NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Heathcare – NZ hosts first-of-its-kind course on life-saving heart technique that halves deaths

    Source: Kia Manawanui Trust | The Heart of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Patients are often told they are “in the best hands”, yet many New Zealanders with blocked arteries in the heart are treated using outdated techniques.
    Most stents are guided into place using angiography – a decades-old imaging method that provides a 2D black-and-white image of the arteries, but offers little detail from inside the vessel itself. Although widely used, it leaves cardiologists making critical decisions without the full picture.
    This week, 30 cardiologists from around New Zealand and Australia will attend a specific teaching course that certifies them in two cutting-edge cardiac imaging techniques – Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS). These techniques provide detailed 3D images from inside the coronary arteries, reducing the risk of thrombosis, and subsequent heart attacks and death.
    The course is being hosted by The Heart of Aotearoa – The Kia Manawanui Trust, alongside the Transcontinental Coronary Imaging and Physiology Club (TCIP) and Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) and is the first course of its kind to be offered in New Zealand and Australia.
    The Heart of Aotearoa – The Kia Manawanui Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says New Zealanders deserve access to the best-practice cardiac care, and this course is an important step toward delivering it.
    “For years, our heart patients have had stents placed using a technique that is technically adequate, but not optimal.
    “It is now clear that using IVUS or OCT imaging significantly improves patient outcomes and is strongly recommended internationally,” Ms Harding says.
    “We have some of the best cardiologists in the world, and this course draws on their expertise to teach a technique that should become the gold standard in New Zealand.”
    The evidence shows that using these imaging techniques leads to a 45 per cent reduction in cardiac death, she says.
    “The data is clear – these imaging techniques reduce complications, improve outcomes, and lower the risk of death. We can’t ignore that.”
    Trust Medical Director Dr Sarah Fairley – who is one of the course directors and a Wellington-based interventional cardiologist – says this training is an important moment for education in heart healthcare in New Zealand.
    “This isn’t about showcasing novel technology – the aim is to share knowledge and provide colleagues with the training to use intravascular imaging with confidence, so they can deliver the best possible heart healthcare throughout Aotearoa.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace: Governments must rise to the moment and vote in favour of a moratorium on deep sea mining

    Source: Greenpeace

    The 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has ended with Greenpeace saying governments are continuing to fall short in protecting the deep sea.
    While high-level representatives from Palau, France and Panama attended to rally the international community, Greenpeace is calling for greater efforts from more governments to put a legal barrier between mining machines and the deep ocean.
    Upcoming ISA meetings must secure a moratorium and leave no room for rushed attempts to adopt a Mining Code. Recent developments have made it clear that outstanding political and scientific concerns cannot be hastily resolved under industry-driven pressure.
    Louisa Casson, Campaigner, Greenpeace International who attended the meeting, says: “Governments have yet to rise to the moment. They remain disconnected from global concerns and the pressing need for courageous leadership to protect the deep ocean. We call on the international community to rise up and defend multilateralism against rogue actors like The Metals Company. Leaders must respond by establishing a moratorium and reaffirming that authority over the international seabed lies collectively with all States-for the benefit of humanity as a whole.”
    Juressa Lee, Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining campaigner, says: “Deep sea mining is the latest form of colonisation and extraction. Pacific civil society is overwhelmingly opposed to deep sea mining and must not be ignored in the rush by companies and states based in the Global North to start plundering the ocean.”
    While calls for a moratorium on deep sea mining have not yet gained global consensus, they continue to gain momentum, supported by compelling arguments from a diverse group of countries. Croatia has just become the 38th government calling for a precautionary pause, moratorium or ban on deep sea mining.
    On Tuesday His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, addressed the Assembly, drawing attention to persistent efforts and intense pressure from the industry to rush the negotiations and finalise a Mining Code. He stated: “Exploiting the seabed is not a necessity – it is a choice. And it is reckless. It is gambling with the future of Pacific Island children, who will inherit the dire consequences of decisions made far from their shores.”
    In the first meeting of the ISA since The Metals Company (TMC) submitted the world’s first-ever application to commercially mine the international seabed, governments at the ISA Council responded by launching an investigation into whether mining contractors, including TMC’s subsidiaries Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML), are complying with contractual obligations to act in accordance with the international legal framework.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Job decline continues, wages not growing with inflation – CTU

    Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi 

    NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has said that today’s release of labour market data shows the continued economic pain that is being felt by workers.

    “This new data shows that unemployment is rising, wages are not keeping up with rising costs, and young people are bearing the brunt of the Government’s failure to protect jobs and grow the economy,” said Wagstaff.

    “According to Stats NZ, the number of filled jobs was down 27,850 from this time last year and is down by more than 30,000 over two years. There are 10% fewer 15–19-year-olds in work than this time last year. The Government doesn’t have a plan to tackle unemployment.

    “Total wages grew 1.2% last year. Inflation is currently 2.7%. We have had two years in a row where the minimum wage was cut in real terms, and the Government has cut the living wage from government contracts. Working people’s pay isn’t keeping up with the cost of living, and there is no relief in sight.

    “When we look at the data, there are 12,169 fewer people working in construction than this time last year, nearly 6,000 fewer in manufacturing and 5,000 fewer in professional, scientific, and technical services. It’s no wonder employment confidence is at near record lows.

    “The government’s plan for the economy isn’t working and is only compounding the cost-of-living crisis for working people. They are delivering tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy, and spending cuts for everyone else.

    “The longer that we leave unemployment to grow, the harder it will be to tackle.  It’s time we had policies like fair pay agreements to help deliver the strong working conditions needed right now, and social insurance to support workers in transition. It’s time we had a government that cared for working people and their families,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Practical safety reforms welcome news for farmers – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today announced targeted consultation with farmers and the wider agriculture sector on health and safety rule changes.
    Many of the proposed changes reflect what Federated Farmers and its members have been calling for, health and safety spokesperson David Birkett says .
    “We’re really pleased the Minister has announced a raft of changes, and that she’ll be consulting directly with our sector to make sure any new rules are fit for the realities of farm life.
    “This commitment to targeted consultation is a good sign farmers will be properly heard.”
    Minister van Velden has announced the development of two new Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) – one on the roles and responsibilities in agriculture, and one on the safe use of farm vehicles and machinery.
    “We’re very pleased to see WorkSafe will be developing an ACOP to provide clearer guidance on overlapping duties and PCBU responsibilities in agriculture.
    “Farms are dynamic workplaces and we need greater clarity around who on the farm – whether it’s farmers, contractors or someone else – is responsible for particular health and safety duties, and how they can work together to manage risks.
    “It’s also great to see movement on quad bike safety, because this is where most fatalities are happening. If we’re going to reduce harm, that’s the place to start.”
    The Minister confirmed the Government will strengthen the ACOP model so businesses that comply with them have confidence they’re meeting their legal duties.
    “This is something we’ve been calling for, and it will give farmers clarity and confidence,” Birkett says.
    “We’re committed to working closely with WorkSafe throughout the process to make sure these codes are developed with farmers, not prescribed by Wellington bureaucrats.”
    The Minister also announced a review of the rules around children carrying out light chores on family farms, such as feeding animals and watering plants.
    “We strongly support clarification around what kinds of farm activities children can safely take part in,” Birkett says.
    “Family farms are unique in that they are both a home and a workplace, and kids can learn a lot when they’re safely involved.”
    Federated Farmers has worked closely with Minister van Velden since she first announced the health and safety review at the organisation’s Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays 2024.
    Since then, the Minister has joined Federated Farmers for a national webinar and visited farmers to hear firsthand about the practical challenges they face.
    “We’re proud to have played a meaningful role in helping get this reform process off the ground,” Birkett says.
    “Farm safety is absolutely vital, but the rules need to be grounded in fairness, practicality and common sense.
    “These proposals show we’re finally moving in the right direction, with clearer and more workable expectations for farmers.
    “That said, we know there’s still work needed to lift the bar in our sector. Our priority now is helping farmers feel supported and confident to engage with health and safety in a way that genuinely reduces risk on-farm – not just ticks boxes.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 3-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on July 29, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 3-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 50,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 46,058
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 46,058
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.48
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/800

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Thailand-Cambodia border calm as military-level talks postponed

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Thailand–Cambodia border, where fighting has raged since last week, was calm on Tuesday following a ceasefire deal and military commanders from both sides are set to meet for talks later in the day, acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said.

    Phumtham and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade following five days of intense fighting that killed at least 38 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000.

    The Thai army said in a statement there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early on Tuesday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, and Thailand‘s military had retaliated proportionately.

    Phumtham played down the clashes, and said he had spoken with Cambodia‘s defence minister ahead of the talks between military commanders.

    “There is no escalation,” Phumtham told reporters. “Right now things are calm.”

    Thai military officials in two areas had met with their Cambodian counterparts, but commanders along the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict were yet to hold talks, Thai army spokesman Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree said in a statement.

    The parley had been scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), but it was postponed and no new time had yet been set, he added.

    Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, said at a briefing on Tuesday that there had been no new fighting along the border.

    Vehicular traffic and daily activity resumed in the Kantharalak district of Thailand‘s Sisaket province on Tuesday, about 30 km (20 miles) from the frontlines, where Thai and Cambodian troops remain amassed.

    Cars and motorbikes returned to the streets, which had been largely empty since the border clashes began on Thursday, with military vehicles among civilian traffic.

    Chaiya Phumjaroen, 51, said he returned to town to reopen his shop early on Tuesday, after hearing of the ceasefire deal on the news.

    “I am very happy that a ceasefire happened,” he said. “If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money.”

     

    TALKS AND TRADE

    The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over their disputed frontier and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides and a full-blown diplomatic crisis.

    Monday’s peace talks came after a sustained push by Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued.

    Thailand and Cambodia face a tariff of 36% on their goods in the U.S., their biggest export market, unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the ceasefire deal was reached, Trump said he had spoken to both leaders and had instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks.

    Pichai Chunhavajira, Thailand‘s finance minister, said on Tuesday that trade talks with Washington are expected to be concluded before August 1, and that U.S. tariffs on the country are not expected to be as high as 36%.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump says he is not seeking summit with Xi, but may visit China

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was not seeking a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but added that he may visit China at Xi’s invitation, which Trump said had been extended.

    “I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest!,” Trump said on Truth Social.

    Aides to Trump and Xi have discussed a potential meeting between the leaders during a trip by the U.S. president to Asia later this year, sources previously told Reuters.

    A trip would be the first face-to-face encounter between the men since Trump’s second term in office, at a time when trade and security tensions between the two superpower rivals remain elevated.

    While plans for a meeting have not been finalized, discussions on both sides of the Pacific have included a possible Trump stopover around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea or talks on the sidelines of the October 30-November 1 event, the people said.

    The third round of U.S.-China trade talks taking place in Stockholm this week may lay the groundwork ahead of a leaders’ summit in the autumn, analysts say.

    A new flare-up of tariffs and export controls would likely impact any plans for a meeting with Xi.

    (Reuters)

  • Rain batters Delhi, Air India cautions flyers; IMD flags intense rainfall across the country

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As heavy rain lashed the national capital on Tuesday morning, Air India issued a travel advisory cautioning passengers that flight operations to and from Delhi may be affected due to adverse weather conditions.

    The airline advised travelers to check their flight status on its official website before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for their journey.

    “Gusty winds and rain may impact flight operations to and from Delhi this morning. Please check your flight status… before heading to the airport and allow extra time for your journey,” said Air India on X.

    The downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms, brought much-needed relief from the humid weather in several parts of Delhi.

    Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across large parts of the country until August 4. On July 29, extremely heavy rain is expected over eastern Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, while Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana may witness heavy showers.

    In western India, Konkan and Gujarat are likely to experience isolated heavy rainfall on July 29, with light to moderate showers predicted over the next 6–7 days.

    Northeast India, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to see heavy to very heavy rainfall. Eastern and central states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh may face isolated heavy rain and thunderstorms.

    In southern India, heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and coastal Karnataka on July 29 and 30, accompanied by strong winds ranging between 40–50 kmph. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is expected in most southern states throughout the week.

    The IMD further stated that fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is expected over northwest, northeast, and eastern regions of the country in the coming days, while central and peninsular India may witness scattered to fairly widespread rain.

    For Wednesday, the IMD has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in eastern Rajasthan. Heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Jharkhand, Kerala, Mahe, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and western Rajasthan.

    Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) are likely at isolated places in Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Jharkhand, parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Vidarbha.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Parliament to resume debate on Operation Sindoor today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to begin its discussion on Operation Sindoor on Tuesday. The operation, launched by the Indian Armed Forces, was conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 people, most of them tourists.

    Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha will continue the debate on Operation Sindoor for the second consecutive day. On Monday, the House opened the discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh initiating the debate. He described India’s cross-border strikes as accurate, precise, and non-escalatory, and said that the operation served a specific objective.

    “Operation Sindoor’s main purpose was to destroy and decimate terror factories operating from Pakistani soil. It was stopped because the goal of dismantling terror bases and nurseries was achieved,” the Defence Minister told the House.

    He also said that it was the Indian government which decided to call off Operation Sindoor and there was no pressure from any entity or nation, as claimed by the Opposition and their claims are “blatantly false” and “misleading”.

    Singh further criticised the Opposition for focusing on issues that he termed as relatively minor, stating that such distractions could compromise national security. “When the aim is to go higher, we should not pay attention to small issues because focusing on issues that remain comparatively small can divert attention from national security,” he said.

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who also addressed the House during the debate, said India’s response to cross-border terrorism has undergone a strategic shift, which he described as the “new normal.” He said the country had moved past an era of strategic restraint and was now defining its own terms.

    He elaborated on this evolving doctrine: Terrorists will not be treated as proxies, cross-border attacks will be met with direct and appropriate response, there will be no dialogue except on terrorism – talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand, India will not bow to nuclear intimidation, and good neighbourly ties are incompatible with terrorism – blood and water cannot flow together.

    Participating in the debate, Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi criticised the government for its handling of the April 22 attack. He said that more than 100 days had passed since the incident, but the five perpetrators had not been apprehended. Gogoi also questioned the rationale behind stopping Operation Sindoor after Pakistan capitulated, asking why the government did not proceed to reclaim areas under illegal occupation by the neighbouring country.

    Congress, the principal opposition party, has been allotted around two hours to present its views in the Upper House, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge expected to lead the debate.

  • Heavy rains lash Delhi; IMD warns of more intense showers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Delhi witnessed an intense spell of rain on Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed relief from the prevailing humid conditions.

    However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall across Delhi-NCR, raising concerns over flooding and traffic disruptions.

    According to the IMD, the downpour may lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas, road flooding, closure of underpasses, traffic congestion, reduced visibility, and potential damage to plantations, standing crops, and weak structures, including kutcha houses.

    In response to the inclement weather, Air India issued a travel advisory alerting passengers to possible disruptions in flight operations to and from Delhi. The airline urged travellers to check their flight status and allow extra time while heading to the airport.

    Similarly,  IndiGo and SpiceJet also issued travel advisories, warning passengers of potential disruptions to flight operations on Tuesday morning.

    The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across large parts of the country until August 4. On Tuesday, extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Northwest India, particularly East Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, while Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana will continue to receive heavy showers.

    In West India, regions such as Konkan and Gujarat are expected to experience isolated heavy rain on July 29, with light to moderate rainfall forecast for the next six to seven days.

    Northeast India, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, is also likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, while East and Central India, including Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, may see isolated heavy rain and thunderstorms.

    In South Peninsular India, states like Kerala and Coastal Karnataka are expected to receive heavy rain and strong winds (40–50 kmph) on July 29–30, along with light to moderate rainfall across most areas through the coming week.

    (With ANI inputs)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Finance Sector – FinCap to launch report calling for controls on debt collectors

    Source: FinCap

    FinCap will launch its annual Voices report at Parliament on 31 July, at an event hosted by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson.
    The report will provide data on the circumstances of people seeking assistance from financial mentors to cope with debt and make recommendations, including controls on harassment and abuse by debt collectors.
    What: Launch of the FinCap Voices report
    Where: Beehive Theatrette, Parliament Buildings
    When: 10am-11am, 31 July, 2025
    The report will be available on our FinCap website following the launch.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Upcoming consultations: Public CBC reporting exemptions

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    We’re hosting virtual consultation sessions about Public country-by-country (CBC) reporting exemptions on:

    • Thursday 7 August 2025, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm AEST.
    • Friday 22 August 2025, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm AEST.

    To express your interest in participating, email PublicCBC@ato.gov.au with:

    • your name
    • company or organisation name
    • position or role.

    We’ll be updating our web guidance on Public CBC reporting over the coming weeks with more information on reporting exemptions and exclusions.

    Remember you can also submit your comments on draft Practice Statement Law Administration PS LA 2025/D1: Public country-by-country reporting exemptions until 5 September 2025.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Participates in High-Level International Conference for Peaceful Settlement of Question of Palestine and Implementation of Two-State Solution

    Source: Government of Qatar

    New York, July 28

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani participated on Monday in the plenary session of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York.

    In Qatar’s statement to the plenary session, His Excellency said that this conference is being held at a critical moment for the region amid a horrific war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip for two years and a worsening humanitarian tragedy affecting more than two million people, most of whom are women and children.

    In one of the most brutal and heartbreaking moments of this tragedy, we witnessed scenes that are a disgrace to all of humanity – hungry civilians, who are exhausted by the blockade, and who get killed while standing in line waiting for a loaf of bread, a bag of flour, or a meal to feed their children, His Excellency noted.

    He wondered: What future can be built on the bodies of the starving? And what peace can emerge in the midst of such hunger, humiliation, and killing?

    HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that, in the face of this catastrophic situation, the State of Qatar has not hesitated to exert all its diplomatic efforts to stop the bloodshed of innocents, alleviate their suffering, and release prisoners and detainees.

    He said that the State of Qatar, based on its firm position, condemns all forms of targeting civilians. It categorically rejects double standards. A human being is a human being, and a child is a child. None of us has the right to discriminate between innocents and their right to life on political or other grounds. The situation has reached the point of normalizing the use of starvation and targeting hospitals as a method of war, setting precedents that we cannot accept, otherwise it will become a normal practice in every conflict from now on.

    His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar’s categorical rejection of the use of food as a tool of pressure or a weapon in conflicts, and its condemnation in the strongest terms of the blockade and forced displacement policies practiced against innocent civilians, as well as the repeated targeting of hospitals, displacement centers, and vital facilities, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

    His Excellency noted that the mediation efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, have yielded tangible results, represented by the entry of large quantities of aid and the release of hundreds of prisoners and detainees on both sides.

    HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that, despite reoccurring obstacles and attempts to undermine the humanitarian track, efforts are ongoing to reach an immediate ceasefire, setting the stage to ending the crisis and launching recovery and reconstruction efforts. He stressed that this requires all parties to act responsibly and support mediation efforts.

    His Excellency noted that the war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has not only caused unprecedented suffering for innocent civilians but has also undermined the credibility of international law and the universal values upon which the international community institutions were founded after World War II.

    He added that it has also become clear that policies of force have failed and will continue to fail in eliminating the Palestinian cause.

    All they have achieved is to worsen the situation with more tragedy, bitterness, a sense of injustice, and horrific scenes of death and destruction that will remain etched in the memory of people around the world, His Excellency continued.

    The horrors of this war and its political failure prove that there is no alternative to a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause, he said, adding that the key lies in acknowledging the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people and applying long-overdue justice, delayed for nearly eighty years.

    The State of Qatar, based on its unwavering support for peace, affirms its full support for the objectives of this conference and its keenness to play an active role in ensuring its success and enhancing the chances of a peaceful solution in the Middle East, His Excellency said, noting that the State of Qatar co-chaired the conference’s third working group, which is concerned with the topic of “Narratives of Peace.”

    His Excellency explained that this team addressed important topics and concluded with priority principles and proposals that contribute to the success of the conference’s overall objective. In order to create a conducive environment for achieving sustainable peace, there is a need to promote positive narratives that support peace between the two sides, based on rejecting violence, renouncing inflammatory rhetoric, and confronting attempts to dehumanize the other side, he added.

    HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s steadfast position in support of a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian cause, in accordance with international law, UN resolutions, and the two-state solution, being the only viable option to end the conflict and achieve a comprehensive and just peace.

    He added that from this standpoint, Qatar calls for a clear and unified international stance that opposes all practices that obstruct negotiations and the chances of achieving a just and lasting peace. In this context, His Excellency welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, encompassing the West Bank and Gaza Strip by several countries, describing such recognition as a crucial step toward achieving both regional and international peace and stability.

    His Excellency also reiterated the State of Qatar’s welcome of the French Republic’s commitment to recognize the State of Palestine this coming September.

    HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs considered that the convening of this conference represents a collective international will to move from words to actions, and to genuinely contribute to advancing the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian Cause in all its dimensions.

    His Excellency pointed out that the international community bears a key responsibility in creating the right conditions for a durable and just resolution, including restoring the relevance of international legitimacy following this devastating war, and providing the necessary political, economic, and humanitarian support.

    HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s hope that this conference will mark a turning point, leading to tangible commitments that go beyond declarations and stances, and paving the way for concrete steps toward the implementation of the two-state solution, which would guarantee a just, comprehensive, and lasting resolution to the conflict as well as contributing to peace, security, and stability throughout the region.

    At the beginning of his statement, His Excellency expressed sincere appreciation to HE President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their initiative in organizing this historic conference under the auspices of the United Nations, addressing one of the oldest unresolved peace and security issues and one of the last vestiges of colonial injustice still on the international agenda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets French Foreign Minister

    Source: Government of Qatar

    New York, July 28

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Monday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Noel Barrot, on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York.

    During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries, developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as ways to advance international efforts to resolve the Palestinian cause through peaceful means and the implementation of the two-state solution.

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated, during the meeting, the State of Qatar’s firm position in support of the Palestinian issue until the brotherly Palestinian people regain all their legitimate rights.

    His Excellency praised the efforts of the French Republic in organizing the conference in partnership with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reiterated the State of Qatar’s welcome of the French President’s announcement of his country’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon

    Source: Government of Qatar

    New York, July 28

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Monday with HE Deputy Prime Minister of the sisterly Republic of Lebanon Dr. Tarek Mitri, on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York.

    During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries, the State of Qatar’s efforts in supporting Lebanon, developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as ways to advance international efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue by peaceful means and implement the two-state solution.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Under-Secretary of State at UK Foreign Office

    Source: Government of Qatar

    New York, July 28, 2025

    HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met with HE Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East and North Africa at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Hamish Falconer, on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York.

    During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries, the developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, ways to advance international efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue, and the implementation of the two-state solution. They also discussed key regional and international developments.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Leading Israeli Human Rights Groups Accuse Israel of Committing Genocide in Gaza

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 29 (Xinhua) — Two prominent Israeli human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights in Israel (PHRI), on Monday released separate reports claiming for the first time that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

    B’Tselem’s report says Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, which has lasted more than 21 months, has been accompanied by mass killings, both directly and by creating uninhabitable conditions.

    This is compounded by mass arrests and abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, which have effectively become torture camps, the report says, adding that Israel is also responsible for the destruction of Gaza’s social fabric, including the destruction of Palestinian educational and cultural institutions.

    The report said it concluded that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

    A second report by PHRI says there is a “deliberate and gradual dismantling of Gaza’s health system and with it the population’s ability to survive.” It says this amounts to genocide.

    The document also says that since October 2023, Israel has attacked 33 of 36 hospitals and clinics in the Gaza Strip, depriving them of fuel and water.

    Dozens of people are reported to be dying every day from malnutrition. At least 85 children have died from starvation, and 92 percent of infants aged six months to two years are not receiving adequate nutrition.

    The report says Israel has displaced nine out of every 10 Gazans, destroyed or damaged 92 percent of homes and left more than half a million children without schools or stability.

    Both organizations called on the international community to stop Israel’s offensive to prevent further loss of life in Gaza.

    Israeli government spokesman David Menser on Monday rejected accusations of genocide as baseless, saying Israel had sent 1.9 million tons of humanitarian aid, mostly food, to Gaza.

    According to him, the human rights activists’ reports are an attempt to deprive Israel of the right to self-defense against the Hamas movement. –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: Syria’s interim authorities must act in a disciplined manner – UN special envoy

    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

    UNITED NATIONS, July 28 (Xinhua) — The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Monday that the interim authorities in Syria must act in a professional and disciplined manner.

    “A sovereign Syria must ultimately have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force and operate within the rule of law,” he told the UN Security Council.

    Mr. Pedersen expressed concern about credible reports of widespread violations in As-Suwayda, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes. He noted that the alleged perpetrators included members of the Syrian security forces and individuals associated with the interim authorities.

    “Religious incitement and offensive behaviour, particularly during security operations, are simply unforgivable. The state has a responsibility to act professionally and with discipline, even when under attack. It must take control of its forces and ensure clear accountability – the key to rebuilding trust, strengthening security and promoting unity,” he said.

    Syrians must feel that the state and its forces exist only to protect them, according to the stated policy of the interim president, Pedersen said, adding that “the gap between this policy and the reality on the ground must be closed.”

    Loyalty to the state “must be earned through a genuine process that builds a representative state, protects the rights of all and accepts all sections of society as equals,” he added.

    Speaking about the inclusiveness of the political transition, Pedersen said that “many Syrians express concerns about the centralization of power, limited transparency, weak checks and balances, and insufficient means for genuine public consultation, participation and oversight,” warning of the risk of “deepening feelings of alienation and undermining faith in the transition process.”

    The UN envoy said the formation of the People’s Council was a crucial step in the political transition and was expected to take place in September.

    “It is absolutely essential that all major Syrian groups and components are fully involved in the elections as voters and candidates,” Pedersen said, referring to the importance of women’s participation in the process.

    The UN envoy said the world body “stands ready to do everything we can to help, working with the interim authorities and all Syrians,” adding that “the political transition in Syria simply cannot fail.” –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 –

  • Sensex, Nifty trade flat after early losses; realty stocks lead gains

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian stock market opened lower on Tuesday but recovered mildly to trade flat by mid-morning amid mixed global cues and cautious investor sentiment.

    At 9:29 AM, the BSE Sensex was nearly unchanged, edging up just 1.69 points to trade at 80,892, while the NSE Nifty rose 16 points or 0.06% to 24,696. The indices had opened in the red, with Nifty briefly dipping to around 24,600 at the bell.

    According to Hardik Matalia, equity strategist at Choice Equity Broking, the Nifty may find support at 24,600, followed by 24,500 and 24,300, while facing immediate resistance at 24,800, and further barriers at 24,900 and 25,000.

    “A sustained move above the 25,000 mark is critical to easing the current selling pressure,” Matalia noted. “As long as the index remains below that level, the short-term trend remains weak. Traders should follow a sell-on-rise approach,” he added.

    In early trade, realty stocks outperformed, with the Nifty Realty index leading sectoral gains. However, IT stocks slipped, with the Nifty IT index declining 0.32%. The Nifty Bank index remained largely flat, down 0.01%.

    Among the top gainers in the Nifty pack were JSW Steel, Jio Financial, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, and Shriram Finance. On the other hand, Eternal led the laggards with a 1.64% drop, followed by Infosys, SBI Life Insurance, Wipro, and Bharat Electronics.

    Market sentiment was dampened by the lack of progress on a much-anticipated India–US trade deal, with expectations dimming for an agreement before the August 1 deadline.

    In global markets, Wall Street presented mixed signals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.14%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.33%. The S&P 500 closed nearly flat, up by just 0.02%.

    Across Asia, trading sentiment remained cautious. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.91%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.93%. However, South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.59%, while Chinese markets remained largely flat during morning hours.

    On the institutional front, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) extended their selling streak for the sixth consecutive session, offloading equities worth ₹6,082 crore on Monday. In contrast, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) were net buyers, purchasing shares worth ₹6,764 crore, offering some support to the market.

    – IANS

  • Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday many people were starving in Gaza and suggested Israel could do more on humanitarian access, as Palestinians struggled to feed their children a day after Israel declared steps to improve supplies.

    As the death toll from two years of war in Gaza nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and fuelling international criticism of Israel over sharply worsening conditions.

    Describing starvation in Gaza as real, Trump’s assessment put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Sunday “there is no starvation in Gaza” and vowed to fight on against the Palestinian militant group Hamas – a statement he reposted on X on Monday.

    However, Netanyahu later on Monday described the situation in Gaza as “difficult”, saying his country was working to ensure aid delivery to the besieged strip.

    “Israel will continue to work with international agencies as well as the U.S. and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office.

    Trump, speaking during a visit to Scotland, said Israel has a lot of responsibility for aid flows, and that a lot of people could be saved. “You have a lot of starving people,” he said.

    “We’re going to set up food centres,” with no fences or boundaries to ease access, Trump said. The U.S. would work with other countries to provide more humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, including food and sanitation, he said.

    A White House spokesperson said additional details on the food centres would be “forthcoming.”

    ‘WHEN YOU GO TO BED HUNGRY, YOU WAKE UP HUNGRY’

    On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war’s death toll from hunger to 147, including 88 children, most in just the last few weeks.

    Israel announced several measures over the weekend, including daily humanitarian pauses to fighting in three areas of Gaza, new safe corridors for aid convoys, and airdrops. The decision followed the collapse of ceasefire talks on Friday.

    Wessal Nabil from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza described the struggle of trying to feed her three children. “When you go to bed hungry, you wake up hungry. We distract them with anything … to make them calm down,” she told Reuters.

    “I call on the world, on those with merciful hearts, the compassionate, to look at us with compassion, to be kind to us, to stand with us until aid comes in and ensure it reaches us.”

    Two Israeli defence officials said the international pressure prompted the new Israeli measures, as did the worsening conditions on the ground.

    U.N. agencies said a long-term and steady supply of aid was needed. The World Food Programme said 60 trucks of aid had been dispatched – short of target. Almost 470,000 people in Gaza are enduring famine-like conditions, with 90,000 women and children in need of specialist nutrition treatments, it said.

    “Our target at the moment, every day is to get 100 trucks into Gaza,” WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, Samer AbdelJaber, told Reuters.

    Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters the situation is catastrophic.

    “At this time, children are dying every single day from starvation, from preventable disease. So time has run out.”

    Netanyahu has denied any policy of starvation towards Gaza, saying aid supplies would be kept up whether Israel was negotiating a ceasefire or fighting.

    A spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, said Israel had not placed a time limit on the humanitarian pauses in its military operation, a day after U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said Israel had decided “to support a one-week scale-up of aid”.

    “We hope this pause will last much longer than a week, ultimately turning into a permanent ceasefire,” Fletcher’s spokesperson, Eri Kaneko, said on Monday.

    Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Compared to last week, U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said, there had only been a “small uptick” in the amount of aid being transported into Gaza since Israel started the humanitarian pauses.

    TRUMP SAYS HAMAS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH

    In his statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel would continue to fight until it achieved the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas and the destruction of its military and governing capabilities.

    Trump said Hamas had become difficult to deal with in recent days, but he was talking with Netanyahu about “various plans” to free hostages still held in the enclave.

    The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked communities across the border in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

    The Gaza health ministry said that 98 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours.

    Some of the trucks that made it into Gaza were seized by desperate Palestinians, and some by armed looters, witnesses said.

    The Hamas-run Gaza government said only 87 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Monday, with the majority of trucks looted due to what it described as “direct and systematic Israeli complicity”.

    “Currently aid comes for the strong who can race ahead, who can push others and grab a box or a sack of flour. That chaos must be stopped and protection for those trucks must be allowed,” said Emad, 58, who used to own a factory in Gaza City.

    The WFP said it has 170,000 metric tons of food in the region, outside Gaza, which would be enough to feed the whole population for the next three months if it gets the clearance to bring into the enclave.

    COGAT said more than 120 truckloads of aid were distributed in Gaza on Sunday by the U.N. and international organizations.

    More aid was expected on Monday. Qatar said it had sent 49 trucks that arrived in Egypt en route for Gaza. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies.

    Israel cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March in what it said was a means to pressure Hamas into giving up dozens of hostages it still holds, and reopened aid with new restrictions in May. Hamas accuses Israel of using hunger as a weapon.

    Israel says it abides by international law but must prevent aid from being diverted by militants, and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza’s people.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.144 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.144 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, July 29, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB449.2 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on July 29, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.40%

    RMB449.2 billion

    RMB449.2 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年07月29日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches commercial carrier rocket

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

    JIUQUAN, July 29 — China successfully launched the SQX-1 Y10 commercial carrier rocket into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Tuesday.

    The rocket blasted off at 12:11 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the launch site, sending a satellite into its planned orbit.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to send largest-ever delegation to 2025 Chengdu World Games

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

    BEIJING, July 29 — China on Tuesday unveiled a 489-member delegation, including 321 athletes, for the upcoming 2025 Chengdu World Games.

    The team will compete in 152 events across 28 sports, marking China’s largest participation in the history of the Games. This year also marks the first inclusion of para-athletes in the delegation.

    As the highest-level international multi-sport event outside the Olympic Games, the 12th edition of the World Games will be held in Chengdu from August 7 to 17. It will be the first time the event is hosted on the Chinese mainland.

    The 2025 Games will feature 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 events. China will make its debut in 12 sports, including floorball, cheerleading, flying disc, and powerboating.

    At the delegation’s launch ceremony, officials emphasized the mission to “glorify the nation,” calling on athletes to deliver top performances while adhering to principles of “zero appearance of doping” and “zero controversy in sportsmanship.”

    Zhong Qixin, head coach of China’s sport climbing team and a former gold medalist in men’s speed climbing at the eighth World Games, expressed high expectations for the home event.

    “We hope to achieve good results at our home event. We aim to focus on ourselves and showcase our skills to the world. We also hope that international athletes and coaches will perform well and enjoy the food and the competition here,” he said.

    Ai Xinliang, a para archer, called the World Games “a new challenge.”

    “Every match feels like the Olympics to me,” said Ai. “This time, competing on the same arena as able-bodied athletes will allow me to experience different emotions. There will certainly be difficulties, but I am mentally prepared and have trained thoroughly before the event,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Violent disturbance – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Police have arrested a 19-year-old male in relation to a violent disturbance in the Darwin CBD yesterday evening.

    Around 7:35pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a group of people fighting in a car park along Cavenagh Street, with one individual reportedly armed with a machete and others throwing rocks.

    Security intervened and confiscated the machete from a male who was allegedly swinging it at others involved in the altercation before the group fled the scene.

    Police attended and arrested the 19-year-old male nearby. He remains in custody and has been charged Going armed in public, Breach of bail and Furnish false particulars. He is expected to appear in Darwin Local Court on 29 July 2025.

    Further investigations are being undertaken to identify an additional primary alleged offender involved in the incident. 

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference number P25201385. Anonymous reports can also be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amra Lee, PhD candidate in Protection of Civilians, Australian National University

    Israel partially lifted its aid blockade of Gaza this week in response to intensifying international pressure over the man-made famine in the devastated coastal strip.

    The United Arab Emirates and Jordan airdropped 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies on Sunday. Israel has further announced daily pauses in its military strikes on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries.

    Israel reports it has permitted 70 trucks per day into the strip since May 19. This is well below the 500–600 trucks required per day, according to the United Nations.

    The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has characterised the next few days as “make or break” for humanitarian agencies trying to reach more than two million Gazans facing “famine-like conditions”.

    A third of Gazans have gone without food for several days and 90,000 women and children now require urgent care for acute malnutrition. Local health authorities have reported 147 deaths from starvation so far, 80% of whom are children.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed – without any evidence – “there is no starvation in Gaza”. This claim has been rejected by world leaders, including Netanyahu ally US President Donald Trump.

    Famine expert Alex de Waal has called the famine in Gaza without precedent:

    […] there’s no case of such minutely engineered, closely monitored, precisely designed mass starvation of a population as is happening in Gaza today.

    While the UN has welcomed the partial lifting of the blockade, the current aid being allowed into Gaza will not be enough to avert a wider catastrophe, due to the severity and depth of hunger in Gaza and the health needs of the people.

    According to the UN World Food Programme, which has enough food stockpiled to feed all of Gaza for three months, only one thing will work:

    An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone.

    Airdrops a ‘distraction and a smokescreen’

    Air-dropping food supplies is considered a last resort due to the undignified and unsafe manner in which the aid is delivered.

    The UN has already reported civilians being injured when packages have fallen on tents.

    The Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies, shared a story from a mother in Al Karama, east of Gaza City, whose home was hit by an airdropped pallet, causing the roof to collapse:

    Immediately following the impact, a group of people armed with knives rushed towards the house, while the mother locked herself and her children in the remaining room to protect her family. They did not receive any assistance and are fearful for their safety.

    Air-dropped pallets of food are also inefficient compared with what can be delivered by road.

    One truck can carry up to 20 tonnes of supplies. Trucks can also reach Gaza quickly if they are allowed to cross at the scale required. Aid agencies have repeatedly said they have the necessary aid and personnel sitting just one hour away at the border.

    Given how ineffective the air drops have been – and will continue to be – the head of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine has called them a “distraction” and a “smokescreen”.

    Malnourished women and children need specialised care

    De Waal has also made clear how starvation differs from other war crimes – it takes weeks of denying aid for starvation to take hold.

    For the 90,000 acutely malnourished women and children who require specialised and supplementary feeding, in addition to medical care, the type of food being air-dropped into Gaza will not help them. Malnourished children require nutritional screening and access to fortified pastes and baby food.

    Gaza’s decimated health system is also not able to treat severely malnourished women and children, who are at risk of “refeeding syndrome” when they are provided with nutrients again. This can trigger a fatal metabolic response.

    Gaza will take generations to heal from the long-term impacts of mass starvation. Malnourished children suffer lifelong cognitive and physical effects that can then be passed on to future generations.

    What needs to happen now

    The UN has characterised the limited reopening of aid deliveries to Gaza as a potential “lifeline”, if it’s upheld and expanded.

    According to Ciaran Donnelly from the International Rescue Committee, what’s needed is “tragically simple”: Israel must fully open the Gaza borders to allow aid and humanitarian personnel to flood in.

    Israel must also guarantee safe conditions for the dignified distribution of aid that reaches everyone, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The level of hunger and insecurity mean these groups are at high risk of exclusion.

    The people of Gaza have the world’s attention – for now. They have endured increasingly dehumanising conditions – including the risk of being shot trying to access aid – under the cover of war for more than 21 months.

    Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have just publicly called Israel’s war on Gaza “a genocide”. This builds on mounting evidence compiled by the UN and other experts that supports the same conclusion, triggering the duty under international law for all states to act to prevent genocide.

    These obligations require more than words – states must exercise their full diplomatic leverage to pressure Israel to let aid in at the scale required to avert famine. States must also pressure Israel to extend its military pauses into the only durable solution – a permanent ceasefire.

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

    – ref. Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation – https://theconversation.com/air-dropping-food-into-gaza-is-a-smokescreen-this-is-what-must-be-done-to-prevent-mass-starvation-262053

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Plastic Greenpeace report exposes petrochemical giants’ campaign to derail Global Plastics Treaty A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against… by Alexandra Sedgwick July 29, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against cuts to plastic production while generating massive profits from their growing plastics business. The report reveals that since the treaty talks began in November 2022, seven companies alone have produced enough plastic to fill 6.3 million rubbish trucks – equivalent to five and a half trucks every minute. 

    The report – ‘Plastics, Profits and Power: How petrochemical companies are derailing the Global Plastics Treaty’ draws on data obtained from industry sources. It finds that that since the start of the treaty process, Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron Phillips, Shell, SABIC and INEOS have ramped up their plastic production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes and sent a combined total of 70 lobbyists to negotiations, where they have also been represented by powerful industry front groups.  

    Dow alone has sent at least 21 lobbyists to negotiations whilst earning an estimated £3.4 billion from plastics. The report also states that INEOS, the UK’s largest plastics producer, has raised production capacity by more than 20% and is investing £3.5 billion in Project ONE, set to become Europe’s biggest plastics plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

    The Greenpeace UK report comes just days before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, in the final round of treaty talks. The report reveals the tactics used by lobbyists to dominate negotiations, influence delegates, and block progress. It also highlights the lobbying by powerful trade associations at the talks, pushing industry-friendly positions while shielding corporate members from scrutiny.

    Anna Diski, the report’s author and Senior Plastics Campaigner with Greenpeace UK, said:

    “We all want to see a strong Global Plastics Treaty that turns the tide on plastic pollution. Our research shows that those with the most to lose from meaningful regulation are working hardest to obstruct it. We can’t allow the corporations who profit from plastic pollution to write the rules or we’ll end up with a toothless Treaty. It’s time to ban lobbyists from the Talks and for UN Member States to stand firm and support a strong Treaty.”

    According to CIEL, 220 fossil fuels lobbyists attended the fifth round of treaty negotiations in 2024 held in Busan, South Korea which ended without agreement. This made lobbyists the single largest delegation at the talks – more than the EU and its member states combined, outnumbering the delegates from the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty by three to one. 

    Greenpeace is calling for at least a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040 and is demanding that a strong conflict of interest policy be embedded in the treaty to prevent undue influence; negotiations must also prioritise those most affected by the plastics crisis, with space guaranteed for independent scientists, Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and civil society groups, all of whom should all be able to play a role in shaping and implementing the treaty.  

    Ends.

    Contact:

    Greenpeace UK Press Office – press.uk@greenpeace.org or +44 7377 730878 / +44 20 7865 8255

    The report is available here 

    A photo gallery of images associated with the report is available in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes: 

    The INC5.2 summit to agree a Global Plastics Treaty will run from 5-14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. Greenpeace will be present with an international delegation of 30 people representing Africa, Southeast and East Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Canada, Colombia and the US.  The delegation will use its extensive policy and legal experience and government relationships to push for greater ambition in the treaty process, particularly on the critical issue of delivering legally binding cuts to plastic production. 

    Greenpeace UK’s analysis is based on estimated global production figures for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) for November/December 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years, for Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron, Shell, SABIC and INEOS, produced by Market Research Future (data available on request). This estimate covers two of the world’s most widely-used polymers, commonly found in packaging and consumer goods. It excludes other major plastic types such as PET and polystyrene, and excludes 2025 production data even as treaty talks continue into this year. As such, the final figure is presented as an underestimate of total plastic production during this time. To calculate the plastic volume in rubbish truck equivalents, Greenpeace UK used the standard capacity of a UK refuse truck, which holds approximately 12 metric tonnes of plastic waste.

    All of the companies mentioned in this report were given the opportunity to reply to the findings, none responded.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – African Women in Business unveils Association to Boost Intra‑African Trade

    Source: Media Fast

    The network facilitated by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the African Union Commission, brings together over 102 women business associations from six regions across Africa

    Johannesburg, South Africa: July 29, 2025 -The Continental Network for Women’s Business Associations in Africa (CONWOBAA) aimed at promoting intra-African trade, was officially unveiled at the inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa last week.

    The game-changing initiative – facilitated by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the African Union Commission and supported by the AWIP Pavilion under the framework of ITC’s SheTrades and One Trade Africa strategies, has brought together 102 women’s business associations from West Africa, North Africa, Indian Ocean, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa.

    The Association also unveiled its leadership with South Africa’s Dimakatso Malwela, President of Women of Value South Africa (WOVSA) being elected the first Association’s chairperson. She will be deputized by Ms. Fanja Razakaboana, who is the President of the Madagascar Women Entrepreneurs Association (GFEM).

    Kenya’s Laura Akunga Mwenje, who is the Founder and CEO of Benchmark Solutions Limited and the Chairperson of African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) Kenya and Secretariat, has been elected the treasurer of the Association, while Ms. Mabel Ibidun Quarshie – the Chief Executive Officer of Acquatic Foods Limited Ghana, will serve as the Association’s Secretary.

    Other regional representatives on the Association’s Board include Ms. Sitti Abdallah Mshangama (Comoros), Ms. Brbara Banda (Malawi), Ms. Yomita El Sheridy (Egypt), Ms. Leila Belkhira Jaber (Tunisia), Dr. Blessing Irabor-Oza (Nigeria), Ms. Nicole Gakou Gomis (Senegal), Ms. Betty Mulanga Kadima (the Democratic Republic of Congo), Ms. Esther Omam (Cameroon), and Dr. Nigest Haile (Ethiopia).

    “We are delighted to bring together women’s business associations from across Africa to advance intra‑African trade. This Network underpins ITC’s broader efforts through SheTrades and One Trade Africa to create real market access for women-led enterprises,” ITC Deputy Executive Director Dorothy Tembo said while unveiling the association’s leadership.

    Addressing important challenges

    In her acceptance remark, Ms. Malwela said the Association has the capacity to address important challenges facing women entrepreneurs across Africa.

    “Women entrepreneurs face a multitude of challenges, primarily revolving around access to funding and financial resources, gender bias and discrimination, work-life balance, and establishing strong support networks and confidence. Oftentimes, these hurdles impede their ability to launch, grow, and sustain their businesses. As the Association looks to the future, we will seize opportunities to advance policies that address these challenges,” Ms. Malwela said.

    CONWOBAA has been designed to facilitate trade for women entrepreneurs through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), helping members of the WBAs access cross-border trade opportunities and build sustainable businesses.

    “This powerful network is led by women in leadership who are successfully running businesses and advocating for the growth of women-led enterprises across Africa. We look forward to the continued growth of this network and the opportunities it will create for women entrepreneurs across Africa to leverage AfCFTA and elevate their businesses to new heights,” Ms. Tembo said.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • Russian strikes on penal colony in Zaporizhzhia kill 16, Ukraine says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian strikes on a penal colony in the frontline region of Zaporizhzhia in southwestern Ukraine overnight killed 16 people and injured at least 35, regional Ukrainian military and Zaporizhzhia’s governor said on Tuesday

    Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that the correctional facility’s buildings were destroyed, and nearby private homes were also damaged.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned the strikes as “another war crime” committed by Russia.

    “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s regime, which also issues threats against the United States through some of its mouthpieces, must face economic and military blows that strip it of the capacity to wage war,” Yermak said on X.

    Moscow forces have regularly attacked Zaporizhzhia, using drones, missiles and aerial bombs, since the start of the war that Russia started with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

    Russia unilaterally declared early in the war its annexation of parts of Zaporizhzhia and areas in and around three other Ukrainian regions. Kyiv and its Western allies called the move an illegal land grab.

    Fedorov said that Russian forces launched eight strikes on the Zaporizhzhia district, reportedly using high-explosive aerial bombs.

    Reuters could not independently verify Fedorov’s report. There was no immediate comment from Russia.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.

    (Reuters)

  • Australia sweep T20 series against West Indies

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Australia completed a 5-0 sweep of the West Indies in their Twenty20 international series with Ben Dwarshuis’s bowling paving the way for a three-wicket victory in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on Monday.

    Mitchell Owen top-scored for Australia with 37 off 17 balls, while Cameron Green (32), Tim David (30) and Aaron Hardie (28 nout out) all made valuable contributions as the visitors reached their target of 171 with 18 balls to spare.

    The win sealed the first T20 series sweep by an Australian men’s team in the West Indies, and saw them end the tour with a perfect 8-0 record after a similar sweep in the three-test series.

    “I didn’t expect 5-0 at the start of the series,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. “But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game.

    “We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. We’ve had guys come in and played different roles for us.”

    The match featured 15 sixes, which Marsh attributed to the size of the venue.

    “I think it’s a small ground, so there’s always going to be more sixes than normal,” he said.

    “But I think if you look down our batting order in all the five games, we had a lot of power and I guess the messaging was just to play their natural game.”

    Marsh also lauded the performance of his relatively inexperienced bowlers in the death overs.

    “I’m pretty sure in the last four overs, we didn’t go for more than 40 or 50 across the five games,” he said.

    “It’s really hard to do. So I think all of them executed. Nathan Ellis was outstanding, Sean Abbott was brilliant. Ben Dwarshuis hasn’t played a lot, did a really good role, and even Xavier Bartlett has grown and grown as a bowler.”

    West Indies fans must have feared the worst when Australia won a fifth straight toss and bowled the hosts out for 170, a total they reached thanks in large part to Shimron Hetmyer’s knock of 52 off 31 balls.

    Dwarshuis picked up Hetmyer’s wicket as well as those of openers Brandon King (11) and Shai Hope (9).

    “It was a little bit of a slower wicket so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well,” said Dwarshuis, who was named player of the match.

    Australia return home for a limited-overs series against South Africa, while the West Indies play Pakistan in three T20Is and three one-day internationals.

    (Reuters)