Category: Asia

MIL-OSI USA: McConnell’s Bill to Support Families of Retired Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, which would ensure the families of retired law enforcement officers who were killed or disabled as a result of their service are not unjustly denied benefits. Senator McConnell introduced the bipartisan bill earlier this year with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) have also cosponsored the legislation. The legislation must now be approved by the full Senate.
The bill is named after Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a Korean war veteran and law enforcement officer of 55 years who retired in 2009 as Chief of the Tompkinsville, Kentucky Police Department. On August 28, 2012, Chief Proffitt was tragically shot and killed in his driveway by an individual he had arrested a decade earlier. Although his murder was a direct retaliation for his service in uniform, his family was denied benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program because he had retired from his more than a half-century of service.
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act would amend the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program eligibility criteria for retired law enforcement officers who have died or become permanently disabled due to a targeted attack directly resulting from their service, and retroactively apply the updated eligibility for claims starting on January 1, 2012.
“This week we observe National Police Week and remember law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty and honor those across the country who courageously serve our communities,” said Senator McConnell. “The loss of Chief Herbert D. Proffitt is a tragic reminder of the risk that follows our finest every day of their lives. This legislation plugs an important hole, ensuring the Proffitt family – and others like them – are supported and assured that the service and sacrifice of their loved ones are never forgotten. On behalf of all Kentuckians, I’m grateful for our police officers and their steadfast dedication to keeping us safe. I also appreciate Chairman Grassley’s collaboration on this vital legislation.”
“On behalf of Chief Proffitt’s family and members of the Law Enforcement community, we appreciate Senator McConnell’s introduction of this important piece of legislation. This bill will include Line of Duty Death (LODD) benefits for retired members of Law Enforcements that have been murdered because of their prior Law Enforcement actions. Passage of the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 will give some comfort to Chief Proffitt’s family while providing security to Law Enforcement families,” said Berl Perdue, Jr., President of the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police.
“The Tompkinsville Police Department is grateful to Senator McConnell for his work to support and honor our law enforcement families. Thirteen years later, we still mourn the loss of Chief Herbert “Sprocket” Proffitt, a devoted father and leader in Tompkinsville who dedicated his life to keeping our community safe. We are proud to see his legacy honored today with this important legislation,” said Kerry L. Denton, Chief of Police, City of Tompkinsville.
The legislation is endorsed by the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, the Kentucky Narcotic Officers Association, the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association, and the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. The measure was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Andy Barr (R-KY) and Dan Goldman (D-NY).

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NASA, French SWOT Satellite Offers Big View of Small Ocean Features

Source: NASA

The international mission collects two-dimensional views of smaller waves and currents that are bringing into focus the ocean’s role in supporting life on Earth.
Small things matter, at least when it comes to ocean features like waves and eddies. A recent NASA-led analysis using data from the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite found that ocean features as small as a mile across potentially have a larger impact on the movement of nutrients and heat in marine ecosystems than previously thought.
Too small to see well with previous satellites but too large to see in their entirety with ship-based instruments, these relatively small ocean features fall into a category known as the submesoscale. The SWOT satellite, a joint effort between NASA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), can observe these features and is demonstrating just how important they are, driving much of the vertical transport of things like nutrients, carbon, energy, and heat within the ocean. They also influence the exchange of gases and energy between the ocean and atmosphere.
“The role that submesoscale features play in ocean dynamics is what makes them important,” said Matthew Archer, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Some of these features are called out in the animation below, which was created using SWOT sea surface height data.

[embedded content]
This animation shows small ocean features — including internal waves and eddies — derived from SWOT observations in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. White and lighter blue represent higher ocean surface heights compared to darker blue areas. The purple colors shown in one location represent ocean current speeds.NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

“Vertical currents move heat between the atmosphere and ocean, and in submesoscale eddies, can actually bring up heat from the deep ocean to the surface, warming the atmosphere,” added Archer, who is a coauthor on the submesoscale analysis published in April in the journal Nature. Vertical circulation can also bring up nutrients from the deep sea, supplying marine food webs in surface waters like a steady stream of food trucks supplying festivalgoers.
“Not only can we see the surface of the ocean at 10 times the resolution of before, we can also infer how water and materials are moving at depth,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, SWOT program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Fundamental Force
Researchers have known about these smaller eddies, or circular currents, and waves for decades. From space, Apollo astronauts first spotted sunlight glinting off small-scale eddies about 50 years ago. And through the years, satellites have captured images of submesoscale ocean features, providing limited information such as their presence and size. Ship-based sensors or instruments dropped into the ocean have yielded a more detailed view of submesoscale features, but only for relatively small areas of the ocean and for short periods of time.
The SWOT satellite measures the height of water on nearly all of Earth’s surface, including the ocean and freshwater bodies, at least once every 21 days. The satellite gives researchers a multidimensional view of water levels, which they can use to calculate, for instance, the slope of a wave or eddy. This in turn yields information on the amount of pressure, or force, being applied to the water in the feature. From there, researchers can figure out how fast a current is moving, what’s driving it and —combined with other types of information — how much energy, heat, or nutrients those currents are transporting.
“Force is the fundamental quantity driving fluid motion,” said study coauthor Jinbo Wang, an oceanographer at Texas A&M University in College Station. Once that quantity is known, a researcher can better understand how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere, as well as how changes in one affect the other.
Prime Numbers
Not only was SWOT able to spot a submesoscale eddy in an offshoot of the Kuroshio Current — a major current in the western Pacific Ocean that flows past the southeast coast of Japan — but researchers were also able to estimate the speed of the vertical circulation within that eddy. When SWOT observed the feature, the vertical circulation was likely 20 to 45 feet (6 to 14 meters) per day.
This is a comparatively small amount for vertical transport. However, the ability to make those calculations for eddies around the world, made possible by SWOT, will improve researchers’ understanding of how much energy, heat, and nutrients move between surface waters and the deep sea.
Researchers can do similar calculations for such submesoscale features as an internal solitary wave — a wave driven by forces like the tide sloshing over an underwater plateau. The SWOT satellite spotted an internal wave in the Andaman Sea, located in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean off Myanmar. Archer and colleagues calculated that the energy contained in that solitary wave was at least twice the amount of energy in a typical internal tide in that region.
This kind of information from SWOT helps researchers refine their models of ocean circulation. A lot of ocean models were trained to show large features, like eddies hundreds of miles across, said Lee Fu, SWOT project scientist at JPL and a study coauthor. “Now they have to learn to model these smaller scale features. That’s what SWOT data is helping with.”
Researchers have already started to incorporate SWOT ocean data into some models, including NASA’s ECCO (Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean). It may take some time until SWOT data is fully a part of models like ECCO. But once it is, the information will help researchers better understand how the ocean ecosystem will react to a changing world.
More About SWOT
The SWOT satellite was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency. Managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL leads the U.S. component of the project. For the flight system payload, NASA provided the Ka-band radar interferometer (KaRIn) instrument, a GPS science receiver, a laser retroreflector, a two-beam microwave radiometer, and NASA instrument operations. The Doppler Orbitography and Radioposition Integrated by Satellite system, the dual frequency Poseidon altimeter (developed by Thales Alenia Space), the KaRIn radio-frequency subsystem (together with Thales Alenia Space and with support from the UK Space Agency), the satellite platform, and ground operations were provided by CNES. The KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly was provided by CSA.
To learn more about SWOT, visit:
https://swot.jpl.nasa.gov
News Media Contacts
Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-491-1943 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
2025-070

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Response: Master and Apprentice

Source: US State of Connecticut

Two UConn Health emergency medicine physicians are back from a medical mission in central Myanmar, which was devastated by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake March 28.

Drs. Rob Fuller and Caroline Lloyd are back at UConn Health after being part of the International Medical Corps response to an earthquake that devastated Myanmar March 2025. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco)

The earthquake and aftershocks are blamed for more than 3,700 dead and 5,000 injured, compounding the humanitarian crisis in a country already dealing with political unrest and an overwhelmed health care system.

“Suffice it to say that the external reporting is a 10x underestimate of the actual impact and fatalities,” Dr. Rob Fuller reported from the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, more than 150 miles from the epicenter. “There is much political difficulty in entering and moving here.”

Fuller, who is UConn Health’s chair of emergency medicine, and Dr. Caroline Lloyd, in her second year in UConn’s International Disaster Emergency Medicine Fellowship, were part of an International Medical Corps response team. The IMC’s response got off to a slow start, largely due to a reluctance by the Myanmar government to embrace assistance from foreign organizations.

“There had been a smaller team from IMC trying for several weeks to open the door to allow us to come in and form those relationships, and assure the government we weren’t going to do anything they didn’t want us do to,” Lloyd says.

Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia’s Indochinese Peninsula.

“[IMC] flew into Bangkok right after the earthquake, and it took days to get permission to enter the country,” Fuller says. “Then after they got into the country, they tried to get the ear of the minister of health to say, ‘We’re an aid-providing organization and we’d like to collaborate with your responders,’ and it took a long time to get those OKs. And then the minister of security and the minister of foreign affairs had to approve. By the time all those barriers were out of the way, we were one of only two foreign non-government organizations allowed in to provide some health care.”

Lloyd and Fuller didn’t arrive until April 19, and by then the mission was to run a tent clinic in place of a key piece of health care infrastructure in Nay Pyi Taw that was lost to the quake.

“We were working at the site of a destroyed 300-bed hospital,” Fuller says. “We were seeing about 100 patients per day. The patients were seeking care for acute and chronic conditions as well as injuries related to the earthquake.”

Dr. Rob Fuller, UConn Health’s chair of emergency medicine, helps staff a tent clinic that replaced an earthquake-damaged hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. (International Medical Corps photo)

“It was primarily handling outpatient care that they normally would have handled, with a smattering of patients sometimes popping in due to displacement or injuries that happened during the earthquake,” Lloyd says. “Every once in a while you’d get someone displaced by the additional conflict going on within the country, who had recently gotten out of that area and into this more-controlled governmental area. But overall, it was primarily outpatient. Lots of aches and pains.”

Lloyd served as a medical lead, overseeing clinic design, patient flow, and quality of care. Fuller says she was looking inward, to manage the clinic, while his role, as medical coordinator, was outward-looking, toward the community and other responding agencies.

“I didn’t have to do a lot of it, because there weren’t a lot of agencies to coordinate with, it was so controlled and closed,” Fuller says. “So I just did what Caroline told me, and saw patients under her guidance.”

Lloyd was there for a week, Fuller for two. They say the temperature was mostly in the triple digits.

Fuller was part of a team from UConn Health that responded to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, he has been part of IMC responses to disasters all over the world, including a tsunami in Indonesia, an earthquake in Haiti, a hurricane in St. Lucia and a typhoon in the Philippines.

This was Lloyd’s first overseas disaster response.

“I was in charge of staffing, the flow of how our tents worked, troubleshooting and changing things,” she says. “If we were in an enclosed area, we can’t have people who are coughing or have an infectious disease, how do we change our flow? They’re putting them in a different area, but then no one’s telling us that’s happening, so let’s have a discussion and fix that. Kind of the logistics of how it worked.”

Dr. Caroline Lloyd (left) and Dr. Rob Fuller (center) from UConn Health are among the American physicians who were part of the International Medical Corps response to the Spring 2025 earthquake in Myanmar. (International Medical Corps photo)

Lloyd says a physician who had done work with the IMC in Gaza told her this response was more complicated because of the controlling nature of Myanmar’s government.

“It’s one of those experiences where, now that you’re kind of removed and you can look back on it, you’re like, ‘If this is how this worked in probably one of the most difficult situations I think you could imagine, man, what’s it going to be like to do it in an atmosphere where someone actually legitimately wants you there?’ IMC has pallets and pallets of things that they have ready to come in; we couldn’t get any of those,” Lloyd says. “The government just didn’t let them in.”

The experience comes as Lloyd nears completion of her disaster emergency medicine fellowship and her Master of Public Health studies. But she won’t be gone from UConn Health for long; in August she’s returning as a faculty physician.

“This was an opportunity for Caroline to be able to go into a disaster,” Fuller says. “Every disaster’s got its own problems and its own flavors. This is just one, but this very controlled political environment was probably the weirdest part about this one. We were controlled where we can go, and what we can do, and how we operate was very managed by the political entities that we were working with. But even so, we set up tents in what was a field, we used car-park areas with tarps around them to deliver care for a couple days. Caroline was in charge of the campus, so she designed how the patients moved from place to place and how we cared for them and where things were. So it was a great experience for her.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: India-based Amazon scam leads to almost a $1 million dollar loss for elderly victim in Missoula

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

MISSOULA – A man originally from India accused of stealing almost $1 million from the elderly appeared in federal court on charges on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Zabi Ullah Mohammed, 29, had an initial appearance on a complaint charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent. If convicted, Mohammed faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Mohammed was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in the criminal complaint that in April 2025 Mohammed and others called an elderly victim in Missoula, Montana, posing as an Amazon representative and inquiring whether the victim purchased computer equipment. When the victim said she did not purchase any equipment, the Amazon representative claimed the victim’s identity was stolen and transferred the victim to the “Social Security Department” and the “U.S. Marshal.” The “U.S. Marshal” said the money from the victim’s bank accounts needed to be “legalized,” and an agent showed up on multiple occasions to pick up cash and gold from the victim’s residence. Law enforcement caught Mohammed when he returned to the victim’s house a final time. After searching Mohammed’s vehicle, law enforcement found airline tickets, car rental documents, and a bag containing approximately $68,987 in cash.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

A complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

PACER case reference. 25-40.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl

MIL Security OSI –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Commend Indonesia on Child-Friendly Cities, Raise Questions on Mandatory Hijab Rules in Some Schools and the Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its review of the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Indonesia, with Committee Experts commending the State on child-friendly cities, while raising questions on mandatory hijab rules in some schools and how the country was tackling the high levels of female genital mutilation.

Philip Jaffe, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said there had been many advancements in recent years to support children’s laws in Indonesia, including the national developmental planning, and the ambitious long-term “golden Indonesia” plan. It was pleasing to see there were child-friendly cities included within this plan. As of 2023, 459 out of 514 municipalities had conducted evaluations concerning child rights clusters which should be rejoiced.

Mr. Jaffe noted that the Committee was concerned about discrimination based on religion; could the State comment on situations of enforced mandatory hijab rules, even for non-Muslim girls, in some provinces?

Thuwayba Al Barwani, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said it was disturbing that 24 provinces had forced girls to wear the hijab and that those who did not were forced to leave school, and it was estimated that around 150,000 schools still enforced this rule. Was this decision left to the provinces to apply?

Suzanne Aho, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said the Committee had received information that some women were carrying out female genital mutilation on infants of three or four months old. Was there a body which had the authority to prevent this and to prosecute these midwives? It seemed not enough action was being taken to put an end to these abusive practices. Another Expert asked if there had there been any court decisions prosecuting the practice of female genital mutilation? A Committee Expert said there seemed to be little evidence that programmes for female genital mutilation were having an effect. How did the Parliament ensure laws in this regard were implemented?

Concerning the hijab, the delegation said the incident which had occurred in a public school did not reflect national policy in any way, and the Government had acted swiftly in response. Following the incident, three Ministries issued a joint ministerial decree which ensured that no student, teacher or school staff were forced to wear religious attire against their will. The policy aimed to uphold national unity, religious tolerance and freedom belief. The Government had also consistently emphasised the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

The delegation said Indonesia recognised that female genital mutilation was a critical issue affecting the health and wellbeing of Indonesian women and girls, with a regulation specifically forbidding this practice. An action plan from 2020 to 2030 facilitated cooperation between the Government, civil society and community leaders, and incorporated a robust monitoring framework to ensure effective and sustainable interventions. Since 2021, Indonesia had systematically collected data on female genital mutilation, and the latest survey indicated a decrease from around 50 per cent in 2021 to around 48 per cent. Nowadays, the coordination of efforts to prohibit female genital mutilation was becoming stronger, with many sectors supporting this cause.

Introducing the report, Muhammad Ihsan, Assistant Deputy for Policy Formulation and Coordination for Child Protection, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of Indonesia, said currently, Indonesia was implementing the national human rights action plan for 2021–2025, which identified children as one of the priority groups that required targeted protection and policy intervention. The adoption of law no. 12 of 2022 on the crime of sexual violence represented a major step forward in strengthening legal protection for children from sexual violence by holding perpetrators accountable. Since the amendment of the marriage law in 2019, which raised the minimum legal age of marriage to 19 for both men and women, Indonesia had also taken concrete preventive measures, including the enforcement of the national strategy for the prevention of child marriage.

In closing remarks, Rinchen Chopel, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, congratulated the delegation of Indonesia for the productive dialogue. The establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights would go a long way in reinforcing the current institutions in place and disseminating the Committee’s concluding observations.

In his closing remarks, Munafrizal Manan, Director-General for Human Rights Services and Compliance, Ministry of Human Rights of Indonesia, said the Ministry was a new entity in the current administration which aimed to ensure the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights. Indonesia’s participation underscored the strong commitment of the Government to the protection of children’s rights in the country.

The delegation of Indonesia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Human Rights; the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of National Development Planning; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Coordinating Ministry of Political and Security Affairs; the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction; and the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3. pm on Thursday, 15 May to begin its consideration of the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Iraq (CRC/C/IRQ/5-6).

Report

The Committee has before it the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Indonesia (CRC/C/IDN/5-6).

Presentation of Report

ACHSANUL HABIB, Ambassador, Chargé d’affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, expressed appreciation to all members of the Committee for engaging with Indonesia in the constructive dialogue on the promotion and protection of the rights of children in the country. Mr. Habib then introduced the delegation. Indonesia’s participation in the dialogue reflected the State’s commitment to upholding its obligations under the Convention.

MUHAMMAD IHSAN, Assistant Deputy For Policy Formulation and Coordination for Child Protection, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of Indonesia, said the fulfilment of the rights of the child continued to be a fundamental aspect of human capital development in Indonesia. Indonesia’s national priorities related to the rights of the child encompassed strategies such as the improvement of the quality of education, health, and nutrition; the expansion of social protection and child welfare; and the promotion of inclusive development, especially in frontier and least developed regions. These priorities were reflected in the 2025-2029 national medium-term development plan and the 2025-2045 long-term development plan.

To achieve these priorities, Indonesia had implemented key policies and programmes, including the free nutritious meals programme which provided daily balanced meals to school-aged children to combat malnutrition and stunting. Since its implementation in January 2025, the programme had reached 2.2 million school-aged children through 726 nutrition service units across 38 provinces, aimed at reaching 78.3 million school-aged children by the end of 2025. Another policy, the “Ruang Bersama Indonesia” or Indonesia shared space initiative, aimed to serve as a collaborative community platform to strengthen participation, protection, and educational spaces for women and children at the village level.

Currently, Indonesia was implementing the national human rights action plan for 2021–2025, which identified children as one of the priority groups that required targeted protection and policy intervention. The adoption of law no. 12 of 2022 on the crime of sexual violence represented a major step forward in strengthening legal protection for children from sexual violence by holding perpetrators accountable. Since the amendment of the marriage law in 2019, which raised the minimum legal age of marriage to 19 for both men and women, Indonesia had also taken concrete preventive measures, including the enforcement of the national strategy for the prevention of child marriage. This mechanism had proven effective with the decrease of the national child marriage rate from 10.35 per cent in 2020 to 6.92 per cent in 2023.

The Unit for the Crimes Related to Women and Children and Human Trafficking had been upgraded to a full-fledged Directorate under Indonesia’s National Police, further enhancing its capacity to investigate, respond, and prevent violence against children and women. The Government had established the Subnational Technical Implementation Units for the Protection of Women and Children across 38 provinces and 514 municipalities. The Units provided essential services, including temporary shelter, psychological counselling, health care, and legal support. To address gaps in protection at the local level, the Government was taking steps to advocate for sufficient budget allocations for child protection and provide capacity building and technical guidance for child protection professionals.

The Government was determined to strengthen online child protection at the national level and was adopting a comprehensive regulation that outlined medium-term measures to create a safer digital environment for children. Measures to regulate and guide the responsibilities of electronic system operators in upholding child safety standards were also being implemented. Efforts were also underway to enhance digital literacy among children and parents, equipping them with the knowledge needed to supervise and navigate online spaces safely.

Mr. Ihsan hoped the dialogue would result in valuable recommendations for Indonesia’s future endeavours to advance the rights of the child in the country, while taking into consideration religious, social and culture values.

Questions by Committee Experts

RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said Indonesia used to be the leading country for healthcare in Asia; he had visited Indonesia in his previous professional career and had emulated their healthcare programmes in his country of Bhutan. The Committee was here as a partner to work towards creating a safer Indonesia for its children.

PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said there were 80 million children living in Indonesia. There had been many advancements in recent years to support children’s laws, including the national developmental planning, and the ambitious long-term “golden Indonesia” plan. It was pleasing to see there were child-friendly cities included within this plan. As of 2023, 459 out of 514 municipalities had conducted evaluations concerning child rights clusters which should be rejoiced. Was progress being made on the remaining 55 municipalities? What was being done beyond the evaluation in terms of implementation?

The Convention seemed to be the only human rights convention not ratified by law or enacted by parliament; what could be done about this? Could it be expected that Indonesia’s reservations to the Convention would be dropped? What efforts were being made to harmonise all legislation with the provisions of the Convention? Could the Government create the momentum needed for this harmonisation? Could more information be provided on the regulation regarding coordination on child protection?

What was the percentage of gross domestic product allocated to social protection? Were budgetary allocations tied to Indonesian child profiling, elaborated by the Indonesia Statistics entity? From reports, there was proportionately more budget being allocated to urban areas, between 15 to 20 per cent more; could this concern be addressed? How was data collection shared among ministries and integrated into policy? Were there any programmes to support the dissemination of the Convention at a national level, including in schools?

Were there complaints mechanisms in place for children in alternative care, schools and detention facilities? Where could children formulate complaints? Were there civil society organizations which could assist children in this regard? Were there any plans to ratify the Optional Protocol on the communications procedure? Had the Government been proactive in setting standards within the private sector in areas which affected children’s rights, including the agricultural sector and the tourism sector?

The Committee acknowledged that steps had been taken to reduce discriminatory practices, but had also received some disturbing information. How many dispensations were granted in the various provinces when it came to child marriage? What programmes were undertaken to reduce discrimination against children with disabilities? The Committee was concerned about discrimination based on religion; could the State comment on situations of enforced mandatory hijab rules, even for non-Muslim girls, in some provinces? What was being done to provide guidance to relevant authorities on the best interests of the child?

What was being done to assist Indonesian children who may be in camps in Syria? How many were left there? How many had returned? What was being done to integrate them? What was being done to reduce disparities in mortality rates in different areas, particularly rural areas? How much were children participating in the “golden Indonesia plan?”

There had been some great strides in birth registration, but there were also difficulties in remote areas, and around 10 to 15 per cent of children did not have complete birth certificates. How was this being addressed? What programmes had been put in place to combat religious intolerance?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said high levels of violence occurred against children in Indonesia via corporal punishment and torture. Regulations had been drawn up to deal with these issues, but were they actually implemented in practice? Did the population know about them? Were people responsible for violence against children punished by law? Was there a law in Indonesia which prohibited corporal punishment against children?

Could dispensations be used to circumvent the law and enact a child marriage? Why were so many dispensations given? The Committee had received information that some women were carrying out female genital mutilation on infants of three or four months old. Was there a body which had the authority to prevent this and to prosecute these midwives? It seemed not enough action was being taken to put an end to these abusive practices. Was there a law or legal provision focused on preventing the sexual abuse of children by tourists who came to Indonesia from other countries?

Was the helpline 129 accessible to children? Who ran this number and coordinated the calls and action taken? How were they trained? What had been done in Indonesia to tackle online sexual exploitation? Were there rehabilitation programmes for children who had been the victims of sexual exploitation? Were there specialised staff to help them? How many centres were available? How did children access these services? How were sexual predators punished? Were they deported from the country?

Was there a stipulated legal procedure for officially opening an orphanage? Were there certain conditions which needed to be met before an orphanage could be opened? Were orphanages subject to regular checks and supervision? In certain cases, could children return to their families from the orphanages? There were difficult situations for children living with disabilities who were sometimes subject to forced sterilisation. What was being done to protect those children? What support was given to the families of children living with disabilities?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said 55 Indonesian municipalities did not fulfil the 24 indicators which determined child-friendly cities. There was a team in place to assess this. Indonesia had a national coordinator who dealt with the monitoring and implementation of the Convention. Dispensations were typically given to children between the ages of 17 and 18 years old to allow them to be married. The State did not envisage many dispensations provided to children younger than these ages.

Indonesia’s commitment to advancing child health and wellbeing was reflected in its State budget. Substantial funding had been allocated to improving maternal health. In 2023, 64 per cent of children were covered by some form of health insurance. The number of neonatal deaths in Indonesia had decreased over the past 30 years. The three key causes of death were infection, respiratory and cardiovascular causes, and prematurity. Programmes were in place to address these key areas. All neonatal deaths in Indonesia were reviewed.

The Government was committed to ensuring that access to mechanisms for recovery was fulfilled for child trafficking victims. The oversight mechanism assigned specific roles and responsibilities to various ministries and government institutions. The arrest of child perpetrators by the police needed to be conducted in a humane manner, taking into account the child’s specific needs. Detention of children in the criminal juvenile justice system could only be carried out as a last resort.

The Indonesia Government recognised the suffering vulnerability of children associated with the foreign terrorist fighters, who were victims of circumstances beyond their control, often exposed to violence, exploitation and trauma. The State aimed to uphold their rights and protection. Around 400 Indonesian children and women resided in two camps in Indonesia. Repatriation was considered on a case-by-case basis based on security and the children’s needs. A taskforce had been established to handle issues associated with the foreign terrorist fighters, including taking responsibility for citizens abroad associated with this group.

Since its ratification of the Convention, Indonesia had made a significant effort to incorporate it into its legal system, most notably through the 2023 law on child protection. Indonesia’s National Police had established a Directorate for crimes against women, children and human trafficking. The Child Protection Commission had been established in four provinces.

The incident which had occurred in a public school did not reflect national policy in any way, and the Government had acted swiftly in response. Following the incident, three Ministries issued a joint ministerial decree which ensured that no student, teacher or school staff were forced to wear religious attire against their will. The policy aimed to uphold national unity, religious tolerance and freedom belief. The Government had also consistently emphasised the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Indonesia had made significant legal advancement in protecting children from sexual exploitation, both offline and online. The child protection law expressly prohibited all forms of sexual exploitation against children and mandated that victims be provided with psychological and rehabilitation services. The law also criminalised grooming and other kinds of exploitation conducted online. Several policies had been adopted aimed at creating a safe tourism environment for children, including guidelines for the prevention of the exploitation of children in tourism settings.

Indonesia recognised that female genital mutilation was a critical issue affecting the health and wellbeing of Indonesian women and girls, with a regulation specifically forbidding this practice. An action plan from 2020 to 2030 facilitated cooperation between the Government, civil society and community leaders, and incorporated a robust monitoring framework to ensure effective and sustainable interventions. Since 2021, Indonesia had systematically collected data on female genital mutilation, and the latest survey indicated a decrease from around 50 per cent in 2021 to around 48 per cent.

A strategy emphasised the obligation of health workers, community leaders and families to protect women from the harmful practice, and a circular issued prohibited midwives from providing such services.

Indonesia’s regulatory framework prohibited corporal punishment against children, although there was no specific legal provision in this regard. The Minister of Education had issued a comprehensive policy in 2023 aimed at preventing and responding to violence in education settings. A taskforce had been established in 27 provinces with the aim of creating a safer educational environment. A regulation was issued regarding birth certificates for children of unknown origins and unregistered marriages.

In March 2025, the President of Indonesia launched the Government regulation on the governance of electronic system implementation in child protection to protect children in the digital space. The policy emphasised the presence of the State in creating a safe, child-friendly digital space.

Indonesia regularly held coordination meetings on the rights of the child, and reporting of the implementation of the Convention. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights took part in training programmes for law enforcement personnel on human rights. Out of the 382 courts in Indonesia, 377 courts provided child-friendly courtrooms. There were 23 child-friendly religious courts. Reporting of the implementation of the Convention was regularly provided to all stakeholders, at the national and provincial levels. The Ministry of Human Rights regularly conducted dissemination activities relating to human rights, and involved a children’s forum where they could have their voices heard.

Ensuring equitable access to health care services in all regions remained a national priority. Mobile health services and cluster island-based services, among others, were designed to overcome geographical barriers. Through the special doctor deployment programme, more than 600 paediatricians had been placed in Government-owned hospitals in underdeveloped regions. School operational assistance supported the funding of schools in the most remote regions, covering primary, secondary, speciality and vocational schools.

A process had been established for the reunification of children in alternative care. The Government extended assistance, including financial aid, to the child and their family to ensure a successful reunification.

The Government had taken significant steps to uphold the reproductive rights of persons with disabilities, particularly focusing on preventing forced sterilisation practices. The enactment of the sexual violence crime law, which explicitly prohibited forced contraception and sterilisation, requiring consent of the individual, was a landmark achievement in this regard. However, challenges remained, as reports indicated this practice was still found, particularly affecting women with psychosocial disabilities in care institutions. Efforts were being made to monitor and enforce compliance with the law, including through conducting monitoring of facilities and developing mechanisms to address violence.

Special protection was provided to children belonging to minority groups, enabling them to practice their own culture and religion and use their own language. If children from these groups experienced trauma and violence, the State was obligated to provide social rehabilitation.

Questions by Committee Experts

THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, welcomed the enactment of the disability law in 2016. However, there was concern that its implementation was not translated into the national agenda. Were there any plans by the Government to rigorously implement and monitor regulations regarding the enactment of this law? There were reports that three per cent of children in Indonesia lived with a disability; had recent data been collected on disability? How was the Government planning to tackle the data issue for disability?

Reports indicated that at least 57,000 people in Indonesia had been shackled at least once in their lifetime. Was this accurate? Was the Government planning to fully ban this practice? What was being done to educate the country on the negative impacts of shackling on all persons, including children? What was the Government doing to improve the access of children with disabilities in the education system? What nutritional programmes were in place to address the issues of stunting and wasting of children with disabilities? What programmes were in place to support families with children with disabilities and encourage them not to send them to institutions but to keep them at home?

The steps taken by Indonesia to improve education were appreciated, but there was still more work to be done. What was being done to ensure that all children could complete their education? How was the Government increasing school enrolment and preventing dropout? Was there research which addressed the reasons that children and adolescents were out of school? What were the main obstacles which prevented the Government implementing the policy of free primary education?

It was disturbing that 24 provinces had forced girls to wear the hijab and that those who did not were forced to leave school, and it was estimated that around 150,000 schools still enforced this rule. Was this decision left to the provinces to apply? Was the decree by the three Ministries binding to all schools? What strategies were in place to ensure school retention and reintegration, particularly for victims of child marriages? How was the Government strengthening the quality of education, including by reforming its school curriculum? Was human rights education included in the mandatory school curriculum and in teacher training?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said poverty in the country was a major concern. Were there any measures envisaged to bring down the level of poverty? How many years was the programme providing food supposed to run?

RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said there had been significant investment in Indonesia’s health sector since the 1990’s. However, in recent times Indonesia had been consistently underinvesting in its health sector. What was the ground reality like? What was being done to address regional disparities, including by improving health infrastructure and increasing the number of qualified health professionals? How were infant and young child feeding practices being promoted?

The high rate of early pregnancy was concerning, as was the criminalisation of abortion, except in cases of rape or danger to the mother. What measures were being adopted to provide free contraception and decriminalise abortion? Indonesia had capital punishment for trafficking of illegal drugs, but their use was on the rise by adolescents. What was being done to address this issue? HIV/AIDS represented a pressing issue in Indonesia; given Indonesia’s comprehensive approach to care, what was not working in this regard?

Indonesia was experiencing a high rate of suicide, but had limited access to services. What steps were being taken to tackle this issue? What could be done to further protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children? Indonesia was one of the top 50 countries in the world where children were at risk of climate risk degradation, with 20 million exposed to coastal flooding and 15 million exposed to heatwaves. What was the current status of the national climate change policy and disaster contingency plans? Were they informed by child rights impact assessments?

It was encouraging that the State party hosted a large number of refugees, particularly Rohingya women and children. What was the mandate and capacity of the national taskforce on refugee response? What was the Government’s position on the 1951 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol? What were the ground realities of children belonging to indigenous communities?

The Committee was concerned about the significant numbers of children engaged in child labour. What measures were being taken to effectively implement the existing laws, including those which prohibited the economic exploitation of children, including by establishing labour inspectorates? The adoption of the Presidential Regulation in 2023 on the national action plan for human trafficking was welcomed. How was it ensured that noncustodial sentences were taken for children whenever possible?

PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, asked why Indonesia did not make a pledge at the ministerial conference in Bogota?

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked if training was provided to police and security services on the use of violence? Child marriages still seemed to be taking place on the island of Sumba; had the State been able to address the forced marriage situation there? Was there a way to speed up the birth registration process?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said medical and social rehabilitation were vital for child victims of violence. The implementation of the reintegration of children who had experienced violence included several stages, including preparing children to return to their families and to interact within their social environment.

Indonesia had taken significant strides to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into its national planning. A dedicated programme for persons with disabilities outlined two key approaches on ensuring access to basic services and protection from violence, and ensuring an inclusive approach to development. The fragmentation of data on disability was compounded by the lack of a standard definition of disability across sectors. Indonesia’s unique geographical characteristics, particularly the remote areas, posed challenges for data collection and resulted in gaps in data coverage. Capacity building activities were underway to equip staff with the necessary tools and skills to better gather and analyse disability data.

The health law prevented any forms of violence or shackling against persons with disabilities. Such acts should be punished in accordance with law. In 2024, 1,794 cases of shackling had been reported with 23 of those being children. Awareness raising had become the main priority to combat shackling in Indonesia, as these practices were mainly conducted due to a lack of education and understanding of those with psychosocial disabilities.

Indonesia had introduced programmes to lower the prevalence of child wasting and stunting. As a result of these initiatives, stunting and wasting rates had fallen between the period of 2018 and 2023. A programme was in place to provide daily nutritious meals to school-age children to combat child malnutrition which remained prevalent in several regions. By 2029, the Government aimed to expand the programme to serve an estimated 83 million children daily, making it one of the most ambitious social schemes globally.

Since the rollout of the programme, student feedback had been an important element for the Government. The initial phase had attracted criticism from youth regarding taste, portion and variety, and the Government recognised this was not a trivial concern. Every meal served was carefully formulated by certified nutritionists and the Government was working to improve the points raised.

The sudden scale of the programme rollout had resulted in breaches in food safety protocols, including hygiene standards. The Government responded swiftly by deploying health inspectors to conduct evaluations and temporarily halted meal distribution pending safety clearance. Medical care and financial compensation were provided to victims and their families. Following this incident, standards had been introduced on food hygiene and the emergency protocol, a revised manual was issued for meal production, and a centralised digital platform was under development to support the programme and monitor incidents.

Indonesia was making strides in promoting breast feeding as a key strategy in reducing stunting and improving child nutrition. There were more than 4,000 breast feeding trainers across 38 provinces, with plans to increase this number. The draft ministerial regulation on exclusive breast feeding was currently being developed. These efforts were part of Indonesia’s commitment to ensuring every child’s right to nutrition.

In 1999, the Government ratified International Labour Organization Convention 138 concerning the minimum age of employment; the Government had set the minimum age of employment to 15 years, with an exception for 13-year-olds who were undertaking light work. Sanctions were in place for those who violated provisions for child labour, including prison for two years or heavy fines.

The 2025 to 2029 national development plan included a key indicator for preventing child labour, with the objective to reduce the child labour rate to 1.65 per cent by 2029. The Government was committed to protecting domestic workers, including through two laws enacted in 2017 and 2015 respectively, which prohibited the employment of domestic workers under the age of 18. The bill on the protection of domestic workers was included in the national legislation as a priority.

The national action plan on gender and climate change encouraged children’s participation and education on climate change related matters. The climate action campaign, which mobilised actions on air pollution and the water crisis, had engaged around 2,500 children. The resilient education framework aimed to make schools safer and better prepared during natural disasters. Guidelines had been published to ensure that children’s needs were prioritised in disaster preparedness efforts. The Government had expanded access to programmes aimed at strengthening teachers’ skills, subject matter expertise, and cultural sensitivity.

Indonesia had undertaken several initiatives in the spirit of international solidarity and commitment, including the regulation adopted in 2016 concerning the handling of refugees abroad. This regulation served as an operational guideline to ensure the protection and fulfilment of basic needs for refugees. As of December 2024, there were more than 3,000 refugee and asylum-seeking children residing in Indonesia, with 186 of them registered as unaccompanied. The State was committed to ensuring that refugee children had access to school age education. As of September 2023, 808 refugee children were registered in accredited public schools and more than 1,300 were involved in skilled training. The State had consistently provided humanitarian assistance to refugees and would continue to do so, and regularly participated in regional dialogues on the issue of shared responsibility.

Contraceptive drugs and methods could only be delivered by health workers and other trained personnel. The Government continued to strengthen the supply and distribution of contraception devices. Infrastructure was being improved to provide unhindered access for those in remote areas. Pregnant students’ right to education was fulfilled through the provision of alternative education offerings. To address the reproductive health needs of women and girls, the Government had established a clear legal and regulatory framework allowing abortion under strict circumstances. Abortion was allowed up to 14 weeks in cases where the mother’s life was at risk or in cases of rape.

Indonesia recognised that the early detection of HIV was critical in eliminating mother to child transmission. HIV services were being integrated into the broader maternal and child health framework through enhancing the capacities of healthcare workers to conduct early screening of HIV during the pregnancy and ensuring appropriate treatment. Between 2021 to 2024, the percentage of pregnant women tested for HIV rose from 51 per cent to 71 per cent. The positive rate among those tested was 0.2 per cent. The State ensured that all mothers living with HIV received the care they need to live healthy lives and raise healthy children.

The Government had initiated the funding of schools in remote areas. From 2021 to 2025, the total number of students enrolled in educational institutions rose from 39.4 million to 52.5 million, reflecting an increase of around 33 per cent. This significant growth reflected improved retention rates and a strong transition of children into a higher level of learning.

Questions by Committee Experts

RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked if Indonesia had already increased the age of criminal responsibility to 14? Regarding abortion, while rape and threat to the mother’s life was covered, the issues of incest and foetal impairment were not mentioned; could more information be provided? Indonesia had the highest rate of early pregnancy in south-east Asia, which was concerning, possibly due to barriers to contraception for children. This issue needed to be addressed. Was Indonesia aware of the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s general comment 36 on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change? The Government was urged to study this general comment and roll it out.

THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said she had read a study which stated that poor families sent their children, especially girls, to Madrasas which taught only Islamic studies; what would be the fate and future of these girls? This perpetuated the poverty cycle.

SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said there were children who had been detained with adults and became victims of violence in prison settings. Would the State aim to tackle the issue of female genital mutilation head-on? What was the State doing to combat child prostitution?

PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, asked if the mandate of the Child Protection Commission only covered the promotion of children’s rights, or if children were able to make complaints? What was the difference between the child protection index and the Indonesian child’s profile? Were there efforts to make the helplines more accessible to children in remote areas? The National Commission on Violence against Women reported that 73 regulations of enforced hijab were still active in August 2023; what had happened since then?

A Committee Expert said Indonesia had a national action plan on human rights from 2021 to 2025; had there been any mid-term assessment or evaluation of this plan? Could the Convention and its protocols be invoked in national courts? Had there been any court decisions prosecuting the practice of female genital mutilation?

Another Expert asked if juvenile courts existed in Indonesia? What type of alternative care was offered to children who needed to be separated from their families? How were children of incarcerated parents supported?

A Committee Expert said there seemed to be little evidence that programmes for female genital mutilation were having an effect. How did the Parliament ensure that laws in this regard were implemented? Had there been programmes on positive masculinity in schools? Was HIV/AIDS screening mandatory before marriage?

Another Expert asked from what age could exceptions be provided for child marriage? How many girls had received these exceptions? Did the girls have an opportunity to oppose the decision? The children in the Syrian camps were suffering on a daily basis and needed to be repatriated urgently. When would they be repatriated and what programmes would be put in place to reintegrate them?

A Committee Expert asked what plans and strategies the Government had implemented to ensure strict regulations, better teachers’ training, and robust reporting mechanisms to protect children from violence and abuse in education settings?

Another Committee Expert asked if different cases were handled by different judges depending on the age of the child? Were there alternative penalties other than incarceration provided?

An Expert asked if the Government policy on protecting victims of crime, particularly sexual exploitation, had improved? Was there anything being done to specifically assist and rehabilitate victims of sexual violence?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Indonesia already had an effective complaints mechanism regarding the Convention. Access to justice was enhanced by a complaints channel established through the dedicated human rights communications surface. Since 2020, it had received around 2,800 submissions of complaints. The National Commission for the Protection of Children had a system which allowed anyone to submit their complaints through WhatsApp. Indonesia had proactively contributed to the Bogota ministerial conference by providing feedback on the document and participating in the conference. However, it was regretful that the document was not the result of a participatory project between all Member States of the United Nations, which was why Indonesia did not make a pledge during the conference.

There were 30 medical indications of abortion, and foetal impairment was one of the indications. Incest was included as an indication if it was determined that the girl had been unfit to provide consent, in which case it was considered as sexual violence. Indonesia had heard that one of the big community organizations had announced providing circumcision for boys and girls at an event; in response the Government had pushed the organization to cancel circumcision for girls with support from many sectors. Nowadays, the coordination of efforts to prohibit female genital mutilation was becoming stronger, with many sectors supporting this cause.

The national human rights action plan was one of the national policies of the Indonesian Government in realising the fulfilment, respect and enforcement of human rights. It was designed to respond to the society’s evolving human rights conditions. The current plan had targets in four groups consisting of women, children, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups, with measures outlined for each group to ensure equality was achieved.

There were challenges regarding the foreign terrorist fighters, as many identification documents had been burned. At the Indonesian border, there was an evaluation of individuals and the security situaiton on the ground. The Indonesian Government needed to ensure security for the children and those facilitating their repatriation. All Ministries were involved in the reintegration, rehabilitation and de-radicalisation of returnees. A programme was in place to help children recover from trauma, facilitate their reintegration in Indonesian society, and combat religious ideologies. All repatriations needed to be carried out with the best interests of the child in mind, including keeping in mind if it was in their best interests to be separated from adults.

Indonesia did not tolerate underage marriage; while cultural traditions were respected, they needed to respect human rights principles. Child marriage was prevalent in Sumba, and the Government was working intensively with the community and community leaders to tackle this issue, including by conducting awareness raising campaigns.

The annual budget for legal aid had been elevated in 2025. Madrassas were part of the religious-based schools and were equal to public schools. Their curriculum followed the national system of education. Two ministries, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, were responsible for education, and directed the schools under their authorities to establish taskforces to deal with the issue of violence at school.

The child protection law affirmed the right of all children to be raised by their parents, with separation only enacted as a last resort. The correctional nutrition house programme had been introduced to prevent stunting at an early life stage and empowered incarcerated women with knowledge in nutrition.

The National Narcotics Board had been conducting activities on drug usage, targeting students. The prevention programme for juveniles in youth correctional centres included anti-drug awareness, with at least one session per year conducted on a regular basis.

The Government had enacted the juvenile justice system law to ensure judicial processes were carried out in the best interests of the child. To ensure protection, incarcerated children were placed in separate settings from adults. Child cases were managed separately to avoid delays and children’s overexposure to court environments.

In 2015, eight Ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to create better synergy in accelerating the legislation for birth certificates, both for children in Indonesia and abroad. A circular had been issued to all health facilities mandating medical workers to provide information on birth registration and certificates at the time of birth. Outreach visits were conducted to the families of newborns to ensure their birth registration was processed. These measures ensured every newborn automatically received a birth certificate and national identity card.

Closing Remarks

RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, congratulated the delegation of Indonesia for the productive dialogue. The establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights would go a long way in reinforcing the current institutions in place and disseminating the Committee’s concluding observations. The Committee would continue to urge the Government to reconsider its decision not to ratify the Optional Protocol on individual communications. It was also concerning that Indonesia had not reported on the other two Optional Protocols since 2014; the Government was urged to do so urgently. Mr. Chopel wished the delegation a safe journey home and relayed the Committee’s good wishes to the children of Indonesia.

MUNAFRIZAL MANAN, Director-General for Human Rights Services and Compliance, Ministry of Human Rights of Indonesia, said the Ministry of Human Rights was a new entity in the current administration which aimed to ensure the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights. Mr. Manan extended sincere gratitude to the Committee for the collaborative and open dialogue. Indonesia’s participation underscored the strong commitment of the Government to the protection of children’s rights in the country. The delegation had taken note of the Committee’s comments and advice and would ensure they were translated into concrete actions. The State was committed to ensuring that children could enjoy their rights and reach their full potential.

ACHSANUL HABIB, Ambassador, Chargé d’affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, conveyed appreciation to the Committee for the instructive engagement. The delegation would submit any extra responses within 48 hours, and looked forward to receiving balanced concluding observations and recommendations. Mr. Habib thanked all those who had made the dialogue possible.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CRC25.011E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Another Nanjing Massacre Survivor Dies in China, Leaving Only 26 Survivors of the Tragedy

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, May 15 (Xinhua) — Nanjing Massacre survivor Xie Guiying, born in September 1924, passed away on Thursday at the age of 100, bringing the total number of registered survivors of the tragedy to 26, according to the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum in east China’s Jiangsu Province.

The Nanjing Massacre occurred after the Japanese occupation forces captured the city of Nanjing, then the capital of China, on December 13, 1937. Over a period of six weeks, the invaders killed about 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers. The tragedy is considered one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.

In 1937, before Japanese troops entered Nanjing, where Xie Guiying’s family lived, her mother took her and her siblings and fled the city, leaving her father to guard their home. After Japanese troops entered Nanjing, they killed Xie Guiying’s father.

After these events, the girl’s mother was left to take care of the children alone. Xie Guiying almost died three times. There is a clearly visible scar on her forehead from hitting her head on a rock, which appeared when Japanese soldiers dragged her along the ground.

During her lifetime, Xie Guiying often attended events held at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum, hoping that the public would always remember this historical disaster.

“Our country is now becoming stronger and our life is better, and we owe this to the Chinese Communist Party,” she said.

Six Nanjing Massacre survivors, including Xie Guiying, have died since the beginning of this year, and the number of people who can share personal memories of the Nanjing Massacre is dwindling.

In 2014, the National People’s Congress of China declared December 13 as National Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

The testimonies of Nanjing Massacre survivors, preserved by the Chinese government, are recorded in both written and video form. In 2015, these documents were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: India and Pakistan have agreed a precarious peace – but will it last?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Waterman, Lecturer in Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

India and Pakistan stepped back from the brink of catastrophe on May 10 after a US-brokered ceasefire brought rapidly escalating hostilities between the two countries to an end. But tensions are still running high.

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on May 12 that India has only “paused” its military action against Pakistan and would “retaliate on its own terms” to any attacks.

The latest episode in the long-running conflict between these nuclear powers was triggered on April 22. Militants from a group known as the Resistance Front, which India says is a proxy for the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group, killed 26 tourists in the picturesque resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. India alleges Pakistan’s involvement, which it denies.

The fact that India and Pakistan were able to agree to a ceasefire as escalations spiralled is reason for optimism. It shows that internal calculations and international pressure can pull the two parties back from the brink. However, the ceasefire represents an incredibly precarious peace. Can it be sustained?

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

Recent experience shows that sustained ceasefires are possible between the two states. In February 2021, India and Pakistan’s militaries signed a ceasefire to end four months of cross-border skirmishes. The agreement was a reaffirmation of an original ceasefire understanding from 2003.

Only two violations were recorded across the line of control separating Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir for the rest of the year, dropping to one in 2022. This compared to 4,645 such incidents in 2020.

The reduction led to optimism that armed rebellion in Kashmir, which both India and Pakistan claim in full, was in persistent decline. In March 2025, just one month before the deadly Pahalgam attack, security sources in India estimated that there were only 77 active militants operating on the Indian side of the border.

The drop in violence was a result of combined international and domestic pressure on Pakistan. The Financial Action Task Force, an organisation that monitors countries’ efforts to tackle terrorist financing and recommends financial sanctions against non-compliant states, added Pakistan to its “grey list” in 2018.

This listing forced Pakistan to introduce a string of policy measures to curb terrorism financing. Pakistan was removed from the list in 2022 due to significant improvements in its counter-terrorism framework.

But, as the Kashmir conundrum is at the heart of Pakistani national identity, it has often been employed as a political strategy to shore up domestic support. And in recent years, as Pakistan’s powerful army has grappled with overlapping economic and political crises, this strategy has been rolled out again.

The popularity of Pakistan’s army, for example, diminished significantly following the arrest of Pakistan’s leader, Imran Khan, in 2023. This has prompted army chief Asim Munir to use tensions with India to deflect attention.

Munir has called Kashmir “our jugular vein”, and has promised not to “leave our Kashmiri brothers in their historical struggle”. These comments followed an increase in the number and frequency of insurgent attempts to cross the border into India after India’s May 2024 general elections were held peacefully in Kashmir, a rare occurrence since the separatist insurgency began in 1987.

These cross-border operations are allegedly carried out by Pakistan’s so-called Border Action Teams, comprised of Pakistani special forces and militants from insurgent groups. Pakistan has never acknowledged the existence of such teams.

By April 1, tit-for-tat firing across the line of control had also already surpassed the total number of incidents in 2023 and 2024 combined.

Fragile peace

The latest ceasefire was agreed in the context of hostilities escalating beyond previous levels. Military strikes were launched outside Kashmir itself at military bases deep in Pakistani territory and in north-western India.

Certain actions by Islamabad were also widely interpreted as attempts to signal the country’s nuclear capabilities. These included the decision to convene the National Command Authority, the body responsible for control and use of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

The move may not have been a genuine alert. But the possible willingness to resort to nuclear threats is particularly concerning as, unlike India, Pakistan does not have a “no-first use” nuclear weapons policy.

India, as an aspiring political and economic power, has clear interests in preserving the ceasefire. New Delhi wants to project itself as rational and responsible, worthy of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

At the same time, some of the decisions taken by India after the Pahalgam attack may compel further support for the insurgency in Kashmir. This brings with it the risk of further escalation between India and Pakistan in the future.

India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, which governs the use of water from the Indus River. Pakistan lies downstream from India and is heavily dependent on the river for irrigation and public consumption.

Read more:
India-Pakistan conflict over water reflects a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change

Intervention from global powers such as the US may again be able to prevent future hostility from spiralling out of control. However, substantive talks are unlikely.

The US, which is in advanced negotiations with New Delhi over reducing tariffs on Indian imports, has offered to act as a mediator. This has been welcomed by Pakistan. But India maintains that, on the question of Kashmir, it would prefer bilateral talks rather than involving a third party.

While the Trump administration initially signalled a hands-off approach to relations between India and Pakistan, deeming it “none of our business”, it is now clear how rapidly matters can escalate between them.

The US and other interested parties like China will probably continue in their efforts to regulate and manage the conflict, openly or covertly, even if deeper resolution appears unlikely.

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

– ref. India and Pakistan have agreed a precarious peace – but will it last? – https://theconversation.com/india-and-pakistan-have-agreed-a-precarious-peace-but-will-it-last-256618

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: ICC on Prosecutor’s report on Libya – Media Stakeout | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Informal comments to the media by ICC Caucus on behalf of the members of the Security Council that are state parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sierra Leone, on the 29th report of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to the Security Council on the situation in Libya.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEjPM2UVjOU

MIL OSI Video –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Peacekeeping: Can mean difference between life and death – UN Chief | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

“Blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged renewed global commitment to peacekeeping during the opening of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, warning that operations are facing unprecedented financial and political pressure.

“My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment,” Guterres said. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one United’s human family. That is what our peace operations are about.”

Highlighting the symbolic and operational importance of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the Secretary-General stated, “The UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.”

Guterres pointed to several countries that transitioned from war to stability with the help of UN missions. “There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN peacekeeping, including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops,” he said.

However, he also emphasized the human cost of these missions. “Through the decades, 4400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said, inviting participants to join him in a moment of silence.

As part of a broader reform process initiated by Member States, Guterres referenced the “Pact for the Future,” which calls for a comprehensive review of peace operations. “The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep,” he said.

He acknowledged the difficulties of operating in increasingly polarized geopolitical contexts. “We see increasing differences of views around our peacekeeping operations work, and then what circumstances with what mandates they should be deploys. And for how long,” he noted.

Guterres also addressed the challenge of shrinking financial resources. “Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical,” he stated. “It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have and use them well.”

Concluding his address, the Secretary-General called for continued Member State engagement. “Supported at every step by Member States, we look forward to your government’s support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tknyfzgCtqg

MIL OSI Video –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak 2025 | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Commemoration of International Day of Vesak 2025, co-hosted by Permanent Mission of Thailand and Sri Lanka.

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The General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwEVLLGDOZM

MIL OSI Video –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Elevate Tribal Leadership in Land Management
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

May 15, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, top Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee introduced the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act, a landmark bill that ensures Tribal Nations are full and equal partners in the management of federal lands. The legislation would direct the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate Tribal co-management into decision-making processes—affirming Tribal sovereignty and fulfilling the U.S. federal government’s longstanding trust and treaty obligations.

“As wildfires grow more devastating and climate change accelerates, we simply cannot afford to ignore the expertise of those who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “For too long, the federal government has left Tribal Nations out of decision-making processes when it comes to managing public lands, but these lands often hold deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance for Tribal communities. This bill changes that by creating a clear framework for real, equal partnership—where Tribes help shape decisions, lead restoration efforts, and bring their knowledge to the table in a way that is respected, protected, and empowered. This bill would help build a foundation for shared stewardship that respects Tribal sovereignty, improves forest health, and strengthens our communities against climate-driven disasters. It’s long overdue.”

“Federal recognition and respect for the deeply rooted relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land is overdue,” said Vice Ranking Member Sarah Elfreth. “As the original stewards of this land for centuries, their wisdom and lived experiences in preserving ecosystems, waterways, and natural resources like our forests offer generational knowledge we cannot afford to overlook. The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act takes an important step in ensuring Indigenous communities have their rightful seat at the table.”

“Tribal Nations have been stewards of our forests and lands since time immemorial, guided by deep cultural knowledge and respect for the natural world,” said Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. “When we recognize Tribes authority to lead and co-manage our public lands, we not only honor their sovereignty—we also protect our forests, our water, and our future. The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act recognizes that Tribal leadership is not just a matter of justice, it is essential for a healthy planet and resilient communities.”

“I’m proud to join Ranking Member Huffman in introducing this bill to elevate Tribal voices in land management decisions. In Colorado, where many Tribes, including the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute, have deep ties to the land, this landmark bill will improve Tribal co-management of our public lands.” said Representative Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. “I’m excited to join my colleagues in an effort to recognize Tribal Nations as equal partners in land stewardship, and uplift their longstanding ecological knowledge.”

“Tribal Nations have managed these lands for thousands of years—they know what they’re doing,” said Representative Val Hoyle, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. “If we’re serious about preserving our federal lands and preventing wildfires, we need to work with the people who’ve been protecting these forests long before the federal government existed. This bill gives Tribes the seat at the table they deserve and brings their deep knowledge into decisions that make our communities safer and our forests stronger.”

“Tribal Nations were stewards of their own lands for centuries before the U.S. government stepped in–they deserve an equal role in managing them now. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that affirms Tribal sovereignty and strengthens Indigenous partnerships in the management of federal lands. Our state is home to 22 federally recognized tribes; this bill ensures Tribal voices are central in shaping the future of our forests and public lands, especially as we work together to address the climate crisis,” said Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Ranking Member of the Energy and Minerals Subcommittee.

BACKGROUND

Tribal Nations have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, using traditional ecological knowledge to reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems, and protect sacred cultural resources. Yet despite this expertise, many Tribes continue to face bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of statutory authority that limit their participation in land management decisions.

This bill seeks to change that.

The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act:
- Requires the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop Tribal Co-Management Plans in coordination with the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee.
- Mandates culturally appropriate training for Department of the Interior employees engaged in Tribal Co-Management work.
- Extends statutory authority to the U.S. Forest Service to enter into co-management agreements with Tribes for activities including forest planning, ecological restoration, recreation, and research.
- Ensures regular review of Tribal Co-Management Plans and allows Tribes to request reviews following natural disasters.
- Directs agencies to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into planning, with safeguards to protect data sovereignty and cultural integrity.
- Reduces administrative burdens on Tribes by streamlining reporting and compliance processes.
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

“We are excited to endorse Rep. Huffman’s tribal self-determination and co-management in forestry bill. Karuk people have been managing our homelands since time immemorial and partnering with the US Forest Service for decades. We appreciate that this bill recognizes the importance of sovereign-to-sovereign co-management frameworks that enable us to do the important work of proactively managing our forests and making our landscapes more resilient to wildfire in a manner consistent with our indigenous knowledge practice and belief systems. We look forward to progressing these efforts in a bipartisan manner to enable more proactive management across multi-jurisdictional landscapes” Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery

“The Stewardship Project supports the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act as a vital step toward reorienting federal land management around active stewardship and Indigenous leadership. This bill directly reflects recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission by ensuring Tribes are not just consulted, but empowered as equal partners in forest management.” The Stewardship Project Co-Chairs Scott Stephens, Don Hankins, and Sara Clark

“This legislation builds upon the shared stewardship authorities authorized by past Congresses to create a permanent co-management role in improving the health and resilience of federal lands. It would give tribes the ability to expand the successful models and practices used in Indian Country for the benefit of all federal land within their traditional territories. We fully support Congressman Huffman’s legislation and urge its passage by Congress.” Cody Desautel, President, InterTribal Timber Council

“Sustainable Northwest supports the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act and Representative Huffman’s recognition of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. Legislation designed to protect and manage federal lands must respect, uphold, and implement the legally binding obligations the federal government has to Tribal nations. This legislation paves the way for a new approach to manage and enhance federal lands, add workforce capacity, and uphold Tribal and treaty rights in land management by formally including Tribal Nations in planning and decision-making.” Dylan Kruse, President, Sustainable Northwest

“The Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition is strongly in support of the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act which advances opportunities for Tribal co-management and co-stewardship of federal public lands. This bill is an important step in bolstering Tribal sovereignty, honoring protected Tribal rights, and bringing Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge into federal forest and grassland management. We thank Congressman Huffman for his leadership on this issue critical to the stewardship and resilience of rural communities and landscapes of the West.” Laurel Harkness, Coalition Director, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition

“The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission recognized co-management of federal lands with Tribes as a critical tool to achieve wildfire risk reduction. This bill expands the ability of the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to partner with Tribes to plan and accomplish much-needed restoration and risk reduction work and is an important step forward in expansion of federal co-management authority.” Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Director, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience

“Tribal Co-Management Plans are an important vehicle for fulfilling our nation’s treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations and improving the overall stewardship of fire-dependent public lands. The Climate and Wildfire Institute supports The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act as a vital pathway for addressing the wildfire crisis by upholding and advancing Tribal rights and access consistent with recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report.” Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director at the Climate and Wildfire Institute

“Our forests are unhealthy, and Tribal communities are held back from applying time-tested and locally driven practices in our own homelands. This bill on co-management is a fundamental step forward to restore forests and our communities who have managed them for thousands of years.” Ryan Reed, (Karuk, Hupa, Yurok), Director of FireGeneration Collaborative (FireGen)

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MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Putin dodges peace talks in Istanbul as Russia pushes for territorial concessions from Ukraine

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Phelps, Commissioning Editor, International Affairs

This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

Demands by British, French, German and Polish leaders in Kyiv last weekend that Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face possible “massive” sanctions went down in Moscow about as well as you’d expect. In an address from the Kremlin, Russian president Vladimir Putin lambasted European powers for talking to Russia “in a boorish manner and with the help of ultimatums”.

He did, however, offer a counter-proposal: an invitation for Ukraine to take part in direct talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Putin called the talks “the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace”. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accepted the invitation and announced he would attend the talks in person. He challenged Putin to do the same.

But on the eve of the talks it was announced that, no, Putin wouldn’t attend and a junior delegation would be sent in his place. Zelensky, who is in Turkey anyway for talks with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has called the Russian envoy “phony” and accused Moscow of sending “stand-in props”.

Putin’s no-show, alongside Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire as a precursor to negotiations, probably says all you need to know about whether Moscow truly intends to bring the war to an end. But, regardless, the talks are the first to take place directly between the two warring parties since the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

The Russian delegation in Istanbul is being led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide who led the previous round of direct peace talks with Ukraine. This is evidence, as Stefan Wolff and Tetyana Malyarenko also point out, that Russia wants the talks to be based on the same framework as in 2022 – namely, forcing Ukraine to accept significant restrictions on its military and sovereignty.

Wolff and Malyarenko, who are two regular contributors to our coverage of the war in Ukraine, explain that Russia’s territorial demands have become more contentious since the start of the war. Russia’s current position is that it sees international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as part of Russia as “imperative”.

This is a non-starter for Ukraine. But Wolff and Malyarenko suggest there could be some flexibility on accepting that some parts of Ukrainian territory are under temporary Russian control in exchange for peace.

The problem, they write, is that much of the territory Russia currently occupies, including Crimea and land on the shores of the Azov Sea, is of key strategic value for Russia. Donetsk and Luhansk, meanwhile, have substantial economic value because of the resources located there.

In any case, there is no guarantee that territorial concessions from Kyiv now would put a permanent end to the war, write Wolff and Malyarenko. This is because it “does not address the fundamental issue of how to deal with a vengeful and revisionist autocracy on Europe’s doorstep”.

Read more:
Territorial concessions will be central to any Ukraine peace deal, and to Russia’s long-term plan

Lasting peace between India and Pakistan, two countries that regularly clash over control of the disputed Kashmir region, is proving equally tricky to find. Several rounds of military strikes, prompted by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April that killed at least 31 people, have recently brought the nuclear powers closer to war than they have been in decades.

The Trump administration initially expressed reluctance to get involved, saying it was “none of our business”. But as hostilities rapidly escalated, raising the prospect of nuclear war, US officials stepped in and talked down the two countries. A ceasefire was agreed that, for almost a week now, seems to have held.

Alex Waterman and Sudhir Selvaraj, experts on peace studies at the University of Bradford, say the ceasefire represents an “incredibly precarious peace”.

That ceasefires have been agreed – and respected – by the two parties before is cause for optimism, they write. But cross-border tensions have increased in recent years. Waterman and Selvaraj argue this has been part of a strategy used by Pakistan’s powerful army to deflect attention away from political and economic crises at home.

Tensions remain high and may, at some point, spill over again. Some of the decisions taken by India after the recent terror attack, for instance, such as the suspension of a treaty governing water sharing of rivers in the Indus basin, could compel further support for militant groups in Kashmir. Despite a US offer to mediate talks between the two countries, deeper resolution looks a way off.

Read more:
India and Pakistan have agreed a precarious peace – but will it last?

Donald Trump, meanwhile, is wrapping up his four-day tour of the Middle East. His visit has seen him sit down with the Saudi crown prince and the Qatari emir (as well as Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa) to discuss bolstering economic and security ties.

In that sense, the trip has been a resounding success. Trump signed a US$142 billion (£107 billion) arms deal with Saudi Arabia and agreements with Qatar that, according to the White House, will “generate an economic exchange worth at least US$1.2 trillion”.

Adam Hanieh, a professor of political economy at the University of Exeter, explains that arrangements like these are part of a long history in which the Gulf monarchies have supported the architecture of US global power.

In this piece, Hanieh explores how the vast amounts of income generated by the Gulf’s nationalised petroleum industries in the 20th century was invested into US financial markets. Gulf states, he writes, were essential contributors to the growth of the US as a global financial power.

The US promised military protection in return, resulting in a web of American military bases across the region. As Trump’s lavish welcome in the Middle East shows, the relationship between the US and Gulf monarchies looks robust.

But much has changed in the past two decades, says Hanieh, referring to China’s rise as a global manufacturing hub. The Gulf is a critical energy lifeline for Beijing, while China’s demand for oil, gas and petrochemicals will be a vital part of the Gulf’s economic future.

Read more:
Not every US president gets a free private jet, but the Gulf states have boosted US economic dominance for decades

Trump is no stranger to competition with China, as his first five months in office have shown. Tit-for-tat tariffs that the US and China imposed on each other quickly snowballed into heavy duties, as high as 145% on Chinese goods looking to enter the US.

However, after weeks of signalling that tariff levels could reduce, US and Chinese officials announced this week that US tariffs on Chinese goods would drop to 30% for a period of 90 days, while Chinese tariffs on US products would drop back to 10%. Trade negotiations between the two countries will continue.

We asked Chee Meng Tan, an assistant professor of business economics at the University of Nottingham, what the deal means for China. He says the tariff reduction has provided China with much-needed relief as it attempts to repair its ailing economy.

But China will ultimately hope to bring US tariffs down to around 10%, in line with the rest of the world. And, as Tan explains, there is more China can do to persuade the Trump administration to cut tariffs further. Ensuring the flow of critical minerals to the US and assuring its support for US agriculture, an important political support base for Trump, will be key.

China needs to engage with the US and lower US tariffs as much as possible. But it will want to look at other options, writes Tan, rather than relying on an unpredictable Trump. The next 90 days are a big deal for Beijing.

Read more:
China-US trade war: the next 90 days are a big deal for Beijing as it seeks long-term solutions

Jonathan Este is on holiday.

World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

– ref. Putin dodges peace talks in Istanbul as Russia pushes for territorial concessions from Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/putin-dodges-peace-talks-in-istanbul-as-russia-pushes-for-territorial-concessions-from-ukraine-256504

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects one drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs today (May 15) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million.

The case involved a 18-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the suspected cannabis buds, concealed inside 25 plastic bags and weighing about 12kg, in her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 23:51

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

A 49-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (May 15) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers and police officers of the Airport Police District mounted a joint anti-illicit cigarette operation on January 17 at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and intercepted an inbound private car which was declared to be empty. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 30 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the hollow spaces of the doors, under the seats, in the centre console and the rear compartment. The driver was subsequently arrested and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $150,000 and the duty potential was about $99,000.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:35

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: South Bend Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SOUTH BEND – Michael Bellina, 22 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to transportation of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

Bellina was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, between August 2023 and March 2024, Bellina transported more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material that he received through the internet. He uploaded the images and distributed them on multiple internet platforms.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Mishawaka Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, the Indiana University Police Department, the Raleigh (North Carolina) Police Department, the Boone (North Carolina) Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Business Burglary Conspiracy

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in a scheme in which the conspirators stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from beauty and liquor stores across six states.

Gary Bailey, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.

By pleading guilty, Bailey admitted that between March 2023 and January 2024, he participated in burglarizing at least 23 stores across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Bailey and his co-conspirators brought the stolen product back to Kansas City, before either selling it, giving it away to family or friends, or consuming the product themselves. The loss to these 23 victim businesses exceeded $418,000.

On April 22, 2025, co-conspirator Donald Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, and one count of money laundering.

As part of the plea agreement, Bailey must pay restitution to the victim businesses; the exact amount to be determined at his sentencing hearing. Under federal statutes, Bailey is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Constance. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Olathe, Kansas, Police Department, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Derby, KS, Belton, MO, Blue Springs, MO, Columbia, MO, Creve Coeur, MO, Edwardsville, KS, Fairview Heights, IL, Kansas City, MO, Kansas City, KS, Lawrence, KS, Leawood, KS, Lee’s Summit, MO, Lenexa, KS, Liberty, MO, Olathe, KS, Omaha, NE, Overland, Park, KS, Papillion, NE, Parkville, MO, Plainfield, IN, Plano, TX, Platte City, MO, Shawnee, KS, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO, Terre Haute, IN, Topeka, KS, and West Des Moines, IA.

MIL Security OSI –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Pakistan, India agree to extend ceasefire until May 18: Pakistani FM

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

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (Xinhua) — Pakistan and India held talks on Thursday and agreed to extend the current ceasefire until May 18, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.

Speaking in parliament, he said that earlier on Thursday, the two countries’ militaries had contacted each other and decided to extend the ceasefire, followed by a transition to political dialogue.

“The initial ceasefire agreement concluded on May 10 was in effect until May 12. It was then extended until May 14, and now until May 18,” I. Dar told parliamentarians.

He added that so far, military-level talks have played an important role in maintaining the ceasefire, and comprehensive political talks will begin after May 18.

“Comprehensive and result-oriented negotiations will be held with India. The aim is not to recognize anyone’s superiority, but to resolve issues on the basis of equality,” the Pakistani Foreign Minister stressed.

Tensions between the two countries escalated in the early hours of May 7 when India carried out airstrikes on several targets in Pakistan following an armed attack last month in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where unidentified militants killed 26 civilians.

After several days of fierce fighting, the parties agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, which was then extended in stages. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by SJ after meeting of Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, met the media after attending a meeting of the Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance this afternoon (May 15). Following are the remarks by Mr Lam:

Reporter: The vetting for the subcommittee takes (took) about five hours with no amendments proposed. Do you think the time frame is sufficient for lawmakers to thoroughly scrutinise all of the law changes? Why does the process need to be so quick?

Secretary for Justice: I think you have to bear in mind that we are talking about two items of subsidiary legislation. In relation to the subsidiary legislation concerning the power of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, there are only 15 provisions. As to the declaration concerning prohibited places, it only refers to six premises. But as a matter of fact, as you have pointed out, we have spent more than five hours, and the number of questions plus opinions expressed by members of the Legislative Council exceeded 150. So I think any reasonable person would have agreed that the whole process is extremely serious and thorough discussion had been given to all relevant provisions.

As a matter of fact, initially, we were supposed to finish the meeting at 4pm, but in order to enable the Legislative Councillors to have sufficient time to go through all the provisions and to ensure that they can ask any questions that they have in mind, the time for the meeting had actually been extended. I am very confident that any reasonable person would have agreed that this is a very proper and thorough process which serves its legislative intention.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH urges high-risk individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible as COVID-19 activity hits one-year high in Hong Kong

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH urges high-risk individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible as COVID-19 activity hits one-year high in Hong Kong
“After the resumption of normalcy, Hong Kong experienced cycles of active periods of COVID-19 in every six to nine months. Taking into account local and global epidemiological data in recent years, the CHP is of the view that COVID-19 has evolved into an endemic disease with a periodic pattern. According to the CHP’s analysis, the active periods are associated with the changes in the predominant circulating strains and declining herd immunity in Hong Kong. In early 2024, the predominant strains circulated locally changed from XBB to JN.1; while in the third quarter of 2024, they changed from JN.1 to KP.2 and KP.3; and they have further changed to XDV since late March this year. There is no evidence suggesting that XDV will cause more severe disease. Nevertheless, the changing nature of the virus should not be taken lightly. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation of the variant strains in accordance with the World Health Organization’s recommendation, and be cautious of the possible emergence of more virulent or vaccine-mismatched strains of the virus in the future,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

According to the latest surveillance data as of the week ending May 10, the viral load of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the test positivity rate and the cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests in the laboratory have continued to rise over the past four weeks. In particular, the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus gradually increased to 13.66 per cent from 6.21 per cent four weeks ago (the week of April 6 to 12), which is a record high in the past year. For sewage surveillance, the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 710 000 copy/litre, which was also significantly higher than that of about 390 000 copy/litre four weeks ago. During the same period, the consultation rate of COVID-19 cases at Accident and Emergency departments, general out-patient clinics and sentinel private medical practitioner clinics also recorded a significant increase.

“According to the surveillance data after the resumption of normalcy, there were two relatively active periods of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, which lasted for about 15 weeks from April to July 2023 and for about seven weeks from February to March last year. COVID-19 became more active in mid-April of this year (i.e. about four weeks ago). Based on previous statistics, we expect the activity level of COVID-19 to remain at a higher level for at least the next few weeks,” said Dr Tsui.

Regarding severe and fatal cases, in the past four weeks, the CHP recorded a total of 81 COVID-19 severe cases (including 30 fatal cases) involving adults. Epidemiological investigation showed that 83 per cent of the patients being elderly persons aged 65 or above, and more than 90 per cent of these elderly cases had underlying illnesses. Only one case had received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the past six months.

For children, the CHP has recorded five severe cases (no fatal case) so far this year. Of which, two have underlying illnesses and three cases have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. “This shows that even children who have been in good health can experience severe complications from COVID-19 infection. Therefore, I hope that parents will not hesitate to bring their children to complete the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The currently prevalent XDV strain is a related variant of JN.1. Therefore, the JN.1 vaccine used in Hong Kong is effective in preventing the disease, reducing the risk of severe illness and death, and enhancing herd immunity,” said Dr Tsui.

“Currently, the proportion of high-risk groups, especially the elderly, receiving booster doses of the vaccine is relatively low. This suggests that the public does not attach much importance to vaccination. Based on the surveillance data and vaccination figures, the CHP projected that about 75 per cent of the elderly aged 65 or above living in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly and 90 per cent of those living in the community had not received booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine timely according to the CHP’s recommendation. I would like to reiterate my appeal to the high-risk groups, especially the elderly and persons with underlying illnesses, to receive an additional booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible,” Dr Tsui added.

Apart from vaccination, the public should maintain stringent personal, environmental and hand hygiene at all times to minimise the risk of infecting COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases. High-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised) should wear surgical masks when visiting public places. The general public should also wear a surgical mask when travelling on public transport or staying in crowded places. When respiratory symptoms appear, one should wear a surgical mask, consider avoiding going to work or school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.
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For the latest surveillance data, members of the public can refer to the CHP’s weekly COVID-19 & Flu ExpressIssued at HKT 20:36

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing woman in Aberdeen located

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

A woman who went missing in Aberdeen has been located.

Yiu Wai-lam, aged 74, went missing after she left her residence on Chengtu Road yesterday (May 14) morning. Her family then made a report to Police.

The woman was located at a shopping mall on Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O this afternoon (May 15). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Philippines should stop risky infringements and provocations: Defense Spokesperson 2025-05-15 21:53:10 “We urge the Philippine side to stop any risky infringements and provocations, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Otherwise, it will only taste the bitter fruit of its own doing,” said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
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MIL OSI China News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

Last July, a powerful student-led uprising in Bangladesh toppled the authoritarian, corrupt government led for 15 years by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh now shows modest signs of democratic recovery. Months into its tenure, a transitional government has reopened political and civic space, especially at universities, and begun reforming key state bodies.

Yet, violence and political retribution persist. This week, the interim government banned Hasina’s former party, the Awami League, under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act while a tribunal investigates its role in the deaths of hundreds of protesters last year.

Elections have also been delayed and may not happen until 2026.

Amid this fragile transition, interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel-prize winning economist, has emerged as a rare figure of trust and calm. His popularity is so high, in fact, many are calling for him to remain at the helm for another five years.

Given the uncertainty, Bangladesh faces some uncomfortable questions: can it afford electoral democracy right now? Or must stability come first, with democracy postponed until institutions can catch up?

And what happens if emergency governance becomes the new normal?

Fraught road to democratic renewal

According to a global democracy report, Bangladesh is still classified as an “electoral autocracy” — one of the few in the category that actually got worse in 2024.

The opposition, chiefly the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), has mounted a fierce challenge to the interim government’s legitimacy, arguing it lacks a democratic mandate to implement meaningful reforms.

While the BNP and its former ally, the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, may appeal to segments of Bangladesh’s Muslim majority, their support is undermined by reputational baggage and limited resonance with younger voters.

At the same time, radical, right-wing, Islamist forces are exploiting the vacuum to reassert themselves, exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the Hindu minority.

Economically, the country is also still reeling from the damage done under Hasina’s regime.

Corruption hollowed out the banking system, leaving key institutions almost bankrupt. Although Yunus has taken steps to stabilise the economy by bringing in competent officials, uncertainty continues to dampen investor confidence.

Inflation remains high. And unless job creation accelerates, especially for the youth, the seeds of further unrest are already planted.

In addition, law and order has deteriorated sharply. The country’s police force has been tainted by its association with the Alami League, and the former police chief is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

Street crime is rising and minorities are experiencing growing harassment. Women feel deeply unsafe — both online and on the streets. Some parties are also seen as a threat to countering violence against women.

Despite strong laws on paper, weak law enforcement and victim-blaming are allowing violence to flourish. It’s very difficult to hold perpetrators of crimes to account.

Bangladesh is also increasingly isolated on the global stage.

India, long allied to Hasina’s government, has turned its back on the interim government. The United States is disengaging, as well. USAID had committed nearly US$1 billion (A$1.6 billion) from 2021–26 to help improve the lives of Bangladeshis, but this funding has now been suspended.

Some gains on civil liberties

This year, Bangladesh improved slightly in Freedom House’s index on political freedoms and civil liberties, from a score of 40 points out of 100 last year to 45. This is a step in the right direction.

Among the improvements in the past year, the government has:

removed restrictions on some political parties

released political detainees

and committed to major judicial reforms to increase accountability.

The appointment of new election commissioners and the creation of advisory commissions for judicial and anti-corruption reform also signal an institutional reset in motion.

But gains remain fragile. While politically motivated cases against opposition figures have been dropped, new ones have emerged against former ruling elites. The military’s policing role has expanded and harassment of Awami League supporters by protesters persists.

In addition, media freedom remains heavily constrained, with a human rights group reporting the interim government had targeted hundreds of journalists in the past eight months.

In this fractured environment, urgent reforms are needed. But these need to be sustainable, as well. Whether the interim government has the time, authority or support to deliver them remains in doubt. The government also needs to deliver on its promise to hold free and fair elections.

A new party on the rise

The country’s politically engaged youth have not been dissuaded by these issues. Rather, they are trying to reshape the political landscape.

The new National Citizen Party (NCP) was formed in early 2025 by leaders of last year’s student uprising. It has positioned itself as the party to bring a “second republic” to Bangladesh. Drawing from historical models from France and the US, the party envisions a new elected, constituent assembly and constitution.

With organisational support and tacit backing from the interim government, the NCP has rapidly grown into a viable political force.

Still, the party faces a steep, uphill climb. Its broad, ideological umbrella risks diluting its message, blurring its distinctions with the BNP.

For the NCP to turn protests into policy, it must sharpen its identity, consolidate its base, and avoid being co-opted or outflanked.

Whether this moment of political flux leads to real transformation or yet another cycle of disillusionment will depend on how boldly — and how sustainably— the interim government and new actors like the NCP act. And they must not draw out the process of transition for too long.

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

– ref. After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress – https://theconversation.com/after-an-autocratic-leader-was-toppled-in-bangladesh-democratic-renewal-remains-a-work-in-progress-253846
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
May 16, 2025
Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates Veterinary College building in Nagaland

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Administrative-cum-Academic Block of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), located at Jalukie in Nagaland.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function, the Union Minister lauded the progress made in the agriculture and livestock sectors in Nagaland. He acknowledged the region’s unique agri-products and potential, and announced a financial assistance of ₹338.83 crore for the overall growth and development of the agriculture sector in the state.

Chouhan urged the Nagaland government to formulate a comprehensive action plan for agriculture and rural development. He assured the state of the Centre’s full cooperation and support in this endeavour.

To strengthen grassroots agricultural development, the Minister suggested the formation of a core scientific team in each district. This team would include scientists, officials from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), university professionals, and farmers. He said the team should engage directly with farmers in villages at least twice a month to understand their challenges, which would facilitate evidence-based policy making and appropriate technological interventions.

Highlighting the scope for natural farming in Nagaland, the Union Minister said the Central Government is committed to supporting such sustainable practices. He also appreciated the initiatives of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry and invited its students to Delhi to share their innovative ideas with him.

Chouhan assured full cooperation and financial assistance for entrepreneurship and start-up development among students, and expressed his desire to visit Nagaland again for further interaction with farmers and students.

Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan, who presided over the function, commended the role played by Central Agricultural University, Imphal and its constituent college in advancing animal healthcare and agricultural development in the region. He stressed the importance of scientific methods and collaboration among stakeholders to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, T. R. Zeliang, also spoke at the event, underlining the need for technical interventions and research-driven farming to achieve agricultural and economic progress in the state.

The event witnessed participation from 639 farmers and 84 officials from both the State and Central Governments.

May 16, 2025
India, EU launch joint research projects on marine pollution and green hydrogen

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

India and the European Union have jointly launched two major research initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), aiming to develop innovative solutions in the areas of marine pollution and green hydrogen production from waste. The projects, backed by a combined investment of ₹391 crore (approximately €41 million), mark a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and technology.

The TTC, established in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, serves as a platform to deepen strategic collaboration in trade and technology between India and the EU.

The first initiative focuses on tackling the pressing issue of marine plastic litter and other pollutants. Co-funded by the European Union and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, this project aims to develop advanced tools to monitor, assess, and reduce the harmful impact of pollutants such as microplastics, heavy metals, and organic compounds on marine ecosystems. The research is expected to contribute to global commitments like the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and support national policies, including India’s National Marine Litter Policy and the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, said that collaborative research plays a pivotal role in addressing shared environmental challenges. EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, underscored that joint efforts to address marine pollution and sustainable energy underscore the growing momentum in the EU-India partnership.

Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran, remarked that marine pollution is a global concern that demands collaborative solutions, adding that this initiative will help in developing effective strategies to protect marine biodiversity.

The second initiative targets the development of sustainable hydrogen production technologies by converting biogenic waste into green hydrogen. Supported by the EU and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the project is in alignment with the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. The focus is on creating cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods to produce hydrogen using agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste.

Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, described the partnership as a testament to the two sides’ commitment to sustainable development. Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, noted that advancing waste-to-hydrogen technologies is key to meeting India’s clean energy goals.

Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, highlighted the scale of investment and cooperation, calling it a clear demonstration of India and the EU’s joint commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

The calls for proposals under both initiatives have been officially opened this month, inviting Indian and European researchers to collaborate and contribute to the development of transformative technologies for environmental protection and renewable energy.

May 16, 2025
Back to the Grey List? Renewed Scrutiny for Pakistan’s Consistent Failure to Meet Terror Finance Standards

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Pakistan’s record with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reads like a trilogy of broken promises. From 2008 to 2022, the country slipped onto – and briefly wriggled off – the Grey List three times. The first listing, on 28 February 2008, lasted 848 days; the second, from 16 February 2012, ran for 1,106 days; and the third, beginning 28 June 2018, dragged on for 1,576 days. With each removal, Islamabad issued florid assurances, yet the underlying machinery of terror finance remained intact.

Terror groups targeting India – such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) – together with organisations like al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State, including its Khorasan offshoot (ISKP), continue to raise money under the watchful – and largely indulgent – eye of Pakistan’s security establishment, weak governance structures and corrupt networks.

The pattern has become wearily familiar. In 2008, FATF’s notice was almost courteous, asking Islamabad to plug ‘loopholes’. By 2012, the language had hardened, demanding the freezing of terrorist assets and alignment with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267. A reprieve granted in 2015 was hedged with instructions to continue working ‘closely’ with the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), part of the FATF’s global network, of which Pakistan is a member.

When the watchdog returned with grey-listing in 2018, it tabled a withering ten-point agenda, later expanded to 34 specific actions. Pakistan was tasked to identify, analyse, control and end terror financing, and to involve its law-enforcement agencies actively in the process. A clutch of compliance Bills was hurried through Parliament in an effort to meet FATF norms.

The FATF Plenary removed Pakistan from the Grey List in October 2022, but with the reminder: ‘Pakistan will continue to work with the APG to further improve its AML/CFT system.’ Though forced to meet every FATF benchmark, history suggests the country cannot be trusted.

That fragile façade shattered anew on 22 April 2025. In Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, terrorists – two of them Pakistani nationals – slaughtered 26 civilians. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. Far from being a rogue cell, the TRF operates within the same terror ecosystem that Pakistan’s deep state has nurtured for decades.

The atrocity has forced an awkward question back onto the FATF Plenary convening in June 2025: can a country that remains a safe haven for terrorist groups be allowed to stay off the Grey List?

New Delhi’s answer was swift and calibrated. On 7 May, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of surgical strikes designed to neutralise the infrastructure that spawned the Pahalgam massacre. The headquarters of LeT in Muridke and of JeM in Bahawalpur were reduced to rubble, along with seven other terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The raids were deliberately narrow – no civilian structures were touched – underscoring India’s resolve to respond to terror with precision, not escalation.

The very existence of these compounds, after Islamabad had sworn to uphold FATF norms on terror financing, lays bare the cosmetic nature of Pakistan’s past compliance. Three listings in fourteen years reveal a state that treats FATF deadlines as inconveniences to be gamed until diplomatic pressure subsides.

May 16, 2025
“Significant milestone”: EAM Jaishankar on inauguration of Honduras Embassy in Delhi

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the inauguration of the Embassy of the Republic of Honduras in New Delhi on Thursday, described the occasion as a significant milestone that opens a promising new chapter in the longstanding and warm relationship between the two nations.

Jaishankar extended his appreciation to Honduras for condemning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Addressing his counterpart, Eduardo Enrique Reina García, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, he said, “Minister, let me first acknowledge the statement of solidarity from your country on the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We value your public commitment to opposing terrorism in all its forms. It is completely unacceptable in any civilised world. We appreciate your support as we continue to battle terrorism in our region.”

The minister said that the opening of the embassy reflects the shared vision and commitment between India and Honduras to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen institutional cooperation. “I regard this not merely as a ceremonial event but as a testament to our mutual commitment to expand the frontiers of our collaboration,” he said.

He further added that the embassy signifies India’s aspiration to build strong partnerships across the Latin American region, rooted in values of mutual respect, solidarity, and shared progress.

Reflecting on the bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties on September 28, 1994, Jaishankar highlighted steady growth across political, commercial, developmental, and cultural dimensions. “Our engagements have been guided by a spirit of friendship and a belief that international cooperation serves broader humanitarian interests,” he added.

Discussing economic relations, Jaishankar stated that bilateral trade now stands at USD 310 million, with India exporting pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, and machinery, while importing coffee, wood, and leather from Honduras. He pointed out that the diverse trade basket demonstrates considerable potential for growth in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, healthcare, IT, and manufacturing.

“During our productive talks earlier today, we agreed on the need to strengthen business-to-business linkages, foster investment partnerships, and explore complementarities while exchanging experiences relevant to Indian companies,” he said.

Highlighting Honduras’ strategic location and favourable investment climate, Jaishankar observed its potential in renewable energy and IT-enabled services. He also mentioned a recent collaboration between Hondatel, Honduras’ national telecom operator, and Reliance Jio, aimed at rolling out a 5G network in the country. “This collaboration marks a significant step in digital connectivity and technology innovation,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the embassy’s future role, Jaishankar said it would serve as a hub for trade promotion and business engagement. “The embassy will encourage entrepreneurs to use it as a base for matchmaking, provide institutional support, and facilitate greater initiatives and activities,” he said.

May 16, 2025
Centre revokes Celebi’s security clearance over national security concerns

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and its associated companies citing concerns linked to national security. The announcement was made on Thursday evening and is being seen as a firm step in safeguarding national interests.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, said that the decision reflects the government’s uncompromising commitment to national security. “Nothing is above the security of our nation and fellow citizens. National interest and public safety are paramount and non-negotiable,” the minister added.

Celebi, a Turkish firm, has been operating ground-handling services at multiple Indian airports, including critical hubs like Mumbai and Delhi. Following the revocation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has assured that all necessary arrangements are in place to maintain uninterrupted airport operations.

The Minister further said that the government is actively working with airport operators to ensure a smooth transition. “Arrangements have been made at all affected airports to ensure seamless handling of passengers and cargo,” he added.

To mitigate any disruption in services and employment, the Ministry is also taking steps to retain employees associated with Celebi. “Efforts are being made to ensure that employees working with Celebi are retained and continue to contribute,” Ram Mohan Naidu said.

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State visit highlights NI company’s major growth under Windsor Framework
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Secretary of State visit highlights NI company’s major growth under Windsor Framework

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland visits food distribution company, PRM, as figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show the Northern Ireland economy grew faster than the UK as a whole in the final quarter of 2024.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn with CEO and Founder of PRM Group Philip Morrow and Company Director Lynne Morrow.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland today [Wednesday 14 May] visited PRM, a leading food distribution company based in Lisburn. While there, he learned more about the significant growth the company has seen from having the benefit of dual market access provided under the Windsor Framework. This status, unique only to Northern Ireland, allows the free movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the EU.

PRM has said that dual market access to both the UK and EU is a major factor behind its growth strategy, which over the past year has enabled it to commit to a £15m investment in its Lisburn headquarters paired with the creation of 40 additional jobs.

The NI Composite Economic Index (NICEI) from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) shows that in each of the five sectors it tracks, Northern Ireland grew in output between October and December 2024. Output rose by 0.9% in Q4, contributing to a yearly growth in output of 3.6% across NI. Whilst for the UK overall, Q4 growth was 0.1% and yearly growth was 1.4%.

Today’s visit follows the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of two new trade deals with the US and India. Both deals will open up new export opportunities for businesses across Northern Ireland, providing them with full market access to two of the world’s largest economies and enabling them to grow further and thrive. Sectors said to benefit the most from these trade deals include agricultural food products, biotechnology manufacturing and whiskey.

Speaking after his visit, the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, said:

“PRM’s expansion is a great example of how dual market access is helping Northern Ireland’s businesses to expand and create more jobs.

“With full access to both the UK and EU markets, and now new trade opportunities with the US and India, Northern Ireland is uniquely placed for success.

“These are tangible benefits that are strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy and creating prosperity.”

Philip Morrow, CEO and Founder of PRM Group, said:

“While Brexit brought with it understandable apprehension, there’s no doubt that the Windsor Framework has unlocked unique advantages for businesses and individuals in Northern Ireland.

“We have found ourselves in a very favourable position perfectly positioned between the UK and EU with full access to both markets. That’s an enviable place to be, and it’s been instrumental in shaping our investment decisions and future growth.

“At PRM, it’s allowed us to commit £15 million to expanding our Lisburn headquarters and create over 40 new jobs. Businesses here have been handed the key to the best of both worlds and that’s something we should champion, celebrate and capitalise on.”

Our Plan for Change sets out a bold vision for Northern Ireland’s economic future – to go further and faster in driving growth, attracting investment, and putting more money in the pockets of working people. Expanding international trade, cutting red tape and supporting innovation are key pillars to this plan.

The government continues to operate the Duty Reimbursement Scheme, allowing companies to claim back any additional duties paid on goods deemed “at risk” of entering the EU, ensuring fairness and competitiveness.

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Published 15 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján: Trump Administration Illegally Blocking Nearly $316 Billion Owed to Native Communities

US Senate News:

Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
WATCH Senator Luján’s Remarks in Senate Indian Affairs Committee
Washington, D.C.— A new tracker revealed that the Trump administration is blocking or freezing more than $430 billion in federal funding owed to communities across the country — including nearly $316 billion for national programs that support Indian Country and Native communities. The data reflects just how widespread the damage is — with funding for public safety, housing, disaster recovery, child care, transportation, infrastructure, and education either delayed or terminated, and whole agencies and offices closed down, cutting off vital services.
“The Trump administration is illegally withholding hundreds of billions of dollars owed to communities across the country – including nearly $316 billion owed to Native communities – just to hand out more tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests,” said Senator Luján, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “This is a profound betrayal of Native communities and a shameful failure to uphold the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribes. Blocking these funds has real consequences – stripping away vital resources from the health care, education, and child care services families depend on. This reckless decision puts the well-being and safety of New Mexicans and Tribal Nations at risk.”
As these cuts take effect, the Trump administration has imposed “Defend the Spend,” a sweeping new policy that requires grantees to justify spending line by line, even for items that have already been awarded. Grantees have received inconsistent guidance on how to navigate the new mandate, and many have faced significant delays in accessing funding they were already awarded — including funding for essential Tribal services.
At the same time, the Trump administration is proposing to slash $911 million — a 24% cut — from core Tribal programs in its Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget. These cuts would gut basic services like public safety and justice, education and workforce training, Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) housing grants, Native Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFIs), forestry management, and programs for Native children and families. They would also nearly eliminate funding to construct or repair Tribal schools, which are already chronically underfunded, and reduce support for Tribal law enforcement by 20 percent. As the economy slows and prices rise due to President Trump’s policies, these devastating cuts and burdensome new processes would make life harder in Native communities.
If you or your community has been impacted by withheld or terminated federal funding, you are encouraged to share your story by emailing oversight@indian.senate.gov. Your name and contact information will be kept confidential. Please include the federal agency and program involved in your submission.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Report: Deadly Gaps

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

In September 2025, the Global Fund, the main funder of a worldwide response to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, will host its eighth replenishment conference, where donor countries will make pledges to fund its vital, life-saving work.

Ahead of the conference, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released a report based on our experience with the communities we serve. This report highlights the challenges this replenishment faces, including the impact of shrinking donor support. Without sufficient funding there will be antiretroviral, antimalarial and tuberculosis drug stockouts, people will travel long distances only to be turned away at dispensaries, community health workers will go unpaid or under-supported, and critical prevention activities will be neglected. These challenges are not confined to ‘fragile’ settings. People in countries with functioning health systems that are simply under-resourced will also feel the impacts.

This report references findings from Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The stakes for replenishment are high. Now is the time to step up—to protect gains made and ensure a future where HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria do not threaten millions of lives.

Deadly Gaps: Executive Summary pdf — 3.37 MB Download

Deadly Gaps: Don’t turn away from saving lives pdf — 11.64 MB Download

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