NewzIntel.com

Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI: Theta Capital Announces Senior Hires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AMSTERDAM, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Theta Capital, the largest European investor in blockchain venture capital, has announced two senior hires. Gijs Burgers has been appointed COO, and Eduard van Asten has been appointed Head of Compliance and Risk.

    Gijs was previously COO at the Nasdaq-listed company Hilbert Group AB, one of the largest liquid digital assets hedge funds globally. He has a history as board-room consultant and entrepreneur in the fintech and blockchain spaces and has been active in the crypto and digital assets since 2012. He was Corporate Strategist at APG, one of the top five pension funds globally and co-founded Onramper.com, a successful global aggregator of onramp and offramp methods. He has two Master’s degrees from respectively Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tilburg University.

    Eduard was previously Head of Compliance and Risk at Zing NL, a subsidiary of HSBC aiming to create a global digital payments application. He was also Global Senior Compliance Expert for ING Group and CCRO for multiple firms including Vivid Money and Pensify Group. He has two Masters degrees and a BA in Law from Erasmus University. He has 14 years of experience in compliance, risk and regulatory matters for financial institutions.

    “These are important hires for Theta Capital and demonstrate our on-going growth and institutionalisation as a firm,” said Marc de Kloe, Managing Partner at Theta Capital. “We are building our operational infrastructure and talent base for the future and I am confident that Gijs and Eduard will play an invaluable part for us. They are both extremely senior and experienced experts in their respective fields and we are fortunate they have chosen to join us.”

    Gijs Burgers, COO, Theta Capital, added, “Theta has a leading reputation in the blockchain venture capital space globally not only as an investor but also in terms of its institutional grade operational infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to build on this as the firm grows and develops.”

    Eduard van Asten, Head of Compliance and Risk, Theta Capital, concluded, “Theta rightly places regulatory compliance at the heart of its operations and I am delighted to be able to contribute my extensive experience in this space to the firm.”

    About Theta Capital

    Founded in 2001, Theta Capital Management has been among the earliest and largest institutional investors globally to invest in blockchain technology, having deployed capital in the space since January 2018. Theta Capital works with over 45 deeply specialized VC partners leading to more than 1,000 venture style investments in the technology. Deep domain expertise has led to a leading position in the universe of crypto-native venture capital.

    For further information, please visit:

    http://www.thetacapital.com/

    Contact:

    ir@thetacapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Theta Capital Announces Senior Hires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AMSTERDAM, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Theta Capital, the largest European investor in blockchain venture capital, has announced two senior hires. Gijs Burgers has been appointed COO, and Eduard van Asten has been appointed Head of Compliance and Risk.

    Gijs was previously COO at the Nasdaq-listed company Hilbert Group AB, one of the largest liquid digital assets hedge funds globally. He has a history as board-room consultant and entrepreneur in the fintech and blockchain spaces and has been active in the crypto and digital assets since 2012. He was Corporate Strategist at APG, one of the top five pension funds globally and co-founded Onramper.com, a successful global aggregator of onramp and offramp methods. He has two Master’s degrees from respectively Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tilburg University.

    Eduard was previously Head of Compliance and Risk at Zing NL, a subsidiary of HSBC aiming to create a global digital payments application. He was also Global Senior Compliance Expert for ING Group and CCRO for multiple firms including Vivid Money and Pensify Group. He has two Masters degrees and a BA in Law from Erasmus University. He has 14 years of experience in compliance, risk and regulatory matters for financial institutions.

    “These are important hires for Theta Capital and demonstrate our on-going growth and institutionalisation as a firm,” said Marc de Kloe, Managing Partner at Theta Capital. “We are building our operational infrastructure and talent base for the future and I am confident that Gijs and Eduard will play an invaluable part for us. They are both extremely senior and experienced experts in their respective fields and we are fortunate they have chosen to join us.”

    Gijs Burgers, COO, Theta Capital, added, “Theta has a leading reputation in the blockchain venture capital space globally not only as an investor but also in terms of its institutional grade operational infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to build on this as the firm grows and develops.”

    Eduard van Asten, Head of Compliance and Risk, Theta Capital, concluded, “Theta rightly places regulatory compliance at the heart of its operations and I am delighted to be able to contribute my extensive experience in this space to the firm.”

    About Theta Capital

    Founded in 2001, Theta Capital Management has been among the earliest and largest institutional investors globally to invest in blockchain technology, having deployed capital in the space since January 2018. Theta Capital works with over 45 deeply specialized VC partners leading to more than 1,000 venture style investments in the technology. Deep domain expertise has led to a leading position in the universe of crypto-native venture capital.

    For further information, please visit:

    http://www.thetacapital.com/

    Contact:

    ir@thetacapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Theta Capital Announces Senior Hires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AMSTERDAM, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Theta Capital, the largest European investor in blockchain venture capital, has announced two senior hires. Gijs Burgers has been appointed COO, and Eduard van Asten has been appointed Head of Compliance and Risk.

    Gijs was previously COO at the Nasdaq-listed company Hilbert Group AB, one of the largest liquid digital assets hedge funds globally. He has a history as board-room consultant and entrepreneur in the fintech and blockchain spaces and has been active in the crypto and digital assets since 2012. He was Corporate Strategist at APG, one of the top five pension funds globally and co-founded Onramper.com, a successful global aggregator of onramp and offramp methods. He has two Master’s degrees from respectively Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tilburg University.

    Eduard was previously Head of Compliance and Risk at Zing NL, a subsidiary of HSBC aiming to create a global digital payments application. He was also Global Senior Compliance Expert for ING Group and CCRO for multiple firms including Vivid Money and Pensify Group. He has two Masters degrees and a BA in Law from Erasmus University. He has 14 years of experience in compliance, risk and regulatory matters for financial institutions.

    “These are important hires for Theta Capital and demonstrate our on-going growth and institutionalisation as a firm,” said Marc de Kloe, Managing Partner at Theta Capital. “We are building our operational infrastructure and talent base for the future and I am confident that Gijs and Eduard will play an invaluable part for us. They are both extremely senior and experienced experts in their respective fields and we are fortunate they have chosen to join us.”

    Gijs Burgers, COO, Theta Capital, added, “Theta has a leading reputation in the blockchain venture capital space globally not only as an investor but also in terms of its institutional grade operational infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to build on this as the firm grows and develops.”

    Eduard van Asten, Head of Compliance and Risk, Theta Capital, concluded, “Theta rightly places regulatory compliance at the heart of its operations and I am delighted to be able to contribute my extensive experience in this space to the firm.”

    About Theta Capital

    Founded in 2001, Theta Capital Management has been among the earliest and largest institutional investors globally to invest in blockchain technology, having deployed capital in the space since January 2018. Theta Capital works with over 45 deeply specialized VC partners leading to more than 1,000 venture style investments in the technology. Deep domain expertise has led to a leading position in the universe of crypto-native venture capital.

    For further information, please visit:

    http://www.thetacapital.com/

    Contact:

    ir@thetacapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University

    Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.

    More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.

    In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.

    Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.

    As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?

    It’s hard to appreciate how suddenly floods happen

    Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.

    Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.

    People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.

    Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.

    Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.

    What about early warning systems?

    The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.

    That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.

    But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.

    Communicating risk in a disaster

    Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.

    Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.

    The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.

    So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.

    Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.

    Tailoring information is key

    Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.

    That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.

    Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.

    Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.

    Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.

    Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.

    Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.

    – ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University

    Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.

    More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.

    In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.

    Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.

    As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?

    It’s hard to appreciate how suddenly floods happen

    Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.

    Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.

    People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.

    Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.

    Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.

    What about early warning systems?

    The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.

    That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.

    But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.

    Communicating risk in a disaster

    Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.

    Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.

    The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.

    So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.

    Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.

    Tailoring information is key

    Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.

    That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.

    Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.

    Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.

    Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.

    Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.

    Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.

    – ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University

    Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.

    More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.

    In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.

    Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.

    As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?

    It’s hard to appreciate how suddenly floods happen

    Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.

    Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.

    People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.

    Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.

    Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.

    What about early warning systems?

    The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.

    That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.

    But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.

    Communicating risk in a disaster

    Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.

    Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.

    The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.

    So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.

    Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.

    Tailoring information is key

    Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.

    That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.

    Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.

    Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.

    Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.

    Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.

    Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.

    – ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University

    Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.

    More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.

    In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.

    Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.

    As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?

    It’s hard to appreciate how suddenly floods happen

    Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.

    Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.

    People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.

    Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.

    Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.

    What about early warning systems?

    The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.

    That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.

    But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.

    Communicating risk in a disaster

    Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.

    Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.

    The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.

    So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.

    Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.

    Tailoring information is key

    Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.

    That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.

    Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.

    Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.

    Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.

    Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.

    Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.

    – ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • PM Modi urges responsible AI, stronger South-South ties at BRICS Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for strengthening multilateralism, deepening economic cooperation, and ensuring responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence during his address at the BRICS Outreach Summit in Brazil.

    Addressing the session titled ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Matters, and Artificial Intelligence’, Prime Minister Modi thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for inviting him to share India’s views with partner countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    “It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit,” he said.

    Highlighting the increasing relevance of BRICS in a changing global order, the Prime Minister said, “Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.”

    The Prime Minister put forward four key suggestions to strengthen BRICS cooperation.

    Firstly, he underlined that economic cooperation within BRICS is progressing steadily, with the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance playing an important role. He welcomed Brazil’s emphasis on reforms in the International Financial System under its presidency.

    “In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism,” he said.

    Secondly, the Prime Minister said that the countries of the Global South have special expectations from BRICS and the group should work together to meet them.

    “For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South,” he said.

    He also highlighted India’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to expand access to academic resources and proposed a collective BRICS Science and Research Repository for the benefit of the Global South.

    Thirdly, the Prime Minister called for cooperation to secure and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others,” he said.

    Fourth, speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister stressed the need for global standards for responsible and ethical use of AI.

    “In the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias,” he noted.

    He added, “India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.”

    He said equal focus must be given to addressing concerns and promoting innovation in AI governance. “Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse,” he said, adding that the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI released at the meeting is a positive step in this direction.

    Prime Minister Modi announced that India will host the AI Impact Summit next year and invited all partner countries to participate. “We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success,” he said.

    Reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South, the Prime Minister said, “The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sustainable fishing applications open

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Applications for marine fish culture licences and the use of government-provided deep sea cages in the new fish culture zone at Mirs Bay (South) are open from today until September 6, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department announced.

     

    The department explained that it hopes to encourage the intensification of production for fishermen in the new fish culture zones while adopting a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of operation, together with the use of cages that are resilient to strong wind and water currents.

     

    To reduce the start-up cost for fishermen, the department will set up two sets of steel truss deep sea cages and three sets of high density polyethylene deep sea cages equipped with modern aquaculture facilities in phases in the new fish culture zone at Mirs Bay (South) by the end of this year. The deep sea cages will be provided to local fishermen associations through licence agreements.

     

    Applicants shall provide a detailed business plan, including an introduction to the proposed sustainable mariculture business, as well as a demonstration of their eligibility to use government cages and compliance with the relevant environmental protection and mitigation measures.

     

    While the department added that people interested in operating in the new fish culture zone may consider applying for the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund, it also stressed that the fund cannot be used to pay for the licence fees of government cages.

     

    A briefing session will be held on July 17 to introduce the application process and licensing requirements of marine fish culture licences and the use of deep sea cages.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Albanese Government Must Act, CSIRO Research Fuels Calls for Deep Sea Mining Moratorium

    Source: Deep Sea Mining Campaign

    As the peak international body on deep sea mining begins a three-week meeting, CSIRO has released a series of reports commissioned by mining proponent The Metals Company (TMC) that underscore the severe environmental risks and scientific uncertainty surrounding the dangerous industry.

    The findings confirm international consensus; the deep ocean is too poorly understood to proceed with deep sea mining safely or responsibly, prompting major environmental organisations to call on the Albanese Government to support a moratorium.

    The timing of the CSIRO reports appears to align with what was, until recently, TMC’s plan to submit an application to the ISA on June 27 – plans the company has now abandoned in favour of a controversial U.S. based pathway via a dormant 1980s law and enabled by the Trump administration. 

    Pressure is mounting on the Albanese Government to adopt a precautionary stance supporting a moratorium at the ISA in line with many of its major partners, including the UK, Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand. Currently, 37 countries back a deep sea mining moratorium.

    TMC continues to apply pressure on international regulators to accelerate approvals for this high-risk untested industry. With a state-funded agency producing research likely to be used to legitimise mining in international waters, ocean advocates are calling on the Albanese Government to direct CSIRO to take no further actions on behalf of TMC. 

    The CSIRO reports confirm the likely damage to the seafloor and to the marine environment that civil society, Indigenous Pacific communities, and independent scientists have warned about; deep sea mining is too destructive and there is too much uncertainty to proceed. 

    “These findings echo the concerns we’ve heard right across the Pacific region – that the deep ocean is a highly complex, precious environment, and that accelerating deep sea mining would be dangerous,” said Phil McCabe, Pacific Regional Coordinator at the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

    There remains a severe lack of real-world data about deep sea ecosystems – particularly in relation to the long-term environmental impacts and the risk of toxic pollution entering the food chain. Scientists warn that many of these impacts are likely to be irreversible in human timeframes. The CSIRO reports acknowledge the potential for heavy metals to bioaccumulate in marine life, including tuna, swordfish, whales, and dolphins. 

    “We’ve seen this before; traffic light systems, digital twin technology, adaptive management systems – all designed to give the illusion of sustainable management,” said Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, Research Coordinator at the Deep Sea Mining Campaign. “When the science is this uncertain, the only responsible signal is red.”

    TMC’s recent decision to abandon its application to the ISA and instead issue permits through a dormant U.S. law has been widely condemned by governments and legal experts as a direct challenge to international law and multilateralism. The move undermines the ISA’s authority just as states prepare to negotiate key regulations. 

    “Australia’s credibility is on the line,” said Duncan Currie, International Lawyer and advisor to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. “CSIRO’s involvement with The Metals Company (TMC) risks implicating Australia in their attempt to sidestep international governance. The Albanese Government must now draw a clear line; support a moratorium at the International Seabed Authority, and ensure CSIRO takes no further action on TMC’s behalf.”

    “At the ISA, a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining is the only viable path to protecting the deep sea,” said Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. “Delegates at the ISA must listen to the science and the voices of Pacific nations and back a moratorium to stop deep sea mining before it starts.”

    The Deep Sea Mining Campaign, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, and Surfrider Australia call on the Albanese Government to announce its support for a Moratorium at the upcoming ISA meeting in Jamaica; and direct CSIRO to take no further actions on behalf of TMC.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: GREENPEACE – A dawn service to commemorate the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland

    Source: Greenpeace
    “You can’t sink a rainbow.”
    The iconic Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior will sail into Auckland today to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985.
    A dawn ceremony of remembrance will be hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on board the Rainbow Warrior from 7am on 10 July 2025 at Halsey Street Wharf in the Viaduct.
    [To have cameras set up on the ship, please be there by 06:30am.]
    Speakers include:
    Russel Norman, Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director
    Tui Warmenhoven, Ngati Porou, Greenpeace Aotearoa board chair
    Sharon Hawke, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
    Carmen Gravatt, Greenpeace International programme director
    Stephanie Mills, former Greenpeace nuclear campaigner
    The Rainbow Warrior comes fresh from confronting bottom trawlers off the East Coast of New Zealand on the Chatham Rise, a biodiversity hotspot under threat from the destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling. Activists from the Rainbow Warrior painted the words Ocean Killer on a Talley’s bottom trawling vessel and then again on a Sealord vessel. In response to the painting in June.
    Russel Norman says, “The Rainbow Warrior’s return to Aotearoa comes at a pivotal moment as the fight to protect our planet’s fragile life-support systems has never been more urgent.
    “On a planetary scale, climate change, ecosystem collapse, and accelerating species extinction pose an existential threat to us all, while here in Aotearoa, our Government is waging an all-out war on nature.
    “As we remember the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior and the murder of Fernando Pereira onboard that night 40 years ago, it’s important to remember why the French Government committed such an extreme act of violence.
    “They targeted our ship because Greenpeace and the campaign to stop nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific were so effective. We posed a threat to the French Government’s military programme and colonial power in the Pacific.
    “And it’s critical to remember that they failed to stop us. They failed to intimidate us, and they failed to silence us.
    “We showed that you can’t sink a rainbow. We showed that courage is contagious. Greenpeace only grew stronger and continued the successful campaign against nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.
    “That lesson is important because now, forty years on, we are just as effective, and it is the fossil fuel industry and the billionaire oligarchs who try to stop us. This time, not with bombs but with armies of lawyers and legal attacks of the kind that right now could threaten the very existence of Greenpeace in the US and beyond.
    “But just like in 1985 when the French bombed our ship, now too in 2025, we are showing that we can not be intimidated, we will not back down, and we will not be silenced.
    “The Rainbow Warrior has sailed ever since as a symbol of resistance in action. And we cannot be silenced because we are a movement of people committed to peace and to protecting Earth’s ability to sustain life, protecting the blue oceans, the forests and the life we share this planet with,” says Norman.
    Following the anniversary, the Rainbow Warrior will be open to the public for tours and talks with the crew on the week

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: First Person: Japanese UN volunteer ‘motivated by the passion of others’ to support peace

    Source: United Nations 2

    Haruki Ume spoke to UN News at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 currently being held in the Japanese city of Osaka.

    One section of the pavilion features a rotating presentation focusing on a specific UN agency or entity and recently, attention turned to the UN Volunteers programme.

    “As a 17-year-old, I travelled to the United States on an educational exchange programme and my main motivation was to play baseball and experience American culture.

    I met a lot of other people from Africa and Asia as well as Europe and I was shocked and then impressed by their passion and motivation to support their villages and communities back home.

    One boy from Azerbaijan told me he was selected for the exchange from over 100 applicants as the only student from his country. As a result, he said that he had a responsibility not to waste his time and represent all those other applicants and his country to the best of his ability.

    © Haruki Ume

    Haruki Ume plays with two boys during a visit to the Philippines in 2017.

    It was at this moment that I decided that I wanted to contribute more to society and so I started studying development issues. I travelled as much as I could during my vacations, to places like Cambodia, the Philippines, India, Peru, Egypt and Uganda.

    As a volunteer, I supported education and other initiatives during the field missions and was really driven by helping people who were less fortunate than I.  I also learnt a lot from these people, so I definitely valued it an exchange of experiences and knowledge.

    Understanding the outside world

    I was raised in a small town in rural Japan where there were no foreigners. People grow up, work and die there and many do not ever experience foreign cultures or really understand the outside world.

    UN News/Daniel Dickinson

    A UN Volunteers staff member explains the role of the organization to visitors at the UN Pavilion.

    I remember being nervous about speaking English and eating food that I was not used to, but I was keen to break through these personal barriers and broaden my world.

    Being open to new experiences has made it easier to adapt to other cultures and this understanding promotes peace and friendship and ultimately international cooperation.

    I have been working at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 to promote the UN and the work of UN Volunteers. I’m doing this in the spirit of building cooperation and creating positive change in the world.

    Expo 2025 is bringing the world to Osaka and is providing the opportunity for Japanese people to discuss how we can work together more effectively to create a fairer and more peaceful world.”

    The UN and volunteering

    • Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, UNV was established 1970 and is active in around 169 countries and territories every year.
    • In 2024, UNV deployed over 14,500 volunteers to almost 60 UN entities across the world.
    • They serve in diverse roles including: community development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, medical services and communications.
    • 2026 has been designated by the UN as the International Year of Volunteers
    • Become a UN Volunteer

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Rainbow Warrior saga. Part 2: Nuclear refugees in the Pacific – the evacuation of Rongelap

    COMMENTARY:  By Eugene Doyle

    On the last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior prior to its sinking by French secret agents in Auckland harbour on 10 July 1985 the ship had evacuated the entire population of 320 from Rongelap in the Marshall Islands.

    After conducting dozens of above-ground nuclear explosions, the US government had left the population in conditions that suggested the islanders were being used as guinea pigs to gain knowledge of the effects of radiation.

    Cancers, birth defects, and genetic damage ripped through the population; their former fisheries and land are contaminated to this day.

    Denied adequate support from the US – they turned to Greenpeace with an SOS: help us leave our ancestral homeland; it is killing our people. The Rainbow Warrior answered the call.

    Human lab rats or our brothers and sisters?
     Dr Merrill Eisenbud, a physicist in the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) famously said in 1956 of the Marshall Islanders:  “While it is true that these people do not live, I might say, the way Westerners do, civilised people, it is nevertheless also true that they are more like us than the mice.”

    Dr Eisenbud also opined that exposure “would provide valuable information on the effects of radiation on human beings.”  That research continues to this day.

    A half century of testing nuclear bombs
     Within a year of dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the US moved part of its test programme to the central Pacific.  Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands was used for atmospheric explosions from 1946 with scant regard for the indigenous population.

    In 1954, the Castle Bravo test exploded a 15-megaton bomb —  one thousand times more deadly than the one dropped on Hiroshima.  As a result, the population of Rongelap were exposed to 200 roentgens of radiation, considered life-threatening without medical intervention. And it was.

    Part of the Marshall Islands, with Bikini Atoll and Rongelap in the top left. Image: www.solidarity.co.nz

    Total US tests equaled more than 7000 Hiroshimas.  The Clinton administration released the aptly-named Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments (ACHRE), report in January 1994 in which it acknowledged:

    “What followed was a program by the US government — initially the Navy and then the AEC and its successor agencies — to provide medical care for the exposed population, while at the same time trying to learn as much as possible about the long-term biological effects of radiation exposure. The dual purpose of what is now a DOE medical program has led to a view by the Marshallese that they were being used as ‘guinea pigs’ in a ‘radiation experiment’.

    This impression was reinforced by the fact that the islanders were deliberately left in place and then evacuated, having been heavily radiated. Three years later they were told it was “safe to return” despite the lead scientist calling Rongelap “by far the most contaminated place in the world”.

    Significant compensation paid by the US to the Marshall Islands has proven inadequate given the scale of the contamination.  To some degree, the US has also used money to achieve capture of elite interest groups and secure ongoing control of the islands.

    Entrusted to the US, the Marshall Islanders were treated like the civilians of Nagasaki
     The US took the Marshall Islands from Japan in 1944.  The only “right” it has to be there was granted by the United Nations which in 1947 established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, to be administered by the United States.

    What followed was an abuse of trust worse than rapists at a state care facility.  Using the very powers entrusted to it to protect the Marshallese, the US instead used the islands as a nuclear laboratory — violating both the letter and spirit of international law.

    Fellow white-dominated countries like Australia and New Zealand couldn’t have cared less and let the indigenous people be irradiated for decades.

    The betrayal of trust by the US was comprehensive and remains so to this day:

    Under Article 76 of the UN Charter, all trusteeship agreements carried obligations. The administering power was required to:

    • Promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the people
    • Protect the rights and well-being of the inhabitants
    • Help them advance toward self-government or independence.

    Under Article VI, the United States solemnly pledged to “Protect the inhabitants against the loss of their lands and resources.”  Very similar to sentiments in New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi.  Within a few years the Americans were exploding the biggest nuclear bombs in history over the islands.

    Within a year of the US assuming trusteeship of the islands, another pillar of international law came into effect: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) — which affirms the inherent dignity and equal rights of all humans. Exposing colonised peoples to extreme radiation for weapons testing is a racist affront to this.

    America has a long history of making treaties and fine speeches and then exploiting indigenous peoples.  Last year, I had the sobering experience of reading American military historian Peter Cozzens’ The Earth is Weeping, a history of the “Indian wars” for the American West.

    The past is not dead: the Marshall Islands are a hive of bases, laboratories and missile testing; Americans are also incredibly busy attacking the population in Gaza today.

    Eyes of Fire – the last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior
     Had the French not sunk the Rainbow Warrior after it reached Auckland from the Rongelap evacuation, it would have led a flotilla to protest nuclear testing at Moruroa in French Polynesia.  So the bookends of this article are the abuse of defenceless people in the charge of one nuclear power — the US —  and the abuse of New Zealand and the peoples of French Polynesia by another nuclear power — France.

    Senator Jeton Anjain (left) of Rongelap and Greenpeace campaign coordinator Steve Sawyer on board the Rainbow Warrior . . . challenging the abuse of defenceless people under the charge of one nuclear power. Image: David Robie/Eyes of Fire

    This incredible story, and much more, is the subject of David Robie’s outstanding book Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, published by Little Island Press, which has been relaunched to mark the 40th anniversary of the French terrorist attack.

    A new prologue by former prime minister Helen Clark and a preface by Greenpeace’s Bunny McDiarmid, along with an extensive postscript which bring us up to the present day, underline why the past is not dead; it’s with us right now.

    Between them, France and the US have exploded more than 300 nuclear bombs in the Pacific. Few people are told this; few people know this.

    Today, a matrix of issues combine — the ongoing effects of nuclear contamination, sea rise imperilling Pacific nations, colonialism still posing immense challenges to people in the Marshall Islands, Kanaky New Caledonia and in many parts of our region.

    Unsung heroes
     Our media never ceases to share the pronouncements of European leaders and news from the US and Europe but the leaders and issues of the Pacific are seldom heard. The heroes of the antinuclear movement should be household names in Australia and New Zealand.

    Vanuatu’s great leader Father Walter Lini; Oscar Temaru, Mayor, later President of French Polynesia; Senator Jeton Anjain, Darlene Keju-Johnson and so many others.

    Do we know them?  Have we heard their voices?

    Jobod Silk, climate activist, said in a speech welcoming the Rainbow Warrior III to Majuro earlier this year:  “Our crusade for nuclear justice intertwines with our fight against the tides.”

    Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific . . . the Rainbow Warrior taking on board Rongelap islanders ready for their first of four relocation voyages to Mejatto island. Image: David Robie/Eyes of Fire

    Former Tuvalu PM Enele Sapoaga castigated Australia for the AUKUS submarine deal which he said “was crafted in secret by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison with no public discussion.”

    He challenged the bigger regional powers, particularly Australia and New Zealand, to remember that the existential threat faced by Pacific nations comes first from climate change, and reminded New Zealanders of the commitment to keeping the South Pacific nuclear-free.

    Hinamoeura Cross, a Tahitian anti-nuclear activist and politician, said in a 2019 UN speech: “Today, the damage is done. My people are sick. For 30 years we were the mice in France’s laboratory.”

    Until we learn their stories and know their names as well as we know those of Marco Rubio or Keir Starmer, we will remain strangers in our own lands.

    The Pacific owes them, along with the people of Greenpeace, a huge debt.  They put their bodies on the line to stop the aggressors. Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, killed by the French in 1985, was just one of many victims, one of many heroes.

    A great way to honour the sacrifice of those who stood up for justice, who stood for peace and a nuclear-free Pacific, and who honoured our own national identity would be to buy David Robie’s excellent book.

    You cannot sink a rainbow.

    Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira being welcomed to Rongelap Atoll by a villager in May 1985 barely two months before he was killed by French secret agents during the sabotage of the Rainbow Warrior. Image: David Robie/Eyes of Fire

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: University leaders have to make sense of massive disruption — 4 ways they do it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Atlin, Adjunct Professor, Gordon S. Lang School of Business, University of Guelph

    Trying to navigate an environment where massive disruption and unprecedented change is the norm presents a challenge for business leaders everywhere.

    Social-purpose, multi-stakeholder organizations like post-secondary institutions, hospitals, governments and NGOs are particularly affected.

    The practice of “sense-making” — making sense of the situations people find themselves in, in the words of organizational theorist Karl Weick — offers an innovative and timely framework that can help social-purpose leaders address complexity.

    Senior post-secondary leaders study

    Management experts have described sense-making as the key skill needed in an age of disruption. This has been confirmed through my research while completing a master’s degree in change leadership.

    I interviewed more than two dozen senior leaders in complex organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — the majority of whom were in the post-secondary sector. I found the leaders I interviewed were intuitively using elements from Weick’s organizational sense-making framework.

    As one leader shared:

    “The first thing you need to do is to recognize that it’s your role to help the rest of your community make sense of what’s happening around you. It’s something that I take very seriously.”

    Deborah Ancona, professor of management at MIT, says:

    “Sense-making is most often needed when our understanding of the world becomes unintelligible in some way. This occurs when the environment is changing rapidly, presenting us with surprises for which we are unprepared or confronting us with adaptive, rather than technical problems to solve.”

    Leading in ‘age of outrage’

    Social-purpose organizations face common issues such as a lack of funding, system fragmentation, competing stakeholders, new entrants and the challenges of emerging technologies.

    They are also at the centre of what business and public policy professor Karthik Ramana describes as “the age of outrage,” reflected in heightened polarization. Against this backdrop, it’s increasingly challenging to attract and retain leaders.

    I heard from leaders who felt they didn’t have the proper training for the job or support once they started their roles. In part, this is because few of them, including those involved in their hiring, seem to realize the actual messiness inherent within their organizations.

    This brings to mind the parable that writer David Foster Wallace used in his 2005 convocation speech at Kenyon College, in which two young fish are told by an older fish that they are swimming in water. One of the young fish then turns to the other in surprise and says: “What is water anyway?”

    Lack of agency

    I heard from various leaders who experienced an “aha” moment when they realized they were immersed within a fluid and dynamic organizational environment that they were expected to run like a traditional business. This realization gave them a framework to understand the lack of agency they often experienced.

    The challenge with social-purpose organizations is that they’re complex adaptive systems in which individual interactions form an ever-changing array of networks generating emergent behaviours that are often unpredictable. Complex adaptive systems also tend to revert to the status quo when faced with change.

    So how do social-purpose leaders navigate change and this challenging organizational context? They wrap their efforts around purpose. It’s an anchor point and unifying focus for leaders, teams and all stakeholders.

    4 strategies

    Based on my research, I’ve identified four main sense-making strategies that leaders use:

    Exploration and map-making: These pursuits help leaders extract a steady flow of information and data from their interactions both inside and outside their organizations. This allows them to develop high-level, adaptive frameworks that are constantly in flux — similar to Google Maps, as it generates live snapshots of traffic flows and suggested routes.

    Storytelling and narrative development: Leaders use storytelling and narrative development to project ideas, purposes and visions into the future. This allows them to connect emotionally and inspire people and communities. Recognizing their role as storyteller-in-chief can align disparate parts of an organization into a coherent and engaged whole.

    Invention and improvisation: These are employed by leaders to test assumptions as they learn what works and what doesn’t. This approach allows them to respond in real time to the never-ending flow of new information. Without taking risks, leaders are at risk of being stuck in paralysis.

    Adaptation and collaboration allows leaders to help their organizations remain relevant. Leaders spoke about the need to foster adaptation. They also stressed the need to attract new resources through collaboration across like-minded institutions, governments, funding partners and the private sector.

    Embracing a sense-making mindset

    Thinking that benefits the interests and perspectives of the total enterprise is a critical but challenging task for leaders in social- purpose organizations.

    Time and energy — two scarce resources — are necessary to build aligned and high-performing teams and to break down silos. Team alignment cannot be achieved through the occasional team-building session, but requires an ongoing commitment and a well-articulated plan.

    Social-purpose organizations need practices, frameworks and metrics that are tailored to organizations’ unique needs. Rather than spending resources, time and energy on strategic plans, some leaders are building more flexible strategic frameworks or using strategic foresight to guide an innovative vision for the future.

    Leadership can be lonely

    It’s also important to remember that leadership can be lonely. To survive and thrive, social-purpose leaders must remember to seek out their own coaches and build communities of practice to enhance their lived experience and activities.

    Developing an outer shell to weather criticism also helps. While leaders can’t please everyone, sense-making leaders find strength and build endurance in the recognition that the roles they play are meaningful, satisfying and essential — not only within the organizations they serve but through the collective work their organizations accomplish in the world.

    Leaders (and board members) must realize that hiring the same people with the same profile as the past won’t make an organization ready for change, but instead reinforces the status quo.

    By recognizing the messiness of their organizations and using sense-making skills, leaders in social-purpose organizations have better odds of surviving the perils and challenges of massive disruption and unprecedented change.

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

    – ref. University leaders have to make sense of massive disruption — 4 ways they do it – https://theconversation.com/university-leaders-have-to-make-sense-of-massive-disruption-4-ways-they-do-it-257866

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: East China’s Zhejiang Province Issues Emergency Response for Typhoon Danas

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    HANGZHOU, July 6 (Xinhua) — An emergency response was activated in east China’s Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning to deal with Typhoon Danas, the fourth typhoon this year.

    According to the provincial meteorological observatory, Danas is expected to move northeast at 10-15 km per hour, cross the Taiwan Strait from south to north between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, and possibly either pass by or make landfall on the west coast of Taiwan Island.

    The typhoon will reach the East China Sea on Monday and may make landfall in coastal areas from central and southern Zhejiang Province to northern Fujian Province in east China after midday Tuesday, the observatory added.

    The Zhejiang provincial government called on all coastal regions and various departments to closely monitor the typhoon’s development trend, intensify joint consultations and take preventive measures in accordance with the emergency plan. These include sheltering ships in bays, anchoring fishing boats, suspending navigation on sea routes, suspending work on construction projects and closing off marine tourism areas.

    China’s National Meteorological Center also extended a yellow alert on Sunday for Typhoon Danas, which is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the country’s south.

    Let us recall that China has a four-level typhoon warning system, in which the highest level of danger is indicated by red, followed by orange, yellow and blue. -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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two killed in central China excursion boat sinking

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    CHANGSHA, July 6 (Xinhua) — Two people were killed and 27 others were rescued after a sightseeing boat sank on Dongjiang Lake in Zixing City, central China’s Hunan Province, on Saturday afternoon, local authorities said.

    The search and rescue operations ended on Sunday afternoon. The only person missing from the accident was found at 2:40 p.m., but unfortunately without signs of life.

    The incident occurred at around 4.30pm on Saturday when the 40-seater excursion boat capsized on the lake, leaving 29 people falling into the water.

    A preliminary investigation has shown that at the time of the incident, a sudden gust of wind, reaching speeds of up to 30 meters per second, hit the water area of the reservoir at the site of the tragedy. -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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Experts urge vigilance over AI’s threat to global security, humanity

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

    Decision-makers and strategists attending the 13th World Peace Forum have sounded the alarm over the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

    The three-day event, which wrapped up on Friday in Beijing, put AI in the spotlight, featuring two dedicated panels that examined its risks and regulation, as well as its expanding role in armed conflict.

    Regarding AI risk and regulatory challenges, a widely held view among participants was that the use of AI must never come at the expense of human safety, and that life-and-death decisions should always remain in human hands, rather than being delegated to machines.

    “We have to be very careful that we don’t unintentionally unleash the power of AI in a way that would harm people,” said Balthasar Staehelin, personal envoy of the president to China for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “there is an ethical responsibility here — one that must always be considered in light of international humanitarian law.”

    Advancements in information technology have enabled AI’s widespread use in conflict scenarios, yielding both promising and troubling results. The ICRC and other humanitarian organizations, for example, are deploying AI to match individuals searching for displaced family members, as their names may be spelled slightly differently in Arabic, and to help plan the best routes for refugees fleeing conflict zones.

    AI has been used in mine clearance, too. Low-flying drones equipped with AI technology can help detect mines, a way far more efficient than previous methods.

    Unfortunately, AI has also been employed to search for, track and identify combatants, and even lock onto targets, raising serious concerns about the growing role of robots in lethal operations, potentially even taking human lives.

    This unease is hardly new. As early as 1942, science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov proposed his “Three Laws of Robotics,” which included the rule: “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”

    In an interview with Xinhua this March, Staehelin also noted that the act of killing in war should always be a human decision, not one made by AI.

    This warning was echoed by Bruno Angelet, Belgian Ambassador to China, who believed that accountability for battlefield decisions must always rest with people, not machines. “It is a person who decides that the system can make decisions, and it is a person who is accountable. There is no stone or computer that will be accountable,” he said.

    Reinforcing this perspective, Zeng Yi, founding dean of Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance, observed that AI acts as a mirror — reflecting humanity’s choices and exposing whether our actions are truly responsible, especially when reckless decisions by individuals threaten to endanger society as a whole.

    Xiao Qian, deputy head of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, furthered the discussion by highlighting the legal ambiguity and difficulties in assigning accountability in AI-led actions.

    If a drone misidentifies a target, it becomes extremely challenging to determine who is responsible — the programmer, the commander, or the machine itself — sparking ongoing debate. Many AI systems also operate as black boxes, making legal compliance and effective oversight nearly impossible, she said.

    Christian Bessiere, research professor at the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Montpellier, broke down AI’s risks into four main categories: economic, “black box” opacity, cultural, and military. On regulation, he cautioned against excessive oversight that could stifle innovation and advocated for the creation of a strong, independent, non-profit international body to provide regulatory guidance.

    Turning to the question of global AI governance, Gong Ke, executive director of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies, identified escalating geopolitical tensions as the greatest risk facing international cooperation on AI.

    He added that a key challenge is making AI governance more inclusive, ensuring that all countries and stakeholders have a seat at the table.

    Yet even reaching the smallest consensus on AI governance remains extremely challenging amid ongoing geopolitical strains and competing national interests, observed Xiao Qian.

    She noted that while scientific groups are actively launching initiatives to raise awareness about the risks of military AI, these efforts have yet to receive significant attention or respect from governments.

    Themed “Advancing Global Peace and Prosperity: Shared Responsibility, Benefit and Achievement,” the forum, which ran from July 2 to 4, was hosted by Tsinghua University and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Major shipyards power ahead with green, high-tech vessels amid order surge

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

    People watch a model of electricity-powered container ship during the Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo 2024 in Tianjin, north China, July 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Shipyards in south China’s Guangzhou, one of the country’s top shipbuilding bases, are operating at full capacity this summer as they secure surging orders for high-tech, low-carbon vessels aimed at meeting global green shipping targets.

    Last month, Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited began constructing a 230-meter-long LNG dual-fuel car carrier for a client in the Republic of Korea. The vessel will rank among the world’s largest of its type, and will be powered by both fuel oil and natural gas.

    General manager Zhou Xuhui said the company has more than 90 ships on order, 80 percent of which are designed as high-tech, high-value-added green vessels. Deliveries are scheduled through 2028.

    Also in June, CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited started building China’s first LPG/liquid ammonia carrier powered by ammonia and another fuel.

    Ammonia, a major chemical industry feedstock, has a high energy density and due to its carbon-free nature, produces only water and nitrogen when fully combusted. This makes it a highly promising fuel for decarbonizing shipping.

    A company executive told Xinhua that Huangpu Wenchong currently holds orders for 16 such gas carriers, and has made independent breakthroughs in small and medium-sized gas ship technology, while expanding into new-energy ship markets to support low-carbon growth.

    In the first four months of 2025, the company secured over 13.7 billion yuan (about 1.92 billion U.S. dollars) in new contracts, up 111 percent year on year.

    Also in June, the world’s first pure ammonia-powered demonstration vessel, the Anhui, successfully completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, marking a major step forward for green shipping.

    Guangdong Province, a major shipbuilding base in China, has maintained growth momentum despite a slowdown in global orders. From January to May, Guangdong’s output of completed ships rose 2.5 percent year on year, and its order backlog increased 29.3 percent, according to the provincial shipbuilding industry association.

    Guangzhou, which is Guangdong’s capital city, has developed a complete shipbuilding supply chain, said Chen Jianrong, secretary-general of the association.

    Local authorities have pledged to continue building Guangzhou into a hub for marine innovation, targeting cutting-edge sectors such as the deep sea, green and smart marine industries.

    “Guangzhou was born by the sea and thrives because of the sea,” said Guo Yonghang, Party chief of the city. “We must accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces in the marine sector and strengthen breakthroughs in key core technologies.”

    After over a decade of research, Guangzhou HG Marine Co., Ltd. has developed a globally leading rim-driven electric propulsion system for ships.

    According to Qiu Xiangyao, head of HG Marine, traditional ship propellers generate significant underwater noise that can scare away fish, and their mechanical drives can also cause oil pollution in the sea. That is why many countries are turning to rim-driven electric thrusters, which feature zero pollution, low noise, and high efficiency.

    “The company has maintained strong growth this year, with orders surging and production scheduled more than a year ahead,” said Qiu, who added that the export of the megawatt-class rim thrusters has opened up broader international markets for the company and secured stable orders for future ocean-going fishery processing vessels.

    As Guangzhou ramps up its shipbuilding innovation and green technology, this momentum reflects a broader push across China and the global shipping industry to cut carbon emissions.

    Following years of intense negotiations, nations reached a landmark agreement in April to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping by setting mandatory fuel standards and introducing an industry-wide carbon pricing mechanism.

    The framework, approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization, is the first to combine mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across an entire industry sector.

    Scheduled for formal adoption in October 2025 and implementation by 2027, the measures will apply to large ocean-going vessels exceeding 5,000 gross tonnage, which are responsible for approximately 85 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from the global shipping fleet.

    Countries around the world are advancing green shipping through the adoption of clean energy and technology upgrades. China, positioning itself as a strong advocate of sustainable shipping, rolled out an action plan at the end of 2023 to build a preliminary green shipbuilding development system by 2025.

    Several breakthroughs have already emerged. In March, the world’s first floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with a carbon capture and storage facility was delivered in Shanghai.

    By capturing the carbon dioxide generated during sailing and oil production and using the exhaust heat energy to generate electricity, the AGOGO FPSO, measuring 333 meters in length and 60 meters in width, can achieve both environmental protection and energy savings. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN chief condemns Russian strikes on Ukraine, warns of nuclear safety risk

    Source: United Nations 2

    In a statement issued by his spokesperson, António Guterres expressed alarm over the dangerous escalation and the rising toll on civilians.

    He reiterated that attacks against civilians and critical infrastructure are prohibited under international law and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

    “These strikes disrupted the power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, once again underlining the ongoing risks to nuclear safety,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.

    “The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.”

    Fragile situation

    The airstrikes on Friday severed the nuclear plant’s last external power connection, forcing the ZNPP to rely on emergency diesel generators for more than three hours, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    Power was eventually restored, but the incident marked the ninth time the plant has lost all off-site electricity since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

    Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the nuclear watchdog, warned that the situation remains extremely fragile.

    “What was once virtually unimaginable – that a major nuclear power plant would repeatedly lose all of its external power connections – has unfortunately become a common occurrence,” he said.

    Nuclear safety deterioration

    Located in southern Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest nuclear power facility in Europe. Although its six reactors have been in cold shutdown since 2024, they still require electricity to cool reactor cores and spent fuel pools to prevent overheating and potential radioactive release.

    During the blackout, 18 diesel generators were activated to maintain critical cooling functions. The plant has enough diesel on site for at least ten days, with contingency plans in place to secure further supplies if needed, IAEA reported.

    The ZNPP has become dramatically more vulnerable since the war began. Prior to the conflict, it had access to ten external power lines; it now relies on just one.

    IAEA teams remain based at the site and continue to monitor the situation closely.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed dozens, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio

    A Kerrville, Texas, resident watches the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025. Eric Vryn/Getty Images

    Texas Hill Country is known for its landscapes, with shallow rivers winding among hills and through rugged valleys. But that geography also makes it one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for flash flooding.

    In the early hours of July 4, 2025, a rush of flood water swept through an area dotted with summer camps and small towns about 70 miles west of San Antonio. At least 27 people died, and about two dozen girls from one camp and other people in the area were still unaccounted for the following morning, officials said. More than 200 people had to be rescued.

    The flooding began as many flash floods in this region do, with a heavy downpour that sent water sheeting off the hillsides into creeks. The creeks poured into the Guadalupe River. Around 3 a.m. on July 4, National Weather Service data shows the river was rising about 1 foot every 5 minutes near the camp. By 4:30 a.m., the water had risen more than 20 feet.

    Flood expert Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist and civil engineer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, explains what makes this part of the country, known as Flash Flood Alley, so dangerous.

    What makes Hill Country so prone to flooding?

    Texas as a whole leads the nation in flood deaths, and by a wide margin. A colleague and I analyzed data from 1959 to 2019 and found 1,069 people had died in flooding in Texas over those six decades. The next highest total was in Louisiana, with 693.

    Many of those flood deaths have been in Hill County, an area known as Flash Flood Alley. It’s a crescent of land that curves from near Dallas down to San Antonio and then westward.

    The hills are steep, and the water moves quickly when it floods. This is a semi-arid area with soils that don’t soak up much water, so the water sheets off quickly and the shallow creeks can rise fast.

    When those creeks converge on a river, they can create a wall of water that wipes out homes and washes away cars and, unfortunately, anyone in its path.

    Hill Country has seen some devastating flash floods. In 1987, heavy rain in western Kerr County quickly flooded the Guadalupe River, triggering a flash flood similar to the one in 2025. Ten teenagers being evacuated from a camp died in the rushing water.

    San Antonio, considered the gateway to Hill Country, was hit with another flash flood on June 12, 2025, that killed 13 people whose cars were swept away when they drove into high water from a flooding creek near an interstate ramp in the early morning.

    Why does the region get such strong downpours?

    One reason Hill Country gets powerful downpours is the Balcones Escarpment.

    The escarpment is a line of cliffs and steep hills created by a geologic fault. When warm air from the Gulf rushes up the escarpment, it condenses and can dump a lot of moisture. That water flows down the hills quickly, from many different directions, filling streams and rivers below.

    As temperature rise, the warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the downpour and flood risk.

    A tour of the Guadalupe River and its flood risk.

    The same effect can contribute to flash flooding in San Antonio, where the large amount of paved land and lack of updated drainage to control runoff adds to the risk.

    What can be done to improve flash flood safety?

    First, it’s important for people to understand why flash flooding happens and just how fast the water can rise and flow. In many arid areas, dry or shallow creeks can quickly fill up with fast-moving water and become deadly. So people should be aware of the risks and pay attention to the weather.

    Improving flood forecasting, with more detailed models of the physics and water velocity at different locations, can also help.

    Probabilistic forecasting, for example, can provide a range of rainfall scenarios, enabling authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios. A scientific framework linking rainfall forecasts to the local impacts, such as streamflow, flood depth and water velocity, could also help decision-makers implement timely evacuations or road closures.

    Education is particularly essential for drivers. One to two feet of moving water can wash away a car. People may think their trucks and SUVs can go through anything, but fast-moving water can flip a truck and carry it away.

    Officials can also do more to barricade roads when the flood risk is high to prevent people from driving into harm’s way. We found that 58% of the flood deaths in Texas over the past six decades involved vehicles.

    The storm on June 12 in San Antonio was an example. It was early morning, and drivers has poor visibility. Cars drove into floodwater without seeing the risk until it was too late.

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

    – ref. Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed dozens, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding – https://theconversation.com/why-texas-hill-country-where-a-devastating-flood-killed-dozens-is-one-of-the-deadliest-places-in-the-us-for-flash-flooding-260555

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: What time is it on the Moon? It’s all relative…

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Surely, you might think, we can just agree that one Earth time zone can be used for “Moon time”? Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), for example. How hard can it be? Unfortunately, this doesn’t work, for several reasons.

    Here on Earth, timekeeping is easy to take for granted: we divide our world into 24 time zones, based on longitude and the planet’s rotation, and can tell the time based on the position of the Sun in the sky.

    But on the Moon, the rules are different: one lunar “day” is approximately 29.5 Earth days long, and the Moon’s equatorial regions can experience up to 14 days of continuous sunlight. On some of the Moon’s tallest mountains, dubbed “peaks of eternal light,” the Sun never sets.

    On top of that, physicists and science fiction fans will know that time isn’t the same on the Moon as it is on Earth. Place two perfectly synchronised clocks – one on Earth and one on the Moon – and, after just one Earth day, the lunar clock would be ahead by about 56 microseconds. That might not sound like much, but for spacecraft navigation, this tiny discrepancy could be critical.

    Uniting efforts to standardize lunar time

    For a Moon time zone to work, aspiring lunar actors will need to agree on a common time standard that is reliable, traceable to Earth-based time, and usable by everyone. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is helping to lead the charge to make this a reality.

    In 2024, the UN’s International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) established a dedicated working group to focus on lunar positioning, navigation and timing, standardise lunar time and trace it back to UTC that we use on Earth, for the benefit of all future lunar missions.

    Peace on Earth, peace on Moon

    Coordinating seamless timekeeping on the Moon is part of a broader UN mission to ensure that lunar activities, whether public, private, scientific, or commercial, are safe, peaceful and sustainable. To that end, UNOOSA convened the first United Nations Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities in June 2024, gathering heads of space agencies, legal experts, astronauts, companies, and academics from across the globe to discuss common ground, share concerns, and reaffirm the need for transparent, inclusive lunar governance mechanisms.

    © NASA/Jordan Salkin/Keegan Bar

    View of Earth from the NASA Earth Observatory

    One such mechanism to further international cooperation is the new Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC), which is designed to help foster dialogue and formulate recommendations on how lunar exploration and activities can be coordinated internationally. ATLAC will work to finalize its workplan for the significant coming years and identify priority topics – such as coordinated lunar timekeeping – to ensure lunar activities proceed in a cooperative and orderly manner.

    Humanity is entering a new era of lunar exploration featuring a record number of spacefaring nations and organizations that could reshape our relationship with our closest celestial neighbours for generations to come.

    Member States will be able to work with UNOOSA to preserve the Moon as a domain of global cooperation, guided by the Outer Space Treaty’s core principle that “the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries.”

    NASA astronaut Harrison Schmitt on the moon (file, 1972)

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information after Whanganui aggravated robbery

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Detective Sergeant Andrew Jurgens, Whanganui CIB: 

    Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after an aggravated robbery at a Whanganui jewellery store this afternoon.

    Officers were called to the scene on Victoria Avenue about 1pm after a man reportedly entered the store with a hammer.

    He has then allegedly smashed several display cabinets and taken a number of items, before leaving the scene in a vehicle.

    The store’s staff were fortunately not injured, however they were understandably distressed by what happened.

    An investigation has been launched and Police are actively seeking the man allegedly responsible.

    We are appealing for any witnesses who have not yet spoken to us to please come and do so.

    We would also ask anyone who may have captured cellphone or dashcam footage of the incident to please share it with us as soon as possible.

    Please get in touch through our 105 service, either by phone or online, quoting reference number 250705/5503.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Fluminense edges Al Hilal into Club World Cup semifinal

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

    Hercules scored the winner as Fluminense beat Al Hilal 2-1 in the FIFA Club World Cup here on Friday, securing a place for the Brazilian side in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals.

    Fluminense broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, when Matheus Martinelli curled the ball into the top far corner, assisted by Gabriel Fuentes.

    Al Hilal was awarded a penalty in the stoppage time of the first half after a tangle of legs, but the referee’s decision was revoked by VAR for “no foul”.

    The Saudi side found the equalizer in the 51st minute as Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball into the goal area, allowing Marcos Leonardo to score his fourth goal of the tournament.

    However, Al Hilal failed to repeat their comeback victory over Manchester City once again, Fluminense re-took the lead in the 70th minute, after Hercules netted with a powerful right-footed shot.

    In the last 15 minutes, Al Hilal players constantly fell down in the box and asked for penalty. But they couldn’t convince the referee and Koulibaly was shown a yellow card for diving.

    In the mixed zone, Koulibaly spoke with confusion. “We did everything to win. Fluminense played very well defensively. I don’t understand [referee’s decision]. I think everyone saw it, but I don’t know why the referee didn’t go to check the VAR for me [in the second half].”

    “Sometimes we want to accept everything, but when you lose like this, I think it was a shame, because it was the chance of our life. I think the referee didn’t do his job,” Koulibaly added. “If you check the VAR in the first half, you should check it in the second half.”

    Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said it had been unfortunate for his team to lose. “It has been a good World Cup for us, but clearly we leave with a little bit of a bitter taste in our mouth because after what happened in that second half, we deserved much more,” he said.

    Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho said their fans can be proud for wearing a jersey in the street. “We didn’t have many chances, but we made the most of them, the entire group worked and were committed.”

    Fluminense is set to play against the winner between Chelsea and Palmeiras in the semifinal on Tuesday. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN aims to transform urgency into action at Nice Ocean Conference

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) from 9-13 June will bring together Heads of State, scientists, civil society and business leaders around a single goal: to halt the silent collapse of the planet’s largest – and arguably most vital – ecosystem.

    The ocean is suffocating due to rising temperatures, rampant acidification, erosion of biodiversity, plastic invasion, predatory fishing.

    ‘A state of emergency’

    “Our planet’s life support system is in a state of emergency,” said Li Junhua, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Secretary-General of the upcoming summit. 

    He insisted that there is still time to change course.

    “The future of the ocean is not predetermined.  It will be shaped by the decisions and actions that we are making now,” Mr. Li said on Tuesday during a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York. 

    In the eyes of the senior official, UNOC 3 “will not be just another routine gathering.” 

    “We hope that it proves to be the pivotal opportunity to accelerate action and mobilize all stakeholders across the sectors and borders.”

    World-class conference

    More than 50 world leaders are expected on the Côte d’Azur, alongside 1,500 delegates from nearly 200 countries. 

    The programme includes 10 plenary meetings, 10 thematic roundtables, a blue zone reserved for official delegations, and a series of parallel forums during five days of negotiations.

    For France, which is co-hosting the conference alongside Costa Rica, the challenge is clear: to make Nice a historic milestone. 

    “This is an emergency,” declared Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the UN, during the press conference.

    “An ecological emergency: we are witnessing the deterioration of the quality of the oceans as an environment, as a reservoir of biodiversity, as a carbon sink.”

    France hopes to make the conference a turning point and the goal “is to produce a Nice agreement that is pro-oceans, as the Paris Agreement 10 years ago now was for the climate.” 

    This agreement will take the form of a Nice Action Plan for the Ocean, a “concise action-oriented declaration,” according to Mr. Li, accompanied by renewed voluntary commitments.

    Three milestones

    Three events will prepare the ground for UNOC 3.

    The One Ocean Science Congress, from 4-6 June, will bring together several thousand researchers. The Summit on Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience to be held the following day will explore responses to rising sea levels. Finally, the Blue Economy Finance Forum, on 7-8 June in Monaco, will mobilize investors and policymakers.

    For Costa Rican Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, there is no more time for procrastination.

    “We’re expecting concrete commitments with clear timelines, budgets and accountability mechanisms. What is different this time around, zero rhetoric, maximum results,” she said.

    ‘Transform ambition into action’

    The conference’s theme Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Stakeholders to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean will address several topics, ranging from sustainable fishing to marine pollution and the interactions between climate and biodiversity.

    “This is our moment to transform ambition into action,” Mr. Li concluded, calling for governments, businesses, scientists, and civil society to come together in a common spirit. 

    He also praised the “visionary leadership” of France and Costa Rica, without whom this large-scale mobilization would not have been possible.

    A slogan promoted by Costa Rica seems to sum up the spirit of the summit: “Five days. One ocean. One unique opportunity.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Greed is driving oceans toward collapse

    Source: United Nations 4

    Mr. Guterres’ stark assessment came during a press conference on the second day of the UN ocean summit, known as UNOC3, where hundreds of government leaders, scientists and civil society groups are gathered on France’s Côte d’Azur. Their mission: to confront the escalating emergency facing the world’s oceans.

    Greed is a ‘clear enemy’

    “We are in Nice on a mission – save the ocean, to save our future,” the Secretary-General said, and warned that a tipping point is fast-approaching “beyond which recovery may become impossible.”

    The “clear enemy” that is pushing our oceans towards the brink is greed.

    According to the UN chief, greed sows doubt, denies science, distorts truth, rewards corruption and destroys life for profit. “We cannot let greed dictate the fate of our planet,” he insisted.

    Calling on all stakeholders to assume their responsibility in pushing back against these profit-hungry forces, the Secretary-General said: “That is why we are here this week: to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all.”

    He cited four priorities for governments, business leaders, fishers and scientists, saying “everyone has a responsibility and a vital role to play”:

    • Transform ocean harvesting – It’s not just about fishing, it’s about how we fish. We must meet the globally agreed “30 by 30” goal to conserve 30 per cent of oceans by 2030.
       
    • Tackle plastic pollution: Phase out single-use plastics and improve recycling; and finalize a global treaty to end plastic pollution this year.
       
    • Fight climate change at sea: Countries must submit bold climate plans ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Plans must align with the 1.5°C target and cover all emissions.
       
    • Enforce the High Seas Treaty: Ratify and implement the new treaty, known by the shorthand, BBNJ treaty, to protect marine biodiversity, and urge all nations to join and bring the agreement into force.

    Calling for a grand global coalition of governments, business leaders, fishers, scientists, the Secretary-General urged everyone to step forward with decisive commitments and tangible funding.

    “The ocean has given us so much. It is time we returned the favour.”

    UN News/Heyi Zou

    António Guterres, UN Secretary-General takes a family photo with world leaders to ramp up the ratification of the High Sea Treaty.

    Don’t let the deep sea become the ‘Wild West’

    Responding to questions at the press conference, Mr. Guterres emphasized another critical issue: the fight against deep-sea mining. 

    Reiterating his warning from the opening day of the conference that the deep ocean must not become a “Wild West” of unregulated exploitation, he voiced strong backing for the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority in addressing this growing concern.

    After his press conference, the Secretary-General visited Nice’s picturesque Port Lympia and boarded the Santa Maria Manuela, a Portuguese four-masted schooner, where he met members of the Oceano Azul Foundation, a Lisbon-based organization promoting efforts to reverse the destruction of ocean environments around the world.

    UN News/Heyi Zou

    Young advocates are playing a role in UNOC3.

    An end to deep sea mining

    As the second day of UNOC3 gets under way, the lines outside the conference venue remain just as long as they were on opening day, but the atmosphere has shifted.

    The stern-faced dignitaries and their security details are still very much present, but they have been joined by a more animated crowd. Grassroots activists and civil society groups now fill the space, bringing fresh energy and determination as they step up to help shape the global conversation on saving our oceans and restoring the planet’s health.

    Among these civil society actors, Arzucan Askin and Gayathra Bandara are Young Ocean Leaders and fellows of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, one of the largest youth organizations for ocean action.

    They told UN News that the Alliance has been advocating a range of work, from ocean conservation and restoration, to pushing for a moratorium on deep sea mining.

    As a specialized researcher working on the impact of seabed mining with several European and US partners, Mr. Bandara said he sees a big role for scientific data in this effort.

    “I felt very sad when some leaders [at the Conference] said they wanted to…push for more deep-sea mining,” so it was “a great thing” to hear the Presidents of France and Costa Rica, the UNOC3 co-hosts, call strongly for the practice to be suspended.

    Ms. Askin agreed and urged everyone to do more to protect our ocean, which she described as “the home of ancient ecosystems that predate all of us”.

    She said she really hopes that the global community will come together and declare: “We will not be mining the deep sea, we will not be exploiting it but rather we’ll be protecting it for the generations to come”.

    UN News/Heyi Zou

    Martina Burtscher (right) and Udani Hewa Maddumage (left) talk to UN News.

    ‘Save our ocean’ is not just a slogan

    Other grassroots groups at the Conference are echoing the urgency expressed by the Secretary-General and world leaders calling for more and faster action to reverse the damage being done to our oceans and planet.

    UN News spoke to Martina Burtscher and Udani Hewa Maddumage, two young activists from SeaSisters Lanka, a non-profit organization in Sri Lanka that uses swimming, surfing and ocean education as a tool.

    SeaSisters Lanka also aims to empower women from coastal areas, especially in southern provinces in Sri Lanka.

    Ms. Burtscher said it is important for everyone, especially world leaders, to understand that saving the ocean is not just a discussion point; it is the agenda.

    Ms. Hewa Maddumage agreed, saying: “In a way, the ocean doesn’t need us, but we should protect it… because we are the ones who use it, and we are the ones that are ruining it as well.”

    As advocates from a grassroot organization, both said they felt it was important that “all voices are included in decision-making positions”.

    Noting their expectations for the Conference, they further hoped that “women, minority groups and organizations that work directly on the ground together with the coastal communities “can be heard, loud and clear”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –