Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI: Willis predicts natural catastrophes will not offer insurers any respite in 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Natural catastrophes continue to put a strain on global insurance markets, according to the latest Natural Catastrophe Review published today by Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW).

Worldwide, insured losses from natural catastrophes now consistently exceed USD 100 billion per year. It’s been six years since the insurance industry last experienced a year with low losses from natural catastrophes. Events so far in 2025 indicate that losses exceeding USD 100 billion will very likely continue for at least another year.

The Willis Natural Catastrophe Review is a biannual publication that provides insights into recent natural catastrophes and shares expert views on the risks posed by major perils. It sets out the causes and effects of major catastrophes in 2025 to date and goes beyond the headlines to identify the underlying factors that made them possible. The Review also provides an expert outlook for the rest of the year and into 2026, exploring potential threats from hurricanes, drought, flood and other hazards.

Other key trends to note:
- Exceptional natural catastrophes: So far, major events in 2025 include the Los Angeles wildfires (globally, the worst wildfire event ever with respect to insured losses), the worst wildfires in Japan and South Korea in at least a generation, the third-most active year on record for tornadoes in the United States, the first landfalling cyclone near Brisbane, Australia in 50 years, and the highest wind speed ever recorded over Ireland.
- Natural catastrophes under climate change: The severity and scale of recent catastrophes underlines the need to confront a new era of climate extremes. Risk managers must reassess the risk, integrate climate forecasts into their plans, and ensure insurance and risk frameworks are optimized for today’s evolving threats. Data-driven strategies are needed to narrow protection gaps and to stay resilient in a rapidly changing world.
- Leveraging scientific advances to mitigate future risks: The Review presents a forward view on natural catastrophe risk for the remainder of 2025 and early 2026. It also provides concrete advice on how to make the most of seasonal weather forecasts and identifies geographic regions that may be exposed to elevated catastrophe risk during the next three to six months.
Peter Carter, Head of Climate Practice, Willis, said: “2024 continued a 6-year streak of natural catastrophe losses in excess of USD 100 billion. The wildfires in Los Angeles early in 2025 will drive estimated losses of USD 40 billion alone so the streak looks set to continue. With global efforts likely failing to keep the temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, our focus must now turn to adapting and building resilience in the face of this new reality.”

Cameron Rye, Director, Natural Catastrophe Analytics, Willis said: “The Los Angeles wildfires of January 2025 resulted in insured losses more than USD $40 billion, equivalent to nearly one-third of global insured losses the previous year. The scale and timing of the event placed immediate pressure on insurers’ catastrophe loss budgets at the beginning of the year and prompted a renewed focus on how wildfire risk is modelled, particularly in high-exposure areas like the urban-wildland interface. With an above-average number of storms predicted for the North Atlantic hurricane season, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the costliest years on record for (re)insurers.”

The full Natural Catastrophe Review can be accessed here.

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The MIL Network –
July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI China: ‘Dead to Rights’ exposes Japanese cover-up of Nanjing Massacre

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

Director Shen Ao’s new film “Dead to Rights” tells the true story of brave civilians who risked their lives to safeguard crucial photographic evidence of Japan’s wartime atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre, defying systematic cover-up efforts and staged propaganda by Japanese forces.

A still from “Dead to Rights.” [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

“On the battlefield where smoke rises from gunfire, we see weapons and bullets. But on the invisible front, another war rages over public opinion, propaganda and culture,” Shen said. “On this battlefield, each photo is like a bullet. Opposing forces clash, each advancing their own narratives, until the world finally sees the truth and distinguishes good from evil.”

Starring Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye and Wang Xiao, the film is based on documented accounts of Japanese military atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre. The story follows civilians who take shelter in a photo studio and are forced to develop Japanese military film for survival. When they discover photographs from the massacre and the army moves to suppress the evidence, they must fight to survive while smuggling them out.

The narrative is based on the true story of 15-year-old Luo Jin, who in 1938 was forced to develop Japanese military photographs in Nanjing. After discovering images of atrocities, he secretly compiled a set of damning prints into an album and hid it in a temple. His friend Wu Xuan preserved the album, which served as evidence at the trial of war criminal Hisao Tani, one of the primary perpetrators of the Nanjing Massacre.

Shen Ao, director of “Dead to Rights,” at the film’s Beijing premiere, July 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

The true story inspired the 1987 film “Massacre in Nanjing,” which later motivated director Shen to create a new cinematic interpretation of these historic atrocities.

Shen, a photography enthusiast who has collected vintage film cameras, learned traditional photo-developing skills in university — a foundation that informed his filmmaking. Intrigued by the photo studio’s role in documenting the war crimes, he and his crew spent three years conducting extensive research. They studied archival photos, documents and eyewitness records, including Japanese soldiers’ wartime images and American missionary John Gillespie Magee’s documentation.

“Photographs, by their very nature, are meant to preserve life’s beautiful moments,” the director said. “Yet after the Japanese army occupied Nanjing, these same images were weaponized — twisted into tools of propaganda and trophies of conquest.”

A poster for “Dead to Rights.” [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

The film also depicts the Japanese military’s “goodwill photos,” staged images designed to present a sanitized version of the occupation. The occupiers’ grotesque merriment in these photographs stands in chilling contrast to the helplessness and despair of Nanjing’s civilians.

“These ‘goodwill photos’ represent a propaganda battle,” the director said. “While we have many films depicting combat, I can’t recall any that focus on this information warfare aspect. I want to present a fresh cinematic perspective. Beyond the military actions, the Japanese army also created carefully orchestrated public relations materials in Nanjing to mislead local civilians and international observers. What struck me most was how many of these photos featured children, vulnerable subjects who were easily exploited for such propaganda purposes.”

The film has earned an 8.5/10 rating on review site Douban, with audiences responding emotionally to its realistic portrayal of Nanjing’s wartime tragedy.

The release coincides with the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese people’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Shen said the film serves to promote “correct historical understanding, opposition to historical nihilism, and strict fidelity to factual records.”

The cast and crew of “Dead to Rights” pose for a photo at the film’s premiere, themed “every Chinese person will not forget,” in Beijing, July 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

“I hope the characters in this film can represent Chinese people from all walks of life during this war,” he noted. “Countless ordinary individuals never had their names recorded in history textbooks. This film aims to honor them. This wasn’t merely a military victory but a triumph of the people. Only through the united will of hundreds of millions of Chinese could this victory be achieved.”

MIL OSI China News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Myanmar athletes gearing up for dragon boat debut at Chengdu World Games

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

A cold Monday morning drizzle in the rainy season lingered over Inya Lake as paddles cut through the still water. With ten days remaining until the 2025 Chengdu World Games, Myanmar’s dragon boat team was training relentlessly.

At the Myanmar Rowing and Canoeing Federation compound in Yangon, the sound of synchronized strokes echoed. Coaches call instructions from the banks while athletes push through drills, focusing on rhythm, power and perfect team coordination.

Members of Myanmar’s national dragon boat team attend a training session for the Chengdu 2025 World Games, in Yangon, Myanmar, July 28, 2025.(Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Pyae Sone Aung, 22, rested his paddle after a sprint set. “I am very happy and satisfied as I will compete in the World Games in China. As there are many good teams, we are preparing our best.”

“I do train my best as my coaches ask,” he said. “I am from Maubin township in Ayeyarwady. I got interested in the sports as my uncle and aunty are national athletes,” he said proudly.

“As our sport is a team sport, we have to overcome the challenges faced during training with team spirit,” he said. “I want to promote the development of dragon boat racing in Myanmar with medals.”

“China has a lot of modern infrastructure. There are many things to be learned in China. We are training our best,” Pyae Sone Aung said.

Nway Ei Phyu, 21, adjusted her grip as her paddle splashed from the last drill. “I am very excited as a new generation athlete. This will be my second time in an international event,” she said, breathing hard.

“The first time I participated in an international event was in Thailand,” she said. “I have prepared my best. Our biggest competitors are China, Thailand and Indonesia,” she said, adding that it would be her first visit to China.

Veteran paddler Hla Hla Htwe, 32, has been with the rowing team for over 11 years. She has participated in many international events since joining Myanmar’s national team at 18. “My aunties were also national athletes,” she said.

“As it’s the first time at the World Games, we must train very hard,” she added. “Our coaches support and encourage us every day. As a team sport, unity is everything. If we are not united, other teams will easily beat us.”

The World Games will include six different dragon boat racing disciplines, with races covering 200, 500 and 2,000 meters, and crews of either eight or 10 athletes.

Dragon boat racing has been an invitational sport in the World Games three times, and is to be included fully for the first time at the Chengdu Games.

Originating in China, dragon boat racing uses unique boats that are decorated with dragon-like features. Paddlers sit facing forwards on both sides, each having one paddle.

On the bank of Inya Lake, coach U Thein Win, 55, said, “We have competed in two qualifiers for the World Games. We qualified with third place and became one of 12 teams.”

“We have been training since the qualifiers,” he said. “As it is a world event, there are powerful teams in Southeast Asia and strong crews from Europe,” he continued.

“The competition is very strong. All teams want their best results. We also want our best results,” he said.

He wiped his brow, recalling his own career. “It is the highest event so far for the dragon boat athletes. I was a rower from 1989 to 2003 and have been working as a coach since 2006,” he said.

“In my joint training visit to China, I saw how China’s team train three times a day. We train twice a day,” he said. “We share similar food to China, and their culture feels familiar to us,” he reflected.

Myanmar’s dragon boat delegation, which includes six male athletes, six female athletes, a team leader, a manager and two coaches, departs for China on August 6.

MIL OSI China News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Beijing to host 2026 World Aquatics Short-Course Swimming Championships

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

Beijing has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 World Aquatics Short-Course Swimming Championships following a decision by the World Aquatics Bureau.

The announcement was made during the World Aquatics General Congress in Singapore, held alongside the ongoing World Aquatics Championships.

Swimmers start at the men’s 200m individual medley final at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25M) in Budapest, Hungary, Dec. 10, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

More than 1,000 elite swimmers from over 200 countries and regions are expected to compete in the Chinese capital over six days in late 2026.

Beijing, known for its extensive experience in hosting major international sporting events, was selected after a competitive bidding process, World Aquatics said.

“Beijing has demonstrated time and again its capacity to deliver world-class events across all aquatic disciplines,” said World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam. “We are confident that this tradition of excellence will continue in 2026.”

Beijing has previously hosted 38 World Aquatics events and is also set to stage the full-scale World Aquatics Championships in 2029, which will include open water swimming and high diving in addition to the five core disciplines.

This will be the third time China has hosted the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), following Shanghai in 2006 and Hangzhou in 2018.

Chinese Swimming Association president Zhou Jihong welcomed the decision. “We are thrilled and deeply honored to host this prestigious championship in Beijing, a city with a strong Olympic legacy and enduring passion for aquatic sports,” said Zhou. “This is an important opportunity to showcase the talents of the world’s best swimmers, and we will work tirelessly to ensure a world-class experience for athletes, officials, and fans alike.”

Among those anticipating the event is Chinese Olympic champion and men’s 100m freestyle long-course world record holder Pan Zhanle.

“I can’t wait to compete in front of a home crowd,” said Pan. “The short-course championships bring a unique intensity and excitement. I hope to make history in Beijing and inspire the next generation of swimmers.”

With the successful bid, China further strengthens its role as a major contributor to the global aquatics community, having hosted more than 100 World Aquatics events to date, the federation said.

MIL OSI China News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI China: SCIO organizes media trip to Shanxi and Hunan

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

SCIO organizes media trip to Shanxi and Hunan

China SCIO | July 29, 2025

The State Council Information Office (SCIO) organized a media trip from July 22-26 to China’s Shanxi and Hunan provinces, inviting journalists to visit memorial facilities and historical sites of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The group included foreign correspondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia, and they conducted interviews with veterans of the war as well as families of fallen heroes.

Reporters visit the Eighth Route Army Taihang Memorial Hall in Changzhi, Shanxi province, July 23, 2025. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

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MIL OSI China News –

July 30, 2025
EU proposes curbs on Israel research funding over Gaza crisis

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The European Union’s executive body recommended on Monday curbing Israeli access to its flagship research funding programme after calls from EU countries to increase pressure on Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Multiple EU countries said last week that Israel was not living up to its commitments under an agreement with the European Union on increasing aid supplies to Gaza and asked the European Commission to put concrete options on the table.

The proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe programme needs approval from a qualified majority of EU countries to take effect – at least 15 of the EU’s 27 members, representing at least 65% of its population.

The European Commission said in a statement that the proposal comes as a reaction to a review of Israel’s compliance with the human rights clause of an agreement governing its relations with the EU.

The bloc’s diplomatic service said in June that there were indications that Israel had breached its obligations under the terms of the pact.

“While Israel has announced a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting and has met some of its commitments under the common understanding on humanitarian aid and access, the situation remains severe,” the Commission said on Monday.

The U.N.’s World Food Programme has said that almost 470,000 people in Gaza are enduring famine-like conditions, with 90,000 women and children in need of specialist nutrition treatments.

The Israeli government has rejected international criticism of its policies in the enclave.

Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post on social media platform X on Monday that the Commission’s move was “mistaken, regrettable, and unjustified” and that it hoped EU member countries would not adopt the proposal.

Israel has been participating in the EU’s research programs since 1996, taking part in thousands of joint projects over the past decades.

The Commission said the proposal would impact the participation of Israeli entities in the bloc’s European Innovation Council Accelerator “which targets start-ups and small businesses with disruptive innovations and emerging technologies that have potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence”.

It did not say how much funding would be affected by the proposed freeze.

(Reuters)

July 30, 2025
Global hunger falls but conflict and climate threaten progress, UN says

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The number of hungry people around the world fell for a third straight year in 2024, retreating from a COVID-era spike, even as conflict and climate shocks deepened malnutrition across much of Africa and western Asia, a U.N. report said on Monday.

Around 673 million people, or 8.2% of the world’s population, experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5% in 2023, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, jointly prepared by five U.N. agencies.

They said the report focussed on chronic, long-term problems and did not fully reflect the impact of acute crises brought on by specific events and wars, including Gaza.

Maximo Torero, the chief economist for the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, said improved access to food in South America and India had driven the overall decline but cautioned that conflict and other factors in places such as Africa and the Middle East risked undoing those gains.

“If conflict continues to grow, of course, if vulnerabilities continue to grow, and the debt stress continues to increase, the numbers will increase again,” he told Reuters on the sidelines of a U.N. food summit in Ethiopia.

“Conflict continues to drive hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in remarks delivered by video link to the summit. “Hunger further feeds future instability and undermines peace.”

In 2024, the most significant progress was registered in South America and Southern Asia, the U.N. report said.

In South America, the hunger rate fell to 3.8% in 2024 from 4.2% in 2023. In Southern Asia, it fell to 11% from 12.2%.

Progress in South America was underpinned by better agricultural productivity and social programmes like school meals, Torero said. In Southern Asia, it was mostly due to new data from India showing more people with access to healthy diets.

The overall 2024 hunger numbers were still higher than the 7.5% recorded in 2019 before the COVID pandemic.

The picture is very different in Africa, where productivity gains are not keeping up with high population growth and the impacts of conflict, extreme weather and inflation.

In 2024, more than one in five people on the continent, 307 million, were chronically undernourished, meaning hunger is more prevalent than it was 20 years ago.

Africa is projected to account for nearly 60% of the world’s hungry people by 2030, the report said.

The gap between global food price inflation and overall inflation peaked in January 2023, driving up the cost of diets and hitting low-income nations hardest, the report said.

Overall adult obesity rose to nearly 16% in 2022, from 12% in 2012, it added.

The number of people unable to afford a healthy diet dropped globally in the past five years to 2.6 billion in 2024 from 2.76 billion in 2019, the report said.

(Reuters)

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Global Africa Commission Proposed as the fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025) Opens in Grenada
Source: APO – Report:
- US $290M in deals signed, advancing infrastructure, tourism and trade across the Caribbean on Day 1
- CARICOM leaders to recommend region’s highest honour for Oramah’s role in transforming ties
- US $250M Resilience Fund, CAPSS rollout, and feasibility of Caribbean EXIM Bank among key initiatives championed
The fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025) opened today in St. George’s under the theme “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.”

In a passionate keynote address, Prof. Benedict Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, declared the region’s readiness to shift from slogans to systems, unveiling a slate of tangible milestones that signal the deepening of Africa-Caribbean economic and cultural integration.

“In under four years, we’ve ratified the Partnership Agreement in 11 CARICOM countries, providing the Bank a solid legal foundation to operate, support, and invest in their economies,” said Oramah. This, he acknowledged, represents a “sovereign declaration, that the CARICOM States see in Africa, not just its past, but also its future.”

These bold initiatives, shared by President Oramah during his address, demonstrate Afreximbank’s commitment to transforming Afri-Caribbean cooperation from aspiration into action:
- Caribbean EXIM Bank: Feasibility studies are underway for a regional EXIM Bank co-created with the CARICOM Secretariat to unlock industrial development and trade.
- $250M Growth, Resilience, and Sustainability Fund (GRSF): A new blended finance mechanism to support climate adaptation and development. Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) will manage the fund, while concessional financing will be raised jointly with the CARICOM Development Fund.
- CAPSS Launch (Caribbean Payment & Settlement System): Modelled after Africa’s Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), this digital platform will allow real-time payments across the Caribbean in local currencies, eliminating costly conversions and enabling the upcoming CAPSS Card.
- Creative & Cultural Investment: $24 million has been committed for a film production and training hub in the OECS through CANEX, while other investments have enabled designers and chefs from Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados to feature globally.
- Artificial Intelligence Hub: A new AI and generative tech centre is being launched in partnership with the P.J. Patterson Institute at the University of the West Indies to place Afro-Caribbean talent at the centre of global innovation.
The ACTIF2025 also serves as President Oramah’s final address at the Forum, as he prepares to hand over leadership to Dr. George Elombi, Afreximbank’s long-serving Executive Vice President nominated as incoming President by shareholders at the Bank’s 32^nd Annual Meeting in Abuja in June 2025.

“At this critical moment in our collective history, I have no shred of doubt that he is the right person to lead us in the next phase of the Bank’s journey. I am convinced that he will give the Bank’s work in this region a renewed impetus,” he stated.

Looking beyond the Forum, President Oramah urged the establishment of a sovereign Global Africa Commission to drive forward the long-term integration of Africa and the Caribbean. He proposed that the Commission be jointly supported by Afreximbank, the CARICOM Secretariat, and the African Union, and tasked with advancing the trade, cultural, education, and creative agenda of the growing pan-African alliance.

“What we have done so far is prove the concept, we now need to institutionalise it,” Oramah said. “We should consider creating a Commission that becomes fully responsible for delivering on the Africa-Caribbean and broader Global Africa initiative… This move will give more focus to the initiative, reduce the administrative burden on Afreximbank and create an environment for innovation.”

In closing, President Oramah declared “In America, America is first. In Europe, Europe is first. In China, China is first. We are the only ones who put ourselves last,” noting that it is time that Africa changes this posture.

Meanwhile, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada praised the vision and leadership of President Benedict Oramah, describing his presidency as a turning point in the Africa-Caribbean relations.

Recognising the strategy, integrity and relentless drive employed, PM Mitchell, stated that President Oramah carved out a space for ‘our regions to trade, collaborate, and thrive’. “In the annals of history, you will go down as a pioneer for African people everywhere,” the Caribbean leader declared.

Prime Minister Mitchell announced a recommendation by the region’s leaders to confer the region’s highest honour to President Oramah; the Order of the Caribbean Community.

Building on Oramah’s keynote call to institutionalise the Global Africa Initiative through the creation of a permanent Commission, Prime Minister Mitchell voiced full support.

His message was punctuated by a deeply personal interaction with a young volunteer who asked why Grenada chose to host ACTIF2025; a question he said cut to the heart of the Forum’s purpose.

“It’s about money. It’s about trade. It’s about investment… our very survival, prosperity and dignity depends on the economic decisions we make today,” he stated. “To that young man, I say: our political will to support Global Africa is unwavering. We are not starting from scratch. We are starting from strength. And we will not leave ACTIF2025 with another communiqué, we will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.”

In a sobering, yet empowering close, he added “no one is going to save Global Africa but Global Africa itself.”

More than a dozen sitting and former Heads of State, and Government representatives from Africa and the Caribbean are attending ACTIF2025. Among them are:
- Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
- Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
- Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
- Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia
- H.E. Kassim Majaliwa, Prime Minister of Tanzania (representing President Samia Suluhu)
- H.E. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda (representing President Paul Kagame)
- The Most Hon. PJ Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica
- H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
- H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President, Republic of Niger
Meanwhile, five transformative deals totaling over US$290 million were signed on Day 1 of ACTIF2025, showcasing Afreximbank’s deepening investment in trade-enabling infrastructure and economic development across the Caribbean. Among the signings was a US$50 million Heads of Terms with the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis for an Education Construction and Rehabilitation Climate-Linked Facility, and a US$40 million public-private partnership with Gemini Integrated Commodities Trading Company Ltd. to develop a modern commercial port in Saint Kitts. In The Bahamas, two landmark transactions were formalised: a US$100 million Receivables Discounting Facility for the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies to rehabilitate over 200 miles of road infrastructure, and a US$40 million facility with Cat Island Infrastructure Company Ltd. for critical roadworks. Rounding out the signings was a US$61.25 million agreement with Speedbird House Ltd. to finance a 150-room Homewood Suites by Hilton in Bridgetown, Barbados—under Afreximbank’s tourism-linked financing initiative, CONTOUR.

ACTIF2025 continues through 30 July, with panel discussions, business matchmaking sessions, cultural showcases, and deal signings that reflect the Forum’s commitment to moving from rhetoric to results. More than 1,700 people registered to attend ACTIF2025, reflecting the highest level of interest recorded across all four editions.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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MIL OSI Africa –
July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Giants Protocol Powers Tokenization of Real Estate for The Assembly Place, Backed by Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Giants Protocol, a pioneer in AI-powered real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, has announced a landmark collaboration with Singapore-based co-living operator The Assembly Place (TAP) to tokenize real estate assets. This strategic move showcases the protocol’s ability to transform physical infrastructure into on-chain, yield-generating opportunities. The announcement marks a key milestone in Giants’ journey, having been backed by Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund since inception and now delivering tangible use cases in Asia’s fast-evolving tokenization landscape.

At the Forefront of the RWA Revolution

As the tokenization of real-world assets shifts from experimentation to full-scale adoption, Giants Protocol is delivering the AI-powered infrastructure to lead this next wave. Giants transforms traditionally complex investment products into seamless, on-chain, yield-generating opportunities.

Key Features:
- AI-Driven Intelligence: Giants multi-agent AI monitors RWA asset performance, market conditions, and risk exposures across jurisdictions to enable smart, compliant execution.
- Automated Optimization: Strategies for yield, collateral, and liquidity management are dynamically adjusted by AI 24/7, reducing manual intervention and human error.
- Cross-Chain Deployment at Scale: Giant’s modular design enables frictionless integration across ecosystems like Sonic, Hyperliquid, Cosmos, and more. Scaling RWA access to global participants.
By embedding AI at the core, Giants Protocol is redefining how real-world assets are brought on-chain efficiently, compliantly, and at scale.

Leading the RWA Compliance Surge

1. Regulatory Alignment
Giants aligns closely with Regional regulatory frameworks, working alongside policy experts to ensure compliant deployment of tokenized bonds, credit, and real estate assets. As part of 2MR Labs, the team prioritizes legal enforceability and cross-border interoperability from day one.

2. Infrastructure Breakthroughs
Through its AI agents and modular architecture, Giants automates key processes in RWA tokenization in pricing, collateral management, and multi-chain movement. Removing the need for manual oversight.

3. Market Acceleration
With the RWA market expected to exceed $40 trillion by 2030, Giants is positioning itself as the gateway for institutional-grade tokenized assets in Asia. Backed by sovereign support and regional asset managers, the protocol has begun piloting treasury-backed and real estate-linked RWAs.

4. Addressing Bottlenecks
Giants tackles the toughest RWA hurdles, liquidity fragmentation and legal complexity. Through zk-proof attestations, stablecoin-backed settlements, and programmable legal agreements. Its AI system ensures real-time monitoring and compliance across jurisdictions.

Real-World Impact: Helping The Assembly Place Enter the Web3 Economy

One of Giants Protocol’s flagship collaborations is with The Assembly Place (TAP), Singapore’s leading co-living space operator.

Through this partnership, Giants:
- Enabled Tokenization of Real Estate Assets
  By helping TAP explore converting its co-living properties into tokenized, yield-generating digital assets, Giants opened up new funding models for physical infrastructure and empowering a vibrant global community culture for digital natives.
- Offered Strategic Advisory and AI Tools
  Giants provided RWA, Web3 strategy and optimizing digital assets tailored to TAP’s business model.
- Drove Go-To-Market and Community Engagement
  Giants played a vital role in building the bridge between TAP and the crypto-native community, creating narratives and GTM strategies that connected both traditional and Web3 audiences.
TAP is a testament to how Giants Protocol supports asset-rich, cash-constrained businesses in unlocking new liquidity through intelligent tokenization and building a globalized community living.

Institutional Credibility

Giants Protocol stands as one of the most institutionally trusted RWA infrastructure builders in the ecosystem.

Additional backers include:
Plug and Play VC, BreederDAO (by a16z), Trinity Ventures, Eden Ventures, LucidBlue Ventures, PG Capital, Brinc, Digital Consensus Fund, CSP DAO, London Real Ventures.

About Giants Protocol

Giants Protocol is a real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform powered by a multi-agent AI system, developed by 2MR Labs. It integrates AI-driven investment infrastructure, compliance tooling, and seamless multi-chain access to streamline and scale the tokenization process. Invested by Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund since day one and top global investors, Giants Protocol is building the foundation for the next phase of asset innovation.

Contact:

ARTHUR LIN, CEO
arthur.lin@2mrlabs.com

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d943c7ac-1880-4ec1-be6b-499a94d9d5ab

The MIL Network –
July 30, 2025
DRDO successfully conducts range validation tests of ‘Pralay’ missile system

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the range capabilities of the indigenous quasi-ballistic missile system ‘Pralay’ over two consecutive days from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The trials were conducted as part of the User Evaluation Trials in collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, both minimum and maximum range capabilities of the missile were validated during the flight tests held on Monday and Tuesday. The missile followed the predetermined trajectory and precisely hit the designated targets, fulfilling all mission objectives.

All onboard subsystems functioned as expected, and data from the tests were recorded using a network of tracking sensors and instruments, including those mounted on a ship stationed near the impact zone.

The ‘Pralay’ missile, developed by DRDO, is a solid propellant-driven, surface-to-surface weapon system designed to carry various types of warheads and engage multiple target profiles. The development involved several DRDO laboratories, including the Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Advanced Systems Laboratory, and other key institutions, in collaboration with industry partners such as Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and several MSMEs.

The trials were observed by senior DRDO scientists, representatives from the Indian Air Force and Indian Army, as well as industry stakeholders.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded DRDO, the Armed Forces, and industry partners for the successful trials. He said that the missile system, equipped with advanced technologies, will enhance the nation’s defence capabilities.

Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, congratulated the teams involved and said the successful completion of these phase-1 flight tests marks a crucial step toward the missile’s eventual induction into the Armed Forces.

-IANS

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: SA granted €500 million loan for Energy Transition

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa has been granted a €500 million loan for the implementation of the country’s Just Energy Transition (JET) plan by the German Cooperation via KFW Development Bank (KFW).

This loan is part of South Africa’s third Development Policy Operation and participants included the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund.

“It supports structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the country’s infrastructure services, with a specific focus on the energy sector and climate mitigation.

“KFW’s financing forms part of government’s broader efforts to implement structural reforms that strengthen public institutions, crowd in private investment, and improve service delivery across priority sectors of the economy,” National Treasury said on Monday.

This loan agreement builds on the two policy loans concluded in 2022 and 2023, and forms part of Germany’s pledge at COP26 to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Germany’s three policy loans, implemented by KFW, total €1.3 billion and form part of a larger package of JETP projects supported by the German Government via loans, technical assistance and grants.

“The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, [has] highlighted the significance of South Africa’s partnership with Germany and KFW that remains critical to South Africa’s development agenda and marks a significant step towards strengthening South Africa’s short- and medium-term energy security measures, promoting decarbonisation and enhancing the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition for disadvantaged communities, thereby enabling inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation.

“The Minister also emphasised the need for further policy and institutional reforms in the energy sector to create an enabling environment for the investment required for a just energy transition,” National Treasury said.

KFW’s Country Director for South Africa, Cornelia Tittmann, said the loan seeks to support the government of South Africa’s continued commitment to reforms in the energy sector, which give effect to South Africa’s climate commitments and enable the private sector to participate, opening new avenues to strengthen economic cooperation between Germany and South Africa. –SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK esports collaboration to boost digital and cyber skills
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

New UK esports collaboration to boost digital and cyber skills

The new partnership with International Defence Esports Games will improve Armed Forces digital talent, while an annual summit will focus on education, recruitment and skills, including AI.
UK military personnel will improve their digital and cyber skills through a new esports collaboration, which will include a focus on AI and drone operation.

The Ministry of Defence has appointed the British Esports Federation to deliver a new first-of-its-kind defence and industry esports tournament through UK Strategic Command, soon to be Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.

Improving the digital skills of military personnel will help boost the country’s warfighting readiness, with the UK at the cutting edge of defence AI and technology, supporting the government’s Plan for Change. Lessons from Ukraine, including Ukrainian’s producing their own drone simulator games to improve hand-eye coordination, have shown how esports can be used to successfully train drone operators and cyber security specialists.

Through the Strategic Defence Review, defence is enhancing its warfighting capability by developing critical cyber skills, and Esports can provide an accessible environment to improve digital literacy and cyber understanding.

The International Defence Esports Games (IDEG) will help members of the Armed Forces develop cyber, digital and wider military skills. Initially open to service personnel, including reservists, IDEG will expand to eventually include cadets, veterans, civil servants and anyone working in the defence industry.

Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP, said: [CLEARED]

Esports will help attract, develop, and retain top cyber and digital talent, while fostering this government’s Plan for Change. Our people must now be as adept with code, cybersecurity and a games controller as they are with traditional combat skills.

From drone operations to data analysis, modern defence and deterrence needs agile minds that can navigate both physical and digital battlegrounds.

The International Defence Esports Games is an exciting initiative that will help foster exactly these skills in a fun, collaborative way, and overcome many traditional boundaries between our international partners.

The inaugural IDEG finals – where competitions would be held – will be organised in partnership with British Esports and a leading esports production company, and be held in the UK in late 2026.

The event is being supported by Defence suppliers, including BAE Systems, as well as several smaller military technology companies.

Chester King, President, British Esports said:

Military esports has been steadily growing in recent years, and today we’re delighted to announce a first-of-its-kind tournament for military personnel around the world.

The UK’s armed forces have recognised video games as a positive activity that can improve personnel welfare and morale, foster digital and cyber skills, and strengthen relations across the armed forces and beyond.

We’re happy to announce the International Defence Esports Games and support the future of the military.

Recently the Royal Navy partnered with British Esports to launch an esports facility aboard UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, featuring gaming gear from the likes of Alienware, NVIDIA and Intel. Those in attendance included members of the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Esports Association (SGEA), the national body British Esports, and Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command, Lt Gen Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, who has been championing esports across UK Defence.

Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes KCB CBE, Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command said:

Esports and serious games can contribute to our warfighting readiness. As competition and conflict increasingly play out in cyberspace and the digital arena, these games equip our people to think, operate and innovate across both the physical and virtual worlds, developing team coordination and rapid decision-making under pressure.

We’ve learned from our Ukrainian partners about how esports can train drone operators and cyber security specialists. People are quickly grasping how esports can change perspectives and enhance skills, as well as reaching across borders with our international allies and partners.

For centuries we’ve used ball games like rugby and football to develop teamwork, hone mental and physical fitness and build resilience. Esports perfectly complement these games in preparing us for 21st Century security challenges.

To address additional needs for cyber security specialists in Defence, the Ministry of Defence announced the Cyber Direct Entry Scheme, a bespoke entry route for aspiring cyber professionals and those with existing digital skills, which will see new recruit basic training reduced from 10 weeks to around one month, after which recruits will undergo 3 months’ specialist training in the field.

The news comes just over a year after the MOD recognised esports as an official military sport, ensuring funding and opportunities for personnel to compete. Today’s announcement also represents a deepening relationship between British Esports and the MOD.

ENDS

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Published 29 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Yingkou City, Liaoning Province Boosts Fruit Exports to Central Asian Countries

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) — Yingkou City in northeast China’s Liaoning Province is stepping up exports of locally produced fruits to Central Asian countries. Thirteen tons of freshly picked Shine Muscat and Jufeng grapes recently passed quarantine inspection and were exported to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, under a special cold chain land transport route.

According to the website of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, the above-mentioned export was carried out under the supervision of customs officials of Bayuquan District, administratively subordinate to Dalian Customs. In addition, this is the first batch of grapes exported to Uzbekistan for Yingkou.

Yang Lansen, the person in charge of Yingkou Zhongxinwang Fresh Fruit Co., Ltd., said that in the process of developing new markets, the local customs not only helped their company strictly comply with the phytosanitary requirements of importing countries, but also provided timely professional advice on the standardization of orchard management and post-harvest processing technology, which provided strong support for the successful entry of our grapes into the Central Asian market.

At present, the area for growing high-quality grapes in Yingkou City has reached 11.7 hectares, and the annual production volume remains above 300 thousand tons.

With distinct four seasons and abundant sunshine, Yingkou has excellent conditions for growing plums and other specialty fruits.

Let us recall that in June this year, 38 tons of fresh plums were loaded onto trucks and sent to Kazakhstan. For Yingkou, this is the first batch of plums exported to Kazakhstan.

Local customs steadily ensure the smooth operation of the “green corridor” for inspection of export fruits at the place of production. At the same time, customs monitors harvesting schedules in orchards and plantations, packing plans in factories in real time, ensuring the principle of “application-inspection-export permit” for export fruits, achieving “zero waiting time” in customs clearance.

In the first half of 2025, 47.6 thousand tons of fruits worth 348 million yuan were exported under the supervision of customs officials in Bayuquan District, statistics showed. -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 –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, more than 10,000 China-Europe/China-Central Asia freight trains have passed through Xinjiang’s two main railway checkpoints

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

URUMQI, July 29 (Xinhua) — More than 10,000 freight trains on China-Europe/China-Central Asia international freight train routes have passed through the Alashankou and Horgos railway checkpoints in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as of July 28 since the beginning of 2025, the Urumqi branch of China Railways Corporation (CRC) said.

According to the data, since the beginning of this year, the number of China-Europe freight trains passing through the two above-mentioned railway border crossings has amounted to more than 50 percent of the country’s total, which reliably ensures the stability and continuity of international supply chains.

In order to further improve the efficiency of passing through the checkpoint, the railway departments of the XUAR actively coordinated with the Kazakh side the work to optimize the process of translation and verification of documents, reducing the time for checking documents for each train by 15 minutes.

According to the data, during the reporting period, cargo turnover through the Alashankou checkpoint amounted to 9.778 million tons, an increase of 3.7 percent year-on-year, and the same figure through the Khorgos checkpoint amounted to 7.96 million tons, an increase of 20.3 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

At present, 124 China-Europe/China-Central Asia international railway freight transportation routes pass through Alashankou checkpoint, covering 21 countries including Germany and Poland. And 89 corresponding freight transportation routes pass through Khorgos checkpoint, covering 18 countries.

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 –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: xSuite Group Receives Great Place to Work Certification
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Press Release xSuite

Recognition confirms the software company’s commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture

Ahrensburg/Germany, July 29, 2025 – xSuite Group, a global software provider specializing in automated business processes, has officially been recognized as a “Great Place to Work®.” The certification is awarded by the international research and consulting institute of the same name and is based on a validated process that assesses a company’s workplace culture.

To earn the certification, xSuite underwent a thorough review process that included anonymous feedback from employees and an evaluation of its HR practices and programs. The company, which provides innovative SaaS and software solutions—especially in the area of invoice processing within SAP—places strong emphasis on both customer-centric development and the personal and professional growth of its global team.

“We’re incredibly proud of this recognition—especially because it reflects the positive feedback of our employees both in Germany and abroad,” said Haiko van Lengen, CEO of xSuite Group. “It’s a testament to the strong team spirit that defines our company culture every single day.”

The survey results speak for themselves:
- 83% of employees rate xSuite as a “great place to work”
- 96% feel they have the resources and tools needed to succeed
- 92% of new hires report feeling welcomed
- 94% agree that their managers trust them to do a good job without micromanagement
“Expertise and experience form the foundation of our success,” van Lengen continued. “We strive to grow continuously as a team and to adopt the latest technologies so we can deliver innovative solutions to our customers. We’re particularly proud of our work in artificial intelligence and our ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of SAP-related innovation.”

Evelyn Funke, Global Vice President of Human Resources, added: “At xSuite, every single employee plays a vital role in our success—whether through writing code or delivering customer solutions. We take responsibility for our clients’ business processes and the quality of our products. While the company is on a strong growth trajectory, we remain committed to maintaining a family-like atmosphere that encourages creativity and open collaboration. Our informal culture fosters a sense of belonging, allowing everyone to be themselves while contributing meaningfully to the larger mission.”

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is a global authority on workplace culture, helping organizations develop strong employer brands and gain a competitive edge. Certification is based on a representative and anonymous employee survey and a cultural audit of the organization. The institute surveys over 20 million employees each year across 18,000 companies in 170 countries. The German branch, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Cologne, employs around 100 staff members. It was launched at the initiative of the European Commission as part of the Lisbon Strategy to provide a credible tool for promoting and recognizing effective workplace cultures. www.greatplacetowork.com/.

About xSuite Group

xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including
e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients.

This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios.

We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.

Press Contact Headquarters:
Barbara Wirtz
xSuite Group GmbH
Marketing & PR
Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
www.xsuite.com

Attachment
- Amazing_Culture!_US
The MIL Network –
July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Treasures of the Divine World. Exhibition of Hiroko Kozuki’s icons in Kolomenskoye

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

An exhibition has opened in the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve “Treasures of the Divine World: Japanese Icons by Hiroko Kozuki”.

Orthodox icons created by a Japanese artist – at first glance, this seems surprising. After all, in order to paint icons, it is believed that it is not enough to simply know and follow the rules and canons – true faith is necessary. Hiroko Kozuki proves by her example that sacred art can exist outside of prejudices and strict religious beliefs. According to Mrs. Kozuki, the icon is the subject of her inspiration and the path to achieving happiness. When in Orthodox churches, she feels the serenity, spirituality and grandeur of these places. And her works are an example of universal spiritual search.

The Path to the Icon

Mrs. Hiroko Kozuki, the wife of the former Japanese ambassador to Russia, lived in our country for many years. An art historian by education, she first studied French medieval art in depth. Once in Russia, Mrs. Kozuki sincerely fell in love with the local culture and immersed herself in the world of icon painting tradition. Getting acquainted with the grandeur of ancient Russian monuments, she visited many museums, monasteries and churches. The starting point for her was the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. According to her recollections, upon seeing the monastery, she experienced awe comparable to the feelings of a true pilgrim.

“During the Soviet period, a large number of icons were lost, destroyed and sold to other countries. However, ordinary people continued to keep them at home and pray. This, at first glance, paradoxical situation made me want to learn more about the religion and art of Russian people. And that is why I began to paint icons,” recalls Hiroko Kozuki.

Fate brought her together with the icon painter Sergei Tarasyan, then she created her first icon – the image of the Archangel Michael. Later, Hiroko Kozuki met a member of the Union of Artists of Russia Elena Antonova and under her mentorship began to develop her skills. In more than twenty years, Mrs. Kozuki has reached incredible heights, and today her works are already in several monasteries and churches in Russia. Over these years, she has acquired a recognizable style, in which traditional canons of iconography are subtly intertwined with elements of Japanese aesthetics.

The artist emphasizes that her favorite icon painter is Andrei Rublev. For her, his works are the absolute perfection of beauty. One of the icons presented at the exhibition is “Holy Trinity”, the source of inspiration for the creation of which was, of course, Rublev’s famous “Trinity”. “I always wanted to paint the image of the Holy Trinity, inspired by the most perfect and elegant icon of all time. It reminds me of the captivating final scene of my favorite film by Andrei Tarkovsky “Andrei Rublev”, when the black and white picture suddenly changes to color and a full-screen image of the icon “Trinity” appears,” says Hiroko Kozuki.

Between religions

If you look at Kozuki’s icons from afar and know nothing about the author, it is difficult to even imagine that they were created by a person who grew up in a different culture. When you get closer, you begin to discern details, coloristic features and amazing fineness of lines, which reveal to the experienced eye a slight resemblance to Japanese engravings. Created in strict accordance with the Byzantine and Old Russian canons, Mrs. Kozuki’s icons not only demonstrate the highest mastery of technique, but also contain something elusive – additional depth and a sense of calm (probably that same slight response to Buddhist philosophy).

In Japan, where the artist was born and raised, the traditional religions are Buddhism and Shintoism. Thanks to a certain Japanese “liberalism” in matters of faith, Hiroko Kozuki did not have any serious religious contradictions with her passion: her attitude to Christianity is deeply sincere. She celebrates Christmas along with the New Year, can pray in front of an icon and believes in a guardian angel. She says: “The mission of a guardian angel is to protect a specific person, family, community or country… I am inspired by the idea of having my own icon of a guardian angel as my protector, who guides me in life.”

Space of spiritual unity

At the exhibition in the Alexei Mikhailovich Palace, the works of the Japanese artist are displayed together with 10 beautiful examples of Russian icon painting of the 17th–19th centuries from the collection of the museum-reserve. The curators pursued two goals: on the one hand, to show the sources of inspiration of Hiroko Kozuki, on the other, to create a dialogue between two cultures and demonstrate that spiritual heritage is not limited to one era or tradition. According to the curators, this is a meeting of two worlds, where respect for the canon becomes the basis for mutual enrichment, and beauty and harmony are part of the code of human unity.

The exhibition presents 23 works by the artist. Among them are icons of the Holy Trinity, the Nativity, the Transfiguration, the Annunciation, the Ascension, the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, the images of the Virgin Mary “Throne”, “Kazan”, “Leaping of the Child”, St. Nicholas of Myra, Archangel Michael, as well as “The Miracle of the Great Martyr George and the Dragon”. They are supplemented with detailed explications, sometimes with comments by the artist herself, texts about religions in Japan, including Christianity, as well as photographs from Hiroko Kozuki’s travels to Orthodox monasteries and shrines. All this ensures complete immersion in the material and creates a special feeling of a capsule in the three small halls of the exhibition – a closed space of spirituality and beauty beyond time, linguistic, geographical and cultural boundaries.

The exhibition “Treasures of the Divine World: Japanese Icons by Hiroko Kozuki” at the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich will last until October 26. Tickets can be purchased using the service “Mosbilet”.

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 –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang audiences’ discerning appreciation ignites ballet exchanges

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

Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China, during an interview at the Urumqi Grand Theatre, Xinjiang, July 28, 2025. [Photo by Yang Chuanli/China.org.cn]

During an interview at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival on July 28, Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China (NBC), stated: “The Xinjiang International Dance Festival is a platform we are familiar with and feel close to. Every time we come here, we can feel the audience’s enthusiasm for art.”

As an old friend of the dance festival, this is the third time that the NBC has appeared on this stage. This time, the NBC not only brought the original ballet “A Dream of Red Mansions,” which showcases the charm of the classic Chinese novel, but also performed “La Bayadère,” known as the touchstone of classical ballet. In the form of dialogue between Eastern and Western arts, it presented the diverse styles of ballet art to audiences in Xinjiang.

Performers from the National Ballet of China on stage in “A Dream of Red Mansions.” [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Feng Ying admitted that the enthusiastic response to the performance exceeded their expectations: “The popularity of ‘A Dream of Red Mansions’ in Xinjiang is touching. The audience’s applause always falls precisely on the key plot points. This deep understanding and love have greatly encouraged us.”

Since first setting foot in Xinjiang in the 1970s, the NBC’s artistic connection with the region has lasted more than half a century. The performers not only feel the strong passion for singing and dancing among Xinjiang audiences, but also draw inspiration from exchanges with local art troupes. “The interaction with the Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang Art Theater has brought new inspiration to our creation, and cultural and art collision is of great value,” she said.

Performers from the National Ballet of China on stage in “La Bayadère.” [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The ballet “La Bayadère” brought this time is a sincere work by the NBC to pay tribute to the world’s ballet tradition. This classic work, created by Marius Petipa, the “father of classical ballet,” is set in ancient India and tells the tragic story of love, honesty and freedom between the temple dancer (bayadère) Nikia and the warrior Solor. Feng Ying explained: “The charm of ‘La Bayadère’ lies in its concise narrative carrying profound themes, while demonstrating the overall level of the troupe with exquisite dancing skills.”

It is worth noting that while respecting the essence of the original, the NBC has breathed new vitality into classics. “Every generation interprets the roles with their own traits — even in the same court ball scene, different performers bring distinct artistic styles,” Feng noted.

The NBC’s performances in Xinjiang will run through the closing night of July 29, and Feng specifically highlighted that the troupe will feature its youngest dancer, Liu Yuanjin. This rising star, she added, will embody the NBC’s well-established artistic inheritance on the closing night — further proof of how the company nurtures new talent to keep classics alive with fresh energy.

With the opening of modern theaters such as the Urumqi Grand Theatre, more high-level artistic works can be presented here. Feng Ying said: “The fact that works like ‘La Bayadère,’ which have extremely high requirements in terms of the theater conditions, can be staged in Xinjiang confirms the leapfrog development of cultural facilities here.”

In her view, the Xinjiang International Dance Festival has become an important hub for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. “We hope that through classics like ‘La Bayadère,’ the audiences can feel the charm of world ballet, and at the same time, convey the profound heritage of Chinese culture through ‘A Dream of Red Mansions,’ and achieve cross-border artistic dialogue on the stage.”

Founded in 1959, the NBC has always placed a strong focus on innovation. While staging world classics such as “Swan Lake” and “La Bayadère,” it has also created original works such as “The Red Detachment of Women” and “A Dream of Red Mansions,” establishing a unique Chinese ballet aesthetic system.

MIL OSI China News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2025 youthfest@HK programme officially kicks off

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (July 29) officiated at the 2025 youthfest@HK (festival) Kick-off Ceremony to unveil a series of exciting and diversified youth activities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Youth Development Blueprint in 2022, outlining the policy goals for the healthy growth and diversified development of young people. The Government continues to update the youth initiatives in view of the latest situation of society and young people. Since the release of the Blueprint, the Government has put forward about 250 specific actions and measures to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, to equip them with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking.

The theme of the festival is “Nurture Positive Thinking, Promote Innovation and Inspire Creativity”. Mr Chan said that the festival offered a great opportunity for young people to develop their potential, enhance their knowledge, and share their experiences. Under the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the festival has organised more than 400 all-encompassing activities and attracted over 400 000 participants in the past two years. Special appreciation goes to the principal funder, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its support. Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year’s various festival activities and appealed to all sectors of the community to support and take part in the festival.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory of Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (80A). Mr Chan encouraged youth organisations to organise youth activities to commemorate the 80A as partner events of the festival with a view to deepening young people’s understanding about the historical events of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and foster their sense of patriotism.

Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Eric Chan; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Victor Pang; and Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various festival participating organisations also attended the event.

Organisations may submit applications for partner events of youthfest@HK for inclusion of their events in the official event calendar and on the official webpage. For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the HYAB homepage or the “HKYouth+” mobile application.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TCU’s first quarterly report of 2025 released

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:

The Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) of the Transport Advisory Committee received 10 536 complaints and suggestions in the first quarter of 2025, with 188 being pure suggestions.

The complaints and suggestions received during the quarter were mostly related to public transport services (89 per cent), enforcement matters (6 per cent) and traffic conditions (5 per cent).

The number of cases on public transport services decreased from 11 316 in the previous quarter to 9 346 this quarter, while that on illegal parking and other enforcement matters increased from 605 to 632. The number of complaints and suggestions on traffic conditions decreased from 900 to 489 and those on road maintenance decreased from 30 to 25.

All the complaints and suggestions received by the TCU in the quarter were referred to the relevant government departments and public transport operators for follow-up action.

During the period under review, investigations into 11 061 cases were completed. Of these, 9 612 cases (87 per cent) were found to be substantiated, five cases (less than 1 per cent) were unsubstantiated, and the remaining 1 444 cases (13 per cent) could not be pursued due to a lack of evidence.

For the substantiated cases, the relevant government departments and public transport operators have taken steps to rectify the situation or are considering possible solutions to the problems identified. Among these cases, 16 drivers were summonsed by the Police.

During the quarter, the relevant government departments and public transport operators took on board 11 suggestions made by the public to enhance public transport services and improve traffic conditions. A summary of the cases is in the Appendix.

Members of the public may make their suggestions or complaints to the TCU by dialling the hotline 2889 9999 (voice mail service is available outside office hours), by fax to 2577 1858, by email to info@tcu.gov.hk or by filling in a form on the TCU website (www.tcu.gov.hk).

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing man in Sai Kung (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police today (July 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sai Kung.

     Yan Gan, aged 44, went missing after he was last seen at Pak Lap Wan on July 27 noon. Police received the report on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 75 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured swimming suit with orange life jacket and blue cap.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Results of applications for 14th-round funding exercise of Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau today (July 29) announced the application results of the 14th-round funding exercise of the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS). A total of 14 successful applications (two for Springboard Grant and 12 for Project Grant) will be funded, involving a total amount of around $38.93 million.

The successful applications of the 14th round are of a high standard, with a diverse representation covering arts education/appreciation/promotion, community arts, dance, media arts, multi-disciplinary arts, music and theatre. The successful applicants (categories and names of organisations in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Name of organisation	Title of proposal	Category
Springboard Grant
Hong Kong Open Printshop Limited	Beyond Ordinary – The Contemporary Book Art	Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
The Hong Kong Virtuoso Chorus Limited	Hong Kong Inter-School Choral Festival 2026	Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
Project Grant
The Conservancy Association x Fragrant Village Creative Limited (joint applicant)	Polishing the Pearl: Shen Zhen Hong Kong Rural Arts Renewal Project at Kat O	Community Arts
H.D. X International Festival Limited	Hong Kong Dance Exchange	Dance
HongkongDance-FLSH Limited	Dynamic Dance Dialogue 2026	Dance
Passoverdance Limited	Fleeting Moments – Stories of Cities and Bodies	Dance
Dimension Plus Limited	Unravelling A.I. Bias with Generative A.I. in Arts	Media Arts
No Discipline Limited	Whatever Wherever Expanded	Multi-disciplinary Arts
King’s Harmonica Quintet Limited	2nd Hong Kong International Chromatic Harmonica Competition	Music
Music Lab Company Limited	Music Lab Projects 2026-2027	Music
Opera Box Limited	Monteverdi: L’incoronazione di Poppea	Music
Alice Theatre Laboratory Limited	An Experimental Project on Symbolist Theatre	Theatre
Hong Kong 3 Arts Musical Institute Limited	GOTTA DANCE – Musical Theatre Project (tentative title)	Theatre
Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio Limited	The 2nd edition of the Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival	Theatre

The 14th-round funding exercise continues to implement the Incentive Matching Sum, an initiative introduced in the 13th round to encourage successful Project Grant applicants to seek non-government sponsorship and/or donations during project implementation, offering each successful applicant an extra matching sum up to a ceiling of $800,000.

Introduced by the Government in 2011, the ACDFS aims to provide funding support for innovative and impactful proposals that contribute to the objectives of capacity development of arts practitioners, arts groups, art forms and/or the arts sector; programme/content development; audience building and arts education. The funding scheme is administered on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development. Members of the Committee take part in the assessment of applications together with Expert Advisers. A total of 89 applications were assessed in the 14th-round funding exercise.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 30, 2025

MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: Albanese wants international cover before Australia recognises Palestine as a state

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Anthony Albanese will recall well when another Labor prime minister was feeling the heat over Palestinian status.

It was 2012 and then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard was forced into a corner over the stand Australia should take on a motion to give Palestine observer status at the United Nations.

Gillard and her foreign minister, Bob Carr, clashed over the matter. Gillard wanted to oppose the motion, siding with the United States and Israel. Carr and others pushed back hard, and eventually Australia abstained.

In his book, Diary of a Foreign Minister, Carr records that in the cabinet debate earlier, “Albanese gave a no-holds-barred robust presentation of the case for voting ‘yes’ or abstaining”.

Now Albanese, in the wake of France having just declared it will recognise Palestine as a state, faces another, albeit different, iteration of the Palestinian status issue. The circumstances are much more direct and acute. On this occasion, he is arguing for time.

Carr is still out there advocating. But a more central voice is former minister Ed Husic (who was around in 2012, too, but still on the backbench). The Labor rank and file are strongly pro-Palestine. They are backed by the ALP platform, which calls for Palestine to be recognised as a state.

Even as a minister in the last parliamentary term, bound by cabinet solidarity, Husic pushed the boundaries when speaking out about the Middle East conflict. Having been dumped from the frontbench in factional manoeuvring after the election, he is free to say bluntly what he thinks. Now he is putting his shoulder to the wheel to advocate recognition.

In a Guardian article on Monday he reminded his Labor peers and betters “that our party has twice agreed at its highest decision-making forum – the National Conference of the Australian Labor party – to recognise the state of Palestine.

“The time to do so is absolutely right now.”

Albanese is caught between his party and his caution.

It is a fair assumption the prime minister, with his long history of being pro-Palestinian, would like to follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Equally, however, he would want Australia to move in concert with like-minded countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Australia has previously banded with these countries in joint statements about the Middle East conflict.

Albanese said at the weekend Australian recognition of a Palestinian state wasn’t imminent – although last year Foreign Minister Penny Wong opened the way for possible recognition as part of a peace process (rather than only accorded at the end of it).

The prime minister put a context around recognition. “How do you exclude Hamas from any involvement there? How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way which does not threaten the existence of Israel? And so we don’t do any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met.”

In caucus on Tuesday, Husic pressed his point, asking how long the preconditions for statehood could be expected to take. Albanese essentially went through what he’d said before.

Labor’s Friends of Palestine group is pressing for sanctions, as well as recognition.

The group’s spokesperson Peter Moss says: “Over the past 21 months, Labor members in branches and conferences have repeatedly urged the government to join 147 UN member states and now France in recognising Palestine.

“By making recognition contingent on a non-existent peace process, the government has effectively ruled out delivering on policy that has broad public support.

“We call on the Australian government to implement official platform policy and immediately and unconditionally recognise a Palestinian state on the pre-4 June 1967 borders.”

In recent weeks more than 80 Labor branches and other party units have passed a strong motion calling for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.

In the last few days, the group wrote to Wong, seeking a meeting to discuss its calls for sanctions and for the Albanese government “to work with international partners to develop a practical plan for the establishment of a free and independent Palestinian State”. No meeting has yet been arranged.

Michelle Grattan 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. View from The Hill: Albanese wants international cover before Australia recognises Palestine as a state – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-albanese-wants-international-cover-before-australia-recognises-palestine-as-a-state-262028

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 30, 2025
IMD predicts heavy rainfall in Rajasthan, MP and northeast; AQI improves in Delhi after downpour

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Several parts of India are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued intense precipitation over eastern Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh between July 29 and 31, with isolated locations in western MP likely to experience extremely heavy rain on Tuesday.

States in the northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya, are also expected to witness heavy rainfall over the next seven days, with activity likely to intensify from August 1 onwards. Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to reduce gradually over the southern peninsula over the next six to seven days, and over central India starting August 1.

In the past 24 hours, extremely heavy rainfall (exceeding 21 cm) was recorded in isolated areas of western Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy showers were also observed in parts of eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, and Mizoram. Isolated places in the ghat areas of central Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh also received heavy rain.

Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR

In Delhi-NCR, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy from July 29 to August 1, with light to moderate rain and occasional thunderstorms and lightning.

On Tuesday, Delhi-NCR received heavy rain in the morning which led to improvement in the air quality index (AQI).

In its weather report for Delhi-NCR, IMD predicted at isolated places on Tuesday, with maximum temperatures expected to range between 29°C and 31°C. The following days will see similar weather, with maximum temperatures staying below normal by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures hovering between 23°C and 26°C.

By August 1, the capital may experience only very light to light rainfall, with skies turning partly cloudy. Temperatures are projected to rise slightly, with maximums between 33°C and 35°C, though still remaining below the seasonal average. Winds will predominantly be from the southeast, shifting gradually to southwest and northwest directions through the day.

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – 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 –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: A rare, direct warning from Japan signals a shift in the fight against child sex tourism in Asia

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ming Gao, Research Fellow of East Asia Studies, Lund University

Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images

Japan’s embassy in Laos and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a rare and unusually direct advisory, warning Japanese men against “buying sex from children” in Laos.

The move was sparked by Ayako Iwatake, a restaurant owner in Vientiane, who allegedly saw social media posts of Japanese men bragging about child prostitution. In response, she launched a petition calling for government action.

The Japanese-language bulletin makes clear such conduct is prosecutable under both Laotian law and Japan’s child prostitution and pornography law, which applies extraterritorially.

This diplomatic statement was not only a legal warning. It was a rare public acknowledgement of Japanese men’s alleged entanglement in transnational child sex tourism, particularly in Southeast Asia.

It’s also a moment that demands we look beyond individual criminal acts or any one nation and consider the historical, racial and structural inequalities that make such mobility and exploitation possible.

A changing map of exploitation

Selling and buying sex in Asia is nothing new. The contours have shifted over time but the underlying sentiment has remained constant: some lives are cheap and commodified, and some wallets are deep and entitled.

Japan’s involvement in overseas prostitution stretches back to the Meiji period (1868-1912). Young women from impoverished rural regions (known as karayuki-san) migrated abroad, often to Southeast Asia, to work in the sex industry, from port towns in Malaya to brothels in China and the Pacific Islands.

If poverty once pushed Japanese women abroad to sell their bodies, by the second half of the 20th century – fuelled by Japan’s postwar economic boom – it was wealthy Japanese men who began travelling overseas to buy sex.

Around the 2000s, the dynamic flipped again. In South Korea, now a developed economy, men travelled to Southeast Asia – and later to countries such as Russia and Uzbekistan – following routes once taken by Japanese men.

Later in the same period, the flow took an even darker turn.

Japanese and South Korean men began to emerge as major buyers of child sex abroad, particularly across Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and even Mongolia.

According to the United States Department of State, Japanese men continued to be “a significant source of demand for sex tourism”, while South Korean men remained “a source of demand for child sex tourism”.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other organisations have also flagged both countries as key contributors to child sexual exploitation in the region.

From exporter to destination: Japan’s new role in the sex trade

A more recent and troubling shift appears to be unfolding within Japan.

Amid ongoing economic stagnation and the depreciation of the yen, Tokyo has reportedly become a destination for inbound sex tourism. Youth protection organisations have observed a notable rise in foreign male clients, particularly Chinese, frequenting areas where teenage girls and young women engage in survival sex.

What ties these movements together is not just culturally specific beliefs, such as the fetishisation of virginity or the superstition that sex with young girls brings good luck in business, but power.

The battle to protect children

The global campaign to end child sex tourism began in earnest with the founding of ECPAT (a global network of organisations that seeks to end the sexual exploitation of children) in 1990 to confront the rising exploitation of children in Southeast Asia.

Despite legal frameworks and international scrutiny, the abuse of children remains disturbingly common.

Several factors converge here: endemic poverty, weak law enforcement and a constant influx of wealthier foreign men. Add to that the digital age of information and communication technologies, where child sex can be advertised, arranged and commodified through encrypted platforms and invitation-only forums, and the crisis deepens.

While local governments often pledge reform, implementation is inconsistent.

Buyers, especially foreign buyers, often manage to evade consequences. However, in early 2025, Japan’s National Police Agency arrested 111 people – including high school teachers and tutors – in a nationwide crackdown on online child sexual exploitation, conducted in coordination with international partners.

Why this moment matters

The shock surrounding the Laos revelations and the unusually direct response from Japanese authorities offers a rare opportunity to confront the deeper systems at work.

Sex tourism doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s enabled by uneven development, transnational mobility, weak regulation and social silence. But this moment also shows grassroots activism can force institutional action.

Japan’s official warning wasn’t triggered by a government audit or diplomatic scandal. It came because Ayako Iwatake saw social media posts of Japanese men boasting about buying sex from children and refused to look away.

When she delivered the petition to the embassy, it responded quickly. Less than ten days later, the Foreign Ministry issued a public warning, clearly outlining the legal consequences of child sex crimes committed abroad.

Iwatake’s action is a reminder: it doesn’t take a government to expose a system. It takes someone willing to speak out – even when it’s uncomfortable. As she told Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun:

It was just too blatant. I couldn’t look the other way.

It’s commendable that Japan acted swiftly. But a warning alone isn’t enough. Japan should strengthen and expand its international cooperation to combat these heinous crimes.

A more decisive model can be seen in a recent case in Vietnam, where US authorities infiltrated a livestream child sex abuse network for the first time in that country. Working undercover for months, they coordinated with Vietnamese officials to arrest a mother who had been sexually abusing her daughter on demand for paying viewers abroad.

The rescue of the nine-year-old victim showed what serious cross-border intervention looks like.

But for every headline-grabbing scandal, there are hundreds of untold stories.

The Laos case should be the beginning of a broader reckoning with how sex, money and power move across borders – and who pays the price.

Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.

– ref. A rare, direct warning from Japan signals a shift in the fight against child sex tourism in Asia – https://theconversation.com/a-rare-direct-warning-from-japan-signals-a-shift-in-the-fight-against-child-sex-tourism-in-asia-261554

MIL OSI –

July 30, 2025
India’s tiger reserves rise from 46 to 58 since 2014: Bhupender Yadav

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Tuesday announced that the number of tiger reserves in India has grown from 46 in 2014 to 58 as of 2025. The statement was made during the Global Tiger Day 2025 celebrations held at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.

Presiding over the event, the Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining ecological balance, fostering conservation awareness among children, and cultivating gratitude towards nature. He praised the role of schools and teachers in educating the younger generation about wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.

Yadav highlighted that this expansion in tiger reserves is a reflection of the unwavering commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protecting India’s national animal. He noted that the government continues to prioritize environmental sustainability as part of its broader development agenda.

Marking one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the world, the Minister announced the launch of a massive nationwide tree plantation drive. Under this initiative, more than one lakh saplings will be planted across all 58 tiger reserves, with each reserve planting approximately 2,000 indigenous trees in degraded forest areas to support habitat restoration and ecological health.

In a move to inspire public participation, the Minister encouraged citizens, especially children, to plant a tree in their mother’s name under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Describing the symbolic connection between motherhood and nature, Yadav said that just as a mother nurtures her child, Mother Earth offers shelter, food, and oxygen selflessly. He urged everyone to plant a tree in honor of their mothers and for the sake of the planet.

Yadav also spotlighted India’s leadership in global big cat conservation through the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an initiative launched by India to protect all seven big cat species worldwide. He informed that 24 countries have already joined the alliance, and its headquarters will be established in India, further positioning the country at the forefront of international wildlife conservation.

Addressing the youth, the Minister urged them to lead lives marked by humility, patience, and determination. He called on them to actively contribute to sustainable living and conservation efforts under the government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes environmentally conscious behavior.

The Global Tiger Day celebrations also included the virtual inauguration of plantation drives across all tiger reserves, as well as the opening of forest nurseries in three locations across the Aravalli landscape. These nurseries will serve as a sustainable source of native plant species for afforestation and ecological restoration. Another key initiative launched during the event was the ‘Plastic-Free Tiger Reserves’ campaign, aimed at phasing out single-use plastics within all tiger reserves across India.

The event featured the release of four important publications under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). These included a report on the “Status of Small Cats in the Tiger Landscape of India”, the Global Tiger Day special edition of STRIPES Magazine, and two books titled Waterfalls of Tiger Reserves in India and Water Bodies Inside Tiger Reserves of India, authored by Bharat Lal and Dr. S.P. Yadav.

As part of recognizing contributions to wildlife protection, Yadav presented NTCA awards across seven categories. These included awards for individuals and groups who demonstrated excellence in wildlife crime investigation, habitat management, anti-poaching efforts, public engagement, voluntary relocation, and posthumous recognition for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

(with ANI inputs)

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: UN chief welcomes Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire deal

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 29 (Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand as a positive step toward ending ongoing hostilities and easing tensions, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the world body chief, said on Monday.

A. Guterres “urges both countries to fully comply with the agreement and create conditions conducive to resolving long-standing problems and achieving lasting peace,” the statement said.

“The Secretary-General expresses his appreciation to Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, as well as the United States and China, for their tireless efforts to resolve the situation peacefully,” Haq said in a statement, adding that the UN stands ready to support efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region.

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire from midnight Monday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said after a meeting he hosted in the Malaysian city of Putrajaya. –0–

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

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prepackaged bamboo fungi sample detected with excessive preservative breaches food labelling regulation

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Prepackaged bamboo fungi sample detected with excessive preservative breaches food labelling regulationBrand: (Not available in English)
Place of origin: China
Packer: (Not available in English)
Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Best before date: December 18, 2026
Importer???Jin Fa CoIssued at HKT 18:00

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 30, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Fiji ‘failing’ the Gaza genocide and humanity test, says rights group

Asia Pacific Report

The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji has sharply criticised the Fiji government’s stance over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, saying it “starkly contrasts” with the United Nations and international community’s condemnation as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace.

In a statement today, the NGO Coalition said that the way the government was responding to the genocide and war crimes in Gaza would set a precedent for how it would deal with crises and conflict in future.

It would be a marker for human rights responses both at home and the rest of the world.

“We are now seeing whether our country will be a force that works to uphold human rights and international law, or one that tramples on them whenever convenient,” the statement said.

“Fiji’s position on the genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinians starkly contrasts with the values of justice, freedom, and international law that the Fijian people hold dear.

“The genocide and colonial occupation have been widely recognised by the international community, including the United Nations, as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.”

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognise the state of Palestine — the first of G7 countries to do so — at the UN general Assembly in September.

142 countries recognise Palestine
At least 142 countries out of the 193 members of the UN currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, including European Union members Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia.

However, several powerful Western countries have refused to do so, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

At the UN this week, Saudi Arabia and France opened a three-day conference with the goal of recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful settlement to end the war in Gaza.

Last year, Fiji’s coalition government submitted a written statement in support of the Israeli genocidal occupation of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, noted the NGO coalition.

Last month, Fiji’s coalition government again voted against a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Also recently, the Fiji government approved the allocation of $1.12 million to establish an embassy “in the genocidal terror state of Israel as Fijians grapple with urgent issues, including poverty, violence against women and girls, deteriorating water and health infrastructure, drug use, high rates of HIV, poor educational outcomes, climate change, and unfair wages for workers”.

Met with ‘indifference’
The NGO coalition said that it had made repeated requests to the Fiji government to “do the bare minimum and enforce the basic tenets of international law on Israel”.

“We have been calling upon the Fiji government to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and human rights that our nation cherishes,” the statement said.

“We campaigned, we lobbied, we engaged, and we explained. We showed the evidence, pointed to the law, and asked our leaders to do the right thing.

“We’ve been met with nothing but indifference.”

Instead, said the NGO statement, Fiji leaders had met with Israeli government representatives and declared support for a country “committing the most heinous crimes” recognised in international law.

“Fijian leaders and the Fiji government should not be supporting Israel or setting up an embassy in Israel while Israel continues to bomb refugee tents, kill journalists and medics, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid to a population under relentless siege.

“No politician in Fiji can claim ignorance of what is happening.”

62,000 Palestinians killed
More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war on Gaza, most of them women and children.

“Many more have been maimed, traumatised, and displaced. Starvation is being used by Israel as weapon to kill babies and children.

“Hospitals, churches, mosques,, refugee camps, schools, universities, residential neighbourhoods, water and food facilities have been destroyed.

“History will judge how we respond as Fijians to this moment.

“Our rich cultural heritage and shared values teach us the importance of always standing up for what is right, even when it is not popular or convenient.”

Members of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights are Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (chair), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, femLINKpacific, Social Empowerment and Education Programme, and Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji.

Also, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is an observer.

The NGO coalition said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people out of a shared belief in humanity, justice, and the inalienable human rights of every individual.

“Silence is not an option,” it added.

Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network said it supported this NGO coalition statement.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 30, 2025
India’s digital payments index rises sharply to 493.22, says RBI

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Signalling India’s accelerating digital payments revolution, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday announced that its Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) surged to 493.22 in March 2025, up from 465.33 in September 2024.

The RBI-DPI, introduced in January 2021 with March 2018 as the base period set at 100, is designed to track the extent of digitalisation in payments across the country. The consistent upward trend reflects India’s rapid adoption of digital payment systems, spanning both urban and rural areas.

According to the RBI, the latest increase is primarily driven by improvements in Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors – and Payment Performance. These include an expanded merchant acceptance network, wider adoption of QR code-based payments, robust growth in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, and improved availability of digital banking services nationwide.

This upward momentum highlights a broader transformation in the country’s payments ecosystem, supported by government initiatives such as Digital India, growing smartphone penetration, and active fintech innovation.

The RBI-DPI has shown steady growth since its inception. In March 2019, it stood at 153.47, rising to 207.84 by March 2020. By March 2022, the index had reached 349.30 – a more than threefold increase from the base year.

It continued to rise, recording 445.50 in March 2024 and 465.33 by September 2024. The current level of 493.22 in March 2025 marks a more than fourfold increase in digital payment activity since 2018.

As India moves closer to becoming a digital economy, the RBI-DPI is expected to play a crucial role in policy formulation and benchmarking progress. The latest surge also comes as a positive sign amid global concerns about digital inequality and access to financial services.

(ANI)

July 30, 2025

Category: Asia Pacific

New UK esports collaboration to boost digital and cyber skills

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Chester King, President, British Esports said:

Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes KCB CBE, Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command said:

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