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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Beware of fraudsters posing as HKMA staff

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    ​The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has received enquiries from members of the public about fraudsters posing as HKMA senior staff, issuing forged documents falsely claiming that certain securities or investment companies are “recognised financial institutions”, in an attempt to deceive members of the public into placing funds with these securities companies as a prerequisite for loan approval.

    The HKMA wishes to clarify that the above schemes are fraudulent, and the HKMA will not contact individual members of the public regarding personal financial matters.

    Should members of the public wish to verify whether an institution is authorized by the HKMA, they should refer to the Register of Authorized Institutions and Local Representative Offices available on the HKMA website.

    The HKMA has reported the case to the Hong Kong Police Force.

    Members of the public who suspect that they have become victims of any fraudulent acts should contact the Police or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012 for follow-up actions and investigation by the Police.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in UK suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Import of poultry meat and products from Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in UK suspendedIssued at HKT 18:12

    ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 13) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 210 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 440 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first three months of this year.

    “The CFS has contacted the British authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025
    Issued at HKT 18:12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) “Reasoning from the Orangutans” animation.Eyebrows and Eyes (Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) “Reason from the Orangutans” animation. Eyebrows and eyes (Chinese version only)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to consider Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo to consider Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025Issued at HKT 15:20

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

    The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting next Wednesday (June 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

    On Members’ motions, Mr Sunny Tan will move a motion on “Stimulating the vigorous development of Hong Kong’s small and medium enterprises with new quality productive forces and actively dovetailing with the country’s high-quality ‘going global’ strategy”. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Erik Yim will move an amendment to Mr Tan’s motion.

    Mr Adrian Ho will move a motion on “Boosting the local consumption market to inject impetus into economic development”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.

    Ms Elizabeth Quat will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 3.

    Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

    The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

    Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025
    Issued at HKT 15:20

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million

    Hong Kong Customs on May 28 seized 690 suspected counterfeit mobile phones with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port. Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 24- year-old male lorry driver was subsequently arrested. An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones would have been transhipped to overseas regions. The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its 13/06/2025, 11:37 Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million (with photo) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/13/P2025061300433p.htm 1/2 dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:25 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST made positive progress with signing of CDTA with Norway during his visit

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST made positive progress with signing of CDTA with Norway during his visit  
         To unlock new opportunities in the area of maritime finance, Mr Hui met with the Chief Customer Officer, Ms Line Dahle, and Vice President and Head of Analytics, Mr Sigvald Fossum, of Norwegian marine and energy insurance provider Gard, which has a strong presence in Hong Kong’s marine insurance market and provides services to manage maritime risk for clients. He also met with the Vice-President and Director of Group Government and Public Affairs of DNV, Mr Lars Almklov. The global assurance and risk management company DNV has been recognised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as an approved external reviewer for the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme.
     
         Mr Hui told management members of the two companies that Hong Kong and Norway possess complementary strengths that can create a compelling case for financial co-operation. While Norway’s maritime industry is the cornerstone of its economy, Hong Kong’s maritime services industry is also a valued brand in the international arena. Joint ventures in maritime insurance could combine Norway’s expertise in marine risk management with Hong Kong’s accessibility, creating comprehensive solutions for the sector and addressing the new demands arising from geopolitical and climatic challenges. He highlighted that Hong Kong has a sophisticated ecosystem for ship financing and leasing, supported by tax incentives and its strategic location along global trade routes.
     
    On June 12 (Oslo time), Mr Hui paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway, Ms Hou Yue.
     
    He also had a meeting with the Director of Politics and Society of Finance Norway, Mr Jan Erik Fane, and other management staff. Finance Norway is the industry organisation for the financial sector in Norway, representing banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions on regulatory, policy and industry developments.
     
         Mr Hui noted that the Norwegian sovereign fund is one of the largest funds in the world and is positioned as a pioneer in responsible investing with a strong emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance principles. He said that the shared focus of Hong Kong and Norway on sustainability creates significant opportunities for collaboration.
         At a dinner reception co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, and the Norway-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce on June 11 (Oslo time), Mr Hui said that even though there is a geographical distance of around 8 600 kilometres between Norway and Hong Kong, the two places share more commonalities in the financial market than perceived.
     
         The first one is the commitment to green and sustainable developments. Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, and the Government launched a roadmap last December to require publicly accountable entities (PAEs) to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) and to provide a well-defined pathway for large PAEs to fully adopt the ISSB Standards no later than 2028.
     
         Just last week, Hong Kong issued a new round of Government green bonds and infrastructure bonds to channel market capital to support green projects and promote sustainable developments in Hong Kong. This round of bonds amounts to a total of around US$3.5 billion, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, Renminbi, US dollars and euros. The offering attracted participation from a wide spectrum of investors from more than 30 markets across Asia, Europe, Middle East, and the Americas, with total orders amounting to an equivalent of around US$30 billion, representing a subscription ratio of almost nine times.
     
         The other commonality is expertise in wealth management. Mr Hui noted that Norway’s expertise in long-term asset management driven by its sovereign fund aligns seamlessly with Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s premier wealth management centre. Capitalising on Hong Kong’s advantages of having a solid financial infrastructure and an extensive international client base, abundant co-investment opportunities are available for Norwegian capital in the Asian markets, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
     
         More commonalities lie in fintech and digital finance. Norway is a highly digitalised economy that has fostered advancements in mobile payment systems, blockchain technology, and digital asset management. At the same time, Hong Kong is home to around 1 100 fintech companies and start-ups. The Government endeavours to boost fintech developments through measures such as enhancing fintech infrastructures, nurturing talent, establishing regulatory regimes for digital assets such as the stablecoin regulatory regime to be enacted on August 1. The second edition of a policy statement on digital assets will also be promulgated soon. By combining Norway’s technological innovation with Hong Kong’s access to Asian markets, the partnership could drive cutting-edge solutions that redefine digital finance on a global scale.
     
        Mr Hui has returned to Hong Kong in the evening of June 13.
    Issued at HKT 18:33

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – Bishop of the Moluccas uses TikTok to proclaim the faith

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Amboina (Agenzia Fides) – “The geographical difficulties of the vast Moluccas, for example, are no longer an obstacle: thanks to technology, distance is no longer a serious problem; we have a bridge that unites the entire Catholic community of the Diocese of Amboina,” Seno Ngutra, Bishop of Amboyna told Fides. In a diocese made up of countless small islands, he uses mass media and social media as a means of connection in his pastoral work.However, these means do not replace human contact and direct relationships with the various communities, which is why the bishop travels extensively: he celebrates Masses and administers the sacraments in parishes scattered throughout the Moluccas archipelago in eastern Indonesia. On these islands, where evangelization began in 1546 with the work of the Spanish missionary Saint Francis Xavier, the Diocese of Amboina, which encompasses the entire archipelago, has a population of more than three million (Christians and Muslims) and 117,000 Catholics distributed among 64 parishes. Also due to their geographical location, “parish communities are called to maintain their autonomy and independence, not only in terms of administration, but also in pastoral and spiritual life,” Bishop Ngutra emphasized.Each parish, even those in remote areas, the bishop explained, is therefore encouraged, on this path of autonomy—always lived in mutual communion—to become active in the three areas of pastoral care: liturgy, catechesis, and charitable works. And where there are particular needs, the bishop himself becomes active and raises awareness among donors who wish to support the Church in its development. The parish receiving the donations responds to the donors with a message or a video message via smartphone: “Even if it is a simple gesture, the donors are very happy because they feel appreciated and happy,” the bishop notes, adding another useful function of modern technology. Bishop Ngutra is convinced of the “great potential of social media for spreading the faith in an island nation like ours. The media has a profound impact on human life. It can have negative effects, but it can also be an extraordinary means of proclamation,” he says. Bishop Ngutra has been accustomed to using technology in his pastoral ministry, using various digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok, which is very popular among young people. This habit continues: now the bishop regularly shares his daily faith reflections every morning, known as “Spiritual Morning Dewdrops,” which are viewed by the faithful, priests, religious, and young people throughout the territory. And in the evening, he publishes “the Night Blessing” in the form of short videos that illuminate aspects of the spiritual life. His social media messages are eagerly awaited by many of the faithful of the Diocese of Amboina, who joyfully accept the short daily word from their Pastor. In recent weeks, the bishop has also begun offering content on TikTok about questions of faith and catechesis on specific topics. “Young people spend a lot of time in the digital world. If we do not engage with them on these platforms, we miss the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel,” he says. He wants to convey to social media users how close their bishop is. “Even when I was elected Bishop of Amboina, I received the news of my appointment via the Zoom platform,” he recalls. “For me, this is a sign that media and digital technologies will be an important part of the proclamation and service of the new evangelization,” he notes. Today, the faithful call him the “online bishop” because, they say, “even through these platforms the message of Christ can reach the hearts of his people.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 13/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Peter ToRot will be canonized on October 19, the vice-postulator: “He is the Saint the Church needs in these times”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 13 June 2025

    by Fabio BerettaPort Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – Peter ToRot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea (see Fides, 31/3/2025), will be canonized on October 19, 2025, the Sunday during which the 99th World Mission Day will be celebrated. This was decreed today by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration of his first Ordinary Public Consistory. A Consistory, held in the Vatican, which was announced last March by Pope Francis while he was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital due to bilateral pneumonia.”The Pope decreed that Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, together with Blessed Carlo Acutis, be inscribed in the Book of Saints on Sunday 7 September 2025, while Blesseds Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, María del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez, Maria Troncatti, José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros and Bartolo Longo be inscribed in the Book of Saints on Sunday 19 October 2025″, reads the bulletin released by the Holy See at the end of the Consistory.Catechist-martyr, ToRot represents, as Father Tomas Ravaioli, missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and vice-postulator, told Fides, “a compass to look at” in these times when “marriage and family are under attack and suffer all kinds of distortion”. And “Pope Francis wanted to canonize him already during the Apostolic Journey of September 2024 in our country”.In the following interview, the vice-postulator also explains the many difficulties encountered in certifying the miracle and why the dispensation was requested.Peter ToRot was martyred with an injection of lethal poison. Why was he killed in prison? What drove his jailers to kill him? During the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea in World War II, the Japanese sought to gain the favor and friendship of the local population. To do so, they legalized polygamy, which had previously been forbidden by Catholic missionaries. Consequently, a large number of men began practicing this immoral custom. Peter ToRot, who was barely 30 years old at the time, opposed this infamous law. He preached with all his might about the unity and indissolubility of marriage, emphasizing these as characteristics of marriage willed by God. He successfully convinced many young women who had been taken as “second wives” to escape the men who had taken them and return to living in God’s grace. This, understandably, earned him a great many enemies. Many of these lustful enemies of To Rot were men of power. They managed to imprison him and ultimately assassinate him, silencing his prophetic voice.What does ToRot’s life tell the universal Church today? What can his story teach us? When Pope Francis first heard about Blessed Peter To Rot, he said: “This is the saint the Church needs in these times.” And it’s true: he was a lay man, married, father of 3 children, who died at 33 years old in defense of marriage and family. In these times, where marriage and family are so attacked and suffer all kind of distortions, the figure of this saint is a compass to look to, to remember once again God’s original plan for family and marriage.A dispensation for a miracle was requested for his canonization: what does this mean? Why was this path chosen? There are two important things to say about this point. First, an impressive number of signs and graces are attributed to Peter To Rot’s intercession. We shouldn’t think there are no miracles, although we prefer to call them “signs” because miracles require ecclesiastical approval. In Papua New Guinea, people receive all sorts of signs through the Blessed’s intercession. Second, in Papua New Guinea, there are no hospitals, doctors, or professionals who can testify or show evidence to these signs, nor are there written or documented records. This is because the people in the villages are very simple, and an oral culture is maintained. This lack of resources made it very difficult for us to “demonstrate” or “prove” a miracle. For this reason, we have asked Pope Francis for a dispensation from the miracle requirement, as it would have been almost impossible to fulfill. Even so, it’s necessary to mention and reiterate that the signs attributed to our martyr’s intercession are multiplying.During Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey, the Church of Papua New Guinea asked for the intervention of the Pontiff to speed up the process… The request for a dispensation from the miracle was made at the beginning of 2024, with the hope that the canonization would take place during the Papal visit in September. While the favorable response regarding the dispensation arrived within a few weeks, there was still much work to be done in preparing the Positio and other matters. During Pope Francis’s visit in September 2024, I had the opportunity to speak with him along with the other Argentinian priests here in Papua for almost one hour, and I thanked him for his help with the Cause of To Rot. He told me: “I want to canonize him myself.”For the missionaries of Papua New Guinea and for catechists around the world, what does the canonization of To Rot represent today, in your opinion? The canonization of To Rot, I believe, is a great encouragement for all Catholics in Papua New Guinea to continue striving on the path of personal holiness. It reminds us that holiness isn’t a luxury, but a necessity, and that if To Rot could achieve it, we can too. Beyond that, To Rot’s testimony loudly proclaims to the entire world that God’s plan for family and marriage is one man and one woman for life, until death separates them. The unity and indissolubility of marriage are constantly attacked, distorted, and ridiculed by the modern world. To Rot, having shed his blood in defense of these truths, reminds us that it’s more important to obey God than men. (Agenzia Fides, 13/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget’s May Report Highlights 21% increase in Futures Trading Volume Accelerating it to top #3 exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its May 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting growth in trading activity, product innovation, global expansion, and social impact despite a consolidating crypto market.

    In May, the total crypto market cap fluctuated from a high of $3.6 trillion to close at $3.28 trillion, with daily trading volume averaging $84.44 billion. Despite broader market consolidation, Bitget’s trading volume surged by 21%, led by a 26% increase in futures trading. Spot trading reached $107 billion, ranking Bitget as the #3 crypto exchange globally by spot volume, just behind Binance and Bybit, and capturing an estimated 8.9% market share, according to Coingecko data.

    Bitget added over 500,000 new users in May alone, contributing to more than 2 million new users in Q2 2025. Bitget also recorded an industry-leading 192% Proof of Reserves ratio, and its Protection Fund hit an all-time high of $725 million, reflecting a long-term commitment to transparency, asset security, and user protection.

    May was a milestone month for Bitget Wallet, which rebranded under the “Crypto for Everyone” identity and rolled out major upgrades. Key launches included Paydify integration for seamless LATAM fiat onramps, a “Shop with Crypto” marketplace for spending at 300+ global brands, and Bitget Wallet Alpha, a mobile-native hub for token discovery and one-click trading across 130+ blockchains.

    Bitget forged key partnerships to drive adoption and education, teaming up with Sweat to expand crypto access in Southeast Asia, and collaborating with Cryptita to launch a blockchain encyclopedia for youth, promoting early crypto literacy.

    Product rollouts this month included the highly anticipated launch of Bitget Live, a real-time streaming feature designed to empower creators and expert traders to share their insights directly on the platform. The exchange also unveiled BGUSD, a USDC-pegged stablecoin backed by tokenized real-world assets including US Treasuries. Bitget Wallet became the official wallet for LINE’s Mini Dapp Portal, allowing LINE’s 196 million users to access Kaia chain games and tools via Bitget.

    Bitget continued to expand its listing of new digital assets, welcoming RLUSD, Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, to its platform. Bitget also listed Shardeum, a scalable, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, allowing users to access high-performance DeFi protocols and smart contract applications. The addition of USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and affiliated with the Trump family, signaled Bitget’s commitment to onboarding digital assets that aim to bridge fiat and crypto for broader user adoption.

    In May, Bitget advanced its social impact efforts through its Blockchain4Youth program, which marked two years with over 8,000 participants and global outreach across 70+ countries. It also supported Google’s “Build With AI” Hackathon, delivered emergency aid to earthquake-affected families in Myanmar, and expanded its Starlink Program in the Philippines to bring satellite internet to underserved islands, supporting long-term digital and blockchain inclusion.

    From its strong on-chain integrations to fiat-crypto innovation, Bitget continues to set new benchmarks in exchange trust, product utility, and real-world Web3 applications. Bitget’s sustained momentum positions it as a key driver in the next phase of crypto evolution.

    For the full transparency report, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5780c3bf-ff65-4550-a482-35cb88758332

    The MIL Network –

  • Israel takes name of Iran operation from Bible verse

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel has called its military operation against Iran “Rising Lion”, taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, which in retrospect pointed to the looming strikes on Iran.

    His office on Friday released a photo of the note, which said “the people shall rise up as a lion”.

    The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

    This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s strikes “satanic”.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi condoles demise of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in Ahmedabad air crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad a day earlier.

    Rupani, 68, was travelling on board flight AI-171 to London when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 passengers.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the late leader, describing his passing as “unimaginable” and recalling a long association with him that spanned decades.

    “I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party’s ideology,” PM Modi said in his post.

    He went on to highlight Rupani’s journey in public life, mentioning his early work in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, his tenure as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and his leadership as President of the Gujarat BJP.

    “In every role assigned, he distinguished himself… as Gujarat BJP President and as Cabinet Minister in the State Government,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Rupani had made lasting contributions during his time as Chief Minister, particularly in initiatives aimed at improving ease of living for citizens.

    The Prime Minister also visited the late leader’s family to offer condolences in person. “Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he said.

    Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.

  • Gautam Gambhir flies back home from England due to family emergency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had been with the Indian team at Beckenham ahead of their intra-squad practice match starting on Friday.

    “Yes it came to the light yesterday that Gambhir would be flying back home due to an important family emergency related to his mother. As of now, we believe that Gambhir has already linked up with his family in New Delhi. Keeping in mind the current situation, it’s not known yet about when he would join the India team ahead of the Test series’ commencement,” said sources aware of development to IANS on Friday.

    In Gambhir’s absence, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip will help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Test series against Ben Stokes-led England, which starts at Headingley.

    The Test tour of England will also be right-handed batter Shubman Gill’s first assignment as the captain of the Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill will also become the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests.

    Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be India’s vice-captain on the all-important Test series, which runs from June 20 to August 4. India and England will also play matches at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London.

    India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The Test series in England will also be India’s first assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held  
    Speaking at the luncheon, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said the SPC has been established for over ten years, aiming at promoting safety, health and community participation of the elderly. The Government adopted measures to promote the silver economy last month to enhance the quality of life for the elderly. In line with the policy direction, the SPC has launched a wide range of activities and training programmes to help its members achieve physical, mental and spiritual health.
     
    In order to enhance the anti-deception awareness among senior citizens and to tackle the various and emerging deception tactics, the SPC launched the “IT Captain” training programme in May this year. This includes the education on the use of the one-stop scam and pitfall search engine “Scameter+”. Together with the “SPC Wealth Management and Anti-Investment Scam Ambassador” programme, the elderly get familiarised with the latest scam tactics and cyber traps, and are encouraged to spread the message of fraud prevention in the community. Trained “IT Captains” will guide elderly and citizens in the community to use the commonly-used mobile apps of the Government, assisting them to integrate into digital life.
     
    An increase of 28 per cent was recorded in the number of deception cases involving elderly victims, reaching 6 345 cases in 2024 compared to 4 929 cases in 2023. There was also an increase of approximately 20 per cent in related fraud cases from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, to over 1 700 cases. Of these, more than half were classified as online frauds, while around 40 per cent were related to telephone scams.
     
    At the AGM today, 44 SPC members were presented with the “Best SPC Captain” and “Most Active SPC Member” awards in recognition of their enthusiastic participation over the past year.
     
    The newly launched “PALS@SPC” initiative this year represents four key themes of the SPC’s activities, with “P” standing for “Participate”, “A” for “Alert”, “L” for “Learn” and “S” for “Safeguard”. The SPC will continue to collaborate with various organisations to roll out a broader range of programmes, encouraging more senior citizens to become SPC members, and to enhance themselves through recreation and sports activities as well as courses and seminars. Being crime-fighting partners of the Police, SPC members join hands to serve the community and achieve the SPC sprit – “Helping Oneself and Others”.

    Issued at HKT 18:11

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 15 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Contribute”, “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Windsand”, for four consecutive days from June 9 to yesterday (June 12). A total of 12 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested.

    During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 81 target locations including commercial buildings, an industrial building, residential buildings, a massage parlour, restaurants and retail stores. Twelve suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of a recognisance form, which prohibits them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card; one man was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. One man and one woman, aged 30 and 63, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. One woman, aged 32, who was suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, was also arrested.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30 
    Report on Currency Board Operations (25 December, 2024 – 16 April, 2025)
    ————————————————————————————
     
    The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7555 – 7.7927 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated in early January 2025 as liquidity tightness subsided at the end of 2024 and global markets reacted to US tariff announcements, but strengthened in mid-February 2025, supported by strong performance of the local stock market amid Mainland China’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence and net inflows from the Southbound Stock Connect. In early April, in response to further US tariffs, the HKD strengthened further as long USD carry trades unwound amid a risk-off sentiment and southbound inflows continued. HKD interbank rates (HIBORs) continued to track the USD rates while shorter-tenor rates were also being affected by local supply and demand. Short-term HIBORs tightened briefly near the year-end but softened thereafter as funding demand faded. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered during the review period and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,980.99 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
     
    The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.
     
    Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities
    ——————————————
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that downside growth risks to the global economy had intensified following the US announcement of imposing reciprocal tariffs that exceeded market expectations. In response, global financial markets had gyrated, although they continued to operate smoothly with no sign of widespread funding stress. While the postponement of reciprocal tariffs had offered some reprieve for export-reliant Asian economies which generally faced higher rates, the prospect of tariffs being implemented further down the road still posed significant growth headwinds.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the economy entered 2025 amid some green shoots and improved equity market sentiment. In particular, at the “two sessions” in March, the authorities sent strong pro-growth signals, including prioritising consumption and strengthening fiscal support. From April onwards, the Mainland economic outlook faced stiffer external headwinds due to the US reciprocal tariffs. It was expected that Mainland China would place increasing emphasis on supporting consumption.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to the growth outlook heightened following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs. Yet, several factors might help alleviate some of the impact, including the Mainland’s pro-growth policies and its advancement in artificial intelligence, the prospective US rate cuts expected by the markets, and the ongoing recovery of inbound tourism. Meanwhile, housing market transactions gained momentum in March following the Government’s adjustment in stamp duties for lower-value properties, although market sentiment turned conservative in early April amid the global financial market volatility. The commercial real estate markets remained subdued, especially in the office segment.
     
    A Study on “Discount Window Stigma”
    ——————————————-
     
    The Sub-Committee noted a paper that examined the usage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Discount Window and the associated “stigma effect” by banks over time. The results showed that the Discount Window was tapped more frequently and the associated stigma diminished in the current period of tight liquidity, compared with the previous period of tight liquidity in 2018 – 2020. This trend coincided with the HKMA’s proactive communication efforts with banks to alleviate concerns about the “stigma effect” during recent periods.
    Issued at HKT 16:36

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements 
         The offences of these 27 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 16 offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $13,000.

         The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
     
         A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.  
         The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html 
         For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (    www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.htmlIssued at HKT 15:48

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s international gourmet hub status attracts Mainland coconut chicken hot pot chain to open first restaurant in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (June 13) that Runseason World Trade Catering Co Ltd (Runseason), a Mainland catering brand specialising in coconut chicken hot pot, has officially opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

         The new restaurant, located in Causeway Bay, will also serve as a regional office and a strategic launch pad for the company’s ambitions to enter European markets and elevate its brand on the global stage, according to Runseason co-founder Mr Huang Guangchun.

         Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “Runseason’s decision to establish its foothold in Hong Kong underscores the city as the premier choice for Mainland brands to go global. It also highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launch pad for food and beverage companies aiming to expand internationally. We are delighted to support Runseason in leveraging Hong Kong’s vibrant market and international connectivity to achieve its ambitious expansion goals.”

         Mr Huang said, “Hong Kong’s status as an international culinary hub, with its mature market and diverse consumers, makes it the ideal base for Runseason to refine its product offerings, strengthen its supply chain resilience, and enhance its digital services. Aligning with the company’s ‘family standards and conscientious quality’ philosophy, the Hong Kong restaurant will develop a replicable model for global expansion, showcasing its signature coconut chicken hot pot and innovative dishes to a global audience.”

         He added, “Hong Kong, as an international city where East meets West, provides an unparalleled opportunity for Runseason to introduce our coconut chicken – a delicacy rooted in Eastern dietary wisdom – to international markets. By leveraging Hong Kong’s diverse consumer base and its reputation for culinary excellence, we aim to transform this regional specialty into a global cultural symbol of healthy and sustainable dining.”

         Founded in 2009, Runseason is a subsidiary of Shenzhen Runyuan Four Seasons Catering Co Ltd, offering its signature coconut chicken hot pot, in which the brand sources fresh ingredients directly from its own coconut plantations and Wenchang chicken breeding farm in Hainan, ensuring a premium dining experience. It operates over 20 restaurants across Mainland China, bringing its beloved hot pot to an ever-growing customer base. 

         For more information about Runseason, please visit mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cn8mevI9TxnrmaIT72fksA.

         For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326792123.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Charles Emogor, Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

    Nigeria accounts for the largest volume of detected pangolin scales illegally traded from Africa. Between 2010 and 2021, 190,000kg of scales – representing nearly 800,000 African pangolins – were seized in shipments linked to Nigeria, despite a ban on international trade.

    Pangolins are scaly mammals found across Asia and Africa. They are considered the world’s most trafficked wild mammals and they are exploited in different ways on different continents.

    In Asia, mainly China, their scales are used in large-scale therapeutic medicines, despite not having known medicinal properties. Their meat is consumed as a delicacy, so it’s expensive and highly sought after.

    In Africa, pangolin scales are mainly used in small quantities to make traditional medicines and, like most other wildlife on the continent, their meat is sold and consumed locally. However, the decline in Asian pangolin populations has prompted the trafficking of African pangolin scales to Asia.

    Due to the relatively recent rise in international demand, the drivers of African pangolin exploitation remain unclear. However, some conservationists and researchers propose that this exploitation is primarily driven by overseas demand for pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.

    My new study challenges this view and suggests that African pangolin exploitation is motivated more by local demand for meat than international demand for scales.

    Having grown up in Nigeria, I developed personal connections with many of the hunters and vendors and have spent the past five years building a trustworthy relationship with them in order to research pangolin trade from within the industry.

    My colleagues and I sent an anonymous questionnaire to 590 hunters and 219 wild meat vendors in 33 locations in southeast Nigeria. We wanted to find out how many pangolins they caught annually and how they were captured. We also asked what their motivations for hunting were, how much they sold pangolin products for and the subsequent uses of meat and scales.

    Given that pangolin meat is eaten as food, we asked another group of 570 hunters, vendors, and other household members to score the palatability (perceived sensory qualities of meat flavour and texture) of 96 meat and fish dishes consumed in Nigerian communities.

    Of the approximately 21,000 white- and black-bellied pangolins, which we estimated were killed annually across the hunters in the landscape between 2020 and 2023, 97% were captured opportunistically (that is, while performing activities other than hunting) or during general hunting. Of those, were picked up by hand – these animals weigh just 2-3kg on average and are relatively slow-moving.

    Surprisingly, 98% of captured pangolins were caught for their meat, with 71% eaten by the hunters and 27% sold locally. This high rate of personal consumption compared to local sales is likely driven by their exceptional taste. In southeast Nigeria, the three pangolin species eaten scored highest in palatability among 96 wild meats assessed, and were comparable only with the African brush-tailed porcupine.

    By comparison, rural southeast Asian communities increasingly forego eating the pangolins themselves and instead sell them to urban centres because they get high prices for meat and scales.

    Most of the pangolin scales (70%) were discarded. Less than 30% were traded illegally. We also found that, on a per-animal basis, pangolin scales have been three to four times lower than meat since 2010, when Nigeria’s first pangolin scale seizure was documented.

    Beyond Nigeria

    While our study focused on pangolin trade in southeast Nigeria, our findings likely apply to other African forest regions where pangolins make up a similar proportion of the hunters’ total catch and where the price of scales is comparable.

    Our analysis only applies to white- and black-bellied pangolins; but this is still substantial as they make up approximately 98% of African pangolins trafficked internationally (based on seizure data) and 96% of pangolins caught by hunters across central and west Africa (based on hunter offtake data from six countries).

    Securing the future of African pangolins demands a bold shift if they are primarily being hunted for meat rather than scales, as appears to be the case in southeast Nigeria. Anti-trafficking measures alone won’t protect pangolins if hunting for local consumption remains unchecked.

    Promoting alternative protein sources or sustainable livelihoods for hunters could help reduce wild meat dependence. As current global trade bans don’t always reflect local hunting motivations, understanding why people hunt protected species and how they get traded both locally and globally will be crucial in developing conservation strategies that will tackle the root of the problem and encourage a transition to more sustainable practices.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Charles Emogor receives funding from the British High Commission in Nigeria, National Geographic Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, Rufford Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Save Pangolins. He is the founder of Pangolin Protection Network (aka Pangolino).

    – ref. Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins – https://theconversation.com/why-anti-trafficking-measures-alone-wont-save-africas-pangolins-251744

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Shadow of War Falls Over Strait of Hormuz After Israel Strikes Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

    Iran, which has denied such intentions, has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz for traffic in retaliation to Western pressure. Experts have said that any closure of the strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.

    Below are details about the strait:

    The strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.

    It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

    WHY DOES IT MATTER?

    About a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption passes through the strait. Between the start of 2022 and last month, roughly 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, according to data from Vortexa.

    OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.

    The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the strait.

    Around 2.6 million bpd of unused capacity from existing UAE and Saudi pipelines could be available to bypass Hormuz, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in June last year.

    Qatar, among the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait.

    Iran has threatened over the years to block the strait but has never followed through.

    The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area.

    HISTORY OF TENSIONS

    In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt.

    While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of OPEC’s crude.

    The United States more than doubled its oil liquids production in the last two decades and has turned from the world’s biggest oil importer into one of the top exporters.

    During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other’s exports in what was called the Tanker War.

    In July 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack.

    In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions. In May 2019, four vessels – including two Saudi oil tankers – were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Scientists Discover 100-Million-Year-Old Parasitic Fungi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NANJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has discovered two previously unknown species of parasitic fungi preserved in two pieces of amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, which are about 100 million years old, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

    The new discovery provides important evidence for the study of fungi and insects’ coevolution. The study also suggests that the parasitic fungi group Ophiocordyceps evolved about 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

    As the head of the research project, senior researcher at the institute Wang Bo, explained, the fungi do not have a solid structure and are easily decomposed. Research into the origin and evolution of Ophiocordyceps is hampered by the extreme limitation of fossil evidence.

    The two pieces of amber have well-preserved mushroom structures, making it possible to compare them with modern analogues. Using computer microtomography, the researchers discovered their insect hosts.

    The scientists also obtained and analyzed genetic data on 120 modern Ophiocordyceps species. Using these fossils as a reference, they reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ophiocordyceps and revised the data on the origin of this group of fungi.

    “The results suggest that the origin of Ophiocordyceps must have occurred around 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous, which is 30 million years earlier than previously thought,” he said.

    The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping offers condolences to Indian leadership over plane crash

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered condolences to Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of many people in the crash of an Air India plane.

    In his message, Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the plane crash that claimed many lives. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, sympathized with the victims and the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolences to Modi on Friday. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Government is implementing comprehensive measures to support small-scale farmers, especially in rural and underdeveloped provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. 

    This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who outlined key strategies during a parliamentary question-and-answer session. At Thursday’s session, the Deputy President emphasised the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity and improving access to funding.

    Addressing the National Assembly, he stated that the government is improving agricultural productivity through the Agriculture Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAPP) and various support programmes, including the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Blended Finance Scheme.

    WATCH | Deputy President addresses the National Assembly

    He explained that the Master Plan aims to enhance agricultural products, promote agro-processing, and improve market access by building capacity, accelerating land reform, and providing financial assistance to farmers.

    “We need to support it to promote economic growth, ensure food security and employment creation, particularly in rural areas. 
    “Government is playing a crucial role in ensuring that small farmers become sustainable and thriving enterprises aligned to the country’s land reform and rural development objectives,” he said.

    He announced that government is assisting farmers by offering grants and loans through partnerships with financial institutions like the Land Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). 

    According to the Deputy President, the state is providing blended finance schemes targeting black-owned agricultural enterprises. 

    “We are enhancing collaboration between government and private entities to boost productivity, service delivery and sustainability growth. Infrastructure and technology adoption depend on these collaborations,” he said.

    He told Members of Parliament that efforts are being made to address the challenge of accessing funding from commercial banks by de-risking investments and mobilising Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

    Meanwhile, the Deputy President said government is also leveraging trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost regional trade. 

    “If we effectively utilise regional structures like the African Continental Free Trade Area, our smallholder farmers will have a platform to access larger regional markets and potentially benefit from increased demand for their products. 

    “In this regard, continuous industry consultation and reporting are taking place through the agricultural trade forum.” 

    Export opportunities

    He announced that South Africa is exploring export opportunities in strategic markets like Japan and focusing on products such as citrus fruits and avocados. 

    In the meantime, arrangements are currently in place with the European Union and the country’s BRICS partners to fast-track export protocols, enhance biosecurity to meet international standards and ensure international outreach is professional, responsive and strategic.

    BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

    Funding and market access 

    The country’s second-in-command also took the time to acknowledge the challenges, including commercial banks’ reluctance to fund small farmers due to a lack of collateral. 

    However, he stated that the government is intervening to reduce investment risks and encourage bank participation. 

    According to Deputy President Mashatile, government aims to transform small-scale farming into sustainable enterprises, which will promote economic growth, food security, and job creation in rural areas.

    “We are actively seeking to expand agricultural market access to countries like Japan, particularly for our citrus fruits and avocados.” 

    The Deputy President also took the time to extend his condolences to the families of the people affected by the severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape. 

    “Our hearts are with you. Government will do everything in its power to assist you. The President will be visiting the Eastern Cape tomorrow,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Scam alert related to bank

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Scam alert related to bank 

    BankThe HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 17:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mauritius tourism and hospitality industry to showcase growth and investment opportunities at the API Mauritius & Indian Ocean Property Investment Forum

    As Mauritius prepares to host the 3rd Annual API Mauritius & Indian Ocean Property Investment Forum on 26 June, industry leaders highlight the island’s pioneering role in sustainable tourism and hospitality development across the Indian Ocean region.

    The forum will serve as a key platform to discuss growth prospects, investment challenges, and innovative partnerships shaping the future of hospitality in Mauritius and beyond.

    Mauritius is increasingly recognised as a leader in sustainable tourism, driven by government initiatives, industry commitment to eco-friendly practices, and real estate developments.

    The government aims to make Mauritius a “Green Destination” by 2030, focusing on reducing the negative effects of tourism like pollution and resource overuse, while increasing positive benefits such as protecting nature, supporting local communities, and preserving culture.

    At the same time, real estate developments also follow green building principles, using energy-efficient designs and renewable energy to reduce carbon footprints. This combined effort from government, industry, and real estate creates a tourism sector that attracts visitors, cares for the environment, and benefits local people.

    Neil George, Partner and Executive Director of Aleph Hospitality, notes that the region faces a significant opportunity to expand eco-certified hotels and circular economic practices in tourism that target waste reduction and promote local sourcing. 

    “Over the next five years, I believe that we will see substantial growth in eco-certified hotels as sustainability becomes a key differentiator. I expect that foreign investment in green hospitality projects will increase as Mauritius strengthens its sustainability credentials,” says George of Aleph Hospitality, which is the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa.

    However, he acknowledges that overcoming the perception of “Africa risk” and the somewhat illiquid nature of markets across the African continent remains a barrier to attracting institutional funding.

    In other words, Africa is still widely viewed as lacking transparency, and it can be difficult to quickly buy or sell assets without impacting their prices. As a result, large investors such as banks and financial institutions find it challenging to commit funding. They prefer markets where information is readily available and where they can quickly recover their investments if necessary.

    Investment challenges and innovative solutions

    Institutional funding — traditional debt and equity funding — for hospitality developments in the Indian Ocean is often hindered by perceived market risks and limited liquidity.

    Both Neil George and Govind Mundra, the Head of Development for Middle East & Africa at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, emphasize these challenges remain perverse but also highlight innovative models to mitigate them.

    Mundra points to branded residences and rental pool resorts as effective strategies that allow developers to pre-sell units and reduce upfront capital burdens while benefiting from global brand management and distribution networks. Wyndham assists developers and investors on this front.

    “Branded residences and rental pools allow developers to pre-sell units—whether villas or condo-style apartments—while retaining them under a hotel management structure, easing both equity requirements and long-term debt burden.

    “It also gives investors the chance to monetize their assets while benefiting from a global brand, unified reservation system, and professional management. For interested investors, we’re always happy to explore these models further after the session. They’ve proven to be a powerful tool, especially when paired with our operational scale and strong visibility in key source markets,” says Mundra.

    Wyndham’s “Wyndham Green” programme also provides a practical roadmap for hotels to achieve sustainability goals, graded across five levels covering energy use, waste reduction, sourcing, and community engagement. This approach aligns with the growing traveller demand for eco-conscious stays, particularly among younger generations, and supports Mauritius’s ambition to become a global benchmark in sustainable hospitality.

    Predictions and growth outlook for the next five years

    Industry leaders foresee a transformative shift in Mauritius’s hospitality sector over the next five years. Sustainable practices will evolve from optional enhancements to mandatory standards for new developments. Eco-certification, digital enablement, and environmental resilience will become prerequisites for new resorts, with guests expecting authentic cultural connections alongside eco-efficiency.

    Aleph Hospitality’s expertise in tailored management solutions offers local entrepreneurs and investors opportunities to optimize operations, improve service quality, and attract international brands and investors through strategic partnerships. This collaborative approach can enhance return on investment from project inception through to exit phases.

    Marriott International, one of the world’s largest hotel companies, has also reaffirmed its commitment to Mauritius, highlighting the island’s rich natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and world-class hospitality.

    Says Jugal Khushalani, the Senior Director of Development for Sub-Saharan Africa at Marriott International: “The destination offers a resilient, high-value tourism offering that has evolved in terms of experience, accessibility, and infrastructure.  It also caters to the rising demand for experiential travel with enhanced luxury offerings, wellness experiences and environmentally conscious initiatives.”

    Marriott International sees strong potential to expand its hotel portfolio in support of Mauritius’s resilient, high-value tourism economy.

    Equally bullish about Mauritius is Radisson Hotel Group, which has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding in the Indian Ocean, building on its strong presence in Mauritius.

    “Mauritius is setting the tone for sustainable hospitality in the region,” says Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President of Development, Radisson Hotel Group, a major international hospitality company.

    “There’s a clear opportunity to lead with eco-certified hotels, community-integrated experiences, and smart resort design – and we’re eager to be part but also to lead that journey. There’s growing demand from conscious travellers for resorts that integrate environmental stewardship with authentic local experiences which we have made our priority in all the hotels we operate on the island and globally,” says Rankoussi.

    The Radisson Hotel Group is committed to net-zero operations by 2050. The group is also seeking to consolidate its existing presence across Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion and Maldives but also to eventually enter Seychelles – aiming to bring its diverse portfolio of lifestyle, upper upscale, and eco-conscious brands to more of the region.

    Government and industry collaboration for sustainable tourism

    Mauritius’s government programme for 2025-2029 places eco-tourism at its core, reinforcing the island’s strategic focus on sustainable development. The Tourism Authority’s ongoing initiatives include banning single-use plastics, promoting renewable energy, encouraging local sourcing, and supporting eco-label certifications for hotels, such as Green Globe, held by prominent resorts. These efforts not only reduce the environmental footprint but also enhance the island’s appeal as a responsible travel destination.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.

    Distributed by API Events:
    API Mauritius & Indian Ocean’s Forum enquires: 
    Murray Anderson-Ogle
    Murray@apievents.com
    +27 71 890 77 39
    Website: https://apo-opa.co/4e7j4qY

    About the 3rd annual API Mauritius & Indian Ocean Property Investment Forum:
    The API Mauritius & Indian Ocean Property Investment Forum is an annual event that brings together investors, developers, operators, and government representatives to explore property investment opportunities linked to the tourism and hospitality sectors.  The forum will take place on 26 June at the InterContinental Resort in Mauritius. The forum will highlight Mauritius’s position as a strategic gateway for sustainable tourism development and investment in the Indian Ocean region.

    For more information and to register visit https://apo-opa.co/3SRrmtc

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: AIIB to host 10th annual meeting in Beijing

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

    The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will convene its 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Beijing from June 24 to 26, with over 3,500 participants from nearly 100 countries and regions expected to attend, Vice President and Corporate Secretary Ludger Schuknecht announced at a recent media briefing.

    Founded in 2016, the Beijing-headquartered multilateral development bank has expanded from 57 to 110 members – representing 81% of the world’s population and 65% of global GDP – while maintaining highest credit ratings from three major rating institutions.

    The bank has approved $60 billion in financing across 318 projects, mobilizing over $200 billion in infrastructure investments.

    Apart from launching a series of events to celebrate a decade of impact, the meeting will convene members, partners, business leaders, and international organizations, as well as global experts from a variety of fields, to engage in discussions, collaborations, and forward-looking dialogue.

    With the theme of “Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity,” the event will address topics including interconnectivity and regional collaboration, green financing, private capital mobilization, digital transformation, and partnership building in its 17 public forums.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Suzhou Industrial Park provides fertile ground for innovation

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

    More than 30 years ago, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) was just a stretch of low-lying paddy fields on the outskirts of Suzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Today, towering skyscrapers and modern infrastructure define the skyline of what has become a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. 

    This combo photo shows a blueprint of the Suzhou Industrial Park drawn in 1994 (top) and an aerial view of the industrial park (bottom) in 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    The transformation began in the spring of 1994, when SIP was launched as the first cooperation project between the Chinese and Singaporean governments, aiming to build a world-class industrial zone.

    For three decades, SIP has centered its growth strategy on openness and innovation. In 2024, the park’s GDP reached 400.2 billion yuan (US$55.68 billion), making up nearly one sixth of the entire city’s GDP. Its R&D intensity reached 5.61% this year, among the highest in China’s economic and technological development zones.

    “Opening-up and innovation are the park’s greatest feature,” said Liu Hua, vice chairperson of the Administrative Committee of SIP, during an interview on Wednesday.

    Much of SIP’s growth has been driven by its efforts of supporting enterprises as the main players in its innovative development. The park channels resources to help them launch businesses, tackle technological challenges, and unlock new creative potential.

    So far, SIP is home to more than 10,000 technology companies and over 3,000 national high-tech enterprises. It has also cultivated more than 4,600 small and medium-sized tech firms. 

    “We provide efficient services and support to companies, achieving win-win results through cooperation,” Liu said. She added that SIP has accelerated the development of a modern industrial system centered on artificial intelligence, digital industries, and next-generation information technologies.

    AISpeech is one such company that came to SIP to develop conversational artificial intelligence. Yu Kai, the firm’s co-founder and chief scientist, said Suzhou was the first national development zone in China to support AI development with dedicated policies.

    “Suzhou is very active in attracting investment and boasts strong technological infrastructure,” Yu said. Even before he founded AISpeech in 2007, local officials had visited Cambridge University, where he earned his Ph.D. in engineering, to promote investment opportunities.

    “I chose to set up my company in SIP because Suzhou offers a solid foundation with its strategic planning, efficient governance, and clear support for technology industry policies,” he said.

    Today, AISpeech holds 1,597 intellectual property rights and has developed over 70 national and industry standards. Its clients include major automakers and tech firms such as Mercedes-Benz, BYD, Haier, and Xiaomi.

    Last year, the Yangtze River Delta Innovation Consortium in Language Computing, led by AISpeech, was selected as one of the first 12 Yangtze River Delta innovation consortiums.

    “Through this consortium, companies and institutions work together to accelerate breakthroughs in key technologies and applications,” Yu said. “It will play a key role in advancing the development and application of language intelligence technologies in China.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • China tells G7 to stop ‘manipulating’ China issues for its own agenda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    China warned the Group of Seven advanced economies on Friday against “manipulating” issues related to the world’s second-largest economy for their own agenda, after they accused Beijing of unfair business practices a year earlier.

    Beijing’s criticism of the G7 and what it represents comes amid a surge in global trade tension between the United States and China this year, as well as within the bloc’s membership.

    In remarks ahead of a three-day G7 summit in Canada set to start from Sunday, Lin Jian, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, accused the group of having always upheld a Cold War mentality.

    The bloc should “stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, stop undermining other countries’ development, (and) stop manipulating issues related to China,” Lin told a regular news conference.

    The G7 provokes conflicts and confrontations, said Lin, adding that such practices were “doomed to fail”.

    In the communique after its 2024 summit in Italy that mentioned China more than 20 times, the G7 said its companies needed to be protected from China’s unfair business practices.

    It also warned of action against Chinese financial institutions that helped Russia obtain weapons for its war in Ukraine.

    The participation of countries beyond the grouping, such as India and Brazil, in last year’s event also irked China, which viewed the move as a bid to sow discord among countries of the Global South.

    New leaders will represent five of the G7’s members – Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States – at next week’s summit.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Lord O’Neill of Gatley: Lord Speaker’s Corner | House of Lords | Episode 29

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    ‘The US is just so obsessed about being big, it doesn’t understand that by others becoming bigger, the US can become wealthier.’

    Jim O’Neill, Lord O’Neill of Gatley, is an ex-Treasury Minister, former Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs and Crossbench member of the House of Lords.

    In this latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner, Lord O’Neill shares his perspectives with Lord McFall of Alcluith on a range of topics, from China and the USA to AI, the risks of rising antimicrobial resistance and why Manchester should be prioritised as Britain’s second city.

    At Goldman Sachs, Lord O’Neill coined the term BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) to describe the group of emerging economies. In this episode he shares his thoughts on how that has progressed, as well as President Donald Trump’s current tariffs approach by the US. He explains ‘the path which Trump seems to have embarked on, of aggressive confrontation, is not likely to be sustained because it is in America’s interests for China to continue to do well economically.’

    He also shares his thoughts on the current approach to AI, warning against letting tech sectors self-regulate: ‘this idea that just let the financial sector regulate itself and there’d be no problem…that didn’t turn out too well, did it? And there’s a lot of these AI guys wanting to do the same.’

    Lord O’Neill also calls for greater devolution, with powers for regions to raise local taxes, suggesting ‘people here (in Westminster) need to have excitement about giving responsibility to local people in these places to make a national difference.’ He also calls for devolution on welfare-spending with health-linked budgets for local authorities: ‘There’s a serious case for exploring devolving aspects of the welfare support budget as it links to critical health illness’

    See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BHfC5saj3g

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Brait Consulting y xSuite Group establecen una alianza estratégica

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    El especialista español en ECM y procesamiento de facturas ofrecerá a sus clientes soluciones certificadas por SAP de xSuite, proveedor global experto en automatización de cuentas por pagar.

    Ahrensburg, Alemania / Tudela, España, 13 de junio 2025 – Speto & Brait Consulting Group S.L. ha firmado una alianza estratégica con xSuite Group. El acuerdo, ratificado en abril, designa a Brait Consulting como nuevo Socio de Soluciones del proveedor de software alemán. A partir de ahora, Brait comercializará, implementará y dará soporte a las soluciones de xSuite para la automatización de procesos de facturación y compras, así como para el archivado digital, tanto en España como en otros mercados europeos. Esta alianza representa una expansión estratégica para Brait Consulting, al fortalecer su oferta de servicios modernos centrados en SAP.

    Con sede en Madrid, España, Brait es una empresa de consultoría informática especializada en la digitalización y automatización de procesos empresariales en entornos SAP. Gracias a su experiencia en automatización de facturas, facturación electrónica, gestión documental y cumplimiento electrónico, la empresa ayuda a las organizaciones a optimizar e integrar sus sistemas SAP. A medida que se acelera la transformación tecnológica y muchas empresas se preparan para migrar a SAP S/4HANA, crece la demanda de soluciones modernas que sustituyan a sistemas heredados, especialmente en el área de procesamiento de facturas.

    Brait ofrece soluciones certificadas por SAP compatibles con todos los modelos de implementación de SAP: en la nube, on-premise e híbridos. Gracias a este partnership con xSuite, Brait ampliará su capacidad de ofrecer soluciones integrales especialmente en el área de Purchase-to-Pay y archivado digital, reconocidas por su gran flexibilidad y escalabilidad. Además, la empresa cuenta con una hoja de ruta de productos orientada al futuro que incorpora tecnologías emergentes. Estas características convierten a xSuite en una opción potente y preparada para el futuro para empresas que están realizando la transición a SAP S/4HANA.

    “Estamos muy entusiasmados con nuestra alianza con Brait Consulting, ya que refuerza significativamente nuestra presencia en el mercado español. Esta colaboración nos permite ofrecer conjuntamente soluciones de automatización innovadoras y preparadas para el futuro a clientes de SAP en las áreas de finanzas y compras”, afirmó Gonzalo Isla Baranda, Director General de xSuite Iberia. “Al combinar la profunda experiencia de consultoría de Brait con nuestro software avanzado, los clientes se beneficiarán de una optimización de procesos inteligente, eficiente y sostenible.”

    Édgar Jiménez, CEO de Brait, añadió: “Los clientes de SAP hoy en día exigen soluciones tecnológicamente avanzadas y funcionalmente sólidas, independientemente de si ejecutan SAP en la nube, on-premise o en entornos híbridos. Con xSuite, ampliamos nuestro portfolio, ofreciendo otra plataforma modular, certificada por SAP y desplegable globalmente. Nos impresiona especialmente la naturaleza cercana y colaborativa de la alianza, así como la hoja de ruta claramente definida, que nos permite brindar a nuestros clientes un soporte sostenible y preparado para el futuro.”

    Acerca de Speto & Brait Consulting Group
    Speto & Brait Consulting Group es una empresa especializada en la optimización y automatización los procesos empresariales. Son expertos en factura electrónica a nivel global, en business networks, y en todo tipo de integración y automatización de facturas (tanto emitidas como recibidas), digitalización end-to-end del proceso de compras y en gestión documental, siempre con SAP.
    https://www.brait.cc/en

    Acerca de xSuite Group
    Con oficinas en Asia, Europa y Estados Unidos, xSuite es un líder innovador en la optimización de flujos de trabajo P2P basados en SAP. La empresa ofrece soluciones de software y servicios de implementación a más de 1.600 clientes en todo el mundo, lo que la convierte en un socio de confianza para la modernización de los sistemas de cuentas por pagar y la automatización de procesos manuales basados en papel. www.xsuite.com

    Contacto de prensa:
    xSuite Group / Oficina central
    Barbara Wirtz
    Marketing y Relaciones Públicas
    Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
    barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com

    Contacto xSuite Iberia
    Gonzalo Isla Baranda, Director General
    Calle del Hierro 21, Ático B
    28045 Madrid I Spain
    Tel. +34 623 94 85 19
    info.iberia@xsuite.com

    Contacto para partners:
    xSuite Group / Internacional
    Tony Cheung
    Vicepresidente Global
    Cuentas Empresariales y Alianzas Estratégicas
    Tel. +44 7561 893170
    tony.cheung@xsuite.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Delhi’s Informal Workers Join Hands with IMD to Strengthen Heatwave Warning Services. 

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    In a landmark initiative aimed at making weather forecasting more inclusive and accessible, vendor networks across Delhi and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and collaborative joined hands to ensure heatwave warnings effectively reach to the community. As a part of this collaboration, IMD’s daily weather forecasts and heat wave alerts are being simplified and translated into easy-tounderstand local languages. These messages are now being shared through community WhatsApp groups and being prominently displayed at vending carts, labour chowks, and waste segregation points through posters and handwritten notices across the city. 

    Spearheaded by Greenpeace India in collaboration with various informal workers’ associations and the IMD, the initiative places informal worker collectives, who are among the most affected by extreme heat, at the heart of climate resilience efforts. The aim is to develop a grassroots early warning system by leveraging the trust and reach of street vendors, gig workers, and daily wage labourers as frontline communicators of weather alerts. 

    For the first time, communities at high risk of heatwave impacts are playing a lead role in the dissemination of IMD’s heatwave alerts, ensuring early action where it is needed most. IMD is supporting the effort by co-creating simplified, user-friendly heatwave warnings in Hindi in partnership with community members, ensuring the forecasts are not only understood but are also actionable. This people-centric model empowers communities to adapt the alerts into localised formats, turning everyday workers into climate messengers. It marks a significant step toward realizing the vision of “early warning for all” by making IMD’s advisories more relevant and impactful on the ground. 

    In this context, a multi-stakeholder workshop was organised jointly by IMD, Greenpeace India and informal worker associations. The workshop brought together street vendors, outdoor and informal workers, to promote a holistic approach to heatwave preparedness. It focused on raising awareness of the health risks posed by extreme weather—especially heatwaves—and explored ways to integrate early warning systems and health advisories into the daily routines of informal workers. 

    This workshop & collaboration go beyond mere weather information dissemination—it represents a vital step toward building local resilience and empowering communities to act on early warnings. It underscores that extreme heat requires a coordinated and systemic response whereby the peoplepowered actions are not only possible but also essential for effective, efficient and actionable early warning services for all. 

    “This collaboration is not just about sharing information—it’s about building local resilience and enabling communities to act on that information. It is a call to recognise extreme heat as a national disaster demanding urgent, systemic response. With rising deaths and hospitalisations, we  need community-led early warning systems to prevent and prepare for adverse impacts and also robust public infrastructure, health services to respond effectively to the crisis. The Delhi Rising campaign shows that people-powered action is not only possible, but it’s perhaps the most essential,” said Amruta Greenpeace India representative.

    MIL OSI NGO –