Category: DJF

MIL-OSI Africa: 2025 Annual Meetings: Africa’s Vast Human and Natural Capital Key to Achieving African Union’s Agenda 2063, experts affirm

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —

Africa, the world’s youngest continent with immeasurable natural resources, has all it needs to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063, provided the right public policies are implemented, according to government officials and development experts.

The experts expressed this shared conviction on Monday during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.”

Speaking at a knowledge event titled “Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063: An Opportunity to Develop and Finance Africa’s Capital,” Koffi N’Guessan, Ivorian Minister of Vocational Training and Apprenticeships, reaffirmed that Agenda 2063 — adopted in January 2015 by the African Union – remains the strategic framework for the continent’s economic and social transformation.

N’Guessan noted that, despite a challenging global environment, the last decade has seen notable progress in Africa, particularly in economic and political integration, gender equality, and access to employment opportunities.

However, he acknowledged that previous efforts have often fallen short of addressing the continent’s structural transformation needs, including job creation for youth and poverty reduction.

“The second Agenda 2063 implementation plan, adopted in February 2024 by the African Union, offers a crucial opportunity to tackle these challenges and accelerate development outcomes,” he said.

According to the Ivorian Minister, Africa is poised to become a major global power, alongside China and India, due to its demographic potential. However, he stressed that African countries should prioritize vocational and technical training to fully harness this demographic dividend.

He highlighted a worrying trend: approximately 22.5 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed with no education or training. Additionally, 250 million children and young people in low-income countries are not in school, underlining the disconnect between education systems and labor market needs. “Youth can become a liability if robust training policies are not implemented – from nursery school through to university,” he warned.

Taking natural capital into account when calculating GDP

Hervé Lohouès, Division Manager in the Country Economics Department at the African Development Bank, emphasized the importance of natural wealth in calculating the GDP of African countries.

“The GDP of a country like the Central African Republic would increase by 300 percent if its natural resources were taken into account in the calculation of its GDP,” he asserted.

He added: “It is essential to go beyond natural enhancement and ensure that all African countries adopt a compulsory development plan. We also need to ensure that governments provide incentives for transformation while considering accountability that can directly help the transition from natural to social infrastructure.”

Jide Okeke, Regional Program Coordinator for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, and Dagmawit Moges Bekele, former Eritrean Minister of Transport and Director of the Peace Fund at the African Union Commission, both stressed the need to leverage human, financial, natural and digital resources to drive inclusive and sustainable development — key to achieving the objectives outlined in the second decade of Agenda 2063.

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Hungarian media project wins European Charlemagne Youth Prize

Source: European Union 2

A Hungarian platform on European identity, a Czech project encouraging young people’s vote and a German legal support for discriminated people were recognised in 2025.

On Tuesday, the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen awarded the 2025 European Charlemagne Youth Prize in a ceremony in Aachen.

First prize – “Forum Europaeum”, Hungary

The first prize (€7500) went to Forum Europaeum, a pan-European think tank and media outlet which promotes European identity, values, and unity through articles, podcasts, TikTok videos, and interviews. The project’s goal is to explore European identity and societal challenges, through creating spaces for constructive debates on topics relevant to young people.

Second prize – “Thanks That We Can Vote”, Czech Republic

The second prize (€5000) was awarded to the Díky, že můžem volit (Thanks That We Can Vote) initiative. Launched to address the low electoral participation of young people in the Czech Republic, it targeted 18-29-old voters during the 2024 European Elections. The project sought to combat apathy, perceived political inefficacy, and fragmented engagement efforts through education, collaboration, and innovative outreach efforts.

Third prize – Feminist Law Clinic, Germany

The Feminist Law Clinic, a project providing free legal support, won the third prize (€2500). It deals helps those most affected by gender-based discrimination sexualised violence, and legal uncertainty—particularly women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender, and queer individuals.

Background

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize, jointly awarded by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, is open to initiatives by young people aged 16-30 involved in projects that strengthen democracy and support active participation. Since 2008, 6,500 projects have competed for the prize.

Every year, national and European juries select a project from each EU member state. 27 national winners were invited to the award ceremony in Aachen on 27 May 2025, where the three overall EU winners were announced.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

Source: US FBI

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 12, 2025.

Bryant Heideman, age 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Heideman will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Heideman was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in November 2023 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Heideman had sexual contact with the victim, who was 12 years old, after allowing her to stay in his home between November 13 and November 14, 2024.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

MIL Security OSI –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

Source: US FBI

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2025.

Mason Benoist, age 24, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Benoist was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2025.

The conviction stems from Benoist receiving and possessing child pornography using his mobile phone in April 2022. Law enforcement subsequently began investigating Benoist based on CyberTips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In May 2023, law enforcement made contact with Benoist at his residence in Eagle Butte. Benoist admitted to receiving and possessing child pornography, and a search of his electronic devices revealed child pornography. Benoist will forfeit ownership of these electronic devices to the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Benoist was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

MIL Security OSI –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography and Making a Hoax Bomb Threat in Connection with Retaliation Against a Minor

Source: US FBI

HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nathaniel Sean DeLeon, age 20, of Tulare, California, was sentenced on May 20, 2025, to 78 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for distribution of child pornography and making a bomb threat hoax in connection with a campaign of retaliation against a Cumberland County minor in 2023.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, DeLeon met the then-16-year-old minor victim on the Roblox gaming platform and began an online relationship. The relationship ended. Thereafter, between June 2023 and November 2023, DeLeon caused law enforcement in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to respond to 23 related “swatting” incidents at addresses in Cumberland County, the majority of which belonged to the minor victim. The calls generally related information that someone had a gun and had killed, or was about to kill, another person.

On November 30, 2023, DeLeon, identifying himself as the minor victim, informed a suicide prevention worker via an internet messaging application that the minor victim had placed pipe bombs in the classrooms and bathrooms of Big Spring High School, located in Cumberland County, and was in a car outside of the school with a shotgun. As a result, approximately 650 students and staff from Big Spring High School were evacuated. No bombs went off and it was determined that there were no explosive devices inside the school.

DeLeon also distributed a sexually explicit video of a minor victim on two occasions in November 2023.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case.

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MIL Security OSI –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China will not allow any force to turn Taiwan into “hell” – official representative

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said Wednesday that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and the country will not allow any force to turn the island into a “hell.”

He made the statement in response to a media request to comment on a recent statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he proposed strengthening Taiwan’s “self-defense capabilities” to intimidate mainland China, as well as a statement by the US military about a plan to create a “hellish picture” on the island.

The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair and does not allow outside interference, Chen Binhua stressed, noting that some people in the United States are inflating tensions in the Taiwan Strait as a pretext for interfering in Taiwan affairs to help the U.S. military-industrial complex make profits. Their actions will sow chaos in Taiwan and the island’s people will be used as “cannon fodder,” Chen Binhua warned.

He called on the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces advocating “Taiwan independence”, so as to avoid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

He also criticized the Democratic Progressive Party administration in Taiwan for putting the people of Taiwan in a dangerous situation by closely following the US agenda for its own selfish political interests. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Wang Huning Calls on CPPCC to Play Role of Special Advisory Body in Upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), called on the CPPCC to fulfill its responsibilities in formulating and implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Wang Huning made the remarks while presiding over the 36th meeting of the chairman and vice-chairmen of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

Wang Huning called on the CPPCC to play its role as a special advisory body and deeply understand the importance of formulating and implementing the next five-year plan.

Five-year plans serve as key strategic documents guiding China’s medium- and long-term development. They set out national goals, major tasks, and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.

Wang Huning also called on CPPCC members to provide advice and suggestions on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing China’s modernization, and promote the implementation of the major decisions and plans of the Party and the country.

Political advisers should continuously deepen their study and implement the Eight-Point Rules, Wang Huning said, adding that the CPPCC National Committee should make conscientious preparations to organize various events related to foreign affairs so as to better serve the overall foreign policy work of the Party and the country.

At this meeting, draft amendments to the CPPCC National Committee’s rules on consultative work and the general provisions of the special committees of the CPPCC National Committee were also considered and adopted. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Orders from US buyers rise significantly after China-US trade talks: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Since China and the United States held economic and trade talks in Geneva earlier this month, trade tensions between the two countries have eased, orders from U.S. buyers have increased significantly and shipping services are operating at full capacity, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday.

“This fully reflects the major mutual needs of each side,” Mao Ning said at a regular departmental press conference.

Mao Ning’s statement followed comments made by Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit in Beijing last week, in which Hart noted that China is both an important market for American goods and an important supplier of goods to the United States.

The essence of China-US trade and economic relations is mutual benefit and win-win, Mao Ning said, adding that trade and economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies has brought tangible benefits to enterprises and consumers in both countries.

Protectionism leads nowhere, Mao Ning continued, saying that China welcomes foreign enterprises, including American ones, to develop their businesses in China, deepen mutual cooperation, and jointly create favorable opportunities for a bright future. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China’s State Council to Oversee Investigation into East China Chemical Plant Explosion

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — The Industrial Safety Commission of the State Council will oversee the investigation into an explosion that occurred at a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

The incident, which left five people dead and six missing, occurred in Gaomi City on Tuesday.

The committee called for a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the explosion and bring those responsible to justice in accordance with laws and regulations.

The Industrial Safety Committee, together with the Office of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commission, called on relevant departments and companies to learn from recent incidents, strengthen safety risk prevention during the upcoming Duanwu national holiday, and take decisive measures to prevent major incidents. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China reaffirms commitment to cross-strait exchanges and cooperation

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland will continue to actively promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in the interests of compatriots on both sides, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a briefing on Wednesday.

Chen Binhua noted that the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, which advocates peace, development, exchanges and cooperation, cannot be ignored. “The desire of people on both sides of the Strait to increase exchanges and the enthusiasm of Taiwan compatriots to participate in the Taiwan Strait Forum and other similar events cannot be suppressed,” he said.

According to him, preparatory work for the 17th Taiwan Strait Forum is currently in full swing, the specific agenda of which will be announced in the coming days, Chen Binhua said, stressing that the forum has already been held 16 times since 2009 and has become an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the strait.

Chen Binhua criticized Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration for imposing restrictions on Taiwanese people’s participation in the forum, calling it another attempt to obstruct cross-strait exchanges.

“This once again demonstrates their malicious intent to suppress cross-shore exchanges and proves that Lai Qingde’s statements about his readiness to engage with the Chinese mainland are nothing but lies and empty talk,” he said. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China to issue new local government bonds worth about 1.5 trillion yuan in January-April 2025

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Local governments across China issued new bonds worth about 1.49 trillion yuan (about 207.63 billion U.S. dollars) in the first four months of this year, data released by the Ministry of Finance showed Wednesday.

The volume of targeted bonds issued amounted to over 1.19 trillion yuan, while ordinary bonds amounted to 302.3 billion yuan.

As of the end of April, the remaining debt obligations of local governments across the country amounted to about 50.69 trillion yuan, according to data from the aforementioned department.

China plans to take more proactive financial policies this year to support sustainable economic and social development. According to the government work report released this year, the country plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan of local government bonds this year, up 500 billion yuan from the previous year. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Return on Assets of 1.16 Percent and Net Income of $70.6 Billion in the First Quarter

Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

Net Income Increased From the Prior Quarter, Led by Higher Noninterest Income: For the 4,462 FDIC-insured commercial banks and savings institutions quarterly net income totaled $70.6 billion, up $3.8 billion (5.8 percent) from the prior quarter. The banking industry reported an aggregate ROA of 1.16 percent in first quarter 2025, up from 1.11 percent in fourth quarter 2024 and 1.09 percent in the year-ago quarter. The quarterly increase in net income was led by higher noninterest income (up $5.4 billion, or 7 percent). Gains in noninterest income were due to market movements and volatility as several large firms reported mark-to-market gains on certain financial instruments in the quarter. Lower losses on the sale of securities also contributed to an increase in net income.

Community Bank Net Income Increased From Last Quarter: Quarterly net income for the 4,022 community banks insured by the FDIC totaled $6.8 billion in the first quarter, an increase of $621.0 million (10 percent) from fourth quarter 2024. The community bank pretax ROA increased 11 basis points from last quarter to 1.18 percent. Higher net interest income (up $315.7 million, or 1.4 percent) and lower losses on the sale of securities (up $313.7 million, 54.8 percent) along with lower provision expenses (down $249.7 million, or 19 percent) and noninterest expenses (down $423.2 million, or 2.3 percent) more than offset lower noninterest income (down $476.6 million, or 9.1 percent).

Quarterly Net Interest Margin Ticked Down From the Prior Quarter: The industry reported a modest quarterly decline in net interest income (down $278.3 million, or 0.2 percent), as interest income decelerated slightly more than interest expense. The net interest margin (NIM) fell by two basis points to 3.25 percent, equal to the pre-pandemic average. [1] The community bank NIM of 3.46 percent increased two basis points quarter over quarter, increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter, but is still below the pre-pandemic average of 3.63 percent.

Asset Quality Metrics Remained Generally Favorable, Though Weakness in Certain Portfolios Persisted: Past-due and nonaccrual (PDNA) loans, or loans that are 30 or more days past due or in nonaccrual status, fell one basis point from the prior quarter to 1.59 percent of total loans. The industry’s PDNA ratio is still below the pre-pandemic average of 1.94 percent. While banks reported quarterly decreases in PDNA of credit card loans (down $2.7 billion, or 9 basis points to 3.22 percent), and auto loans (down $2.6 billion, or 48 basis points to 2.84 percent), weaknesses persisted in certain portfolios. The PDNA rate for commercial real estate (CRE) portfolios is the highest it has been since the fourth quarter of 2014 at 1.49 percent. Multifamily CRE PDNAs have grown the most in the past year, up 88 basis points to 1.47 percent.

The industry’s net charge-off ratio decreased three basis points to 0.67 percent from the prior quarter and is one basis point higher than the year-ago quarter. This ratio is 19 basis points above the pre-pandemic average. Most portfolios had net charge-off rates above their pre-pandemic averages including credit card loans, 123 basis points above the pre-pandemic average at 4.71 percent.

Loan Growth Remains Modest: Total loan and lease balances increased $62 billion (0.5 percent) from the previous quarter. The largest portfolio increases were reported in loans to non-depository financial institutions, in part due to continued reclassifications following the finalization of changes to how certain loan products should be reported. In addition to these reclassifications, commercial and industrial, and multifamily CRE contributed to the industry’s quarterly loan growth. The industry’s annual rate of loan growth in the first quarter was 3.0 percent, below the pre-pandemic average of 4.9 percent.

Total loans at community banks increased 0.8 percent from the prior quarter and 4.9 percent from the prior year, led by increases in nonfarm nonresidential CRE loans and 1-4 family residential mortgage portfolios.

Domestic Deposits Increased for the Third Consecutive Quarter: Domestic deposits increased $180.9 billion (1 percent) from fourth quarter 2024, rising for a third consecutive quarter. Savings deposits increased, with declines in small time deposits partially offsetting the increases. Brokered deposits decreased $14.9 billion (1.2 percent) from the prior quarter, declining for the fifth consecutive quarter. Estimated insured deposits increased this quarter (up $110.5 billion, or 1 percent).

The Deposit Insurance Fund Reserve Ratio Increased Three Basis Points to 1.31 Percent: In the first quarter, the Deposit Insurance Fund balance increased $3.8 billion to $140.9 billion. The reserve ratio increased three basis points during the quarter to 1.31 percent.

Change in Number of Insured Institutions: The total number of FDIC-insured institutions declined by 25 during the first quarter to 4,462. During the quarter, one bank opened, one bank failed and did not file a Call Report in the prior quarter, one bank was sold to an uninsured institution, and 25 institutions merged with other banks.

ATTACHMENTS:
Quarterly Banking Profile Home Page
Charts & Data
FDIC Statement

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Julianne Breitbeil
202-340-2043
JBreitbeil@FDIC.gov

[1] The “pre-pandemic average” refers to the period of first quarter 2015 through fourth quarter 2019 and is used consistently throughout this press release.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Chair of the NATO Military Committee attends the 18th Balkan Countries Chief of Defence Conference in Istanbul

Source: NATO

The Chair of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), attended the 18th Balkan Countries CHODs Conference in İstanbul. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone’s first appearance at this forum marks also his first visit to Türkiye.

The conference, hosted at the Multinational Joint Warfare Centre (MJWC) by the Chief of Turkish General Staff General Metin Gürak, included discussions on ways to strengthen peace, security, and military cooperation. It gathered the CHODs, high level authorities and senior military officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, Croatia, and Slovenia. Participants were addressed by the Vice President of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz.

In his intervention, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee emphasised the strategic importance of the Balkans and stated: “This region continues to be among NATO’s top priorities.” He also highlighted the benefits and need for continued military cooperation between Balkan countries, stressing that “dialogue on doctrine, tactics, and even procurement pathways can help avoid duplication and foster interoperability.”

This year’s conference focused on “The Vision for Use of Uncrewed Systems in the Future Operating Environment” and was an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening military cooperation as well as opportunities and challenges related to uncrewed systems. The program addressed the development of autonomous technologies, artificial intelligence-supported decision-making mechanisms, human-machine cooperation on the battlefield, and the technological, strategic, and ethical aspects of uncrewed systems.

Over the course of the conference Admiral Cavo Dragone also held several bilateral meetings to discuss current security challenges, preparations to NATO Summit and the upcoming Military Committee Conference.

Since its creation in 2007, the Balkan Countries CHODs Conference has been an important regional military forum where the promotion of cooperation, stability, and confidence among the Balkan countries has been paramount. It has confirmed the commitment of all members to provide timely and efficient responses to diverse security challenges and threats in the region.

MIL Security OSI –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Estacada Man Faces Federal Charges for Trafficking 270 Pounds of Methamphetamine

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PORTLAND, Ore.— An Estacada, Oregon, man is facing federal charges today after he was caught transporting 270 pounds of methamphetamine from Southern California to Oregon.

Anthony Barrera, 29, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, during an investigation of an alleged drug trafficker, later identified as Barrera, investigators learned Barrera rented a vehicle and traveled to California to pick up large quantities of drugs to distribute and sell in Oregon.

On May 24, 2025, officers located Barrera driving the rental vehicle northbound on Interstate 5 and followed him to a rest area near Roseburg, Oregon, where Barrera was arrested without incident. Agents executed a federal search warrant on the rental vehicle and seized 270 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of cocaine, which were concealed in the backseat and cargo area of the vehicle. Later the same day, investigators executed a federal search warrant on Barrera’s residence where they seized two firearms hidden under the floor of a closet.

Barrera made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT). It is being prosecuted by Charlotte Kelley, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

MIL Security OSI –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SFO charges global aircraft parts supplier with fraud offence
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

SFO charges global aircraft parts supplier with fraud offence

Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala is charged with fraudulent trading as part of an SFO investigation into a company that sold parts for aircraft engines.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today charged Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala with fraudulent trading as part of its investigation into a company that sold airline parts for the passenger and cargo aircraft engines, the CF56 and CF6.

Zamora Yrala, the company director, is accused of operating UK-based AOG Technics for a fraudulent purpose. The company’s customers included airlines, maintenance providers and parts suppliers.

From 2019 to 2023 the company allegedly defrauded customers by falsifying documentation that related to the origin, status or condition of aircraft parts.

Planes in the UK and elsewhere around the world were grounded in 2023 after the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued safety alerts to airlines that may have bought or installed AOG’s parts.

Soon after, the SFO launched an investigation, later agreeing to conduct a joint investigation with Portuguese authorities into the supply of suspected fraudulent safety certification and parts. The Portuguese investigation is ongoing and last week authorities searched ten locations across Portugal and made three arrests with SFO officers in attendance.

Zamora Yrala will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday 2 June 2025.

Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said:

Planes were grounded, and significant disruption was caused, today’s charges are the outcome of a focussed and fast paced investigation.

I’m proud that we’ve acted swiftly, together with our Europeans partners, to bring this important case to charge in just 19 months.

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Published 28 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Blue badge parking during York Pride

Source: City of York

Published Wednesday, 28 May 2025

There will be some brief changes to blue badge parking in York on Saturday 7 June to allow the Pride parade to pass safely through the city centre.

Road closures

Church Street will be closed to all traffic from 10.30am until around 1.30pm. St Helen’s Square will be closed from 11.30am until around 1.30pm.

Blue badge parking suspension

Parking on St Helen’s Square will be suspended from 10.30am until around 1.30pm. This means that blue badge holders will still be able to get through to either park in Lendal or exit onto Museum Street until 11.30am.

Parking available during the parade

Limited spaces will be available on the double yellow lines in King’s Square. Access for blue badge holders only will be via Goodramgate into Kings Square, vehicles will be able to exit via Colliergate.
Badge holders will be able to park their cars on Blake Street (between McDonald’s and St Helen’s Square) until 11.30am but will not be able to move their vehicles again until the parade has passed through the area.

Limited spaces are also available on Lendal (outside the old Post Office)

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Urgent warning about the safe disposal of batteries and disposable BBQs after Leeds bin wagon fires

Source: City of Leeds

Three concerning near-misses with bin wagons in the last week

Leeds residents are being reminded about the dangers of binning batteries and hot ash from barbeques after three separate incidents in refuse collection vehicles in the last week.

Waste crews were carrying out collections in Burmantofts, Armley and Middleton when smoke started emerging from the back of their wagons. In each case, thanks to the quick actions of the crews, the fire service was promptly called and advised tipping the smouldering waste on to the road to enable it to be safely extinguished.

Evidence in each case appeared to show the fires were caused by either disposable barbeques or batteries from vapes or other discarded devices. Fortunately, on these occasions the crews were unhurt, and the bin wagons, roads and local properties were not damaged. The mess created in each location was cleared as soon as could be safely arranged, but not without the time and cost involved and some inconvenience to local residents and road users.

As a result of these incidents, all residents are being reminded the best way to get rid of disposable barbeques is to let them completely cool down until at least the next day after use and to soak them in water before wrapping them in foil and disposing of them in a black wheelie bin.

Loose batteries or devices like vapes that contain lithium-ion batteries can be safely recycled at the place they were purchased from, most supermarkets or any local household waste recycling centre in Leeds.

Leeds City Council executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, Councillor Mohammed Rafique said:

“We’d like to thank all of the crews in these incidents for their quick-thinking and attentiveness as well as West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for their guidance on how to handle these situations to avoid serious issues developing.

“Fires in bin wagons or at recycling centres can be started from the smallest spark or heat source. This results in danger to our crews and staff, damaged vehicles and inconvenience for residents. We appeal to everyone to please dispose of your rubbish responsibly, taking extra care that disposable barbecues are fully cooled down and that hidden batteries in things like vapes are recycled in an appropriate battery bin. Taking the time to be vigilant helps to keep everyone safe.”

Note for editors:
To safely get rid of used E-cigarettes and disposable vapes, these should be taken back to the shops they were bought from and deposited in their vape bins.

Alternatively, find an electrical recycling point at https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/ or deposit them in the special vape bins at one of the eight local household waste recycling centres across Leeds which can be found at Where to take your waste and recycling | Leeds.gov.uk

A Material Focus local authorities survey in the UK estimated that over 1,200 fires were caused by crushed or damaged batteries in waste streams in 2023, an increase of 71 per cent from the year before.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

Tel: 0113 378 6007

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A660: Next stage of improvements to begin from Monday 2 June

Source: City of Leeds

Leeds City Council is to begin the latest stage of its £10.4m improvement works along the A660, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists and helping speed up bus journeys between Headingley and the city centre.

Starting from Monday 2 June, works will begin to deliver a segregated inbound and outbound cycle track on both sides of the road, change pedestrian crossings outside the Arndale Centre and The Original Oak to toucan crossings, along with a major upgrade of both the junctions of Hyde Park Corner and North Lane.

Other improvements include introducing a 20mph speed limit between Shaw Lane and St. Michael’s Road, wider pavements and continuous crossings at most junctions, upgrading bus stops and shelters, and providing better access to public transport outside the Arndale Centre.

From Monday 16 June, the junction of St. Michael’s Road and the A660 will be permanently closed to motor vehicles, with the area being transformed into a public space following a public consultation which saw 57% of responses backing this particular proposal.

The junction of the A660 with Regent Park Avenue will also be closed to motor vehicles from 30 July, and the existing left turn road closure from Woodhouse Street to A660 Woodhouse Lane will also be made permanent, with greenery and space for outdoor dining.

The improvements are funded by a £10.4m grant from Active Travel England, with this phase of work being delivered by construction partners Hinko Construction.

The works aim to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists along a route which saw 172 casualties between 2016 and 2021, encouraging people to choose more active and sustainable methods of travel which can boost health and wellbeing and help tackle climate change. They follow previous phases which were completed earlier this year, with 63% of respondents supporting the overall proposals during public consultation.

Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said:

“The A660 is one of our city’s busiest routes with thousands of people walking between north Leeds and the city centre every day, along with more than 1,000 cyclists daily and a high number of cars and buses.

“It’s important that we make these improvements so it’s safer for everyone using it, helping to meet our Vision Zero strategy goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries on Leeds’ roads by 2040.

“As with any scheme of this nature there is likely to be some disruption during construction, but we will work to keep this to a minimum, so we are encouraging people to plan ahead when travelling along this route.”

The works are expected to be completed by summer 2026, with several measures being put in place to minimise disruption wherever possible.

The majority of works will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays. In some instances, to ensure safety lanes will be narrowed where traffic will continue to flow in both directions.

In some instances, temporary traffic lights will be required which will take the road down to a single lane, and there will also be some temporary road closures in place. This is likely to lead to delays.

Bus routes will not be affected but there will be some temporary bus stops in place.

More details about the works can be found at the scheme’s dedicated website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Trump Signs Griffith Resolution to Strike Down Biden Job-Killing Regulation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. President Donald J. Trump recently signed into law H.J. Res. 61, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing.”

This Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution overturns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule. Finalized November 29, 2024, at the conclusion of the Biden Administration, EPA could not even quantify whether public health would be protected and unreasonably requires rubber tire manufacturers to install regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), which will cost American manufacturers millions and potentially lead to layoffs.

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who was the chief House sponsor of the CRA resolution, released the following statement:

“I am pleased President Trump signed my Congressional Review Act resolution into law!

“Americans are now officially protected from a last-minute Biden-Harris rule that would have needlessly harmed the tire manufacturing industry and raised prices for American consumers.”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Griffith introduced H.J. Res. 61 in the last week of February. Rep. Griffith introduced the CRA alongside U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Roger Wicker.

On March 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 61. Rep. Griffith spoke on the House floor defending the CRA.

Following House passage, Rep. Griffith celebrated House passage with several House GOP leaders.

On May 6, the U.S. Senate passed the measure.

On March 12, the Trump EPA announced reconsideration of air rules regulating American energy, manufacturing and chemical sectors.

The Biden EPA rule would negatively impact the Goodyear facility in Danville, Virginia.

Rep. Griffith recently defended several CRAs on the House floor seeking to overturn Biden EPA measures that facilitated unfair electric vehicle mandates and imposed stricter car emissions standards on the American people.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark Edele, Hansen Professor in History and Deputy Dean, The University of Melbourne

United States President Donald Trump was “not happy” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week.

For three consecutive nights, from Friday to Sunday, Russia launched about 900 drones and scores of missiles at Ukraine. At least 18 people were killed, including three children.

“We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities,” Trump told reporters on Sunday, after Putin ordered the largest air assault on Ukraine’s civilians in its three-year war.

Following up on his remarks, Trump posted on social media that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!”

Putin is not crazy. He is a tactician with a long-term goal: to make Russia a great power again and secure his place in the history books as the re-builder of Russia’s imperial might.

Trump announced after a phone call with Putin on May 19 that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire.

With his latest air campaign on Ukraine, however, Putin is threatening to destroy the goodwill he’s built up in Washington, where Trump has been consistently soft on Russia and tough on his allies.

So, what is Putin’s strategy? Why is he launching these massive air bombardments on Ukrainian civilians now?

Putin sees weakness in the West

One theory is these attacks are somehow preparations for a major offensive. That makes little sense.

Attacking military facilities, weapons depots or even frontline troops are useful preparations for an impending attack. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians, meanwhile, is a sign of either desperation or impatience.

Britain and the US bombed German cities during the second world war because they had no alternatives until they built up enough capacity to transport land forces across the sea to invade the continent.

The US also sent bombers to Japan in the final stages of the war because the American public became tired of seeing their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers die on Pacific islands they had never heard of. The war had dragged on forever by this point, and there seemed no end in sight.

Is Putin desperate or impatient? Likely the latter.

From the perspective of the Kremlin, Russia’s strategic situation is as good as it has been for years.

The US is trying to destroy itself through trade wars and boorish diplomacy. Trump clearly dislikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hopes the war will somehow end if he just demands it.

Europe is continuing to back Ukraine. However, for the time being, it still needs US support because its entire security structure is built around NATO and US strength, both economic and military.

What Putin sees when he surveys the international scene is weakness. In his thinking, such weakness needs to be exploited – now is the time to hurt Ukraine as much as possible, and hope it will crack. Analysts call this a “cognitive warfare effort”.

Indiscriminate air war on civilians is the only means Putin currently has to pressure Ukraine. His army has been advancing, but painfully slowly. There is no breakthrough in sight, even once the spring muds dry and the summer fighting season starts in earnest.

Russia has gradually advanced in Ukraine throughout 2024, but with no perceivable change in the overall situation. Putin does not command precision weapons or super spies, which he could use to take out Ukraine’s leadership.

All he can do is rain death on women, children and the elderly from relatively cheap, unsophisticated weapons, such as drones. He now has these in large supply, thanks to ramping up military production at home.

Bombing campaigns do not end wars

A strategic air war on civilians seldom works, however.

Japan’s surrender in 1945 is an exception, but it is misleading in many ways. The Americans had flattened Japan’s cities for a while already, just not using their new atomic weapons. Japan had already lost the war and the real question was if there would be a bloody US invasion or surrender.

And as the US dropped its two nuclear bombs in August of that year, the Red Army joined the fight, racing across Manchuria to help occupy Japanese territories.

In Germany, the British-American bombings from 1942 onwards certainly had an effect on war production, as they killed workers and destroyed factories. But they did not incapacitate the German army and certainly did not break morale.

Instead, the bombings led to embitterment and a closing of ranks around the regime. German society fought to the last moment. It did so not just despite, but because of the air war. The German army was eventually defeated by the ground troops of the Red Army, who took Berlin in an incredibly bloody fight.

Other historical failures are even more spectacular. The US air force dropped 864,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam during an air campaign of more than 300,000 sorties lasting from 1965 to late 1968. The North Vietnamese lost maybe 29,000 people (dead and wounded), more than half of them civilians. The Americans and their South Vietnamese allies still lost the war.

Putin’s air war will likely follow the historical pattern: it has further embittered the Ukrainians, who know very well that what comes from the east is not liberation.

Another summer of fighting lies ahead. Ukraine’s friends in the democratic world need to urgently redouble their efforts to support Ukraine. The misguided hopes that Putin would somehow “make a deal” lie under the rubble his drones leave behind in Ukraine’s cities.

Mark Edele receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

– ref. Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience – https://theconversation.com/is-vladimir-putins-indiscriminate-bombing-of-ukrainian-civilians-crazy-its-more-a-sign-of-impatience-257630

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Notice of website maintenance

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Notice of website maintenance

Date：2025-05-16
Data Source：Public Diplomacy Coordination Council

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mofa.gov.tw) and its subdomains, including the Youth Programs website (www.youthtaiwan.net) and the Minister’s Mailbox (eyes.mofa.gov.tw), will be unavailable due to maintenance work from Friday, May 23, 19:00 (Taipei time) to Saturday, May 24, 20:00 (Taipei time). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Concerns raised over social grant beneficiaries choosing bank accounts amid rising charges

Source: South Africa News Agency

The North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development has expressed concerns regarding the increasing number of social grant beneficiaries opting to receive their payments through personal bank accounts.

The committee said this decision could diminish the value of their grants because of the associated bank charges.

The issue was raised during a recent oversight meeting with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department of Social Development.

SASSA reported that 43 945 grant recipients have chosen to receive their payments directly into their bank accounts, instead of using the traditional SASSA gold cards or the newer Postbank black cards.

The committee, chaired by Karabo Magagane, believed shifting to personal bank accounts may have unintended consequences.

“These beneficiaries may not realise that they are losing money to transaction fees and service charges, funds that are meant to support their most basic needs,” she said.

The meeting was convened to provide an update on the ongoing migration from SASSA gold cards to Postbank black cards.

This migration was initiated by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) following a security breach that affected the previous card system.

Beneficiaries were originally given a deadline of 31 May 2025 to transition to the new cards. However, that cut-off date has since been removed, allowing beneficiaries to continue applying for payments through either their bank accounts or Postbank black cards.

“People were rushing to switch cards, some even under pressure. Now, they need clarity and reassurance that their current cards are still functional. You need to ensure that this is communicated widely,” said Magagane.

The leaders expressed concerns about the limited availability of Postbank conversion sites in the province.

Currently, only 12 sites are operational across the North West.

“Many of our elderly citizens live far from these centres and are not able to travel long distances just to access a card. This could be a driving factor behind the shift to personal bank accounts,” Magagane added.

Committee members expressed concern about the extra informal costs incurred by grant recipients.

This is after they discovered that spaza shops reportedly charge R10 for each withdrawal, which further decreases the funds that recipients receive.

“This completely defeats the purpose of a social grant. A grant is supposed to alleviate poverty, not get eaten up by unnecessary charges,” said one committee member.

In response to the challenges raised, the committee pledged continued engagement with SASSA and Postbank.

“We are committed to ensuring that no beneficiary is left behind. We will push for ongoing awareness campaigns, improved accessibility, and sustained outreach efforts so that every grant recipient understands their options and the implications of each,” Magagane added.

The committee is scheduled to reconvene in a few weeks to review implementation plans and assess progress on these critical issues. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape launches Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing System

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Western Cape Government marked a significant milestone in its commitment to safer roads and smarter service delivery with the official launch of the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) system.

“If we are to grow our economy and create more jobs, we need to ensure that our residents have the skills that they need to participate in the economy, and a driver’s licence is a critical requirement for many jobs, so we must make getting a driver’s licence as easy as possible for all our residents,” said Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku.

The event took place at the Beaufort West Driving Licence Testing Centre on Monday and showcased a live demonstration of a state-of-the-art digital testing system that replaces the traditional manual booklet method.

This innovation is set to transform the learner’s licence testing process across the Western Cape.

“This digital shift is a big step toward safer roads and a stronger economy. By improving driver skills through fair and efficient testing, we’re also boosting employability, supporting the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy,” said the MEC.

The new system is being rolled out in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and ultimately aims to improve the quality of drivers on Western Cape roads.

Benefits include promoting safer and more responsible driving through standardised testing, reducing opportunities for corruption, supporting hearing-impaired applicants with on-screen multilingual instructions to eliminate the need for an interpreter, and delivering faster and more accurate results through instant digital processing.

“This is not just a technological upgrade – it’s a values-driven transformation. The system ensures that every applicant, regardless of ability, is treated with fairness and dignity,” added Sileku.

The testing terminals, each secured with fingerprint verification, connect directly to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) and generate randomised test questions.

Results are automatically verified and securely processed, significantly improving both accuracy and data integrity.
The CLLT classroom includes fully networked workstations, touch-screen kiosks, and a 6kVA uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to maintain continuity in the event of electricity outages.

All provincial driving licence testing centres outside of the metro have been equipped with the new CLLT system, with the Western Cape Mobility Department currently engaging the City of Cape Town regarding its roll-out of the new system.

Residents can make appointments for learner’s licence testing at their local Driving Licence Testing Centre and prepare for their tests using free downloadable study guides for road signs, vehicle controls and the rules of the road via www.natis.gov.za.

The provincial government remains committed to building a safe and accessible transport environment that supports a thriving economy.– SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: No plans to reform SA’s mineral royalty regime – President Ramaphosa

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government remains committed to ensuring that South Africa continues to benefit equitably from its mineral wealth, while reaffirming that there are no current plans to reform the country’s mineral royalty regime.

Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed concerns raised by members regarding the country’s ability to fully capture the potential fiscal benefits of its mineral resources amid a global surge in demand for metals and minerals critical to the renewable energy transition.

“Any company that extracts a mineral resource in our country is required to pay the South African government a mineral royalty. This is because mineral resources are finite and cannot be replaced.

“While it is always good to review existing policies against national priorities, there is no intention at this stage to reform the current mineral royalty regime,” the President said.

On the issue of the resource rent taxes, the President said that such taxes aim to ensure that companies extracting minerals pay a larger share of their profits to government whenever profits are high.

He explained that South Africa’s mineral royalty regime incorporates an element of the principle underlying resource rent taxes.

The royalty rate is applied to the sales value of a mineral and is determined by a formula that varies according to profitability, as well as whether the mineral has been refined or is unrefined.

“There is a minimum rate to ensure that even if profitability is low, the country is still reimbursed for resources that are extracted. In this way, government collects more corporate tax revenue and mineral royalty revenue during commodity booms leading to a higher level of taxation,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa cited statistics from the South African Revenue Service which show that mineral royalties doubled from R14.2 billion to R28.5 billion between 2020/21 and 2021/22 because of the commodity boom.

They remained elevated in 2022/23 before dropping to almost R16 billion in 2023/24, indicating that companies were not as profitable in that year.

In addition to the payment of mineral royalties, mining companies contribute to national revenue through the payment of corporate income tax, capital gains tax on the disposal of assets, VAT and employees’ pay-as-you-earn tax contributions.

In the past financial year, the mining industry paid 14% of all corporate taxes in South Africa. Earlier this month, Cabinet adopted a Critical Minerals Strategy for the country, which places a sharper focus on domestic mineral value addition.

“The strategy itself aims to maximise the country’s potential particularly in the global market for critical minerals, particularly those crucial for the country’s just energy transition and the ones for which the country holds comparative advantage.

“This strategy aims to ensure that South Africa derives greater benefits from its mineral wealth through beneficiation, through localisation and the people who work for those companies,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Major progress in addressing Emfuleni water and sanitation challenges

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Emfuleni Local Municipality is making substantial strides in resolving its long-standing water and sanitation challenges, following decisive intervention by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The Vaal River System and surrounding communities have for years suffered from the persistent problem of severe sewage pollution and spillages.

Despite several interventions by the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) and the South African National Defence Force, the problem persisted.

In response, the Department of Water and Sanitation invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act in 2021, and appointed Rand Water as its implementing agent, to address the situation.

According to the department, the intervention has already achieved significant milestones. These include unblocking and replacing collapsed sewer lines; refurbishment of pumpstations and existing wastewater treatment works; and assisting the municipality with essential operational tools of trade, including vehicles, and security.

The department said the remaining work is now on upgrading the capacity of existing Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), which are currently struggling to handle the increased amount of sewage due to population growth over the recent decades.

The department attributed the progress to strong intergovernmental relations, including Gauteng Provincial Government, Rand Water and Emfuleni Local Municipality.

The total estimated cost of the intervention is R7.6 billion over a seven-year period, including completion of the major capital works.

The department highlighted that the scope of work will include the upgrades of four WWTW, which will require 3-5 years to complete, based on the engineer’s estimation of the work.

The scope of work includes upgrading four wastewater treatment facilities, Rietspruit, Leeukuil, Sebokeng, and Meyerton, an effort estimated to take three to five years to complete.

Rand Water has been assisting the municipality through staff training and procurement of vehicles and equipment to carry out maintenance work, among others.

The refurbishment of four pump stations has also been completed and are now fully functional. The replacement of 50 collapsed sewer lines have also been completed.

“As part of this work, two major projects were completed to replace and upgrade the main sewer pipeline from Rothdene pump station to Meyerton Waste Water Treatment Works, as well to replace the main sewer pipeline from pumpstation eight to pumpstation two.

“In addition, a third project to replace the rising main sewer pipeline from pumpstation two to Leeukruil Waste Water Treatment Works, is 90% complete. Due to these interventions, the incidents of sewage spillages into the community in Emfuleni have reduced markedly,” the department said.

According to the department, this has resulted in an improvement in the quality of the effluent from the Waste Water Treatment Works into the Vaal River.

However, the department noted that this improvement is limited by the fact that the existing WWTW remain overloaded, and the problem will only be fully addressed, once the capacity of the treatment works is upgraded.

The department said it is hard at work to increase the capacity of waste water treatment works, noting that the capacity of Sebokeng Waste Water Treatment Works has been increased by 50 ML per day to 150 ML per day.

Designs have been completed for a further 50 ML upgrade of Sebokeng Waste Water Treatment Works.

“Designs for the Rietspruit Waste Water Treatment Works (current capacity 36 ML per day), have been completed to increase the capacity of the WWTW by 50 ML/day. The contractor is currently on-site, [and] designs have been completed to increase the capacity of the Leeukuil Waste Water Treatment Works by 15 ML/day from the current capacity of 36 ML per day,” the department said, adding that work is expected to start anytime.”

Work is still underway to increase the current capacity of the Meyerton Waste Water Treatment Works, from 10ML per day to 25 ML/day.

As part of our overall intervention, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is being established to serve as a dedicated Water Service Provider (WSP) In the municipality.

The establishment of the SPV aims to create a professionally managed, dedicated utility with full responsibility and accountability for the provision of water and sanitation services in Emfuleni.

Discussions between the department, Emfuleni Local Municipality and Rand Water, are currently underway with National Treasury to obtain the necessary Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) approvals for its establishment.

“The department is satisfied that these interventions are delivering the desired results. We can boldly state, without any fear of contradiction, that, as a result of Minister’s decisive intervention, incidents of sewage spillages into the community in Emfuleni have been drastically reduced.

“Ongoing upgrading of the capacity of Waste Water Treatment Works is necessary to ensure that the problem is completely eliminated. The department will continue to fund Rand Water to complete the upgrades of the three Waste Water Treatment Works,” the department said.

To maintain momentum, the department believes that focused attention and energy must be directed towards fighting vandalism and theft of infrastructure and addressing the scourge of non-revenue water.

The department also acknowledged the positive role that communities and other sectors, through the political steering committee, continue to play as we intensify efforts to address the water and sewage challenges in the area. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Minister to launch 2025 winter customary initiation season

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will officially launch the winter customary initiation season for 2025.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs emphasised that this important cultural practice, which signifies the transition to adulthood, has encountered challenges in the past due to unregulated initiation schools and related fatalities.

In response to these issues, the government enacted the Customary Initiation Act of 2021 to ensure safer practices.

This year’s season will launch under the theme: “Mabaye Bephila, Babuye Bephila,” calling for the safety and well-being of all initiates.
Hlabisa will detail the extensive preparations and important measures undertaken by government and traditional leaders to ensure that the initiation process remains a safe, dignified, and culturally significant tradition.

Friday’s launch will be attended by key stakeholders, including the Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Ministers of CoGTA, the MECs of CoGTA, members of the Kings and Queens Forums, representatives from the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, the National Initiation Oversight Committee, as well as officials from law enforcement and the health sector.

The launch will take place at the Premier’s Auditorium, OR Tambo Building in Bloemfontein, Free State. –SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Tackling human trafficking

Source: South Africa News Agency

Gone are the days when human trafficking felt like an obscure crime that occurs under the cover of night in far off places we have never heard of.

Every so often we hear of suspected human trafficking cases, and it is likely that you and I could have already interacted with a trafficked person(s) without even knowing it.

This as police rescued 44 illegal immigrants who were found locked in a house in Gauteng’s Parkmore suburb recently.

It was also reported in March that over 30 Ethiopian nationals were able to escape from a house in Johannesburg’s Lombardy East. In that case, it is suspected that the 30 were victims of a human trafficking syndicate.

In January, over 20 Ethiopians were rescued from a house in Johannesburg. The rescue followed a similar one in August 2024 where 82 Ethiopians were also found at a house in Johannesburg.

Additionally, human trafficking does not only take place on home soil. In March, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed that 23 South Africans who were part of a group of 7000 people from various countries, were rescued from Myanmar.

Before leaving South African shores in 2024, the men and women were lured by an employment agency to Thailand under the pretences of lucrative jobs that were advertised on various social media platforms.
According to DIRCO, the adverts promised the victims good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses, and other lucrative benefits. However, once in Thailand, they were transported to Myanmar against their will.

They were held captive for more than four months in a cybercrime compound in Myanmar, which borders Thailand.

“The crime of human trafficking is a hidden one. It is a very different one in the sense that you are given promises of a better life through whatever means elsewhere. You wilfully participate in those engagements without knowing that as soon as you arrive at your destination, what you have been promised is no longer there,” said Deputy Director-General (DDG) Lucky Mohalaba.

Mohalaba is the DDG for Court Administration at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD).

“The courts are currently dealing with those matters [of human trafficking] and it ranges from sexual exploitation to forced labour,” he said in an interview with SAnews.

Legislation

He added that there are other forms of crimes in relation to the “Trafficking in Persons Act which may include harbouring, transporting [and] assisting in whatever form that those who have been trafficked are able to be moved around within our borders.”

This as the objects of South Africa’s Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 2013, among others, are to give effect to the country’s obligations concerning the trafficking of persons in terms of international agreements and to provide for the prevention of trafficking in persons and for the protection of and assistance to victims of trafficking, among others.

According to the legislation, any person who delivers, recruits, transports, transfers, harbours, sells, exchanges, leases or receives another person within or across the borders of the Republic, by means of the threat of harm, abduction and kidnapping among others, for the purpose of any form or manner of exploitation, is guilty of the offence of trafficking in persons.

It also states that any person who adopts a child, facilitated or secured through legal or illegal means; or concludes a forced marriage with another person, within or across the borders of the Republic, for exploitation purposes of that child or other person in any form, is guilty of an offence.

A person convicted of an offence of trafficking (by delivering, recruiting, transporting transferring harbouring and selling among others another person by means of a threat of harm, fraud and kidnapping among others, is liable to a fine not exceeding R100 million or imprisonment, including imprisonment for life, or such imprisonment without the option of a fine or both.

According to the National Prosecuting Agency, the passing of the trafficking legislation is a result of South Africa’s ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children.

Additionally, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said the protocol -which was adopted by the United Nations in November 2000 – is the world’s primary legal instrument to combat human trafficking.

Mohalaba stressed that government is tackling human trafficking.

“What we can say to the public is that government is doing quite a lot of work in relation to this matter. But working together with civil society as well as communities, as a department we are of the view that we can do a lot to further curb instances and the incidence of trafficking in persons in South Africa,” he said from his office at the DOJ&CD.

Increased effort

There is tangible evidence that the work government is doing in this area is paying off with the county having moved to a better spot on the United States of America’s (USA) annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

In 2024, South Africa moved from Tier 2 Watch List of the report to Tier 2.

Released in June last year, the report, which is available on the US Department of State website among others, notes that while South Africa does not “fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking… [it] is making significant efforts to do so.”

“The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period; therefore South Africa was upgraded to Tier 2. These efforts included increasing prosecutions of traffickers; identifying and referring more trafficking victims to protection services; and increasing the number of shelters available to assist trafficking victims,” the report stated.

It also took note of government’s National Inter-Ministerial Committee for Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP) to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts which included the Border Management Authority, the Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Team and the Financial Intelligence Center.

He said that work done includes ensuring that there is domestic legislation in place that deals with trafficking in persons and that the country has in place mechanisms to identify, assess victims or suspected victims of trafficking and ensuring that there are shelters to accommodate victims while court processes continue.

“As a result of our responses, we moved to Tier 2 as these are some of the issues the country has addressed. Of course, our aim is to ensure that we move a level higher up which will include putting more effort into ensuring that there’s appropriate training for officials that are dealing with these matters. We are working on this,” he explained.

According to the TIP, the placement of countries into various tiers is not based on the size of a country’s problem “but on the extent of government efforts to meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.”

These standards include the prohibition of severe forms of trafficking in person and punishing acts of such trafficking.
Tier 2 Watch List countries are those whose governments don’t fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making moves to “bring themselves into compliance” with the standards.

Tier 2 countries are those whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. Additionally, Tier 1 countries are those in which governments fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

The TIP also has Tier 3 countries whereby governments do not fully meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.

Mohalaba added that the NICTIP which the department and the NPA are co-chairing, is “seized with coordinating a lot of efforts around the trafficking in persons across the country.”

“It also includes NGOs [non-government organisations] who take part in the discussions so that all of us working together are able to move our country forward and prevent this scourge in trafficking of persons.”

The report however flagged several issues including that law enforcement did not have the capacity and training to refer victims of trafficking to care and that victim services remained insufficient among others.

The report states that over “180 countries have ratified or acceded to the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the UN TIP Protocol), which defines trafficking in persons and contains obligations to prevent and combat the crime.”

Collaboration

South Africa’s Parliament passed the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons, 2013 Act which came into operation in August 2015.

“Again, we must appreciate the collaboration amongst the law enforcement agencies and particularly communities and civil society to ensure that these serious matters are addressed.

The act requires the DOJ&CD to develop the draft National and Policy Framework (NPF) which also requires the Minister of Justice to table the approved NPF in Parliament within one year after the commencement of the Act.

Added to that, the NFP is to be reviewed within three years after its publication in the government gazette and at least once every five years thereafter. The first NPF was approved by the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster in 2019 with the revised one having been approved by Cabinet in August 2023. It was tabled in Parliament in February 2024.

The framework comprises four pillars – namely: prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.

“Trafficking is an international crime, and States have been encouraged to put in laws that deal with this. We are using the NFP to compliment the legislation working together with civil society to make sure that we combat and deal with issues of trafficking in persons,” said the DDG.

The NPF states that trafficking in persons is a “serious crime and a grave violation of human rights posing a serious challenge to communities and to society at large.”

In the document, government states that it is committed to preventing trafficking, as well as to assist and protect victims and to prosecute perpetrators.

“People go to great lengths to ensure that when people are trafficked, that it falls within the ambit of organised crime. We really want to appeal to the public that we should be vigilant when we see instances of people being trafficked in our villages, townships, in towns or any other areas we see the potential of people being trafficked,” said the DDG.

He added that the review of the policy framework will be made in 2027.

“As a country, we remain resolute in working with whichever country across the globe to ensure that the issues of trafficking in persons are actually made a priority across the world.” –SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Government saddened by passing of Darren Scott

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government has extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of veteran broadcaster Darren Scott, who has passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Scott was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma, a battle he fought for many years.

The Hot 102.7FM presenter was a household name whose voice and presence shaped South African radio for over four decades.

In a statement on Wednesday, Government Communication and Information System Acting Director- General Nomonde Mnukwa said Scott’s legacy as a broadcaster and passionate storyteller will forever be remembered.

“His talent and versatility earned him over 30 Liberty Radio Award nominations and 14 wins, including multiple Best Breakfast Presenter accolades.

“His legacy as a broadcaster and passionate storyteller will forever be remembered. May his soul rest in peace,” Mnukwa said.

On Tuesday, Hot 102.7FM said he was a beloved voice on the airwaves who had showed grit, humour and determination in dealing with his illness.

The station said he will be remembered for his passion for radio, wit, creativity and charitable work.

Scott marked 40 years in radio last year and was inducted into the Radio Awards Hall of Fame, which Hot 102.7FM said was a fitting honour for a man who gave everything to the medium he loved.

The station added that Scott was many things: a gifted communicator, a music lover, a sports encyclopaedia, a deeply spiritual soul, and a loyal friend. But above all, he was radio.

Over the course of four decades, he made his mark at some of the country’s most recognisable stations from Radio Bop and 5FM to Jacaranda, East Coast Radio, and eventually HOT 102.7FM, where his voice became a cornerstone of the brand. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: RAF CEO placed on special leave

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Collins Letsoalo, has been placed on special leave with immediate effect.

In a statement, the Department of Transport said that Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, as the delegated shareholder representative was informed by the board of the RAF of Letsoalo’s special leave.

The decision was made at a special meeting on Tuesday, 27 May.

“The CEO will be on special leave until the conclusion of the relevant investigations by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), or such earlier date as the board may determine. The board has indicated that this is a precautionary measure and does not constitute disciplinary action or presumption of guilt,” said the department on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the decision was taken solely in the interest of good governance and as a precautionary step to facilitate ongoing investigative processes.

“It does not imply any prejudgment or adverse finding against the CEO. In making this decision, it must be noted that the board exercised its fiduciary duties in terms of the Road Accident Fund Act, 56 of 1996, the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999, and in alignment with the principles of good governance as set out in King IV.”

Meanwhile, Phathutshedzo Lukhwareni will serve as the Acting Chief Executive Officer to ensure continuity of operations.

The Deputy Minister has directed that this matter be placed on the agenda for the board meeting he has called for 09 June 2025. –SAnews.gov.za

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May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Deputy Minister sends condolences on the passing of Chweneyagae

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has expressed deep sorrow following the passing of acclaimed actor Presley Chweneyagae.

“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the untimely passing of Presley Chweneyagae. ‘Tobetsa’ as he was affectionately known by his friends, is one of South Africa’s most celebrated actors and a cultural icon whose artistry brought our nation global acclaim,” Morolong said.

Presley rose to prominence through his unforgettable performance in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, a role that not only captivated international audiences but also shone a spotlight on the depth of South African talent.

His contribution to the performing arts extended far beyond the silver screen. He was a passionate storyteller, a champion for youth development and a dedicated patriot who used his craft to reflect the lived realities of many South Africans.

His death is a profound loss to the creative sector and to the entire country. His legacy must inspire us to continue investing in creative industries as a catalyst for social change and economic empowerment.

“On behalf of the communications fraternity, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and fans. May they find comfort in the knowledge that his light will continue to shine through the stories he told and the lives he touched,” Morolong said. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

May 29, 2025