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Category: Middle East

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Colleagues Push DOJ to Investigate Requirements for Hamas-Linked Campus Orgs to Register as Foreign Agents

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI regarding Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) enforcement, raising concerns Hamas-linked entities are escaping FARA scrutiny as they seek to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes through partnerships with campus organizations. Joining Grassley on the effort are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

    The senators’ inquiry hones in on the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) – which received backing from an organization whose associated entities the U.S. government has implicated for financing Hamas – and the hundreds of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters NSJP claims to support across the U.S. Their letter reads, in part:

    “It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence. […] The introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion is especially of issue when it is fueling an alarming rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The public reporting appears to indicate that NSJP and related chapters may fit into the FARA definition of ‘publicity agent,’ at minimum, and its conduct, among other activity, may constitute a public relations effort designed to impact U.S. public opinion in favor of a foreign principal, which would meet FARA’s definition of political activities.

    “Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA and the extent of Hamas and Iran’s potential involvement.”

    Grassley and his colleagues cite numerous examples that signal NSJP and SJP chapters may have an obligation to register as agents under FARA. Several follow.

    • Federal court filings from state Attorneys General assert NSJP’s material support to Hamas.
    • Dozens of SJP chapters echoed NSJP’s social media messages lauding Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; some “[praised] the creativity” of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israeli civilians.
    • NSJP urged SJP chapters in the U.S. to publicly facilitate and join “armed struggles, general strikes and popular demonstrations.”
    • NSJP launched a campaign against U.S. college administrators, pushing for divestments in Israel-connected assets.
    • NSJP held a summer 2024 program for SJP participants to “deepen our understanding of our current political moment […] with the aim entrenching the frameworks necessary to sustain and grow the Student Intifada.”
    • NSJP has stated it “aim[s] to develop a student movement that is connected, disciplined, and equipped” with tools toward fulfilling its mission.

    Considering this evidence and more, the senators are asking DOJ and FBI pointed questions about the steps they have taken to assess NSJP and SJP’s potential requirement to register as foreign agents.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background:

    Congress passed FARA in 1938 to identify Nazi propaganda and other foreign efforts to sway U.S. policy and public opinion. The content-neutral law was designed not to prohibit activity, but rather, to ensure certain individuals who act as agents of a foreign government or enterprise register with DOJ.

    Grassley previously pressed for FARA enforcement as Confucius Institutes cropped up on college campuses, working to combat Chinese Communist Party influence in the U.S. education system. He has probed potential FARA violations in recent Congresses, including by Qatari media network Al Jazeera, a Ukrainian operative who consulted for the Democrat National Committee and a Russian lobbyist who attended a meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. Grassley questioned the Biden family’s FARA compliance amid business dealings with a Chinese energy company and sought answers upon learning the top lobbying firm for Ukrainian energy company Burisma filed incomplete disclosures. A longtime advocate of enforcing FARA to the fullest extent, he is leading congressional oversight and legislative reforms to further strengthen the law.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Israel has banned the UN secretary-general. Is this legal – or right?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Berhanu Woldemariam, Lecturer in law, University of Newcastle

    In early October, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, announced on X he had declared the United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, persona non grata. In other words, he had banned Guterres from setting foot in Israel.

    Katz said Guterres’ failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s recent attack on Israel was the reason he was no longer welcome. The strongly worded statement further accused the UN chief of failing to “denounce” Hamas’ massacre in southern Israel on October 7 2023. He added:

    A secretary-general who gives backing to terrorists, rapists and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and now Iran — the mothership of global terror — will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.

    Security Council members expressed their support for Guterres after Katz’s declaration. And Guterres’ spokesperson called it “a political statement” and “just one more attack […] on UN staff” by the Israeli government.

    What is the significance of Israel’s declaration? And what kind of impact could it have?

    What does persona non grata mean?

    The Latin phrase persona non grata means “an unwelcome person”. In international law, it refers to the right of states to exclude a diplomat or consular officer from their territory. This can take the form of expelling a diplomat or denying them entry.

    Under international conventions, nations are not required to provide a reason for such a declaration.

    Diplomats and consular staff enjoy a wide range of immunities and privileges under international law. Among other things, they cannot be subjected to any form of arrest or detention, nor can they face legal action in a criminal or civil court.

    The diplomat’s home nation must waive immunity for this kind of action to be taken.

    The concept of persona non grata was therefore devised as a way to balance against these immunities and privileges. A nation that is aggrieved by the actions of a diplomat or consular officer can simply bar them from their territory, without even providing a reason.

    Can UN officials be declared persona non grata?

    There is a longstanding debate between the UN and its member states about the legality of such declarations.

    The UN maintains its officials cannot be barred from member nations because they are not diplomats accredited to those countries. Rather, they are international civil servants who are accountable to a global organisation.

    The UN also notes that declaring its officials persona non grata seriously interferes with the organisation’s functions, as well as the powers of the UN secretary-general under the UN Charter.

    Many countries, however, do not agree with the UN’s position. In recent years, Ethiopia, Mali, Sudan and Armenia have all declared UN officials to be persona non grata, just to name a few.

    Israel’s declaration is only the second time a nation has specifically banned the UN secretary-general. The first time was in the 1950s when both the Soviet Union and the Republic of China declared the first secretary-general, Trygve Lie, persona non grata.

    In 1961, the Soviet Union also said it would not recognise Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold as an “official of the United Nations”.

    Power must be handled with restraint

    I am researching this issue, which has not yet been widely explored. My study is looking at two main questions: whether states have the right to bar UN officials and the implications of doing this.

    On the first question, I believe there are strong legal reasons to support the rights of states to kick out – or keep out – UN officials.

    For one, nations have a wide scope of sovereign rights to decide who enters and leaves their territory. This is a cardinal principle of sovereignty.

    If UN officials are suspected of engaging in conduct harmful to a country’s national interests and security, it also has a right to defend and protect itself. One way of doing so is to expel the suspected UN official.

    Lastly, there is no direct rule under international law that prohibits this kind of action.

    Beyond these legal rights, however, is the important issue of what such an action means for the longer-term credibility and efficacy of the UN.

    Because countries are not required to provide a reason for banning a foreign diplomat, this makes it a powerful political weapon if used against a UN official.

    And banning UN officials specifically could also seriously jeopardise the organisation’s work and put innocent lives at risk. This is especially true in the context of armed conflicts where the UN is called upon to provide humanitarian assistance.

    For example, in 2021, Ethiopia expelled five UN humanitarian officials who were providing food, medicine, water and other life-saving items to more than 5 million people in a region that was engaged in armed conflict with the federal government. Given the expelled officials were high-ranking staff, the action disrupted the co‑ordination and provision of assistance.

    And banning the secretary-general, in particular, is perhaps the strongest indicator of the breakdown of the relationship between a state and the UN.

    The secretary-general is the chief international civil servant and the embodiment of the organisation. Their leadership is also critical for providing emergency relief, brokering ceasefires and promoting peace.

    Declaring the secretary-general persona non grata, therefore, seriously damages his or her standing, especially in the context of an armed conflict. It’s also a strong political statement against the UN more broadly, which could significantly complicate its humanitarian work.

    Therefore, while countries do have the sovereign power to declare UN officials persona non grata, they need to exercise restraint in how they use this power. What such restraint should look like is an open question, but one that must be urgently addressed.

    The author’s ongoing research work on the topic has received internal funding support from the College of Humanities and Social Futures at The University of Newcastle, NSW.

    – ref. Israel has banned the UN secretary-general. Is this legal – or right? – https://theconversation.com/israel-has-banned-the-un-secretary-general-is-this-legal-or-right-240674

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Cypriot gov’t approves urgent dispatch of humanitarian aid for Lebanon

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Cypriot government has approved an urgent dispatch of medicine and other consumables for Lebanon, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday.

    The spokesman said the health ministry has studied a request by Lebanon, “for the provision of pharmaceutical assistance and consumables to address the humanitarian crisis.”

    He added that the Cypriot government has also approved additional financial aid specifically for the Palestinians.

    The spokesman also announced that more than 2,000 people of 20 different nationalities have been evacuated from Lebanon through Cyprus.

    The vast majority of them have already departed to their countries of origin, with the remaining being hosted at accommodation facilities prepared by Cypriot authorities until they find flights out of Cyprus, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by President  Biden During a Call with Jewish Faith Leaders for High  Holidays

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    2:59 P.M. EDT
    THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much, Rabbi, for that introduction.  And before I want to be- — before I begin, I want to say, we’re prepared for another hurricane hitting Florida, and that’s what I’ve been doing and why I had to p- — push back these — this sev- — several times.  And I apologize. 
    I directed my team to do everything we can to save lives and help communities before, during, and after the hurricane — the one that has just passed and this awful one that’s about to hit. 
    My most important message today is for those who are in impacted areas, please, please listen to your local authorities, follow all safety in- — instructions and evacuation orders.  This is serious — very serious. 
    But now to the events of the day.  You know, as the — my friends, the — the rabbis in Delaware who I’ve become friends with over the years, have been engaged with, can tell you, I was one of those lucky Christians who was raised by a — a Christian who was — he had — he understood what was going on. 
    My dad was what we — you’d call “a righteous Christian.”  My dad literally raised us to believe that we had to stand up for the — any community being persecuted, and he used to rage — he used to rage at dinner about why we didn’t bomb the railroad tracks in Auschwitz and why we didn’t — and this is the God’s truth, as the rabbis at home could tell you. 
    And he used to talk about how we wouldn’t let the — that one ship land and — and — with the Jewish refugees on it at the time, during — during the — Hitler’s era.  And, you know, he — he talked about how it was important for people to know what happened and not forget. 
    And one of the things that it taught me was that I — every one of my children and grandchildren, when they turned the age of 14, we put them on a plane and I flew them to Dachau, because I wanted them to see — want them to see that no one could pretend it wasn’t happening. 
    You go through — you walk through the gate, and you’ll be liberated.  Well, to stand — you see those beautiful homes along the outside of that gate, and you’ll know they had to know.  They had to know what was going on.  And — and I wanted them to understand.  I wanted them to see where the ovens were.  I wanted them to know what was going on and — because I wanted them to be aware — aware. 
    And I think one of the things that I’m about to talk about is — you know, the country has been sort of a — I don’t know how I could say it — has not paid nearly much attention to our hi- — the history that brought us —
    But when I went over shortly after the — the second, smaller holocaust, but even more vividly seen by the whole world on the 7th, it was — it was because I wanted to let the world know where I stood and where America stood.  And I saw the remnants of what had happened 10 days earlier.  I saw — and the — anyway, you all know; you understand it. 
    But now, this event today — I want to thank you for joining this call, and I apologize for having had to reschedule it. 
    You know, at my direction, last week, the United States military took unprecedented action again to actively assist the successful defense of Israel.  You’ve — you’ve heard me say before that I got very badly criticized as a young senator for saying, “I’m a Zionist.”  You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.  It’s not necessary. 
    And the idea — I firmly believe — without an Israel, every Jew in the world’s security is less stable.  I mean that.  It doesn’t mean that Jewish leadership doesn’t have to be more progressive than it is, but it does mean it has to exist, and that’s what worries me most about what’s going on now.
    You’ve heard me say before that my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as the right to exist is independent — independent of that — of everything else.  The Jewish state has to remain.  It has to remain — the ironclad commitment to it.
    In the last three years, it’s been the honor to do this High Holiday with all of you from the White House in a season of joy and a season of pain.  And that’s what we’ve been going through: a season of joy and pain.
    You know, you are the rock for your people.  I want to thank you for all you do every single day for your congregations, for your communities, for our country.
    You know, I know this year’s call is very different, and it’s a very — a difficult time for the Jewish community and for Jews around the world.  In the midst of the High Holidays, two days ago, we commemorated the first anniversary of October 7th, the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
    And a year later, with the trauma and the loss from that day and its aftermath, it’s still raw.  It’s hard to memorialize and mourn a tragedy that’s still ongoing.  Hostages still in captivity — some American Jews as well; loved ones still in harm’s way; survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, that never go away.  The families and friends left behind will never, never be the same. 
    I just spoke with Pres- — Prime Minister Netanyahu for about an hour this morning and offered my condolences on this somber one-year anniversary. 
    Throughout this year, my wife, Jill, and I, Kamala and Doug mourned along with all of you, including after the appalling execution of the six hostages, including America’s own Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 24-year-old last week — who just turned — would have turned 24 last week.
    My administration is doubling down on our work to secure the release of the remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already.  And we will not rest until they’re all home.
    As you saw just last week, the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and all its proxies — Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.  We’re doing everything we can to ease the suffering of all the people from this war against Hamas and that Hamas started.
    As Israel’s ambassador to Washington said at the memorial two days ago, quote, “We remember the Jewish commandment that we are all created in the image of God,” and “the loss of innocent life — Israel — Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese, or others — is a tragedy.”  Well, I feel the same way.  Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year’s conflict.
    I also want you to know that I see you, I hear you, I see your pain from the ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and, quite frankly, around the world — absolutely despicable.  And I hope we h- — we learned a lesson from our parents’ generation.  We have to stand up.  We have to call it out.  It has to be stopped.
    In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right of free speech to protest peacefully.  But there is no place — emphasize, no place — anywhere in America — none — for antisemitism, hate speech, or threats of violence of any kind against the Jews or anyone else.
    Long before October the 7th — long before — I launched the first National Security [Strategy] to Counter Antisemitism in American history — the first time in American history.  Vice President Harris and I and our entire administration are aggressively implementing that commitment.
    Since we took office, we secured a record of over $800 million for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, Jewish day schools all around the country. 
    Since October 7, ‘23 — in 2023, we’ve secured an additional $400 million — the largest single increase ever in funding — ever. 
    And we have concrete evidence that our historic assistance is making an impact and the investment matters. 
    The Department of Education has put our colleges on notice about something that should be obvious to everyone — that antisemitism is discrimination.  Say it again: Antisemitism is discrimination and prohibited under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 
    And the Department of Homeland Security has proved — provided resources to train campus law enforcement, administrators on how to ensure Jewish students are safe on campus.  And we’re going to keep working to ensure — ensure that Jewish students can get their education free of intimidation and harassment. 
    The Department of Justice is also moving swiftly to investigate and prosecute antisemitic hate crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable. 
    We encourage you, as members of your community, to please report incidences to local law enforcement. 
    My administration is calling on the social media companies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism and other hateful content, including the vile antisemitic attacks online that we’ve seen in recent days against public officials leading responses to recovery efforts to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
    You know, it’s appalling, but we — it must end now.  We have to speak and end it now.
    Globally, our nation’s first ambassador to the level of special envoy and to monitor and combat antisemitism is Deb- — Debor- — Deborah Lipstadt — Lipstadt.  And Deborah has mobilized more than 40 countries and international organizations to support our new guidelines for countering antisemitism around the world.  And this matters, but I know there’s so much more to do. 
    And let me assure you as your president that you are not alone.  You belong, always — always have, always will be, and always must be protected. 
    From the inception of our nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life.  Let me say that again.  From our very inception as a nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life, and you’re going to continue to do so for many years to come. 
    Let me close with this.  I think about the wisdom I’ve learned from Jewish communities in Delaware and across the country that I’ve gotten to know over the years.  It seems to me there is a delicate yet profound balance between joy and pain to the High Holidays. 
    Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration in the Je- — of — for the Jewish New Year.  But it’s also a day of judgment.
    Similarly, Yom Kippur is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, yet Jewish scholars say it’s also the happiest day because it’s a time of — for forgiveness and for renewal.
    And in two weeks, you celebrate another holiday for the singing and dancing of the — for — for the Torah.  You know, I know you’ll do so with profound sorrow in your soul because, last year, that holiday was shattered by October the 7th.
    From my perspective, Jewish people have embodied this duality of pain and joy for generations.  It’s your strength.  The Jewish people have always chosen to find joy and happiness and light, despite centuries of suffering, persecution, and pain. 
    That’s the ending and — of what — this — look, this is — is enduring — it’s an enduring lesson and legacy for the Jewish people and for all of America to understand. 
    So, thank you for continuing to find joy in the darkness and shine your light on the nation and on the world. 
    God bless you all.  And may you have a happy New Year.
    3:11 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese envoy urges Israel to stop weaponizing humanitarian assistance

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, urged Israel on Wednesday to stop weaponizing humanitarian assistance, lift the blockade of Gaza and the restrictions on humanitarian access, and cooperate fully with the UN and other humanitarian agencies.

    In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Fu said the Gaza conflict and the situation in the Middle East have been at the forefront of the council’s work since October last year, but the situation has not improved so far, and “instead, it has continued to deteriorate.”

    “The authority of international law seems to exist in name only for certain states, and the bottom line of international humanitarian law has been repeatedly shattered,” he lamented.

    Fu stressed, “We cannot accept that death and hunger have become the new normal in Gaza.”

    Underscoring that humanitarian aid is the hope for survival for the people in Gaza, the ambassador said the role of UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestinians, is indispensable and irreplaceable. “China firmly opposes Israel’s smearing and suppression of UNRWA, and is gravely concerned about the relevant Knesset bills targeting the agency.”

    He said the international community cannot allow the conflict to drag on and expand, and cannot “just sit back and watch the entire Middle East plunging into an all-out war.”

    “The harsh reality has proved that winning a war does not necessarily mean having peace, military might alone cannot guarantee lasting security, and the obsession with force only creates more killings and hatred,” Fu pointed out, urging Israel to cease all military operations in Gaza and put an end to the collective punishment of the people in Gaza.

    He said the intensified settlement activities and violence in the West Bank were a de-facto obliteration of the foundation of the two-State solution, and must stop immediately.

    “Lebanon must not become the next Gaza,” he said, adding that China calls on all parties to exercise restraint and achieve a ceasefire, and urges Israel in particular to stop taking actions that would further escalate the situation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Save the Children – Education disrupted for sixth year for 1.5 million children in Lebanon, with half of public schools used as shelters

    Source: Save the Children

    Half of Lebanon’s public schools have been turned into shelters for forcibly displaced people in the past two weeks, disrupting children’s education for the sixth consecutive year and increasing the threat to their long-term physical and mental wellbeing, Save the Children said.
    Lebanon’s Ministry of Education said that Israeli airstrikes have forced about 40% of Lebanon’s 1.5 million pupils from their homes and postponed the start of the school year for public schools from 14 October to 4 November.
    At least 500 public schools – about half of Lebanon’s public schools – are now being used as collective shelters -, following escalating violence on 23 September that led to the displacement of over 1.2 million people, or about one fifth of the population.
    This marks the sixth year of significant disruptions to education for children in Lebanon, with the World Bankestimating that it will take Lebanon generations to recover from these successive shocks to children’s education.
    Save the Children said children in Lebanon have been hit by multiple complex crises for decades, without being able to fully recover, including the COVID19 pandemic, political instability, the Beirut port explosion, economic downturns and the teachers’ strike in 2023.
    Since October 2023, escalating cross-border hostilities have resulted in over 2,000 people being killed, including about 127 children, and at least 10,000 injured in Lebanon.
    Salim-, 45, is a father of three boys aged 12, 16 and 17 from the south of Lebanon. In the past year, his family was forced to relocate eight times. The family is now staying at a school used as a collective shelter in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon, sharing a classroom with another family. He said:
    “Every time we thought this was it, and we could settle down, take a breath, we were forced to move again. None of my children have received a proper education since 2020. Now, all they care about is making sure we’re safe and together. I never wanted this for them. I wanted them to have the freedom to dream, to chase after those dreams when the time was right, and to live their lives to the fullest. But now, all I want is for them to survive. Dreams have been replaced by basic survival. Food, education, and medication, these things have become distant luxuries.”
    Sawsan-, 27, was displaced to the same school with her two children, aged four and five. She said:
    “It’s been a year like this, a year of my children waking up to the sounds of Israeli bombs exploding around us. A year of uncertainty. We left on 26 September after our village was attacked. We spent two days on the road, desperately searching for safety and shelter until we arrived at this school. At first, my children were confused and unsure. “We’re going to live in a school?” they asked. “Does that mean we’ll study here too?”
    Erin Wall, Education Technical Advisor at Save the Children Lebanon, said:
    “Education during conflict plays a crucial role in providing a sense of normalcy and routine for children, but schools are now closed once again, and most non-formal education activities halted in the last two weeks. This only adds to the children’s distress as they lose access to the comfort of their friends and teachers, the structure of safe learning spaces and the routine support services they can find in schools. If schools stay closed, we expect compounded learning losses, with children unable to read and write, leading to a higher risk of drop-out and lower learning achievement overall, not to mention social isolation and disconnection. This will significantly affect children’s wellbeing, development, and ability to learn, limiting their opportunities for the future.”
    Save the Children is committed to ensuring children can access their right to a quality education even in times of crisis. Since hostilities escalated in October 2023, Save the Children has reached more than 2,100 displaced children through delivery of emergency learning activities, provision of critical non-specialized psychosocial support and social emotional learning activities, and distribution of educational materials.
    Jennifer Moorehead, Country Director of Save the Children in Lebanon said:
    “Countless parents are telling us that one of their top priorities is for their children to get back to school, which does not surprise us. Education is one of the most essential factors necessary for the recovery and future of children – and the country. Schools also offer an important entry point for children to be referred to other essential services like healthcare, mental health support or child protection services. Every day away from the classroom, is a growing threat to children’s long-term physical and mental wellbeing. Schools should only be used as shelters as a last resort, and for the shortest possible period. We call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering and protect children’s right to education.”
    Save the Children has been working in Lebanon since 1953. Since October 2023, we’ve been scaling up our response in Lebanon, supporting displaced Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian children and families, and now have escalated an emergency response throughout the country in 161 collective shelters. Since October 2023, we’ve supported more than 100,000 people, including 40,000 children, with cash, blankets, mattresses and pillows, food parcels, water bottles and kits containing essential hygiene items.
    Currently, Save the Children is scaling up its Education in Emergency response and related child protection support for displaced families inside and outside collective shelters, focusing on ensuring learning continuity and wellbeing support.
    Notes
    – “Collective shelters” are pre-existing buildings and structures where large group of displaced people find shelter for a short time while durable solutions are pursued. A variety of facilities may be used as collective centres – community centres, town halls, hotels, gymnasiums, warehouses, unfinished buildings, disused factories. Infrastructure and basic services are provided on a communal basis or access to them is made possible. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bybit Reports Milestones as bbSOL Concludes First Month on Solana Blockchain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bybit, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is proud to announce the successful completion of bbSOL’s first month, marking a milestone in its mission to advance token staking on the Solana blockchain. As the first exchange-backed liquid staking token (LST) on Solana, bbSOL has gained momentum, attracting attention for its marketing strategies and integration across both centralized and decentralized platforms.

    Since its launch, bbSOL has positioned itself as a noticeable figure in the Solana ecosystem due to its position at the intersection of centralized finance (CeFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). 

    Key Milestones of bbSOL’s First Month:
    Total Value Locked (TVL) Surpasses 85 million: bbSOL has outpaced other exchange-backed staking tokens in TVL, underscoring its appeal to users and highlighting its growing influence within the Solana ecosystem. This surge in TVL reflects the token’s robust adoption and Bybit’s commitment to delivering staking opportunities for its users.
    Expanded Accessibility: bbSOL will be listed on Bybit Spot on 10 Oct 2024, 10AM UTC broadening user access to both trading opportunities and liquidity rewards across multiple ecosystems. By bridging the gap between Bybit’s centralized exchange and the broader DeFi landscape, bbSOL offers a streamlined experience for token holders.
    Strategic Partnerships: In addition to its availability on Bybit Spot, bbSOL has partnered with Jupiter Exchange, Solana’s leading swap aggregator, enhancing liquidity options and making bbSOL more versatile for users looking to trade efficiently within the Solana ecosystem.

    “We are incredibly proud of the community’s enthusiastic response to bbSOL,” said Emily Bao, Head of Spot and Web3 at Bybit. “bbSOL’s success in its first month is a testament to the power of combining Bybit’s global reach with the innovation and agility of decentralized platforms. With its listing, we’re further expanding accessibility and unlocking even more opportunities for our users to trade and benefit from bbSOL. We look forward to building on this momentum and bringing even more partners into the fold as we continue to shape the future of token staking.”

    About Bybit

    Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 50 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

    For more details about Bybit, readers can please visit Bybit Press. 

    For media inquiries, readers can please contact: media@bybit.com

    For more information, readers can please visit: https://www.bybit.com

    For updates, readers can please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

    Contact

    Head of PR
    Tony Au
    Bybit
    tony.au@bybit.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kadir Rende from Turkey: “Polytech is a springboard for future professionals”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On October 7, applications for free education at the expense of the budget of the Russian Federation within the quota established by the government of the country for the 2025/26 academic year were accepted. A bachelor’s student from Turkey, Kadir Rende, spoke about his experience at the Polytechnic University. He entered the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU on a contract basis, but passed the quota selection of Rossotrudnichestvo and continued his education on a budgetary basis.

    — Why did you choose to study mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic?

    — From an early age, I was interested in how the toys I played with worked. I was constantly taking them apart to understand how they worked. As I grew older, this curiosity grew into a desire to find out why machines move and how it happens. I never doubted that I would become an engineer.

    When I decided to study in Russia, I started looking for the ideal university and chose Peter the Great Polytechnic University. It is one of the best universities in the country with a rich history, within whose walls many famous engineers and scientists studied.

    Mechanical engineering is a promising direction. Highly qualified specialists like me will be in demand at various enterprises. I am sure that the knowledge and skills I have gained will help me make a significant contribution to this industry and realize my ambitions.

    — How difficult is it to communicate in Russian in everyday life?

    — I studied Russian at the preparatory department in Kazan before continuing my studies in St. Petersburg. Although it may seem that I speak well, my level is still limited to conversational. In lectures I encounter more complex materials, which sometimes causes difficulties. Fortunately, I have excellent relationships with teachers who understand our problems and are always ready to help. My Russian classmates and other students are also very friendly and willing to explain if something is unclear. I am a sociable person. I enjoy speaking Russian, which I find very rich and beautiful.

    Thanks to constant practice, I feel that my level of language proficiency is getting better and better. This year, I even took second place in the Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language, which I am very proud of!

    — What other Russian cities have you seen?

    — I have been to Moscow, Kazan and small towns around it, but to be honest, St. Petersburg is my favorite. It feels like a fairy tale, so I really love walking around the cultural capital. Last year, my relatives flew in from Istanbul to visit me. They were delighted with the city.

    — Did you manage to make friends with the locals?

    — I was told that Russians can seem “cold”. However, almost all my friends here are Russian. We communicate very well. At first it was difficult to get to know each other because of the language barrier, but as I got to know them better, I realized that they are actually kind and helpful people.

    — Do you study on a fee-paying basis or through some kind of scholarship program?

    — At first, I studied under a contract and didn’t even think about participating in the competition for free education. I thought that I would have to start studying all over again. But after studying the issue in detail, I made up my mind. In my second year, I managed to transfer to a budget. So I’m very happy.

    — What do you do in your free time?

    — I try to find interesting and beautiful places in the city. Then I visit them with friends. The Polytechnic also has excellent conditions for doing sports. I am into boxing and go to free training sessions in the evenings, I made new friends there. There is a gym in our dormitory, sometimes I work out there.

    — What advice would you give to other international students who are already studying or just entering the Polytechnic?

    — There are many organizations for students, including international students, at the university, and I highly recommend visiting them. They offer a variety of activities and events, allowing everyone to find something for themselves. I go to Russian conversation clubs in the PolyUnion space, and at the Interclub I like to get together with friends for games. There are really many opportunities for activities here. It’s a great way to meet new people and improve your knowledge of the language.

    — What are your plans for the future?

    — After completing my bachelor’s degree, I would like to continue my studies at the Polytechnic University for a master’s degree. I understand that this will be very useful for building my future career.

    We remind you that international students can apply forwebsite quota selection until January 15. You can also take part in the international Open Doors Olympics and get the opportunity to study for bachelor’s, master’s and postgraduate degrees at the Polytechnic University for free.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/international_activize/kadir-rende-from-turkey-polytech-springboard-for-future-professionals/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Oil prices could be where the Middle East crisis collides with Australia’s cost-of-living crisis

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Angry, accusatory partisan exchanges over the Middle East war have dominated federal politics this week. But for most ordinary voters the issue remains “over there”.

    Apart from the minorities for whom it has an immediate impact – Jewish people frightened by antisemitism, the Muslim community, those with families in Lebanon and elsewhere – it’s a tragedy without tangible relevance to their day-to-day lives.

    On Thursday however, Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned the foreign crisis could feed directly into the domestic cost-of-living crisis, via the price of oil.

    Midway through this week, oil was trading 11% lower than it was a year ago, but 7% higher than a week-and-a-half ago, Chalmers told a news conference.

    Treasury estimates that if prices were 10% higher for an entire year, this would reduce Australia’s GDP by 0.1% and increase the consumer price index by 0.4 percentage points.

    Nothing is certain about the coming months but the potential implications are obvious. Consumers would feel the effects at the petrol pump of the higher oil prices.

    The Reserve Bank will also be watching the possible trajectory of oil prices, together with all the other indicators relevant to its decisions on interest rates. This is against the background of the government’s desperation for a rate cut (or two) before the election.

    Although an increase in fuel prices (hitting businesses as well as families) would not be the government’s fault, it would be blamed.

    According to Labor, at present there’s a disconnect between, on the one hand, the partisan political heat the Middle East war is generating and, on the other, the public’s lack of engagement with the issue.

    Voters not concentraing on the Middle East

    Labor sources say focus group research this week, done with swinging voters, found most people aren’t closely following Middle East events.

    Beyond that, they are generally satisfied with the government’s stand and don’t think the crisis is distracting it from the cost of living (which is separate from how they think the government is handling the cost of living).

    This accords with this week’s Essential poll, in which 56% said they were satisfied with the government’s response on the Israel-Gaza war. Another 30% thought the government had been too supportive of Israel; 14% thought it had been too harsh on Israel.

    Except among some of those directly invested, the Middle East crisis is not likely to be a vote changer.

    In the domestic political battle, Dutton is trying to use the conflict to paint Albanese as weak. That’s a long bow on the issue itself, although more generally the prime minister and his government have come to be seen as having lost their way.

    While Dutton is trying to define Albanese negatively, Albanese is attempting to make Dutton a bigger target.

    NBN sale a distraction

    Thus on Wednesday the prime minister, shortly before he jumped on his plane to attend the ASEAN-Australia summit in Laos, personally introduced legislation that would ensure the NBN remained in public hands.

    If the Coalition didn’t vote for the bill, that would show it would sell the NBN, Labor claimed. It was a crude attempt at scare politics, easily seen through. The Coalition is not suggesting it would sell the NBN and if it did, would most people care? Anyway, originally Labor planned for the NBN to be privatised. Dutton ridiculed the tactic.

    As we look to election year, the 2025 parliamentary sitting calendar came out this week. It has a fortnight sitting in February and pencils in a budget for March 25, which would set up a May poll. Of course this doesn’t rule out an earlier (March) election although Albanese has said more than once he plans a pre-election budget.

    Regardless, we are already in the election campaign. At caucus on Tuesday Albanese was, for the second time recently, talking about the second term agenda.

    Announcements like confetti

    Announcements are raining down like confetti especially related to cost-of-living issues. Supermarkets are being heavily targeted. Launching his merger reform legislation on Thursday, Chalmers said every supermarket merger would be screened, regardless of whether it fell under the new arrangements.

    Present polls are showing the most likely election result, to be delivered by sour voters, is a hung parliament with a minority Labor government.

    Albanese told caucus he was focused on winning majority government. Dutton knows that if the Coalition can’t win, the more crossbenchers it can force Labor to need to rely on, the more unstable a second-term Labor government would be.

    Both sides have a great deal of bedding-down to do before the actual campaign.

    Key items on Labor’s legislative agenda aren’t just not introduced, they are unseen – for instance, on gambling advertising, social media restrictions for young people, electoral funding.

    Major bills are stuck in the parliament – notably on housing, where the Greens may eventually do a deal but are stringing out the pain.

    On the other side, the Coalition has released minimal policy. On its controversial nuclear power plan, it has put out minimal details, in particular refusing to produce costings. It can’t hold back everything until the last moment.

    Will the campaign even matter?

    When the formal campaign comes, how much will it matter?

    There is the old saying “you can’t fatten the pig on market day”. In other words, the election result may be decided well before the actual campaign.

    What do the last three elections (2016, 2019, 2022) tell us about the importance of the formal campaign? In each case, the result was narrow, a matter of a handful of seats.

    In 2022, there was probably nothing Morrison could have done in the last weeks to salvage the situation – to use another farm metaphor, his goose was cooked. In the event, he ran a bad campaign.

    In 2016 prime minister Malcolm Turnbull just scraped home; Turnbull’s flawed campaigning maximised the number of seats he lost.

    In 2019, when it seemed Bill Shorten was almost certain to take Labor to victory, its defeat may have been sealed in the campaign itself, although its heavy policy load always put it in a precarious situation.

    In 2022 Albanese was judged a poor campaigner. Aware of this, Labor strategists will be doing everything to make sure he is fully prepared for “gotcha” questions (on which he faltered last time) and the other hazards that can arise spontaneously.

    Dutton’s forte is negativity, his natural style is the attack. But in those final weeks, more will be needed.

    One challenge in leaving policy releases late is that holes can slip through, inviting slip ups.

    Dutton has far from established himself as a rounded alternative prime minister. Indeed his current approach on the Middle East, completely lacking nuance, raises questions about how he would handle the complexities of foreign policy generally. It has not been reassuring.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Grattan on Friday: Oil prices could be where the Middle East crisis collides with Australia’s cost-of-living crisis – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-oil-prices-could-be-where-the-middle-east-crisis-collides-with-australias-cost-of-living-crisis-241002

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Erasmus+ funding from the Commission for the controversial Gazientep University – E-001927/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001927/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dirk Gotink (PPE)

    According to an article[1] , there is an Erasmus+ partnership between the Commission and Gaziantep University and the university recently received EUR 250 000 from the EU. The article points to a host of anti-Israeli statements and states that the university rector actively supports the Hamas terrorist organisation. Accordingly:

    • 1.Is this report about the Commission providing EUR 250 000 in Erasmus+ funding for Gaziantep University true?
    • 2.When establishing relations with Gaziantep University, did the Commission also look into the statements by the rector and his possible links with Hamas?
    • 3.Does the Commission concur that, in view of the rector’s statements, the agreement with the university should be immediately terminated? If not, why not?

    Submitted: 2.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.lejdd.fr/societe/erasmus-lunion-europeenne-sous-le-feu-des-critiques-pour-avoir-integre-une-universite-pro-hamas-150023
    Last updated: 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission challenging France’s energy success, ignoring the EU’s climate and environmental challenges – E-001873/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001873/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jordan Bardella (PfE)

    On 11 September 2023, former Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson publicly reprimanded France for its energy policy, saying that it had yet to meet its climate targets given the share of renewable electricity in its energy mix.

    Now, with Parliament about to decide on the Commissioners nominated by Ursula von der Leyen, it would seem that the candidates Teresa Ribera[1] (energy transition) and Dan Jorgensen[2] (energy) also share the same hostility to nuclear energy. With these two appointments, Brussels continues to show its ideological blindness in favouring intermittent and variable energies.

    • 1.Will the Commission propose a further revision of the Renewable Energy Directive with a view to including all low-carbon energy sources?
    • 2.Not forgetting that it is guardian of the Euratom Treaty, does it still see a place for nuclear energy in Europe’s energy future?

    Submitted: 30.9.2024

    • [1] https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/francois-d-orcival-teresa-ribera-une-pourfendeuse-du-nucleaire-aux-cotes-d-ursula-von-der-leyen-20240925
    • [2] https://www.information.dk/debat/2022/02/dan-joergensen-atomkraft-maa-aldrig-del-loesningen-danmark
    Last updated: 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Early departure of Luis Miguel Bueno, the EU’s Arabic spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa – E-001869/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001869/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jordan Bardella (PfE)

    Luis Miguel Bueno, the EU’s Arabic spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa, left his post early on 31 July 2024. This was in the wake of growing controversy surrounding ambiguous statements on his part and his Islamist tendencies. On 24 July 2024, Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell defended Mr Bueno, deeming his statements to be in line with the role assigned to him as an EU official. Some of Mr Bueno’s most controversial posts have nevertheless been removed from his official social media channels.

    Luis Miguel Bueno made a particular splash in December 2023 with a video shared via ICESCO, an organisation influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood[1], in which he stated that ‘Arabic has become a European language. The Arabic language and Arabic and Islamic culture are an integral part of the European Union and of European history and culture’.

    • 1.Is an internal investigation on the cards to establish the reasons behind Mr Bueno’s early departure?
    • 2.What means is the Commission using to protect itself against entryism on the part of Islamist movements within the European institutions?

    Submitted: 30.9.2024

    • [1] https://www.revuedesdeuxmondes.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/R2M-2020-12-109-119.pdf.
    Last updated: 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Army officer James Robinson lands in Alderney on a mission to help create a positive outlook – 10.10.24 Thursday 10 October 2024

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release

    Date:  10th October 2024

    Army Officer James Robinson lands in Alderney on a mission to help create a positive outlook

    Alderney’s new Head of Operations has swapped a Colonel’s uniform for island life – and a mission to help foster a “positive and resilient” outlook for the community.

    James Robinson CBE has been finding his feet at Island Hall for a few weeks where he is bringing his experience to the States of Alderney’s operations.

    A key aspect of his job is to provide visionary leadership and build effective relationships with stakeholders including States Members, the community and business partners.

    “I wanted a role that allows me to get things done in a people-oriented way and with a touch of adventure,” he said.

    Coming from an Army family, his officer training at Sandhurst was followed by operational service in hotspots such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. His last job in the Army was Head of the Brigade of Gurkhas during which time he was responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations with Nepal, India and Brunei.

    He left the Army as a full colonel after 36 years’ service since when he has undertaken a number of security and management consultancy projects in Riyadh, Kabul, Qatar, Jordan and for the UK G7 summit in Cornwall. He also managed his borough’s response to COVID for six months leading 3000 volunteers to support the local community.

    “I am here to help create a positive and resilient future for Alderney while seeking to protect its unique environment and heritage,” added Mr Robinson. “I had a hugely varied life in the Army that took me all around the world solving interesting challenges and I hope I can add value here.”

    Ends

    Media enquiries or for a high-res image:Alistair.Forrest2@gov.gg

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: Reporters Without Borders 1 year of war in Gaza: How do journalists report the news at the risk of their lives?

    Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (Video Release)

    ‘If you allow it to happen to Palestinian journalists today, then it will happen to you tomorrow’ – Youmna El Sayed, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza

    It’s been one year since the start of the war in Gaza and practicing journalism has become nearly impossible in the Palestinian enclave. Only a handful of men and women continue to do so, risking their lives even after their fellow journalists have been forced into exile or killed by the Israeli army. In this brand new documentary, three Gazan refugee journalists tell RSF about their experiences.

    In just one year, over 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. This violence has been met with widespread impunity.

    The massacre of journalists in Gaza must stop.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5RGLIT2IXE

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: Lebanon: humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Press conference by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, briefing reporters on the country.

    The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, today (9 Oct) said, “Lebanon finds itself facing a conflict and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” and called for a “realistic roadmap for the implementation by both sides of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.”

    Briefing from Beirut together with the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, Hennis-Plasschaert said, “unrelenting bombardment is now part and parcel of daily life in Lebanon, with the latest blasts not even 30 minutes ago. Far too many people are paying an unimaginable price with over 2,000 killed, many more wounded and hundreds of thousands displaced.”

    Meanwhile, she continued, Hezbollah, “continues to launch rockets and missiles into Israel, preventing tens of thousands of Israelis from returning home.”

    The Special Coordinator said it was “clear that 7th October changed everything, including the threat perception in Israel,” but stressed that “a continuation of the death and destruction we have seen so far will not, cannot bring about safety or security.”

    At the end of the day, she said, “it is the lack or non-implementation even of Resolution 1701 over the past 18 years that led to today’s harsh reality.”

    Riza for his part said, “healthcare and frontline workers have come under attack, as have civil defence centres and water supply systems, pushing essential services to the brink of collapse. The killing of over 100 paramedics, healthcare workers, and public servants impairs Lebanon’s emergency response capacity.”

    He said, “this must stop. Even wars have rules.”

    Responding to a journalist’s question, the Humanitarian Coordinator said, “the trauma, the fear, the anxiety here is very much about Gaza, whether we go on that route, whether that’s where it’s going right now,” adding that “the lessons are to have member states really exert everything they can, on the one hand towards the ceasefire,” but in the meantime, “respecting international humanitarian law, respecting protection of civilians, respecting that, protecting humanitarian workers, frontline workers and the like. And that is what we really need at this time.”

    Asked about whether 1701 was still relevant, Hennis-Plasschaert said, “the question is not whether 1701 is still relevant. The question is how to implement it and how come it was not implemented in the past 18 years. And therefore, I am pushing, or hinting, or suggesting that a serious discussion on the implementation and enforcement mechanisms will take place.”

    “What we would like to avoid,” she continued, is “a period of relatively calm or return to the cessation of hostilities, and then after ten, 15, 18 years, we have a similar situation as we are facing today.”

    More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the past year, including at least 100 children and 300 women. At least 1 million people have been directly affected, many of them displaced – often multiple times — enduring the loss of loved ones, homes, livelihoods and their sense of security.

    More than 600,000 people are internally displaced across the country – over half of them women and girls. At least 350,000 children have been displaced in total. Most children remain out of school, with the start of the new year postponed to 4 November as 75 percent of the country’s public schools have been converted into shelters.

    At least 185,000 people have sought refuge in 1,000 shelters – 80 percent of which are already at capacity.

    And over 300,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries, such as Syria, and many of them are also moving to Iraq and Türkiye as well.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDXZ26j7Kk

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Israel and its neighbours want now as all-out war looms in the Middle East – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    The Middle East is perilously close to all-out war. In the year since the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, millions of people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and now Lebanon, and tens of thousands killed.

    After Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles against Israel on October 1. As the world waits to see how Israel will retaliate, Israel’s military continues to attack Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and in Beirut.

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to two experts from the Middle East, Mireille Rebeiz and Amnon Aran, to get a sense of the strategic calculations being made by both Israel and its neighbours at this frightening moment for the region.

    Mireille Rebeiz is the chair of Middle East studies at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania in the US and an expert on Hezbollah. She says that since launching its manifesto in 1985 Hezbollah has always positioned itself “in opposition to the existence of the state of Israel”.

    It affirmed the dedication to the Palestinian cause. It affirmed its commitment to the Iranian revolution and the Shi’ite ideology.

    Rebeiz says Iran’s military goals are completely aligned with Hezbollah’s and traces them back to the US’s destabilisation of Iraq.

    When Iraq fell into a full chaos and war (it) allowed for Iran to meddle into Iraq and gave a big voice to the Shiite conservative voices.

    Then followed the 2011 Syrian civil war, in which Hezbollah stepped in to defend the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

    It’s a domino effect – it’s expansion from Iran to Iraq to Syria to Lebanon. And this is clearly visible in Iran’s military goals, which is ultimately the expansion of the Iranian ideology in the region. Honestly, at this point, I would say there is an attempt to hide behind the Palestinian cause to achieve that goal.

    Israel’s choices

    Amnon Aran is a professor of international relations at City St George’s, University of London, in the UK, and an expert in Israeli foreign policy. Aran says that for Israel, the past 12 months have been described as an “existential moment”, which has informed the war in the Gaza Strip and now Lebanon.

    When the question came about how to respond to this existential threat, it was very much from the prism of what I called elsewhere, a form of entrenchment, which really means that Israel only makes peace in exchange for peace. Any diplomatic arrangement has to be dependent upon and subordinate to a military advantageous balance of power towards Israel and that the Palestinians in the West Bank, and now in the Gaza Strip, would remain under Israeli occupation for the foreseeable future.

    Aran says there is fierce debate in Israel about what to do now. One side follows the line of thinking of the former Israeli prime minister, Nafthali Bennett, who took to X in early October to say that: “Israel now has its greatest opportunity in 50 years to change the face of the Middle East.” This camp is arguing that with Hezbollah weakened, this is the moment to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    On the other side, Aran says, are those in the military establishment arguing against attacking Israel’s nuclear facilities and instead focus on weakening Hezbollah as much as possible. This camp’s reasoning is that:

    After a year of being in a prolonged and very difficult conflict, the next question is you are actually starting a war presumably on five or six fronts, including a very vast country, 90 million people, Iran, with a very rich history, and you are actually entering into a very new phase, which could become very prolonged.

    To hear the full interviews with Mireille Rebeiz and Amnon Aran, listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design was by Michelle Macklem, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

    You can find us on Instagram at theconversationdotcom or via email. You can also subscribe to The Conversation’s free daily email here.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Amnon Aran 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. Mireille Rebeiz is affiliated with the American Red Cross.

    – ref. What Israel and its neighbours want now as all-out war looms in the Middle East – podcast – https://theconversation.com/what-israel-and-its-neighbours-want-now-as-all-out-war-looms-in-the-middle-east-podcast-240952

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE – Pope Francis: the Holy Spirit is He who ensures the universality and unity of the Church

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 9 October 2024

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the Acts of the Apostles “we see the Spirit work for unity in two ways”: He teaches her to expand in universality, and consolidate in unity. Universal and one: this is the mystery of the Church.During the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis continues the cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Holy Spirit and his role in the Church, reflecting on the role played by the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles.With the account of Pentecost, the Pontiff notes, the author “wished to highlight the universal mission of the Church, as a sign of a new unity between all peoples”. In the following (chapters 10 and 15) we see that the Spirit works for unity in two ways. On the one hand, He drives the Church outwards, so that she can welcome an ever-greater number of people and peoples; on the other hand, she gathers them within to consolidate the unity achieved.The first of the two movements – universality – can be seen in action in the episode of the conversion of Cornelius, “to induce the Apostles to expand their horizon and break down the last barrier, the one between Jews and pagans”. “To this ethnical expansion is added the geographical expansion”, said the Bishop of Rome, who recalls that Paul “wanted to proclaim the Gospel in a new region of Asia Minor; but it is written that they had been “forbidden by the Holy Spirit”; he attempted to enter Bithyn’ia, “but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them”. We immediately discover the reason for these surprising prohibitions of the Spirit: the following night the Apostle received in a dream the order to pass into Macedonia. The Gospel thus left its native Asia and entered into Europe”, said the Pope.The second movement of the Holy Spirit – that which creates unity – can be seen “in the proceedings of the so-called Council of Jerusalem. The problem is how to ensure that the universality achieved does not compromise the unity of the Church”. The Holy Spirit, Francis points out, ” does not always create unity suddenly, with miraculous and decisive actions, as at Pentecost. He also does so – and in the majority of cases – with discreet work, respecting human time and differences, passing through people and institutions, prayer and confrontation. In, we would say today, a synodal manner”. In this context, the Pope quotes Saint Augustine, who explains the unity brought about by the Holy Spirit with a classic image: ” How the soul is of the body of man is the holy Spirit of the body of Christ, which is the Church”. This “image helps us to understand something important. The Holy Spirit does not create the unity of the Church from the outside; He does not limit Himself to commanding us to be united. He Himself is the “bond of unity”. It is He who creates the unity of the Church”.”The unity of the Church is the unity between people – Pope Francis continued – and is not achieved on the drawing board, but in life. Even “Christian unity is built in this way too: not waiting for others to reach us where we are, but moving together towards Christ”.At the end of the Audience, the Pope again turned his thoughts to the peoples of the world affected by the ravages of war. And he invites everyone to pray for peace: “May the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, be a precious opportunity to cultivate this traditional Marian prayer. I urge you all to pray the Rosary every day, placing yourselves trustingly in the hands of Mary. To her, the caring Mother, we entrust the suffering and the desire for peace of the peoples who suffer the madness of war, especially the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan”. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/10/2024)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Misspoke: The long and winding road to becoming a political weasel word

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno

    Democratic candidate Tim Walz, during the vice presidential debate in which he said he ‘misspoke’ about being in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square protests. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    During the Sept. 24, 2024, debate, Democratic vice presidential hopeful Tim Walz said he “misspoke” when asked to clarify his story of being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square crackdown in June 1989.

    To many, Walz’s use of the word misspoke came across as an attempt to weasel out of what was at best an embellishment and at worst an outright lie.

    The word misspoke has certainly long been used to politically backpedal after verbal inaccuracies or blunders, as Ronald Reagan learned in 1981 after he said that Syrian surface-to-air missiles placed in Lebanon were “offensive weapons,” when they were in fact defensive weapons. Both Presidents Bill Clinton and the much “misunderestimated” George W. Bush likewise were deemed to have misspoken after making mistakes, big and small.

    For instance, a spokesperson for Clinton claimed he had misspoken when the then-president said that North Korea would not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb – after there was reason to believe they had already developed them. During George W. Bush’s term in office, verbal errors were so common they earned a nickname of their own: “Bushisms.”

    But misspoke’s extension to factual fabrication is one step further down the semantic road. In using it in this way, Walz joined other “misspoken” politicians, such as Hillary Clinton, who used it after falsely recollecting having landed in Bosnia under sniper fire.

    As a sociolinguist who writes about how language changes over time, misspoke’s euphemistic recasting of lying as an inadvertent mistake calls for deeper linguistic scrutiny.

    Tim Walz, being pressed on a statement he made and whether it was true, during the vice presidential debate.

    From mumble to mea culpa

    To understand how and why words morph like this, linguists like to trace them to their very beginnings.

    According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “misspeaking” is quite old in the history of English, appearing as “missprecon” in a Northumbrian text dating before the 11th century. Its original sense was one of “to grumble” or “to mumble,” a meaning now obsolete.

    But after the 11th century, its meaning shifted from inarticulateness to that of speaking amiss or disparagingly, often mentioned in reference to saying something improper or upsetting. Chaucer makes use of this sense in the “Miller’s Tale”: “And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye, Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye,” where the Miller handily blames a bit too much ale for whatever impropriety might fall from his mouth.

    Around the time Chaucer was composing “The Canterbury Tales” in the late 14th century, the word “misspeak” branched off down yet another semantic path, taking on the meaning of “to speak incorrectly or misleadingly.” It is this sense that gave birth to the modern political mea culpa used when backtracking on a misleading prior statement, such as by Sen. John McCain after he claimed President Barack Obama was directly responsible for terrorist attacks on Americans.

    Expanding meaning

    These shifts in the meaning of a word over time fall under what linguists refer to as “semantic broadening.” Semantic broadening, which means expansion of a word’s meaning, is incredibly common, generally occurring when a word becomes used more frequently and across more situations. As a result, its core sense can expand to take on supplemental or tangential meanings.

    Semantic shift like this is constantly at work, pushing and pulling senses in related but new directions to stay relevant to the needs of speakers.

    The word “soon,” for instance, at first carried a meaning of “immediately,” but human nature being what it is, its meaning began to creep in the direction of “as immediately as possible” as people took their merry time.

    Some new meanings, such as the nonliteral use of “literally” and Walz’s use of “misspeak,” are sites of contest, with multiple meanings at play.

    The semantic broadening of misspeaking to cover not just misleading but knowingly false information didn’t start with Walz, nor did it begin with Clinton. In fact, this politically expedient expansion seems to go back at least to the Nixon administration.

    There’s been a lot of misspeaking by politicians over the years, as these stories show.
    The Guardian US; The Hill; Wall Street Journal; Politico; Washington Post.

    ‘I misspoke myself’

    In 1973, Nixon and his advisers were called to task in a Time article accusing them of a tendency to “make flat statements one day, and the next day reverse field with the simple phrase, ‘I misspoke myself.’” Given the Watergate scandal, it’s safe to say that misspoke as used by his administration had already shifted into deceptive speech territory.

    Perhaps misspeaking’s semantic slippery slope started even further back, when the prefix “mis,” with its sense of “badly,” combined with “speaking.”

    Consider other potentially weaselly words that are also formed by “mis” prefixation: misunderstood, misinterpret, mishear, mistake. These are all examples of words, like misspeak, that can and have been used by politicians to avoid taking responsibility for the false or “misleading” things they say.

    Even if led astray by its prefix, from a linguistic perspective, the broadening of misspeak to cover not just incorrect but fabricated statements turns out to be not such a surprising development given the tendency of words to take on new senses over time, particularly in the world of political doublespeak.

    The bigger surprise might be how this new meaning translates with voters, but that’s one surprise that will have to wait for the ballot box.

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

    – ref. Misspoke: The long and winding road to becoming a political weasel word – https://theconversation.com/misspoke-the-long-and-winding-road-to-becoming-a-political-weasel-word-240533

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: So you don’t like Trump or Harris – here’s why it’s still best to vote for one of them

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel F. Stone, Associate Professor of Economics, Bowdoin College

    In a close election, every vote really does matter. Nadzeya Haroshka/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Many Americans are not thrilled with either of the two major-party candidates for president. As of Oct. 4, 2024, polls showed that 46.5% had an unfavorable opinion of Kamala Harris and 52.6% felt unfavorably toward Donald Trump.

    Some of these unhappy voters are considering voting for a third-party candidate, or not voting at all. They may be thinking of those actions as a form of protest against the two-party system dominant in the United States, or against these two particular candidates.

    For example, in a September poll 3.5% of Michigan voters said they planned to vote for a candidate other than Harris and Trump.

    At first glance, these choices might seem perfectly reasonable: If you don’t like a candidate, don’t vote for that person. But my work as a scholar of cognitive biases – systematic errors people make in their thinking – makes me fear that this option does not best serve the interests of those voters.

    Instead, protest voting is in fact likely to harm the democratic process, potentially leading to the election of the candidate the majority of voters overall, and protest voters specifically, most dislike. There are several reasons protest voters might make this mistake.

    How much does one vote matter?

    It’s clear that any one vote is very unlikely to swing the presidential election. And some might say that if one vote doesn’t really matter, then voters may as well vote however they want, or not bother to vote at all. Here’s why that’s flawed thinking:

    Suppose there are 10,000 voters in a state who feel unhappy with both candidates. But they almost surely dislike one candidate more than they dislike the other. Perhaps they disagree with some of Harris’ views but fear Trump. Or maybe it’s the other way around. They don’t have to agree on why they’re unhappy about the candidates either – some who are unhappy with Harris but prefer her over Trump may think Harris is too far left, while others may think she’s not enough of a leftist.

    Now suppose the rest of the state’s voters – those who are happy to vote for one of the two major candidates – are very narrowly split. Perhaps the gap is 5,000 votes. So, if the 10,000 unhappy voters do vote for one of the two major-party candidates, they can swing the election.

    Again, these unhappy voters really do have a preference – they like one of the major candidates better than the other. So while each individual unhappy voter wants to keep their hands clean and not vote, they would each like the other 9,999 unhappy voters to step up and swing the outcome in favor of their preferred candidate.

    Parents teach the Golden Rule to kids – do unto others as you would have them do unto you – and most people do actually believe in it and try to act accordingly. In this case, following the Golden Rule means that if you’re an unhappy voter and would like other unhappy voters to hold their noses and vote for the major candidate they least dislike, you should be willing to do the same thing yourself.

    But not all unhappy voters think this way. Some are led astray by their intuition and choose to protest-vote even when their own values would indicate they shouldn’t.

    A boycott might close a store, but it’s not going to prevent an election from delivering a winner.
    Nikolay Tsuguliev/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    A boycott error

    One reason a person might still think a protest vote makes sense is because of the assumption that boycotting something they don’t like is an effective means of contributing to positive change.

    A boycott against a person or organization you have a problem with often makes good sense. For instance, if there’s a restaurant in town with a reputation for being discriminatory, or just for being slow to get the food out, don’t go to it. Maybe it will close and make room for another business with better performance. Or maybe it will make some changes in hopes of growing its customer base.

    But when you cast a vote, whether on Election Day or beforehand, boycotting the viable candidates isn’t going to help. One of them is going to win whether you like it or not. Boycotting in this context is an example of a misapplied heuristic – a rule of thumb that’s often, but not always, helpful. Boycotting here doesn’t help you achieve your goal of eliminating or improving something you don’t like.

    Omission vs. commission

    Another reason people might choose a protest vote is because of a phenomenon in which people prefer to make mistakes of inaction – omission – over making mistakes that involve taking action – commission. People feel less guilty when they haven’t acted directly in support of a bad outcome. But both action and inaction can be errors, and both can deliver undesired results that constitute bad outcomes.

    The omission bias can help explain why some people are hesitant to get vaccinated against serious diseases: If they chose to get vaccinated and the vaccination led to a health problem, that would be a mistake of commission. Not getting vaccinated also might lead to a health problem, but that would be a mistake of omission. People tend to prefer the latter.

    Similarly, voting for a candidate you’re unsatisfied with could feel like a mistake of commission. Not voting, or voting for a third party, risks a mistake of omission – an error often assumed to be less significant. But choosing the possibility of an error of omission over one of commission doesn’t ensure you aren’t making a mistake – it just changes your mistake to one that’s intuitively more appealing.

    They are both politicians, but they are very different candidates.
    AP Photo

    False equivalence

    A final reason people might opt out of voting or choose to back a third-party candidate is that they object to the assumption that they dislike one candidate more than the other. Instead, these people claim the two main options are equally bad.

    But regardless of what your actual values and policy preferences are, that’s almost certainly untrue. The two candidates hold very different views on a wide range of issues, and have different records of what they have done – and not done – when in office.

    People who claim the two different candidates are basically the same are misusing another mental shortcut: the human tendency to think in categories. Grouping distinct items in the same category can simplify thinking, but it can ignore substantial differences.

    Some people think about 1-in-10 chances and 1-in-a-million chances as both being in the category of “possibilities.” But they’re very different: If you’re flipping a coin repeatedly, one is about equal to your chance of getting heads three times in a row, and the other is how likely you are to get heads 20 times in a row.

    Seeking your most desired outcome

    During the 2000 presidential campaign, I recall a friend said he wasn’t voting for Democratic candidate Al Gore because he thought Gore and Republican nominee George W. Bush were equally bad. But after winning – partly because of third-party voters who cast ballots for independent Ralph Nader – Bush withdrew the U.S. from the Kyoto Protocol to limit global carbon emissions, invaded Iraq, and passed tax cuts favoring the wealthy.

    All of those were actions Gore would almost certainly not have taken. The two candidates were very far from being the same, and even though my friend didn’t see it beforehand, he should have been able to.

    The U.S. will have a new president on Jan. 20, 2025: Trump or Harris. A third-party winner is not a real option.

    In some states voters can rank candidates in order of preference, more clearly expressing their choices without wasting their vote on a candidate who can’t win. People who believe it would be nice to have more choices with realistic chances of winning could work to adopt that system – known as ranked-choice voting – in their communities, or seek to adopt other methods that could eventually yield more viable options in the future. But it won’t happen in time for this election.

    Whether you like it or not, you face a binary choice: Vote for one or vote for the other. And please vote.

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

    – ref. So you don’t like Trump or Harris – here’s why it’s still best to vote for one of them – https://theconversation.com/so-you-dont-like-trump-or-harris-heres-why-its-still-best-to-vote-for-one-of-them-240632

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: FE International Advises the Acquisition of DropFunnels by OptionScout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FE International, the award-winning strategic advisor for technology businesses, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of DropFunnels, an all-in-one marketing solution, by OptionScout, a FinTech platform.

    From landing page creation to SEO optimization to sales tracking, DropFunnels was designed to help founders launch products faster. It’s easy-to-use and customizable, making it flexible to specific business needs—a feature Jordan Mederich, Founder, found lacking in other solutions.

    “It’s hard as a solo entrepreneur to launch your business very quickly and rapidly iterate to get you the results that you need,” said Mederich. “I decided that there had to be a better way. I wanted to build a sales and marketing tool that would allow anyone, from any background, to very quickly launch and iterate and scale their business online with the power of WordPress.”

    A key priority for the founder was securing a buyer capable of both shaping a long-term strategic vision for DropFunnels and seamlessly transitioning ownership. The team at FE International had already identified the perfect buyer within their extensive network, ensuring a perfect match for the company’s future growth.

    “We’re very excited about the successful transaction,” said Thomas Smale, CEO of FE International, “Especially considering the deep-rooted relationships with the firm that drove both parties across the line.”

    Beau Crabill, Founder of OptionScout, runs a portfolio of fintech solutions and is a previous client of FE International. Upon learning about the opportunity from the FE International team, he quickly moved to submit an offer, recognizing its strategic value. “I was interested in DropFunnels as soon as I saw it on the market,” said Crabill. “This is a product I am passionate about. I believe it truly helps entrepreneurs.”

    His first plan as the owner of DropFunnels is to continue refining the platform. “The only priority is the product,” said Crabill. “I’ve been tracking customer tickets and the reason for them. Operationally, we’ve made zero changes to support, but our support tickets are down about 80%. Why? Because we’ve been focusing on product—making fixes and adding improvements.”

    DropFunnels customers trust the product largely because of the dependable support they receive when issues arise. However, Crabill aims to elevate this experience even further. “A year from now, I don’t want people to rely on support. I want DropFunnels to be viewed like a Toyota—reliable and always working as expected,” he said.

    The deal terms include a short transition time for Mederich, who is already building his next product—Revatto, a subscription recovery and reactivation solution for subscription brands. To learn more, see read our case study on the deal: feinternational.com/blog/profitable-from-day-one/

    About DropFunnels:

    DropFunnels is an all-in-one marketing solution to get businesses online with a website in minutes. It allows users to develop a home site, create an authority blog, and build a high-converting sales funnels all with the ease of a drag and drop editor that requires no coding or tech skills. For more information, visit dropfunnels.com.

    About FE International:

    Founded in 2010, FE International is an award-winning strategic advisor for technology businesses. FE’s team has completed over 1,500 transactions with a combined value of over $50 billion.

    With its headquarters in New York and locations in London, Miami, San Francisco, Warsaw, and Mumbai, FE International was named one of The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies from 2020 to 2024 by the Financial Times and is also a four-time Inc. 5000 company. For more information, visit feinternational.com.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact:
    Gaj Tanwar
    Marketing Coordinator, FE International
    Email: gaj.tanwar@feinternational.com

    Website: feinternational.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Government honours victims on anniversary of attack against Israel

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Government honours victims on anniversary of attack against Israel – Government.se

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    Published 09 October 2024

    On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was joined by other ministers in a ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on the evening of 7 October 2024 to honour the memory of the victims of the attack.

    • Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson delivers a speech during the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October.

      Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices

    • Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in discussion at the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October, the anniversary of the 2023 terrorist attack against Israel.

      Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices

    • Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin attended the memorial ceremony.

      Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices

    Mr Kristersson delivered a speech during the ceremony and spoke about honouring the memory of those murdered on 7 October, the importance of an immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and the need for the whole of Swedish society to continue to fight antisemitism.

    Aron Verständig, Chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and Ziv Nevo Kulman, Israel’s Ambassador to Sweden also spoke.

    Other Government representatives in attendance were Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin. 

    The ceremony was organised by the Jewish Community in Stockholm and the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden increasing humanitarian support to Lebanon by SEK 83.5 million

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden increasing humanitarian support to Lebanon by SEK 83.5 million – Government.se

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    Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

    Published 09 October 2024

    The military escalation in Lebanon has had major humanitarian consequences. Sweden is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Lebanon by a total of SEK 83.5 million. The support will be divided between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Lebanese Red Cross, Save the Children and the UN Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.

    “More than one million people in Lebanon are in need of emergency humanitarian support. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. Sweden therefore supports organisations on the ground that provide for people’s basic needs. This involves everything from blankets and mattresses to sleep on, to emergency medical care and ambulances. At the same time, let me emphasise that under international humanitarian law, parties in a conflict are obliged to protect civilians and aid workers,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. 

    On 1 October, the UN launched its Flash Appeal for the humanitarian response in Lebanon. The appeal underscores that one million people are in need of shelter, food, clean water, medicine and life-saving medical care. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) – of which Sweden is one of the largest donors – has already made a payment of USD 10 million. In addition, the European Commission has increased its humanitarian support to Lebanon by EUR 30 million as a result of the crisis. 

    The SEK 83.5 million support package that Sweden is presenting today is a response to the UN Flash Appeal. SEK 60 million is earmarked core support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and SEK 23.5 million new allocations from Sida. This means that Sweden’s humanitarian support to Lebanon for 2024 has more than doubled as a direct consequence of the critical situation on the ground and now totals SEK 158.3 million. 

    UNHCR is one of Sweden’s largest core support partners and, with the help of Swedish core support, was able to take immediate action when the crisis in Lebanon escalated. SEK 53 million of Sweden’s core support to UNHCR is now being allocated to the organisation’s activities in the region. This means that people fleeing the conflict can receive emergency assistance on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Syria. In addition, SEK 7 million of Sweden’s core support to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will now be allocated to the Lebanese Red Cross, whose work with emergency medical care, blood banks and ambulance services saves lives every day. 

    The new allocations approved by Sida involve SEK 20 million to the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, a country-based pooled fund administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The fund allocates financial resources to trusted civil society organisations that are well established in Lebanese society and are able to help the people most in need in the most inaccessible parts of the country. Children are often the most affected by conflicts, which is why Sida has also allocated an additional SEK 3.5 million to Save the Children in Lebanon. 

    Press contact

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement for Item 10 General Debate

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for Item 10 General Debate: Technical assistance and capacity-building. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Location:
    Geneva
    Delivered on:
    9 October 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

    The UK believes that technical cooperation plays a vital role in promoting and protecting human rights and welcomes the ongoing engagement by many States with the Office of the High Commissioner.

    In Bangladesh, we are encouraged by the interim government’s commitment to accountability following student-led protests over the summer – and its invitation to Office of the High Commissioner to conduct a fact-finding mission. Bangladesh’s cooperation with Office of the High Commissioner is a welcome example.

    We also welcome Transitional Justice legislation in Nepal. We hope that its implementation will ensure a victim-centred conclusion to the peace process.

    However, we remain concerned by the human rights situation in Yemen, including the use of child recruitment, abuses against migrants, and the persecution of the Baha’i and other ethnic and religious minorities. We call on the government and Houthi authorities to enable humanitarian access and human rights monitoring, and to include women and minorities in decision-making and peace negotiations.

    We continue to see human rights violations and abuses in Libya. Technical assistance has a vital role to play in addressing these concerns, including through ongoing support to the judiciary.

    And in Tunisia, space for political participation has shrunk considerably. Legitimate political actors and civil society figures have been detained and charged in a manner that questions the independence of the judiciary and undermines freedom of expression.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bel Air Man Arrested on Indictment Alleging Scheme to Violate United States Sanctions Against Iran

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    LOS ANGELES – A Bel Air man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two Iranian nationals with violating United States sanctions against Iran by illegally sending to that nation digital and physical gift cards loaded with approximately $2.4 million.

    Kambiz Eghbali, 50, a.k.a. “Cameron Eghbali,” a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, is charged with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    Hamid Hajipour and Babak Bahizad, both Iranian nationals charged in the indictment, remain at large.

    “Restrictions on exports and transactions with countries that are hostile to the United States, such as Iran, are critical to protecting our nation,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Nothing is more important than protecting our country from foreign threats and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who undermine our national security.” 

    According to the indictment unsealed today, from March 2014 through September 2019, Eghbali and others conspired to unlawfully send digital and physical gift cards loaded with U.S. dollars to Iran. Eghbali would list his company, a North Hills-based purported videogame wholesaler and distributor, as the seller of the gift cards, and would provide cards to Bahizad for the benefit of his Iran-based gaming company, and to Hajipour for the benefit of his mobile software application service company.

    Bahizad and Hajipour would then pay Eghbali for the cards by transferring money from Iran to Eghabli’s U.S.-based bank accounts using third parties in other countries to conceal the transfer from U.S. regulators.

    The IEEPA and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism.

    The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, reexport, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services, including financial services, to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    If convicted, the defendants face the following maximum penalties: 20 years in prison for violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 30 years in prison for bank fraud violations, and 20 years in prison for money laundering violations. The indictment also notifies defendants that the United States intends to forfeit all property alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

    The FBI is investigating this matter with support from Homeland Security Investigations.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Anna Boylan and Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case with Trial Attorneys David J. Ryan and Leslie Esbrook from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: 🇮🇱 Zion Oil & Gas Update: October 9, 2024

    Source: Zion Oil and Gas

    Headline: Zion Oil & Gas Update: October 9, 2024

    October 9, 2024

     

    Dear Zion Shareholders and Supporters,

    During these challenging times, we are thankful to report that our staff and rig remain safe in Israel despite the ongoing conflict. The security and well-being of our personnel are paramount to our success. We continue to work within Israeli guidelines ensuring the continued protection of our staff, crew, and well site.

    While our MJ-01 re-completion project has faced a multitude of hurdles, including an active conflict, downhole issues and logistical challenges, we continue to move forward each time a safe opportunity permits continuation of operations. However, we will only move forward in coordination with Israeli authorities. We are actively monitoring the port situation to import the items needed to complete the current work program. We remain optimistic about making significant progress in the coming months.

    In light of the current situation, we have decided to extend our Unit Program until December 31, 2024. This extension gives investors additional time to participate and support our crucial mission for Israel. Importantly, the warrants associated with the Unit Program will also be extended and exercisable from January 31, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

    Your prayers and ongoing support are greatly appreciated by our team in Israel. Our monthly public prayer time over Zoom in September saw over 250 join us live from 14 nations around the world. We remain committed to moving forward safely, efficiently, and with unwavering faith in God’s vision for the oil of Israel.

    Thank you for standing with Israel and Zion.

    Robert Dunn
    CEO

    “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
    Psalm 27:1 NASB

    “I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
    Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
    This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.
    The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.
    Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
    Psalm 34:4-8 NIV

    Extended…

    For each $250.00 UNIT you receive:

      • Common stock at the average of the high and low sale price on OTC: ZNOG for the day if purchased before 4:00pm EST. Purchases after 4:00pm EST will receive the following day’s high-low average.
      • 50 Warrants with an exercise price of $0.25 each.

      Note: Those who purchase UNITS and sign up (or are already enrolled) for Automatic Monthly Investments (AMI), will also receive: 50 Additional Warrants if at least $50/month (one time only).

      Warrants exercisable for 12 months (one year) from January 31, 2025 to January 31, 2026

      Invest Now

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: 🇮🇱 Zion Oil & Gas Update: October 9, 2024

    Source: Zion Oil and Gas

    Headline: Zion Oil & Gas Update: October 9, 2024

    October 9, 2024

     

    Dear Zion Shareholders and Supporters,

    During these challenging times, we are thankful to report that our staff and rig remain safe in Israel despite the ongoing conflict. The security and well-being of our personnel are paramount to our success. We continue to work within Israeli guidelines ensuring the continued protection of our staff, crew, and well site.

    While our MJ-01 re-completion project has faced a multitude of hurdles, including an active conflict, downhole issues and logistical challenges, we continue to move forward each time a safe opportunity permits continuation of operations. However, we will only move forward in coordination with Israeli authorities. We are actively monitoring the port situation to import the items needed to complete the current work program. We remain optimistic about making significant progress in the coming months.

    In light of the current situation, we have decided to extend our Unit Program until December 31, 2024. This extension gives investors additional time to participate and support our crucial mission for Israel. Importantly, the warrants associated with the Unit Program will also be extended and exercisable from January 31, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

    Your prayers and ongoing support are greatly appreciated by our team in Israel. Our monthly public prayer time over Zoom in September saw over 250 join us live from 14 nations around the world. We remain committed to moving forward safely, efficiently, and with unwavering faith in God’s vision for the oil of Israel.

    Thank you for standing with Israel and Zion.

    Robert Dunn
    CEO

    “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
    Psalm 27:1 NASB

    “I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
    Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
    This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.
    The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.
    Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
    Psalm 34:4-8 NIV

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      Note: Those who purchase UNITS and sign up (or are already enrolled) for Automatic Monthly Investments (AMI), will also receive: 50 Additional Warrants if at least $50/month (one time only).

      Warrants exercisable for 12 months (one year) from January 31, 2025 to January 31, 2026

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    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Address by Minister Joly at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

    September 30, 2024 – New York City, New York

    Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

    Mr. President, dear colleagues,

    It is an honour for me to speak to you on behalf of Canada and on behalf of Canadians.

    I would like to underscore that I am joining you on the traditional territory of the Lenape people.

    This recognition is important because today in Canada we mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, when we acknowledge and commemorate the Indigenous Peoples who came before us and continue to live here.

    We acknowledge the pain caused by decades of abuse, neglect and racism.

    It is also an opportunity for us to commit to doing better and to righting the wrongs of the past so we can move forward together.

    Rights and freedoms

    Ours is a country based on the rights and freedoms that are enshrined in our constitutional charter.

    A core reason Canada is a prosperous society is that beyond offering the freedom to pursue a better life for you and your family, Canada also provides freedom from the barriers that prevent you from enjoying a better life: freedom from fear, violence, intimidation and discrimination; freedoms that foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging; freedom that protects the vulnerable and builds stronger communities.

    Far too often, though, some of the loudest voices claiming to speak for freedom are the ones trying to redefine that word for their own purposes.

    They claim freedom as an excuse to do as they wish without any regard for the freedom of others.

    That is certainly not how we should define freedom.

    They hide behind the word to tell us everything is broken and to spread disinformation, and they parrot the lines fed to them by those who wish to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.

    They weaponize the term “freedom” to further marginalize those in the most vulnerable situations, to justify spreading hate and even to deny people their right to make choices about their own bodies, including limits on reproductive rights.

    At the end of the day, through all the noise, what they really mean to say is: freedom for some—but not freedom for all.

    Often, the people who claim to speak for freedom are the same people who want the government to decide who people can love, who they are or even what they can wear.

    We see it in our country. We see it around the world. At the international level, we see it when groups or countries declare that international law doesn’t apply to them.

    Afghanistan

    In Afghanistan, we see it taken to its extreme as the Taliban continue to impose inhumane rules against women and girls, banning them from being in public so they are invisible, robbing young girls of the fundamental right to an education.

    How is that respecting human dignity? How is that protecting the best interests of their people?

    They must be held accountable.

    Last week, Canada joined Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, with the support of 22 other countries, to take steps to hold Afghanistan accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

    The Taliban cannot make international law disappear through simple decrees.

    Canada is a country that values freedom from oppression, not the freedom to oppress others.

    There should be nothing controversial about protecting human rights, including the dignity of all men and women.

    Haiti

    With regard to Haiti, the world cannot sit idly by as people suffer.

    Unchecked gang violence and corruption in Haiti have created a catastrophe for the population, which is plunged into a state of deep insecurity in which civilians fall victim to bullets and children die of hunger.

    Canada has always maintained that the solution to this crisis must come from Haitians for the benefit of Haitians.

    To this end, the Transitional Presidential Council and the transitional government are working to restore order, but they cannot do it alone.

    The Haitian people need a multinational security support mission to work with the Haitian National Police, not only to help them restore order but also to meet the basic needs of the population.

    That’s why Canada has invested more than $100 million to support it.

    Canada is doing its part.

    We must all show the Haitian people that we are not going to abandon them.

    The United Nations Security Council must be clear on this.

    I would like to thank CARICOM and Kenya for the essential role they are playing in the response to this crisis.

    Together, we can achieve lasting peace and stability in Haiti.

    Middle East

    Mr. President, what is happening in the Middle East is an unspeakable tragedy. Thousands have been killed in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, including many Canadians.

    This is a senseless war that goes against the dignity of human beings. The suffering —on all sides—must end.

    What the world continues to witness is a repeated cycle of violence where civilians pay the heaviest price.

    Canada is joining those urging Israel and Hezbollah to accept an immediate ceasefire. We need to create space for peace talks and save lives.

    There cannot be war in Lebanon—full stop. UN Security Council resolutions must be respected.

    Families in Southern Lebanon and families in Northern Israel must be able to safely return to their homes. We have and always will insist that civilians be protected, wherever they’re from.

    Next week, we mark 1 year since the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel.

    Last March, I visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities attacked on October 7, 2023. I met Ayalet, a mother grieving for her son, who was brutally murdered in the attack; he died protecting his fiancée. Ayalet recounted the terror of that day, the search for loved ones in burned homes.

    As she spoke about the horrors of October 7, we heard the bombs, as they landed on Gaza nearby, and felt the ground shudder. In that moment, our sense of [MM1] the duality of the tragedy befalling the Israeli and Palestinian people was profound. It is a moment I will never forget.

    The situation in Gaza is inhumane. The level of suffering is unacceptable. It must stop. Innocent Palestinians, including [MM2] women and children, cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas. This must end.

    A ceasefire is needed immediately. The hostages [MM3] must be released. This requires both sides making real efforts.

    Mr. President: for lasting peace, Canada has long advocated for a 2-state solution. We believe both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to exist.

    We all know a negotiated agreement is the best chance for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security.

    Unfortunately, Hamas, a terrorist organization, continues to operate in Gaza, refuses to release hostages and refuses to lay down its weapons.

    Meanwhile, the Government of Israel is against the creation of a Palestinian state. Violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers and expansion of settlements by Israel in the West Bank continue unabated. This is unacceptable.

    Canada supports the creation of a Palestinian state.

    That is why we are providing security and development support to the Palestinian people. We will officially recognize the state of Palestine at the right time: when it is most conducive to building a lasting peace and not necessarily as the last step of a negotiated process.

    More than anything, this conflict has led to unspeakable pain. Communities are hurting.

    People have the right to protest peacefully. But nobody has the freedom [MM4] to intimidate others. Polarization is a problem. Division is real.

    We have a collective responsibility to bring people together.

    Ukraine

    Mr. President, it has now been 2 and a half years since Russia launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine. The human cost continues to grow.

    No country has the freedom [MM5] to invade its neighbour. There’s no freedom [MM6] to impose your will on others. This aggression is a blatant violation of the UN Charter.

    Russia needs to get out of Ukraine now.

    The Ukrainian people have the right to be free from fear, free from aggression. They have the right to decide what their own future should be.

    Mr. President, we all know that if Russia’s aggression goes unchecked here it will continue. Many countries in the region and the hemisphere are wondering if they will be next. The world must not back down in denouncing this unjustifiable aggression.

    Canada will not back down from its support for Ukraine.

    At the end of October, Canada will host a conference co-organized with Norway and Ukraine on the human dimension of Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula. We will focus on the return of children to their families and of deported civilians and prisoners of war.

    Every one of those affected by this war is entitled to freedom from violence and from being forced from their home.

    UN reform

    Mr. President,

    The issues I have just mentioned create immense challenges. This institution has a role to play in helping us to work together toward solutions.

    Critics of the United Nations accuse it of being incapable of solving the problems currently facing the world.

    Worse still, some more conspiratorial critics even believe that the UN is the cause of many of these problems.

    Both ignore the reality and the strength of this organization.

    The United Nations is a unique forum that allows us to come together and talk to each other on an equal footing to try to iron out our differences, which are sometimes profound, through discussion and consensus-building.

    That’s why Canada supported the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future last week.

    The pact is a starting point as we work together to ensure the sustainability of the organization.

    The UN is not a perfect organization, it is true, but progress is possible. As the Secretary-General has said: “ We can’t build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grand[MM7] parents.” Let’s build that future together.

    Mr. President,

    For almost 80 years, no woman has held the post of secretary-general.

    This is unacceptable.

    Last week with my colleague from Jamaica, I had the great honour of welcoming to Toronto 15 women foreign ministers from the 4 corners of the earth.

    Our conclusion was clear. The next head of this illustrious institution must be a woman.

    It’s high time we were able to respectfully say, at this podium and around the world, “Madam Secretary-General.”

    I would say the same for the post of president of the General Assembly.

    Mr. President, with respect, I hope that next year the delegates will address “Madam President.”

    I know that many of us share this wish.

    Mr. President,

    Let me tell you about my mother. She will be so proud that I am talking about her at the United Nations.

    You know, my mother and grandmother are among the millions of women around the world who have fought hard for equal rights.

    They did so alongside the mothers and grandmothers of many of the people in this room.

    Mum recently told me that we were now part of the “consolidation generation.” She’s right.

    Being part of our generation means that we need to consolidate the gains that have been made over time and fight against those who are trying to roll back this progress. It also means that we need to continue to fight so that women and girls everywhere have the right to make choices about their own bodies and their own lives.

    We see the difference the gap in freedoms creates. When women are robbed of the right to decide when to have children, they lose out on education and job opportunities. When women don’t have access to safe abortions their lives are put at risk. When women are denied access to safe contraception and fertility treatments, they lose the power to make choices that have the most profound impacts on their lives.

    Attacks on sexual and reproductive health rights are an attack on equality rights. They’re an affront to basic dignity.

    We must always have the right to choose for ourselves which means of contraception to use, whether to have an abortion or even to choose assisted reproduction. We women have the right to be equal in everything: in education, in employment and in every other opportunity.

    We are women and proud of it.

    We can never turn back.

    Together, we must keep moving forward for our sisters, our daughters and our granddaughters.

    Mr. President, 2 years ago, I stood here and said countries around the world were faced with a choice. And we still have that choice today. We can choose a world where rules can be broken by the powerful, bringing us back to darker times of tension and conflict. Or we can choose a world that upholds human rights, opportunities for all, peace and prosperity; a world where people work together to solve problems.

    Canada will work with partners to move us beyond this moment of crisis.

    A new future is being shaped.

    We must not fail.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the Singapore 59th National Day Reception

    Source: United States Navy

    Remarks

    Good evening, everyone! It is an honor to be here with you tonight to celebrate the 59th year of Singapore’s independence.

    Ambassador Lui, thank you for inviting me for this wonderful occasion and for providing me with the opportunity to say a few words.

    The summer certainly flew by, didn’t it? It seems like just yesterday we were watching the new Midshipmen, including Midshipman Fourth Class Liang Yinze Garcia, being sworn in at the Naval Academy on I-Day.

    Under Secretary Lago, thank you for your career dedicated to public service and leadership at the International Trade Administration.

    Assistant Secretary Kang, thank you for your important work at the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, shaping and maintaining a secure international landscape.

    And I must also mention my wife Betty, who is here with us tonight and has been by my side throughout our forty years of marriage which included a naval career, a career in the private sector, and once more, service to our Navy and Marine Corps Team.

    I am grateful to be here to not only celebrate Singapore’s independence, but also celebrate the strong relationship between Singapore and the United States.

    Singapore is a favorite port call of our Navy and Marine Corps—from the incredible food, shopping, and nightlife to the melting pot of cultures to the memorable skylines of Marina Bay.

    Our partnership crucially extends outside of the “Little Red Dot” and the U.S., into all of our shared waters.

    For many years, Singapore has been a major security cooperation partner to the United States, and indeed a regional leader within both ASEAN and the larger Indo-Pacific region.

    And this is critically important, because as you have seen and read in the news, we face tremendous uncertainty in the world today.

    Together, Singapore and the United States have a steadfast strategic relationship—across numerous spheres—and we share a common and significant interest in preserving the rules-based international order.

    Alongside our partners, Singapore participated in Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea to deter further escalation and protect innocent commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

    At the same time, Singapore—like the United States—supported relief efforts and aided affected civilians in Gaza.

    The United States and Singapore are also dedicated to improving our ability to collaborate and operate with partners.

    This year, we conducted the 29th iteration of the world’s largest international maritime exercise, our biennial Rim of the Pacific—or RIMPAC—Exercise.

    Held in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC 2024 included 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than twenty-five thousand personnel!

    This year, the Republic of Singapore Navy led a task unit of Republic of Korea, Mexico, and United States ships, and we were proud to sail alongside the RSN’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Stalwart.

    During the exercise, RSS Stalwart successfully launched two Aster surface-to-air missiles at high-speed drone targets, neutralizing both simulated missile targets and validating key anti-air warfare capabilities and tactics.

    Our Navy’s cooperation with Singapore also occurs within the classroom.

    Our Naval Academy Midshipmen have the privilege of attending Nanyang Technological University as semester exchange students, and our Navy and Marine Corps Naval Postgraduate students have the unique opportunity to study at the National University of Singapore’s Temasek Defence Systems Institute.

    I should note that my son John attended National University of Singapore for a summer exchange and studied wastewater electrolysis.

    The United States has, since 1992, enjoyed hosting Republic of Singapore Navy Midshipmen at my alma mater, the United States Naval Academy.

    Twelve years ago, Midshipman—now Lieutenant Colonel—Sam Tan wrote a new chapter in our Naval Academy history and yours!

    Sam graduated number one in the Great Class of 2012, the first international Midshipman to receive the honor.

    It was wonderful to host him once more during RIMPAC this year as the Commanding Officer of RSS Stalwart.

    It is my sincere hope that the partnership between Singapore and the United States continues to grow, especially amidst the uncertainty and challenges we face in the world today.

    Ambassador Lui, I thank you again for inviting me tonight, and for all you do to further this ironclad relationship between Singapore and the United States.

    Again, it is an honor to be with you all this evening. May God continue to grant our nations and our people with fair winds and following seas.

    Happy National Day, and Majulah Singapore!

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Panetta and a Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Legislation to Foster Alignment of Middle East Partners, Counter Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

    Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve security and military readiness between the United States and Abraham Accords nations.  The Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act would connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders through an exchange program to foster greater integration and alignment. 

    This legislation was introduced as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East due to the actions by Iran and Iranian-backed proxies and follows the fourth anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords.  Leading this legislation alongside Rep. Panetta are Reps. Zach Nunn (IA-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Ann Wagner (MO-02), David Trone (MD-06), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05).  Companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in the Senate.

    Iran and its proxy forces, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, continue to conduct terrorist operations across the Middle East, from firing missiles within Lebanon, to attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.  Through the establishment of a subject matter expert exchange program, American senior military officials will be able to bolster capabilities and deepen cooperationto enable the U.S. and its allies to respond to continuing and unforeseen aggression more effectively.

    “The increasingly aggressive actions by Iran and its terrorist proxies threaten the stability, security, and economy of the broader Middle East,” said Rep. Panetta.  “A military expert exchange program between Abraham Accords countries will ensure leaders are coordinating an integrated response to counter these malign activities in the region.  These partnerships are vital to our efforts to further strengthen the diplomatic, defense, and economic relationships between the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners.”

    “The Iranian Regime and its proxies cannot be left unchecked,” said Rep. Nunn.  “As Israel continues to withstand attacks from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, now is the time to bring together the best and brightest military minds within the Abraham Accords.  This partnership will bring a more secure and peaceful Middle East.”

    “The combined efforts last week by Israel, the United States, and other allies to intercept nearly 200 Iranian ballistic missiles before they could cause unimaginable destruction demonstrates the importance of strengthening the coordination between CENTCOM and our allies,” said Rep. Schneider.  “As Iran and its proxies—including Hezbollah and the Houthis—continue to escalate threats to Israel, and the entire Middle East, it is critical that our partners have access to experienced military experts who can offer sound guidance during these escalations.  Through the LINK Act, we are strengthening our ties with Abraham Accords nations, ensuring both Israel and our Arab allies have the expert support needed to address these evolving threats and maintain regional security.”

    “Iran’s unprecedented missile attack on Israel on October 1 shows the Ayatollah is bent on Israel’s destruction and is willing to drag the region into war to accomplish its violent agenda,” said Rep. Wagner.  “As Iran continues to attack Israel directly and through its proxies, regional security cooperation remains vital to stability in the Middle East—and the defense of American allies against aggression.  My work with colleagues in the Abraham Accords Caucus has shown me how important it is to have our experts work closely with our partners and allies in the region to develop sound strategies and tackle threats together.   The ongoing instability and fighting in the region demand a more effective path forward to address threats from dictatorial governments and terrorists and ensure the safety of our own citizens at home and abroad.  This bill will ensure our partners in the Middle East support one another as we work towards that goal.”

    “Now more than ever, leaders in the Middle East and around the world must work together against growing threats, including Iran,” said Rep. Trone.  “With that goal in mind, it is imperative that we continue to share vital resources and encourage international cooperation to better equip our intelligence and military operations. With the LINK Act, we’re doing just that.”

    “Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was an escalation that threatens to plunge the entire Middle East into chaos. Now more than ever, we need to strengthen military coordination and defense planning between Abraham Accords countries to safeguard against these increasingly aggressive attacks by Iran and its terrorist proxies,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “The LINK Act is a critical bipartisan effort to ensure military experts are in place to protect the diplomatic and economic relationships we’ve worked so hard to promote, while showing the world that we unequivocally stand with Israel.”

    This legislation has been included in the House and Senate versions of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, building upon the work of the Armed Services Committee to integrate air and missile defense capabilities, maritime domain awareness, cyber and AI readiness, and space satellites to deter Iranian aggression.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kamala Harris is suddenly embracing the media spotlight – but is it working?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colleen Murrell, Full Professor in Journalism, Dublin City University

    Kamala Harris appears to have drastically changed her media strategy for the final few weeks of the US election race. From largely avoiding media interviews, she has begun embracing them.

    The Democratic presidential candidate demonstrated she was a serious and consensus-building leader on 60 Minutes with Bill Whitaker. She told amusing anecdotes and drank a beer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; gave fast, snappy returns on The Howard Stern Show; and for 40 minutes talked women’s rights, domestic violence and reproductive health on the high-profile Call Her Daddy podcast.

    With less than a month to go until the presidential election, Harris is trying to hit all demographics with her media message campaign. She appeared to be most at home, or “real”, on Call her Daddy with Alex Cooper, where she talked about the lessons she’d learned from her mother, and how an abused school friend helped ignite her desire to fight for justice for the vulnerable.

    The podcast, which focuses on women’s issues, has 5 million listeners. Harris already leads the voting among women by a majority of 55% to former president Donald Trump’s 43%, according to a MaristPoll conducted last month in swing state Pennsylvania.

    More significant was the CBS 60 Minutes interview. This show, which averages 8.4 million viewers, has been a must for presidential candidates to appear on for the last half century.

    The first controversy came a week before the broadcast when Trump pulled out, with his team allegedly complaining the programme would fact-check the interview. Trump also claimed he needed an apology from CBS over disputed facts related to his 2020 interview, specifically about Hunter Biden’s laptop. No apology was forthcoming.

    The former president’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, alleged Trump had never actually confirmed the interview, calling it “fake news”. CBS reporter Scott Pelley, who was due to do the Trump interview, was scathing about the “shifting explanations” that had been given for his no-show.

    In advance of Harris’s 60 Minutes interview, I asked Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself, why he thought Trump had pulled out. “Scott Pelley is a seasoned pro,” Bryant replied. “On abortion, on January 6th, on accepting the 2020 result, he could skewer Trump. In a cost-benefit analysis, Trump has more to lose from a 60 Minutes interview than gain.”

    Harris, on the other hand, had all to gain because, despite a clear win in the debate against Trump, she has stayed at relatively low visibility. During what was a fairly tough interview, she was quizzed on America’s inability to rein in Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, how she would fund her economic policies, how her administration would handle Ukraine, and whether or not she had flip-flopped on policies about fracking, immigration and Medicare.

    The world is watching as the US election campaign unfolds. Sign up to join us at a special Conversation event on October 17. Expert panellists – Thomas Gift, Natasha Lindstaedt and Inderjeet Parmar – will discuss the upcoming election and its possible fallout.

    Her answer regarding changing policies was not to deny this, as she had previously, but to say that over the past four years of being vice-president, she had travelled the country “listening to folks and seeking what is possible in terms of common ground. I believe in building consensus.” This strong answer managed to differentiate her starkly from her opponent’s more divisive approach.

    Bryant believed that Harris’s lack of interviews before this latest round was worrying, because “she is not match fit” and her previous answers regarding the economy had been “tossed-salad like” and “strangely inarticulate”.

    This time around, it wasn’t the economy that tripped Harris up, but answers about Israel and Netanyahu. After the interview, Fox News and the Trump campaign were quick to allege that an answer on Israel broadcast in the 60 Minutes trailer was different to the answer broadcast during the programme.

    They argued that, once again, Harris had given a chaotic response in the trailer, while the answer in the programme was much more considered and neatly delivered. Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, asked: “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” So far, there has been no comment from 60 Minutes.

    Last-ditch swerves

    The other factor that has dogged the Harris-Walz ticket is the claim that Governor Tim Walz had inserted himself, Walter Mitty-like, into being in Beijing at the time of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

    He was first asked about this during the vice-presidential debate, where he answered that he was a “knucklehead” at times who had misspoken. Pressed on this in his part of Monday’s 60 Minutes interview, Walz said that people would understand the difference between him, who “got the date wrong”, and “a pathological liar like Donald Trump”.

    Harris on 60 Minutes.

    After Trump’s disastrous performance in the September debate with Harris, he refused a second one. This can be attributed to his answers resulting in countless memes of him declaring erroneously that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s cats and dogs. Social media subsequently exploded in a similar way to Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s earlier claims that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies”.

    And then Melania Trump threw a curve ball into the mix. Her autobiography, published this week, sets out her position on abortion, which conflicts with that of evangelic Republicans – a big Trump support base. “Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she writes. “I have carried this belief with me my entire adult life”.

    In these final weeks of campaigning, with the two sides so close in the polls, the gloves seem to have come off and we can expect further spats in the media. Once again, the power of misinformation and disinformation to sow conflict will continue to unfold on social media – especially now that X’s owner Elon Musk is openly campaigning, and jumping, in support of a Trump win.

    Colleen Murrell received a grant from Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, for researching and writing the Reuters Digital News Report Ireland (2020-24).

    – ref. Kamala Harris is suddenly embracing the media spotlight – but is it working? – https://theconversation.com/kamala-harris-is-suddenly-embracing-the-media-spotlight-but-is-it-working-240262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025
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