NewzIntel.com

Category: Eurozone

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA completes actions to exit greylist

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has confirmed that South Africa has substantially completed all 22 recommended action items outlined in the Action Plan adopted when the country was placed on the organisation’s grey list in February 2023.

    South Africa was placed on the FATF grey list due to deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regime.

    During its plenary session held in Strasbourg, France, the FATF made the initial determination that South Africa has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site assessment. The on-site assessment will be to verify that the implementation of AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future. 

    According to the National Treasury, the completion of the Action Plan paves the way for the final step before the FATF can delist South Africa, which is an on-site visit to South Africa by the FATF Africa Joint Group (JG).

    A statement by FATF on (Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring – 13 June 2025) noted that South Africa has undertaken a range of key reforms, including demonstrating a sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and the full range of [terror financing] TF activities in line with its risk profile; and updating its TF Risk Assessment to inform the implementation of a comprehensive national counter financing of terrorism strategy.

    The National Treasury emphasised that the improvements to South Africa’s AML/CFT regime are particularly important for South Africa, given the legacy of state capture, one element of which was that law enforcement and prosecuting institutions were deliberately weakened. 

    “Improvements in these domains are critical not just for getting off the greylist, but for strengthening the fight against crime and corruption, and for contributing to the integrity of the South African financial system. Exiting the FATF greylist is a significant step forward as South Africa continues to improve and strengthen its supervisory and criminal justice systems,” National Treasury said on Friday.

    The on-site visit will take place before the next FATF Plenary, and, if the outcome of the visit is positive, the FATF will delist South Africa from the greylist at its next Plenary in October 2025. Preparations for the on-site visit have commenced.

    During this visit, the JG will confirm the country’s ongoing commitment in the implementation of the country’s fight against money laundering, terror financing and other financial crimes.

    “National Treasury commends the efforts and commitment of the law enforcement entities, especially the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) of the South African Police Service, the State Security Agency, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), for the sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and terror financing activities. 

    “This made it possible for South Africa to secure the upgrades of the last two remaining action items, often considered to be the most difficult, in the current reporting cycle,” National Treasury said.

    South Africa also commended Mali and Tanzania, who were delisted from greylisting by the FATF Plenary. 

    “We also congratulate Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso, who like South Africa, were deemed to have substantially completed their action plans, and for whom on-site assessments were also approved.

    “National Treasury pays tribute to the late Advocate Rodney de Kock of the NPA, who played a leading role in preparing the groundwork for South Africa to address the action items, but sadly passed away in January 2025.” 

    The South African Reserve Bank (SARC) has welcomed the confirmation by the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) that South Africa has completed all 22 of its action items.

    “This is a significant step forward – but not the time for complacency,” the SARB said on Saturday.-SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian international relations experts share their views on global politics and Canada’s role

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anessa L. Kimball, Professor of Political Science; Director, Centre for International Security, ESEI, Université Laval

    A survey of Canadian international relations professors has found they disagree on how to respond to potential Chinese aggression against Taiwan and which global regions will matter most to Canada in the future.

    For the past 20 years, the Teaching, Research and International Policy (TRIP) survey has asked university professors about how they teach international relations and what they think about global affairs. Originally based in the United States, the survey expanded to Canada in 2006 and is now conducted regularly in many countries.

    The Canadian faculty survey was conducted from March 5 to July 12, 2024. Of the 109 who participated, most held permanent academic positions, including 22 full professors, 31 associate professors and six emeritus professors.

    Participants were asked to agree or disagree with statements about global politics. Seventy-five experts agreed that states are the main players in global politics, but there was less agreement on the importance of domestic politics.

    Most felt that international institutions help bring order to the chaotic global system. However, whether globalization has made people better off — even if there are some losers — divided experts, with 21 believing no one is better off due to globalization while two-thirds believed the opposite.

    Major themes

    When it came to more critical or less mainstream ideas — such as whether major international relations theories are rooted in racist assumptions — opinions were split.

    More than 50 agreed, but more than a third disagreed, and many gave neutral responses. Disagreement over the role of racism in shaping world politics highlights the difficulty of decolonizing international relations and incorporating post-colonial perspectives — particularly when trying to understand complex “failed cases” like United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Haiti.



    Read more:
    For Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, ‘reproduction is like a death sentence’

    Professors were also asked where they get their international news. Most rely on major newspapers, international media and internet sources.

    When asked which world region is strategically most important for Canada today, nearly half — or 43 of 97 experts opting to respond to the question — chose North America (excluding Mexico); in other words, the United States. Sixteen selected the Arctic and another 16 chose East Asia.

    Very few picked regions like the Middle East, Europe or Russia. Looking ahead 20 years, 10 experts shifted their answer from North America to the Arctic.

    Views on China and Taiwan, and Justin Trudeau

    Experts were asked what Canada should do if China attacks Taiwan. Most supported non-military responses: 72 supported sanctions and 69 supported taking in refugees.

    About half supported sending weapons or banning Chinese goods. Fewer supported cyberattacks (18), sending troops (15) or a no-fly zone (14).

    Surprisingly, six said Canada should launch military action against China.

    Justin Trudeau was prime minister when the survey was conducted. When asked about his performance, 50 per cent rated him poorly or very poorly, 30 per cent were neutral and only a small minority rated him positively.

    Key takeaways

    Canadian international relations professors don’t always agree, but a few trends stand out.

    Despite recent government focus on the Arctic in terms of its Our North, Strong and Free policy, many professors still view the U.S. as Canada’s most important strategic region. East Asia drew some attention, but few see it growing in importance.

    With a new government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, there may be opportunities to improve on areas where Trudeau was seen as weak by respondents to the survey.

    For example, despite having developed a strategy for the Indo-Pacific region, vital Canadian trade and maritime security interests were minimized by the previous Liberal government. Carney could therefore contemplate expanding Canada’s maritime assets, improving its artificial intelligence and cybersecurity capacity and investing in digital infrastructure and quantum computing.



    Read more:
    Defence policy update focuses on quantum technology’s role in making Canada safe

    Carney had pledged to fulfil Canada’s commitment to NATO’s target of two per cent of GDP spent on defence, saying Canada will meet the threshold by the end of 2025.

    However, Canada will still lag behind. NATO is calling on allies to invest five per cent of GDP in defence, comprising 3.5 per cent on core defence spending as well as 1.5 per cent of GDP per year on defence and security-related investment, including in infrastructure and resilience.

    Canada’s 2024 GDP was $2.515 trillion, which means a five per cent defence investment of nearly $125 billion annually would have accounted for more than a quarter of a federal budget (which was under $450 billion in 2024-2025).

    Canada, a founding NATO member, leads a multinational brigade in Latvia and supports Ukraine in other ways.

    Ukraine seems on an irreversible path towards NATO membership. Though 69 per cent of respondents supported NATO membership for Ukraine, only 44 per cent felt it was likely. Though the U.S. tariff crisis attracts attention, some experts are increasingly looking to the Arctic to understand Canada’s strategic interests — a trend sure to be reflected in future surveys of Canadian international relations experts.

    Anessa L. Kimball 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. Canadian international relations experts share their views on global politics and Canada’s role – https://theconversation.com/canadian-international-relations-experts-share-their-views-on-global-politics-and-canadas-role-257949

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The politics of blame: Accusing immigrants won’t solve Germany’s antisemitism problem

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Oliver Schmidtke, Professor, Director of the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria

    In response to a report on the virulence of antisemitism in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently cast the blame on attitudes held by immigrants.

    Merz stated in a Fox News interview that Germany has “imported antisemitism with the big numbers of migrants we have within the last 10 years.”

    Merz is pointing to a real and pressing issue. Yet his emphasis on so-called “imported antisemitism” serves as a convenient diversion from Germany’s persistent failure to confront home-grown antisemitism.

    His remarks also risk emboldening those who weaponize antisemitism as a rhetorical tool to fuel anti-immigrant sentiments.

    Antisemitism in Germany

    Antisemitic incidents in Germany have been on the rise since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza.

    According to a survey by the Research and Information Centre on Antisemitism (RIAS), antisemitic occurrences rose by more than 80 per cent in 2023. That year, 4,782 occurrences were documented, the highest number since the organization began tracking such cases in 2017.

    However, RIAS’s most recent report found that the primary motive behind antisemitic crimes remained right-wing extremist ideology (48 per cent). It also noted that, since 2023, there has been a marked increase in incidents attributed to “foreign ideology.” These are understood as originating outside Germany and often linked to Islamist or anti-Israel sentiments, which accounted for 31 per cent of cases in 2024.

    It should be noted that RIAS’s approach to classifying antisemitism has been subject to controversy, especially with regard to its treatment of criticism of or protest against the Israeli government’s actions.

    The ‘imported antisemitism’ narrative

    A recent survey of antisemitic attitudes among immigrants in Germany found that such attitudes are more prevalent among Muslim respondents compared to their Christian or religiously unaffiliated counterparts. The study revealed particularly high levels of antisemitism among individuals from the Middle East and North Africa.

    Approximately 35 per cent of Muslim respondents — especially those with strong religious convictions and lower levels of formal education — “strongly agreed with classical antisemitic statements.” These statements reflect classical antisemitic tropes, such as attributing too much influence over politics or finance to Jews, accusing Jews of driving the world into disaster or relativizing the Holocaust.

    At the same time, there is evidence that immigrants successfully integrating into German society is associated with lower levels of antisemitism.

    Yet blaming a rise in antisemitism on “imported” attitudes or “foreign ideologies” signals a crude simplification. Antisemitism has remained prevalent in German society even after the Second World War, and political movements or leaders can easily mobilize it.

    Although Holocaust education is mandatory in German schools, knowledge about the Shoah and the legacy of antisemitism remains limited among younger generations. A recent study by the Jewish Claims Conference found that among Germans aged 18 to 29, around 40 per cent were not aware that approximately six million Jews were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators.

    According to a 2023 MEMO survey, more than 50 per cent of 14- to 16-year-old students in Germany did not know what Auschwitz was.

    Blaming immigrants for challenges in Germany’s memory culture oversimplifies a deeper issue: the growing difficulty of making the country’s dominant remembrance — centred on the horrors of the Nazi dictatorship and the Holocaust — politically meaningful and emotionally resonant for younger generations.

    For many young Germans, the memory of the Holocaust feels increasingly remote, lacking the emotional immediacy that vanishing eyewitnesses once provided.

    This problem is further exacerbated by the absence of innovative, impactful teaching capable of conveying the continued relevance of Holocaust memory and its political message.

    In a 2023 article, American journalist Masha Gessen highlighted how Holocaust remembrance in Germany was becoming an elite-driven ritual, one that risks preventing a meaningful connection between its moral imperatives and today’s political realities.

    The threat from Alternative for Germany

    At the same time, the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party poses a direct threat to Germany’s culture of remembrance.

    The AfD has made it a central objective to challenge the primacy of Holocaust memory, calling for a U-turn in Germany’s remembrance culture.

    Leading party members have labelled Holocaust memorials “monuments of shame,” reflecting the party’s broader effort to promote nationalist reinterpretations of history.

    Furthermore, the AfD’s staunchly anti-immigrant stance exposes a fundamental flaw in the imported antisemitism narrative. Across Europe, populist right-wing movements have increasingly mobilized anti-Muslim rhetoric under the banner of defending so-called “Judeo-Christian values,” even as they simultaneously draw on classic antisemitic tropes targeting “globalist elites” and conspiratorial power structures.

    This use of Jewish identity as a rhetorical weapon against Islam, while perpetuating antisemitism in other forms, reveals the deep contradictions and opportunism underlying imported antisemitism claims.

    Blaming Muslim immigrants for the rise of antisemitism offers German political leaders a convenient excuse for their own failure to confront entrenched antisemitic beliefs within German society.

    In addition, Holocaust remembrance can sometimes exclude immigrants. For example, Germany recently added questions about the Holocaust and Nazi crimes to its citizenship test, committing newcomers to its memory culture.

    Research shows this kind of policy can have unintended effects. It can make immigrants feel excluded if they are seen as not fully sharing in “our” nation and “our” history. Given the universalist values it is meant to embody, the commemoration of the Holocaust can also serve to alienate immigrants from full cultural citizenship.

    Framing antisemitism primarily as an imported problem risks strengthening those forces that actively seek to undermine and ignore Germany’s confrontation with its Nazi past.

    Instead, what is needed is a more nuanced approach, one that bridges the divide between antiracist and anti-antisemitism efforts, and aligns more faithfully with the moral and political commitments that this collective memory is meant to uphold.

    Oliver Schmidtke receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. The politics of blame: Accusing immigrants won’t solve Germany’s antisemitism problem – https://theconversation.com/the-politics-of-blame-accusing-immigrants-wont-solve-germanys-antisemitism-problem-258705

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with President of Cyprus Christodoulides

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

    Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the call focused on regional developments. President El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s categorical rejection of any expansion of the cycle of conflict in the region, underscoring the crucial importance of ending Israel’s military operations across all regional fronts. President El-Sisi warned that the continuation of the current approach will inflict grave and formidable harm on all peoples of the region, with no exception.

    President El-Sisi affirmed the vital necessity for the international community to assume a more effective role in compelling regional parties to act responsibly. The President asserted that peaceful solutions remain the sole viable means to ensure security and stability in the region. President El-Sisi underlined the urgent need to resume the US-Iranian negotiations, under the auspices of the Sultanate of Oman, which represents the best solution to the current tension. President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s unequivocal stance with regard to the imperative for establishing a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, encompassing all states of the region.

    President El-Sisi emphasized that a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue remains the sole guarantor for achieving enduring peace and stability in the Middle East. This necessitates an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as providing security for all peoples of the region.

    – on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: UPDATE – Sunday, June 15, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Note: All times local

    National Capital Region, Canada

    11:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Chief Executive Officer of Cohere, Aidan Gomez.

    Third Floor Foyer
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    11:15 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer.

    Third Floor
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    Note for media:

    1:00 p.m. The Prime Minister will depart for Calgary, Alberta.

    Note for media:

    • Open coverage

    Calgary, Alberta

    3:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will arrive in Calgary, Alberta.

    Note for media:

    4:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.

    Note for media:

    5:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

    Note for media:

    Kananaskis, Alberta

    7:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with representatives of the Treaty 7 First Nations.

    Closed to media

    8:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz.

    Note for media:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Seventh Presale Phase: Bitcoin Solaris Nears Public Launch with 10,000 TPS and 21M Supply Cap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, June 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S), a next-generation blockchain built for speed, accessibility, and long-term sustainability, has officially entered the seventh phase of its token presale, with the public launch now just weeks away. With over $4.5 million already raised and more than 11,500 participants onboard, momentum is surging.

    Final Opportunity Before Public Launch

    The presale is currently in Phase 7’s last day, with BTC-S tokens priced at $7. The next presale phase will raise the price to $8, with a launch price set at $20. This structured pricing reflects strong demand and limited availability, given the project’s fixed supply of 21 million tokens—identical in scarcity to the original Bitcoin.

    With fewer than eight weeks remaining before public launch, this is the last opportunity for early supporters to participate before BTC-S becomes tradable on major platforms.

    A Scarcity-Driven Token Built for Scalability

    Bitcoin Solaris takes the best parts of Bitcoin, the 21 million supply cap, and upgrades everything else. While Bitcoin transactions take about 10 minutes to finalize, Bitcoin Solaris pushes blocks every 15 seconds and confirms them in under 2 seconds.

    This performance comes from a hybrid structure that combines a Proof-of-Work Base Layer with a high-throughput Delegated Proof-of-Stake Solaris Layer. This dual-consensus model:

    • Supports 10,000+ TPS
    • Slashes energy usage by over 99.95% compared to Bitcoin
    • Enables lightning-fast smart contract execution
    • Rotates validators based on weighted contribution and uptime

    It’s the kind of blockchain performance that fits perfectly in a bull market narrative—fast, efficient, and decentralized.

    A Smarter, Faster, Fairer Bitcoin Is Here—Step Into BTC-S

    Tokenomics That Ignite Long-Term Demand

    Beyond the tech, Bitcoin Solaris backs its vision with powerful tokenomics. The hard cap of 21 million BTC-S tokens mirrors Bitcoin’s scarcity, but the utility goes far beyond holding.

    Here’s how the tokenomics create upward pressure:

    • Tokens are required for staking, validating, and interacting with the ecosystem
    • Time-weighted validator rewards encourage long-term holding
    • No inflationary print cycles—only mined or earned tokens
    • The low total supply paired with strong use cases builds consistent demand

    BTC-S isn’t just another asset to flip, it’s a network to participate in.

    Referral-Driven Growth Fueling Viral Expansion

    Bitcoin Solaris’s Double Rewards Referral Program is a major catalyst behind its exponential community growth. Here’s how it works:

    • Anyone who refers new investors earns 5% of their purchases in BTC-S tokens
    • New users who join via a referral also get 5% bonus tokens
    • All rewards are credited automatically via the user dashboard on bitcoinsolaris.com

    This viral mechanic has powered over 11,500 users to join the presale in just weeks, turning BTC-S into one of the fastest-growing ecosystems of this cycle. The community is now spreading across Telegram and X, further accelerating its altcoin season momentum.

    Presale Is Almost Over: The Window Is Closing

    A detailed video review by 2Bit Crypto breaks down exactly why BTC-S is gaining this much traction—including its audit-approved smart contracts and high-performance infrastructure.

    The Engine of Wealth in Altcoin Season

    What sets Bitcoin Solaris apart in this altcoin season isn’t just hype—it’s architecture. By allowing anyone to participate in mining from a laptop, browser, or upcoming mobile platform, it reduces barriers for earning crypto at scale.

    Its validator reward structure balances decentralization and speed. Blocks are mined via Proof-of-Work, then delegated for verification in a DPoS layer with built-in slashing and validator rotation. This ensures fair payouts, lower risks, and a healthy ecosystem long-term.

    Add in audits from Cyberscope and Freshcoins, and you’ve got one of the most technically complete altcoins on the rise.

    Conclusion

    Altcoin season is known for turning obscure projects into household names. With Bitcoin Solaris, we’re watching that transformation in real time. It blends Bitcoin’s scarcity with elite performance, DeFi-ready tokenomics, and viral growth mechanics. As the presale comes to a close, BTC-S is looking more and more like the best coin of this cycle.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact:
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitcoin Solaris. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd1efa54-3488-4d14-b97b-ed9b990fd8ec

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c59e1cb7-7547-4e34-9035-1c5830a198ac

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6449e70-bf95-4243-aab0-ecc5a7d989bb

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/049b220f-01e2-4ba2-b1f8-50018cf2e95e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why Israel’s shock and awe has proven its power but lost the war

    COMMENTARY: By Antony Loewenstein

    War is good for business and geopolitical posturing.

    Before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington in early February for his first visit to the US following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he issued a bold statement on the strategic position of Israel.

    “The decisions we made in the war [since 7 October 2023] have already changed the face of the Middle East,” he said.

    “Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further.”

    How should this redrawn map be assessed?

    Hamas is bloodied but undefeated in Gaza. The territory lies in ruins, leaving its remaining population with barely any resources to rebuild. Death and starvation stalk everyone.

    Hezbollah in Lebanon has suffered military defeats, been infiltrated by Israeli intelligence, and now faces few viable options for projecting power in the near future. Political elites speak of disarming Hezbollah, though whether this is realistic is another question.

    Morocco, Bahrain and the UAE accounted for 12 percent of Israel’s record $14.8bn in arms sales in 2024 — up from just 3 percent the year before

    In Yemen, the Houthis continue to attack Israel, but pose no existential threat.

    Meanwhile, since the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Israel has attacked and threatened Syria, while the new government in Damascus is flirting with Israel in a possible bid for “normalisation“.

    The Gulf states remain friendly with Israel, and little has changed in the last 20 months to alter this relationship.

    According to Israel’s newly released arms sales figures for 2024, which reached a record $14.8bn, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates accounted for 12 percent of total weapons sales — up from just 3 percent in 2023.

    It is conceivable that Saudi Arabia will be coerced into signing a deal with Israel in the coming years, in exchange for arms and nuclear technology for the dictatorial kingdom.

    An Israeli and US-assisted war against Iran began on Friday.

    In the West Bank, Israel’s annexation plans are surging ahead with little more than weak European statements of concern. Israel’s plans for Greater Israel — vastly expanding its territorial reach — are well underway in Syria, Lebanon and beyond.

    Shifting alliances
     On paper, Israel appears to be riding high, boasting military victories and vanquished enemies. And yet, many Israelis and pro-war Jews in the diaspora do not feel confident or buoyed by success.

    Instead, there is an air of defeatism and insecurity, stemming from the belief that the war for Western public opinion has been lost — a sentiment reinforced by daily images of Israel’s campaign of deliberate mass destruction across the Gaza Strip.

    What Israel craves and desperately needs is not simply military prowess, but legitimacy in the public domain. And this is sorely lacking across virtually every demographic worldwide.

    It is why Israel is spending at least $150 million this year alone on “public diplomacy”.

    Get ready for an army of influencers, wined and dined in Tel Aviv’s restaurants and bars, to sell the virtues of Israeli democracy. Even pro-Israel journalists are beginning to question how this money is being spent, wishing Israeli PR were more responsive and effective.

    Today, Israeli Jews proudly back ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza in astoundingly high numbers. This reflects a Jewish supremacist mindset that is being fed a daily diet of extremist rhetoric in mainstream media.

    There is arguably no other Western country with such a high proportion of racist, genocidal mania permeating public discourse.

    According to a recent poll of Western European populations, Israel is viewed unfavourably in Germany, Denmark, France, Italy and Spain.

    Very few in these countries support Israeli actions. Only between 13 and 21 percent hold a positive view of Israel, compared to 63-70 percent who do not.

    The US-backed Pew Research Centre also released a global survey asking people in 24 countries about their views on Israel and Palestine. In 20 of the 24 nations, at least half of adults expressed a negative opinion of the Jewish state.

    A deeper reckoning
     Beyond Israel’s image problems lies a deeper question: can it ever expect full acceptance in the Middle East?

    Apart from kings, monarchs and elites from Dubai to Riyadh and Manama to Rabat, Israel’s vicious and genocidal actions since 7 October 2023 have rendered “normalisation” impossible with a state intent on building a Jewish theocracy that subjugates millions of Arabs indefinitely.

    While it is true that most states in the region are undemocratic, with gross human rights abuses a daily reality, Israel has long claimed to be different — “the only democracy in the Middle East”.

    But Israel’s entire political system, built with massive Western support and grounded in an unsustainable racial hierarchy, precludes it from ever being fully and formally integrated into the region.

    The American journalist Murtaza Hussain, writing for the US outlet Drop Site News, recently published a perceptive essay on this very subject.

    He argues that Israeli actions have been so vile and historically grave — comparable to other modern holocausts — that they cannot be forgotten or excused, especially as they are publicly carried out with the explicit goal of ethnically cleansing Palestine:

    “This genocide has been a political and cultural turning point beyond which we cannot continue as before. I express that with resignation rather than satisfaction, as it means that many generations of suffering are ahead on all sides.

    “Ultimately, the goal of Israel’s opponents must not be to replicate its crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, nor to indulge in nihilistic hatred for its own sake.

    “People in the region and beyond should work to build connections with those Israelis who are committed opponents of their regime, and who are ready to cooperate in the generational task of building a new political architecture.”

    The issue is not just Netanyahu and his government. All his likely successors hold similarly hardline views on Palestinian rights and self-determination.

    The monumental task ahead lies in crafting an alternative to today’s toxic Jewish theocracy.

    But this rebuilding must also take place in the West. Far too many Jews, conservatives and evangelical Christians continue to cling to the fantasy of eradicating, silencing or expelling Arabs from their land entirely.

    Pushing back against this fascism is one of the most urgent generational tasks of our time.

    Antony Loewenstein is an Australian/German independent, freelance, award-winning, investigative journalist, best-selling author and film-maker. In 2025, he released an award-winning documentary series on Al Jazeera English, The Palestine Laboratory, adapted from his global best-selling book of the same name. It won a major prize at the prestigious Telly Awards. This article is republished from Middle East Eye with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why Israel’s shock and awe has proven its power but lost the war

    COMMENTARY: By Antony Loewenstein

    War is good for business and geopolitical posturing.

    Before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington in early February for his first visit to the US following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he issued a bold statement on the strategic position of Israel.

    “The decisions we made in the war [since 7 October 2023] have already changed the face of the Middle East,” he said.

    “Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further.”

    How should this redrawn map be assessed?

    Hamas is bloodied but undefeated in Gaza. The territory lies in ruins, leaving its remaining population with barely any resources to rebuild. Death and starvation stalk everyone.

    Hezbollah in Lebanon has suffered military defeats, been infiltrated by Israeli intelligence, and now faces few viable options for projecting power in the near future. Political elites speak of disarming Hezbollah, though whether this is realistic is another question.

    Morocco, Bahrain and the UAE accounted for 12 percent of Israel’s record $14.8bn in arms sales in 2024 — up from just 3 percent the year before

    In Yemen, the Houthis continue to attack Israel, but pose no existential threat.

    Meanwhile, since the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Israel has attacked and threatened Syria, while the new government in Damascus is flirting with Israel in a possible bid for “normalisation“.

    The Gulf states remain friendly with Israel, and little has changed in the last 20 months to alter this relationship.

    According to Israel’s newly released arms sales figures for 2024, which reached a record $14.8bn, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates accounted for 12 percent of total weapons sales — up from just 3 percent in 2023.

    It is conceivable that Saudi Arabia will be coerced into signing a deal with Israel in the coming years, in exchange for arms and nuclear technology for the dictatorial kingdom.

    An Israeli and US-assisted war against Iran began on Friday.

    In the West Bank, Israel’s annexation plans are surging ahead with little more than weak European statements of concern. Israel’s plans for Greater Israel — vastly expanding its territorial reach — are well underway in Syria, Lebanon and beyond.

    Shifting alliances
     On paper, Israel appears to be riding high, boasting military victories and vanquished enemies. And yet, many Israelis and pro-war Jews in the diaspora do not feel confident or buoyed by success.

    Instead, there is an air of defeatism and insecurity, stemming from the belief that the war for Western public opinion has been lost — a sentiment reinforced by daily images of Israel’s campaign of deliberate mass destruction across the Gaza Strip.

    What Israel craves and desperately needs is not simply military prowess, but legitimacy in the public domain. And this is sorely lacking across virtually every demographic worldwide.

    It is why Israel is spending at least $150 million this year alone on “public diplomacy”.

    Get ready for an army of influencers, wined and dined in Tel Aviv’s restaurants and bars, to sell the virtues of Israeli democracy. Even pro-Israel journalists are beginning to question how this money is being spent, wishing Israeli PR were more responsive and effective.

    Today, Israeli Jews proudly back ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza in astoundingly high numbers. This reflects a Jewish supremacist mindset that is being fed a daily diet of extremist rhetoric in mainstream media.

    There is arguably no other Western country with such a high proportion of racist, genocidal mania permeating public discourse.

    According to a recent poll of Western European populations, Israel is viewed unfavourably in Germany, Denmark, France, Italy and Spain.

    Very few in these countries support Israeli actions. Only between 13 and 21 percent hold a positive view of Israel, compared to 63-70 percent who do not.

    The US-backed Pew Research Centre also released a global survey asking people in 24 countries about their views on Israel and Palestine. In 20 of the 24 nations, at least half of adults expressed a negative opinion of the Jewish state.

    A deeper reckoning
     Beyond Israel’s image problems lies a deeper question: can it ever expect full acceptance in the Middle East?

    Apart from kings, monarchs and elites from Dubai to Riyadh and Manama to Rabat, Israel’s vicious and genocidal actions since 7 October 2023 have rendered “normalisation” impossible with a state intent on building a Jewish theocracy that subjugates millions of Arabs indefinitely.

    While it is true that most states in the region are undemocratic, with gross human rights abuses a daily reality, Israel has long claimed to be different — “the only democracy in the Middle East”.

    But Israel’s entire political system, built with massive Western support and grounded in an unsustainable racial hierarchy, precludes it from ever being fully and formally integrated into the region.

    The American journalist Murtaza Hussain, writing for the US outlet Drop Site News, recently published a perceptive essay on this very subject.

    He argues that Israeli actions have been so vile and historically grave — comparable to other modern holocausts — that they cannot be forgotten or excused, especially as they are publicly carried out with the explicit goal of ethnically cleansing Palestine:

    “This genocide has been a political and cultural turning point beyond which we cannot continue as before. I express that with resignation rather than satisfaction, as it means that many generations of suffering are ahead on all sides.

    “Ultimately, the goal of Israel’s opponents must not be to replicate its crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, nor to indulge in nihilistic hatred for its own sake.

    “People in the region and beyond should work to build connections with those Israelis who are committed opponents of their regime, and who are ready to cooperate in the generational task of building a new political architecture.”

    The issue is not just Netanyahu and his government. All his likely successors hold similarly hardline views on Palestinian rights and self-determination.

    The monumental task ahead lies in crafting an alternative to today’s toxic Jewish theocracy.

    But this rebuilding must also take place in the West. Far too many Jews, conservatives and evangelical Christians continue to cling to the fantasy of eradicating, silencing or expelling Arabs from their land entirely.

    Pushing back against this fascism is one of the most urgent generational tasks of our time.

    Antony Loewenstein is an Australian/German independent, freelance, award-winning, investigative journalist, best-selling author and film-maker. In 2025, he released an award-winning documentary series on Al Jazeera English, The Palestine Laboratory, adapted from his global best-selling book of the same name. It won a major prize at the prestigious Telly Awards. This article is republished from Middle East Eye with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China dominant at World Aquatic Artistic Swimming WC Super Final

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

    Gold medalists Team China pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony of the team free event at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2025-Super Final in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province,June 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)

    China showcased commanding form at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final here on Saturday, sweeping gold in the men’s solo free, women’s duet free and team free events. Spain prevented a complete Chinese triumph by claiming victory in the mixed duet technical – the sole discipline to elude the home team’s grasp.

    China executed a phenomenal free show to the theme of “Gravitation”, earning 324.3538 points to win the gold. Japan took silver in 310.0788, while Spain came third in 308.4859.

    China’s head coach Zhang Xiaohuan cried with joy after her team’s victory. “This gold medal lifts a huge weight off our shoulders,” she admitted. “Chang Hao was injured during training and she showed incredible grit to compete through injury, and while our new routine still needs refinement, the team’s courage under pressure was extraordinary.”

    “The team executed the routine with remarkable composure, just like in our daily training sessions. Today we delivered it steady and clean,” said Chang. “My neck rotation is still slightly [limited], so I’ll need treatment tonight. For tomorrow, our focus is hitting every lift perfectly.”

    Twin sisters Lin Yanjun and Lin Yanhan won the duet free in 266.1442 points with powerful movements. Spain’s duo Lilou Lluis and Iris Tio came second with 260.9325, while the bronze went to newly paired Japanese duo Uta Kobayashi and Tomoka Sato.

    “We lost to Spain last time, but we performed very well today, though we still have lots of details to improve,” said Lin Yanhan.

    Despite the victory, Zhang remained cautious on China’s prospects at the upcoming World Championships and 2028 Olympic Games. “Strong contenders like Austria, the Netherlands and Great Britain all have world-class duet pairs,” Zhang noted. “And we can never underestimate Russia.”

    China’s 17-year-old Guo Muye took a gold and silver medal on Saturday, first clinching the men’s solo free title before teaming with Guo Sitong to secure mixed duet technical silver.

    Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez and Mireia Hernandez won the mixed duet technical with 219.7700, over six points higher than China’s second-placed duo. Great Britain took the bronze.

    “These World Cup competitions are crucial for us – they’re making us sharper for the World Championships. After feeling strong at last week’s European Championships, we’re aiming to replicate that form here,” said Gonzalez, men’s solo free world champion at the 2023 World Championships. Spain had dominated last week’s European Championships with five gold medals.

    “The Chinese duo are very young and talented,” commented Hernandez. “We will have good competition at the World Championships.”

    The World Cup Super Final concludes on Sunday with the women’s solo free, mixed duet free and team aerobatics competitions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV Challenges Omagh Pride on Disrespect Shown to Christians

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Equality Spokesperson and Party Secretary Ann McClure:

    “In the aftermath of Saturday’s Omagh Pride parade, TUV has been contacted by a number of Christians who were deeply offended by a photograph circulating on social media. The image shows a drag performer posing provocatively beside a text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall.

    “For many years, it has rightly been recognised that parades in the vicinity of places of worship must be conducted with respect and sensitivity. This principle has been strictly applied to Loyal Order parades alike.

    “The same standard must apply to pride parades. Yet what we see time and again is that pride events go out of their way to provoke a reaction from people of faith.

    “What happened at Omagh Gospel Hall was a clear display of disrespect. It must be called out — not ignored or excused. The Parades Commission, which regularly imposes conditions on other parades when they pass churches or chapels, must take this matter seriously. I will be raising the issue directly with them and asking for an assurance that conditions will be imposed on pride events this summer in relation to conduct in the vacuity of places of worship to prevent similar offensive behaviour.

    “While the pride movement claims to promote respect, compassion, and tolerance, the reality tells a different story. Pride is not so much about love and diversity as it is about the aggressive propagation of a moral and political agenda that many in Northern Ireland do not share.

    “The photograph taken outside Omagh Gospel Hall underlines this fact. It is not a celebration — it is a statement of imposition.

    “There must be respect for people of all faiths – including Christians.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Germany, France, UK offer Iran talks over nuclear programme: Berlin

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme in a bid to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said.

    Wadephul, who is on a visit to the Middle East, said he was trying to contribute towards a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, and noted Tehran had previously failed to take the opportunity to enter into constructive talks.

    “I hope that’s still possible,” Wadephul told German public broadcaster ARD late on Saturday. “Germany, together with France and Britain are ready. We’re offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear programme, I hope (the offer) is accepted.”

    “This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: China falls 3-1 to Netherlands in FIH Women’s Pro League

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

    The Chinese women’s national field hockey team kicked off its Netherlands leg of the 2025 FIH Pro League campaign with a 3-1 loss to powerhouse Netherlands at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, on Saturday.

    China held strong in the opening quarter, fending off an early Dutch offensive just 90 seconds into the game. The home side earned a penalty corner but failed to convert.

    The Dutch broke the deadlock late in the second quarter, scoring in the 13th minute through a well-executed combination inside the shooting circle.

    In the third quarter, the Netherlands quickly extended their lead in the fourth minute, followed by another goal off a penalty corner which made it 3-0.

    China responded in the final quarter. In the eighth minute, young defender Tan Jintong scored on a rebound following a penalty corner, narrowing the gap to 3-1. The team continued to press, launching several promising attacks inside the circle, but couldn’t find the net again before the final whistle.

    After the match, captain Ou Zixia praised her squad’s performance despite the loss. “It was a high-quality game, and I’m proud of how resilient we were,” she said. “Our defense was solid, but we need to convert more scoring opportunities.”

    Ou also singled out goalscorer Tan for her standout performance. “She’s a young player with great technical skills and defensive strength. I believe she’s a rising star worth watching.”

    Head coach Alyson Annan expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting that two of the goals conceded came from China’s own defensive errors.

    “I think all of our players played really well,” she said. “You have to be making errors in these games to learn. And this is the place to do it. I prefer to make errors and learn from them in these games than in two or three years (later in those games) of Olympics.”

    Looking ahead to China’s second game against the Netherlands on Sunday, Annan said the team must maintain the strong spirit they showed in the opener while better matching the tempo of top-tier competition.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • NEP 2020 key to making India a global education hub: Dharmendra Pradhan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday that National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions India as a global study destination, offering premium education at an affordable cost.

    He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub the country is encouraging top international universities to establish campuses here, while empowering Indian higher education institutions to expand globally.

    He was speaking at an event titled ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’ held in Mumbai to issue Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five globally reputed universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America and Italy.

    The Minister said the establishment of the branch campuses of University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED), Italy, reflects a deep and growing trust in India’s education ecosystem and is a major milestone as we mark five transformative years of the NEP 2020.

    The handing of the LOIs took place in the presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, Chandrakant Patil, Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Aseem Gupta and Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Chairman, UGC, Dr Vineet Joshi.

    Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the swift issuance of LoIs reflects the speed and commitment of the government.

    He thanked the Prime Minister for NEP 2020 which has a provision for foreign universities to be a part of Indian education sector.

    The five universities, he noted, have added immense value to the State and NEP 2020 has truly opened doors for top global institutions to establish campuses in India.

    He stated that talented Indian students who faced accessibility and affordability issues in pursuing foreign education can now do so while remaining in the country at reduced costs.

    (IANS)

  • NEP 2020 key to making India a global education hub: Dharmendra Pradhan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday that National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions India as a global study destination, offering premium education at an affordable cost.

    He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub the country is encouraging top international universities to establish campuses here, while empowering Indian higher education institutions to expand globally.

    He was speaking at an event titled ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’ held in Mumbai to issue Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five globally reputed universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America and Italy.

    The Minister said the establishment of the branch campuses of University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED), Italy, reflects a deep and growing trust in India’s education ecosystem and is a major milestone as we mark five transformative years of the NEP 2020.

    The handing of the LOIs took place in the presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, Chandrakant Patil, Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Aseem Gupta and Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Chairman, UGC, Dr Vineet Joshi.

    Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the swift issuance of LoIs reflects the speed and commitment of the government.

    He thanked the Prime Minister for NEP 2020 which has a provision for foreign universities to be a part of Indian education sector.

    The five universities, he noted, have added immense value to the State and NEP 2020 has truly opened doors for top global institutions to establish campuses in India.

    He stated that talented Indian students who faced accessibility and affordability issues in pursuing foreign education can now do so while remaining in the country at reduced costs.

    (IANS)

  • PM Modi embarks on 3-nation tour, says opportunity to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released an official statement before embarking on the three-nation tour of Cyprus, Canada and Croatia. He said this is an opportunity to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    PM Modi shared on X: “Today, I will embark on a three-nation tour to the Republic of Cyprus, Canada and Croatia. On June 15-16, I will visit the Republic of Cyprus at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. Cyprus is a close friend and an important partner in the Mediterranean region and the EU. The visit provides an opportunity to build upon the historical bonds and expand our ties in the areas of trade, investment, security, technology and promote people-to-people exchanges.”

    “From Cyprus, I will travel to Kananaskis, Canada, to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney,” said the PM.

    PM Modi said that the Summit will provide space for exchange of views on pressing global issues and the priorities of the Global South and he is also looking forward to engaging with leaders from partner countries.

    “On June 18, I look forward to my visit to the Republic of Croatia and meetings with President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Both our countries enjoy centuries-old close cultural links. As the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, it will open new avenues for bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. This three-nation tour is also an opportunity to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in our fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” PM Modi said.

    PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than two decades.

    “I will be attending the G7 Summit in Canada, which will give a great platform to exchange perspectives on various global issues and elaborate on the priorities of the Global South,” PM Modi said earlier on X.

    “My visit to Croatia, which will be the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, presents a historical opportunity to boost linkages with a valued partner country,” added PM Modi.

    Manish, High Commissioner of India to Cyprus, said, “The visit is going to be a historic visit for several reasons. It is after over two decades that a Prime Minister from our country is coming, and this would be the first visit of the Prime Minister (Modi) to this country… I think the most significant outcomes will be in trade, technology, tourism and investment. We will also discuss defence and security cooperation, business and people-to-people contact as well as global and regional discussions…”

    In Nicosia, PM Modi will hold talks with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and address business leaders in Limassol.

    Cyprus had condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and indicated that it would raise the issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan at the EU-level discussions.

    The visit will be timely as Cyprus is set to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.

    The visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India’s engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union, as per the MEA.

    The visit to Cyprus is significant also as it comes in the middle of India’s tensions with Turkey over the latter’s support to Pakistan.

    Ankara’s recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the northern region that was seized by Turkish forces in 1974 and differences over gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean remain a constant source of tensions between Turkey and Cyprus.

    PM Modi will participate in the G7 Summit in Canada’s Kananaskis on June 16 to 17, and conclude the five-day visit with an official visit to Croatia on June 18.

    At the G7 summit, PM Modi will come face-to-face with US President Donald Trump for the first time since their meeting in February 2025.

    “At the summit, the PM will exchange views with leaders of G7 countries, other invited outreach countries and heads of international organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues,” said the government in its announcement.

    The Prime Minister’s Croatia visit on June 18 will be the first ever visit by an Indian PM, marking an important milestone in the bilateral relationship.

    “The visit to Croatia will also underscore India’s commitment to further strengthening its engagement with partners in the European Union,” said the government.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Galaxy S25+ Powers Van Gogh Museum’s New Audio Tour

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced a three-year partnership with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, forging a bold new convergence of artistic expression and cutting-edge technology. As part of this collaboration, the museum’s renewed audio tour — powered by Galaxy S25+ — offers visitors innovative ways to engage with the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artwork.
     
    “We believe technology should open doors to inspiration and connection,” said Sean Yun, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Benelux. “Our partnership with the Van Gogh Museum is a powerful example of how mobile innovation can bring cultural experiences to life in more intuitive and personal ways for people everywhere.”
     

     
    Officially launched on June 10, the Van Gogh Museum’s redesigned audio tour uses 1,600 Galaxy S25+ smartphones to deliver an upgraded storytelling experience, replacing the previous audio tour hardware with a more compact, lightweight and user-friendly interface. Visitors also benefit from clearer voice audio and enhanced display quality — which enable rich, detailed visuals.
     
    As part of the long-term vision for this partnership, Samsung and the Van Gogh Museum are working on further upgrades to the audio tour that will integrate Samsung’s renowned Galaxy AI features for a more personalised visitor experience.
     

     
    To commemorate this multi-year collaboration, Samsung will launch Van Gogh Museum branded cases created exclusively for Galaxy smartphones. The designs are inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous paintings including the Sunflowers and his self-portrait. These promotional items will be available for purchase at Samsung Experience Stores and the Samsung Online Store in the Netherlands, as well as at the Van Gogh Museum store and its online store.
     
    “At the Van Gogh Museum, we aim to be at the top of our game and in response to our own times, and to do so in our own innovative way,” said Emilie Gordenker, Director of the Van Gogh Museum. “We are delighted to collaborate with Samsung as a technology partner to make the museum experience even more engaging.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended Viva Technology 2025 (VivaTech) in Paris, France, yesterday (June 13, Paris time). In his keynote speech at a seminar and networking reception themed “From Hong Kong to the World: Embarking on the New Journey of Innovation” organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Professor Sun said Hong Kong is forging ahead with a clear vision to develop as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, and is committed to pushing boundaries, embracing change, and seizing global opportunities.

    Professor Sun said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been introducing agile policies, building world-class infrastructure and facilitating global I&T collaboration. He noted the flagship research and development (R&D) initiative, InnoHK, fosters global R&D collaboration. Hong Kong is also carrying out meticulous planning for building artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, including AI Supercomputing Centre opened last year and the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute to be established, together with $10 billion dollars-worth Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund channeling more market capital to turbocharge strategic industries, with AI at the core.

    Highlighting that Hong Kong being an ideal gateway for global enterprises to enter the Mainland market, Professor Sun said the HKSAR Government has been actively attracting overseas and the Mainland I&T enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. Companies choosing HK for the international headquarters exemplify Hong Kong’s important role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” between Mainland China and the rest of the world, serving as a two-way springboard for attracting overseas enterprises and helping Mainland enterprises to “go global”.

    During the seminar and networking reception, Professor Sun also exchanged views with members of the local I&T sector, investors and start-ups’ founders on I&T development and collaboration.

    Professor Sun also visited the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion. Twenty start-ups from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport participated this year, showcasing cutting-edge solutions and innovations in areas of AI, robotics, HealthTech, sustainable and ClimateTech, and Fintech. At the same time, Professor Sun toured the Canada Pavilion set up by Canada which was selected as country of the year for VivaTech 2025, the China Pavilion and pavilions set up by other leading enterprises and start-ups where he had a brief exchange with representatives of the participating organisations to learn more on their innovative solutions.

    In the evening, Professor Sun met with Mr Emmanuel Carcassonne, the Chairman of La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen, a community dedicated to supporting the development of the French startup ecosystem both in France and internationally. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is a reliable partner for French startups to settle and expand businesses in Hong Kong.

    In the afternoon, Professor Sun paid a courtesy call on Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in France Mr Chen Li, to brief him on the work of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, enhancing the I&T ecosystem, fostering co-ordinated development among upstream, midstream and downstream, as well as the city’s continuous efforts in integrating into national I&T development.

    Professor Sun will continue his visit to Paris today (June 14, Paris time) and depart for the Netherlands on June 15 (Amsterdam time).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sunday, June 15, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Note: All times local

    National Capital Region, Canada

    11:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Chief Executive Officer of Cohere, Aidan Gomez.

    Third Floor Foyer
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    11:15 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer.

    Third Floor
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    Note for media:

    Calgary, Alberta

    3:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will arrive in Calgary, Alberta.

    Note for media:

    4:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.

    Note for media:

    5:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

    Note for media:

    Kananaskis, Alberta

    7:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with representatives of the Treaty 7 First Nations.

    8:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz.

    Note for media:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – PMS Director: “The canonization of To Rot demonstrates that the sacrifice of missionaries continues to bear fruit”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 14 June 2025

    Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – The canonization of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea, represents “a moment of joy and pride for all missionaries” in Oceania, as it confirms that “their sacrifice, commitment, and dedication have borne and continue to bear fruit.” This was stated to Fides by Father Christian Sieland, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Papua New Guinea, following the official announcement of the canonization date of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea (see Fides, 31/3/2025).Peter To Rot, a layman and catechist, died in prison in 1945 after being arrested by the Japanese who had occupied the island during the Second World War – in 1945. His figure, says the director of the PMS, “can be an inspiration for the universal Church, because he profoundly embodied the teachings of Christ.” The PMS director also describes how the country’s Catholic communities are preparing spiritually to experience this moment of faith. In particular, he emphasizes the value for catechists – a key figure in transmitting the faith in Papua – of seeing one of their own recognized as a saint: “Without catechists, Papua could not be considered a Christian nation today,” he states.How is the Catholic community experiencing this announcement?The Catholic community is experiencing this announcement with great joy and excitement. For many years the faithful in Papua New Guinea have been praying for the canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot. In countries like Italy, Poland or Spain people regularly experience the canonization of one of their fellow countryman or woman and over time this news no longer arouses the same enthusiasm. However, for our country PNG, a very young Christian nation, the canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is a historic moment because he is our first local saint. Even for the entire Pacific Region Blessed Peter ToRot has become a hero of faith and a role model whose life and virtues have become the source of inspiration for many generations. So we are all looking forward with great joy and excitement to the canonization of our first local saint.What does the canonization of To Rot mean for the missionaries on the island?The canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is also a great moment of joy for all our missionaries. In less than 150 years, from the pioneer missionaries to the current ones that are still active today, the missionaries have followed Christ’s great commission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and above all instructing our people to observe the teachings of Christ. Blessed Peter ToRot was martyred less than 50-60 after the Gospel was announced for the first time to his Tolai people. His exemplary life as a Christian student, who even considered priesthood, and later his life as a catechist and his commitment to his wife and family in a polygamous society have shown that the sacrifice and dedication of the early missionaries to not only sow the Word but also to form the people to be responsible, conscientious, and virtuous Christians really bore good fruits in the lives of many people. The most outstanding example of such a responsible, conscientious and virtuous man was Blessed Peter ToRot, who embraced the Gospel values and wanted the Light of the Gospel to penetrate and transform his culture, the lives and the hearts of his own people.The canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is a moment of joy and pride for all our missionaries because it is a proof, that their sacrifice, commitment and dedication has paid off. His canonization means that they did something right. Today PNG is over 90% Christian, even though roughly 1/3 of the percentage is Catholic. We wouldn’t regard ourselves today as a Christian nation, if it was not for the foundational work done by our missionaries.How will the preparations for the ceremony actually take place?Preparations for the ceremony will take place in different ways, depending on the different regions. The most vibrant and joyful celebrations will certainly take place in Rabaul, the home diocese of Blessed Peter ToRot. Now that we know the date of canonization, announced yesterday by Pope Leo XIV we are beginning to arrange programs. In my own parish, we will invite all our catechists from 10 so-called outstations to come to our principal parish church, and we will celebrate together by reflecting on the life of Blessed Peter ToRot, enjoy a common meal together and watch the canonization mass live on TV. The feast of Blessed Peter ToRot which falls on July 7th, will be celebrated by some communities, while others will postpone and combine that feast with the Jubilee of Catechists from September 26th to 28th.What does the Church of Papua New Guinea think about the fact that its first Saint is a catechist?I am not sure what the Church of PNG thinks about its first Saint being a catechist, and not a priest, Bishop or religious. But the general perception is that this is the best thing that could have happened to our church, that a layman and catechist will be proclaimed the first saint our young nation. Our church is first of all a church that has been built and spread thanks to the sacrifice of pioneer catechists, who walked and worked side by side with the first missionaries in the 1890s. Apart from being translators, they were not only catechists teaching catechesis but also teaching basic and general knowledge to a people that never had any written culture. So teaching the letters and the alphabet to a people coming from an oral culture was not an easy task. Often catechists were trained and sent ahead to unknown and unexplored territories to prepare the people for the arrival of the missionaries. Many of those young men remained in the mission territories, were adopted into the tribes, got married and had children, and most of them never returned to the birth places again. Moreover, many of our indigenous priests come from the families of catechists.So to make it short, the canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot, a laymen and catechist, is providential, and reflects also the origin and nature of our local church, which was built upon the sweat and sacrifice of catechists, who were and who remain today indispensable co-workers of all priests throughout our country. Without my 14 catechist, I wouldn’t be able to take care of my large parish composed of 10 communities. I rely on their presence and cooperation in their outstations.Similarly, Peter ToRot became the shepherd of his flock, when all the priests and religious of his time were put in prison camps by the Japanese. He stepped up the be the beacon of faith, hope and love during a time when everyone else was afraid to be a witness of faith. So I am pretty sure, that all our people, religious and laypeople, are happy and proud of the fact, that a catechist will become our first Saint.What can the story of To Rot teach the universal Church?I think Peter ToRot’s story can be an inspiration for the universal Church. Because he embodied the teachings of Christ. He followed Christ, denied himself, took up his cross and lost his life for Christ’s sake. His life and martyrdom is reflected particularly in a passage from the Gospel of Luke, where Peter ToRot had to fight against certain members of his own family, and against his own culture and tradition, even to the point of giving up his life for the sake of Christ. Thus, he was a true disciple of Christ. His story teaches us to have the faith and the courage to stand up in the face of evil and fight against the culture of death that surrounds us today in so many ways. His life teaches us that we should not be afraid of what can kill the body but the soul. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – PMS Director: “The canonization of To Rot demonstrates that the sacrifice of missionaries continues to bear fruit”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 14 June 2025

    Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – The canonization of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea, represents “a moment of joy and pride for all missionaries” in Oceania, as it confirms that “their sacrifice, commitment, and dedication have borne and continue to bear fruit.” This was stated to Fides by Father Christian Sieland, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Papua New Guinea, following the official announcement of the canonization date of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea (see Fides, 31/3/2025).Peter To Rot, a layman and catechist, died in prison in 1945 after being arrested by the Japanese who had occupied the island during the Second World War – in 1945. His figure, says the director of the PMS, “can be an inspiration for the universal Church, because he profoundly embodied the teachings of Christ.” The PMS director also describes how the country’s Catholic communities are preparing spiritually to experience this moment of faith. In particular, he emphasizes the value for catechists – a key figure in transmitting the faith in Papua – of seeing one of their own recognized as a saint: “Without catechists, Papua could not be considered a Christian nation today,” he states.How is the Catholic community experiencing this announcement?The Catholic community is experiencing this announcement with great joy and excitement. For many years the faithful in Papua New Guinea have been praying for the canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot. In countries like Italy, Poland or Spain people regularly experience the canonization of one of their fellow countryman or woman and over time this news no longer arouses the same enthusiasm. However, for our country PNG, a very young Christian nation, the canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is a historic moment because he is our first local saint. Even for the entire Pacific Region Blessed Peter ToRot has become a hero of faith and a role model whose life and virtues have become the source of inspiration for many generations. So we are all looking forward with great joy and excitement to the canonization of our first local saint.What does the canonization of To Rot mean for the missionaries on the island?The canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is also a great moment of joy for all our missionaries. In less than 150 years, from the pioneer missionaries to the current ones that are still active today, the missionaries have followed Christ’s great commission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and above all instructing our people to observe the teachings of Christ. Blessed Peter ToRot was martyred less than 50-60 after the Gospel was announced for the first time to his Tolai people. His exemplary life as a Christian student, who even considered priesthood, and later his life as a catechist and his commitment to his wife and family in a polygamous society have shown that the sacrifice and dedication of the early missionaries to not only sow the Word but also to form the people to be responsible, conscientious, and virtuous Christians really bore good fruits in the lives of many people. The most outstanding example of such a responsible, conscientious and virtuous man was Blessed Peter ToRot, who embraced the Gospel values and wanted the Light of the Gospel to penetrate and transform his culture, the lives and the hearts of his own people.The canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is a moment of joy and pride for all our missionaries because it is a proof, that their sacrifice, commitment and dedication has paid off. His canonization means that they did something right. Today PNG is over 90% Christian, even though roughly 1/3 of the percentage is Catholic. We wouldn’t regard ourselves today as a Christian nation, if it was not for the foundational work done by our missionaries.How will the preparations for the ceremony actually take place?Preparations for the ceremony will take place in different ways, depending on the different regions. The most vibrant and joyful celebrations will certainly take place in Rabaul, the home diocese of Blessed Peter ToRot. Now that we know the date of canonization, announced yesterday by Pope Leo XIV we are beginning to arrange programs. In my own parish, we will invite all our catechists from 10 so-called outstations to come to our principal parish church, and we will celebrate together by reflecting on the life of Blessed Peter ToRot, enjoy a common meal together and watch the canonization mass live on TV. The feast of Blessed Peter ToRot which falls on July 7th, will be celebrated by some communities, while others will postpone and combine that feast with the Jubilee of Catechists from September 26th to 28th.What does the Church of Papua New Guinea think about the fact that its first Saint is a catechist?I am not sure what the Church of PNG thinks about its first Saint being a catechist, and not a priest, Bishop or religious. But the general perception is that this is the best thing that could have happened to our church, that a layman and catechist will be proclaimed the first saint our young nation. Our church is first of all a church that has been built and spread thanks to the sacrifice of pioneer catechists, who walked and worked side by side with the first missionaries in the 1890s. Apart from being translators, they were not only catechists teaching catechesis but also teaching basic and general knowledge to a people that never had any written culture. So teaching the letters and the alphabet to a people coming from an oral culture was not an easy task. Often catechists were trained and sent ahead to unknown and unexplored territories to prepare the people for the arrival of the missionaries. Many of those young men remained in the mission territories, were adopted into the tribes, got married and had children, and most of them never returned to the birth places again. Moreover, many of our indigenous priests come from the families of catechists.So to make it short, the canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot, a laymen and catechist, is providential, and reflects also the origin and nature of our local church, which was built upon the sweat and sacrifice of catechists, who were and who remain today indispensable co-workers of all priests throughout our country. Without my 14 catechist, I wouldn’t be able to take care of my large parish composed of 10 communities. I rely on their presence and cooperation in their outstations.Similarly, Peter ToRot became the shepherd of his flock, when all the priests and religious of his time were put in prison camps by the Japanese. He stepped up the be the beacon of faith, hope and love during a time when everyone else was afraid to be a witness of faith. So I am pretty sure, that all our people, religious and laypeople, are happy and proud of the fact, that a catechist will become our first Saint.What can the story of To Rot teach the universal Church?I think Peter ToRot’s story can be an inspiration for the universal Church. Because he embodied the teachings of Christ. He followed Christ, denied himself, took up his cross and lost his life for Christ’s sake. His life and martyrdom is reflected particularly in a passage from the Gospel of Luke, where Peter ToRot had to fight against certain members of his own family, and against his own culture and tradition, even to the point of giving up his life for the sake of Christ. Thus, he was a true disciple of Christ. His story teaches us to have the faith and the courage to stand up in the face of evil and fight against the culture of death that surrounds us today in so many ways. His life teaches us that we should not be afraid of what can kill the body but the soul. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets German Foreign Minister

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, June 14

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Saturday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Johann Wadephul, who is visiting the country.

    During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to discussing the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli attack on the territory of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In this context, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack on Iranian territory, considering it a flagrant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, and a clear breach of the rules and principles of international law.

    His Excellency also stressed the need for concerted regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomatic means, affirming that the State of Qatar is making strenuous efforts, along with its partners, for all parties to return to the path of dialogue to address outstanding issues and consolidate security and peace in the region and the world. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International peacekeeping exercises “In Search of Khaan-2025” have begun in Mongolia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ULAN BATOR, June 14 (Xinhua) — The international peacekeeping exercise “Searching for Khaan-2025” kicked off in Mongolia on Saturday at the training center of the Mongolian Armed Forces, 60 km from the capital Ulan Bator.

    At the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the State Great Khural (parliament) of Mongolia Bukhchuluuny Purevdorj noted that the exercises serve as an important bridge for deepening international cooperation in peacekeeping operations and strengthening mutual trust and understanding between countries.

    “The scale, inclusiveness, content and programme of these multinational peacekeeping exercises continue to expand year on year, reflecting a commitment to tangible actions that contribute to global peace and security,” he added.

    A total of 1,200 peacekeepers from 24 countries, including Mongolia, China, Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan and the United States, are taking part in 22 peacekeeping exercises organized by the Mongolian Armed Forces.

    The exercise, which will last until June 28, will cover command and staff and field activities.

    The exercises “In Search of Khaan” have been conducted since 2003 by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia jointly with the US Pacific Fleet Command and the UN Peace Support Fund. Since 2006, the peacekeeping maneuvers have evolved into large-scale international peacekeeping exercises. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches satellite for natural disaster monitoring

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

    JIUQUAN, June 14 — China launched an electromagnetic monitoring satellite on Saturday, which is expected to enhance the country’s “space-air-ground” integrated monitoring capabilities for major natural disasters.

    A Long March-2D carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 3:56 p.m. (Beijing Time), successfully sending the Zhangheng 1-02 satellite into its planned orbit, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

    The CNSA said that this marks a significant step forward for China in the field of space-based observation of the Earth’s physical fields.

    Named after the ancient Chinese inventor Zhang Heng, who created the world’s first seismoscope over 1,800 years ago, the satellite was jointly developed by China and Italy. It is the first operational satellite dedicated to exploring the Earth’s physical fields under China’s medium and long-term civil space infrastructure development plan, according to the CNSA.

    With a designed lifespan of six years, the satellite is equipped with nine payloads, including an electric field detector co-developed by China and Italy, as well as a high-energy particle detector developed by Italy.

    It will carry out quasi-real-time monitoring of global electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, the ionosphere and the neutral atmosphere, detecting electromagnetic anomalies caused by geological and human activities, as well as monitoring thunderstorm and lightning activity, according to CNSA.

    “Scientists will use these data to study the correlation between changes in the Earth’s physical fields and geological activities, and to support research on the prediction of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, extreme weather, and space weather disasters,” said Peng Wei, deputy director of the system engineering department of the CNSA.

    The satellite will significantly enhance China’s early perception, risk assessment, and monitoring and early warning capabilities for major natural disasters, Peng added.

    It will also provide data support for emergency management, resource mapping, and communications and navigation industries, while fostering scientific and technological cooperation in related fields among countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

    The Zhangheng 1-01 satellite, launched in 2018, remains in normal operation, while the new satellite has richer physical measurements. Working in tandem, the two satellites will conduct collaborative observations, effectively improving the horizontal spatial and temporal resolution of observations, according to Peng.

    China and Italy have further deepened practical cooperation in satellite payload development, data sharing, and scientific research, said Peng.

    “The successful launch of this satellite marks another milestone in Sino-Italian aerospace collaboration, demonstrating closer scientific cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. It will also contribute to the well-being of the human community with a shared future,” he added.

    Francesco Longo, deputy director of engineering and technology of the Italian Space Agency, called the mission an important milestone. “We have a lot of expectations on the results that we acquire from this important Chinese-Italian mission.”

    He noted that, like China, Italy is a beautiful yet fragile country, prone to volcanoes, earthquakes and other events that can affect people’s lives. This mission, he said, will contribute to protecting and improving lives impacted by natural disasters.

    Longo also noted that adding this new satellite to the first, and eventually building a constellation, will double observation time, significantly boosting scientific prospects.

    The Italian team named the project Limadou, the pinyin transliteration of the Chinese name for the 16th-century Italian priest Matteo Ricci, in honor of his pivotal contributions to cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

    Both Marco Polo and Matteo Ricci served as bridges between Italian and Chinese cultures, and space, too, has the potential to unite all countries, Longo said.

    Saturday’s launch marked the 581st mission of China’s Long March rocket series.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Uganda: President Museveni Meets German Ambassador H.E Matthias Schauer


    Download logo

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday, 13th June 2025 met and held a strategic discussion with the Ambassador of Germany to Uganda, His Excellency Matthias Schauer at State Lodge, Nakasero.

    The meeting focused on exploring ways to enhance collaboration in key sectors such as trade, investment, technology, sports development, among others.

    The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership between Uganda and Germany.

    President Museveni emphasized the importance of partnerships based on mutual respect and shared development goals, highlighting Uganda’s commitment to sustainable progress.

    Ambassador Schauer thanked President Museveni for the warm reception and the opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue, expressing optimism about the continued growth of Uganda–Germany relations.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Foreign Minister Valtonen to meet ministers from Kenya, Benin, Costa Rica and Thailand

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will meet Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica Arnoldo André Tinoco and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Russ Jalichandra in connection with the Kultaranta Talks on 16–17 June.

    At the Kultaranta presidential summer residence, the ministers, together with Foreign Minister Valtonen, will engage in a panel discussion entitled “Accumulation of Shocks at the Global Level – What the West Should Understand” on 16 June. They will discuss regional and international developments that challenge the rules-based international order.

    “With many transformations taking place in the world, I am pleased that we will have views from different continents at Kultaranta. We have several shared interests despite the long distances between us,” says Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

    In their bilateral meetings, the ministers will discuss, among other topics, bilateral relations, topical regional and multilateral issues and economic and trade cooperation.

    The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) will broadcast the Kultaranta Talks live on Yle TV1 and Yle Areena.

    More information about the Kultaranta Talks: Press release by the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

    – on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Presale Hits Final Stretch: $7 Entry Before 233% Launch Surge, 10,000+ TPS Capacity Confirmed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, June 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S), the rapidly growing decentralized network, has entered Phase 7 of its presale, with tokens now priced at just $7—a steep discount ahead of its $20 public launch price, marking a projected 233% return for early contributors.

    With the presale closing July 31, 2025, and only limited allocation remaining, momentum is accelerating. To date, the project has raised over $3.8 million from 11,500+ contributors, drawing attention for its hybrid architecture and real-world usability.

    Built for Speed, Designed for Growth

    At the core of Bitcoin Solaris is its dual-layer consensus architecture—combining Proof-of-Work (PoW) security with a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) execution layer. This enables:

    • 10,000+ transactions per second (TPS)
    • 2-second finality
    • 99.95% lower energy usage compared to traditional PoW mining
    • Browser and mobile-friendly mining options—no rigs required

    This structure ensures high throughput, low latency, and a seamless environment for smart contracts and scalable applications.

    How Bitcoin Solaris Could Actually Make People Rich

    This isn’t just a flashy project with technical jargon—it’s a system designed to generate daily passive income through real mining, smart staking, and active governance participation.

    With Bitcoin Solaris:

    • You can mine from your browser or phone (no expensive rigs needed)
    • Validators and miners earn continuous rewards from a dual-layer ecosystem
    • Real-world use cases are already built into the chain’s smart contract logic

    What makes it powerful is the opportunity for constant, compounding utility. Whether you’re staking, mining, or contributing via voting, you’re not just holding a token—you’re part of a working economy.

    This Isn’t Just a Token—It’s a Wealth Engine Built on BTC-S

    Inside the Tech: Why Bitcoin Solaris Processes 10,000+ TPS

    At the core of BTC-S is its dual-layer architecture. The Base Layer uses traditional Proof-of-Work (PoW)—the same battle-tested SHA-256 algorithm as Bitcoin. But then, it layers in a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) Solaris Layer to handle massive scale.

    Here’s what that enables:

    • Base Layer: Up to 3,000 TPS; 5-minute block time; PoW security
    • Solaris Layer: Up to 10,000 TPS; 2-second finality; smart contract speed
    • Cross-layer security: Validators are rotated every 24 hours and anchored to the PoW chain for double security
    • Energy Efficiency: 99.95% lower consumption than traditional Bitcoin mining

    All this means that while Bitcoin can handle around 7 transactions per second, Bitcoin Solaris can scale to meet global consumer and enterprise demands without lag, congestion, or insane gas fees.

    Audited and Verified—Not Just Hype

    It’s easy to throw around buzzwords, but what sets BTC-S apart is verification. The project’s smart contracts have been fully audited by top firms. You can view the Cyberscope audit and Freshcoins audit for yourself.

    This gives investors and developers alike the confidence that BTC-S isn’t a flash-in-the-pan—it’s structurally sound.

    Tokenomics Built for Long-Term Wealth

    BTC-S isn’t flooding the market with supply. Its tokenomics are carefully structured to encourage healthy price action, long-term holding, and community contribution.

    Key highlights:

    • Total Supply: Capped and deflationary over time
    • Mining + Staking Rewards: 65% of supply reserved for ecosystem contributors
    • No VC Overload: Fair launch with a presale-first model
    • Development Fund: Ensures long-term growth, not short-term gimmicks

    This economic model is designed to reward early believers and avoid pump-and-dump cycles.

    Even Influencers Are Catching On

    Crypto influencers and analysts are starting to turn their attention to BTC-S—and not because they’re paid to shill. The fundamentals speak for themselves. In a recent review by Ben Crypto, the project was described as “one of the few early-stage tokens that actually has real technology behind it.”

    And across Telegram and X, thousands are discussing its hybrid consensus, mobile-first mining, and near-instant smart contracts. If you haven’t joined yet, now is your time.

    The Future of Wealth Starts with Smart Timing

    Bitcoin Solaris isn’t just another crypto project—it’s a second chance for those who missed Bitcoin’s early explosion. With its lightning-fast 10,000+ TPS architecture, audited smart contracts, powerful tokenomics, and mobile-accessible mining, BTC-S blends real-world utility with wealth-building potential.

    As the presale accelerates and adoption surges, the window to buy in before the price skyrockets is closing fast. If you’re looking for the best crypto to buy now, this is the moment to act.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitcoin Solaris. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9291df7d-b87b-4e75-a671-fd6c0a503a99
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    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4236526-e74c-41fd-ba79-b5ec2c4aef1a

    The MIL Network –

  • PM Modi to visit Cyprus, Canada and Croatia in key multinational tour

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a three-nation tour from June 15 to 19, covering Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia. The high-profile visit aims to deepen India’s bilateral ties and broaden strategic engagement with the European Union, the Mediterranean region, and G-7 partners.

    In the first leg of his tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Cyprus from June 15 to 16 at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. This marks the first visit by the Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades. 

    During his stay in Nicosia, PM Modi will hold official talks with President Christodoulides and later address a gathering of business leaders in Limassol. The visit is expected to reaffirm the shared commitment between India and Cyprus to bolster bilateral cooperation and expand India’s presence in the Mediterranean region.

    Following his engagements in Cyprus, the PM will travel to Canada on June 16–17 to attend the G-7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, this will be PM Modi’s sixth consecutive participation in the summit. 

    At the G-7, he is scheduled to engage in discussions with leaders from G-7 nations, invited outreach partners, and heads of key international organisations. Topics on the agenda include energy security, emerging technologies, and global innovation challenges, with a particular focus on the AI-energy nexus and developments in quantum technology. Several bilateral meetings are also planned on the sidelines of the summit.

    The final leg of the Prime Minister’s tour will take him to Croatia on June 18, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia and is expected to be a milestone in bilateral relations. 

    PM Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Plenković and meet Croatian President Zoran Milanović. The visit is aimed at enhancing India’s partnership with European Union nations and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Croatia.

    The three-nation visit highlights India’s growing global engagement and underscores the country’s strategic intent to strengthen cooperation across Europe and North America.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sun Dong begins Paris visit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong attended Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France, on Friday where he toured the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion and gave a keynote speech at a seminar and networking reception.

    In his keynote speech, Prof Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been introducing agile policies, building world-class infrastructure and facilitating global I&T collaboration.

    In addition to noting that the flagship research and development (R&D) initiative, InnoHK, fosters global R&D collaboration, he underscored that Hong Kong is also carrying out meticulous planning for building an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, such as the Hong Kong AI Research & Development Institute to be established.

    While highlighting that Hong Kong is an ideal gateway for global enterprises to enter the Mainland market, Prof Sun said that companies choosing Hong Kong for their international headquarters exemplifies the city’s important role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” between Mainland China and the rest of the world, serving as a two-way springboard for attracting overseas enterprises and helping Mainland enterprises to go global.

    During the seminar and networking reception organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Prof Sun exchanged views with members of the local innovation and technology (I&T) sector, investors and startups’ founders, on I&T development and collaboration.

    Prof Sun also visited the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, comprising 20 startups from the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport to showcase cutting-edge solutions and innovations in areas of AI, robotics, HealthTech, sustainable and ClimateTech, and Fintech.

    Additionally, Prof Sun toured the pavilion set up by Canada, which was selected as country of the year for VivaTech 2025, the China Pavilion and the pavilions of other leading enterprises and startups to learn more about the innovative solutions of the participating organisations.

    In the evening, while Prof Sun met La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen Chairman Emmanuel Carcassonne, he stressed that Hong Kong is a reliable partner for French startups to settle and expand businesses in Hong Kong.

    He described La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen as a community dedicated to supporting the development of the French startup ecosystem both in France and internationally.

    On Friday afternoon, Prof Sun paid a courtesy call on Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in France Chen Li to brief him on the work of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre as well as the city’s ongoing efforts in integrating into national I&T development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Liverpool agrees possible UK record fee for Florian Wirtz

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

    Liverpool has agreed a fee of 100 million pounds (136 million US dollars) for Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, which could become a British record fee as the deal also includes a further 16 million pounds in possible add-ons.

    If the conditions, which are dependent on Liverpool winning titles during Wirtz’s time at the club, are met, that would make him more expensive that Chelsea midfielder, Moises Caicedo, who could cost a total of 115 million pounds from Brighton, while Chelsea also paid Benfica 107 million for Enzo Fernandez.

    Liverpool has held off competition to sign Wirtz, with Manchester City’s initial interest cooling at the high-cost of the deal and Wirtz reportedly preferring to move to England than sign for Bayern Munich.

    22-year-old Wirtz still has to agree personal terms and pass the club medical, but neither are expected to be a problem and the move is expected to be completed next week,

    He will move to the Premier League after scoring 57 goals in 197 appearances and seven times in 31 games for Germany.

    Last season he scored 10 goals and gave 12 assists in 31 league appearances, as Bayer finished second in the Bundesliga, while he netted six times in nine Champions League matches.

    Wirtz will be the second player to swap Bayer for Liverpool this summer after right back Jeremie Frimpong moved to Anfield for 34 million pounds to replace Trent Alexander Arnold after Alexander Arnold’s move to Real Madrid.

    Liverpool is also thought to be interested in Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez as the club looks to strengthen the squad that won last season’s Premier League title. Enditem

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pilot programs to see speedy rollouts

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

    China will expedite pilot programs to further open up its services sector in key areas such as cloud computing, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, as part of broader efforts to create a more favorable environment for foreign investment, said a senior commerce official on Friday.

    Li Yongjie, deputy China international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will work with relevant government branches to gradually expand opening-up in more service areas and revise China’s Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment.

    Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Li said the updated catalog will include more opportunities in strategic emerging sectors.

    The government is studying new policy measures to encourage reinvestment by foreign companies and will ensure that foreign-invested firms can participate on an equal footing in government procurement, as well as in nationwide programs such as large-scale equipment upgrades and the trade-in of consumer goods initiative, she added.

    To encourage more global businesses to invest in China, the sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit will be convened from June 18 to 20 in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong province. A total of 557 guests, including executives of multinational corporations, heads of international organizations and government officials, will attend the event.

    In addition to traditional markets such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Germany and France, this year’s summit has seen increased participation from emerging markets, including member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and countries from the Middle East and Africa, said Wang Lei, director of Shandong’s provincial department of commerce.

    “For the first time, companies from nine countries, such as Vietnam and Egypt, will attend the event,” she said.

    A delegation of 35 representatives from 22 multinational companies based in the Middle East will also participate in the summit, seeking new cooperation opportunities in areas such as fund investment, new energy, modern agriculture and seawater desalination, Wang said.

    Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said global firms see China as a key pillar in their long-term growth strategies amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

    An increasing number of global companies are recalibrating their strategies to capitalize on new opportunities driven by China’s consumption upgrade, digital transformation and green development efforts, said Gao.

    That sentiment aligns with the latest data.

    China’s actual use of foreign direct investment in high-tech industries reached 96.71 billion yuan ($13.47 billion) in the first four months of 2025, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    In the meantime, FDI in e-commerce services surged 137 percent year-on-year, while investment in aerospace equipment manufacturing rose 86.2 percent on a yearly basis.

    Malaysia’s state-owned energy group Petronas said it will further expand its presence in the country, as it views China as a key strategic market in its global growth plans.

    Shamsairi Ibrahim, vice-president of Petronas’ LNG marketing and trading, gas and maritime business, said Petronas will accelerate the expansion of its global liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to support China’s growing energy needs, as the nation deepens efforts to shift toward cleaner fuels and strengthen energy security.

    Ibrahim said that Petronas will also advance marine LNG solutions such as bunkering services and the expansion of its LNG fleet.

    Four of Petronas’ new LNG carriers are now being built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a major shipyard based in Shanghai, he added.

    Xu Daquan, president of China unit at German industrial conglomerate Bosch Group, said China is becoming a major innovation hub for Bosch and many of its latest innovations will enter mass production in China this year.

    “The innovation and experience we gain here will not only serve the Chinese market, but also be applied to other countries as demand evolves,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –