NewzIntel.com

Category: Middle East

  • Iran says nuclear talks will fail if US pushes for zero enrichment

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States “will lead nowhere” if Washington insists that Tehran drop its uranium enrichment activity to zero, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi was quoted by state media on Monday as saying.

    U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff reiterated Washington’s stance on Sunday that any new deal between the U.S. and Iran must include an agreement not to enrich uranium, a possible pathway to developing nuclear bombs. Tehran says its nuclear energy programme has entirely peaceful purposes.

    “Our position on enrichment is clear and we have repeatedly stated that it is a national achievement from which we will not back down,” Takhtravanchi said.

    During his visit to the Gulf region last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal was very close but that Iran needed to move quickly.

    During his first, 2017-21 term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

    Trump, who branded the 2015 accord one-sided in Iran’s favour, also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions on Iran. The Islamic Republic responded by escalating enrichment.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

    Kieran Gilbert, Host: Joining me live in the studio is the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell. Thanks for your time. A lot to talk about. I will ask you about that issue that the Deputy Prime Minister finished on there in terms of productivity and the superannuation, but let’s start on trade. Will you get the deal done with the EU? We’re hearing that the talks will resume soon.

    Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Yes. In fact, I’m going to be talking to my counterpart tomorrow. So, you might recall in the middle of the election, I had a conversation with Trade Minister Maroš. He’s from Slovakia. We hit it off pretty well, I think, in our first discussion. He sent me a very kind and warm message on election night when it was clear that we had won the election. I’ve subsequently had a meeting with the EU Ambassador and reaffirmed our commitment and heard from him his commitment.

    Gilbert: Sounding good?

    Trade Minister: Sounding good, yeah, yep. And as I said, I’ve got a conversation with him tomorrow. And of course, in the meantime, the Prime Minister has met President von der Leyen.

    Gilbert: The sticking point was on the geographical indicators and also on agriculture. Is that right?

    Trade Minister: Yeah.

    GILBERT: So, will there be compromise there from the EU?

    Trade Minister: Look, what – the politics have changed in two years. I think both Australia and Europe now realise that there’s a priority and an imperative to get a free trade agreement. If other countries don’t want to trade with you, well that’s fine, that’s their decision. But if there are countries such as Europe who do want to do trade with you, well then you’ve got to go that extra mile to get an agreement over the line.

    Gilbert: And the things that changed, we know, Donald Trump.

    Trade Minister: Yeah, yeah, well look, look. A whole lot of things have changed since we last had a conversation. But I think we share the same values as Europe. So, those geographical indicators are hard issues. On the one hand, the Europeans say, well look, you’re using all of our names. On the other hand, what I say to them is, look, after World War II, a whole lot of Europeans came to Australia. They bought their families, they bought their culture, more importantly, they bought their food and wine.

    Gilbert: They sure did.

    Trade Minister: Yeah. And for them, the link with Europe is not an economic link, it’s a way that they keep in contact with their European roots.

    Gilbert: Would you like to see then, that trade deal, you know, if you are successful in landing that, also expand into a security relationship? Because that’s what von der Leyen has raised with the Prime Minister overnight, that we talk not just in trade terms, but security terms, like Japan and Korea have.

    Trade Minister: Yeah, look, look. My space is trade. I’m going to be focused on the trade agenda. We’ve gone a long way down that path. We need to complete that process. What happens with defence and all of those other issues? The Prime Minister has addressed that today. He said, look, we’re happy to look at these things, but our immediate priority with the Europeans is all about trade.

    Gilbert: When the PM went to the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, why was it important in your view to be there? Is it something that, you know, a Prime Minister necessarily has to be at, the inauguration of a new Pope?

    Trade Minister: Look, I think it was very important that the Prime Minister was there. As you know, he sent me to the funeral a couple of weeks ago. That was obviously, you know, a very solemn event. This was a very joyous event for Australia’s 5 million Catholics, of which the Prime Minister and myself are both adherents to the Catholic faith. I think it was very important that Australia be represented there and represented at the highest level.

    Gilbert: Do you think it’s also important in a more secular world that the leadership does show respect to people of faith? Is this something, you know, in simple terms, that people of other faiths will respect?

    Trade Minister: Well, look, I think that’s part of it. But this new pope, Pope Leo XIV, has come out very strongly on the issue of peace. That’s very important for Australia. We’ve been calling for peace in Ukraine. We want the Russians to withdraw from Ukraine. And we also want peace in the Middle East. So, I think we’re on board with the agenda for this new Pope to start talking about a more peaceful world. That’s good for Australia and it’s good for the world.

    Gilbert: Ok. On some other issues, my colleague Andrew Clennell reported yesterday that state MPs and officials won’t be hit by the government’s super tax on funds upwards of $3 million. Is that viable? You’ve been around politics a long time. Do you think you can still sell that as a policy when people start to realise that some premiers and officials won’t have to pay it?

    Trade Minister: Well, look, this tax applies to very, very few people. Less than 0.5 per cent of the population are going to be affected. And of course, it only applies to people on very, very high balances. There are some constitutional issues that relate to how superannuation is dealt with by state governments. But rest assured that the people who are going to be making this decision will themselves be covered by this tax, if they get to that high level of superannuation.

    Gilbert: The $3 million fund, I mean, as you touched on, we did go to the election recently, but do you think people, when the details start to emerge about taxing unrealised gains and so on, that that’s going to be a bit complex to try and navigate for the government?

    Trade Minister: Look, I hope not. We nailed our colours to the mast in respect to this tax. We tried to get it through the last Parliament, it wasn’t successful. We took it to the last election. So, nobody was in any doubt about what our policy was in respect of this tax. And we’ve received an overwhelming endorsement from the Australian people. So, I think in terms of honesty, if we didn’t proceed with this, then I think people would say, well, what’s going on? You said you were going to do this. We’ve built the savings from this new super tax into our future budgets. So, I think now, we’ve got the endorsement for the Australian people. It’s a very, very minor tax in the scheme of things, and I think the Australian people would now expect us to proceed with it.

    Gilbert: And do you think the Treasurer can make it work just with all of those other complications?

    Trade Minister: Well, he’s a very, very good Treasurer and I think-

    Gilbert: There are those that say it’s just too complex in terms of tax structures and people’s superannuation. You might have an impact on productivity because people will pull out of the workforce before they hit that threshold.

    Trade Minister: I think people are barking up the wrong tree. I doubt whether the relatively small impact of this tax is going to result in any of those sorts of things. But we’ve got a very good salesman in Jim Chalmers and of course, now he’s being assisted by Daniel Mulino, who’s a very good friend of mine. He’s got a, I think it’s a Master of Economics from Yale, very smart fellow, and I think that combination will be very successful.

    Gilbert: I know you’ve got to go. Just quickly, what else is on your agenda? You’ve got that, the talks tomorrow with the EU.

    Trade Minister: Yes, yes, and India.

    Gilbert: What’s at the top of your agenda here?

    Trade Minister: We were very close to a free trade agreement with India before the election was called. I’m now confident that we’ll get another agreement with them. And of course, in a few weeks’ time, the United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement comes into operation. The United Arab Emirates is like the Woollies warehouse of the Middle East. If you can get your product in there. And all of our products are going into the UAE tariff free. It’s a really good, really good agreement.

    Gilbert: 93 seats for Labor, you must have said some pretty strong prayers when you were over in the Vatican. They seem like they’ve worked.

    Trade Minister: I did. Look, we were the last people, I think, to touch the Pope’s coffin before we went out for the Mass. And I did say a little prayer for the Prime Minister and the Labor Party.

    Gilbert: Certainly strengthened your favour. Don Farrell, thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

    Trade Minister: Thanks, Kieran.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney

    I. Noyan Yilmaz, Shutterstock

    Societies increasingly rely on scientists to guide decisions in times of uncertainty, from pandemic outbreaks to the rise of artificial intelligence.

    Addressing climate change is no different. For governments wanting to introduce ambitious climate policies, public trust in climate scientists is pivotal, because it can determine whether voters support or resist those efforts.

    So do people trust climate scientists, and what affects levels of trust? Our new study shows climate scientists are less trusted than other types of scientists globally. But there are profound variations in this trust gap between countries, and within them.

    Finding ways to increase trust in climate scientists is crucial if the world is to implement effective policies to avert dangerous global warming.

    Low trust in climate scientists may hinder effective climate science communication and reduce public engagement with climate solutions.
    Mozgova, Shutterstock.

    Examining trust in science

    We collaborated with an international team of researchers to analyse data from one of the largest cross-national surveys of public attitudes toward science. The dataset includes responses from nearly 70,000 people across 68 countries. It offers a rare global snapshot of how people perceive scientists in general, and climate scientists in particular.

    Each of these people rated their trust in climate scientists on a five-point scale, with a five indicating very high trust and a one being not trusted at all.

    Trust in scientists more generally was assessed using a 12-item questionnaire that measured perceptions of expertise, integrity, benevolence and openness. The responses were averaged to create a composite trust score. Higher scores reflected higher levels of trust.

    We found trust in scientists was moderately strong worldwide, as it was above the midpoint of the scale (averaging 3.6 out of 5). But trust in climate scientists was slightly lower (averaging 3.5). The difference between the two scores is what we call the “trust gap”.

    In 43 of the 68 countries, the trust gap was statistically significant, with people reporting lower trust in climate scientists than in scientists in general.

    The size of the trust gap varied between countries. In Europe, Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) and North America the gap tended to be smaller. Larger gaps emerged in parts of Latin America and Africa.

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo had the widest gap, with climate scientists trusted less than in any other country. This may reflect local concerns that global climate agendas — often supported by international scientists — prioritise resource extraction for foreign renewable energy demands over local interests. Such feelings may be particularly acute in regions where mining has brought limited community benefit.

    Six countries bucked the trend. Climate scientists were more trusted than scientists overall in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Egypt, Israel and Germany.

    In China and Germany, this may reflect strong investment in green energy, high levels of public support for climate action, and the visible role climate scientists play in shaping policy.

    What’s going on here?

    Not surprisingly, people with more positive views of science tended to express higher trust in scientists and even more so, climate scientists. But people with dim views of scientists were less trusting of climate scientists.

    Age also played a role. Older people tended to trust scientists more than younger people. But younger people were more likely to trust climate scientists.

    Climate scientists were generally less trusted than scientists regardless of gender. While men reported slightly lower trust in scientists than women did, the difference was not statistically significant.

    Among all the variables we examined, political orientation emerged as one of the strongest factors associated with trust in climate scientists. People with right-leaning or conservative views reported lower trust in climate scientists compared with those with more left-leaning or liberal views.

    However, the meaning of terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” can vary considerably between countries. For example, in Australia, the Liberal Party is politically right-leaning. But in the United States, “liberal” typically refers to left-leaning or progressive views. This variation makes cross-national comparisons complex and requires careful interpretation of results.

    As a particular person’s political orientation shifted further to the right, the trust gap between climate scientists and scientists widened.

    In 28 countries across the Americas, Europe and Oceania, right-leaning orientation was associated not only with lower trust in climate scientists than people who leaned to the left, but also with a larger gap between trust for scientists generally and trust for climate scientists.

    In a smaller subset of countries, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, the pattern reversed – right-leaning individuals expressed greater trust in climate scientists than their left-leaning counterparts.

    These findings suggest it is not political orientation alone that drives public trust, but how climate issues are framed in political discourse. In many Western countries, public messaging around climate change — particularly from conservative parties and media — has cast doubt on the credibility of climate science. This politicisation, often amplified by vested interests such as fossil fuel lobbies, may help explain the erosion of trust among some conservative groups.

    Closing the trust gap

    Trust alone will not solve the climate crisis, but it plays a crucial role in shaping how societies respond to scientific guidance.

    Ambitious, evidence-based policies require public support to succeed. A persistent trust gap — no matter how small — can undermine that support and help explain why many governments continue to fall short of their climate targets.

    Closing the trust gap through transparent communication, inclusive public engagement, and consistent political leadership is essential for turning awareness into action.

    Omid Ghasemi receives funding from the Australian Academy of Science.

    Ben Newell receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/climate-scientists-are-trusted-globally-just-not-as-much-as-other-scientists-heres-why-256441

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 19 May 2025 Departmental update World No Tobacco Day 2025 Awards – meet the winners

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Each year, WHO honours individuals and organizations from each of the six WHO regions for their outstanding contributions to tobacco control. These accolades include the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Awards, the World No Tobacco Day Awards, and, in 2025, one WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Certificate.

    The recipients of the 2025 awards are:

    WHO Director-General Special awards:

    • Dr Mohamed Muizzu, President, Republic of Maldives
    • The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Republic of Mauritius

    WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition certificate:

    • Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC)

    African Region

    • Programme National de Lutte contre le Tabagisme, l’Alcoolisme, la Toxicomanie et les autres Addictions (PNLTA), Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
    • Dr Brou Dieudonne Koffi, Secretary, Organization of the Network of NGOs Engaged in Tobacco Control (ROCTACI), Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
    • Labram Massawudu Musah, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Republic of Ghana
    • Elvina Majiwa, Student, United States International University-Africa, Republic of Kenya
    • Charity Aienobe-Asekharen, Health Promotion, Education and Community Development Initiative (HPECDI), Federal Republic of Nigeria

    Region of the Americas

    • Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), Federative Republic of Brazil
    • Lisa Lu, CEO, International Youth Tobacco Control, United States of America

    Shared award:

    • Ministry of Finance, Federative Republic of Brazil
    • Ministry of Health, Federative Republic of Brazil

    Shared award:

    • Denis Choinière, Retired Director, Tobacco Products Regulatory Office, Health Canada
    • Clifton Curtis (in memoriam), Environmental Lawyer, United States of America

    Shared award:

    • Colectivo Todas y Todos por la Vida, Republic of Ecuador
    • Acción Jurídica Popular, Republic of Ecuador

    Shared award:

    • Asociación de Periodismo con Lupa, Republic of Peru
    • Cooperativa de Trabajo Sudestada, Eastern Republic of Uruguay
    • Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER), United Mexican States

    Eastern Mediterranean Region

    • Dr Seyed Morteza Khatami, Deputy for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Islamic Republic of Iran
    • Mr Lhassane Hallou, Director of Studies and International Cooperation, Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Kingdom of Morocco
    • Hamad Medical Corporation Tobacco Control Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre, State of Qatar

    European Region

    • Dr Lena Nanushyan, First Deputy Minister of Health, Republic of Armenia
    • Dr Franz Pietsch, Head of Directorate, Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Republic of Austria
    • Mr Frank Vandenbroucke, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, Kingdom of Belgium
    • Professor Constantine Vardavas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • Dr Shukhrat Shukurov, Chief Specialist, Institute of Health and Strategic Development, Republic of Uzbekistan

    South-East Asia Region

    • National Board of Revenue, People’s Republic of Bangladesh
    •  State Tobacco Control Cell, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, Republic of India
    •  Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal
    •  Mr Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, Chairman of Bangkok Tobacco Products Control Committee, Kingdom of Thailand

    Western Pacific Region

    • Professor Emily Banks AM, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Senior Principal Research Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia
    • Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health, Cook Islands
    • Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Republic of the Philippines
    • Ms Dao Hong Lan, Minister of Health, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

    Shared award:

    • YB Datuk Seri Dr Haji Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Minister of Health, Malaysia
    • Dr Noraryana Binti Hassan, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
    • Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, Malaysia

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Open letter from John Cusack: ‘The children of Gaza need your outrage – end the siege’

    Pacific Media Watch

    American film star celebrity John Cusack, who describes himself on his x-page bio as an “apocalyptic shit-disturber”, has posted an open letter to the world denouncing the Israeli “mass murder” in Gaza and calling for “your outrage”.

    While warning the public to “don’t stop talking about Palestine/Gaza”, he says that the “hollow ‘both sides’ rhetoric is complicity with power”.

    “This is not a debate with two sides that can be normalised — and all the hired bullshit in print and on tv will never change the narrative,” he said.

    Palestinian freelance photojournalist Fatma Hassouna . . . murdered in an Israeli air strike on after it was announced about her film on Gaza being screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Image: Fatma Hassouna

    His statement comes as hundreds of directors, writers, actors have denounced Israeli genocide in Gaza and the film industry’s “silence,” “indifference” and “passivity” coinciding with the Cannes Film Festival.

    More than 350 prominent directors, writers and actors signed an open letter condemning the genocide and the “official inaction” of the film industry in regard to the mass suffering.

    The industry open letter was published on the first day of the Cannes festival. It began by calling attention to the fate of 25-year-old Fatma Hassouna, a Palestinian freelance photojournalist, who was murdered in an Israeli air strike on April 16.

    She was assassinated after it was announced that Iranian director Sepideh Farsi’s film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, in which she Hassouna was the star, had been selected in the ACID parallel, independent film section of the festival.

    She was about to get married.

    Cusack’s own open letter, offered as a template at X@JohnCusack last week, said:

    “To Whom it May Still Concern

    “There is a genocide unfolding before our eyes in Gaza. Not a metaphor, not a tragedy in the abstract — a genocide. Carried out in real time, in front of satellites, smartphones, and sanitized press conferences. And what has the so-called “land of the free” done? Applauded. Armed. Rationalised. Looked away.


    London protest: ‘No to another Nakba”    Video: Al Jazeera

    “The blood in Gaza does not just stain the hands of those launching the missiles. It stains every hand that signs off on the bombs, every hand that wrings itself in liberal anguish but does nothing, and every hand that beats its chest in right-wing bloodlust cheering it all on.

    “The American far right sees in this mass killing a projection of its own fantasies — walls, camps, and the unrelenting dehumanisation of the “other.” No surprise there. And where are the liberals? Their silence is violence. Their hollow “both sides” rhetoric is complicity with power. And mass murder. And the machine of empire—greased with our taxes, shielded by our media, and excused by our moral debauchery .
    How’s everybody at the Met gala doing tonight ?

    American actor John Cusack . . . “If you claim to care about justice – if you ever marched, ever lit a candle for any cause – then your voice should be raised now.” Image: Wikipedia

    “If you claim to care about justice — if you ever marched, ever lit a candle for any cause — then your voice should be raised now. Or it means nothing. The children of Gaza do not need your sorrow. They need your outrage. Your pressure. Your courage.

    “End the siege. End the weapons shipments. End the lies. Call this what it is: a genocide.

    “And if your politics cannot confront that—then your politics are worthless.

    “In furious solidarity

    “John Cusack”

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • FTA likely to double India’s apparel, textile exports to UK: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s apparel and home textiles exports to the UK are expected to double from the current levels in the next 5-6 years, with the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) scheduled to become operational in calendar year 2026, according to an ICRA report.

    Currently, Indian textile exports to the UK face 8-12 per cent duties, but with 99 per cent of goods, including textiles, gaining zero-duty access under the FTA, India will achieve parity with competitors like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan, the report states.

    China leads UK textile imports with a 25 per cent market share, closely followed by Bangladesh, which has a 22 per cent share. Turkey and Pakistan, with 8 per cent and 6.8 per cent share respectively, are the other major exporters. The FTA will enable India’s textile exports to become more competitive in the UK, leading to an increase in market share.

    India is currently the 12th largest trading partner of the UK and ranks fifth in apparel and home textiles imports, with $1.4 billion worth of exports in 2024, which constitutes a 6.6 per cent share of the UK’s textile imports.

    While the US and EU remain dominant markets with a 61 per cent share in 2024, the UK’s share is expected to rise to 11-12 per cent by 2027, reflecting an 11 per cent compound annual rate of growth (CAGR).

    The bilateral trade deal, finalised on May 6, after three years of negotiations, will provide concessional or zero-duty access on select goods, boosting trade volumes and earnings.

    India’s Textile and Apparel exports have continued their upward trajectory, recording a growth of 7.45 per cent in April 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year. This positive trend was primarily driven by the strong performance of the apparel segment, which registered a robust 14.43 per cent growth year-on-year, an analysis of the data released by the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    “The current growth of 14.43 per cent in apparel exports seems to be mainly driven by increased shipments to the United States, following the announcement of reciprocal tariff measures by the US administration,” Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) chairman Rakesh Mehra said.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Russia is labelling Oscar Jenkins a ‘mercenary’, not a prisoner of war. What’s the difference – and why does this matter?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old former teacher from Melbourne, was one of many foreigners who responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call in 2022 for volunteers to join Ukraine’s armed forces to help repel Russia’s invasion.

    In early 2024, Jenkins joined Ukraine’s International Legion of Territorial Defence, which has attracted some 20,000 fighters from 50 countries since the war began. He had no previous military experience, but this wasn’t a requirement to join.

    In December, Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine and accused of serving as a “mercenary” in Ukraine’s 66th Mechanised Brigade’s 402nd Rifle Battalion. He was tried in a Russian court and sentenced on May 16 to 13 years imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony.

    When a foreigner volunteers to fight in a war, their legal status under international law can be complicated.

    Are they a soldier with the full authorisation of one of the warring parties to engage in hostilities? Or are they an illegal mercenary?

    And what happens if they are captured?

    Why legal status matters

    The answers to these questions have very real importance to the thousands of foreigners who have joined Ukraine’s International Legion since 2022.

    Russian authorities have classified all of Ukraine’s foreigner fighters as “mercenaries”. They’ve used this label to deny foreign fighters the status of “prisoner of war” (POW), with the requisite protections that come along with that under international humanitarian law.

    While foreigners are permitted under international law to enlist in the armed forces of a state for political or moral reasons, mercenaries have historically been outlawed due to their sole motivation being financial gain.

    International humanitarian law (the rules that govern war) define mercenaries as individuals who are not nationals or residents of a state engaged in war and are recruited to fight outside that state’s official armed forces.

    They are motivated solely by private gain (like money or promises of reward), often well in excess of what the traditional armed forces are paid. Mercenaries are essentially professional soldiers who sell their services to a state without any real ties to that country.

    Once a fighter is classified as a “mercenary”, they lose all the legal protections that are traditionally afforded lawful combatants.

    This includes prisoner of war status if they are captured and immunity from prosecution for fighting in a conflict. Prisoners of war are also entitled to humane treatment and access to food and medical care. And they cannot be subjected to sham trials or torture.

    According to my research, many of the foreign nationals who joined the International Legion were motivated by a desire to defend Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. They were sworn into Ukraine’s armed forces and paid the same as a Ukrainian soldier of equal rank.

    Once enlisted in the armed forces, they were immediately exempt from “mercenary” status, irrespective of their motivation for joining.

    As such, these foreign fighters should be entitled to the full range of protections guaranteed to members of Ukraine’s armed forces under the Geneva Conventions.

    Labelling lawful foreign members of the Ukrainian armed forces as “mercenaries”, and denying them their protections, is an abuse of international law.

    How can Australia protect its nationals?

    If an Australian enlists in Ukraine’s armed forces and is captured by Russian forces, there is a limited toolkit the Australian government can use to help him or her. However, it is not powerless.

    Through its embassy in Moscow, Australia can request access to detainees to assess their welfare while in prison. Russia can, however, decline this access. Details of a detainee’s capture may also be withheld.

    Australia can also apply diplomatic pressure to ensure humane treatment of prisoners and their full POW rights.

    This can be done by working with international bodies, such as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention or organisations like the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), which can request access to detainees.

    It appears the government is already doing some of these things. According to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the government has been working with Ukraine and the ICRC to advocate for Jenkins’ welfare and release, and providing consular support to Jenkins’ family.

    Australia also has an obligation to warn its citizens they will likely face severe consequences if they travel to Ukraine to fight and are captured by Russian forces, given Russia’s misuse of the “mercenary” label.

    Through back-channel negotiations, Australia could also push Ukraine or its allies to include Australians being held by Russia in future prisoner swaps.

    In January of this year, Ukraine and Russia carried out such an exchange of 470 prisoners from both nations. And in talks last week in Turkey, both sides agreed to release another 1,000 prisoners on each side.

    Such exchanges have involved foreign fighters in the past. In 2022, 10 foreign citizens were included in a prisoner swap, including five Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, a Swede and a Moroccan. Several of them had been convicted of being mercenaries and sentenced to death after a Russian sham trial.

    There is no guarantee Jenkins would qualify for such an exchange, however, if Russia continues to classify him as a mercenary.

    Shannon Bosch 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. Russia is labelling Oscar Jenkins a ‘mercenary’, not a prisoner of war. What’s the difference – and why does this matter? – https://theconversation.com/russia-is-labelling-oscar-jenkins-a-mercenary-not-a-prisoner-of-war-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-this-matter-256996

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: CBB Governor Participates in Shura Council Forum on Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

    Source: Central Bank of Bahrain

    CBB Governor Participates in Shura Council Forum on Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

    Published on 18 May 2025

    Manama, Bahrain – 18 May 2025: HE Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), took part in the ‘Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development’ Forum hosted by the Shura Council. The event was attended by HE Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council, and HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, alongside various ministers and industry professionals from the public and private sectors.

    HE the Governor shared his insights in a panel discussion on national development efforts carried out under the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030, including the Economic Recovery Plan and strategies to strengthen growth in priority sectors. Through his participation, HE highlighted the CBB’s role in driving economic development and achieving sustainable economic growth.

    During the session, HE Khalid Humaidan underscored the financial sector’s 17% contribution to the GDP, making it a prime sector for foreign direct investments, in addition to delivering the highest salary rates for around 14,800 employees. HE stated that establishing an innovative, local regulatory environment requires greater investment in digital transformation, human capital growth, and skills development. He also noted the importance of developing regulatory systems that achieve a balance between stability and innovation.

    HE discussed the CBB’s efforts to support the digitalization of the financial system by developing dedicated supervisory systems and enhancing payment and settlement efficiencies. In addition to adopting the highest governance, compliance and consumer protection standards thereby building trust between all parties. He emphasized the importance of attracting investors to facilitate digital transformation, while creating a supportive technical infrastructure to elevate the quality of financial services in Bahrain.

    This participation reflects the CBB’s strategic directive to engage in ongoing dialogue on issues relating to economic and financial sector growth.

    Share this

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics, protest and some seriously inappropriate songs: who gets censored at Eurovision, and who doesn’t?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University

    As always, Eurovision 2025 was full of glitter, costume reveals, divas, spectacle and, of course, controversy. From ongoing calls to ban Israel from participating, to one song that had to be edited since it was too inappropriate, here’s what you may have missed from this year’s contest.

    A milkshake meltdown

    For Australian viewers, the final may have been a bit of a letdown because, for the second year in a row, our contestant failed to get past the semis.

    Go-Jo’s Milkshake Man seemed like a strong offering, with its daft and suggestive lyrics, huge energy and oversized blender prop – but some weak vocals on the night left us in the cold.

    Other wacky entries of the uniquely Eurovision variety fared better, though. Sweden’s ode to saunas, Bara Bada Bastu, started the night as the favourite to win and ended high with a fourth placing, just behind Estonia’s rubbery-legged Tommy Cash, whose love song to coffee may have just been more relatable to voters.

    Serving what?

    More controversial was Miriana Conte’s song for Malta, originally titled Serving Kant, with kant being the Maltese word for singing. But this thinly disguised attempt to celebrate “serving cunt” was deemed inappropriate by the European Broadcasting Union, and reworked as simply Serving.

    This performance is part of a long Eurovision tradition of celebrating queer culture. Each year, multiple entries use LGBTQIA+ imagery, tropes and lyrics to celebrate the theme of being who you are.

    Last year’s event marked the first time two non-binary performers were featured in the contest. One of them, Switzerlans’s Nemo, won. As a side note, Nemo’s return performance this year may be one of the best things to ever grace the Eurovision stage.

    But it seems Malta’s cheeky play on the theme didn’t pay off, as it landed them in 17th place by the end of the voting.

    Other stand-out performances included Finland’s Erika Vikman, who outperformed a whole crop of big-voiced divas in sparkly body suits by riding a giant flaming microphone to the roof of the stadium during the, ahem, climax to Ich Komme (which translates to “I’m coming”).

    Less in your face, yet strangely compelling, were the women of Latvia’s folk band Tautumeitas. In their forest-nymph-axolotl (?) costumes, they delivered a flawless and gentle performance.

    A heated, close race to the top

    The winner was, as is often the case at Eurovision, a more serious song that showcased a high level of musicianship and vocal ability. Austria’s JJ performance of Wasted Love was stripped-back compared to most of the rivals.

    JJ took to the stage alone, using a completely black and white palette that stood out against the reds that dominated the rest of the night. The way he used his body onstage, and the dynamism of his soprano voice – moving from a conventional pop vocal style to a more operatic delivery – was compellingly dramatic, and was rewarded by the juries and public voters.

    It was a close race for the top spot however. I imagine the broadcasting union breathed a sigh of relief when Austria knocked Israel into second place at the last moment.

    Israel’s presence in the contest has been a source of division and conflict since the events of October 7. For two years there have been highly publicised calls to expel Israel from the competition, in light of the extreme atrocities and human rights abuses taking place on the ground in Gaza.



    Read more:
    1 in 5 Gazans face starvation. Can the law force Israel to act?

    Multiple pro-Palestinian rallies took to the streets in the host city, Basel, and protesters trying to disrupt the Israeli performance found their way into the arena during the rehearsals and final. While they did not make it into the broadcast, there were reports of audience members being removed, staff being hit with paint, and violent clashes with security and police.

    Beyond this, 70 ex-competitors and, separately, more than 4,000 Nordic music workers put their names on open letters protesting Israel’s inclusion in the contest. But these attempts failed, partly because the countries involved did not threaten to withdraw themselves if Israel participated (which was how Russia was expelled from the 2022 contest, in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine).

    What can we expect moving forward

    It’s worth considering what Israel’s inclusion in the contest does allow. In recently published work, my coauthors and I consider what it means to face up to some of the uglier aspects of music and music-making – and to sit with the discomfort, rather than ignore it.

    If Israel had been excluded, those calling for its exclusion may have achieved a sense that a certain wrong had been righted, and the Eurovision party could go on, free from worry.

    Yet the realities of events in Gaza would not have disappeared. Viewers at home would simply not have to think about them.

    Israel’s inclusion – and the opposition to it – forces us to ask what role, if any, cultural institutions can play in helping put a stop to what the International Court of Justice has said can plausibly be called a genocide.

    While the broadcasting union could perhaps put pressure on Israel with a ban, the fissures of Israel’s continued inclusion have shone a spotlight on other types of pressure and resistance – and the power music has in bringing people together for the explicit purpose of being political.

    Catherine Strong 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. Politics, protest and some seriously inappropriate songs: who gets censored at Eurovision, and who doesn’t? – https://theconversation.com/politics-protest-and-some-seriously-inappropriate-songs-who-gets-censored-at-eurovision-and-who-doesnt-256447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • India win 7th SAFF U-19 Championship in thrilling final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat Bangladesh 4-3 and successfully retain their SAFF U19 Championship title, after a gripping final ended 1-1 in regulation time at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.

    The final had everything—early drama, missed chances, a spirited fightback, and a heart-stopping finish. India got off to a flying start, taking the lead in just the second minute through captain Singamayum Shami. Awarded a free-kick from over 30 yards out, Shami spotted the Bangladesh goalkeeper slightly off his line and unleashed a curling strike that flew into the net despite a fingertip touch from Md Ismail Hossain Mahin.

    Riding the momentum, India dominated the opening exchanges with sharp passing and incisive wing play. In the 16th minute, Omang Dodum came close to doubling the lead after slicing through the defence, but Mahin pulled off a crucial save to deny him.

    Bangladesh, initially rattled, gradually settled into the match. They tightened their lines, disrupted India’s rhythm, and began pressing forward. By halftime, they were threatening more consistently—especially from set-pieces.

    Their persistence paid off in the 61st minute. A chaotic corner sparked a scramble in the Indian box, and Md Joy Ahamed reacted quickest, slamming the ball past Suraj Singh Aheibam to level the score. It was the first goal India had conceded in the tournament.

    Both teams pushed for a winner in the final half-hour, but the contest turned scrappy and physical. With neither side able to find the decisive goal, the championship was decided by penalties.

    The shootout was tense. Rohen Singh’s tame second attempt gave Bangladesh the advantage as Mahin saved comfortably. The stadium fell into a hushed silence. But India refused to buckle. When Bangladesh captain Nazmul Huda Faysal sent his effort over the bar, the momentum swung back India’s way.

    India converted their remaining spot-kicks with confidence, and Suraj Singh Aheibam made a crucial save, diving low to his left to deny Salahuddin Sahed.

    It all came down to captain Shami, who had already led by example with a sensational early goal. Calm and composed, he stepped up and slotted the final penalty home, sealing victory and sending the crowd into raptures.

    With this win, India not only held onto their crown but also reinforced their dominance at the regional level, showing grit, composure, and character in a high-pressure final.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI China: Mbappe stars as Real Madrid down nine-man Sevilla

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

    The penultimate round of matches in La Liga resolved who ends the campaign in fourth place, who takes the final two European places and who joins Las Palmas and Valladolid in relegation to the second division to be decided on the last day of the season.

    Athletic Bilbao ensured fourth place and qualification for next season’s Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia with a 1-0 win away to Valencia.

    Alex Berenguer’s stunning curling shot 19 minutes from time gave Athletic a deserved win while also ending Valencia’s slim changes of qualifying for Europe.

    Athletic confirmed fourth place on head-to-head goal difference over Villarreal, even though Villarreal gatecrashed FC Barcelona’s La Liga celebrations with a 3-2 win in Montjuic.

    Ayoze Perez put Villarreal ahead in the fourth minute, and although Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez turned the score around before halftime, Santi Comesana equalized five minutes after the break, with Tajon Buchanan netting the winner for the visitors 10 minutes from time.

    Atletico Madrid sealed third place with a 4-1 at home to a Real Betis side focused on the UEFA Conference League final, with two goals from Julian Alvarez, one from Robin le Normand and a late goal from Angel Correa in what is probably his last home game for the club.

    Sevilla and Real Madrid had only pride to play for, with a much-changed Real Madrid travelling to the south of Spain with one eye on the FIFA Club World Cup in June.

    Madrid’s task was made easier after 12 minutes when Sevilla defender Loric Bade was sent off for pulling back Kylian Mbappe when he was the last defender.

    Isaac Romero was then sent off for a bad challenge on Aurelien Tchouameni to leave Sevilla with nine men in the 48th minute, but it wasn’t until the 75th minute that Mbappe finally broke the deadlock, with Jude Bellingham adding a second three minutes from time.

    Celta Vigo is still in pole position for the last Europa League spot despite a 2-1 defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano, with Izi Palazon and Jorge de Frutos overturning Marcos Alonso’s early penalty for the home side.

    Rayo is a point behind Celta going into the last game of the season, as is Osasuna, who won 2-0 at home to Espanyol thanks to Ante Budimir’s 21st goal of the season and a late finish from Raul Garcia.

    Espanyol’s defeat means the side from Barcelona will duel it out with Leganes in the last game of the season to avoid relegation after Leganes won 1-0 away to Las Palmas thanks to Dani Raba’s early header.

    A win at home to Las Palmas will keep Espanyol up, while Leganes has to win at home to bottom of the table Valladolid and hope Espanyol doesn’t win.

    Alaves and Getafe are both safe from the drop after Kike Garcia’s 13th goal of the season gave Alaves a 1-0 win in Valladolid, while second half goals from Mauro Arambarri and Christiantus Uche ended Getafe’s six-match losing streak with a 2-1 win in Mallorca.

    Finally, Imanol Alguacil’s last home game as Real Sociedad coach after six years in charge ended with a 3-2 win at home to Girona.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ajax woe as PSV Eindhoven crowned Dutch champions

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

    PSV Eindhoven held off a fierce challenge from Ajax to win its 26th Eredivisie title on Sunday, edging the Amsterdam side by a single point on the final day of the Dutch season.

    PSV defeated Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 away, while Ajax beat FC Twente 2-0 at home. The results left PSV atop the table with 79 points, narrowly ahead of Ajax on 78. Both clubs secured qualification for next season’s Champions League.

    It capped a rollercoaster campaign in which the momentum swung dramatically between the two rivals. PSV held a nine-point lead over Ajax in December 2024, only for Ajax to flip the deficit and take a nine-point advantage by late March.

    But the title race turned again last Wednesday, when PSV reclaimed top spot with a 4-1 win over Heracles Almelo, while Ajax conceded a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw at FC Groningen.

    Heading into Sunday’s decisive final round, PSV needed a win to guarantee the title. Ajax took an early lead at home through a header from captain Jordan Henderson, but Ivan Perisic quickly put PSV ahead in Rotterdam to keep his side in front on goal difference at halftime.

    Drama unfolded in the second half when Gjivai Zechiel equalized for Sparta, giving Ajax a brief six-minute window as virtual champions. But PSV’s response was swift, with Luuk de Jong restoring the lead to reclaim control of the title race.

    The outcome remained in doubt until the closing stages, but Malik Tillman’s goal in the 82nd minute sealed victory for PSV and confirmed the championship. A late goal by Ajax forward Wout Weghorst came too late to change the outcome, as emotions ran high in Amsterdam following the narrow title miss. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lin rolls past Pitchford in world championship debut

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

    Top-ranked Chinese Lin Shidong is aiming to carve his name as world champion after defeating English veteran Liam Pitchford at the World Table Tennis Championships on Sunday.

    Nicknamed “Stone” because his name closely resembles that word in Chinese, Lin pulled away after two close sets to win his opening game 4-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-2, 11-9).

    “Pitch[ford] is stronger than his ranking,” said Lin of his 54th-rated rival. “When we met last time, the first two sets were also closely-contested, with only two points separating us. He is quick on feet, aggressive and has great serves. I had imagined a tough game against him and prepared very well.”

    Making his world championship debut, Lin admitted his ultimate goal was the top of the podium as he was seeking redemption following his World Cup final loss last month. “A world title plus No. 1 ranking will make a true champion,” he said.

    Brazil’s world No. 3 Hugo Calderano, who had beaten Lin on his way to winning the World Cup, made it to the second round after beating Mexico’s Rogelio Castro in five sets (11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4).

    China’s Lin Gaoyuan had a major scare before he overcame Egyptian Youssef Abdelaziz 4-2 (6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6).

    On the women’s side, China’s world No. 2 Wang Manyu shared insights with teammate Kuai Man after her 4-1 victory over 19-year-old Zuzanna Wielgos.

    Seeking her second world championship singles title since 2021, Wang dropped the fourth set but won her opening match against the Polish teenager 4-1 (11-3, 11-6, 11-4, 11-13, 11-4).

    “She played way better than what she did in videos that I have collected,” said Wang. “Her offensive is of high quality. Unlike Asian players who are usually good at top-spin attacks, she uses flat shots and backhand flicks more often. I will let Kuai Man know about her style.”

    Wang and Kuai then took on Wielgos and Katarzyna Wegrzyn in their doubles opener, winning 3-0.

    Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, one of the most popular doubles combinations in world sports, swept aside their American rivals at their mixed doubles opener.

    Nicknamed “Shatou” – a combination of Sun’s name and Wang’s pet name, Datou, or “Big Head” – the world No. 8 ranked team defeated Liang Jishan and Amy Wang 11-8, 11-1, 11-9. The second set was so one-sided that Wang struck a backhand return into the net while leading 10-0.

    “We had not paired up for several months before this world championships,” said Wang, referring to their drop on the world rankings.

    Known for their youth and energy, Wang and Sun have signed endorsement deals with brands including Coca-Cola, Louis Vuitton and McDonald’s.

    Sun and Wang will now face the Brazilian duo of Calderano and Bruna Takhashi, who advanced over Madagasgar’s Fabio Rakotoarimananah and Hanitra Raharimanana in straight sets.

    The second day action also saw Japanese siblings Miwa and Tomokazu Harimoto shine brightly.

    Teenage sensation Miwa opened her world championship debut with a 4-1 win over Ukrainian veteran Margaryta Pesotska. Her brother Tomokazu, ranked fourth in the world, handed a 4-1 defeat to South Korea’s Lim Jong Hoon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 19, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 19, 2025.

    What does it mean to ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ all cookies, and which should I choose?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ahmed Ibrahim, Senior Lecturer, Computing and Security, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock/The Conversation It’s nearly impossible to use the internet without being asked about cookies. A typical pop-up will offer to either “accept all” or “reject all”. Sometimes, there may be a third option, or a link to

    What causes ADHD? What we know, don’t know and suspect
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Poulton, Senior Lecturer, Brain Mind Centre Nepean, University of Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Neurodevelopmental disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the brain from early development. They include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. These conditions usually become more evident

    Pacific children as young as 6 adopted, made to work as house slaves
    By Gill Bonnett, RNZ immigration reporter This story discusses graphic details of slavery, sexual abuse and violence Pacific children as young as six are being adopted overseas and being made to work as house slaves, suffering threats, beatings and rape. Kris Teikamata — a social worker at a community agency — spoke about the harrowing

    Australia launches ‘landmark’ UN police peacekeeping course for Pacific region
    Australia has launched the world’s first UN Police Peacekeeping Training course tailored specifically for the Pacific region. The five-week programme, hosted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), is underway at the state-of-the-art Pacific Policing Development and Coordination Hub in Pinkenba, Brisbane. AFP said “a landmark step” was developed in partnership with the United Nations, and

    AI is moving fast. Climate policy provides valuable lessons for how to keep it in check
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milica Stilinovic, PhD Candidate, School of Media and Communications; Managing Editor, Policy & Internet journal, University of Sydney cybermagician/Shutterstock Artificial intelligence (AI) might not have been created to enable new forms of sexual violence such as deepfake pornography. But that has been an unfortunate byproduct of the

    1 in 5 Gazans face starvation. Can the law force Israel to act?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University As Israel continues to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing scores of people a day, the two-month ceasefire that brought a halt to the violence earlier this year feels like a distant memory. Israel’s overall military and political objective

    More people are trying medicinal cannabis for chronic pain. But does it work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Nielsen, Professor and Deputy Director, Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock More Australians than ever are being prescribed medicinal cannabis. Medicinal cannabis refers to legally prescribed cannabis products. These are either the plant itself, or naturally occurring ingredients extracted from the plant.

    Why is southern Australia in drought – and when will it end?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chiara Holgate, Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century, Australian National University Artic_photo/Shutterstock Swathes of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia are in the grip of drought as they experience some of the lowest rainfall totals on record. Farmers are

    Wine is still Australia’s most popular alcoholic drink – but many producers face an uncertain future
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Chad, Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Business and Law, School of Business, University of Wollongong kwest/Shutterstock Australia has become world-famous for its wine, but the industry faces an uncertain future. Too many grapes grown amid falling consumer demand, an oversupply of budget wine, and an undersupply of

    Something borrowed, something blue? Why the reign of the traditional wedding dress may be over
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology Wedding Rebellion Workshop, London Ellie Cooper/unsplash The family and friends are all gathered, wedding bells are ringing, and the bride walks down the aisle in her beautiful bubblegum pink wedding dress. Twenty years

    NZ Budget 2025: economic forecasting is notoriously difficult, but global uncertainty is making it harder
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Lecturer in Economics, University of Waikato Javier Ghersi/Getty Images This year’s budget will be one of the tightest in a decade, with the New Zealand government halving its operating allowance – the new money it has available to spend – from NZ$2.4 billion to $1.3

    Why the wall of silence on the Gaza genocide is finally starting to crack
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – As Israel unveils its final genocide push, and mass death from starvation looms in Gaza, Western media and politicians are tentatively starting to speak up ANALYSIS: By Jonathan Cook Who could have imagined 19 months ago that it would take more than a year and a

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: For Immediate Release: Rep. Wesley Hunt Announces May 21st as Sneaker Caucus Day on Capitol Hill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Wesley Hunt (Texas 38th District)

    March 25th, 2025

    Contact: Matthew Topolski, Communications Director

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Wesley Hunt is proud to announce that he has joined the Congressional Sneaker Caucus as Co-Chair for the 119th Congress and has set Wednesday, May 21st, as Sneaker Day on Capitol Hill! This bi-partisan effort was created to foster new relationships within Congress and promote interaction between Members of Congress and staff from both sides of the aisle. 

    The Congressional Sneaker Caucus is partnering with Soles 4 Souls, a well-renowned non-profit, to host a Shoe Drive on Capitol Hill with the goal of donating 50 pairs of sneakers to Americans in need. 

    Wesley’s passion for fashion, love for Jordans, and attitude toward partnership led him to spearhead this caucus in good faith that Republicans and Democrats can work together this Congress, despite what you may see on TV. 

    Congressman Hunt will be donating one of his favorite pairs of Air Jordans as a part of this remarkable effort and looks forward to seeing his colleagues’ most stylish pair of sneakers on May 21st! 

    Co-Chairs Hunt (R-TX) and Moskowitz (D-FL) Commented:

    “I am incredibly excited to serve as a co-chair of the Sneaker Caucus. I grew up in an era where we witnessed the greatest basketball player of all time, and the cultural phenomenon that followed,”said Rep. Hunt. “Michael Jordan represented excellence, elite talent, and the relentless pursuit of greatness—values that inspired an entire generation of Americans. Sneakers have become more than just footwear; they symbolize passion, history, and community. I look forward to championing the intersection of sports and culture to a bipartisan body in Congress on May 21st.  It’s proof that there are still common passions that unite us.” 

    “I am thrilled to be putting my best foot forward with my new co-chair, Rep. Hunt, as we re-introduce the Congressional Sneaker Caucus for the 119th Congress,” Congressman Moskowitz said. “As Sneaker of the House, I’ve always said that sneakers play such a big role in America’s culture, economy, and fitness. Not only that, but I also believe that bonding over common interests like this one can start conversations that’ll help break down some of the partisanship we see on Capitol Hill. I look forward to my colleagues and their staff joining us as we work together to restore the sole of Congress.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US launches ‘endless war’ to plunder others’ resources: Iranian president

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

    This file picture shows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attending a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that the United States has begun an “endless war” across the world to plunder other countries’ resources and even human workforce, the official news agency IRNA reported.

    The West seeks to provoke conflicts in the Middle East to own the regional countries’ resources at any price it wants, Pezeshkian said at the opening ceremony of the Tehran Dialogue Forum, a two-day event that has drawn 200 foreign delegations, including senior government officials and representatives of international organizations, to discuss regional and global challenges.

    Pezeshkian added that Iran has nothing to hide and will under no circumstances stop its “peaceful nuclear program.”

    Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, talking about the Iran-U.S. indirect talks at the ceremony, said Iran wants “a fair and balanced agreement that would be formed within the framework of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and based on full respect for Iran’s nuclear rights and guarantee the removal of sanctions in an objective manner.”

    “Iran is committed to diplomacy and expects the cruel and unilateral sanctions, which have directly targeted our people, to be truly and tangibly lifted,” he said.

    He added that Iran is ready to open a new chapter in its ties with Europe if the latter has a real determination and adopts an independent approach towards Iran.

    The Iranian and U.S. delegations have held four rounds of indirect talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions in the Omani capital Muscat and Italy’s Rome.

    Meanwhile, Iran and three European countries — France, Germany and Britain, collectively known as the E3 — held a high-level meeting in Türkiye’s Istanbul on Friday on the latest developments in the Iran-U.S. indirect talks, the sixth round of such talks between Iran and the E3 since September 2024, which have covered Tehran’s nuclear program and the removal of sanctions, among other issues. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli forces launch ‘extensive’ ground operation across Gaza as death toll mounts

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

    This photo released on May 16, 2025 shows Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip. [Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua]

    The Israeli military announced Sunday a significant ground incursion into “multiple areas” of the Gaza Strip, as Palestinian health officials reported overnight and morning airstrikes that they said killed at least 67 people, including many women and children.

    The military stated that ground forces, including reservists, have begun “extensive operations” in both northern and southern Gaza under an offensive it termed “Gideon’s Chariots.” This campaign marks a new phase in Israel’s now 20-month-old war against Hamas and other militant factions.

    Palestinian sources reported that Israeli airstrikes hit the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza, including tents sheltering displaced civilians.

    The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday that at least 67 Palestinians had been killed and 361 others wounded in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the preceding 24 hours.

    Local health authorities have confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli offensive since October 2023 has reached 53,339, with an additional 121,043 people injured. They added that the majority of the casualties were women and children.

    According to their figures, the death toll since Israel’s resumption of hostilities on March 18, following a two-month truce, has risen to 3,193, with 8,993 others injured.

    The Israeli military said its forces have killed “dozens” of militants, dismantled both above- and below-ground military infrastructure, and are now positioned at strategic locations within Gaza.

    “The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip as required, in order to defend Israeli civilians,” the military said in a statement.

    Israeli officials stated that the objectives of the “Gideon’s Chariots” operation include seizing key parts of the enclave, pushing a majority of Gaza’s around 2 million residents further south, and resuming humanitarian aid distribution under stricter Israeli oversight.

    Meanwhile, delegations from Israel and Hamas convened in Doha, Qatar, for another round of indirect negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Diplomats indicated that progress remained elusive, with both sides maintaining firm positions.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed earlier on Sunday that an Israeli negotiation team was engaged in indirect talks in Doha regarding a hostage release deal with Hamas, which could include a potential end to the Gaza war.

    The Prime Minister’s office stated that the negotiation team in Doha was working “to realize every chance for a deal,” including one that would “end the fighting,” secure the release of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, expel Hamas militants, and disarm the Gaza Strip.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel to allow aid into Gaza amid famine warnings

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

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday a decision to lift the blockade on Gaza to allow the entry of limited aid, as international criticism mounts over the severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

    In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said Israel will allow the entry of a “basic” quantity of food for the Gaza population to prevent a hunger crisis.

    The statement did not specify when the aid would begin entering or through what mechanism. However, state-owned public broadcaster Kan reported that aid deliveries would begin “immediately,” with distribution to be carried out by international aid organizations already operating in Gaza, as a new distribution mechanism, which Israel said would be implemented via a U.S. company, has not yet been launched.

    It added that the move followed a recommendation by the military and was motivated by “the operational need to expand the intense fighting to defeat Hamas.” The statement warned that a hunger crisis could “jeopardize the continuation of the Gideon’s Chariots operation,” which was launched recently with Israel’s intensified airstrikes and deployment of additional ground forces in Gaza.

    “Israel will act to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid distribution, to ensure that the aid does not fall into militants’ hands,” the statement said.

    Netanyahu announced the decision during a cabinet meeting on Sunday night, but no vote was held on the matter. The resumption of the flow of aid into Gaza has faced fierce opposition from key members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have threatened to quit the coalition if aid delivery resumes.

    UN agencies have reported worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza since the blockade was imposed on March 2. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported earlier in May that about 93 percent of Gaza’s population was experiencing food insecurity, ranging from crisis to catastrophe levels. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Real Madrid confirm Huijsen signing from Bournemouth

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

    Real Madrid signed Spain international defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth Saturday after activating his 50 million pounds (about $66.4 million) release clause.

    The club confirmed the signing of the 20-year-old on a five-year deal via its official website Saturday afternoon.

    “Real Madrid C. F. and AFC Bournemouth have reached an agreement for the transfer of Dean Huijsen, who will be linked to our club for the next five seasons, from 1 June 2025 to 30 June 2030,” the communique reads.

    The signing allows Huijsen to represent Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in the United States in mid-June. Madrid is set to debut against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on June 18.

    Several clubs had shown interest in Huijsen after his impressive debut season in the Premier League and his appearance for Spain in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals against the Netherlands in March.

    Huijsen is understood to have favored a return to Spain, where he was raised after being born in the Netherlands. Bournemouth also preferred selling him to a club outside the Premier League to avoid facing him again.

    The transfer marks a significant profit for Bournemouth, which bought Huijsen from Juventus a year ago for 12.6 million pounds. Juventus is entitled to a percentage of the profit from the sale.

    Real Madrid is expected to make further signings ahead of the Club World Cup. Xabi Alonso is likely to take over as first-team coach, and the club is currently negotiating with Liverpool in hopes of securing the early arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold for the tournament, rather than waiting for his contract to expire on June 30. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 5 Gazans face starvation. Can the law force Israel to act?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University

    As Israel continues to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing scores of people a day, the two-month ceasefire that brought a halt to the violence earlier this year feels like a distant memory.

    Israel’s overall military and political objective in Gaza hasn’t changed after 19 months of war: it is still seeking the absolute defeat of Hamas and return of the remaining Israeli hostages.

    But it is unclear how Hamas will ever be militarily defeated unless there is a complete and unconditional surrender and the laying down of all arms. This appears unlikely, despite the success of Israel’s so-called “decapitation strategy” targeting the Hamas leadership.

    And Hamas continues to hold an estimated that 57 Israeli hostages in Gaza, of which up to 24 are believed to still be alive. The group is insisting on guarantees that Israel will end the war before releasing any more hostages.

    An ongoing blockade for 18 years

    With negotiations at a stalemate, Israel has not only maintained its blockade of Gaza, but strengthened it.

    Israel first imposed a land, sea and air blockade of Gaza in 2007 after Hamas came to power. These restrictions have severely limited the movement of people and vehicles across the border, as well as the amount of food, medicine and other goods that have been permitted to go into and out of Gaza.

    These controls increased significantly after Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. They’ve been maintained at heightened levels ever since.

    The January ceasefire temporarily increased the flow of food, medical aid and other support into Gaza. However, this came to an end in early March when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut off aid again to pressure Hamas to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages. Hostilities resumed soon after.

    The United Nations’ humanitarian efforts in Gaza have now come to a “near-standstill”. On May 13, Tom Fletcher, the UN emergency relief coordinator, addressed the UN Security Council, stating:

    For more than 10 weeks, nothing has entered Gaza – no food, medicine, water or tents. […] Every single one of the 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of famine. One in five faces starvation.

    Israel denies there are food shortages in Gaza. It says it won’t permit any trucks to enter the strip until a new system is in place to prevent Hamas from siphoning supplies.

    International law is clear

    Both the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary international law make clear:

    The use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare is prohibited.

    In addition, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) makes starvation of civilians a war crime.

    Under international humanitarian law, Fletcher noted, Israel has the responsibility to ensure aid reaches people in territory it occupies. However, Israel’s method of distributing aid, he said, “makes aid conditional on political and military aims” and “makes starvation a bargaining chip”.

    What have the courts found?

    International courts have not ignored Israel’s obligations on this front.

    In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif (one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack), in addition to Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

    In relation Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber found:

    there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies.

    As Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, there is no obligation on the government to act on the arrest warrants. Both men remain free to travel as long as they do not enter the territory of a Rome Statute party. (Even then, their arrest is not guaranteed.)

    The ICC warrants will remain in effect unless withdrawn by the court. The arrest in March of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted that while ICC investigations may take time, those accused of crimes can eventually be brought before the court to face justice.

    This is especially so if there is a change in political leadership in a country that allows an arrest to go ahead.

    Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing another case in which South Africa alleges Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza.

    The case began with high-profile hearings last year when the court issued provisional measures, or orders, requiring Israel to refrain from engaging in any genocidal acts.

    The most recent of those orders, issued last May, called on Israel to immediately halt its offensive in Rafah (in southern Gaza) and maintain the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow “unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”.

    These orders remain in effect. Yet, Rafah today is a “no-go zone” that Gazans have been ordered to evacuate. And Israel’s ongoing blockade of the strip and restrictions on aid and food entering the territory are clearly in defiance of the court.

    Late last month, the ICJ began hearings to form an opinion on Israel’s duties to allow aid to enter Gaza. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, criticised the ICJ’s hearings as “another attempt to politicise and abuse the legal process in order to persecute Israel”.

    The court’s advisory opinion on this issue is not expected for several months. A final decision on South Africa’s broader case may take years.

    So, what can be done?

    Reflecting on the situation in Gaza, Fletcher observed at the UN:

    This degradation of international law is corrosive and infectious. It is undermining decades of progress on rules to protect civilians from inhumanity and the violent and lawless among us who act with impunity. Humanity, the law and reason must prevail.

    Yet, while the Security Council continues to have the situation in Gaza under review, it has proven incapable of acting decisively because of US support for Israel.

    The Biden Administration was prepared to use its veto power to block binding Security Council resolutions forcing Israel to respond to the humanitarian crisis. The Trump Administration would no doubt do the same.

    However, as Duterte’s arrest shows, international law sometimes does result in action. The finding by another UN body last week that Russia was responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 is another case in point.

    As the Dutch foreign minister pointed out in that case, the finding sends a message that “states cannot violate international law with impunity”.

    Donald Rothwell receives funding from Australian Research Council

    – ref. 1 in 5 Gazans face starvation. Can the law force Israel to act? – https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-gazans-face-starvation-can-the-law-force-israel-to-act-256695

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Marches in Israel Day Parade

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul marched in the JCRC-NY Israel Day on Fifth parade.

    B-ROLL of the Governor during the parade can be found on YouTube and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     Thank you, Mark, and all the members of JCRC and Eric Goldstein for all the great work you do with UJA and all of the supporters of Israel who are gathered here today. Make your voices heard.

    You can do better than that. I want them to hear you across the ocean. Let them know as John Kennedy — if you allow me to quote another Irish Catholic because that’s what I am. You okay with me quoting John Kennedy?

    He said, “Israel in 1960 was the child of hope”. That is the theme of our parade. And they said they’ll always overcome adversity because — my God, they are resilient people. They were tested then at the birth of this nation and they’re continuing to be tested today.

    And as I said last year — speaking about the hostages — I went there and I met Keith’s family in Israel days after they were taken hostage. We gathered, all of us went together. And we said, “We will not rest until every single one of them is brought home.” Never in the wildest dreams did I think that 589 days later, there’d still be 60 – 60 hostages waiting to come home. Some alive and some have not made it.

    My God, we will not rest until these three words become a reality. “Bring them home.”

    Bring them home. Bring them home. Thank you. We’re going to continue supporting Israel. Always here in the great State of New York. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney meets with leaders on the margins of the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the prime ministers of Australia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Croatia, as well as the presidents of Israel, Ireland, Paraguay, and Nigeria, on the margins of the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

    The Prime Minister underscored his new government’s mandate to diversify trade, build a stronger economy, and deepen commercial ties with partners. To that end, he welcomed partnership on shared priorities.

    During his conversation with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Carney reiterated the need for Hamas to release all hostages and stressed the imperative of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He called for urgent, life-saving humanitarian aid to reach civilians and affirmed Canada’s support for a two-state solution. The Prime Minister and the President agreed that Hamas must lay down its weapons and have no future role in the governance of Gaza.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel’s army launches ‘large-scale’ ground operation in Gaza, casualty toll rises

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    JERUSALEM, May 18 (Xinhua) — The Israeli army on Sunday announced a large-scale move into “many areas” of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials said airstrikes overnight and early morning killed at least 67 people, including many women and children.

    The Israeli military said ground forces, including reservists, had launched “large-scale operations” in the north and south of the Palestinian enclave in an operation code-named “Gideon’s Chariots.” The campaign marks a new stage in Israel’s 20-month-old war against the Palestinian Hamas movement and other armed groups.

    Palestinian sources said Israeli air strikes hit the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, including tents housing displaced civilians.

    At least 67 Palestinians have been killed and 361 wounded in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

    According to the Israeli army, its forces have killed “dozens” of militants, eliminated ground and underground military infrastructure and now occupy strategic positions in the Gaza Strip.

    Meanwhile, delegations from Israel and Hamas have gathered in the Qatari capital Doha for another round of proximity talks aimed at brokering a ceasefire and releasing the hostages. Diplomats say progress remains elusive as both sides remain firm in their positions. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US unleashes ‘endless war’ to seize other countries’ resources – Iranian President

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TEHRAN, May 18 (Xinhua) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said the United States has launched an “endless war” across the world to plunder resources and labor of other countries, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported.

    The West seeks to provoke conflicts in the Middle East in order to seize the resources of the countries in the region at any cost, M. Pezeshkian noted at the opening ceremony of the Tehran Dialogue forum. This two-day event brought together 200 foreign delegations, including high-ranking officials and representatives of international organizations, to discuss regional and global challenges.

    M. Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has nothing to hide and will not stop its “peaceful nuclear program” under any circumstances.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking about the Iran-US indirect talks, said at the ceremony that Iran wants “a fair and balanced agreement that will be formed within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, will be based on full respect for Iran’s nuclear rights and will guarantee objective lifting of sanctions.”

    “Iran is committed to diplomacy and expects that the harsh and unilateral sanctions that directly target our people will be lifted in a real and tangible way,” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.

    A. Araghchi added that the Islamic Republic is ready to open a new chapter in relations with Europe if the latter shows real determination and an independent approach to Iran.

    Iranian and American delegations held four rounds of indirect talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of American sanctions in Muscat, Oman, and Rome, Italy.

    Meanwhile, Iran and three European countries — France, Germany and the United Kingdom, known as the E3 — held a high-level meeting in Istanbul, Turkey on May 16 to discuss the latest developments in the Iran-U.S. proximity talks. This is the sixth round of such meetings between Iran and the E3 since September 2024, with issues including Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief being discussed. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel discusses ‘possible end to Gaza war’ in Doha talks with Hamas – Netanyahu’s office

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    JERUSALEM, May 18 (Xinhua) — An Israeli negotiating team in the Qatari capital Doha is holding indirect talks with the Palestinian Hamas movement on a hostage deal that would potentially end the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Sunday.

    The statement said the negotiating team was working in Doha “to pursue every chance to reach a deal,” which would include “an end to the fighting,” the release of 58 hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave, the expulsion of Hamas militants and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip.

    The statement was made against the backdrop of the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas that resumed in Doha on May 17. As a source close to the Palestinian movement told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, they were based on a proposal presented by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff, to which Hamas made significant changes.

    Earlier on the evening of May 16, Israel announced the intensification of military operations in Gaza and the launch of a new military operation code-named “Gideon’s Chariots,” the goal of which is to expand the scale of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and achieve key military goals of the Jewish state, including the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas.

    Gaza health authorities said on Sunday that 3,193 Palestinians had been killed and another 8,993 wounded since Israel resumed its intensified offensive on March 18, bringing the total number of Gaza deaths to 53,339 and wounded to 121,034 since the war began in October 2023.

    According to Israeli estimates, 58 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, still remain in the enclave. Of the 58 hostages, 20 are believed to be alive. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tencent to boost investment in AI, global operations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GUANGZHOU, May 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese internet giant Tencent has announced plans to boost investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and further expand its overseas operations, the company said in an announcement Friday at the Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province.

    Tencent’s R&D investment rose 21 percent year-on-year to 18.9 billion yuan (about $2.63 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 as the company works to upgrade its end-to-end AI ecosystem, which includes core large models, computing power, development tools and applications, said Tong Taosang, Tencent’s senior executive vice president.

    In terms of developing the computing power sector, Tencent has set up data centers in Guangzhou, Qingyuan, Shaoguan and other places in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which can provide basic computing power support for manufacturing upgrades.

    Tencent Vice President Li Qiang said that Tencent Cloud, as a globally developing cloud computing provider, has achieved double-digit growth in its international business over the past three years, serving over 10,000 overseas customers in more than 80 countries and regions.

    Tencent plans to further increase its overseas investment this year, allocating US$150 million to build its first data center in Saudi Arabia and US$500 million to build a third such center in Indonesia.

    According to the company’s financial report released in March this year, Tencent’s revenue for the full year 2024 rose 8 percent year-on-year to 660.3 billion yuan. Meanwhile, its net profit and operating profit grew 19 percent and 24 percent, respectively. AI technology played a critical role in driving Tencent’s innovation and high-quality growth throughout last year. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq.

    They discussed developments in Iraq and the region.

    They also discussed the remaining period of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The Secretary-General reaffirmed that the United Nations remains fully committed to continuing to support the Government and people of Iraq following the departure of UNAMI.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the wreath-laying ceremony for the victims of the Canal Hotel attack in 2003

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Dear survivor colleagues, dear colleagues,

    Almost 22 years ago, the United Nations family suffered the worst terrorist attack in the history of our organization.

    22 years is a long time.

    But we will never forget the colleagues who were killed that day in the bombing at the Canal Hotel.

    They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends who are, to this day, mourned by those they knew and loved.  

    We will always remember their leader, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also killed in the attack.

    We will stand with the survivors whose lives were changed forever.

    And we will remember the courageous colleagues and others who rushed to help on that terrible day, and in the days and weeks after — showing us the very best of the humanitarian spirit.

    This memorial stands as a tribute to their lives and their contributions to the people of Iraq.

    It also stands as a reminder of how far Iraq has come since 2003.

    Working with the brave and resilient people of this country, the women and men of the United Nations have worked tirelessly to support their quest for stability, development and peace.

    Above all, this memorial is as a clear reminder of the vital work that our organization does around the world — and the dangers our people face in carrying out that work.  

    With World Humanitarian Day, the date of 19 August has been forever transformed from a day of unimaginable horror and tragedy here in Iraq into a global day of solemn remembrance for all humanitarians — inside and outside the organization.

    Their bravery, dedication, and belief that a better future is possible will always inspire us.

    And like those whose lives were lost on 19 August, 2003, their sacrifices and contributions to our world — and to our vital cause of peace — will never be forgotten.

    Thank you.

    ***

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump to Call V. Putin and V. Zelensky on Monday

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will hold separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to push for an early ceasefire between the two countries.

    “I will be speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday at 10:00 AM,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social social network. The topics of conversation will be ending the “bloodbath” in which an average of more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are dying each week, and trade, the US president added.

    Then, he said, he would speak with Ukrainian President V. Zelensky, and after that there would be a joint conversation between him and the Ukrainian leader with “various NATO members.”

    “I hope it will be a productive day and a ceasefire will be reached,” he said.

    On Friday, delegations from Russia and Ukraine concluded a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, and agreed to hold a new round of talks and a large-scale prisoner exchange in the “1000 for 1000” format. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Happy International Museum Day!

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    This Sunday, the entire world celebrates International Museum Day. The world rightfully owes the appearance of this holiday to our country. In 1977, at the XI General Conference of the International Council of Museums, which was then held in Moscow and Leningrad, the director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Irina Antonova proposed establishing International Museum Day, which began to be celebrated the following year. To date, about 37 thousand museums from 158 countries have joined the celebration.

    The first museum can be considered the Alexandria Museion, founded in the 3rd century BC in Egypt. It was a cultural, research and religious center, which also included one of the largest ancient libraries. The first Russian museum was the Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I in 1714. The largest museum in the world is the Russian Hermitage, the area of which is just under 101 thousand square meters. And the title of the most popular museum has been held by the French Louvre for many years. Before the pandemic, it was visited by over 10 million people a year, now the number of visitors is again approaching these figures.

    In 2025, the theme of the festival – “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities” – is dedicated to social, technological and environmental changes in the modern world. Despite the fact that museums preserve the past, they are not ossified structures at all and quickly adapt high technologies to their needs, creating interactive exhibitions and sensory spaces, using virtual and augmented reality, equipping storage rooms with advanced temperature and humidity control systems.

    The State University also has its own museum dedicated to the history of management education in Russia. The first exhibition of 66 exhibits was opened in 2007, and now the museum contains more than 800 different items.

    Traditionally, the Night of Museums is timed to coincide with this holiday, when after sunset the expositions can be visited for free. Now you know how to spend this evening with interest and benefit.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –