NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Delivers Fiery Remarks in Opposition to Trump’s Reckless Rescissions Package with Cuts to USAID, PBS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) spoke on the House Floor in strong opposition to Trump’s rescissions package codifying DOGE’s cuts to USAID, PBS, and other Congressionally-appropriated funding. The package passed the House on a party-line vote of 214-212.

    The clawback of $9.4 billion in funding that House Republicans themselves voted for last Congress would cut programs that prevent deadly diseases and pandemics, support democracy abroad, create markets for American businesses, and provide trusted public news, emergency alerts, and educational programming. 

    Her remarks as delivered can be viewed here or read below: 

    “Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this package. It is embarrassing, it is trifling. This is a funding package that Republicans actually agreed to and voted on last Congress when they were in the majority. Republicans must be missing Biden now because they actually had more influence under him than under Trump. 

    Now Republicans are going back on their own agreement and giving up their own power with this package. The real question is, why show up here if you have an orange daddy doing your work for you? 

    This vote actually puts every Republican on record as supporting Elon’s attack on democracy when even Steve Bannon said that Elon and DOGE found no waste. 

    With this package Republicans are one step closer to a country that looks more like the adversaries we profess to oppose. Americans will be left to clean up this mess. We will have zero standing in the international community and we will have zero claim to global leadership–while you all have killed off Elmo. 

    I urge my colleagues to vote no on this trash and I yield back.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cookbook project helps sheltered housing residents to share memories and eat well

    Source: City of Winchester


    Residents of three local sheltered housing schemes have been sharing their family recipes as part of a Winchester City Council funded project to combat loneliness and boost healthy eating.

    Cllr Mark Reach joined Mary Carlton and residents of Richard Moss House for the presentation of their Community Cookbook

    As part of the Memories and Munch initiative, sheltered housing residents shared their stories about food and tried out new recipes, all the while learning new cooking techniques to help them create low-cost healthy meals.

    Richard Moss House resident Evie Kimpton and Munch CIC’s Mary Carlton

    The project has seen Mary Carlton of Munch CIC and Life Story Writer Rachel Lewis work with residents through a series of workshops to collect recipes and memories and explore fresh ideas for sharing food and cooking together.

    Those recipes, as well as stories and pictures from residents, have been collated into three cookbooks, which were presented to each of the three sheltered housing schemes.

    Speaking about the initiative, Eve Kimpton, a resident at Richard Moss House, said:

    “When Mary mentioned old recipes I thought, ‘oh, that bread pudding recipe might be perfect’. In the war it was used for the soldiers’ wedding cakes and my mum, who was also called Eve, used to make it.

    “This is my first time seeing the cookbook and it’s absolutely amazing – I love seeing my mum and dad, and my friends, in the pictures on the pages. Other people will see it and hopefully enjoy it as well. It was so nice taking part in the project and learning something new from Mary even though I am 81.”

    Munch CIC’s Mary Carlton said:

     “Our aim was to improve participants’ confidence in the kitchen.  All the new recipes we included in the cookbook had to be easily prepared with affordable ingredients. We also focused on batch cooking, not only to reduce food waste but also recognising that not everybody is able to cook every day.  With these dishes, participants could still enjoy a healthy homemade meal, avoiding the expense of ready meals.” 

    Winchester City Council Cabinet member for Good Homes Cllr Mark Reach said:

    “It was a joy to join Mary, Rachel and our sheltered housing residents at Richard Moss House last week for the presentation of their new cookbook. Speaking to everyone there it’s been plain to see happiness, passion and sharing of memories that this project has inspired and I’m glad we’ve been able to support it with through our grant funding”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recruitment for Biological Assessors

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Recruitment for Biological Assessors

    Biological Assessor, working on new marketing authorisations, variations of existing authorisations, and animal test certificates.

    We have a vacancy for three Biological Assessors.

    Job Title

    Biological Assessor in the Biologicals Section

    Grade

    G7

    Salary & Pension

    £59,900 per annum with Pension Scheme

    Annual Leave entitlement

    Commencing at 25 days

    Role

    You will scientifically assess quality, safety and efficacy data for new marketing authorisations, animal test certificates to conduct clinical field trials and variations for biological/immunological veterinary medicinal products including veterinary vaccines and novel therapy medicinal products.

    How to apply

    You must make your application via Biological Assessor in the Biologicals Section – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK where you will find a full job description.

    Closing Date

    21 July 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Assault of an inmate at Matsqui Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 24, 2025 – Abbotsford, BC – Correctional Service Canada

    On June 20, 2025, an inmate was the victim of an assault at Matsqui Institution, a medium security federal institution. 

    The injured inmate was evaluated by staff members and transported to an outside hospital to receive treatment.

    The Abbotsford Police Department and the institution are presently investigating the incident.

    The assailants have been identified and the appropriate actions have been taken.

    No staff members or other inmates were injured during this incident.

    The safety and security of institutions, their staff, and the public remains the highest priority in the operations of the federal correctional system.

    In order to improve practices aimed at preventing this type of incident, the Correctional Service of Canada will review the circumstances of the incident and take the appropriate measures.

    -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF invests $25.5M in research to drive new U.S. manufacturing technologies and talent pipelines

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a $25.5 million investment to support fundamental research and workforce development aimed at enabling future generations of U.S. manufacturing. This year’s awards will support seven research grants and nine seed projects across 36 institutions and companies through the NSF Future Manufacturing (NSF FM) program.

    The NSF FM program focuses on areas such as biomanufacturing, cyber manufacturing and ecomanufacturing, with some efforts exploring intersections with quantum manufacturing. The program emphasizes convergence, bringing together teams from across disciplines to create new, potentially transformative manufacturing capabilities, going far beyond improvements to current manufacturing processes.

    “The FM program targets critical technical gaps and lays the foundation for emerging sectors, including technologies that haven’t yet been imagined,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF is investing in teams that bring together scientific, engineering and manufacturing expertise to equip the American workforce for leadership in advanced manufacturing.”

    This year’s FM awards include:

    • Seven research grants, each receiving up to $3 million over a four-year period, to support multidisciplinary teams conducting fundamental research to enable new manufacturing capabilities, materials, or systems. Projects span a range of topics, including bioengineering in resource-constrained environments, “recyclofacturing” using artificial intelligence to create products from metal scrap, and using robotics and digital twins for additive manufacturing of multi-material systems.
    • Nine seed grants, each receiving up to $500,000 over a two-year period, to support early-stage teams exploring novel concepts and partnerships that could shape future directions in manufacturing. Seed projects include efforts in future photonic quantum manufacturing using DNA, self-learning tools to create superconducting circuits, using cyanobacteria and water for low-energy cement manufacturing, and enabling domestic lithium extraction from unconventional sources.

    By advancing research in areas such as the manufacture of critical materials, quantum devices and semiconductor production, human-robot collaboration and biologically based manufacturing, the program strengthens U.S. leadership in science and technology, expands innovation capacity, and prepares a skilled American workforce to compete and lead in the global economy.

    This brings NSF’s total investment through the FM program to over $163 million in the five years of the program. Funding comes from across almost all of NSF’s directorates, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the supported projects. Since its inception, the FM program has made 104 awards to projects that involve over 475 principal investigators at 136 institutions and companies in 40 states and territories.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Florida Sugar Workers Lobby On Capitol Hill

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Union Florida sugar workers who are members of IAM Union Local 2152 (District 166) recently hit Capitol Hill to speak in support of updates to Farm Bill sugar provisions in the current reconciliation package. These provisions have received strong, bipartisan support in past Farm Bill deliberations. Since the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill two years ago, IAM Florida sugar workers have been lobbying Congress to update and improve the farm safety net.

    VIEW THE PHOTOS HERE

    “IAM members in Florida’s sugar industry are the backbone of this sector, and they deserve legislation funding that secures their future and reflects their contributions to the nation’s economy,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Our members have been lobbying on Capitol Hill for years to ensure sugar jobs remain strong and sustainable. They are fighting not only for themselves, but for the next generation of American sugar workers.”

    Generations of IAM members lobbied in Washington, D.C., to ensure that future generations could benefit from good sugar worker jobs. 

    IAM Florida sugar workers’ occupations include, but are not limited to, sugarcane farming, milling, and refining processes on American soil. Many positions require skilled trades, such as machinists and welders. Sugarcane farming and production support 19,201 jobs in Florida and have a $4.7 billion annual impact. 

    The post IAM Florida Sugar Workers Lobby On Capitol Hill appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Joins Striking Local 701 Members on Arrow Gear Picket Line

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The solidarity was strong on the picket line as IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli joined striking members of IAM Local 701 outside Arrow Gear in Downers Grove, Ill.

    Local 701 members walked off the job May 5 to demand fair wages, affordable healthcare, and a contract that respects their work and dedication. Arrow Gear workers play a critical role in the aerospace and defense supply chain, and their skills and contributions deserve to be recognized at the bargaining table.

    “The members at Arrow Gear are standing up not just for themselves, but for all workers, especially in this industry,” said Cicinelli. “Their fight is our fight, and they have the support of the Midwest Territory and the entire IAM. We will not back down until they get the fair contract they’ve earned – one day longer, one day stronger.”

    Local 701 has made clear that the company’s proposals fall short of what these members need to support their families and protect their futures. The presence of GVP Cicinelli on the line is a strong show of support from the broader IAM Union—and a clear message to the company that the union stands united.

    The post IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Joins Striking Local 701 Members on Arrow Gear Picket Line appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni addresses Senate ahead of European Council meeting on 26-27 June

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    24 Giugno 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, today responded to the points raised by the Senate following the general discussion on the official communications regarding the European Council meeting to be held on 26-27 June. The text of the official communications was delivered to the Senate during the session of Monday 23 June.

    [President Meloni responds to the points raised by the Senate – Video available in Italian only]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Blumenthal Call for Investigation into Cancelled Contracts Impacting Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) Ranking Member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General to launch an investigation into the Trump Administration’s controversial, unilateral cancellation of VA contracts at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite multiple requests from Senators King and Blumenthal, VA Secretary Doug Collins refuses to send Congress the complete and updated list of VA contracts canceled or proposed for cancellation — a list Secretary Collins consistently touts in public hearings, on social media and in interviews.

    The Senators began, “We write to request the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the mass cancellation of VA contracts launched by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Secretary Collins, and other officials of the Department and the impact of these actions on veterans and VA operations. These activities began soon after January 20 and are ongoing.”

    “Since February of this year, Committee Minority staff have investigated these activities using public government contracting databases, internal VA documents, conducting interviews with VA employees and contractors, and other methods. The preliminary findings after analyzing more than 650 VA contracts ‘terminated for convenience’ between January 20 and May 30, 2025, extracted from federal contracting databases, are that a majority appear to be for services directly for veterans or critical VA operations to include for safe health care delivery,” wrote the Senators. While Collins and VA officials have refused to turn over the complete and updated list of contracts canceled, contract data is available online in near real time — including information on the cancellation of VA contracts.

    “To add to these alarming facts, recent media investigations, to include two stories released by ProPublica on June 6, have found evidence that DOGE and VA officials used ill-conceived Artificial Intelligence (AI) formulas and algorithms to make or inform contract cancellation decisions — cutting out meaningful input from VA career experts to assess the impact of ending these services. This adds an entire new level of unease connected to the decision-making, security, governance, and quality control of the entire process,” continued the senators. The damning reporting from ProPublica outlined in the letter exposes the careless nature of Secretary Collins and DOGE’s contract cancellation process at VA, including the use of flawed, error-prone AI tools to determine what contracts would be canceled.

    “However, this process which included cancelling hundreds of contracts, many in a several-day period, then restoring dozens just a few days later, is not an indication of good program management but rather waste, carelessness, and chaos. We are deeply concerned about how these cancellations, which are ongoing, are or will impact veterans’ health care, benefits, and other services; harm VA’s ability to perform oversight and program improvement; and eliminate or significantly hinder the availability of critical tools to maintain safe and clean facilities. A non-partisan and independent review of these matters is critical,” concluded the Senators.

    Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.

    Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” Senator King recently joined SVAC Ranking Member Senator Blumenthal in writing a letter to Secretary Collins raising concerns over proposed $1 spending limits on VA purchase cards which are used to pay for gas to transport disabled veterans to apportionments, buy medical supplies and more. Senator King also joined his colleagues in raising concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in a special investigative SVAC hearing to question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. Last month, Senators King and Blumenthal wrote again to Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans.

    The full text of letter can be found here or below.

    +++

    Dear Acting Inspector General Case,

    We write to request the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the mass cancellation of VA contracts launched by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Secretary Collins, and other officials of the Department and the impact of these actions on veterans and VA operations. These activities began soon after January 20 and are ongoing.

    Since February of this year, Committee Minority staff have investigated these activities using public government contracting databases, internal VA documents, conducting interviews with VA employees and contractors, and other methods.

    The preliminary findings after analyzing more than 650 VA contracts “terminated for convenience” between January 20 and May 30, 2025, extracted from federal contracting databases, are that a majority appear to be for services directly for veterans or critical VA operations to include for safe health care delivery. They include more than two dozen for medical supplies and equipment; four for cancer and tumor registries; more than 110 for construction and infrastructure services to include maintenance of boilers; prosthetics, including the conversion of a van for a veteran; more than 15 nursing home care contracts; more than 150 dealing with a wide range of quality of care, medical oversight, and hospital accreditation preparedness services; PACT Act implementation; and more. These are all areas that have been the subject of hundreds of OIG reports and investigations and known to be matters in which VA needs more support, not less. In addition, to date, no evidence has been provided by VA that any thoughtful contingency planning was put into place before these services were cancelled. Compounding our concerns are the hiring freeze, deferred resignations, terminations, and planned mass reductions of VA’s workforce that in theory is responsible for absorbing some of this work.

    To add to these alarming facts, recent media investigations, to include two stories released by ProPublica on June 6, have found evidence that DOGE and VA officials used ill-conceived Artificial Intelligence (AI) formulas and algorithms to make or inform contract cancellation decisions—cutting out meaningful input from VA career experts to assess the impact of ending these services. This adds an entire new level of unease connected to the decision-making, security, governance, and quality control of the entire process.

    As way of background, on February 24 and 25, 2025, Secretary Collins announced on social media his plan, carried out with Elon Musk and DOGE, to cancel hundreds of VA contracts he claimed were for “PowerPoint slides and meeting minutes” and indicated were valued at $2 billion. After directing career officials in the Department to start the cancellations, a list of more than 870 contracts was leaked to Congress and the media. The reality was that these contracts were predominantly for direct services for veterans or supporting VA operations including: suicide prevention and mental health treatment; disability claims processing, exams and auditing; radiology services; outreach regarding burial benefits and health care services; and contracts to conduct oversight activities to identify and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

    When the true content of mass contract cancellations was exposed, VA’s leadership team directed career officials to pause some cancellations. Public records show some contracts previously cancelled at the Secretary’s direction were then reversed while others remain cancelled and new contracts are being cancelled each week. On March 3, 2025, VA announced that instead of more than 870 contracts, it would cancel 585 contracts with an alleged value of $1.8 billion but provided no details. This has been a consistent pattern and problem. Despite repeated requests in letters to the Secretary, questions at hearings, and dozens of emails to VA officials, as of the date of this letter, the Department has not provided a single briefing or a complete and accurate list of the contracts it has cancelled, descoped, modified, or otherwise changed as part of this process or the underlying methodology, reasoning, and contingency planning. On May 16, VA provided Congress with a list of more than 445 contracts which it indicated were “terminated and closed.” This list was so riddled with errors and inaccuracies to call into question the veracity of the entire document.

    Since the beginning of this process, Secretary Collins and VA officials have repeatedly denied—without supporting evidence—that the cancellations will negatively affect veterans or VA operations, including saying:

    • “[t]he termination of these contracts will not negatively affect Veteran care, benefits or services, and will help VA better focus on its core mission: providing the best possible care and services to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors”, VA Press Release, March 3, 2025;
    • “as part of its review, VA career subject-matter expert employees responsible for the contract cancelations were given the option to stop a cancellation if they felt it would negatively impact health care, benefits or services for Veterans or VA beneficiaries”, VA Press Release, March 3, 2025;
    • “VA will not cancel contracts for work that provides services to veterans or that the agency cannot do itself without a contingency plan in place”, VA Spokesperson, “DOGE Developed Error-Prone AI Tool to “Munch” Veterans Affairs Contracts,” ProPublica, June 6, 2025;
    • “[c]ontracts that directly support Veterans, beneficiaries or provide services VA cannot do itself, such as a nurse who sees patients or an organization that provides third-party certification services, respectively, were not canceled. Contracts that involved services VA has the ability to perform itself were typically canceled”, Secretary Collins, letter to Congress, May 2, 2025.

    Based on these findings and information, we ask VA OIG to conduct a review of these matters which may include a focus on:

    • the impact of these cancellations on veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors health care, benefits, memorial affairs and related services;
    • the impact of these cancellations on VA operations such as quality of care oversight, patient safety, accreditation, medical supplies and equipment, IT security, research, construction and maintenance;
    • the use of AI and/or algorithms to guide decision-making to include the recipient and purpose each VA contract identified by DOGE VA employee Mr. Sahil Lavingia that has been terminated; the formal assignment and instructions given to Mr. Lavingia with respect to assessment of VA contracts to include whether they included the use of AI and the approval of relevant code; the data integrity and protection measures taken, if any, to ensure the safeguarding of any personally identifiable information; and the extent to which this and any other related use of AI by DOGE or the VA violated any policy, procedure, regulation, or statute;
    • the extent, timing, and substantive involvement, if any, of VA career subject matter experts in the decision-making regarding cancellations;
    • the existence of contingency plans to replace the services prior to contract cancellations;
    • an identification of the contracts cancelled, descoped, stopped or allowed to expire at part of this mass cancellation effort;
    • the financial transfer of funding from cancelled contracts to other VA activities; and
    • other relevant matters as determined by VA OIG

    We firmly support VA efforts to regularly review services procured by the Department and that process should be built into any functioning acquisition and program management operation at VA. However, this process, which included cancelling hundreds of contracts, many in a several-day period, then restoring dozens just a few days later, is not an indication of good program management but rather waste, carelessness, and chaos. We are deeply concerned about how these cancellations, which are ongoing, are or will impact veterans’ health care, benefits, and other services; harm VA’s ability to perform oversight and program improvement; and eliminate or significantly hinder the availability of critical tools to maintain safe and clean facilities.

    A non-partisan and independent review of these matters is critical. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Situation in the Middle East – Repatriation flights for French nationals

    Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

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    Published on June 24, 2025

    Joint communiqué issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for the Armed Forces (Paris, 22 June 2025)

    Following the meeting of the Defence and National Security Council (CDSN), at President Macron’s request, the Minister for the Armed Forces, M. Sébastien Lecornu, and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, M. Jean-Noël Barrot, announce that in addition to civilian air links, in particular chartered flights leaving Amman, military (A400M) flights are now being deployed to transport French nationals who so wish from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel to Cyprus, subject to Israeli authorization.

    Since Friday 13 June, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’s teams have been working actively to lend assistance to our French nationals in the region. Teams at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre have answered more than 4,500 calls. The Crisis and Support Centre’s emergency numbers are still accessible at all times. They are posted on our embassies’ and consulates’ websites.

    On Sunday 22 June, 160 French nationals, most of them in situations of emergency and vulnerability, accompanied by a doctor from the Ministry’s Crisis and Support Centre, are being repatriated from Jordan (Amman). Other flights will follow, in addition to direct or indirect commercial links leaving Amman (Jordan) and Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt).

    On Monday 23 June at 4.00 p.m., an additional commercial flight from Amman is being put in place by Royal Jordanian at France’s request; it will enable 150 French nationals to return; for Tuesday 24 June, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is chartering a flight that will allow more than 150 nationals in vulnerable situations to return to France.

    Security advice and emergency information are being updated in real time here: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/afrique-du-nord-moyen-orient/article/consignes-de-securite-a-destination-des-ressortissants-francais-au-proche-et

    We remind all French people of the need to register on the Fil d’Ariane prior to any trip abroad: https://fildariane.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane-internet/accueil

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Green Energy International Starts Operations at Nigerian Onshore Terminal

    Nigerian energy company Green Energy International has lifted its first crude cargo from the recently-completed Otakikpo onshore terminal, situated near Port Harcourt in Nigeria. The facility received its maiden cargo via a vessel chartered by energy major Shell in June 2025. Crude was transported from the Otakikpo marginal field – located in Rivers State and operated by Green Energy International – signaling the start of operations of the onshore terminal. Green Energy International is a Diamond Sponsor of this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town.

    The Otakikipo facility represents the first indigenous onshore terminal constructed in the country in five decades. Construction started in 2023, with the terminal completed in June 2025, six-months ahead of schedule. Green Energy International began injecting crude in March 2025, with production averaging 5,000 barrels per day. Since March, the company has received regulatory approval to boost production to 30,000 bpd under a revised field development plan. This aligns closely with ambitions by the company to scale-up Nigerian crude production, supporting African energy development.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    The Otakikpo facility aligns closely with national goals of increasing crude storage and production to two million bpd, as it is expected to play a major role in processing crude from marginal fields. The state-of-the-art facility has a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, with plans underway to increase capacity to three million barrels, dependent on market demand. The terminal also features an export capacity of 360,000 bpd, with crude transported via a 23-km 20-inch pipeline, connecting to a single point mooring system in the Atlantic Ocean. This way, the terminal is capable of receiving crude from several marginal fields, allowing operators to significantly reduce transport costs by reducing the reliance on costly offshore floating stations. The terminal is also expected to unlock previously-stranded crude resources from more than 40 marginal fields across the region, with a capacity to receive up to 250,000 bpd from third-party producers. As such, the terminal offers a domestic solution to producing, storing and exporting crude, supporting national development goals.

    The milestone comes as Nigeria strives to increase production through diversified field developments. Marginal fields have been designated as a priority area for the country, with the government implementing mechanisms to attract investment and development across these assets. Notably, in 2020, the government launched a marginal field bidding round to entice operators – both indigenous and international – to invest in these fields. The bid round drew over 591 companies seeking to develop 57 oilfields, with 161 companies shortlisted. Most of these firms represented indigenous operators, highlighting both the commitment by indigenous companies to invest in Nigerian oilfields and the level of opportunity in the company’s offshore market.

    Green Energy International’s Diamond Sponsorship of AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 reflects the company’s long-term vision for the Nigerian oil sector. Uniting the entire African energy sector and its value chain in Cape Town, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 takes place under a mandate to make energy poverty history, facilitating dialogue and dealmaking and driving projects forward in Africa. The event showcases major projects while connecting operators and financiers, with a view to unlocking new development across the continent. The Otakikpo facility is a critical step towards improving domestic storage and production solutions in Nigeria and serves as a strong example for other indigenous operators in regional markets.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Alert renewed as scorching heat persists across several regions in China

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

    Scientists have uncovered evidence indicating that humans extensively used fire to transform environments as early as 50,000 years ago — far earlier than previously believed.

    During the day on Wednesday, parts of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Xinjiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi will experience scorching weather, with temperatures reaching over 35 degrees Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

    High temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius are expected in some of the aforementioned regions — with certain local areas even set to experience temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, the NMC said.

    The center suggested that people take protective measures to prevent excessive exposure to the sun.

    China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Scientists join classrooms to inspire teenagers to become innovators

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

    Peking University life sciences professor Zhang Yan, who has been researching Alzheimer’s disease for two decades, has taken on a new mission this semester: educating young teens.

    Beyond lectures and experiments, Zhang is committed to giving her young students an authentic glimpse into the world of scientific research. She believes such hands-on learning should begin early in basic education, and as a scientist, she sees it as her responsibility to contribute.

    Zhang is one of thousands of researchers to be appointed as a “vice principal of science” — a position introduced by China’s Ministry of Education two years ago, in an initiative aiming to ensure every primary and secondary school engages the services of at least one scientific researcher from a university, research institute or technology company to strengthen science education.

    Scientist-led classes

    Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, sipping milk tea and switching seamlessly between Chinese and English, Zhang teaches her middle school students much like she does her doctoral candidates in university labs.

    This casual approach is the first message she hopes to convey: scientists are not always solemn, bookish or eccentric. During her first lecture at Beijing Guangqumen Middle School in late May, she said that in reality, many scientists have diverse interests, lead balanced lives and possess both intellectual and emotional intelligence.

    Similarly, Zhang seeks to dispel another common misconception about careers in science: success comes solely from hard work, much like scoring high in college entrance exams.

    “You may spend years with few breakthroughs, and that is the first challenge scientists must face — learning to deal with frustration,” she said in English during a recent class.

    Her students listened carefully, not distracted by phones or computers. They are preparing to enter senior high school after their summer vacation, and in three years, they will choose a university and a major.

    “The earlier they learn, the more they benefit,” Zhang said, noting that understanding scientific careers as teens will help them make choices in the future.

    Using examples ranging from the discovery of penicillin to the gene-editing of white mice in labs, Zhang also encouraged her young students to develop habits of critical thinking, questioning authority and pursuing lifelong learning.

    Next month, she plans to take them to her university lab, where they will observe and conduct basic scientific experiments.

    “They will experience real scientific work,” she said.

    National push

    To make classes more engaging, researchers nationwide are adopting diverse approaches. Besides lab experiments, some organize field expeditions or showcase models of scientific facilities such as lunar probes, submarines and large telescopes.

    The study of emerging technologies like AI and humanoid robots has also made its way into classrooms, becoming part of the content being taught by scientists.

    Tasked with more than teaching, these vice principals of science also help schools with science curriculum planning, teacher training and bringing in scientific resources, forming part of the country’s broader picture of science education.

    Since 2023, under a national “double reduction” policy launched in 2021 to ease the burdens of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring that students face in their compulsory education years, greater emphasis has been placed on enhancing science education and nurturing young people with both the potential to become scientists and aspirations to dedicate themselves to scientific research.

    According to a January report by the state broadcaster CCTV citing the latest data from the Ministry of Education, 45 percent of primary and secondary schools have appointed a vice principal specializing in science over the past two years.

    Schools are also striving to nurture their own science teaching staff. Beijing Haidian Aerospace Tuqiang Primary School, for example, employs 15 full-time or part-time science teachers. The number of science teachers in the country’s junior high schools has increased by more than 8,400 nationwide, and by over 28,000 in senior high schools.

    And technology firms are also joining this national push for improved science education. Leading AI company iFlytek has launched study tour programs to showcase its voice-recognition tools and robots to students, and carmaker Geely has opened its workshops to students, allowing young people to learn about the manufacturing process of new energy vehicles.

    Duty of educators

    However, serving as a school educator does not offer extra pay or benefits for her research work, Zhang said. “It is purely driven by a sense of duty.”

    China has intensified efforts to encourage scientist participation in science education. A revised Science and Technology Popularization Law came into effect last year and introduced concrete measures, such as those on professional recognition and evaluation, to reward researchers for public engagement.

    Zeng Fankui, a researcher at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is passionate about popularizing his potato studies and serves as vice principal of science at three local schools.

    He applauds the progress the country has made in science education, but points to some problems: many rural schools lack proper science equipment and specialized teachers, and traditional mindsets that prioritize rote learning over scientific thinking remain.

    Xiong Bingqi, dean of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said that the goal of the vice principal of science role is to cultivate true scientific literacy.

    “If science classes only assign mechanical exercises, AI could replace them,” he warned, adding that science education should shift focus from knowledge delivery to the cultivation of self-directed learning and nurturing innovation.

    Students crammed with scientific knowledge alone will find it difficult to adapt to the rapid changes of the future, Xiong said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese researchers reintroduce critically endangered plant into wild

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

    Chinese researchers have successfully reintroduced Petrocosmea grandiflora, a critically endangered plant long thought lost, into its natural habitat in the sinkholes of Mengzi City, in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

    The conservation effort was led by the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species (GBOWS), operated by the Kunming Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the local forestry and grassland bureau.

    The journey began in 2021, when researchers conducted a preliminary survey of sinkholes around Mengzi. On June 17 of that year, the researchers used drone surveillance and professional climbing teams to descend into a massive sinkhole — over 100 meters wide and up to 100 meters deep — to collect and study germplasm resources. There, they rediscovered a wild population of Petrocosmea grandiflora, a species that had not been seen in over 125 years.

    Endemic to China, the plant was first described in 1895 by a British botanist, based on specimens collected in Mengzi by Northern Irish botanist William Hancock.

    While the specimens were preserved at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in Britain, the species remained absent from scientific observation for more than a century.

    The rediscovery marked a turning point. In October 2021, GBOWS researchers began asexual propagation of the species to address its scarcity in the wild and its low rate of natural reproduction. Hundreds of seedlings were cultivated in laboratories and greenhouses.

    Last weekend, those lab-grown plants were returned to the wild.

    Two reintroduction sites were selected. The first was the original sinkhole, which offers ideal ecological conditions and minimal human disturbance. The second site, located about 1 km away, is a shaded limestone cliff near an agricultural road, selected for its accessibility to facilitate monitoring.

    To replicate the plant’s natural habitat, the researchers planted the seedlings on near-vertical limestone cliffs. Long-term monitoring of the reintroduced populations will be carried out jointly by the participating institutions.

    “This represents a full-circle scientific endeavor made possible by relentless effort,” said Cai Jie, deputy director of GBOWS. “From the accidental rediscovery of the critically endangered Petrocosmea grandiflora, to its successful propagation in the lab, and now its return to the wild, it’s a powerful testament to China’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.”

    As part of China’s national strategy to safeguard strategic biological resources and promote scientific innovation, GBOWS has been collecting, preserving and researching wild germplasm from China and its surrounding regions.

    By the end of 2024, GBOWS had preserved more than 100,000 plant seed accessions from over 12,000 wild species, along with about 10,000 species and 70,000 samples of plant DNA. Its collection also includes microbial strains, fungal specimens and animal germplasm, totaling 27,000 species and 330,000 biological samples. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Netherlands announces new aid package for Ukraine

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

    Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans on Tuesday announced a new military aid package worth 175 million euros (203 million U.S. dollars) for Ukraine.

    The package includes radar systems, unmanned vehicles, and drones, along with contracts with Ukrainian companies to manufacture drones.

    The announcement coincided with the opening of NATO’s annual summit in The Hague.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in The Hague on Tuesday, and met with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cooperation needed to combat cybercrime threats: Malaysian official

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

    Stronger and more coordinated cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is needed to counter the rising threats of cybercrime, which have emerged as a serious and pressing challenge, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said here on Tuesday.

    In his opening remarks at the 25th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and related meetings, Saifuddin Nasution cautioned that the increasingly complex nature of cybercrime and the rapid adoption of technology by criminal networks require a proactive and timely response.

    “The rising threat of cybercrime, everything from financial scams to ransomware attacks, clearly shows us that this isn’t just a future problem; it’s a pressing issue right now,” he said.

    “Our digital defenses must evolve as fast as technology does. This means we must adopt new technologies, including using artificial intelligence responsibly, to significantly improve how we detect, prevent, and enforce against these crimes,” he said.

    Saifuddin Nasution emphasized that in today’s increasingly fragmented global environment, international cooperation remains the cornerstone of regional stability.

    He said such cooperation is not only vital in addressing shared security threats but also in preserving economic resilience and maintaining public trust in institutions, adding that ASEAN must ensure its commitment to consensus is matched by a readiness to act decisively in the face of evolving challenges. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s poverty eradication role model for other countries: Timor-Leste president

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

    China’s poverty eradication efforts will serve as a role model for other countries to follow suit, Jose Ramos-Horta, president of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, has told Xinhua.

    Speaking following a ceremony to mark the bestowment of an honorary professorship to him by Malaysia’s Taylor’s University here last week, Ramos-Horta also commended China’s progress in food security and the support it has extended to Timor-Leste, particularly in boosting agricultural productivity.

    During his first state visit to China last July, Ramos-Horta said, he appealed for support in improving the island nation’s poverty eradication and agricultural efforts.

    Noting “We have a strong relationship with China,” he said he believes China’s expertise can help boost Timor-Leste’s efforts in poverty reduction.

    “And in a very typical Chinese way of doing things — fast action, talk and act. (Chinese) engineers for water and infrastructure were mobilized,” he said, adding that with Chinese support, the agriculture output has increased and can go up even further. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran’s death toll from Israeli attacks surpasses 600: ministry

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

    The death toll from Israeli strikes across Iran over the past 12 days has reached 606, with 5,332 others injured, Iran’s Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi said on Tuesday.

    Zafarghandi described the past 24 hours as witnessing the “most horrific attacks and aggressions” by Israel since the start of the aerial conflict on June 13, resulting in 104 deaths and 1,342 injuries.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s Health Ministry has reported 28 fatalities and 3,238 injuries on its side since the onset of the conflict.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Monday night that a ceasefire between the two sides would begin around 0400 GMT Tuesday.

    Although both Iran and Israel accepted the ceasefire, violations were reported by both sides hours into the ceasefire, and both sides vowed to retaliate. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump tells Israel not to drop more bombs on Iran

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

    U.S. President Donald Trump told Israel on Tuesday “do not drop those bombs” on Iran, saying that this would be a “major violation” of the ceasefire.

    “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO, IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

    Israel said on Tuesday it had identified missiles from Iran, shortly after the Israeli authorities said they had accepted a ceasefire proposed by Trump.

    Iran had rejected reports of having launched missiles towards Israel following the ceasefire declared between the two sides earlier in the day, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

    Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that he had “instructed the military to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes” against targets “in the heart of Tehran.”

    The missiles triggered air raid sirens across the Haifa area before being intercepted by the Israeli air defense systems, the military said. No injuries or damage had been reported.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force continued its strikes in Iran, unleashing another wave of strikes in western Iran, with the military saying they had targeted missile launchers.

    The latest escalation came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel had accepted a ceasefire proposed by Trump and had achieved its war goals against Iran.

    Trump had earlier announced that a ceasefire between the two sides would begin around 0400 GMT, with Iran expected to halt its operations first.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said earlier that there was no “agreement” on a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. However, he suggested Iran would be prepared to halt further retaliation if Israeli attacks stopped by 4 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT).

    “If Israel stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m., Iran has no intention of continuing its response afterwards,” Araqchi wrote in a post on X, adding that “the final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”

    The conflicting narratives raised questions about the implementation and durability of any potential ceasefire. It remained unclear whether the reported deal had been communicated through diplomatic channels, or whether either side intended to follow the terms.

    Trump announced Monday evening that Israel and Iran have reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the “12-Day War.”

    In a post on his Truth Social platform Monday, Trump said the ceasefire would initially last 12 hours, during which the opposing sides would maintain a posture of “peace and respect.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: AIIB’s first decade marks a path of multilateral, sustainable development

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

    As the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) marks its 10th anniversary, the multilateral development bank is playing an increasingly prominent role in advancing connectivity, green growth, and sustainable development across regions.

    Founded in 2015, AIIB has grown from 57 founding members to 110 across six continents, covering 81 percent of the world’s population and 65 percent of global GDP.

    Over the past decade, it has approved over 60 billion U.S. dollars in financing for 320 projects, leveraging more than 200 billion U.S. dollars in infrastructure investment.

    From electrifying rural Bangladesh to building roads in Cote d’Ivoire, AIIB-supported projects are narrowing infrastructure gaps and improving lives across continents.

    Infrastructure transforming lives

    In Padmo Para village near Dhaka, Bangladesh, local resident Najma Aktar recalls a time when her family studied by the light of a kerosene lamp. That changed in 2016, when the AIIB provided a 165 million U.S. dollar loan to upgrade the local power grid.

    As the bank’s first standalone financed investment, it brought electricity to 12.5 million rural residents, transforming their daily lives.

    By the end of 2024, AIIB has supported over 51,000 kilometers of transport infrastructure — enough to circle the Earth more than once — and benefited more than 410 million people.

    In Indonesia, AIIB supported the upgrading of urban slums, improving the lives of nearly 10 million people. In China’s Yunnan Province, airport expansion enhanced flower exports and boosted farmers’ incomes by 25 percent. In Uzbekistan, AIIB helped extend access to clean water for 660,000 residents.

    “AIIB’s concrete actions have effectively helped bridge global infrastructure investment gaps, advanced regional development, and contributed positively to global economic growth,” said Lu Feng, professor at Peking University.

    Multilateral platform for cooperation

    “AIIB was established on the principles of multilateralism and high international standards,” the bank’s president Jin Liqun told Xinhua in a recent interview, noting that these principles have enabled the bank to earn broad trust and participation across the globe.

    AIIB’s investments span not only Asia but also Africa, Latin America, and beyond, reflecting its commitment to promoting global sustainable development.

    “Asia cannot thrive in isolation,” Jin said, noting that while the bank’s primary focus is Asia, its work also supports broader cooperation that contributes to meaningful development outcomes around the world.

    Reflecting this vision, AIIB has actively expanded its global partnerships and collaborative financing efforts. It is now the largest co-financing partner of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and has built partnerships with over 100 organizations, including multilateral and regional institutions, policy banks, private sector players and philanthropy foundations.

    On the capital markets side, AIIB had issued over 54 billion U.S. dollars equivalent bonds in multiple currencies as of the end of May, and has consistently maintained triple-A credit ratings from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch. Moody’s, for instance, credited the bank’s top rating to its strong financial footing, well-performing assets, and ample liquidity.

    “AIIB has become a new model for multilateral cooperation through its innovative operations and collaborative approach,” said Bai Chong’en, dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, noting its flexible and pragmatic support for infrastructure development in developing countries.

    Investing in infrastructure for tomorrow

    Amid rising global challenges, AIIB is positioning itself as a future-oriented development bank that supports both traditional and digital infrastructure for the long haul.

    In 2020, the bank launched its corporate strategy themed “Infrastructure for Tomorrow,” with priorities including green infrastructure, technology-enabled infrastructure, connectivity and cross-border cooperation, and private capital mobilization.

    By 2025, at least 50 percent of its approved financing was expected to support climate-related projects, a target the bank achieved in 2022, three years ahead of schedule.

    In Cote d’Ivoire, an AIIB-financed rural road project approved in 2023 has made it easier for villagers to reach hospitals and sell cashews and cocoa, even during flood seasons. Local project coordinator Gilbert Ekpini said residents were thrilled with the changes.

    By the end of 2024, AIIB-supported projects had added 21.3 gigawatts of installed power generation capacity of renewable energy, helping to reduce nearly 30 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually.

    The bank is increasingly helping its members embrace the digital era. Last year, AIIB launched InfraTech Portal, a digital platform that shares comprehensive, neutral and free information on infrastructure technologies.

    “Artificial intelligence holds vast potential and offers developing countries an opportunity to leap ahead in their development,” Jin said.

    “That’s why our infrastructure investments must evolve with the times. We should ensure that emerging technologies like AI help narrow, but not widen, the digital divide, especially for the developing world,” he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zhang Qingpeng named head coach of Beijing Royal Fighters

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

    China’s Zhang Qingpeng has replaced Min Lulei as the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club announced on Tuesday.

    Min has applied to resign from the coaching position recently for personal reasons. The club expressed full respect and gratitude for the 61-year-old in an announcement.

    Zhang, 44, who won the CBA Finals title together with the Beijing Ducks under the guidance of Min in the 2014-2015 season, ended his 20-year playing career in 2020 and became an assistant coach of China’s national youth team before coaching the Tianjin Pioneers.

    The Beijing Royal Fighters ranked 11th in the 2024-2025 CBA regular season and lost to the Beijing Ducks in the playoffs quarterfinals. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • West Asia ceasefire unravels within hours as Israel and Iran exchange strikes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The ceasefire between Israel and Iran unraveled within hours of its announcement, as both sides launched fresh attacks and accused each other of violations. Israeli officials confirmed a strike on a radar installation near Tehran in response to three missiles reportedly fired by Iran, one at 07:06 and two more at 10:25 local time, after the truce had taken effect.

    Explosions were reported in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province, including the cities of Babol and Babolsar, prompting the activation of air defense systems. Tehran denied launching any new missiles, while Israel cited precise timings to assert Iranian non-compliance, resulting in conflicting narratives and casting doubt on the ceasefire’s enforceability. However, no further incidents were reported after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    The ceasefire, brokered with Qatar’s mediation following intensive negotiations and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, had been announced by President Trump on June 23. Both Netanyahu and Iranian state media publicly acknowledged the agreement, raising initial hopes of de-escalation. However, the swift breakdown revealed fundamental disagreements over the scope and terms of the truce.

    Trump, visibly frustrated, condemned both sides: “Iran did. Israel did, too. I’m not happy with Israel. Don’t go out first hour. Not happy with Iran, either.” In a pointed warning, he added, “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” Israeli officials later confirmed they had refrained from further attacks following Netanyahu’s call with the U.S. President.

    The breakdown of the ceasefire coincides with the opening of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, where the conflict has already overshadowed the alliance’s traditional focus on defense spending and unity. President Trump arrived at the summit just hours after announcing the truce, only to see it fall apart soon after. The renewed violence in West Asia has forced NATO leaders to address the region’s rapidly deteriorating security situation while continuing to grapple with ongoing challenges such as the war in Ukraine.

    Meanwhile, regional air traffic is gradually resuming. Air India Express announced the restart of its services to West Asia from June 24, with flights resuming today on the Delhi, Muscat route, and additional services to Muscat, Riyadh, and Jeddah from Mumbai, Kozhikode, and Jaipur. Flights to and from major UAE cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah,are scheduled to resume tomorrow.

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – Catholic priest killed: He tried to mediate a family dispute

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – A Catholic priest was killed in Nigeria while attempting to mediate a family dispute. Father Godfrey Oparaekwe, parish priest of St. Ambrose Church in Ubakala (Umuahia South LGA), in Abia State (southern Nigeria), died on the evening of June 17. According to information from the Diocese of Umuahia and sent to Fides, the priest, accompanied by the couple’s daughter and another man, had gone to the man’s house to recover a motorcycle belonging to the girl. The couple had been in a crisis for some time, to the point where the woman and children had left the house, leaving the man alone. Father Oparaekwe had tried to mediate but was threatened by the man. On the evening of June 17, the man stabbed Father Oparaekwe several times, seriously injuring him, and then threatened other people with the same weapon. The attacker was immobilized, and Father Oparaekwe was taken to hospital. However, the priest died from his injuries a few hours after his arrival.Father Godfrey was born on October 4, 1953, in Ulakwo, Owerri, Nigeria. He was ordained priest in 1983 at the St. Joseph Seminary of Ulakwo, Oweni, Nigeria, in the Diocese of Umuahia. In 2000, he received a Master’s degree in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Arizona. From 2002 to 2012, he held various positions in the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona (USA), and then returned to Nigeria. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/KAZAKHSTAN – Bishops of Central Asia in a letter to the Pope: “We want to fish with Peter!”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 24 June 2025

    Astana (Agenzia Fides) – “Although we are only a small flock, we feel like living members of the Body of Christ and are ready to participate with zeal in the mission of evangelization entrusted to us by the Lord: We want to fish with Peter!”, wrote the Catholic bishops of Central Asia in a message to Pope Leo XIV shortly before the Roman Cathedra of the Bishop of Rome was taken possession of on May 25 in the Lateran Basilica (see Fides, 25/5/2025).In the letter (dated May 24, but made public only now), signed by Bishops José Luis Mumbiela Sierra, President of the Central Asian Bishops’ Conference, Jerzy Maculewicz, Vice-President, and Evgeny Zinkovsky, Secretary General, the bishops “from the heart of Central Asia” assure their “constant prayers and unwavering fidelity” to the office of the Successor of Peter: “Trusting in the Love of God, we will fearlessly sow the precious and fruitful seeds of the faith of our Holy Mother Church on the paths of our mission, spreading hope and mercy to all the streets of this world that so desperately need God’s consolation.”And finally, the invitation to visit these countries, a crossroads of peoples and cultures: “The presence of the Popes has left an indelible mark on the memory of our peoples. The visits of Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia are still fresh in our memory. They strengthened our faith and showed the world the universal character of the Church. Therefore, we cordially invite you to visit us during your Pontificate. It would be a great honor and a blessing for our communities to welcome you and show you the living witness of the Catholic faith in this part of the world.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – End of the academic year at the Sheshan Seminary. Bishop Shen Bin encourages students to read “the signs of the times”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    xinde.org

    Shanghai (Agenzia Fides) – This year’s study courses at the Sheshan Seminary, in the Diocese of Shanghai concluded with the awarding of six degrees to six seminarians from the 2019 class and diplomas to the religious sisters who participated in the second formation course for Religious.The conclusion of the academic year was celebrated on Saturday, June 21, with a solemn ceremony attended by Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai, Bishop Francis Xavier Jing Yangke of Ningbo, Sister Wang Min, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Presentation, and representatives of the civil authorities.Bishop Shen Bin, who is also the Rector of the Sheshan Seminary, awarded the diplomas to the seminarians and religious sisters and thanked all the teachers and families of the seminarians, priests, and nuns who participated in the courses. Bishop Shen Bin also urged the graduates to “follow the signs of the times, including the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the changing international scenario.”Fr. Francis Fang Buke, Vice-Rector of the Seminary, addressed the students, urging them all to dedicate themselves to the mission, to proclaim the Gospel and bear witness to their faith in Christ, to actively participate in social works, and to approach all people according to the Church’s spirit of mercy. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CAMBODIA – Apostolic Prefect of Battambang on the closure of the border with Thailand: “The crisis affects ordinary people above all”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 24 June 2025

    Wiki Commons gary4now

    Battambang (Agenzia Fides) – The government of Cambodia has confirmed that the Thai army unilaterally closed all border crossings with Cambodia on the night of June 23. According to the Thai army, border crossings in six Thai provinces bordering Cambodia have been closed, with few exceptions for students or people receiving medical treatment. All other human or vehicle traffic is currently prohibited. The closure is the latest in a series of reprisals that have intensified since the border incident on May 28, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed in gunfire in the so-called “Emerald Triangle,” a small green area on the border between Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.It is one of several disputed regions that both Thailand and Cambodia claim as part of their territory. The two armies accused each other of firing first. On June 7, the Thai army temporarily closed the border and then reduced its opening hours. On June 12, Cambodia announced the suspension of electricity imports and closed the international border at Daung, in Battambang province, for “security reasons.”Thailand and Cambodia are separated by a border approximately 820 kilometers long, which runs through several disputed territories. “This dispute has existed for more than a century and dates back to the time of the French colonial empire,” explains Bishop Enrique Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang (Cambodia), in an interview with Fides.”The parties involved are basing their decision on a map from 1907, which France, which occupied Cambodia as a colonial power until 1953, first used to draw the border between the two countries. Thailand argues that the map is not binding. Cambodia has appealed to the International Court of Justice to determine the territorial ownership of four disputed territories. Thailand also does not agree to appeal to the Court,” the Prefect said.”It should be noted that this crisis,” he added, “is causing hardship and inconvenience for ordinary people. The border between Cambodia and Thailand is indeed very porous and is constantly crossed by a lively trade and workers. The closure of the border blocks the flow of people and goods, so vital to social, economic, and cultural life.” Bishop Figaredo says that many people in the province of Battambang, the territory of his apostolic prefecture, are affected by these flows. “The local people are experiencing this phase with great disappointment, surprise, and confusion,” he notes. “There are also hundreds of displaced people, people stuck on the other side of the border who cannot return home,” he says. The dispute has aroused nationalist sentiments in both countries. Thailand has banned tourists and Thai citizens from visiting or working in Poipet, a Cambodian city whose economy relies on the presence of eight casinos frequented almost exclusively by Thai citizens. In this context, Thailand has also included security measures to paralyze transnational criminal activities in the dispute with Cambodia, as declared by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.The measures against fraud centers were implemented in early 2025, when Thailand cut off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to some areas of Myanmar where cyber fraud activities were taking place. Thailand and Cambodia jointly dismantled a fraud center that housed hundreds of trafficked foreign workers in the city of Poipet. Cyber fraud and so-called “scam cities” have spread throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Bishops’ message for tomorrow’s day of protest: “No to violence, yes to life”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We are seriously concerned about the serious disregard for human life in our country,” said the Bishops of Kenya in a statement issued today, June 24, in anticipation of tomorrow’s day of protest in memory of the victims of last year’s demonstrations against the Finance Law (see Fides, 21/6/2024, 25/6/2024, and 26/6/2024).”Episodes of mysterious disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and violent intimidation have become too frequent,” the bishops denounce in the document, which was sent to Fides.The bishops recall the names of some of those killed or disappeared, emphasizing “that these are not just names, but brothers, sisters, priests, sons, daughters, and friends who deserve protection and justice.” They cite in particular the recent murder of Boniface Kariuki, a protester “shot at close range by a police officer.” The 21-year-old was shot dead during demonstrations demanding justice for the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in a security cell (see Fides, 12/6/2025 and 17/6/2025).”Security officers have taken an oath to protect the population and not to harm it,” the statement reads. The bishops ask the authorities to listen to the protests of young people, “Generation Z,” who are expressing their legitimate demands in the face of the serious economic problems they face (“high taxes, lack of opportunities, and a system that ignores their voices”).The Bishops ask young people not to resort to violence and to demonstrate peacefully: “Remain peaceful, sincere, and courageous,” they appeal. “The Church loves and cares for you. Beware of those who seek to manipulate or influence you for evil purposes.” Finally, the bishops appeal to the “conscience of political leaders” not to allow inhumanity govern the nation. “Do not remain silent about the deaths of Kenyans,” the statement reads. The Kenyan Bishops’ Conference announced that on June 29, Masses will be celebrated in all Catholic churches in Kenya in remembrance of the young people killed and the victims of kidnappings and extrajudicial killings. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Remarks by President António Costa before the meeting with President von der Leyen, Secretary-General Rutte and President Zelenskyy

    Source: Council of the European Union

    On 24 June 2025, European Council President António Costa travelled to The Hague for the NATO Summit. During a meeting with Commission President von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Rutte and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, he reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine, condemned Russia’s continued aggression and welcomed progress on Ukraine’s path toward EU membership.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is deeply concerned by recent violence in Tripoli: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The United Kingdom is deeply concerned by recent violence in Tripoli: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

    President, I will make three points today.

    First, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned by recent violence and clashes in Tripoli. 

    We urge all parties to exercise restraint and engage constructively in mediation efforts to prevent further escalation. 

    The clashes underscore the fragility of Libya’s security landscape and the urgent need for sustainable political progress.

    Second, I want to echo the SRSG’s remarks and welcome the renewed commitment shown at the International Follow-up Committee on Libya in Berlin on 20 June. 

    We are concerned at Libya’s trajectory, particularly the worsening political and economic conditions. 

    And these trends threaten the country’s stability, sovereignty and unity. 

    We therefore fully support UNSMIL’s efforts to improve international coordination in support of the UN-facilitated political process.

    Third, the United Kingdom welcomes the valuable work of the Advisory Committee on technical options for elections pathways. 

    Now, as SRSG Tetteh engages stakeholders to devise a political roadmap, we call on all Libyan actors to engage meaningfully with UNSMIL as it moves into the next stage of the process. 

    Our message is clear: now is the opportunity for Libyan actors to shape the future of the political process, towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Libya.

    In closing, we recognise the importance of creating conditions that ultimately enable national elections to be conducted safely, inclusively and credibly. 

    Forthcoming municipal elections provide an opportunity for Libyan institutions and security actors to demonstrate their commitment to this goal. 

    This is an opportunity for Libyans to exercise their democratic rights and shape local governance. 

    It is essential that all actors work to foster an environment in which democratic practice can take root and be sustained.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Connection between generations: a memorial exhibition was opened at the State University of Management in honor of the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the educational process

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On June 23, the State University of Management held a grand opening of a memorial and historical exhibition dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the founding of the Aleksandrovsky Commercial School and the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the educational process

    The tour for the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev and the university vice-rectors was conducted by the head of the Museum of the History of the University and the Development of Management in Russia Nikita Yudanov.

    Vladimir Stroev emphasized the importance of preserving historical truth in order to establish a dialogue between generations.

    “Today we are opening a permanent exhibition related to the history of the university, which has been undeservedly forgotten. And this is not because we want to increase the history of the State University of Management. We already have a glorious and long history, compared to other universities. It is worth remembering that when any historical part is forgotten, it leads to disastrous consequences. We have restored both the continuity of generations and the connection of the university with the greatest people of the era. This should not only be on posters and in history, we must also pass on this knowledge to students, that we must be worthy of our glorious ancestors. Today this is especially relevant, when we have taken a course on business and entrepreneurship. After all, representatives of all merchant families studied at the Alexandrovsky Commercial School. The exhibition is not just a tribute to memory, this is our history, let’s remember it, study it,” Vladimir Vitalyevich urged.

    Advisor to the rector’s office Sergei Chuev noted that it was the rector who acted as “the initiator, driver and inspiration for the restoration of the history of the State University of Management”:

    “The staff has done serious work on studying historical documents. We have restored dozens of names, and this research has not yet ended, this list can and should be continued. We have already added more than twenty undeservedly forgotten great figures who are related to our university to the Alley of Honor. Among them, for example, are academicians O. T. Bogomolov and A. G. Granberg, long-term head of the Department of Economics and Organization of Urban Economy (now the State Medical University) V. G. Davidovich, professor B. B. Veselovsky, born in 1880, the year the school was founded. With this exhibition, we pay tribute to historical justice,” concluded Sergei Vladimirovich.

    Olga Kharlamova, Director of the Scientific Library of the State University of Management, spoke about the history of the library’s development from the times of the Alexander School to the present day, and Sergei Chuev spoke in detail about the role of the Soviet scientist Nikolai Nekrasov in the development of science in general and the State University of Management in particular.

    You can see the exhibition stands on the first floor of the flow building from PA-11 to the cloakroom and in the hall of the scientific library of the State University of Management, and on the second floor of the building there is an alley of fame for the teachers of the State University of Management.

    On the Walk of Fame you can learn more about the lives and achievements of such outstanding scientists as:

    Nikolay Pestov is a chemist, a leading specialist in the field of mineral fertilizer technology, dean of the chemistry department, deputy director for academic and scientific work at Moscow Institute of Power Engineering (now State University of Management). Eduard Satel is the founder of the domestic scientific school of mechanical engineering technology, one of the pioneers in the development of flow production methods in the mechanical engineering industry. Under his direct leadership, the following plants were radically reconstructed and reorganized: Krasny Proletariy, Frezer, Serp i Molot, Borets, Kompressor, Krasnaya Presnya, and others. Kirill Plotnikov is a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, head of the industrial financing department at Moscow Institute of Power Engineering (now State University of Management). He developed the theory of the state budget, the theory of money and money circulation, credit, pricing, and business accounting. From the 1940s to the 1990s, he carried out management, advisory, and research work on public finances.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –