NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on the Reported Visit of Trump Administration Officials to Alcatraz

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the reported visit of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Alcatraz announcing a plan to reopen the island’s federal penitentiary:
     
    “With stiff competition, the planned announcement to reopen Alcatraz as a federal penitentiary is the Trump Administration’s stupidest initiative yet. It should concern us all that clearly the only intellectual resources the Administration has drawn upon for this foolish notion are decades-old fictional Hollywood movies.

    “Make no mistake: this stupidity is a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from this Administration’s cruelest actions yet in their Big, Ugly Law, which takes away food from children and rips health care from millions to give tax breaks to billionaires. It remains to be seen how this Administration could possibly afford to spend billions to convert and maintain Alcatraz as a prison when they are already adding trillions of dollars to the national debt with their sinful law.

    “Should reason not prevail and Republicans bring this absurdity before the Congress, Democrats will use every parliamentary and budgetary tactic available to stop the lunacy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Blasts Supreme Court Decision Enabling Mass Layoffs at Education Department: “A Grave Blow to the Rule of Law.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Today on the House Floor, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi denounced the Supreme Court’s recent decision permitting the President to move forward with mass layoffs at the Department of Education. In her remarks, Pelosi described the ruling as a grave blow to the rule of law and a dangerous expansion of executive authority that undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.

    Pointing to the broader consequences of gutting education investments, Pelosi warned that these cuts serve the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the nation’s future.
     
    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court’s ridiculous decision this week to allow the President to proceed with mass layoffs at the Department of Education is a grave blow to the rule of law and defies Congressional authority.

    Justice Sotomayor’s dissent warns that the Court is ‘enabling the executive branch to undermine Congress’s power of the purse.’ And she is absolutely right.

    Perhaps the Republicans in the House, the Senate and the White House do not understand that nothing brings more money to the U.S. Treasury than the education of the American people.

    Early childhood education, K-through-12, higher education, post-grad and lifetime learning for our workers.

    They’re cutting education to give tax breaks to the richest people at the expense of America’s future—the education of the American people.

    The Court’s disregard for the authority of the legislative branch empowers executive overreach at the expense of accountability and democracy.

    My colleagues, take pride in being a Member of the House. Support this institution and our constitutional right with the power of the purse. 

    I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Honors Congressman John Lewis on House Floor: “Let Freedom Ring.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – This week, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House Floor to honor the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, marking the fifth anniversary of his passing on this day in 2020. Joined by colleagues and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Pelosi paid tribute to Lewis’s unwavering commitment to justice, his moral clarity and his enduring call to make “good trouble.”

    Pelosi reflected on her more than three decades serving alongside Lewis in the House, praising his leadership in the fight for civil rights, voting rights and the soul of America. Recalling his example of nonviolence and love, she urged Congress to carry forward his mission with both words and action.
     
    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for calling us together on this anniversary week of losing John Lewis.
     
    Any of us who served with him in this body—and I have served with him for 30 years—my brother, he challenged us each day to do our very best for the American people: by his words, by his example.

    As a distinguished former chair of the Black Caucus, Congresswoman Beatty said: we marched with him in Atlanta. We marched with him in Selma again and again. We marched in Washington. We marched. We followed his lead wherever he took us to make the statement.

    As a distinguished chair of the Caucus, Congresswoman Clarke mentioned earlier about the voter suppression and how John was here to fight it—going to that in a moment. But first, I want to quote John Lewis:

    ‘In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way.’

    ‘Now it is your turn,’ he said, ‘to let freedom ring.’
     
    Mr. Speaker, John Lewis’s lasting legacy represents both the progress of our nation and the promise of what our nation can become. He believed in a better tomorrow, in a more perfect union, in one country, one destiny. He believed in all of us.

    He had a deep faith in the goodness of people, and he believed that everyone was worthy of respect.
     
    Again, I was honored to serve with him for more than 30 years and learn from him all that time—and saw in this Congress how he taught us, through words and actions, what true moral leadership looks like.

    From time to time, when he rose to speak, he reminded us of our duty to the American people: to lift up our voices and to guide them to a future where freedom and justice are not just ideals, but guarantees.

    As the distinguished chair of the Caucus mentioned—and also former chair Mr. Steven Horsford mentioned, as well as Congresswoman Beatty—he was there because the right to vote was so central to our freedom.
     
    He wrote the first 300 pages of the For the People Act, which was to end voter suppression.

    We all know of his leadership as being the title of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. That is still not there.

    Today, as we witness attacks on civil rights, on democracy, on diversity, even on people’s basic necessities, many Americans are looking for hope.

    In these moments, let us be reminded of John’s spirit and honor him not just with words, but with deeds.
     
    It is on us to rise to the moment—to get in good trouble For The Children.

    Let freedom ring.
     
    I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Slams GOP Rescissions Package on House Floor: “An Absolute Shame”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – This evening, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the House Floor opposing the Republican rescissions bill, warning that its deep cuts to foreign aid and global health initiatives pose a grave threat to U.S. national security.

    Pelosi emphasized that slashing billions in foreign aid and diplomatic funding undermines America’s ability to combat global poverty, disease and instability—tools long recognized as essential to preventing conflict and strengthening U.S. influence abroad. Drawing on bipartisan history, she highlighted how past GOP cuts opened the door for geopolitical rivals like China and Russia to fill the void left by American withdrawal.
     
    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. We’re so proud of you.

    Now, tonight is a dangerous night for our country. I’m not even talking about the defense bill—whether we agree or disagree on that. I’m talking about what’s happening in this rescission bill.

    Don’t take it from me. Just take it from Navy Admiral William McRaven—Navy SEAL, four-star admiral—who warned that cutting the State Department and USAID will put every American at risk.

    This is the quote: ‘This is no time to weaken any element of America’s power. The dismissal of highly trained diplomats at the State Department and the dismantling of USAID will jeopardize national security and make the military’s job more difficult.’

    ‘Our national security has never depended on military strength alone. It relies on collaboration with a strong Foreign service and diplomatic corps’—and I’m adding with our USAID.

    In this bill, over $8 billion is taken away from what we do to alleviate poverty in the world, to lessen things like HIV and AIDS and other diseases which have an impact on global health—to stop funding the World Health Organization.

    I give praise to President Bush when he put forth PEPFAR. We worked closely with him to fund it as appropriators. 25 million people’s lives were saved.

    But we’re saying the alleviation of poverty and the eradication of disease is no longer—And you all did this in the 90s too, when you took control of the House.

    And you know what you did? You opened the door for China and Russia to go into these countries and have geopolitical victories funded by our money that they made in trade against us—speaking of China—and then us walking out the door.

    This is absolutely a shame. An absolute shame.

    I urge everyone to vote no on it and understand what this is.

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South African university programmes to support black students aren’t working. What needs to be done

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthea Adams, Lecturer: Academic Staff Development, Rhodes University

    Most universities and colleges have formal and informal programmes and initiatives to support student and staff development. Their goal is to create learning experiences that help students succeed academically. Typically, academic development practitioners design and run these programmes. They are usually academics themselves. To help students, they use tools like data analytics to design tutoring and mentoring programmes. For staff, development might include formal courses, webinars, workshops and seminars. Education researchers Anthea Adams, Sandra Williams, Patricia Muhuro and Charlene Van Wyk-Geduld reflect on their recent paper on academic development in South African higher education.

    What is the role of academic development in South African higher education?

    It started in the early 1980s when black students were first allowed to register at universities that had previously been reserved for white students.

    After 1994 when South Africa became a democracy, the main aim of academic development was to help transform society by giving black students better opportunities to succeed at university.

    Research on whether these efforts were making a difference in improving student learning, and our reflections, show a mismatch between what academic development is supposed to achieve and how it is being carried out in practice.

    What is the mismatch between goals and practices?

    Academic development has come a long way, mainly thanks to government support and funding. There is evidence of this in research and annual progress reports submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training. This evidence clearly shows the positive impact of academic development efforts over the years.

    But even with these strides, we can’t ignore a major concern: many black students drop out of university or do not progress with their studies as expected. This tells us that there’s a serious disconnect between what academic development aims to achieve and its actual practices.

    One of the biggest red flags is the ongoing gap in graduation rates across different population groups. For example, the Council on Higher Education’s 2022 review of higher education highlighted that in 2018, white students were six percentage points more likely to complete their studies than black students.

    Read more: Why South Africa’s universities are in the grip of a class struggle

    What’s also worrying is that South African curricula and learning approaches are not yet relevant to diverse learning contexts. Students, academic staff and professional organisations like the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa have all said that academic development practices may not sufficiently address the academic realities of the majority of students.

    What lessons can we learn?

    We propose that academic development work should be based on research that can genuinely support all students’ success.

    A number of scholars have argued that the quality of current research on academic development work contributes to the mismatch between its goals and actual practices. The research is not yet as theoretical, scholarly and critical as it needs to be to help us fully understand and improve academic development work.

    This critique helps us understand why academic development research often feels limited to one specific context. This is particularly true of research that looks into why some students are dropping out or struggling to complete their studies.
    This kind of research doesn’t offer insights that help practitioners and academics think more broadly about how to apply the findings in different learning contexts.

    Valuable work is being done by both veteran and less experienced academic development practitioners. Their efforts have influenced academic development work as we know it today. But we should respond to the observation that most academic development work is still, in practice, limited to one context.

    What is the way forward?

    Less experienced academic development practitioners and scholars may find it daunting to produce research rich in theory. Therefore, we propose working together in communities of practice to build networks and benefit from reciprocal mentorship opportunities.

    Mentors can be peers or seasoned academic development practitioners and researchers. They can help each other unpack what it means to produce rigorous research based on real-life teaching and learning contexts.

    Working alongside each other and sharing knowledge and expertise can be fulfilling. It can also be the catalyst for building theory that will advance an understanding of academic development work. Opportunities to form peer networks help academics develop confidence and competence as teachers and scholars.

    This kind of work can happen naturally as long as the context is supportive. However, we recognise opportunities for both formal and informal reciprocal mentoring relationships. This is based on our reflections on our teaching experiences and engagements in postgraduate diplomas in higher education.

    Several scholars support the proposal for national directives to develop academics as university teachers and scholars. Professional development initiatives, such as postgraduate diplomas, can be conducive learning spaces where academics can engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

    In other words, supported by experienced facilitators, academics can use research and evidence to interrogate how they teach and how students learn.

    Professional development initiatives are not a panacea for the mismatch between academic development goals and actual practices. However, they can be a place where academics help each other to build theory in academic development. Only then, by working together, can academics respond to challenges casting a shadow on academic development work.

    – South African university programmes to support black students aren’t working. What needs to be done
    – https://theconversation.com/south-african-university-programmes-to-support-black-students-arent-working-what-needs-to-be-done-251954

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: South African university programmes to support black students aren’t working. What needs to be done

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthea Adams, Lecturer: Academic Staff Development, Rhodes University

    Most universities and colleges have formal and informal programmes and initiatives to support student and staff development. Their goal is to create learning experiences that help students succeed academically. Typically, academic development practitioners design and run these programmes. They are usually academics themselves. To help students, they use tools like data analytics to design tutoring and mentoring programmes. For staff, development might include formal courses, webinars, workshops and seminars. Education researchers Anthea Adams, Sandra Williams, Patricia Muhuro and Charlene Van Wyk-Geduld reflect on their recent paper on academic development in South African higher education.

    What is the role of academic development in South African higher education?

    It started in the early 1980s when black students were first allowed to register at universities that had previously been reserved for white students.

    After 1994 when South Africa became a democracy, the main aim of academic development was to help transform society by giving black students better opportunities to succeed at university.

    Research on whether these efforts were making a difference in improving student learning, and our reflections, show a mismatch between what academic development is supposed to achieve and how it is being carried out in practice.

    What is the mismatch between goals and practices?

    Academic development has come a long way, mainly thanks to government support and funding. There is evidence of this in research and annual progress reports submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training. This evidence clearly shows the positive impact of academic development efforts over the years.

    But even with these strides, we can’t ignore a major concern: many black students drop out of university or do not progress with their studies as expected. This tells us that there’s a serious disconnect between what academic development aims to achieve and its actual practices.

    One of the biggest red flags is the ongoing gap in graduation rates across different population groups. For example, the Council on Higher Education’s 2022 review of higher education highlighted that in 2018, white students were six percentage points more likely to complete their studies than black students.



    Read more:
    Why South Africa’s universities are in the grip of a class struggle

    What’s also worrying is that South African curricula and learning approaches are not yet relevant to diverse learning contexts. Students, academic staff and professional organisations like the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa have all said that academic development practices may not sufficiently address the academic realities of the majority of students.

    What lessons can we learn?

    We propose that academic development work should be based on research that can genuinely support all students’ success.

    A number of scholars have argued that the quality of current research on academic development work contributes to the mismatch between its goals and actual practices. The research is not yet as theoretical, scholarly and critical as it needs to be to help us fully understand and improve academic development work.

    This critique helps us understand why academic development research often feels limited to one specific context. This is particularly true of research that looks into why some students are dropping out or struggling to complete their studies.
    This kind of research doesn’t offer insights that help practitioners and academics think more broadly about how to apply the findings in different learning contexts.

    Valuable work is being done by both veteran and less experienced academic development practitioners. Their efforts have influenced academic development work as we know it today. But we should respond to the observation that most academic development work is still, in practice, limited to one context.

    What is the way forward?

    Less experienced academic development practitioners and scholars may find it daunting to produce research rich in theory. Therefore, we propose working together in communities of practice to build networks and benefit from reciprocal mentorship opportunities.

    Mentors can be peers or seasoned academic development practitioners and researchers. They can help each other unpack what it means to produce rigorous research based on real-life teaching and learning contexts.

    Working alongside each other and sharing knowledge and expertise can be fulfilling. It can also be the catalyst for building theory that will advance an understanding of academic development work. Opportunities to form peer networks help academics develop confidence and competence as teachers and scholars.

    This kind of work can happen naturally as long as the context is supportive. However, we recognise opportunities for both formal and informal reciprocal mentoring relationships. This is based on our reflections on our teaching experiences and engagements in postgraduate diplomas in higher education.

    Several scholars support the proposal for national directives to develop academics as university teachers and scholars. Professional development initiatives, such as postgraduate diplomas, can be conducive learning spaces where academics can engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

    In other words, supported by experienced facilitators, academics can use research and evidence to interrogate how they teach and how students learn.

    Professional development initiatives are not a panacea for the mismatch between academic development goals and actual practices. However, they can be a place where academics help each other to build theory in academic development. Only then, by working together, can academics respond to challenges casting a shadow on academic development work.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. South African university programmes to support black students aren’t working. What needs to be done – https://theconversation.com/south-african-university-programmes-to-support-black-students-arent-working-what-needs-to-be-done-251954

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Continued Israeli intervention worsens Syria crisis: Turkish FM

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    ANKARA, July 20 (Xinhua) — “Israel’s continued attacks on Syrian territory” are worsening the crisis in Syria, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

    “Any attack on the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of Syria undermines regional peace efforts,” Fidan told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a telephone conversation on Saturday about the situation in southern Syria.

    According to H. Fidan, it is important to implement the mutual understanding reached by the parties, which should concern an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire throughout the country, announced earlier that day by the Syrian authorities.

    In a statement released on Saturday morning, Syrian authorities said the truce was aimed at preserving national unity and ensuring the safety of civilians in “critical circumstances,” calling the move a national and humanitarian commitment.

    The statement came hours after US Special Representative for Syria Tom Barak announced the ceasefire on social media site X, saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had agreed to end the fighting with the mediation of M. Rubio. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji to Visit Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Switzerland, Attend World Conference of Speakers of Parliament

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), will pay official friendly visits to Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Switzerland from July 23 to 31 and attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Switzerland.

    Zhao Leji will make these visits at the invitation of the Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Laszlo Kövér, the President of the Swiss National Council Maja Riniker and the President of the Council of States of Switzerland Andrea Caroni, as well as the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Axson and the Secretary General of the IPU Martin Chungong. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sudan denounces new EU sanctions as legally unfair

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    KHARTOUM, July 20 (Xinhua) — Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned new sanctions imposed by the European Union on Sudanese individuals and entities as not in line with “fair legal standards.”

    The Sudanese Armed Forces cannot be “equated” with “proscribed rebel armed groups,” the ministry said in a statement, calling on the EU to adopt a more balanced approach that takes into account Sudan’s unique national circumstances.

    On Friday, the EU imposed sanctions on two individuals and two entities linked to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Intervention Force (RIF), including an asset freeze, a ban on providing funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, and a travel ban.

    Sudan remains engulfed in conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RRF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions both inside and outside the country, exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to chair all-party meeting today ahead of Monsoon Session

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will chair an all-party meeting on Sunday, as part of preparations for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is set to commence on Monday, July 21.

    The meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Main Committee Room of the Parliament House Annexe.

    This customary pre-session meeting aims to foster cooperation and coordination among all political parties to ensure the smooth and productive functioning of both Houses — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — during the upcoming session.

    Floor leaders of all major political parties in Parliament have been invited to attend the meeting.

    During the interaction, the central government is expected to present its legislative agenda and seek consensus on key issues to be taken up during the session.

    The Monsoon Session will run from July 21 to August 21 and will include 21 sittings. Notably, no sittings are scheduled between August 12 and August 18.

    Addressing the media earlier, Minister Rijiju said that the government is fully prepared to discuss important national matters and pending legislation.

    “Parliament is about to begin. Whatever issue comes up in Parliament, we will listen to it. Yesterday, I had a very good meeting with Kharge ji and Rahul ji. I keep having regular meetings with leaders of other opposition parties. Being the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, it is my responsibility to maintain coordination with everyone,” he said.

    Among the key bills likely to be taken up during this session are the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024. In total, seven pending bills have been listed for consideration and passage, while eight bills are proposed to be restored for discussion.

    —IANS

  • Death toll rises to 37 after cruise ship capsizes in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Tragedy struck northern Vietnam as a cruise ship carrying dozens of tourists capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province, following a sudden and severe storm. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the death toll has now risen to 37, with rescue operations still underway.

    The incident occurred on Saturday around 1:30 p.m. local time, when the vessel encountered a powerful storm that swept across the region. By 2:05 p.m., the ship had lost all contact with authorities and subsequently sank beneath the waters of the bay, officials confirmed.

    The cruise boat was carrying 48 passengers at the time — 24 men and 24 women — many of them reportedly young people and children.

    Local media outlet Tien Phong reported that most of the passengers were Vietnamese families visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site from the capital, Hanoi.

    Despite challenging weather conditions and heavy rainfall, rescue teams have managed to pull 11 people from the water alive. However, dozens remain missing, prompting a large-scale rescue effort that is expected to continue through the night.

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and has called for a thorough investigation into the accident.

    In a statement, the government emphasised that any violations contributing to the incident would be “strictly handled.”

    Ha Long Bay, famed for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands, is one of Vietnam’s top tourist attractions. In 2019 alone, it welcomed over 4 million visitors, both domestic and international.

    As the search for survivors continues, the nation mourns the lives lost in one of its most iconic natural landmarks.

    —IANS

  • Hong Kong issues highest storm warning as typhoon Wipha approaches

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Hong Kong issued its highest storm warning on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha, packing winds of more than 167 kilometres (103 miles) per hour, brought heavy rain and strong winds across the territory, forcing the cancellation of more than 200 flights.

    The city’s weather observatory raised its storm signal to No. 10 at 9:20 a.m. (0120 GMT) and said it expected the signal to remain at that level “for some time.”

    According to the warning, Wipha will pass approximately 50 km south of the observatory. Hurricane-force winds are affecting the southern part of Hong Kong, the observatory said.

    Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK) cancelled all flights arriving at or departing from Hong Kong International Airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. The airline waived ticket change fees and made arrangements for customers to rebook.

    Most public transport services were suspended on Sunday, including ferries, due to high sea swells.

    -Reuters

  • South Korea: Death toll rises sharply as heavy rains trigger deadly landslides in Sancheong

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Torrential rains that pounded South Korea for four consecutive days have left at least nine people dead and several others missing, after downpours triggered deadly landslides in the southern Sancheong County, officials said.

    A person in their 60s was found in cardiac arrest after a landslide, triggered by heavy rain, engulfed homes in a village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday morning.

    In a separate incident, a landslide in another village in Sancheong killed two others in their home, while a deadly mudslide swept through homes in a different village in the county shortly after noon, leaving two people dead and one missing, according to fire authorities.

    Also in Sancheong, another individual was found in cardiac arrest around noon after their home was inundated by rain. Sancheong County issued an alert urging all residents to evacuate to safety, Yonhap News Agency reported.

    In the nearby city of Miryang, also in South Gyeongsang Province, a driver in his 60s was killed after floodwaters swept away his car.

    Authorities said five people were confirmed dead, two were missing, and two others were found in cardiac arrest in the province on Saturday alone, as record rainfall battered the region. Firefighters continued rescue operations to locate those still unaccounted for.

    South Gyeongsang is among the regions hardest hit by the recent downpours, with some areas receiving more than 700 millimetres of rain between Wednesday and Saturday.

    The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order in response to the landslides.

    So far, central and local government authorities have reported five deaths and four missing persons since the onset of the rain on Wednesday. Four of the five people killed in South Gyeongsang on Saturday were not yet included in the official death toll.

    The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is expected to release updated figures on casualties and damage assessments later in the day.

    Weather authorities have warned that up to 250 mm of additional rainfall could fall within the day, raising concerns about further damage and casualties.

    Evacuation orders have been issued for 7,029 residents from 4,995 households, with more than 2,800 people still unable to return home.

    The torrential downpours have inundated roads, triggered landslides, and flooded homes across the country. Overnight rainfall remained extreme in many regions.

    Incheon’s Yeongheung Island saw 98.5 mm of rain fall in just one hour, between 12:50 a.m. and 1:50 a.m., while Boseong in South Jeolla Province received 88 mm in the same time frame.

    Some areas have already received over 40 percent of their annual average rainfall in the past four days. Seosan recorded 558.6 mm of rain from Wednesday to Friday morning — equivalent to 45 percent of its yearly average.

    A total of 729 cases of public infrastructure damage have been reported, including 388 flooded roads, 133 landslides, and 57 river facility collapses. Private property damage reached 1,014 cases, including 64 flooded buildings and 59 instances of submerged farmland.

    -IANS

  • South Korea: Death toll rises sharply as heavy rains trigger deadly landslides in Sancheong

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Torrential rains that pounded South Korea for four consecutive days have left at least nine people dead and several others missing, after downpours triggered deadly landslides in the southern Sancheong County, officials said.

    A person in their 60s was found in cardiac arrest after a landslide, triggered by heavy rain, engulfed homes in a village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday morning.

    In a separate incident, a landslide in another village in Sancheong killed two others in their home, while a deadly mudslide swept through homes in a different village in the county shortly after noon, leaving two people dead and one missing, according to fire authorities.

    Also in Sancheong, another individual was found in cardiac arrest around noon after their home was inundated by rain. Sancheong County issued an alert urging all residents to evacuate to safety, Yonhap News Agency reported.

    In the nearby city of Miryang, also in South Gyeongsang Province, a driver in his 60s was killed after floodwaters swept away his car.

    Authorities said five people were confirmed dead, two were missing, and two others were found in cardiac arrest in the province on Saturday alone, as record rainfall battered the region. Firefighters continued rescue operations to locate those still unaccounted for.

    South Gyeongsang is among the regions hardest hit by the recent downpours, with some areas receiving more than 700 millimetres of rain between Wednesday and Saturday.

    The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order in response to the landslides.

    So far, central and local government authorities have reported five deaths and four missing persons since the onset of the rain on Wednesday. Four of the five people killed in South Gyeongsang on Saturday were not yet included in the official death toll.

    The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is expected to release updated figures on casualties and damage assessments later in the day.

    Weather authorities have warned that up to 250 mm of additional rainfall could fall within the day, raising concerns about further damage and casualties.

    Evacuation orders have been issued for 7,029 residents from 4,995 households, with more than 2,800 people still unable to return home.

    The torrential downpours have inundated roads, triggered landslides, and flooded homes across the country. Overnight rainfall remained extreme in many regions.

    Incheon’s Yeongheung Island saw 98.5 mm of rain fall in just one hour, between 12:50 a.m. and 1:50 a.m., while Boseong in South Jeolla Province received 88 mm in the same time frame.

    Some areas have already received over 40 percent of their annual average rainfall in the past four days. Seosan recorded 558.6 mm of rain from Wednesday to Friday morning — equivalent to 45 percent of its yearly average.

    A total of 729 cases of public infrastructure damage have been reported, including 388 flooded roads, 133 landslides, and 57 river facility collapses. Private property damage reached 1,014 cases, including 64 flooded buildings and 59 instances of submerged farmland.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI China: Conservation measures help Tibetan antelope migrate in Xizang

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

    Tibetan antelopes prepare to cross the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. The Senlong Zangbo River, located in Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nagqu, is a vital migration route for Tibetan antelopes. Each July, Tibetan antelope calves and their mothers cross the river and migrate to their habitats. Over the past three years, the number of Tibetan antelope migrating across this river has exceeded 150,000 each year.

    Thanks to effective conservation measures, the number of Tibetan antelopes in Xizang has increased to more than 300,000, according to data from the region’s ecology and environment department. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ukraine proposes fresh talks with Russia next week

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

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen before a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Kiev has proposed to hold a new round of peace talks with Moscow next week.

    Rustem Umerov, who headed the Ukrainian delegation in the previous two talks in Istanbul, had sent the Russian side the offer to hold the meeting next week, Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation.

    “The momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up,” Zelensky said. “Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire.”

    Umerov, the former defense minister, was just appointed by the Ukrainian president as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council on Friday.

    Russia on Tuesday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire, dismissing the threat of “severe tariffs” as unacceptable.

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow favors a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict and is ready to negotiate.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tag along with Jay at CISCE: How wind and solar are powering a zero-carbon future?

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

    Diamonds can be made from green hydrogen? The solar-powered parasols can charge your phone? Wind turbines resemble Chinese stilt walkers? British host Jay Ian Birbeck explores the clean energy cycle at the third China International Supply Chain Expo. From Chinese innovation to global collaboration, the expo presents not only the entire clean energy chain but also cooperation and shared success in tackling climate change!

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japan, Australia set up title showdown at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup

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

    Japan upset defending champion China 90-81 in the semifinal at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Saturday.

    Japan will contend for the title with Australia, who held off South Korea 86-73.

    Japan shot an impressive 47.1 percent on 3-pointers. Young point guard Kokoro Tanaka shot 10 of 16 for a game-high 27 points. Yuki Miyazawa added 18 points.

    “That was a game that the players followed the game plan. We had a strategy into this game, they executed it. China countered it, then we changed to another plan. The win was for the players. They really did their job,” said Japan coach Corey Gaines.

    Tanaka, 19, dominated the opening stages, making eight of nine from the floor, including nailing five 3-pointers, for a 21-point first-quarter masterclass, as the score was knotted at 27-27 at the quarter’s end.

    A pair of 3-pointers from Nanako Todo gave Japan an early initiative in the second quarter. China’s twin towers of Han Xu and Zhang Ziyu featured in the game with 4:49 remaining, while Japan set up an eight-point cushion at 49-41 with 2:29 remaining.

    It was where Zhang began to sparkle as the 18-year-old prodigy snatched eight straight points, and Yang Shuyu capped a 10-point run with two free throws that fueled the host to a 51-49 advantage at the break.

    Japan rode on a 10-0 surge midway through the third quarter to gain ground, and carried a 73-65 margin entering the fourth quarter.

    Japan continued its clinical performance from a 3-point range, thwarting China’s every comeback effort to secure the win.

    Three Chinese players cracked double figures in scoring, led by Yang’s 19 points. Han and Zhang chipped in 18 and 17, respectively.

    “The players really wanted to play well, and they tried really hard. Before the game, we set our specific game plan, but when we played the twin towers, we had some mistakes on defense and gave them wide-open 3s, this is what we need to improve,” commented China coach Gong Luming.

    Han echoed Gong, saying, “We made some mistakes on our execution of the game plan. We were asked to guard the 3-point line and not give them open 3s, but we still made some mistakes.”

    Facing South Korea, Isobel Borlase opened with six straight points, sparking a 15-0 run over four minutes that gave Australia a 19-5 lead.

    South Korea responded as Choi I-saem and Heo Ye-eun combined for eight points to keep the game within reach. The first quarter ended with Australia leading 22-13.

    Australia caught fire from beyond the arc as Stephanie Reid and Sara Blicavs hit three consecutive 3-pointers. South Korea, known for its outside shooting, answered with three straight of its own from Choi, Park Ji-hyun and Heo to cut the gap to four.

    South Korea made eight of 15 attempts from long range in the first half, compared to Australia’s 38.5 percent from deep, but Australia still held a narrow 42-38 lead at halftime.

    In the second half, South Korea was limited to just three 3-pointers. Australia broke the game open with a 16-4 run in the third quarter to lead 62-48.

    As South Korea’s shooting cooled down, Australia leaned on its physicality and tempo to push the lead to as many as 15 points with five minutes remaining.

    Heo and Shin Ji-hyun sparked a brief rally with fast-break points, but Australia responded quickly with a series of inside attacks to maintain control.

    Australia dominated the boards with a 45-26 rebounding advantage. Cayla George posted a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.

    New Zealand capped its campaign in Shenzhen in fifth place with a 78-71 victory over the Philippines.

    Down by 16 points early in the second quarter, the Philippines roared back to life, as Kent Jane Pastrana’s 3-pointer helped Gilas Pilipinas pull level at 48-48 at the 6:02 mark in the third.

    The Philippines went ahead 54-53 on Jack Animam’s free throw, its first lead since the first minute of the game.

    Leading 66-61 three minutes going into the final period, the Philippines could not hold on to it, with the Tall Ferns responding with an 11-0 run to turn the game around.

    “The fact that we could hang together for 40 minutes when a lot wasn’t going our way, but we could stay together and grind out a win, just super proud of how the girls did that today,” New Zealand coach Natalie Hurst remarked.

    Esra McGoldrick had a game-high 17 points for New Zealand.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Di Maria penalty gives Rosario Central 1-0 win over 10-man Lanus

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

    Angel Di Maria scored a late penalty as Rosario Central edged to a 1-0 away win over 10-man Lanus in Argentina’s Primera Division Clausura tournament on Saturday.

    Lanus defender Carlos Izquierdoz was sent off in the 71st minute for remonstrating with the referee over a penalty awarded against goalkeeper Nahuel Losada for tripping Gaspar Duarte in the area.

    Di Maria converted the resultant spot kick and Rosario Central held on to secure its first win of the campaign.

    “It was a tough game against a difficult opponent but thankfully we were awarded a clear penalty and I was able to make the most of it,” said Di Maria, who rejoined his original club on a free transfer earlier this month.

    “I’m happy for all of our fans who made the trip to watch us today. I hope they enjoyed this victory,” added the World Cup winner.

    Rosario Central is now fourth in Group B, with four points from two games, having drawn its season opener against Godoy Cruz. Lanus is last in the 15-team group with two losses from as many matches.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake offers new insights into this force of nature

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Kearse, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geophysics, Kyoto University

    Sai Aung MAIN/AFP via Getty Images

    During the devastating magnitude 7.7 Myanmar earthquake on March 28 this year, a CCTV camera captured the moment the plate boundary moved, providing the first direct visual evidence of plate tectonics in action.

    Tectonic plate boundaries are where chunks of Earth’s crust slide past each other – not smoothly, but in sudden, violent ruptures.

    The footage shows Earth’s surface lurching sideways, like a gigantic conveyor belt switched on for just a second, as the fault slips.

    What we’re seeing is the propagation of a large earthquake rupture – the primary mechanism that accommodates plate boundary motion at Earth’s surface. These shear fractures travel at several kilometres per second, making them notoriously difficult to observe.

    This video explains the moment Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault ruptured in a large earthquake, allowing the tectonic plate boundary to shift. Research: https://doi.org/10.1785/0320250024.

    These rare events, separated by centuries, have shaped our planet’s surface over millions of years, creating features such as Aotearoa New Zealand’s Alpine Fault and the Southern Alps.

    Until now, seismologists have relied on distant seismic instruments to infer how faults rupture during large earthquakes. This video sheds new light on the process that radiates seismic energy and causes the ground to shake.

    Analysis of the video

    In our new study, we analysed the video frame by frame. We used a technique called pixel cross-correlation to reveal that the fault slipped 2.5 metres sideways over a duration of just 1.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 3.2 metres per second.

    The total sideways movement in this earthquake is typical of strike-slip fault ruptures, which move the land sideways (in contrast to faults that move land up and down).

    But the short duration is a major discovery.

    The timing of when a fault starts and stops slipping is especially difficult to measure from distant recordings, because the seismic signal becomes smeared as it travels through Earth.

    In this case, the short duration of motion reveals a pulse-like rupture – a concentrated burst of slip that propagates along the fault like a ripple travels down a rug when it’s flicked from one end.

    Capturing this kind of detail is fundamental to understanding how earthquakes work, and it helps us better anticipate the ground shaking likely to occur in future large events.

    Validation of the ‘slickenline’ hypothesis

    Our analysis also revealed something more subtle about the way the fault moved.

    We found the slip didn’t follow a straight path. Instead it curved. This subtle curvature mirrors patterns we’ve observed previously at fault outcrops.

    Called “slickenlines”, these geological scratch marks on the fault record the direction of slip.

    Our work shows the slickenlines we see on outcrops are curved in a manner similar to the curvature seen in the CCTV footage. Based on our video analysis, we can be certain that curved slip occurs, giving credence to our interpretations based on geological observations.

    In our earlier research, we used computer models to show that curved slickenlines could emerge naturally when an earthquake propagates in a particular direction. The Myanmar rupture, which is known to have travelled north to south, matches the direction predicted by our models.

    This alignment is important. It gives us confidence in using geological evidence to determine the rupture direction of past earthquakes, such as the curved slickenlines left behind after the New Zealand Alpine Fault’s 1717 earthquake.

    This first glimpse of a fault in motion shows the potential for video to become a powerful new tool in seismology. With more strategic deployments, future earthquakes could be documented with similar detail, offering further insight into the dynamics of fault rupture, potentially revolutionising our understanding of earthquake physics.

    Jesse Kearse receives funding from Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund.

    – ref. The first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake offers new insights into this force of nature – https://theconversation.com/the-first-video-of-earths-surface-lurching-sideways-in-an-earthquake-offers-new-insights-into-this-force-of-nature-261004

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: China is building a new model of international cooperation – deputy editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani newspaper

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Baku, July 20 /Xinhua/ — China is confidently forming a new model of international cooperation based on cultural diversity, mutual respect and dialogue, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Respublika newspaper Emin Gasimov said in an interview with Xinhua, commenting on the results of his visit to the ministerial meeting of the Global Dialogue of Civilizations held in Beijing.

    According to the agency’s source, the meeting confirmed Beijing’s growing role in promoting the Global Civilization Initiative, a platform focused on the peaceful coexistence of cultures, equal cooperation, and humanitarian interaction.

    He noted that the conference in Beijing demonstrated the practical implementation of these principles. “The development that China has received in recent years gives this country the opportunity to implement global and great initiatives,” E. Gasimov noted.

    He stressed that the key idea of the initiative is to recognize cultural diversity as the foundation of sustainable development. It offers an alternative to geopolitical confrontation, relying on humanitarian dialogue, knowledge exchange and mutual enrichment of civilizations.

    “China does not build walls, it builds bridges,” added E. Gasimov, expressing confidence that the new architecture of international cooperation should be based on trust, mutual understanding and respect for the sovereignty of each culture.

    According to him, Azerbaijan’s participation in this process is especially important: the country can play a key role as a bridge between East and West, North and South, especially in the humanitarian sphere. The agency’s interlocutor noted that Azerbaijan has supported the international Belt and Road initiative from the first days and is actively involved in projects that promote sustainable and peaceful development.

    E. Gasimov expressed confidence that China’s initiative to build a community with a common destiny for humanity requires joint efforts of all countries and peoples. “The modern world does not need confrontation, but dialogue on equal terms. Civilizations should not be opposed, they should mutually enrich each other,” he noted. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, 100 Urumqi-Xi’an express freight trains have been sent under e-commerce

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    URUMQI, July 20 (Xinhua) — As of July 18, 100 e-commerce express freight trains had been sent from Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Xi’an in Shaanxi Province in 2025, according to the China Railways Urumqi Branch.

    In January this year, the first express freight train between Urumqi and Xi’an was launched, which was also the first such train to leave Xinjiang outside the region. Since the launch of the service, the speed of trains on this route has increased from 90 to 120 km per hour, and the travel time has been reduced by about 10 hours.

    “We have reduced the travel time of express trains to about 36 hours, which allows local products such as fruits, walnuts and milk to be delivered from Xinjiang to other regions more quickly,” said Li Xiao, an employee of the railway logistics center at the aforementioned branch of the CZR.

    JD Logistics representative for the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Ma Chunjun said that the delivery of parcels used to take three to four days, but with the launch of the Urumqi-Xi’an express e-commerce freight trains, the delivery time has been reduced to 48 hours. According to him, JD has already transported 400,000 parcels on this route. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International Olympiad in Mental Arithmetic was held in Vladivostok

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Vladivostok, July 20 (Xinhua) — The International Mental Arithmetic Olympiad “Pacific Cup -2025” was held on Saturday at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok, bringing together 123 young participants from different regions of Russia and China.

    Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Vladivostok Wang Jun gave a speech before the competition. According to him, mental arithmetic is an important part of traditional Chinese culture. In 2013, UNESCO officially included mental arithmetic in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, making it a common spiritual treasure. The Olympiad is of great importance for the popularization of mental arithmetic.

    The organizer of the Olympiad is the Eastern Association of Mental Arithmetic. As the director of the association Elena Shumeiko said in an interview with Xinhua, this is a friendly competition that not only allows for strengthening friendship between the peoples of Russia and China, but also gives the participants an opportunity to exchange experiences.

    The head of the Chinese delegation, head of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Society of the Chinese city of Yantai Xu Gongcai said that the competition has become a platform for teenagers from China and Russia to express themselves and learn from each other. During the competition, the participants exchanged learning experiences and deepened their understanding of each other’s culture, which contributes to the popularization and development of mental arithmetic in the world. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Voting begins in Japan’s upper house elections

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TOKYO, July 20 (Xinhua) — Voting began in Japan on Sunday morning for the upper house (House of Councillors) election, with a total of 522 candidates running in the intense battle between the ruling and opposition camps.

    The House of Councillors consists of 248 members. The term of office of statesmen is 6 years. Every three years, half of the composition of the House is renewed.

    The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito currently hold 75 seats that are not up for re-election. They need to win 50 seats in this election to maintain their majority.

    The bar is seen as relatively low for the ruling bloc, which controlled the upper house of parliament before the election, although Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who faces low public support amid serious problems such as rising prices and high US tariffs, has called it a tall order.

    In the October 2024 general election, the ruling coalition lost its majority in the more powerful House of Representatives (lower house), forcing Mr. Ishiba to form Japan’s first minority government in more than three decades.

    If the ruling coalition fails to maintain a majority in the upper house this time, it will be extremely difficult for S. Ishiba to continue leading his administration, local media report. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Clashes rage in Druze region as Syria struggles to enforce ceasefire

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Sectarian clashes escalated on Saturday in Syria’s predominantly Druze region of Sweida, with machine gun fire and mortar shelling heard after days of bloodshed, as the Islamist-led government struggled to enforce a ceasefire.

    Reuters reporters heard gunfire from inside Sweida city and saw shells landing in nearby villages. There were no immediate, confirmed reports of casualties.

    The government had announced that security forces were being deployed to the southern region in an effort to maintain peace and urged all parties to halt fighting after nearly a week of factional violence in which hundreds have been killed.

    Late on Saturday, the interior ministry said clashes in Sweida city had subsided and the area had been cleared of Bedouin tribal fighters following the deployment.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that at least 940 people had been killed in clashes around Sweida since last week. Reuters could not independently verify the death toll.

    Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that “Arab and American” mediation had helped restore calm before the latest escalation. He also criticized Israel for conducting airstrikes earlier in the week.

    Violence in Druze Region Challenges Damascus

    The fighting poses a fresh challenge to the authority of Sharaa’s Islamist-dominated government, which assumed power after rebels ousted autocratic President Bashar al-Assad in December.

    The unrest began last week as clashes between the Druze—a religious minority native to southern Syria, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and parts of Lebanon and Jordan—and Syrian Bedouin tribes. Government forces intervened to defuse tensions but ended up clashing with Druze gunmen and attacking Druze communities.

    Saturday’s violence once again pitted Druze fighters against Bedouin tribesmen, according to eyewitnesses.

    The conflict has drawn in neighboring Israel, which launched airstrikes in southern Syria and on the defense ministry in Damascus while Syrian government forces battled Druze fighters. Israel claims it is acting to protect the Druze, who also form a notable minority in Israel.

    However, Israel and Washington remain divided over Syria. The U.S. supports a centralized Syrian state under Sharaa’s leadership, which has pledged to govern for all citizens. Israel, however, argues that the government is dominated by jihadists and poses a threat to minorities.

    In March, Syrian government forces were implicated in mass killings of members of the Alawite minority, from which much of Assad’s elite hailed.

    Tensions at a Boiling Point

    On Saturday, the Syrian presidency issued a statement announcing an immediate ceasefire and called for an end to hostilities. President Sharaa declared that Syria would not become “a testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement.”

    He blamed Druze gunmen for the latest outbreak, accusing them of launching revenge attacks against Bedouins.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Sharaa’s remarks, saying he was siding with the attackers. “In al-Sharaa’s Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority—Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian,” he wrote on X.

    On Friday, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack announced that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Barrack, who serves as both U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s Syria envoy, called on Druze, Bedouins, Sunnis, and other minority groups to “build a new and united Syrian identity.”

    Israel has repeatedly targeted Syrian military facilities since Assad’s fall, saying it wants southern Syria, particularly areas near its border, to remain demilitarized. On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to Sweida for two days.

    Sweida Hospital Overwhelmed

    Mansour Namour, a resident of a village near Sweida city, reported that mortar shells were still falling near his home on Saturday afternoon, with at least 22 people wounded.

    Dr. Omar Obeid, director of a local hospital in Sweida, said the facility was overwhelmed. “The hospital is full of bodies and wounded from the past few days. All the injuries are from bombs—some with chest wounds, others with shrapnel injuries to their limbs,” he said.

    –Reuters

  • Japan heads to polls in key test for Prime Minister Ishiba

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Japanese voters could unleash political turmoil as they head to the polls on Sunday in a tightly contested upper house election, with rising prices and immigration concerns threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s grip on power.

    Opinion polls suggest Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito may fall short of the 50 seats needed to retain control of the 248-seat upper house of parliament, in an election where half the seats are up for grabs.

    Polls show that smaller opposition parties pushing for tax cuts and increased public spending are set to gain — among them, the right-wing Sanseito, which vows to curb immigration, oppose foreign capital inflows, and reverse gender equality initiatives.

    A poor showing by the coalition could shake investor confidence in the world’s fourth-largest economy and disrupt critical trade talks with the United States, analysts said.

    Ishiba may have to choose between stepping aside for a new LDP leader or scrambling to secure the backing of some opposition parties through policy compromises, said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group in Japan.

    “Each scenario requires the LDP and Komeito to make certain concessions, and will be challenging, as any potential partner has leverage in the negotiations,” he added.

    After the election, Japan faces a deadline of August 1 to strike a trade deal with the United States or risk punishing tariffs in its largest export market.

    Such import levies could squeeze the economy and further pressure the government to provide financial relief to households already reeling from inflation — including a doubling of rice prices since last year.

    With an eye on a jittery government bond market, the LDP has called for fiscal restraint, rejecting opposition demands for major tax cuts and increased welfare spending to soften the blow.

    Ishiba’s administration lost its majority in the more powerful lower house in October — the LDP’s worst showing in 15 years — roiling financial markets and leaving the prime minister vulnerable to no-confidence motions that could topple his administration and trigger a fresh general election.

    Police said a male driver had been shot while being assaulted by onlookers and was taken to a hospital. His condition remains unknown.

    Ruled by the LDP for most of the post-war period, Japan has so far largely avoided the social divisions and political fracturing seen in other industrialised democracies.

    Voting ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), when media outlets are expected to project results based on exit polls.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI USA: California prepositions resources in Plumas and Sierra Counties ahead of critical fire weather conditions

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 19, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has approved the prepositioning of firefighting resources in Sierra and Plumas counties in response to critical fire weather conditions forecasted to impact Northern California starting Sunday, July 20, through Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
     
    A total of nine fire engines, three water tenders, and one dispatcher are prepositioned in Sierra and Plumas counties. These efforts ensure that resources are ready to respond quickly, minimizing the potential impact of new fires. This proactive approach has proven to be a critical component of California’s wildfire response strategy, reducing response times and containing fires before they escalate into major incidents.
     
    Residents are urged to stay vigilant during this heightened fire weather period. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) reminds the public to:

    • Prepare a wildfire action plan, including planning evacuation routes and packing a go-bag ready with essentials.
    • Sign up for local emergency alerts to stay informed about changing conditions.

    For more information on fire safety and preparedness, visit News.CalOES.ca.gov and Ready.ca.gov.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jul 19, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued the following statement regarding the deaths of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus, and William Osborn:“Detectives Kelley-Eklund,…

    Jul 17, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of 3 additional Urban Search and Rescue Team (US&R) members to Texas to assist with ongoing response efforts related to severe flooding impacts.  A total of 42 California US&R members are…

    Jul 17, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued the following statement regarding the death of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd:“This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Conservation measures help Tibetan antelope migrate in SW China’s Xizang

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

    Conservation measures help Tibetan antelope migrate in SW China’s Xizang

    Updated: July 20, 2025 10:39 Xinhua
    Rescued Tibetan antelope calves rest in a car in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. The Senlong Zangbo River, located in Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nagqu, is a vital migration route for Tibetan antelopes. Each July, Tibetan antelope calves and their mothers cross the river and migrate to their habitats. Over the past three years, the number of Tibetan antelope migrating across this river has exceeded 150,000 each year. Thanks to effective conservation measures, the number of Tibetan antelopes in Xizang has increased to more than 300,000, according to data from the region’s ecology and environment department. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 14, 2025 shows a Tibetan antelope calf in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Two rescued Tibetan antelope calves rest at a management station in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo taken on July 14, 2025 shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tibetan antelopes prepare to cross the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Conservation measures help Tibetan antelope migrate in SW China’s Xizang

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

    Conservation measures help Tibetan antelope migrate in SW China’s Xizang

    Updated: July 20, 2025 10:39 Xinhua
    Rescued Tibetan antelope calves rest in a car in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. The Senlong Zangbo River, located in Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nagqu, is a vital migration route for Tibetan antelopes. Each July, Tibetan antelope calves and their mothers cross the river and migrate to their habitats. Over the past three years, the number of Tibetan antelope migrating across this river has exceeded 150,000 each year. Thanks to effective conservation measures, the number of Tibetan antelopes in Xizang has increased to more than 300,000, according to data from the region’s ecology and environment department. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on July 14, 2025 shows a Tibetan antelope calf in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Two rescued Tibetan antelope calves rest at a management station in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo taken on July 14, 2025 shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tibetan antelopes prepare to cross the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This aerial drone photo shows Tibetan antelopes crossing the Senlong Zangbo River in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Centuries-old Yizu Dage art becomes major tourist attraction in SW China’s Yunnan

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a local Yizu Dage team performing during a parade show on a square in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Yizu Dage, a traditional folk art of the Yi ethnic group usually performed during festivals, weddings, funerals and other gathering occasions, has a history of about 10 centuries and was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Weishan is dubbed “cradle of Yizu Dage.”

    Provincial and prefecture authorities of Yunnan have rolled out policies and dedicated funds in support of the development and popularization of Dage art.

    To date, Dage art is not only integral part of local people’s daily life, but also a major tourist attraction.

    MIL OSI China News –