Source: APO


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    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, received Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, at the Government Headquarters in New Alamein City during her visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, within the framework of strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting comes as a follow-up to the fruitful discussions held during the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (Ff4D) in Seville, Spain.

    At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat welcomed the German Minister on her first visit to Egypt and wished her success in her mission in the new German government, emphasizing the Arab Republic of Egypt’s appreciation for for the Egyptian-German economic relations, which represent a strategic partnership that reflects the keenness to advancing mutual interests and promoting development efforts, whether through bilateral governmental partnership, German investments in Egypt, and development cooperation efforts, adding that this visit marks a milestone in the process of cooperation between the two countries and reflects the depth of bilateral relations and common vision towards achieving sustainable development and economic growth.

    The two ministers discussed recent developments in Egyptian-German economic and investment relations, joint development projects, and explored new mechanisms for innovative financing, especially in light of the outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development held in Seville, Spain, and the need for the international community to contribute more to financing development in developing countries and emerging economies. They also discussed the implementation of the European Investment Guarantee Mechanism (EFSD+), which comes in light of the Egypt-EU strategic partnership and contributes to increasing foreign direct investments to the local and foreign private sector in Egypt, in addition to the preparations for the convening of the 2025 Egyptian-German governmental negotiations.

    The two sides also discussed the outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, noting the importance of implementing recommendations of the UN expert group report on addressing debt challenges in Global South countries, which included 11 outcomes, such as redirecting and replenishing existing resources from multilateral development banks and the IMF to enhance liquidity, adopting policies to extend maturities, financing debt buybacks, reducing debt servicing during crises, reforming the G20 Common Framework to include all middle-income countries, and updating IMF and World Bank debt sustainability analysis (DSA) to better reflect the situation of low- and middle-income countries, among other measures.

    The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation also reviewed the key features of Egypt’s national narrative for economic development, which aims to achieve a structural transformation in the Egyptian economy towards tradable and exportable sectors by strengthening macroeconomic policies, encouraging foreign direct investment, promoting industrial development, and supporting labor market and employment policies, noting that Egyptian-German relations are reflected in achieving these objectives.

    In this context, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat praised the success of the Egyptian-German Debt Swap Program, where the Egyptian government succeeded in signing debt swap agreements with a total value of €340 million to finance various development projects across multiple sectors, including the new tranche of the debt swap program worth €100 million for the period 2024–2026, explaining that the program contributed  to using the local currency equivalents of debt repayments to implement development projects in various sectors, including education and technical education, social protection, health, improving renewable energy supply. Ongoing coordination is underway to allocate €50 million from the program to support the energy pillar of the “NWFE” program, financing part of the local component for connecting ACWA Power (1) and (2) wind farms, with a total capacity of 1,100 MW. She reaffirmed that the Egyptian-German Debt Swap Program is a successful model for promoting financing for development.

    The discussion also touched on the Financial Cooperation Agreement between Egypt and Germany, which was signed on May 25, 2025, and includes a €118 million financing package in the form of concessional financing and financial contributions (complementary grants), and includes funding for the following projects: financial support for the Comprehensive Technical Education Initiative and the support for the establishment of 25 Egyptian Centers of Excellence. In the same context, the two sides also discussed the the status of the governmental negotiations to be held between the Egyptian and German sides at the end of this year, expressing their aspiration to enhance economic and development cooperation between the two governments, as well as allocating new financial contributions to finance development projects aimed at driving economic growth.

    Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that, In light of the success of the country platform for the “NWFE” program and the international community’s expansion of the concept of national platforms to mobilize investments, work is currently underway, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other development partners, to launch the first national platform to mobilize financing and technical support for the industrial sector. This aligns with the national narrative for economic development to support the state’s efforts in localizing industry and encouraging domestic production, noting that the narrative sets a unified vision for the Egyptian economy to shift towards tradable sectors.

    H.E. also highlighted the importance of strengthening South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation through German collaboration to stimulate efforts to transfer Egyptian expertise in the field of development to developing and emerging countries, noting Egypt’s keenness to advance the prospects of joint cooperation in the field of water within the “NWFE” program with the German side.

    For her part, the German Minister expressed her aspiration to build on the Egyptian-German strategic relations and the progress achieved in recent years to further advance joint cooperation in light of regional and global challenges.

    In the same context, the two sides addressed the Egyptian-German economic cooperation portfolio, which currently amounts to approximately €1.6 billion, aiming to implement various development projects across priority sectors that contribute to sustainable economic development including energy, climate, water supply, sanitation, irrigation, migration, solid waste management, and enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, which are funded through multiple mechanisms, such as the Egyptian-German Debt Swap Program, concessional financing, financial contributions, and technical cooperation grants.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa Finance Corporation Secures Inaugural AED 937.5 Million Sustainability-Linked Loan Backed by United Arab Emirates (UAE) Banks

    Source: APO

    Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has secured an inaugural Sustainability-Linked Term Loan Facility, marking a significant milestone in the Corporation’s innovative funding strategy and deepening its financial ties with the UAE.

    The AED 937.50 million (US$255 million) facility reflects AFC’s commitment to use financial innovation tools to optimise funding for transformative infrastructure. Along with further expanding AFC’s geographical funding base, the transaction aligns future borrowing costs with measurable environmental outcomes through predefined Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs). The structure allows AFC to benefit from reduced loan costs upon achieving key sustainability targets, signaling to investors and stakeholders the importance of environmental responsibility to its infrastructure investment mandate.

    The loan facility was anchored by a syndicate of prominent UAE-based financial institutions. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Emirates NBD Capital Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Mashreqbank PSC, and the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (P.S.C.) acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (IMLABs). Mashreqbank PSC additionally served as Global Coordinator and Documentation Agent, while First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC acted as Sustainability Coordinator and Emirates NBD Bank (P.J.S.C.) acted as the Facility Agent.

    “This facility represents a key milestone in AFC’s journey,” said Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member & Head, Financial Services, AFC. “By tapping the UAE Dirham market and embedding sustainability performance into our funding terms, we are not only diversifying our funding sources but also aligning our financing strategy with our mission to catalyse infrastructure-driven economic growth and industrial development across Africa. This transaction is a testament to the strength of our partnerships in the UAE and our continued commitment to sustainable infrastructure development across Africa.”

    This facility builds on AFC’s strong momentum in diversified and sustainable capital raising. Following a record US$1.16 billion syndicated loan in 2024, AFC debuted a US$500 million hybrid capital issuance and a US$400 million Murabaha facility in 2025. The Corporation also expanded its climate finance instruments – having issued a CHF150 million Green Bond in 2020, and in 2024, pioneering Green Shares with a US$30 million equity investment from the African Development Bank. These efforts complement AFC’s strategic stake in Lekela Power, through Infinity, forming Africa’s largest renewable energy platform with over 1 GW of clean power capacity, reaching 1.2 million homes and avoiding 7.9 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

    Media Enquiries:
    Yewande Thorpe
    Communications
    Africa Finance Corporation
    Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
    Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

    About AFC:
    AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

    Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

    www.AfricaFC.org

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Strengthens United States (US)-Africa Critical Mineral Ties Ahead of African Mining Week (AMW) 2025

    Source: APO


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    The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved two new investments for critical minerals projects in sub-Saharan Africa this month. The funding aims to accelerate economic development across the region while reinforcing US supply chains for minerals essential to the country’s defense, energy, security and advanced technology sectors. The investments will also drive infrastructure expansion, boost employment and increase export revenues for the African markets.

    The announcement comes ahead of the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders. The event will showcase the role being played by U.S. institutions such as the DFC in enhancing US-Africa ties in mining and investment. AMW will feature a dedicated US-Africa Roundtable, connecting U.S. policymakers and institutional investors with African governments, project developers and stakeholders for partnership formation, deal signing and policy alignment.

    AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    In the last two years, the DFC has been advancing US–Africa mining collaboration through a growing portfolio of investments, loans and technical assistance grants. Among these is the DFC’s $5 million funding package for Blencowe Resources, aimed at developing the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda. In July 2025, Blencowe received a $750,000 tranche as part of this commitment, following an earlier $500,000 disbursement in May. The final $250,000 payment will support the project’s definitive feasibility study. With a JORC Indicated and Inferred Resource of 24.5 million tons at 6.0% total graphite content, Orom-Cross is expected to operate for 21 years, contributing to Uganda’s economic transformation and in meeting growing global demand for battery-grade graphite.

    Other recent DFC commitments include a $553 million loan for the Lobito Corridor, a project aimed at improving mineral transportation for Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DFC also approved a $3.4 million technical assistance grant for the Longonjo Rare Earths Project in Angola, a $50 million equity investment in the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project in South Africa and a $3.2 million grant for Chillerton’s green copper mining project in Kakosa, Zambia. In Tanzania, the DFC is also backing Kabanga Nickel Limited with a loan to support the development of one of Africa’s most significant nickel sulphide deposits.

    With this growing investment footprint, the DFC continues to position itself as a key partner in unlocking Africa’s mineral potential while advancing US strategic interests. AMW 2025 will serve as a powerful platform to build on this momentum, facilitating collaboration, catalyzing new investments and reinforcing US-Africa partnerships in mineral development.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sonangol Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 as Diamond Sponsor Amid Bold Development Drive

    Source: APO

    Angola’s national oil company (NOC) Sonangol has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference as a Diamond Sponsor. The company’s participation comes as it implements a bold development drive in Angola, targeting new exploration opportunities, increased production and 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) in refining capacity. Sonangol’s sponsorship reflects a broader commitment to using oil and gas as a catalyst for development in Angola and is expected to unlock new pathways for global collaboration.

    Producing upwards of 200,000 bpd in oil and gas and supplying the market with 5.4 million metric tons of refined products, Sonangol is an instrumental part of Angola’s oil and gas market. The company has stakes in 35 concessions, of which nine are operated, and has positioned itself as the partner of choice for upstream players. Sonangol is in the process of transforming itself from an NOC into a competitive upstream player. The company reaffirmed its plan to launch an Initial Public Offering, with 30% of the company’s shares set to become available. The partial privatization is not only expected to generate capital to support exploration and production projects, but strengthen Sonangol’s role as a major upstream operator in Angola.

    The anticipated IPO comes as Sonangol advances a series of major oil and gas projects in collaboration with international partners. These include the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development, on track for production by late-2025 and adding 120,000 bpd to the market, as well as the Kaminho deepwater development. Kaminho achieved a final investment decision in 2024 and will start operations in 2028. With the country striving to sustain oil production above one million bpd, Sonangol is also pursuing new development opportunities in Angola, working closely with international operators to unlock new resources. Notably, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian state-owned multinational corporation Petrobras in May 2025, covering research and development activities. The agreement follows another deal signed in March 2025 between the companies, outlining the joint study of offshore acreage in Angola. 

    Meanwhile, in pursuit of enhanced fuel security, Sonangol plans to increase refining capacity to 445,000 bpd through the development of three new facilities – set to complement the operational 65,000 bpd Luanda refinery. The first of these – the first phase of the 60,000 bpd Cabinda refinery – is coming online in 2025, while Sonangol is currently seeking $4.8 billion to address the funding shortfall for the Lobito refinery – a 200,000 bpd facility under construction. A 100,000-bpd facility is also planned in Soyo. The Cabinda facility alone is anticipated to reduce Angola’s derivative imports by 14% by 2026.

    Beyond these projects, Sonangol has committed to strengthening skills development across the Angolan oil and gas sector. The company signed two agreements with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States (US) in June 2025, aimed at supporting the development of Angola’s natural and mineral resources by leveraging US research, innovation and technology. The first agreement was signed with MIT Industrial Liaison Program, enabling Sonangol to directly interact with MIT research areas to support projects across the energy, mining, engineering, construction and infrastructure industries. The second agreement, MIT Africa, will facilitate knowledge-exchange, staff training, joint research and academic mentoring. MIT Africa features two programs – Global Classroom and Global Teaching Labs – which allow Angolan educational institutions to collaborate with MIT. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Angola Oil & Gas 2025 Launches Exhibition-Only Passes

    Source: APO

    The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition returns as the premier platform for the country’s hydrocarbon industry. Convening operators, financiers, service providers and technology experts in Luanda on September 3-4, 2025, the event represents the largest of its kind in the country. This year’s edition reintroduces exclusive exhibition-only passes, offering strategic access to the exhibition floor.

    Striving to sustain oil production above one million barrels per day, Angola is driving a series of ambitious oil projects, from frontier exploration to incremental production to brownfield drilling and seismic data acquisition. At the same time, the country is pursuing advanced gas development opportunities, in line with goals to balance hydrocarbon production with a transition to low-carbon fuels. This strategy has created a unique opportunity for operators, service providers, technology experts and research and development firms to deploy their innovative solutions across the market. This year’s AOG 2025 exhibition will showcase these solutions, with companies from across the entire oil and gas value chain featured on the exhibition floor.  

    This year’s AOG 2025 will feature Sonangol as a diamond exhibitor. As the country’s national oil company, Sonangol is spearheading efforts to increase oil production, advance gas development while decarbonizing the industry. Additionally, the event will feature the following platinum exhibitors:

    • Etu Energias
    • Labman

    The AOG 2025 gold exhibitors include:

    • Azule Energy
    • ENSA
    • EY
    • Kotoil Energy
    • Cabship
    • Sonamet
    • Alfort Petroleum

    Meanwhile, silver exhibitors include:

    • Petrotec Group
    • 3S Service
    • ACE Energy
    • Oceaneering
    • Easy People
    • AES
    • ITGEST

    Bronze exhibitors include:

    • Algoa Cabinda Services
    • Cabinda Refinery
    • Petrofund
    • Africa Global Logistics

    AOG 2025 will also feature a range of other exhibitors, showcasing innovation, technology and multi-faceted oilfield service solutions. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to join the AOG 2025 conference. Visit https://apo-opa.co/4kSogQV or contact sales@energycapitalpower.com for more information.

    Passes are selling out fast – secure yours before it’s too late.

    AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • UPI revolution pushes India to global lead in real-time digital payments

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India has firmly established itself as a global leader in real-time digital payments, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the forefront of this transformation. According to a recent IMF note titled “Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability”, India’s digital infrastructure has become a global benchmark, with UPI now processing over 18 billion transactions each month.

    Launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India, UPI has redefined how Indians send and receive money – bringing together multiple bank accounts in a single mobile app for instant, secure, and low-cost transactions. In June 2025 alone, the platform handled transactions worth over ₹24.03 lakh crore, showing a 32% increase from the same period last year.

    UPI now accounts for 85% of all digital payments in India, serving 491 million individuals and 65 million merchants, and connecting 675 banks on a unified platform. Globally, it processes 640 million transactions daily, recently surpassing Visa’s volume, and now powers nearly 50% of all real-time payments worldwide.

    The system has expanded beyond India’s borders and is now live in seven countries, including Singapore, UAE, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and France – marking its first entry into Europe. India is also pushing for UPI’s adoption among BRICS nations, aiming to enhance remittances and financial inclusion on a global scale.

    Backed by strong digital infrastructure, policy vision, and inclusive design, UPI is no longer just a domestic innovation but a model for the world. Its success signals India’s growing stature in global fintech and its commitment to building a cashless, connected, and inclusive digital economy.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Why it can be harder to sleep during the summer

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Timothy Hearn, Anglia Ruskin University

    As the days stretch long and the sun lingers late into the evening, most of us welcome summer with open arms. Yet for a surprising number of people, this season brings an unwelcome guest: insomnia.

    For these people, summer is a time of tossing and turning, early waking – or simply not feeling sleepy when they should. Far from just being a nuisance, this seasonal insomnia may chip away at mood, concentration and metabolic health.

    But why does insomnia spike in summer — and more importantly, what can be done about it? The answer lies in the light.

    Every tissue in the body owns a molecular “clock”. However, these clocks take their cue from a central timekeeper – the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus. This cluster of about 20,000 neurons synchronises the myriad cellular clocks to a near 24-hour cycle.

    It uses the external light detected by the eyes as a cue, driving the release of two different hormones: melatonin, which makes us sleepy and a pre-dawn surge cortisol to help us wake.

    In winter, this light cue is short and sharp. But in June and July, daylight can stretch on for 16 or 17 hours in the mid‑latitudes. That extra dose matters because evening light is the most potent signal for pushing the central timekeeper later. In summer melatonin shifts by roughly 30 minutes to an hour later, while dawn light floods bedrooms early and kills the hormone off sooner.

    This can have a big effect on the amount of sleep we get. One study monitored the sleep of 188 participants in the lab on three nights at different times of the year. The researchers found that total sleep was about an hour shorter in summer than winter.

    Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep — the sleep stage most strongly linked to emotional regulation and the consolidation of emotionally charged memories — accounted for roughly half the sleep loss in summer.

    The same team later tracked 377 patients over two consecutive years and showed that sleep length and REM sleep began a five‑month decline soon after the last freezing night of spring. Sleep length shrank by an average of 62 minutes, while REM decreased by about 24 minutes. Slow-wave sleep – the phase most critical for tissue repair, immune regulation and the consolidation of factual memories – reached its annual low around the autumn equinox.

    Both studies took place in a city bathed in artificial light – suggesting that even in modern environments our sleep remains seasonally affected.

    Big population surveys echo these findings. Among more than 30,000 middle‑aged Canadians, volunteers interviewed in midsummer said they slept eight minutes less than those interviewed in midwinter. The summer interviewees also reported greater insomnia symptoms in the fortnight after the autumn clock change – suggesting the abrupt time shift exacerbates underlying seasonal misalignment.

    One study also compared the effect of summer sleep in people living at very different latitudes – such as near the equator, where there’s little change in day length in the summer, and near the Arctic circle, where the differences are extreme. The study found that for people living in Tromsø, Norway, their self-reported insomnia and daytime fatigue rose markedly in summer. But for people living in Accra, Ghana (near the equator), these measures barely budged.

    This show just how strongly daylight – and the amount of daylight hours we experience – can affect our sleep quality. But it isn’t the only culprit of poor summertime sleep.

    Temperature is another factor that can spoil sleep during the summer months.

    Just before we fall asleep, our core body temperature begins a steep descent of roughly 1°C to help us fall asleep. It reaches its lowest point during the first half of the night.

    On muggy summer nights this can make falling asleep difficult. Laboratory experiments show that even a rise from 26°C to about 32°C increases wakefulness and reduces both slow-wave and REM sleep.

    Different people are also more vulnerable to summer insomnia than others. This has to do with your unique “chronotype” – your natural preference to rise early or sleep late.

    Evening chronotypes – “night owls” – already lean towards later bedtimes. They may stay up even later when it stays bright past 10pm. Morning chronotypes, on the other hand, may find themselves waking up even earlier than they normally do because of when the sun rises in the summer.

    Mood can amplify the effect. Research found people who suffered with mental health issues were more likely to experience difficulty sleeping in summer.

    Chronic anxiety, alcohol use and certain prescription drugs — notably beta blockers, which suppress melatonin — can all make sleep more elusive in summer.

    Reclaiming summer sleep

    Happily, there are many ways of fixing the issue.

    • Get some morning sunshine. Try to step outside within an hour of waking up – even if it’s just for 15 minutes. This tells the clock that the day has begun and nudges it to finish earlier that evening.

    • Create an artificial dusk. Around two hours before bed, close the curtains, turn off the lights and reduce the intensity of your phone screen’s blue light to help your melatonin rise on time.

    • Don’t let the dawn light in. Being exposed to the dawn light too early will wake you up. Blackout curtains or a contoured eye-mask can ensure you don’t wake before you’re rested.

    • Keep things cool. Fans, breathable cotton or linen sheets or a lukewarm shower before bed all help the body to achieve that crucial one-degree drop in core temperature needed to get a good night’s sleep.

    The deeper lesson here from chronobiology is that humans remain, biologically speaking, seasonal animals. While our industrialised lives flatten the calendar, our cells still measure day length and temperature just as plants and migratory birds do.

    By adapting and aligning our habits with those light signals, we might just be able to recapture some sleep – even during the warmer months.

    Timothy Hearn, Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP partners with Careem to deliver food aid in Gaza

    Source: World Food Programme

    Dubai, UAE – July 21, 2025: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), through its award-winning ShareTheMeal app, has partnered with Careem, a leading multi-service app in the Middle East, to launch a donation campaign across Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative enables Careem users to support WFP’s emergency food assistance efforts in Gaza and the West Bank directly through the Careem app.

    WFP is delivering life-saving food aid in Gaza despite worsening security, limited access, and rising desperation. A recent assessment shows nearly one in three people are going days without food, putting more lives at risk. Since May 21, WFP teams have dispatched dozens of aid convoys with over 1,200 trucks carrying 18,247 metric tons (MT) of food into Gaza.

    Through Careem’s in-app donations platform “Right Click”, users can contribute directly to WFP’s emergency response, with donations going towards delivering wheat flour, hot meals, and nutrition supplements to communities across Gaza and the West Bank, where WFP aims to reach over 1.5 million people this year.

    “We welcome this important partnership with Careem, which empowers those in Jordan and the UAE to directly support families in Gaza through our joint platforms. These meaningful contributions will enable WFP to save lives in one of the toughest operations to date,” said Stephen Anderson, Director of WFP UAE Office & Representative to GCC Region. 

    “At Careem, we believe in using our platform to empower communities and respond to moments that matter. The crisis in Gaza is a humanitarian emergency that demands urgent action, and through our partnership with the World Food Programme, we’re enabling our customers in Jordan and the UAE to make a direct impact,” Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem. “With just a few taps in the app, you can contribute to life-saving food assistance for families who are facing unimaginable hardship.”

    In Gaza, food aid has become the only realistic option for people to eat, as flour prices have soared to 3,000 times pre-war levels, and cooking fuel is virtually impossible to find. Currently, WFP has pre-positioned over 116,000 metric tons of food assistance just outside Gaza, enough to feed the entirety of Gaza’s population for two months.

    In 2025 alone, Careem has facilitated over $200,000 in donations to various causes, including emergency relief and education support, reflecting the ongoing commitment of Careem customers to making an impact through the app.

    WFP’s campaign is now live on Careem’s donations platform “Right Click” in Jordan and the UAE. Download the latest version of the Careem app on iOS or Android to donate and be part of the impact.

    -END-

    About WFP

    The United Nations World Food Program is the largest humanitarian organization in the world, which saves lives during emergencies and provides food assistance to build a road to peace, stability and prosperity amongst populations which are recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter: @WFP_GCC and Instagram: @wfp_gcc

    Subscribe to our WhatsApp channel.

    About Careem

    Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East, making it easier than ever to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Careem is led by a powerful purpose to simplify and improve the lives of people and build an awesome organisation that inspires. Since 2012, Careem has created earning opportunities for over 3.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of over 75 million customers, and built a platform for the region’s best talent to thrive and for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Careem operates in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Six Months of Keeping America Safe Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Six Months of Keeping America Safe Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    lass=”text-align-center”>DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term
    WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again

     
    Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe

     
    Secured the Southern Border 

    On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border

        
    President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release

     
    Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office

    Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children

    Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%

    President Trump—with $46

    5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall

    DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill

     President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance

    With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4

    1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents

    In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228

    The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024

       
    Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history

    And in both May and June, U

    S

    Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies

    Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens  

    The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively

     
    DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language

    President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement

     
    The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000 illegal aliens in 2025 alone

    70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions

         
    The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14

    4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents

    This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year

    As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration

    The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands

    Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets

    DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g)

        
    At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California

    The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens

    In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo

    At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking

    Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo

    After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan

    Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration  

    President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve

    Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations 

    President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U

    S

    The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country

    President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO

    The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app

    So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport

     
    In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States

     DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport

    DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to

    So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE

    Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System 

    President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis

    As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs

    Following victory at the U

    S

    Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately

    DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary

    No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens

    Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS

    Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party

    It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments

    Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information

    Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel 

    Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year

    The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies

    TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints

    This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience

    The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago

    REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens

    Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant

    Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems

    Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century 

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens

    The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades

    President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level

     
    Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change

    DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government

    Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas 

    Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U

    S

    Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations

    FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors

    Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people

    Getting CISA Back on Mission 

    Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans

    Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power

    CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats

    CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing

     
    CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories

     
    CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks

     
    CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection

    CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup

    Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees

    Revolutionizing the Coast Guard 

    When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected

    President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game

    In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024

    For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals

    In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year

    That’s 108% over the goal

    Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight

    Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before

    Standing up for the American taxpayer 

    The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland

     
    USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U

    S

    defense capabilities

    The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits

         
    Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars

    To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U

    S

    Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens

     
    ###  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Risks arising from irregular migration from Libya – E-002835/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002835/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Galato Alexandraki (ECR)

    Hundreds of irregular immigrants entering Greece, in particular Crete, by boat from Libya are being transferred to mainland Greece – to the Fylakio reception centre in the border region of Evros – for identification and temporary accommodation. They are held there for 24 days before being released with a temporary residence permit. This allows them to move freely within the country, without any checks, resulting in increased delinquency, fear and insecurity, and wide-ranging effects on the economy and social cohesion.

    The Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy (June 2016) lists territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders as key elements of European security, and states that ensuring the security of EU citizens/territories is a common interest. Nonetheless, to date the EU has not taken serious steps to safeguard the inviolability of Greek borders and thus secure those of the EU.

    In view of the above, can the Commission say:

    • 1.What does the EU intend to do in the context of solidarity between the Member States in order to assist Greece, which – owing to its geographical location and proximity to Türkiye and North Africa – is the most exposed country in Europe in terms of illegal immigration?
    • 2.Does it intend to put pressure on the countries of origin of migrants to take them back (refoulement), with clear sanctions if they fail to comply and without merely paying lip service?

    Submitted: 11.7.2025

    Last updated: 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Libya’s anti-European attitude and increased migration flows to Greece – E-002849/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002849/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)

    Recently, a European delegation – which included Greek ministers – was kicked out of Benghazi, Libya[1]. This is unacceptable, contrary to the principles and values of the EU, an affront to the European institutions and a barrier to the implementation of the common immigration policy.

    At the same time, Libya has sharply increased migratory flows to Greece – in particular to Crete[2] – making migration a leveraging tool to the detriment of the interests of an EU Member State. Türkiye has had a strong influence on the Libyan authorities and on these developments, in particular with the illegal and legally non-existent Turkish-Libyan memorandum of understanding[3], which directly undermines Greece’s sovereign rights and disrupts stability in the south-eastern Mediterranean.

    In view of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

    • 1.What is its view of Libya’s attitude, which is an affront to the institutions and principles of the EU?
    • 2.How does it interpret the growing Turkish influence on the Libyan authorities and the implications thereof for European cohesion and security?
    • 3.What specific measures will it take to ensure that its Member States – and in particular Greece – are protected against such hostile actions?

    Submitted: 12.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/libyas-eastern-based-government-bars-entry-eu-migration-commissioner-three-2025-07-08
    • [2] https://apnews.com/article/migration-libya-greece-crete-european-union-2af60f5c888520fe807e264b1c053659
    • [3] https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/greece-pleased-after-eu-parliaments-call-to-annul-turkey-libya-mou
    Last updated: 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Fighting climate change with financial finesse

    Source: European Investment Bank

    The Central Bank of Kenya. Central Bank of Kenya

    Climate change knows no borders – as Kenya can tell you. The country is routinely hit by weather disasters.

    “Every five to ten years, the country experiences either very heavy rains that cause floods or persistent drought,” says Reuben Chepng’ar, the senior manager in the Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Kenya.

    By the year 2030, Kenya aspires to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. This work is expected to cost $62 billion, but the government says it can raise only $8 billion. The investment shortfall of $54 billion is expected to come from the private sector and global development institutions, such as the European Investment Bank and the Internal Monetary Fund.

    The Central Bank of Kenya is trying to help commercial banks support more green projects, enhance their climate-related risk reporting and attract foreign investors. The Central Bank used technical assistance from the European Investment Bank to create new climate investing and reporting guidelines in the country.

    The European Investment Bank collaborated with Kenya’s Central Bank to develop two guidelines under a programme known as Greening Financial Systems technical assistance. EIB consultants worked with the Central Bank and local banks from 2023 to 2025 to develop regulations that commercial banks must follow for climate reporting and green investments.

    The EIB support to the Central Bank was financed through the IKI Fund, an EIB trust fund backed by Germany to help climate action initiatives in emerging countries. The IKI Fund highlights the importance of international cooperation and knowledge sharing. Since climate risks transcend borders, coordinated action among global institutions is essential to ensure that local financial systems are aligned with global sustainability objectives. The European Investment Bank oversees a group of trust funds that are financed by EU countries and the European Commission. These funds provide grants, technical assistance and loan guarantees around the world.

    Marjan Stojiljkovic was a team lead for the EIB technical assistance programme in Kenya. He is a climate finance consultant who offers training around the world to banks on sustainability reporting requirements and managing risks related to green lending.

    “One objective of this project was how to internalise and measure the impacts of climate risk on banking operations in Kenya, because climate risks are real and they have impacts on the financial sector,” Stojiljkovic says.

    After a series of meetings and workshops, the central bank created two sets of policy guidelines to help commercial banks improve climate risk reporting. One is the Kenya Green Finance Taxonomy and the other is the Climate Risk Management Framework. The green taxonomy is the fourth to be adopted in Africa, after South Africa, Rwanda and Ghana. The taxonomy is based on the EU green taxonomy that provides a clear classification system for sustainable economic activities and guidance on assessment and reporting. One aim is to prevent greenwashing, or the exaggeration of the benefits projects bring. Another aim is to increase sustainable investments, particularly by attracting foreign investment. The climate risk framework was designed to increase transparency in Kenya’s financial sector and encourage businesses to adopt more sustainable practices.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabship Eyes Strengthened Logistics in Africa, Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 as Silver Partner

    Source: APO

    Angolan logistics and supply chain management company Cabship has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – as a Silver Partner. As the largest event of its kind on the continent, AEW: Invest in African Energies unites the entire African energy sector and its value chain, from upstream operators to technology and service providers to infrastructure developers and logistics firms. Cabship’s participation reflects a broader commitment to supporting African oil and gas projects through enhanced logistics and infrastructure development.

    Celebrating 16 years of operations in 2025, Cabship has emerged as a strong logistics partner for oil and gas companies in Angola – sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer. The company is committed to enhancing the Angolan logistics value chain through infrastructure developments, modernized solutions and strong ties with international energy companies. With digitalization and diversification at the fore, the company works closely with operators in Angola as they strive to enhance crude production, diversify the energy industry through non-associated gas developments and scale-up energy exports and regional distribution.

    Recent projects spearheaded by Cabship reflect this commitment. Notably, the company has bolstered its infrastructure in recent years under efforts to streamline oil and gas trade and storage. The company is looking at acquiring 50,000 m² construction yard near Malongo in Cabinda, which will enhance fabrication and logistics capabilities in both Cabinda and Soyo in Angola. Cabship is also in the process of establishing a diving and offshore marine support company in the Cabinda Special Economic Zone in partnership with maritime services provider Octomar. An agreement was signed between the companies in 2023. As of late-2024, the partners were finalizing key infrastructure plans and advancing discussions to acquire the requisite assets for marine and diving operations. The newly established marine company will play a strategic part in supporting offshore oil and gas operations, particularly as Angola plans to award new offshore concessions in the planned 2025 licensing round. 

    Cabship has a strong track record of working with a range of international operators in Angola. The company has provided a range of support services for upstream operators, including energy major Chevron and international energy company Azule Energy – some of the biggest operators in the country. Services include critical logistics and material management. Additionally, Cabship conducted comprehensive inventory audits for Etu Energies – Angola’s largest private oil company. The audit has significantly improved the reliability, availability and efficiency of Etu Energias’ inventory management.

    Beyond Angola, Cabship is working at strengthening its global ties. The company has expanded its presence in the global landscape, recently opening an office in Houston in the United States. The Houston division will support the company’s procurement activities in Angola, providing a crucial link between the African nation and Houston – considered the world’s oil and gas hub. Specifically, the office will aid Chevron’s operations across the southern African region, thereby supporting new investments and upstream operations. Stepping into this picture, Cabship’s participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will support future collaborations and global partnerships. As the company seeks to expand its presence, taking Angolan expertise worldwide, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will serve as a catalyst for global connections.

    “Cabship is a company that is committed to Africa’s oil and gas future. By enhancing its logistics and upstream service offerings, working closely with international operators and leveraging global partnerships to strengthen procurement, the company is positioning Africa as a key destination for oil and gas development. Angolan oil production will be driven by companies across the logistics sector, with Cabship at the fore,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa convenes high-level Indaba to tackle FMD outbreaks

    Source: Government of South Africa

    South Africa is currently experiencing significant and ongoing challenges with widespread outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), affecting several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and, most recently, the Free State.

    The resurgence of the disease has resulted in livestock movement restrictions and significantly impacted the country’s red meat trade on international markets.

    In response to this escalating crisis, the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), is hosting a national Foot and Mouth Disease Indaba.

    The two-day event, starting Monday, 21 July 2025, will take place at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, northeast of Pretoria.

    Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa will lead the Indaba, which aims to bring together top veterinary scientists, agricultural experts, and key industry stakeholders, to deliberate on and develop long-term solutions to combat FMD.

    “Having already inflicted significant damage to the multibillion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa’s broader economy. Therefore, the Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease.

    “The Indaba will convene a range of multidisciplinary specialists to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach to controlling and ultimately eradicating foot and mouth disease,” the department said in a statement.

    The key areas of discussion will include strengthening biosecurity measures at farm level, enhancing vaccination programmes, and reinforcing animal movement controls.

    The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, emphasised its committed to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to FMD.

    The department added that the Indaba signifies a crucial advancement in the ongoing efforts to combat the disease.

    “By cultivating strong partnerships between government entities, academic institutions and industry leaders, the Department of Agriculture is committed to developing precise and effective measures that will eradicate the disease and safeguard the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s agricultural sector.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CoGTA Deputy Minister leads Emfuleni Local Municipality accountability visit 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Monday, July 21, 2025

    The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, is today leading an intergovernmental accountability engagement with the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

    According to the department, Monday’s visit forms part of the national ‘Every Municipality Must Work’ campaign, aimed at strengthening local government performance through coordinated support under the District Development Model (DDM).
    Emfuleni struggles with financial mismanagement, inadequate service delivery, and crumbling infrastructure. 

    “Engagement will focus on addressing persistent service delivery challenges and capacity constraints facing Emfuleni, and on unblocking barriers to effective governance,” the department says. 

    The Deputy Minister will meet with local leadership and stakeholders to assess the municipality’s operational performance. 
    According to the department, the meeting will take place at Emfuleni Municipal Offices, and media will be allowed to cover the opening session and conduct interviews with leadership. – SAnews.gov.za 
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/TANZANIA – School, vegetable gardens, and livestock farming: the Consolata Missionaries teach a trade to young girls in difficult situations

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 19 July 2025

    missionariedellaconsolata.org

    Iringa (Agenzia Fides) – Learning to care for animals on a farm to create a livestock farm and cultivate vegetable gardens to sell the produce at the market. This is the new objective of the “House of Joy,” a facility run by the Consolata Missionary Sisters located on the outskirts of the city of Iringa, Tanzania.Here, the sisters welcome young girls from families in difficulty or who are alone in the world because they are orphans. The minors have the opportunity to attend school until they finish secondary school. The missionaries support their guests until they find decent work.This is why, upon their arrival at the facility, the girls are introduced to manual labor and gardening, as is the case in many Tanzanian families. However, sometimes this is not enough. Thus, to cover expenses and offer new employment opportunities to the girls, a new project was launched last year and has been able to come to fruition in recent weeks thanks to donations from several benefactors.The “House of Joy” now also houses an animal farm: chickens, rabbits, and pigs. Thanks to this farm, the community is beginning to meet its own needs in terms of meat and eggs. The girls also care for the animals and will, in time, be able to find employment in the zootechnical sector. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: AMCEN: Greenpeace Africa welcomes unified stance but cautions against false climate solutions

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Nairobi, Kenya – As the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) concludes today in Nairobi, Greenpeace Africa acknowledges the collective resolve to address the continent’s most pressing environmental challenges in the Tripoli Declaration while calling on African environment ministers to strengthen their commitments on critical environmental issues.

    Key wins

    Ministers have pledged support for a robust Global Plastics Treaty that tackles pollution across the entire lifecycle, emphasised the need for accessible climate finance to build resilience, and committed to protecting vital ecosystems such as wetlands, through enhanced governance and direct support for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Greenpeace Africa particularly applauds the declaration’s focus on circular economy principles and sustainable chemicals management, which echo the continent’s growing momentum toward reducing plastic production and ensuring polluters bear the cost of environmental damage.

    Missed opportunities

    However, the declaration falls short in holding polluters accountable for climate damages and inadequately addresses the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in forest protection, lacking specific funding mechanisms, legal recognition, or meaningful decision-making inclusion.

    Esther Syombua, Regional Coordinator at Greenpeace Africa, said:

    “While the declaration calls for enhanced governance and finance, it avoids direct corporate accountability measures like polluter-pays principles, fossil fuel company taxation, or mandatory compensation schemes – effectively letting polluting corporations off the hook while placing the burden on African governments.”

    Greenpeace Africa is, however, concerned about the declaration’s implicit support for false solutions such as carbon credit schemes, which risk undermining genuine climate action. 

    Hellen Kahaso Dena, Pan-Africa Plastic Project Lead at Greenpeace Africa, said

    “Carbon credits  and other false solutions like waste-to-energy incineration often serve as greenwashing tactics by polluters, diverting attention from genuine emission reductions and perpetuating harmful practices like open burning hat disproportionately affect vulnerable African communities.  We urge ministers to prioritise proven strategies, including production caps on plastics, enforceable polluter-pays mechanisms, and direct financing for IPLCs to safeguard forests and biodiversity.”

    The outcomes of AMCEN 20 will directly inform Africa’s positions at upcoming international forums, including INC 5.2 on plastics, COP30 on climate, and UNEA 7. Greenpeace Africa calls on African governments to build on this momentum by implementing the Tripoli Declaration with concrete, time-bound actions that centre equity, community rights, and ecological integrity.

    Greenpeace Africa remains committed to working with African governments and civil society partners to advance environmental protection and climate justice across the continent.

    ENDS

    Media Contact:

    Ferdinand Omondi, Communication and Story Manager, Greenpeace Africa, Email: [email protected], Cell: +254 722 505 233. 

    Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected]

    Note to Editors:

    About AMCEN at 40:

    AMCEN was established in 1985 in Cairo to coordinate Africa’s environmental policies. The July 18 high-level segment in Nairobi marked four decades of pan-African environmental diplomacy.

    Why “Tripoli Declaration” in Nairobi:

    The declaration is named after Tripoli, Libya—the original host of AMCEN 2025. Due to logistical constraints, the conference relocated to Nairobi, but the declaration retains Tripoli’s name to honour Libya’s initial leadership role.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eritrea: Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology Graduates 383 Students

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    In its 18th commencement, Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology graduated 383 students, including 44% female graduates, in degree and diploma programs yesterday, 19 July.

    The degree program graduates include 13 in Agricultural Engineering, 26 in Chemical Engineering, 30 in Civil Engineering, 39 in Computer Science and Technology, 27 in Electrical and Electronics Technology, 27 in Mechanical Technology, and 28 in Mining Technology.

    The diploma program graduates include 23 in Automotive Technology, 28 in Computer Application, 18 in Computer Technology and Networking, 13 in Construction Technology, 23 in Electrical Technology, 24 in Electronics Technology, 26 in Mining Technology, 11 in Surveying, and 11 in Cooling System Technology.

    Dr. Araya Zeray, Dean of the College, stated that since its establishment in 2004, the College has been providing higher education in eight fields of study in degree programs and nine in diploma programs, significantly contributing to the production of professionals who play a vital role in the country’s economic development.

    Dr. Araya further noted that the College has 79 academic staff members—44 foreigners and 35 nationals. He also mentioned that as part of ongoing staff development efforts, 18 staff members are currently pursuing master’s and PhD programs abroad in Russia, China, India, Hungary, and Japan.

    A representative of the graduates, commending the support of parents, lecturers, and the college community, expressed their commitment to live up to the expectations of the Government and people who provided them with the opportunity for higher education.

    The honorary guest, Mr. Abraha Asfaha, Minister of Public Works, underlined the significance of engineering and technology in national economic development and called on the graduates to apply their knowledge practically in their respective workplaces.

    Since its establishment, Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology has graduated 7,671 students in degree and diploma programs.

    – on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana: President Mahama flags off work on second phase of Blekusu sea defence project

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    President John Dramani Mahama was in Agavedzi on Saturday for a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project.

    The project, a significant initiative that will protect lives and livelihoods in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, was met with palpable joy and deep gratitude from the chiefs and people of the Some and Aflao Traditional Areas, who gathered to witness the realisation of a long-awaited development.

    The ceremony saw an emotional outpouring of appreciation, as community members sang praises and danced, celebrating the President’s commitment to addressing their decades-long struggle against severe tidal erosion.

    Upon completion in four years, the project, which will protect an 8-kilometre stretch of coastline, is set to bring immense relief to the communities of Blekusu, Agavedzi, Salakope, Amutsinu, and Adina.

    Messrs Amandi Holding Limited is the contractor and will deliver 37 groins, extensive dune restoration, reinforced embankments, and other critical shoreline defence structures.

    President Mahama stated that the project is a comprehensive one that will extend beyond mere coastal protection.

    “Aside from the coastal protection works, government has incorporated vital development projects to enhance the lives of the people in the affected area,” he noted.

    These integrated initiatives include a modern fish market, cold storage and processing facilities for fisherfolk, dedicated spaces for fish drying and smoking, a car park, and a lorry station. Additionally, public sanitation facilities and a comprehensive waste collection system will be provided.

    “The sea has taken a lot from this community. It has taken land, it has taken livelihoods, and it has taken our peace of mind. But today, I stand here to say no more will the sea consume our land”, the President said.

    “We are here to reclaim what has been lost, to rebuild stronger, to offer our children a future where they are not forced to flee their homes because of rising tidal waves.”

    President Mahama added that the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project and other ongoing infrastructure developments reflect his government’s strong dedication to building a better Ghana.

    “This is not merely symbolic,” he asserted, “but a clear demonstration of what responsive leadership can do when it listens, when it cares, and when it acts.”

    Phase I of the project, covering 4.3 kilometres of coastal defence works, commenced in 2015 under the Presidency of Mahama to mitigate the serious threat of tidal erosion in Ketu South.

    While that phase offered significant relief, the President lamented, “Unfortunately, for nearly a decade after this, the second phase of the project stalled. Despite repeated appeals by residents, Members of Parliament, traditional authorities, and civil society, the project did not commence.”

    The President specifically referenced the devastating tidal waves that pounded the communities in 2017 and again in 2021, recalling the harrowing images.

    I can still picture the videos and photos showing the aftermath of these tidal waves,” he said, highlighting “the pain, the anxiety, the fear that was etched on the faces of our fellow citizens.”

    He reaffirmed the pledge he made earlier this year during his visit to the Volta Region, promising swift action.

    “And today, I am proud to say that this commitment is being fulfilled. Your cries have not been in vain. Your voices will no longer be ignored. Today is your day – a day of renewal and a day of reassurance.”

    President Mahama also announced progress on the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Programme, designed to enhance coastal resilience across the sub-region.

    Currently awaiting approval, the WACA project is envisioned to extend coastal protection from where the Blekusu project ends, all the way to Aflao, securing Ghana’s vital 550-kilometre coastline, which supports countless livelihoods through fishing, trade, and tourism.

    – on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • ECB to host next three World Test Championship finals till 2031, ICC says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will continue to host the biennial final of the World Test Championship for the next three editions till 2031, global governing body ICC said on Sunday.

    The match, which crowns the world champions in the longest format of the sport, has been held in England since it was introduced, with Southampton hosting the first edition in 2021 and the two subsequent finals taking place in London.

    “We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship finals,” the ECB chief executive Richard Gould said.

    “It’s a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.”

    The 2025 final at Lord’s, where South Africa beat defending champions Australia, was attended by 109,227 people over four days and received 225 million digital views, the ICC said in a statement last month.

    “Hosting these finals is a privilege, and we look forward to working with the ICC to build on the success of the previous editions,” Gould added.

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-OSI China: Global athletics talents descend on Bochum for University Games

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

    A star-studded athletics roster offers a taste of the Olympics, with Olympians and defending champions set to compete from July 21 to 27 at the FISU World University Games.

    The throwers’ showdown between Cierra Jackson of the United States and Antonia Kinzel of Germany in the women’s discus on July 24 will be a highlight on the field in the Lohrheidestadion in Bochum.

    Jackson, 22, set a championship record of 65.82 meters on her way to grabbing the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship title this summer. That prompted the former Fresno State student to turn professional and then, in her first outing as a full-time athlete, Jackson improved her personal best to 67.82m, just 1.68m short of her compatriot Valarie Allman’s gold-winning distance of 69.50m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Defending champion Kinzel, who set her own PB of 62.64m in May, can be counted as a potential challenger to Jackson while competing on home soil.

    “It’s a special feeling to compete in this internationally renowned event in your own country,” Kinzel said.

    “I want to build on my experiences from two years ago in Chengdu, defend my title in the discus throw, and I am really looking forward to the special atmosphere of the FISU Games, giving a little taste of the Olympics.”

    Bayanda Walaza of South Africa is a notable name on the track. He claimed silver in the men’s 4x100m relay at Paris 2024. Aged just 18, and originally a reserve, Walaza ran the leadoff leg in the final, as South Africa won its first ever medal in the event.

    Walaza, who also won the individual sprint double at the U20 World Championships last year, has kicked on this year too. After becoming just the ninth South African to clock under 10 seconds for the 100m, he improved his PB to 9.94 seconds in Zagreb in May. Weeks earlier, Walaza set a South African junior record of 20.08s in the 200m.

    Both PBs meet the qualification criteria for the senior World Athletics Championships, taking place in Tokyo in September.

    Walaza, along with teammate Lythe Pillay, will be looking to secure a 100m-200m-400m clean sweep. Pillay is the 2022 400m U20 world champion and a reigning World Athletics Relays 4x400m gold medalist.

    Fellow South African sprinter Marlie Viljoen is back as the defending champion after she set a PB of 51.42s in the 400m in March.

    Laura Pellicoro (front) of Italy crosses the finish line during the athletics women’s 1500m final at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

    The other returning champion is Laura Pellicoro of Italy. Now 24, she won the middle-distance double two years ago and is part of a stellar Italian lineup.

    Dalia Kaddari (Italy) is expected to add something to her long list of achievements which already includes being a two-time Olympian (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), European Championship bronze medal in 2022 (4x100m relay), European U23 champion in 2021 (200m) and Youth Olympic Games silver medal in 2018 (200m).

    Edoardo Scotti has been at the center of an impressive 12 months for Italian athletics. He helped his nation finish sixth in the 4x400m mixed relay and seventh in the men’s 4x400m relay at Paris 2024. Then he inspired the team to double silver in the 4x400m mixed and 4x400m men’s relays at the 2024 European Championships in Rome.

    China’s Shu Heng, who is the Asian men’s long jump champion, will try to improve on his PB of 8.22m achieved in May at the Asian Athletics Championships.

    India’s Pooja Singh, at just 1.70 meters tall, will compete as the newly crowned women’s Asian high jump champion. Singh grew up in rural India, with her father taking out loans to fund an athletics journey that began with bamboo poles as crossbars and landing mats fashioned from rice husk and hay.

    Bridget Mbwali from Uganda, a double sprint gold medal winner at last year’s East African University Games, is another decorated runner from Africa. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General -on the Declaration of Principles between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 [scroll down for French]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General welcomes the signature of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/ Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) in Doha. He commends this important step, which opens a pathway toward lasting peace, security, and the return of displaced persons and refugees.
     
    The Secretary-General urges all parties to ensure the swift implementation of the commitments undertaken and expresses his appreciation to the State of Qatar for its facilitation of this process.
     
    The United Nations remains committed to supporting efforts toward peace, protection of civilians, and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in close collaboration with national authorities, regional and international partners.
     

    *****

    Déclaration attribuable au Porte‑parole du Secrétaire général – sur la Déclaration de Principes entre la République démocratique du Congo et l’AFC/M23

    Le Secrétaire général se félicite de la signature de la Déclaration de principes entre le Gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo et l’Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) à Doha. Il salue cette étape importante qui ouvre la voie à une paix durable, à la sécurité et au retour des personnes déplacées et des réfugiés.

    Le Secrétaire général exhorte toutes les parties à assurer la mise en œuvre rapide des engagements pris, et exprime sa gratitude à l’État du Qatar pour avoir facilité ce processus.

    Les Nations unies restent déterminées à soutenir les efforts en faveur de la paix, de la protection des civils et de la stabilité en République démocratique du Congo, en étroite collaboration avec les autorités nationales et les partenaires régionaux et internationaux.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump Marks Six Months in Office with Historic Successes

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Today, President Donald J. Trump celebrates the most successful first six months in office for any President in modern American history.

    • Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, thereby delivering the largest tax cut in American history, increasing Americans’ take-home pay by as much as $13,300, and terminating benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who were gaming the system.
    • Congress passed President Trump’s historic rescissions package, which will save taxpayers $9 billion in wasteful, politically-motivated funding for leftwing foreign aid scams and biased NPR and PBS.
    • The wholesale price of a dozen eggs is down 53%, or $3.09, since the inauguration and is down 62%, or $5.08, from its March peak.
    • The U.S. economy has now added a net of 671,000 jobs since January 2025, with jobs numbers beating expectations four months in a row. Native-born workers have accounted for all job gains, with native-born employment increasing 2,079,000 while foreign-born employment has fallen 543,000.
    • U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered just 6,070 illegal immigrants at the southern border in June — setting a new record low (15% lower than the previous record set in March). Additionally, zero illegal immigrants were released into the U.S. on parole in June, compared to 27,766 a year prior.
    • The administration has ramped up deportations, breaking a record for the number of deportation flights in a month in June. President Trump’s self-deportation push has also been a massive success. Additionally, over 600 known and suspected terrorists have been removed from the United States.
    • At President Trump’s direction, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has arrested over 100,000 illegal alien criminals, including over 2,700 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang.
    • Following President Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency, the U.S. has reached its fastest rate of new oil and gas drilling permits in years, exceeding the Biden administration by 44%.
    • Since President Trump took office, core inflation has tracked at just 2.1% — levels not seen since the first Trump Administration, when prices were low and stable — and has come in below or at economists’ expectations every single month. Meanwhile, wholesale inflation remained flat in June, while import prices came in far below expectations.
    • Summer gas prices reached their lowest point since 2021, and, inflation-adjusted, are near a 20-year low.
    • President Trump’s deregulatory efforts have already saved Americans over $180 billion, or $2,100 per family of four, with the rollback of automobile-related rules alone expected to save consumers more than $1.1 trillion.
    • President Trump secured a historic agreement for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP – a foreign policy feat long thought impossible.
    • Under President Trump’s strong and decisive leadership, the U.S. obliterated Iran’s nuclear program.
    • President Trump secured ceasefires between India and Pakistan and Israel and Iran, a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a pathway to stability for Syria.
    • As a result of his historic peacemaking efforts, President Trump has already received three Nobel Peace Prize nominations since returning to office.
    • In May, blue-collar wage growth saw its largest increase in nearly 60 years since President Trump’s return to office.
    • Companies and foreign governments have pledged over $7.6 trillion in investments into the U.S.
    • The U.S. Treasury has taken in nearly $90 billion in tariff duties since January 2025, with the agency posting a record $27.2 billion surplus in June – the first June surplus since 2005.
    • President Trump has once again proved to be the Dealmaker-in-Chief, inking a minerals deal with Ukraine, a $14 billion “perpetual Golden Share” sale of U.S. Steel, and trade deals with the United Kingdom, China, and Indonesia.
    • President Trump has signed over 170 executive orders, delivering on key campaign promises such as closing the border, protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation, removing men from women’s sports, unleashing American energy, ending federal censorship, ending the radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.
    • The S&P 500 and Nasdaq market indices have reached multiple record highs.
    • The Supreme Court consistently bolstered the Trump administration’s agenda, blocking activist judges from issuing nationwide injunctions, permitting “third-country deportations,” greenlighting the revocation of temporary protected status (TPS) from more than 500,000 migrants and approving efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
    • President Trump signed several pieces of landmark legislation, including the Genius Act, the Halt Fentanyl Act, the Laken Riley Act, and the Take It Down Act.
    • The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force all reached their recruitment goals months in advance.
    • The Trump administration has made incredible strides in its effort to Make America Healthy Again, with roughly 35% of the American food industry making a commitment to eliminate the use of artificial dyes, including Hershey, Consumer Brands and dozens of ice cream companies representing more than 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the U.S.
    • President Trump has ensured U.S. benefit programs serve U.S. citizens, with the administration now having protected more than $40 billion in benefit programs from illegal aliens since POTUS signed an Executive Order in February “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
    • President Trump inked an agreement to provide billions of dollars of military equipment to Ukraine, with NATO footing the bill.
    • President Trump has cracked down on international cartels, designating eight Latin American cartels as terrorist groups, including Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and the Sinaloa Cartel.
    • President Trump has solidified the U.S.’s position as the world leader in artificial intelligence, attracting north of $1 trillion in AI investment, including $90 billion in groundbreaking AI and energy investments in Pennsylvania.
    • The U.S. is on track for its lowest murder rate on record following President Trump’s reinstatement of law and order.
    • Following President Trump’s February executive order, universities and school systems have stopped allowing men in women’s sports, including the University of Pennsylvania, the Virginia High School League and the University of Maine System.
    • Hospitals and hospital systems across the country have halted so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors following President Trump’s executive order “protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation.”
    • In his first six months, President Trump has met with 23 foreign leaders, including three visits from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as two visits from the NATO Secretary General — compared to thirteen foreign leaders and the UN Secretary General, the NATO Secretary General, and the Chinese Foreign Minister for Obama and just five in-person visits for Biden. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Doha agreement brings DR Congo government and M23 rebels a step closer to peace

    Source: United Nations 2

    In a statement released on 19 July, MONUSCO said that the Declaration of Principles, signed in Doha under the mediation of Qatar, “reflects the parties’ resolve to prioritise peaceful means, establish a ceasefire, and set up a joint mechanism to define its practical implementation.”

    “This important declaration marks a shift towards easing tensions and protecting civilians seriously affected by the conflict,” declared Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO. “We commend the commitments made and call for their timely and good-faith implementation.”

    These commitments include measures to facilitate the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places or countries of origin, and the encouragement of inclusive dialogue, seen as vital to addressing the root causes of the conflict and achieving lasting peace.

    Earlier this year, the M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu. Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands more were displaced, and serious human rights violations were committed.

    The Declaration of Principles comes less than a month after a peace agreement signed by Congo and Rwanda, long accused by the Congolese Government of supporting the M23.

    The Mission’s statement highlighted the Declaration’s emphasis on civilian protection and support for the ceasefire, with assistance from MONUSCO and other partners, and reaffirmed its readiness to support the cessation of hostilities, particularly through the establishment of a credible and jointly agreed verification mechanism.

    MONUSCO’s statement concluded by urging all parties to honour their commitments, act in good faith throughout the process, and prioritise human rights, security, and the aspirations of the Congolese people in all decisions. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Months of Keeping America Safe Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term

    WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again. 

    Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe. 

    Secured the Southern Border 

    • On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border.    
    • President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release.  
    • Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office.
    • Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children.
    • Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%.
    • President Trump—with $46.5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall. DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill. President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance.
    • With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4.1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
    • In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228.
    • The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024.   
    • Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history.
    • And in both May and June, U.S. Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies.   

    Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens  

    • The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively. 
    • DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language. President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement. 
    • The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000 illegal aliens in 2025 alone.
    • 70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions.     
    • The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14.4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents. This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year.
    • As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration. The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands.
    • Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests.
    • President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets. DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g).    
    • At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California. The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.
    • In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.
    • After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan.    

    Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration  

    • President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration. President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve.    

    Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations 

    • President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U.S. The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country.
    • President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO. The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app. So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport.  
    • In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States. DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport.
    • DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to. So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE.  

    Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System 

    • President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis. As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs.
    • Following victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately.
    • DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary. No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens. Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS.
    • Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
    • It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information.   

    Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel 

    • Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year. The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.
    • TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.
    • The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago. REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens. Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant.
    • Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems.  

    Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century 

    • The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.
    • President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level. 
    • Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change.
    • DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government.  

    Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas 

    • Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations.
    • FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors.
    • Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people.   

    Getting CISA Back on Mission 

    • Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans.
    • Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power.
    • CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats.
    • CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing. 
    • CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories. 
    • CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks. 
    • CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection.
    • CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
    • Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees.  

    Revolutionizing the Coast Guard 

    • When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected.
    • President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game.
    • In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024.
    • For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals.
    • In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year.
    • That’s 108% over the goal.
    • Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight.
    • Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before.  

    Standing up for the American taxpayer 

    • The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland. 
    • USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U.S. defense capabilities.
    • The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits.     
    • Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars.  

    To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens. 

    ###  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Doha agreement brings Democratic Republic (DR) Congo government and M23 rebels a step closer to peace

    Source: APO – Report:

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    An agreement signed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) has been hailed by the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MONUSCO) as “an important step toward sustainable peace.

    In a statement released on 19 July, MONUSCO said that the Declaration of Principles, signed in Doha under the mediation of Qatar, “reflects the parties’ resolve to prioritize peaceful means, establish a ceasefire, and set up a joint mechanism to define its practical implementation.”

    “This important declaration marks a shift toward easing tensions and protecting civilians seriously affected by the conflict,” declared Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO. “We commend the commitments made and call for their timely and good faith implementation.”

    Those commitments include measures to facilitate the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places or countries of origin, and the encouragement of inclusive dialogue, seen as vital to addressing the root causes of the conflict and achieving lasting peace.

    Earlier this year, the M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu. Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands more were displaced, and serious human rights violations were committed.

    The Declaration of Principles comes less than a month after a peace agreement signed by Congo and Rwanda, long accused by the Congolese government of supporting the M23.

    The Mission’s statement highlighted the Declaration’s emphasis on civilian protection and support for the ceasefire, with assistance from MONUSCO and other partners, and reaffirmed its readiness to support the cessation of hostilities, particularly through the establishment of a credible and jointly agreed verification mechanism.

    MONUSCO’s statement concluded by urging all parties to honour their commitments, act in good faith throughout the process, and prioritise human rights, security, and the aspirations of the Congolese people in all decisions. 

    – on behalf of UN News.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: National training drive boosts cervical cancer prevention efforts in Botswana

    Source: APO


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    In a continued effort to reduce the burden of cervical cancer, the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other key partners has launched a national training initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity of both doctors and nurses in the screening and treatment of pre-cancerous cervical lesions.

    The two-week training brought together healthcare workers from various districts, including Good Hope, Mochudi, and Palapye. The programme focused on equipping six doctors and a group of nurses with advanced clinical skills, particularly in managing cases that require more than basic procedures such as thermal ablation or cryotherapy. “Our goal is to ensure that both doctors and nurses are adequately trained to identify and manage cervical pre-cancer,” said Ms Thomamo Pheto, National Coordinator for the Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme at the Ministry of Health. “Many districts in Botswana still lack skilled personnel, and this training is designed to close that gap.”

    Since the inception of the programme in 2015, more than 283 healthcare professionals have been trained in cervical cancer screening and treatment, an achievement made possible through ongoing collaboration with WHO and other development partners. Ms Pheto noted that the training has sparked a growing interest in women’s health among healthcare workers and has significantly strengthened capacity at the district level. “This time around, we are building a team of professionals who will return to their districts better prepared to screen more women and manage cases early, before they progress to full-blown cancer,” she added.

    Despite the availability of services, Botswana continues to record low cervical cancer screening rates. Ms Pheto attributes this to the asymptomatic nature of pre-cancer and the resulting lack of urgency.

    “When you have a pre-cancer, you don’t feel sick. There’s no pain, no discharge, so many women assume they’re fine,” she said. “This false sense of security is one of the reasons women don’t come forward for screening.” She emphasized the importance of reaching women who have never screened. “Those who have never screened are the ones we are most concerned about. Their health status is unknown, and they may already be at risk.”

    In his remarks, WHO Botswana’s focal person for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), Dr Tebogo Madidimalo, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat. “Botswana is committed towards eliminating cervical cancer by 2030, and we all, particularly us health care workers, have a responsibility to ensure that women coming through our facilities are offered cervical cancer screening and timely follow-up care,” said Dr Madidimalo. He further highlighted the nation’s strong record in addressing major health challenges: “We have proven before that elimination of communicable diseases is possible in Botswana, and likewise, elimination of cervical cancer is within reach for us. It will, however, take all hands-on deck to achieve the WHO targets for elimination.”

    Ms Pheto echoed this call to action, encouraging communities to support eligible women, especially those aged 25 and above, to come forward for screening. “Cervical cancer is a silent killer. By the time symptoms appear, it may already be too late. But with early detection, it is both preventable and treatable.”

    With continued support from WHO and other partners, the Ministry of Health remains committed to scaling up prevention efforts, enhancing healthcare worker capacity, and expanding community outreach. “With the right skills, tools, and community support, we can save lives and move closer to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat in Botswana,” Ms Pheto concluded.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Botswana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President El-Sisi Meets Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

    Source: APO


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    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the meeting addressed the latest developments pertinent to Arab crises and issues, mainly the situation in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the massive efforts being made by Egypt and Qatar to achieve a ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. This is in addition to the pursuit of a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy, the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the prevention of their displacement and the compromise of their just cause.

    The meeting also touched on the latest developments in Syria and Libya, in addition to the situation in Sudan and the ongoing efforts to restore security and stability there. The meeting also covered the political and security situations in the Horn of Africa and the security of the Red Sea.

    President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Arab League, based on its deep belief in the League’s pivotal role in strengthening joint Arab action and unifying Arab ranks in the face of the region’s complex and unprecedented challenges. For his part, the Secretary-General of the Arab League valued Egypt’s wise positions, which contribute to restoring security and stability in the Middle East, especially through its support for a just and final solution to the Palestinian issue, as the only path to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –