NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government will allocate almost 44 billion rubles for monthly payments to residents of the Kursk region who have lost their essential property

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The decision was made on the instructions of the President.

    Residents of the Kursk region whose essential property was lost will receive monthly payments of 65 thousand rubles. The order to allocate almost 44 billion rubles for these purposes was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    The decision concerns more than 112 thousand citizens who, as of August 6, 2024, lived in territories where the counter-terrorism operation and federal emergency regime were introduced.

    Funds from the Government’s reserve fund will be provided to the region in the form of an interbudgetary transfer.

    The issue was discussed at a meeting between the President and members of the Government on February 18. The head of state instructed the Cabinet to allocate the necessary funds for this.

    Commenting on the decision takenGovernment meeting on February 20, Mikhail Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Labor to monitor the organization of work to provide assistance to affected residents of the Kursk region.

    The document will be published.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Defender of the Fatherland Day in the Year of Defender of the Fatherland

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    A unique historical situation has developed – today we celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. After all, 2025 is dedicated simultaneously to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and to all those who are now defending the Motherland during a special military operation, restoring the infrastructure of historical territories, conducting scientific research, diversifying production, training new generations of Russian specialists, collecting humanitarian aid, fighting for the truth in the information field, defining the country’s strategic objectives and managing national projects.

    State University Rector Vladimir Stroev:

    “Colleagues, friends, students of the State University of Management, I congratulate you on Defender of the Fatherland Day! In recent years, this holiday has become increasingly national in nature and concerns not only men who have completed military service, but also broader sections of the population. All those who, in their place, make a certain contribution to the well-being of society, the achievement of technological and cultural leadership by our country, the construction of a new model of world order based on the principles of justice and equality. Nevertheless, special honor and respect from all of us go to the fighters who, with weapons in their hands, at the risk of their lives and health, defend the honor of our state. Without their victories on the fields of special military operations, any discussions about the essence of the holiday would have no basis. However, the unity of the people around them allows us to say that February 23 today is Defender of the Fatherland Day and the citizens who help him, among whom are women and children, the elderly, representatives of absolutely peaceful professions that are in no way connected with the military-industrial complex. Their material and moral support is also important, they are also part of the steel shell of our Motherland, but not the outer hard armor, but the inner soft lining.

    Therefore, this time I would like not only to congratulate our defenders on the holiday, but also to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who, with their work on the front lines and in the rear, brings Russia’s global success closer. Including, of course, students and employees of the State University of Management, who, in addition to their main activities, participate in the “State University of Management – SVOim” campaign, conduct “University Shifts”, clean the Black Sea, develop unmanned systems and agricultural complexes. Thank you for your concern and responsible life position. Be happy in the vast expanses of our reliably protected Fatherland!”

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/23/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says to impose retaliatory tariffs on digital taxes

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that levy digital taxes on U.S. tech companies.

    When asked whether he would sign an order regarding digital taxes, Trump gave an affirmative answer.

    “We are going to be doing that, digital. What they’re doing to us in other countries is terrible with digital, so we’re going to be announcing that,” he said.

    “Though America has no such thing, and only America should be allowed to tax American firms, trading partners hand American companies a bill for something called a digital service tax,” read a fact sheet released earlier this month by the White House.

    “Canada and France use these taxes to each collect over 500 million (U.S.) dollars per year from American companies,” the White House said. “Overall, these non-reciprocal taxes cost America’s firms over 2 billion dollars per year.”

    In recent years, several European countries have actively pushed for digital taxes on the operations of large tech companies like Google, Amazon, Apple and Meta in their countries, which has been strongly opposed by the United States.

    During Trump’s first term, he initiated a “301 investigation” into the digital services taxes of several trade partners, accusing these tax measures of unfairly affecting American businesses.

    After Joe Biden took office, the United States reached a compromise with Austria, Britain, France, Italy and Spain regarding the digital services tax dispute in October 2021, and agreed to resolve the issue under the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s global tax deal.

    But on his first day back in office on Jan. 20, Trump signed a presidential memorandum that the global corporate minimum tax deal reached under the OECD framework had “no force or effect” in the United States, effectively withdrawing from the agreement that the Biden administration had negotiated with nearly 140 countries. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US tariff policies threaten global economy, expert warns

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Washington’s escalating protectionist policies, grounded in the “zero-sum” logic, risk destabilizing the global economic order and deepening recessionary pressures, an expert has said.

    The Trump administration’s tariff-driven agenda, which prioritizes short-term domestic gains, threatens to fracture international supply chains and undermine multilateral institutions, said Vlade Simovic, a professor of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    In an interview with Xinhua, he depicted the Trump administration’s move to revive high tariffs as a return to mercantilist principles.

    While Washington seeks to reshore manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, this approach ignores the realities of globalization, said Simovic.

    Though tariffs may be politically appealing to Washington, the expert warned, they may trigger retaliatory cycles.

    “Modern economies thrive on interdependence. Disrupting this balance risks inflation, supply chain chaos and a collapse of multilateral frameworks,” he said.

    U.S. unilateralism is eroding the World Trade Organization (WTO), with Washington prioritizing bilateral deals over multilateral rules, said Simovic. “The WTO is increasingly irrelevant to the U.S. that writes its own playbook.”

    Historical parallels are alarming — protectionism in the 1930s worsened the Great Depression, he added.

    Simovic said that the European Union, as a key U.S. trade partner, faces acute vulnerabilities under U.S. tariff threats on steel, aluminum and automobiles, which pose risks to Europe’s social stability and economic growth.

    The international community must prioritize inclusive reforms to avert a preventable crisis — one where short-term political wins pave the path to long-term collective loss, he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Orban rejects Ukraine’s NATO membership, imposes conditions on EU entry

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday opposed Ukraine’s bid to join NATO, and pledged to block its access to the European Union (EU) if it runs counter to Hungary’s interests.

    In his state-of-the-nation speech in Budapest, Orban said, “Against Hungary and the Hungarians, Ukraine will never be a member of the European Union,” emphasizing the Hungarians’ right to decide on the EU membership.

    He warned that Ukraine’s accession would ruin Hungarian farmers and the entire national economy.

    Orban also stressed the significance of the post-conflict period following Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, arguing it is more important than the war itself. He underscored Ukraine’s role as a “buffer zone” between NATO and Russia, firmly rejecting the notion of Ukraine as a NATO member.

    A consistent critic of most European leaders’ handling of the conflict in Ukraine, Orban accused them of dragging the West into a futile and dangerous confrontation.

    The debate over Ukraine’s future comes amid discussions over ending the three-year military conflict. This follows recent high-level talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials on a potential peace deal – a meeting notably absent of EU and Ukrainian representatives. Ukrainian President Zelensky has reiterated that any peace plan excluding Ukraine’s direct input is unacceptable. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hungary’s Orban vows probe into US-funded ‘pseudo-civil’ organizations

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that his government will send a commissioner to the United States to gather information on American funds flowing to Hungary’s “pseudo-civil public organizations.”

    Speaking in his state-of-the-nation address on Saturday, Orban claimed that these funds have been used to “buy journalists, judges and prosecutors, politicians, foundations, bureaucrats” and to impose what he described as “a liberal dictatorship of opinion” across the Western world.

    Recent reports in local media have suggested that funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been used in Hungary to undermine the government.

    Orban stated that these revelations “threw the skeletons out of the closet,” exposing a system designed to suppress national sovereignty by influencing civil society and political activities. He pledged that his government would “urgently create the constitutional and legal conditions” necessary to prevent pseudo-civil organizations from serving foreign interests in Hungary, adding that legal amendments could be enacted by Easter.

    While further details of the planned measures have not been disclosed, Orban has emphasized that the initiative aims to safeguard national interests and prevent external forces from interfering in Hungary’s political affairs.

    Following Orban’s speech, Alexandra Szentkiralyi, head of the ruling Fidesz party’s Budapest chapter, confirmed in a Facebook post that Hungary will send a government commissioner to the United States to “uncover the Hungarian agents” who have received funding from USAID. “Enough with serving foreign interests and the Brussels-based and Soros networks,” she wrote. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lisbon Maru rescue honored in London

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom (UK) hosted a special reception in London on Saturday for the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors, commemorating the heroic rescue during World War II and celebrating the Spring Festival.

    In October 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war (POWs) from Hong Kong to Japan, was struck by U.S. forces off the Zhoushan Islands in China’s Zhejiang province. As the ship sank, local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang recounted the rescue, emphasizing that it stands as a testament to China and Britain fighting side by side as allies against fascist aggression. The rescue has left tales of the profound friendship between the people of the two countries — a friendship that “will never fade” and “has become a valuable asset” for bilateral relations, he added.

    At the end of the reception, the families of the survivors stood together, held hands, and sang Auld Lang Syne.

    Lindsey Archer, niece of a British soldier who perished in the Lisbon Maru shipwreck, told Xinhua that events like this help strengthen bonds and foster new friendships. She expressed that the families of both the British survivors and the Chinese rescuers have become a new community for her. Keeping the memory of their ancestors alive, she said, is crucial, as “what they suffered, lost, and sacrificed has shaped where we are today.”

    Last year, Archer, along with a dozen other descendants of British POWs — including Kenneth Salmon — visited China to pay tribute to the fallen at the wreck site in Zhoushan.

    Salmon, whose father was a Royal Artillery sergeant rescued from the sinking Lisbon Maru, described the emotional connection he felt during the visit. Reflecting on the friendships forged during the trip, he said there is “an emotional attachment” in Zhoushan.

    He also expressed his appreciation for the presence of young children at the reception, emphasizing the importance of preserving the story of the rescue for future generations to learn about their ancestry and family history.

    As part of the event, a photography exhibition showcased the progress made in recent years in tracing the history of the Lisbon Maru rescue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First schools confirmed for landmark free breakfast clubs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    First schools confirmed for landmark free breakfast clubs

    First 750 schools to offer clubs from April, delivering on government’s Plan for Change.

    Families and children in every corner of England will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs as the government confirms the first 750 schools to offer the scheme, putting up to £450 a year back in parents’ pockets.

    From as soon as April, chosen schools across all nine regions will kick-off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform the government’s landmark national roll out which will give all parents access to the scheme.

    Delivering on promises made to working parents in the government’s manifesto, all primary aged children in early adopter schools will be able to access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, every day, helping to support parents getting into work by dropping their children off half an hour earlier.  

    Schools are encouraged to offer healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts, with examples from wheat bisks and porridge to fresh fruit and yoghurt. The early adopter schools also provide the perfect setting to host activities including arts and crafts, educational puzzles, reading and more.

    Universal free breakfast clubs are central to the government’s Plan for Change, removing barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing the clubs can have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.  

    Making sure no child starts school hungry, the scheme also has an important role to play in the government’s commitment to remove the stain of child poverty, as out of the 180,000 children who will benefit in the early adopter schools, around 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas.

    The clubs come alongside a raft of measures designed to cut the cost of living for families, including the commitment to significantly cut uniform costs through a cap on branded items and complement government-funded childcare.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: 

    Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.   

    Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.  

    Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.

    Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of locations, including those that do not currently run a breakfast club, and all will receive funding to cover food and staffing costs.

    Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities.  

    Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months. 

    Too many children’s life chances are being scarred by rising poverty, with one in four in absolute poverty as of 2023. The government is determined to change that, with the breakfast club rollout being driven alongside wider work of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is set to deliver an ambitious strategy to increase household income, bring down essential costs, and tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty. 

    Jackie Fitton, Headteacher at Kearsley West Primary School said: 

    We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools. For our school, the funding provided will be a real-life saver, ensuring we can provide a healthy breakfast and supportive start to the day for our pupils.   

    Breakfast clubs have already made a massive difference to pupils’ wellbeing, providing them with time to settle in, socialise with friends and get ready to learn.

    Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said: 

    Family Action welcomes the government’s announcement of the 750 schools who have been selected to take part in the Early Adopters Scheme. These schools will have a vital test and learn role which will undoubtedly inform the national rollout of the government’s exciting universal breakfast policy.  

    We know that an effective breakfast provision delivered in a supportive and enriching environment can make the world of difference to a child. We look forward to sharing our long experience of delivering breakfast provision ourselves with early adopter schools.

    Early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.  The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8am and 6pm – continues to roll out across the country.  

    Notes to editors

    1. Number of eligible pupils attending early adopter schools in the bottom third most deprived LSOAs in England using IDACI English indices of deprivation 2019 at 19 February 2025. 

    2. An Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) impact evaluation of the Magic Breakfast programme found that offering pupils in primary schools a free, universal, before-school breakfast club which includes a breakfast can boost their reading, writing, and maths attainment by an average of 2 months’ additional progress in Key Stage 1.   

    3. Guidance on the early adopter scheme is available on GOV.UK.

    4. More information on the 750 confirmed schools is available on GOV.UK

    5. For more information on parents for local breakfast club provision can be found on the Education Blog.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister and the President of the United States spoke today about the war in Ukraine, ahead of Monday’s virtual G7 meeting. The Prime Minister also updated the President about shared progress at the Canada-U.S. border combatting fentanyl, including the work of Canada’s new Fentanyl Czar and Canada’s listing of cartels. The Prime Minister noted seizures of fentanyl at the border have decreased.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President of Finland: 22 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President of Finland: 22 February 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Finland Alexander Stubb this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Finland Alexander Stubb this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister began by reiterating the need to secure enduring peace for Ukraine and bring an end to Russia’s illegal war.

    The leaders agreed the need for Europe to step up support to achieve this, and the Prime Minister said the UK is ready to play a role in future security guarantees.

    They agreed to stay in close contact.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA – The first intercontinental meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Asia and Oceania is currently taking place in Sydney

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Sydney (Agenzia Fides) – For the first time, representatives of the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Asia and Oceania are meeting for an intercontinental meeting. The meeting, which is currently taking place in Sydney, will continue until Sunday.The National Directors, who represent more than 20 countries on both continents, including Bangladesh, Cambodia and Laos, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, East Timor, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, will focus on the importance of collaboration in relation to the urgencies and hopes that characterize missionary work in the various local situations.The leitmotif of the five days is Pope Francis’ invitation to be “missionaries of hope among the peoples” (see Message for World Mission Sunday 2025). The participants of the meeting sent a message of solidarity in prayer to the Bishop of Rome, who is currently being treated for bilateral pneumonia at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.”The Pontifical Mission Societies in Australia ‘Catholic Mission’ is privileged to host the intercontinental meeting of the National Directors for Asia and Oceania,” said Father Brian Lucas. “Australia has very strong relations with our immediate neighbours, including the support of a regional office in Phnom Penh, and this opportunity for personal exchange provides an excellent basis for cooperation.”The aim is to join forces and find solutions together to respond to local challenges, said the organizers of the meeting, which, in addition to offering training courses (including one on the theme of the Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope”), also offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Australian Church, including Archbishop Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, and Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM, Bishop of the Diocese of Parramatta. In addition, the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies from Asia and Oceania also met with Ms. Kelly Paget, Chancellor of the Diocese of Broken Bay, who had taken part in the World Synod on Synodality in Rome.”We are trying these days to unite as two regions. Of course, we have different problems, challenges and hopes, and that is what we are discussing here. Our hope is to speak with a united voice and work together for the mission of the Church throughout the world and to bring about concrete change,” said Father Michael Cheng Chai, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in New Zealand. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 22/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – In the Jubilee Year, Catholics entrust themselves to the intercession of Cardinal Stephen Kim, Servant of God

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    CBCK

    Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – Hundreds of people – up to 800 a day – come every day to the Catholic cemetery of Yogin, a city south of Seoul, to visit the tomb of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan (1922-2009), “Servant of God” and former Archbishop of Seoul, and to entrust themselves to his intercession. In order to commemorate, in the Jubilee Year, the evangelizing impulse that marked the Cardinal in his ministry as a baptized person, priest and bishop – in accordance with the Gospel phrase he often quoted: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world” – the Catholic communities of Seoul have organized in recent days the second symposium dedicated to the Cardinal and on February 16 they took part in a memorial mass on the 16th anniversary of his death in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul.During the Eucharist, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Auxiliary Bishop Job Koo Yobi, emphasized that “Cardinal Kim has personally shown today’s believers, even those who do not believe in God, how to live the Gospel.” His testimony will be valuable to Korean believers in the Jubilee year and also in view of World Youth Day, which will take place in Seoul in 2027, said the Auxiliary Bishop.Among the more than a thousand faithful who attended the mass, 200 were active donors to the foundation created in 2010, a year after the death of Cardinal Kim, the “Fool sharing Foundation”, which takes up one of the mottos and proverbs of the Cardinal, who loved to define himself as “a fool of Christ”, adding that “a fool speaks to fools”.The Eucharist was the first commemorative Mass since Cardinal Kim was named a “Servant of God” after the official opening of the diocesan phase of the beatification process in July 2024. The Mass is usually held annually in the cemetery where the cardinal is buried. This year, the celebration in the cathedral was intended to give more people the opportunity to be present, pray and ask for the cardinal’s intercession together.Meanwhile, the symposium dedicated to Cardinal Kim affirmed that the beatification process will only move forward with the “full trust of the people in the intercession of the candidate for beatification and canonization,” explained Fr. Boguslaw Turek, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who spoke at the conference. The symposium, entitled “The Life, Virtues and Fame of Holiness of Cardinal Stephen Kim Soo-hwan II,” was organized by the Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Korean Research Institute of Church History.”Prayers of intercession must continue without interruption,” the Vatican dicastery’s Undersecretary continued. Regarding the recognition of the miracle, Fr. Turek explained that “the prayer of intercession must be offered before the event considered a miracle occurs.”Good work in the diocesan phase of the process helps the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to continue the process, he stressed. The diocesan tribunals must actively question witnesses, conduct historical and archival research, and collect all documents about the candidates in order to carefully and in detail reconstruct their lives and prove their heroic virtues.Father Cho Han-gyu of the Catholic University of Seoul stressed: “Cardinal Kim is the person who has best lived and exemplified the imitation of Christ in our time: an example for all Christians.” Father Koh Jun-seok, parish priest of the Hyehwa-dong parish in the Archdiocese of Seoul, affirmed: “When Cardinal Kim was Archbishop of Seoul, his pastoral letters focused primarily on ‘renewal of the Church and evangelization.’ His work was a multifaceted pastoral service for a community that was called to proclaim the Gospel while celebrating the faith and exercising the service of charity and community: all this he did in a deeply Eucharistic life in which he gave himself completely.” Auxiliary Bishop Job Koo Yobi concluded: “Today’s society seems to be moving in a different direction from that followed by Cardinal Kim. I hope that this event will be an opportunity for many people to follow his exemplary life and virtues.” The memory of the person and work of the Cardinal are promoted and preserved by the “Stephen Cardinal Kim Institute”, a research institute named after him, which manages a historical archive and the publications dedicated to him. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 22/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Three years into the war in Ukraine, One third of population in Frontlines regions struggle to find enough to eat

    Source: World Food Programme

    KYIV, Ukraine — As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, an estimated five million Ukrainians are facing food insecurity, with the greatest needs concentrated in areas near the frontlines. According to data collected by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), millions of people are resorting to coping mechanisms, sacrificing their own meals so their children can eat. Others are going into debt to buy sufficient food supplies to feed their families.

    WFP continues to provide food and cash assistance to nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians each month, mostly in the frontline regions. Despite these efforts, more than half of the people in the Kherson region in the south face severe hunger, and, two out of every five individuals face hunger in Zaporizhzhia as well as the Donetsk region in the east.

    “Families in frontline regions are struggling to put food on the table, forcing them to make heartbreaking choices just to get by,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Ukraine. “As we look forward to sustainable peace in what is considered to be one of the world’s historical breadbasket regions, we must face the reality that humanitarian aid continues to be a lifeline for millions.”

    According to WFP monitoring, 72 percent of those who receive food assistance reported having to cut back on food, buy less nutritious food, skip meals, or borrow money to feed their family. Across six frontline regions almost a third of all people are food insecure.

    In areas close to the war, commercial supply chains are disrupted, infrastructure is often damaged or destroyed, and the opportunities to earn money are scarce. Where supermarkets are accessible and stocked, many families cannot afford nutritious food. The cost of basic food items rose by 25 percent in the last year, with some staple vegetables more than doubling in price.

    Since March 2022, WFP has provided assistance in Ukraine equivalent to 3.3 billion meals and distributed 445,000 metric tons of food. 

    Meanwhile, the challenges of delivering lifesaving assistance near the frontlines have been growing. In the last six months, WFP food distribution points and the vehicles or assets of its local humanitarian partners have been hit by drones, shelling or missiles more than 20 times, putting humanitarian operations at risk.

    #                              #                               #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Twitter @wfp_media, @WFPUkraine

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN in Ukraine prepares for the worst, hopes for the best

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Humanitarian Aid

    As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine reaches its third year, a flurry of diplomatic activity has led to a growing expectation of a ceasefire, although the situation remains extremely fluid. Despite the uncertainty, the UN is planning how to best support the country when the fighting finally stops.

    Ukrainians continue to face near daily attacks, with air strikes consistently targeting civilian infrastructure, leaving families without homes, security and electricity. More than 10 million people have been uprooted from their homes, making Ukraine the largest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War.

    Some 12,600 civilians have been killed and more than 29,000 injured. Thousands of attacks on health facilities have left doctors working under near impossible conditions. Throughout the fighting, the UN has remained an ever-present support, helping to deliver aid, providing emergency healthcare and reconnecting damaged power supplies.

    The future for Ukraine remains unclear but, as Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian coordinator for the country, told UN News, the United Nations has been planning for a range of post-conflict scenarios.

    This interview has been edited for clarity and length

    “The general sense within the diplomatic community is that we are closing in on a ceasefire, and that this may happen sooner rather than later. That’s one scenario that we are preparing for by intensifying our ongoing recovery and development efforts.

    The UN is already doing incredible work helping to restore energy facilities that have been hit, and without that work the people of this country would be much worse off, especially in these cold conditions.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has reopened or rebuilt primary healthcare facilities along the frontline that were at one point closed or destroyed. If the guns stay silent, we can obviously do much more to help.

    A heavy toll on mental health

    Our partners, which include governments, appreciate that the UN is all about leaving no one behind, so we are looking at the groups that are likely to be vulnerable once the war ends.

    © UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov

    Seven-year-old Milana and her family fled Myrnohrad in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

    War veterans are one such group. I have been frequently told that around a million people are involved in the fighting, many of them heavily armed. Hundreds of thousands of people will return traumatised from the frontline, after some two to three years away from their families. This could cause tension, including an increase in gender-based violence.

    The country will continue to suffer from the impacts of this horrible war for some time, particularly in terms of mental health issues.

    Again, the UN System is providing support. For example, the UN Development Programme has helped to develop a digital app specially aimed at veterans, to help them to access the services they might need, and we are running over 80 “safe spaces” where vulnerable people, such as survivors of gender-based violence and children of those internally displaced, can talk about their experiences and receive counselling.

    There’s also a lot of speculation that refugees will start to come back, and a few months ago our colleagues in the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), in collaboration with the government, launched a website that gives refugees abroad information about what services they can access when they return, to help them find housing or jobs. We’re trying to be ready to significantly scale up this work.

    © UNOCHA/Yurii Veres

    UNICEF supplies arrive in Shevchenkove village, Kharkiv region, Ukraine (January 2025)

    Ready to deal with any scenario

    The big open question is what the ceasefire deal will look like, in particular with regard to the occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine. Around a million Ukrainians are living in these regions, and we don’t know what will happen to them. Will there be a demilitarised zone? Will an international peacekeeping force maintain the ceasefire deal? And what are the opportunities for the provision of humanitarian aid?

    On the other hand, whilst everyone hopes the guns will be silenced, the opposite could happen. There are several nuclear power plants in Ukraine, and if one of them takes a direct hit, we could all of a sudden be facing a major nuclear catastrophe. Government officials are extremely concerned about this [on 15 February, the UN atomic energy agency, IAEA, reported that a drone strike had pierced a hole in the structure built to prevent radioactive material leaking from the damaged Chernobyl reactor. Despite significant damage, the IAEA recorded no change in radiation levels at the site].

    Whatever happens, we are trying to ensure that the UN is as agile and as mentally prepared as possible for any scenario.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three arrested on suspicion of murdering 20-year-old Jason Romeo

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are no longer appealing for the public’s help to locate three men in connection with an ongoing investigation into the death of 20-year-old Jason Romeo in Hackney.

    Jason died on Tuesday, 18 February, after being stabbed outside an address in Bodney Street, E5 at 17:59hrs.

    A murder investigation within Specialist Crime Command remains ongoing and on Friday, 22 February, three men were arrested on suspicion of murder. The men, aged 22, 21 and 21 remain in custody.

    Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, leading the investigation, said:

    “I would like to thank the public for their support following an appeal issued yesterday to identify three men.

    “This investigation is progressing quickly and our officers are working tirelessly to get justice for Jason and his family.

    “We are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information which could support this investigation to come forward. Specifically, around two men, we believe were in the area at the time of Jason’s death who officers are looking to identify. Anyone with any information is asked to contact us.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 22 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 22 February 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke with President Zelenskyy this morning.

    The Prime Minister spoke with President Zelenskyy this morning.

    The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s ironclad support for Ukraine and commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war.

    The leaders reflected on recent developments in the conflict, as the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaches, and agreed on the need to continue working together with allies to achieve peace through strength.

    They agreed that this was a significant moment for the future of Ukraine and European security at large.

    The Prime Minister repeated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war and that safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty was essential to deter future aggression from Russia.

    The Prime Minister said he would be progressing these important discussions in the coming days and weeks, including with US President Trump whilst visiting Washington D.C. next week.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President of the European Commission: 22 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    PM call with President of the European Commission: 22 February 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen this morning.

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen this morning.

    Ahead of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s barbaric illegal war, they discussed the need to secure a just and enduring peace in Ukraine, and agreed that Europe must step up for the good of collective European security.

    The Prime Minister said he would continue to have these important discussions in coming days and weeks, including during his visit to Washington D.C. 

    The leaders agreed to stay in close contact.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Honorary Knighthood medal presented to Sunil Bharti Mittal

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Honorary Knighthood medal presented to Sunil Bharti Mittal

    Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has today (22 February) received the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

    Sunil Bharti Mittal

    He was presented the medal at a special investiture ceremony in the presence of friends and family at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi.

    The ceremony follows the announcement in 2024 that His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to confer Mr Mittal the Honorary Knighthood for services to UK-India business relations.

    Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said:

    I was delighted to present Sunil Bharti Mittal the KBE medal on behalf of His Majesty the King. Mr Mittal is a great friend of the UK – with significant investments, including BT, Gleneagles, Norlake Hospitality, and OneWeb.

    Mr. Mittal’s leadership has made a lasting impact on the UK-India partnership, including through his work with the India-UK CEO Forum. Most recently, he led a senior Indian business delegation to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Starmer, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor, and other Cabinet Ministers to identify opportunities for accelerating economic growth across both nations. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr Mittal and congratulate him once again.

    Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Founder, Bharti Enterprises, said:

    It is an honour to have received the KBE from His Majesty, King Charles III.

    As India and the United Kingdom continue to chart remarkable scale in our bilateral relations, I acknowledge this recognition both as a privilege and a responsibility. I remain committed to working with stakeholders in our nations towards advancing India – UK business relations.

    On the occasion of this very special milestone, I extend my gratitude to all for their support through this journey.

    Further information

    • Free-to-use images from the investiture will be available for download, here.
    • Mr Mittal was recognised in the Honorary British awards for foreign nationals that His Majesty The King approved during 2024, published here.
    • The KBE is among the highest honours awarded by His Majesty The King to foreign nationals for pre-eminent contributions in various fields

    Media

    For media queries, contact:

    David Russell,
    Communications Counsellor and Spokesperson
    British High Commission,
    Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. Tel: 24192100

    Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fcdo.gov.uk

    Follow us on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Youtube and LinkedIn

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage

    Source: United Nations 2

    Health

    Every day, almost one in five young women are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say “I don’t” to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally.

    “I was married at 14, and I lost my first child at 16 during pregnancy,” Ranu Chakma said. Child marriage is common in her village of Teknaf Upazila, on the southern coast of Bangladesh, even though it is illegal and a human rights violation.

    Those violations occur even at a time when many countries are banning the illegal practice, most recently in Colombia, where a law came into effect earlier this month.

    Here are five common misconceptions about child marriage:

    Myth 1: It’s always illegal

    Child marriage is banned under many international agreements, from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. Still, there are 640 million women and girls in the world who were child brides, with more child marriages taking place every day.

    How is that possible? Many countries ban child marriage in principle, but define the permissible age of marriage as something other than 18 or permit exceptions with parental consent or under religious or customary law. In many cases these marriages, and marriages in general, are not legally registered, making enforcement of the law difficult.

    Addressing child marriage requires more than laws; it requires rethinking how society values girls.

    Programmes like Taalim-i-Naubalighan, in Bihar, India, where two in five children marry before age 18, are having an impact. These programmes encourage young people to think about topics such as gender roles and human rights.

    “That’s why I was able to help my sister,” said Altamash, a male student whose sister wanted to avoid child marriage and continue her studies. “When I understood her desire and how it would help her, I advocated for her to my father. She is now going to complete her education, and I am so proud of her.”

    © UNFPA Madagascar

    In Madagascar, information sessions are key in changing minds and raising awareness about child marriage and other harmful practices.

    Myth 2: Sometimes child marriage is necessary

    Child marriage remains pervasive in part because it is seen as a solution to other problems.

    In humanitarian crises, child marriage rates often rise, with parents believing marriage will secure a daughter’s future by making a husband responsible for economically supporting her and protecting her from violence. Child marriage is seen as a solution that will preserve the honour of a girl and her family after – or in some cases before – she becomes pregnant. In developing countries, the majority of adolescent births take place within a marriage.

    Yet, child marriage is not a real solution to any of these issues. Child marriage itself leads to girls experiencing high levels of sexual, physical and emotional violence from their intimate partners. Pregnancy is dangerous for girls; complications of pregnancy and childbirth are one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls. Child brides and adolescent mothers are often forced to drop out of school, upending their future prospects.

    Nicolette, 16, in Madagascar was so accustomed to seeing her classmates disappear from school after marrying and becoming pregnant, she never thought to question the practice. That’s until she attended a UNFPA-supported awareness session.

    “I didn’t know that we could be victims of child marriage,” she said. Now, she wants all the girls in her community to know: “Everyone has the right to realise their ambitions, and marriage is a choice.”

    © UNFPA Niger

    More than three quarters of girls in Niger are married while they are still children.

    Myth 3: This problem is going away

    Child marriage may sound like a problem of the past or of faraway places, but in fact it remains a serious threat to girls around the world.

    While global child marriage rates are slowly falling, the places with the highest rates also have the most population growth, meaning the absolute number of child marriages is expected to increase.

    The problem is indeed global. The largest number of child brides live in the Asia and Pacific region, the highest rate of child marriage is seen in sub-Saharan Africa and lack of progress in Latin America and the Caribbean mean that this region is expected to have the second highest prevalence of child marriage by 2030.

    Yet, the issue is not limited to developing nations. It takes place in countries like the United Kingdom and United States, too.

    “I was basically introduced to somebody in the morning, and I was forced to marry him that night,” Sara Tasneem said, recalling her marriage, first an informal spiritual union at age 15 then legally at age 16. “I got pregnant right away, and we were legally married in Reno, Nevada, where it only required permission signed by my dad.”

    To change this, actions must be accelerated to end child marriage, especially by empowering girls.

    “I was 13 years old when my father gave my hand in marriage to a cousin,” 16-year-old Hadiza, in Niger, said. Fortunately, she had access to a safe space through a UNFPA-supported youth programme. “I spoke to a safe space mentor, who, with the help of the neighbourhood chief, negotiated with my parents to postpone the wedding.”

    Today, Hadiza is an apprentice to a tailor, learning the skills to become economically self-sufficient. “In three years I plan to get married to the man I love,” she said.

    © UNFPA Zambia/Julien Adam

    Nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba attends to pregnant teenagers at the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in Namalyo village, Zambia.

    Myth 4: It’s a cultural or religious issue

    Child marriage is sometimes misrepresented as a religiously or culturally mandated practice. But, there are no major religious traditions that require child marriage.

    In fact, cultural and religious leaders around the world often take a strong stance against child marriage, especially when provided evidence about the consequences of the practice.

    “We have always taught young people that, both religiously and legally, it was not advisable,” Shirkhan Chobanov, the imam of Jumah Mosque in Tbilisi, Georgia, said. “We also explained to those young people that they had to accomplish other tasks, primarily concerning their education, before thinking about starting a family.”

    UNFPA works with faith leaders around the world who are working to end child marriage, including priests, monks, nuns and imams.

    “We are seeing very good results as far as warding off child marriage is concerned,” said Gebreegziabher Tiku, a priest in Ethiopia.

    Myth 5: It only happens to girls

    While the vast majority of child marriages involve girls, boys can also be married off.

    Globally, 115 million boys and men were married before age 18, according to 2019 data. These unions are also linked to early fatherhood, constrained education and reduced opportunities in life.

    Still, girls are disproportionately affected by the practice, with about one in five young women aged 20 to 24 years old married before their 18th birthday, compared to one in 30 young men. Child marriage rates for boys are very low even in countries where child marriage among girls is relatively high.

    © UNFPA Nicaragua

    Youth empowerment programmes are reaching all adolescents with information about their human rights in Nicaragua, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage among boys.

    No matter the gender of the child affected nor the country in which the union takes place, child marriage is a harmful practice that requires addressing a common set of root causes. They include economic inequality, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, and factors such as conflict. One of the biggest root causes – gender inequality – requires urgent and renewed focus.

    “While we have abolished child marriage, we have not abolished predatory masculinity,” said Dr. Gabrielle Hosein, director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, in Trinidad and Tobago, shortly after that country had outlawed child marriage.

    Kevin Liverpool, an activist with the advocacy group CariMAN, said men and boys have a critical role to play.

    “It’s important to raise awareness among these groups, among these individuals, about what feminism is, why gender equality is important for women, but also for men and for all of society,” he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Urgent humanitarian needs persist three years into war in Ukraine story Feb 21, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    Three years after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, dramatically escalating an international armed conflict that began in 2014, people continue to bear the burden of the war’s devastation in lost lives, lost limbs, and lost homes.

    Over the years, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has seen an increase in patients with war-related trauma in need of early rehabilitation, namely post-amputation physiotherapy, as well as patients requiring treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    Even if the war were to end tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of people would require years of long-term physiotherapy, or counseling for PTSD.

    Thomas Marchese, MSF head of programs in Ukraine

    “The ferocity of this war has not diminished, and the medical humanitarian needs have only grown more complex,” said Thomas Marchese, MSF head of programs in Ukraine. “Even if the war were to end tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of people would require years of long-term physiotherapy, or counseling for PTSD. Ensuring this care requires an ongoing humanitarian commitment.”

    In areas close to the front lines, daily shelling means that some of the most vulnerable, including older people and people with chronic conditions, have extremely limited access to medical care. Meanwhile, the strain on Ukraine’s medical services has been exacerbated by frequent attacks on hospitals, ambulances, and medical structures.

    Anna Svesova, director of the hospital in Trostianets, near the Russian border. | Ukraine 2023 © Nuria Lopez Torres

    Ukrainians are in need of physical and mental health care

    MSF runs an early rehabilitation project with centers in Cherkasy and Odesa, where people receive early post-operative physiotherapy, mental health support, and nursing care following violent incidents. In this project, MSF treated 755 patients in 2023 and 2024. From one year to the next, there was a 10 percent increase in the number of patients requiring post-operative care for leg amputations. 

    In 2024, half of all patients in the project were diagnosed with either PTSD or depression. The need for mental health support in Ukraine is significant. In addition to the centers in Cherkasy and Odesa, MSF has established a project focused on PTSD in Vinnytsia.

    MSF physiotherapist Inna Didych works with a patient who is preparing for prosthetics after losing his right arm, leg, and nearly all of his vision during fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. | Ukraine 2023 © Pavlo Sukhodolskyi/Voice of America

    Constant state of emergency takes heavy toll on health care system 

    Today, Ukraine’s health care system faces immense pressure, balancing emergency responses with the ongoing needs of patients affected by the war.

    For three years, drone and missile attacks have been a daily occurrence, in some cases striking cities more than 600 miles from the front line. Medical facilities and systems have been forced to adapt to treating patients in bunkers or basements, as well as to frequent power cuts from attacks on energy infrastructure.

    In response to this, MSF operates ambulances that transfer patients from overburdened hospitals near the front line to medical facilities in central and western Ukraine that are better equipped to take care of patients. Over the past three years, MSF ambulances have transferred more than 25,000 patients, more than half of whom had injuries caused by violent trauma. 

    The medical team inside the ICU of the MSF medical train stabilize a seriously war-wounded patient during the journey from Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine to Lviv, in western Ukraine. The journey takes approximately 20 hours. | Ukraine 2022 © Andrii Ovod/MSF

    Relocation is not an option for people with chronic conditions

    In 2024, MSF mobile clinic and ambulance teams working near the front lines saw a significant increase in referrals for patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and cancer. In 2023, these cases accounted for 24 percent of all referrals, rising to 33 percent in 2024.

    The continued fighting means that these people are frequently cut off from medical care, just as MSF medical teams are sometimes unable to travel to certain areas due to ongoing shelling.

    Thomas Marchese, MSF head of programs in Ukraine

    However, regular shelling and strikes mean that the access of MSF’s teams is not guaranteed. Many of those living with chronic conditions are older and less mobile. In some areas people have begun living in their basements or in bunkers due to the intense shelling.

    “For some of the most vulnerable people, relocating isn’t an option,” Marchese said. “Not everyone is able to leave their homes and start their life again, but the continued fighting means that these people are frequently cut off from medical care, just as MSF medical teams are sometimes unable to travel to certain areas due to ongoing shelling.”

    Damage to a hospital in Vysokopilla, Kherson. | Ukraine 2023 © Colin Delfosse

    Ukraine’s health care system needs ongoing support

    As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, MSF’s teams witness how the medical humanitarian crisis deepens every day. The strength of the Ukrainian health system in the face of extreme violence is clear, but the need for sustained medical care and mental health support is greater than ever.

    Even if the war were to end tomorrow, the long-term effects on people —physical and psychological— will linger for years to come. Ukraine’s infrastructure has also sustained staggering damage, with hospitals coming under direct attack. Hundreds of thousands of people will require ongoing care, rehabilitation, and therapy for trauma long after the last bomb falls.

    MSF continues to work in Ukraine, close to the front lines and elsewhere in the country, but more support is required.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: THREE YEARS INTO THE WAR IN UKRAINE, ONE THIRD OF POPULATION IN FRONTLINE REGIONS STRUGGLE TO FIND ENOUGH TO EAT

    Source: World Food Programme

    KYIV, Ukraine — As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, an estimated five million Ukrainians are facing food insecurity, with the greatest needs concentrated in areas near the frontlines. According to data collected by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), millions of people are resorting to coping mechanisms, sacrificing their own meals so their children can eat. Others are going into debt to buy sufficient food supplies to feed their families.

    WFP continues to provide food and cash assistance to nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians each month, mostly in the frontline regions. Despite these efforts, more than half of the people in the Kherson region in the south face severe hunger, and, two out of every five individuals face hunger in Zaporizhzhia as well as the Donetsk region in the east.

    “Families in frontline regions are struggling to put food on the table, forcing them to make heartbreaking choices just to get by,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Ukraine. “As we look forward to sustainable peace in what is considered to be one of the world’s historical breadbasket regions, we must face the reality that humanitarian aid continues to be a lifeline for millions.”

    According to WFP monitoring, 72 percent of those who receive food assistance reported having to cut back on food, buy less nutritious food, skip meals, or borrow money to feed their family. Across six frontline regions almost a third of all people are food insecure.

    In areas close to the war, commercial supply chains are disrupted, infrastructure is often damaged or destroyed, and the opportunities to earn money are scarce. Where supermarkets are accessible and stocked, many families cannot afford nutritious food. The cost of basic food items rose by 25 percent in the last year, with some staple vegetables more than doubling in price.

    Since March 2022, WFP has provided assistance in Ukraine equivalent to 3.3 billion meals and distributed 445,000 metric tons of food. 

    Meanwhile, the challenges of delivering lifesaving assistance near the frontlines have been growing. In the last six months, WFP food distribution points and the vehicles or assets of its local humanitarian partners have been hit by drones, shelling or missiles more than 20 times, putting humanitarian operations at risk.

    #                              #                               #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Twitter @wfp_media, @WFPUkraine

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: THREE YEARS INTO UKRAINE WAR, ONE THIRD OF POPULATION IN FRONTLINE REGIONS STRUGGLE TO FIND ENOUGH TO EAT

    Source: World Food Programme

    KYIV, Ukraine — As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, an estimated five million Ukrainians are facing food insecurity, with the greatest needs concentrated in areas near the frontlines. According to data collected by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), millions of people are resorting to coping mechanisms, sacrificing their own meals so their children can eat. Others are going into debt to buy sufficient food supplies to feed their families.

    WFP continues to provide food and cash assistance to nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians each month, mostly in the frontline regions. Despite these efforts, more than half of the people in the Kherson region in the south face severe hunger, and, two out of every five individuals face hunger in Zaporizhzhia as well as the Donetsk region in the east.

    “Families in frontline regions are struggling to put food on the table, forcing them to make heartbreaking choices just to get by,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Ukraine. “As we look forward to sustainable peace in what is considered to be one of the world’s historical breadbasket regions, we must face the reality that humanitarian aid continues to be a lifeline for millions.”

    According to WFP monitoring, 72 percent of those who receive food assistance reported having to cut back on food, buy less nutritious food, skip meals, or borrow money to feed their family. Across six frontline regions almost a third of all people are food insecure.

    In areas close to the war, commercial supply chains are disrupted, infrastructure is often damaged or destroyed, and the opportunities to earn money are scarce. Where supermarkets are accessible and stocked, many families cannot afford nutritious food. The cost of basic food items rose by 25 percent in the last year, with some staple vegetables more than doubling in price.

    Since March 2022, WFP has provided assistance in Ukraine equivalent to 3.3 billion meals and distributed 445,000 metric tons of food. 

    Meanwhile, the challenges of delivering lifesaving assistance near the frontlines have been growing. In the last six months, WFP food distribution points and the vehicles or assets of its local humanitarian partners have been hit by drones, shelling or missiles more than 20 times, putting humanitarian operations at risk.

    #                              #                               #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Twitter @wfp_media, @WFPUkraine

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens to force vote on Scottish Government funding for Israel’s arms dealers

    Source: Scottish Greens

    22 Feb 2025

    No public funds for companies complicit in genocide.

    The Scottish Greens will use an opposition debate on Wednesday to hold a vote on ending all Scottish Government support for companies who have armed and supported Israel’s genocide against Gaza.

    The Scottish Government has strongly opposed the bombing and collective punishment of Gaza. Despite this, since the assault began it has given over £1 million to companies that have armed Israel via Scottish Enterprise.

    This week one of those companies, arms giant BAE systems, announced profits of more than £3 billion for 2024.

    The party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said:

    “Israel’s assault on Gaza is one of the worst war crimes of this century. There is no justification for the collective punishment and mass killing they have inflicted.

    “The Israeli government has been condemned by the International Criminal Court and every reputable human rights organisation for the atrocities it has carried out against Palestinians, and now it is working with Donald Trump to ethnically cleanse Gaza.

    “The Scottish Government has rightly stood against the genocide, but it continues to give public money to the arms dealers who are directly enabling it.

    “Scotland can’t control UK foreign policy, but we can control where our public money goes and the companies and industries that we choose to support.

    “It’s time for the Scottish Government to put their money where their mouth is and end all subsidies for the war profiteers making such a killing.”

    In 2018 the Scottish Greens secured new requirements for Scottish public bodies to conduct human rights checks for grant applicants. Despite this, Scottish Enterprise has continued to fund the world’s biggest arms dealers.

    Ms Slater added:

    “If a human rights check still allows public money to flow to companies profiting from war crimes, then it’s clearly not fit for purpose.

    “Every MSP who is horrified by the destruction in Gaza should support our motion and call for an end to government grants to the world’s biggest arms companies.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has increased the planned amount of funding for infrastructure development in the regions of the Far East

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The work is being carried out on the instructions of the President.

    The planned amount of funding for the implementation of long-term projects for the social development of economic growth centers in the Far Eastern regions has been increased from 41.4 billion to 73.3 billion rubles. The decree on this was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The decision will guarantee federal co-financing of projects implemented within the framework of the Far Eastern concession.

    The funds will be allocated from the federal budget in 2027–2039 and will be used to co-finance the regions’ expenses when implementing concession agreements, the term of which exceeds the period of validity of budget commitment limits.

    The activities planned using the increased funding include the construction of an embankment in Khabarovsk Krai, the creation of the Mine Town Park in Vladivostok, as well as an innovative scientific and technological center on Russky Island, the construction of a bridge across the Bira River in Birobidzhan, the reconstruction of the Birobidzhan-Ungun-Leninskoye highway, and the modernization of outdoor lighting in the city of Svobodny in Amur Oblast and in the city of Chita in Zabaikalsky Krai.

    “By the Government’s decision, we will secure funding obligations for five Far Eastern regions in the amount of almost 32 billion rubles for 12 years, starting in 2027. We will take them into account when forming the federal budget for the corresponding periods,” Mikhail Mishustin noted atGovernment meeting on February 20.

    The Far Eastern concession mechanism is one of the main instruments for implementing plans for social development of economic growth centers in the Far East regions. With the help of such a mechanism, the state guarantees companies a return on investment and minimizes risks. The Government is conducting this work on the instructions of the President.

    The document will be published.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New energy vehicle market poised for growth driven by technological innovations, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    New energy vehicle market poised for growth driven by technological innovations, says GlobalData

    Posted in Automotive

    The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) at the forefront of this change. The new energy vehicle (NEV) market is dynamic in nature and is poised for growth as economic conditions improve and technological innovations continue to emerge, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    According to GlobalData, the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market in Europe and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region experienced a period of stagnation in 2024; however, a robust rebound is projected for 2025.

    Madhuchhanda Palit, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The positive outlook is supported by declining interest rates and the introduction of more competitive vehicle offerings. In particular, government policies in China, including the purchase tax exemption extension until 2027 for NEVs, are expected to invigorate the market, with BEVs poised to play a dominant role in both the short and long term.”

    Moreover, recent upgrades to emission regulations, which impose stricter standards, will serve as significant catalysts for the adoption of NEVs. For example, India plans to implement the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) phase 3 regulations in 2027 and phase 4 in 2032. These stringent fleet carbon dioxide (CO2) limitations will compel original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to either enhance their internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains or increase the sales of EVs within the passenger vehicle sector.

    Additionally, significant policy changes, particularly in China, are influencing the market dynamics. The purchase tax exemption and the introduction of a dual-invoice system for swappable battery vehicles are expected to enhance the appeal of EVs.

    Palit adds: “Government incentives, such as tax rebates and subsidies, play a crucial role in encouraging the adoption of EVs, as seen in the success stories of Norway and Denmark. In the US, the ongoing dilemma about policy change might create tricky and unfavorable conditions for domestic automakers and establish market dominance for Tesla.”

    Technological advancements are pivotal in driving the market forward. Toyota‘s launch of the world’s first hydrogen hybrid vehicle and CATL’s unveiling of the “Freevoy” supercharging hybrid battery exemplify the industry’s commitment to innovation. These developments, along with the standardization of hybrid technology by automakers like Toyota and Honda, are making new energy vehicles more accessible and appealing to consumers. The expansion of charging infrastructure and government incentives further supports the growth, addressing range anxiety, and increasing overall awareness of the benefits of NEVs among consumers.

    Palit concludes: “The future of hybrids and EVs looks bright, driven by a combination of favorable economic conditions, strategic policy changes, and breakthrough technological advancements. As the market share for ICEs declines, the rise of new energy vehicles is a testament to the industry’s adaptability to sustainable transportation solutions. Ongoing innovations in technology and infrastructure promise a greener and more efficient automotive landscape.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Plateau water security claims challenged

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists’ recent commentary published in Nature challenged a previous study published in the scientific journal that suggested Atlantic meteorological droughts threaten the water resource security of the Tibetan Plateau.
    The academic commentary by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which was published in the journal on Thursday, argued that Atlantic meteorological droughts do not pose a threat to the water resource security of the Asian Water Tower.
    The Tibetan Plateau provides a robust safeguard for water resource demand in the surrounding Himalayan region. Amid global warming, the Tibetan Plateau is undergoing significant changes, and how it will evolve in the future is a critical scientific issue concerning the sustainable development of the Himalayan region, said Zhao Yutong from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the CAS, who was also a co-corresponding author of the article.
    A study conducted in 2023 by a joint research team of scientists from China, the United States and Switzerland, published in Nature, claimed that meteorological droughts in the North Atlantic, where evaporation exceeds precipitation, triggered a significant decline in terrestrial water storage on the Tibetan Plateau between 2003 and 2016.
    Based on this, the study further predicted that this trend of decline would intensify in the future, posing severe challenges to water resource security.
    “The two key pieces of evidence supporting the aforementioned conclusions are untenable,” Zhao said.
    The authors of the original study used a water vapor tracking model and suggested that the North Atlantic transports substantial water vapor to the Tibetan Plateau via mid-latitude westerlies, contributing significantly to annual precipitation on the plateau.
    “Observations from water vapor stable isotopes identify that the Indian Ocean monsoon is the primary source of water vapor instead of the North Atlantic, which contradicts the findings of the 2023 research,” Zhao said.
    When water vapor moves from the Atlantic Ocean to the plateau, precipitation, diffusion and other processes occur, leading to deposition along its path, potentially accounting for a significant portion of the total. The original research overlooked this important process, thus exaggerating the contribution of the Atlantic, she said.
    “To better understand the water resource security of the Asian Water Tower, it’s necessary to expand the coverage of the water vapor observation network across the plateau and conduct detailed monitoring,” Zhao said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Indian FMs meet on bilateral relations

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb. 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday to discuss bilateral ties on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, recalled the successful meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan, Russia last year, which set the general direction for the improvement and development of bilateral relations. During the meeting, the two sides agreed that China and India, as two ancient civilizations and neighboring countries, should trust and support each other and help each other succeed.

    Exchanges at all levels between the two countries have resumed in an orderly manner, while the special representatives on the boundary question have reached consensus on properly handling specific differences, said Wang.

    He noted that restoring mutual trust and achieving win-win cooperation align with the common expectations of the two peoples. Both sides should fundamentally adhere to the consensus reached by their leaders and ensure that bilateral relations remain on the right track.

    China is ready to work with India to plan commemorative activities for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, Wang added.

    Jaishankar, for his part, said that the Kazan meeting between Modi and Xi has provided crucial guidance for the improvement of India-China bilateral relations, leading to the gradual resumption of bilateral exchanges in various fields and yielding remarkable results.

    Noting that the establishment of mutual trust between India and China serves the interests of both sides, Jaishankar said India cherishes the hard-won achievements in improving bilateral relations and stands ready to work with China to speed up the resumption of cooperation mechanism, enhance people-to-people exchanges, facilitate cross-border travel, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.

    As both India and China are members of the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, it is particularly important for the two countries to strengthen their coordination. India is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in this regard, Jaishankar added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to continue supporting WTO reform: FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A file photo shows the exterior view of the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China firmly supports the free trade system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core and will continue to support the reform of the international body, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, the largest city and economic hub of South Africa.

    During the meeting, Wang noted that China, as a founding member of the United Nations (UN) and a steadfast defender of the current international order, pursues genuine multilateralism and firmly supports both the international system with the UN at its core and the free trade system with the WTO at its core.

    He pointed out that while unilateralism and protectionism are prevalent today, the trend of economic globalization is irreversible. Therefore, all parties should work together to promote trade liberalization and facilitation while accelerating global economic recovery.

    China will continue to support the director-general in advancing WTO reform, listening to the voices of countries in the Global South, and keeping pace with the progressive trends of the times, Wang said.

    “China adheres to its position as a developing country, but it never shirks its international responsibilities,” he said. “We will continue to fulfill our due obligations and demonstrate our responsibility as a major country.”

    Okonjo-Iweala, for her part, noted that amid the chaos in the world, China has moved in the right direction, achieved the UN poverty reduction target ahead of schedule, advanced industrialization rapidly and made remarkable achievements in education. China’s success has set a model for other developing countries to follow, she said.

    The WTO highly appreciates China’s commitment to resolving trade disputes through dialogue and consultation within multilateral mechanisms in a mature and rational manner. It also hopes to continue receiving strong support from China in promoting WTO reform, she added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says US close to signing minerals deal with Ukraine

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his return to the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was nearing a deal requiring Kiev to hand over 50% of its rare earth minerals as the payoff of U.S. aid during Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

    “We’re signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a deal for Ukraine’s minerals.

    In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ukrainian and U.S. teams are working on a draft agreement between our governments. This agreement can add value to our relations — what matters most is getting the details right to ensure it truly works.”

    “I look forward to just results,” the Ukrainian leader said.

    Trump, whose administration bypassed Ukraine to hold direct talks with the Russian side in pursuit of ending the three-year conflict, has craved Ukraine’s rare earth deposits, which are crucial raw materials for certain high-tech products.

    He has also criticized the former Joe Biden administration for providing too much aid to Ukraine but getting nothing in return.

    Speaking on Wednesday of the Trump administration’s initial proposal demanding a share of Ukrainian minerals without committing to providing a security guarantee for Ukraine, Zelensky said: “That’s not a serious conversation. I can’t sell our state.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Standing in solidarity with Ukraine

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    On the weekend of the third anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay said:  

    “Across the world, people will be standing in solidarity with Ukraine, facing the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. 

    “Yes, Russia started the war and Yes, Ukraine is a democracy with an elected President. That we have to restate these simple facts is shocking but necessary because US President Donald Trump has chosen to buy into and amplify the lies and disinformation of the Russian state. 

    “Russian President Vladimir Putin is a dangerous tyrant. It is deeply worrying that President Trump is now joining him in spreading lies, attacking democracy, sowing division and chaos, and undermining the rule of law. 

    “We want this war to end, and we want peace talks. 

    “Our unwavering position is that the voice of Ukraine must be front and centre of the peace talks that must take place. It is for the people of Ukraine to decide their future. Not Putin, not Trump. 

    “The UK government could and should be doing much more to tighten sanctions on Russia.  Sales of Russian fossil fuels are paying for the missiles and drones used to attack Ukrainian civilians. 

    “The UK government must close all the loopholes enabling the Kremlin to refill its war chest. 

    “Ukrainians who came to the UK to seek safety and still cannot return to their war-torn homes must be given ongoing protection and proper support. 

    “The UK must keep supporting Ukraine to defend itself, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer must make it crystal clear when he meets President Trump that we will do so. 

    “The end goal is a just and lasting peace based on the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. That can still be achieved.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –