Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 12 /Xinhua/ — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hee in the city of Wonsan in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Saturday as part of the second round of strategic dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
“The heads of the foreign policy departments thoroughly discussed current issues of developing bilateral relations, including the schedule of upcoming political contacts. Particular attention was paid to the prospects for further cooperation in practical areas,” the statement published on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
As stated in the report, a keen exchange of views took place on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia (NEA). Mutual commitment to a political and diplomatic solution to the problems existing there was confirmed. The parties emphasized their determination to jointly counter the hegemonic aspirations of extra-regional players, which are leading to escalating tensions in NEA and the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Following the negotiations, a Plan for Inter-Ministerial Exchanges between Russia and the DPRK for 2026-2027 was signed.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, S. Lavrov arrived at Wonsan airport on Friday night, beginning his visit to the DPRK. His visit will last from July 11 to 13. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Xinhua) — China hopes to work with Sri Lanka to further develop strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and lasting friendship, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, noted that China and Sri Lanka enjoy traditional friendship, and recalled that in January this year, the two heads of state held fruitful talks and reached an important consensus on deepening the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership and jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Sri Lanka, indicating the direction and providing guidance for the development of bilateral ties.
The Chinese Foreign Minister noted that China is a reliable partner of Sri Lanka, and the two sides should deepen high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road and practical cooperation in various fields.
The two sides should jointly and effectively implement the two flagship projects of Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port, accelerate negotiations on the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, and create new growth points for cooperation in areas such as green energy, digital economy, modern agriculture and marine economy, Wang said.
The Chinese Foreign Minister noted that maritime cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is mutually beneficial, is not directed against third parties and should not be subject to their influence.
China hopes to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Sri Lanka on platforms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum to jointly maintain stability and development in the region, he said, adding that the so-called “Indo-Pacific Strategy” provokes bloc confrontation and forces parties to take one position or another, which is not in line with the trend of the times and will not be supported by countries in the region.
V. Herath, for his part, assured that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Sri Lanka is grateful to China for its firm support in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its timely assistance during times of difficulty, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister added.
Sri Lanka-China cooperation has brought great benefits to the people of Sri Lanka and effectively promoted the overall development of the region and regional connectivity, V. Herath continued. The Minister added that Sri Lanka is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields including economy and trade, investment, infrastructure and maritime affairs, so as to further deepen the Sri Lanka-China strategic cooperative partnership. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Baku, July 12 /Xinhua/ — Interim President of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Azerbaijan on Saturday on a working visit, the main focus of which was the development of energy cooperation and the implementation of a project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria through Turkey.
As reported by the press service of the President of Azerbaijan, during the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the parties noted the importance of Azerbaijani gas supplies for solving Syria’s acute energy problem and strengthening its energy security. The discussion focused on specific steps to implement this project.
During the visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan /SOCAR/ and the Syrian government.
The presidents also discussed cooperation in the political, trade and economic, humanitarian, cultural and educational spheres, including the provision of scholarships to Syrian students and the restoration of cultural monuments. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The United Nations warns that the fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels.
Fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza. It powers hospitals, water systems, sanitation networks, ambulances, and every aspect of humanitarian operations. Fuel supplies are needed to move the fleet used for transporting essential goods across the Strip and to operate a network of bakeries producing fresh bread for the affected population. Without fuel, these lifelines will vanish for 2.1 million people.
After almost two years of war, people in Gaza are facing extreme hardships, including widespread food insecurity. When fuel runs out, it places an unbearable new burden on a population teetering on the edge of starvation.
Without adequate fuel, UN agencies responding to this crisis will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely, directly impacting all essential services in Gaza. This means no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid.
Without adequate fuel, Gaza faces a collapse of humanitarian efforts. Hospitals are already going dark, maternity, neonatal and intensive care units are failing, and ambulances can no longer move. Roads and transport will remain blocked, trapping those in need. Telecommunications will shut down, crippling lifesaving coordination and cutting families off from critical information, and from one another.
Without fuel, bakeries and community kitchens cannot operate. Water production and sanitation systems will shut down, leaving families without safe drinking water, while solid waste and sewage pile up in the streets. These conditions expose families to deadly disease outbreaks and push Gaza’s most vulnerable even closer to death.
For the first time in 130 days, a small amount of fuel entered Gaza this week. This is a welcome development, but it is a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running.
The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment: fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations.
Headline: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE
Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE aunica.brockel
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gives remarks and hosts a press conference in Tampa, Florida exposing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership.
Headline: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE
Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE aunica.brockel
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gives remarks and hosts a press conference in Tampa, Florida exposing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
“Fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza,” said the statement. “Without fuel, these lifelines will vanish for 2.1 million people.”
UN humanitarian workers stressed that fuel powers everything from hospitals and water systems to bakeries and ambulances.
Without a steady supply, “maternity, neonatal and intensive care units are failing, and ambulances can no longer move.” The fuel shortage, they said, has left Gaza’s population – already facing severe food insecurity and the constant threat of violence – on the edge of catastrophe.
They warned that “without adequate fuel, UN agencies responding to this crisis will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely,” meaning “no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid.”
Inadequate fuel injection
The agencies noted that for the first time in 130 days, a small quantity of fuel was allowed into Gaza this week. While welcome, the amount – just 75,000 litres over two days – is far from enough to meet the daily needs of the population and vital civilian aid operations.
Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York late Friday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described the overall situation as “dire and worsening by the day.”
“Every day without a ceasefire brings more preventable deaths – children dying in pain, and hungry people shot while trying to reach the trickle of aid that is allowed in,” he said.
Life-threatening
Mr. Dujarric also expressed deep concern over continued Israeli restrictions on aid access. “Yesterday, our teams could provide hospitals with some of the fuel that came in – but only in the south. That’s because Israeli authorities denied our attempt to bring fuel to the north,” he said. “Such denials are life-threatening.”
He added that the fuel shortage also affects water treatment, ambulances and waste management. “All of these services are at risk of collapsing,” he said.
Out of 15 humanitarian missions that required coordination with Israeli authorities on Thursday, only six were fully facilitated. Five were denied outright, while four faced obstacles that delayed or prevented delivery.
One mission, to rescue injured people trapped under rubble in Gaza City, was only approved two days after the initial request – too late to save lives. “By the time the mission was finally allowed through yesterday, no one was found alive,” Dujarric said.
On top of this, essential items like tents and shelter materials have been blocked from entering Gaza for over four months, leaving thousands exposed to the elements.
Close call
Aid workers are also at risk. “Five strikes landed just a few hundred metres from where aid workers were operating this week, including UN staff,” Mr. Dujarric said. No injuries were reported, but several Red Crescent workers were shot while attempting to assist an injured colleague.
UN agencies are calling for the immediate and consistent delivery of fuel at scale, and for full, safe access to all parts of Gaza. “The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated,” they said. “Without fuel, Gaza faces a complete collapse of humanitarian efforts.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
The United States Embassy in Yaoundé welcomes the official announcement of the date for Cameroon’s presidential elections on October 12, 2025. As a longstanding partner and friend of Cameroon, the United States underscores the importance of free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive elections as a cornerstone of democratic governance and stability in Cameroon and Central Africa.
We commend the efforts of Cameroonian institutions, civil society, political parties, and all stakeholders working to prepare for these elections. We urge everyone concerned to engage in the electoral process in a manner that promotes peace, respects the rule of law, and upholds democratic norms and the rights of all citizens to participate freely and to vote their consciences without fear of repercussions.
It is critical that the Cameroonian people have full confidence in their democratic institutions—not only on election day, but throughout the entire electoral period. This includes protecting the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and association as guaranteed in the Cameroonian constitution, electoral code, and other relevant statutes. Journalists, political parties, civil society organizations, and religious institutions must be allowed to operate without harassment or undue restrictions.
We stand with the Cameroonian people as they take this important step along their country’s democratic journey.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Cameroon.
The Standing Committee on Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) conferred with the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah on the 10th of July 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Discussions centred on ways of consolidating the existing collaboration between the PRC and the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security as well as the enhancement of strategic information flow and implementation of decisions by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Led by His Excellency Musa Sani Nuhu, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS, the Ambassadors expressed great appreciation to the Commissioner and the Department for the strong and close partnership in working together over the last three years on matters of peace and stability in West Africa.
On his part, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah congratulated the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner, His Excellency Julius Sandy on his country’s ascension to Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and noted that the need for constant interactions with the ambassadors cannot be overemphasised.
The Commissioner who was flanked by the Director, Peace Keeping and Regional Security (DPKRS) Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom, Gen. Mactar Diop, Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force and staff of the Department stressed that high-pitched attention will continue to be paid to the work of the Department owing to its strategic role in providing responses to core issues of sustainable peace, security, stability and regional integration.
He further harped on the need to have an organic and structured way of feeding into the decision-making processes that are also binding on stakeholders, similar to the arrangements at the United Nations and the African Union.
“There is a need to think regionally. We need that two-way communication between the Department and Member States. How do we contribute as a Department to make sure that the PRC achieves its goals. The forum is therefore something to embrace as it creates an avenue to exchange ideas for the benefit of our region” The Commissioner added.
Members of the Permanent Representatives assured the Department and ECOWAS of their continuous cooperation to move the region forward
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Burned ground can become hydrophobic and almost waxlike, allowing rainfall to quickly wash contaminants downslope.Carli Brucker
A wildfire rages across a forested mountainside. The smoke billows and the flames rise. An aircraft drops vibrant red flame retardant. It’s a dramatic, often dangerous scene. But the threat is only just beginning for downstream communtiies and the water they rely on.
After the smoke clears, the soil, which was once nestled beneath a canopy of trees and a spongy layer of leaves, is now exposed. Often, that soil is charred and sterile, with the heat making the ground almost water-repellent, like a freshly waxed car.
When the first rain arrives, the water rushes downhill. It carries with it a slurry of ash, soil and contaminants from the burned landscape. This torrent flows directly into streams and then rivers that provide drinking water for communities downstream.
As a new research paper my colleagues and I just published shows, this isn’t a short-term problem. The ghost of the fire can haunt these waterways for years.
Scientists explain how wildfires can contaminate water supplies and the ways they measure the effects, summarized in their 2024 publication. University of Colorado-Boulder.
This matters because forested watersheds are the primary water source for nearly two-thirds of municipalities in the United States. As wildfires in the western U.S. become larger and more frequent, the long-term security and safety of water supplies for downstream communities is increasingly at risk.
Charting the long tail of wildfire pollution
Scientists have long known that wildfires can affect water quality, but two key questions remained: Exactly how bad is the impact? And how long does it last?
To find out, my colleagues and I led a study, coordinated by engineer Carli Brucker. We undertook one of the most extensive analyses of post-wildfire water quality to date. The results were published June 23, 2025, in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment.
We gathered decades of water quality data from 245 burned watersheds across the western U.S. and compared them to nearly 300 similar, unburned watersheds.
A map of the basins studied shows the outlines of fires in red and burned basins in black. The blue basins did not burn and were used for comparisons. Carli Brucker, et al., 2025, Nature Communications Earth & Environment
By creating a computer model for each basin that accounted for its normal water quality variability, based on factors such as rainfall and temperature, we were able to isolate the impact of the wildfire. This allowed us to see how much the water quality deviated after the fire, year after year.
The results were stark. In the first year after a fire, the concentrations of some contaminants skyrocketed. We found that levels of sediment and turbidity – the cloudiness of the water – were 19 to 286 times higher than prefire levels. That much sediment can clog filters at water treatment plants and require expensive treatment and maintenance. Think of trying to use a coffee filter with muddy water – the water just won’t flow through.
Concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were three to 103 times greater in the burned basins. These dissolved remnants of burned plants and soil are particularly problematic. When they mix with the chlorine used to disinfect drinking water, they can form harmful chemicals called disinfection byproducts, some of which are linked to cancer.
More surprisingly, we found the impacts to be really persistent. While the most dramatic spikes in phosphorous, nitrate, organic carbon and sediment generally occurred in the first one to three years, some contaminants lingered for much longer.
Contaminants including phosphorus, organic carbon and nitrates lingered in water supplies for years after wildfires. The charts show the average among all burned basins eight years before fires (light blue) and all burned basins after fires (orange). The gray bars show levels in the year immediately after the fire. The horizontal purple line shows levels that would be expected without a fire, based on the prefire years. Carli Brucker, et al., 2025, Nature Communications Earth & Environment
We saw significantly elevated levels of nitrogen and sediment for up to eight years following a fire. Nitrogen and phosphorus act like fertilizer for algae. A surge of these nutrients can trigger algal blooms in reservoirs, which can produce toxins and create foul odors.
This extended timeline suggests that wildfires are fundamentally altering the landscape in ways that take a long time to heal. In our previous laboratory-based research, including a 2024 study, we simulated this process by burning soil and vegetation and then running water over them.
After mountain slopes burn, the rain that falls on them washes ash, charred soil and debris downstream. Carli Brucker
The stuff that leaches out is a cocktail of carbon, nutrients and other compounds that can exacerbate flood risks and degrade water quality in ways that require more expensive treatment at water treatment facilities. In extreme cases, the water quality may be so poor that communities can’t withdraw river water at all, and that can create water shortages.
After the Buffalo Creek Fire in 1996 and then the Hayman Fire in 2002, Denver’s water utility spent more than US$27 million over several years to treat the water, remove more than 1 million cubic yards of sediment and debris from a reservoir, and fix infrastructure. State Forest Service crews planted thousands of trees to help restore the surrounding forest’s water filtering capabilities.
A growing challenge for water treatment
This long-lasting impact poses a major challenge for water treatment plants that make river water safe to drink. Our study highlights that utilities can’t just plan for a few bad months after a fire. They need to be prepared for potentially eight or more years of degraded water quality.
We also found that where a fire burns matters. Watersheds with thicker forests or more urban areas that burned tended to have even worse water quality after a fire.
Since many municipalities draw water from more than one source, understanding which watersheds are likely to have the largest water quality problems after fires can help communities locate the most vulnerable parts of their water supply systems.
As temperatures rise and more people move into wildland areas in the American West, the risk of wildfires increases, and it is becoming clear that preparing for longer-term consequences is crucial. The health of forests and our communities’ drinking water are inseparably linked, with wildfires casting a shadow that lasts long after the smoke clears.
Ben Livneh receives funding from the Western Water Assessment NOAA grant #NA21OAR4310309, ‘Western Water Assessment: Building Resilience to Compound Hazards in the Inter-Mountain West’.
Recent reductions in income tax burdens, benign inflation, lower interest rates and a favourable outlook for agricultural production are expected to support rural incomes and bolster overall consumption in India, according to a new report.
Given that private final consumption expenditure constitutes nearly 60 per cent of India’s GDP, it has a strong bearing on India’s overall growth outlook.
A sustained recovery in consumption is also vital for a meaningful pick-up in private sector capital expenditure.
“We expect private consumption growth of 6.2 per cent in FY26 compared to an average of 6.7 per cent in the last three years. In the long run, it will be critical to monitor factors impacting household income to ensure healthy growth in private consumption,” said the report by CareEdge Ratings.
While overall consumption growth has remained broadly healthy over the past few years, recent indicators suggest emerging pressures in urban demand, even as rural demand continues to hold firm.
Rural consumption is expected to be supported by favourable agricultural output and easing inflation in FY26, the report mentioned.
Recent policy support in the form of RBI rate cuts, reduced tax burdens, and easing inflationary pressures is expected to offer some relief and support to urban consumption in the near term.
Moreover, rural consumption could get a further fillip from the likelihood of a good monsoon this year, the report mentioned.
At a time when the income growth has been weak, the household leverage has seen an uptick. As of FY24, household debt stands at 41 per cent of GDP and 55 per cent of net household disposable income. Even though, Indian households are less leveraged than certain emerging economies such as Thailand (87 per cent of GDP), Malaysia (67 per cent) and China (62 per cent).
The report said that it is essential to closely monitor the unsecured segment of household liabilities, which has increased in the post-pandemic years. This is particularly important in the context of moderating income growth and rising delinquencies in the segment.
The 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was convened on 11 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.
Review and Future Direction of the EAS
The Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening the EAS as the premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia in line with the EAS foundational documents and based on the established principles, objectives and modalities of the EAS.
Download the full statement here.
The post Chairman’s Statement of the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Xinhua) — Openness brings progress, while closedness leads to backwardness, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Saturday, commenting on the high tariffs imposed by the United States on various countries.
Amid the ongoing intertwining of changes and chaos in the current international situation, every country must make a choice between unilateralism and multilateralism, closedness and openness, unity and division, said Wang Yi, who attended the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Kuala Lumpur.
China is choosing to be more open, he stressed, explaining that this is not only based on the country’s basic experience of development and growth, but also on the inevitable logic of historical progress.
Beijing has taken the lead in lifting tariffs on products from least developed countries and Africa as a whole, fully completed negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, and created a new model of inter-regional cooperation at the ASEAN-China-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) summit, the minister added.
On the contrary, high tariffs on various countries are a clear violation of World Trade Organization rules, disrupt the stable operation of production and supply chains, and hinder the recovery and development of the world economy, Wang said. He called the move irresponsible, unpopular and unsustainable.
China will continue to firmly stand shoulder to shoulder with countries in the region, promote unity, cooperation and collective strength, and will always be an advocate of multilateralism, a defender of free trade and a champion of open development, the minister stressed. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, briefed reporters on Saturday on his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here on Friday.
Both Beijing and Washington recognize that the China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, affects both countries and impacts the entire world, he said.
The common goal of both sides is to translate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state into concrete policies and actions to ensure that the two giant ships – China and the United States – do not deviate from course, lose speed or collide, Wang added.
According to him, the meeting was constructive and an equal dialogue took place in the spirit of mutual respect.
The Chinese delegation comprehensively laid out its principled position on relations with the United States, which, according to Wang Yi, strengthened the United States’ understanding of China and paved the way for future exchanges between the diplomatic teams of the two countries.
The Minister summed up the meeting with the following words: strengthening contacts, preventing misjudgments, managing differences and expanding cooperation.
Wang Yi noted that from the perspective of historical evolution and humanity as a whole, China and the United States have great common interests and broad space for cooperation.
Both sides have the responsibility and opportunity to find the right path to improve relations in the new era, the Foreign Minister said. Finding a common language will be a blessing for the peoples of both countries and will give hope to all countries in the world, he added. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Pyongyang, July 12 (Xinhua) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived at Wonsan Airport on Friday night to begin his visit to the DPRK, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.
It is noted that during the visit, which is taking place at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, S. Lavrov will hold talks with his North Korean counterpart Choi Son Hee.
The visit will last from July 11 to 13, KCNA reported earlier.
Ahead of this trip, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that S. Lavrov and Choi Son Hee will take part in the second round of bilateral strategic dialogue at the level of foreign ministers in Pyongyang, Russian media reported on Friday. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was convened on 11 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.
Review and Future Direction of the EAS
The Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening the EAS as the premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia in line with the EAS foundational documents and based on the established principles, objectives and modalities of the EAS.
Download the full statement here.
The post Chairman’s Statement of the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The Ministry of Agriculture branch in the Southern Red Sea Region has provided training on the preparation of solid and liquid organic fertilizers to exemplary farmers in the port city of Assab.
The training was attended by exemplary farmers from the sub-zones of Assab and South Dankalia, as well as members of the agriculture office branch.
The training covered the preparation of composted fertilizer from household waste and leaves, fertilizer from fish remains, and the proper use of organic pesticides.
Mr. Mohammed Abdurahman, Head of the Agriculture Office in the region, said that the objective of the training was to enhance farmers’ understanding and encourage the application of organic fertilizers and pesticides in their daily agricultural activities.
The participants noted that the training would significantly contribute to improving their agricultural productivity and called for similar future programs.
Training on financial and material management has been provided to newly elected area administrators, village coordinators, tax collectors in Afabet sub-zone, and members of the sub-zonal administration. The training was organized by the Human Resources Development Unit of the Northern Red Sea Regional Administration.
The training covered planning and its significance, financial and material management, strengthening worker discipline and productivity, documentation, project management, and conflict resolution in the workplace.
Explaining the importance of the training in facilitating their daily responsibilities, the trainees called for the program’s continuity.
Calling on the participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training in their day-to-day activities, Mr. Mohammed-Nur Rejib, Administrator of the sub-zone, expressed the administration’s readiness to strengthen participation and contribute to developing human resource capacity in the sub-zone.
Thirty-four youth from across the south of Libya joined Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General Stephanie Koury in an online youth consultation Wednesday to discuss their opinions on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations.
The event is part of broader consultations to gather feedback from the public on the next steps of the political process. UNSMIL has also launched an online poll inviting Libyans to share options on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations and contribute to shaping the way forward in the political process.
Participants stressed the need for representation for the south in any mechanism or institution, highlighting that they suffer through economic instability and insecurity across borders and do not benefit from oil money.
The youth all agreed that the deteriorating economic situation was closely linked to the security situation and one could not be solved without addressing the other. They highlighted that they wanted stability and security and their voices to be heard in representative forums.
“We suffer from weak infrastructure with power cuts during 50-degree heat,” said one participant from Ghat. “We are deprived of basic services. We need to focus on these things, not a constitution.”
The economic situation is so bad, another participant from Ghat said, that it’s impacting the security situation. “This is why people are making their livelihoods from selling weapons,” they said. “We need to have a clear economic plan,” said a participant from Sebha. “We need to end the sources of corruption.”
A participant from Ubari called for transitional periods to end. “Through the years and different governments, our divisions have only increased,” said a participant from Sebha, adding that the best way forward was to have a referendum.
When discussing elections, the youth expressed distrust in the national authorities’ ability to oversee elections and in the democratic process overall. One spoke of how votes had been bought; people he knew sold their voter cards in the previous elections.
DSRSG Koury briefed participants on the four options put forward by the Advisory Committee in May. As outlined in the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee’s report, the options include:
Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously;
Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution;
Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or
Establishing a political dialogue forum, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution.
Many of the participants who joined favoured option four saying that this was the only option that ended the current cycle of entities that they felt did not represent them or the people of Libya.
UNSMIL stressed that youth voices were crucial to the political process and that it intended to continue with its YouEngage outreach efforts.
All participants were encouraged to complete UNSMIL’s online poll [link] and share it with their friends and families to ensure community voices are heard.
– on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
On the occasion of the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, urges all African Union Member States to underscore human dignity in their anti-corruption strategies.
The 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day is commemorated under the theme, Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption. The commemoration held annually on 11 July, aligns this year with the overarching AU theme for 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The Chairperson emphasizes that corruption is not merely an economic crime but a direct assault on human dignity and security as it robs countries of their potential and individuals of their dignity. Corruption undermines trust in our institutions, diverts resources meant for development, and perpetuates inequality and poverty.
The Chairperson highlights that corruption strips citizens, particularly women, youth , children and the most vulnerable, of their fundamental rights, freedoms, and opportunities to thrive, leading to tragic consequences like increased maternal mortality due to diverted health funds or lack of basic education for children.
The Chairperson highlights the intrinsic link between the fight against corruption and the broader pursuit of justice and reparations. He notes that just as the continent seeks to address historical injustices through reparations, it must equally dismantle contemporary corrupt systems that perpetuate indignity and injustice.
The 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day theme seeks to sensitize Africans of the importance to examine our history, and to shape our shared future, based on the dignity of people.
The Chairperson reiterates that the African Union has prioritized the fight against corruption as a cornerstone of its Agenda 2063, envisioning an Africa where integrity, accountability, and transparency prevail. He stresses that the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), adopted 22 years ago, remains the guiding framework. He urges Member States to continue aligning national legislation and strategies with its principles, particularly Article 2(4), which enjoins State Parties to promote socio-economic development by removing obstacles to the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights.
The AU Chairperson calls for immediate action by Member States to fulfil their commitment to effectively tackle corruption and implement measures that apply a human rights lens in prevention and enforcement. He also calls for unity to dismantle corruption’s structures and build a continent where human dignity is protected and celebrated.
