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Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank cuts sod for construction of permanent Country Office, cementing over five-decades of partnership with Zambia

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

    • Permanent office strengthens Bank’s partnership with Zambia.
    • African Development Bank has financed and facilitated major projects at country and continent level to support regional integration – Finance Minister Musokotwane 

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) commenced construction of its permanent country office in Lusaka on Friday, marking a transformative milestone in the institution’s 54-year partnership with Zambia.

    Since establishing its temporary country office in 2007 with just four staff members, the African Development Bank’s presence in Zambia has grown to 20 permanent staff. The Bank’s cumulative investment in Zambia now stands at $2.7 billion across multiple sectors, with a current active portfolio worth nearly $1 billion.

    The groundbreaking event was attended by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane; African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo; the Bank’s Director of Real Estate Management, Procurement and General Services, Gail Meakin, as well as other senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community, other development partners, and private sector chief executive officers.

    The new office design incorporates cutting-edge sustainability features and wellness-focused design. It will house expanded operations while contributing to Zambia’s economic growth through job creation and business stimulation during both construction and operation. The building is expected to be completed by 2027. It will be a smart building with conferencing and staff wellness facilities, with low energy consumption, a wastewater recycling system, and large green spaces.

    Dr. Musokotwane emphasized the significance of a permanent office. “This occasion is not just ceremonial – it’s a vote of confidence in our country, our government, and our people. It recognizes Zambia’s commitment to forge a better future for Africa.”

    The Minister thanked the African Development Bank for providing much-needed financial support during Zambia’s development journey and conveyed the President of Zambia’s support for the Bank’s decision to establish a permanent office building and continued development work in the country.

    “The African Development Bank’s support has produced many positive results in sectors such as transport, agriculture, water and sanitation, and energy.  This shows the Bank’s commitment to deliver on its vision for the African continent,” the Minister said. “AfDB’s support to Zambia has been instrumental in supporting the country’s development goals espoused in the national development plans, which emphasize, among others, the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation in all the sectors of the economy.”

    Musokotwane listed some of the Bank’s transformative work in Zambia, singling out the Kazungula Bridge Project (https://apo-opa.co/4jORboP), for special commendation.

     “We also wish to take this opportunity to commend the Bank for the support rendered to Africa. Through the Bank, major projects have been implemented both at country and continent level to support regional integration in Africa. Key among the projects implemented is the Kazungula bridge project, which is a major infrastructure initiative that involves constructing a road and rail bridge connecting Zambia and Botswana.”

    Other notable projects in Zambia include the Integrated Small Towns Water and Sanitation project, the Lusaka Sanitation Programme, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project, and the Multi-Purpose Small Dams Project.

    Musokotwane urged the Bank to consider expanded support for regional drought recovery efforts, emphasizing the need for building economic resilience across the region. The Southern Africa region is still recovering from the devastating droughts of 2023-2024.

    Nwabufo thanked the Government of Zambia for providing the prime land within Lusaka for the construction of the Bank’s country office.

    “This new office demonstrates our continued commitment to strengthening our partnership with Zambia. We are here to stay – after all, the African Development Bank is your Bank,” said Bank Vice President Nwabufo.

    She reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment, announcing a $250 million commitment to the transformative Lobito Corridor Development Project (http://apo-opa.co/4kY4CU7). The Lobito Corridor is a major economic route connecting the port of Lobito in Angola to the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Copperbelt in Zambia. It encompasses the construction of the Zambia-Angola railway, the rehabilitation of the DRC segment of the railway with the establishment of a public-private partnership, and the upgrading and operationalisation of the Angolan railway.

    The African Development Bank’s investments in Zambia continue to deliver impactful results:

    • The 923-meter-long Kazungula Bridge (https://apo-opa.co/44an9XL) project – supported by the African Development Bank Group with a US$ 81.6 million investment – has revolutionized cross-border trade, reducing transit times from 2.5 days to just half a day.
    • The Chinsali-Nakonde road rehabilitation and Nacala Road Corridor projects have similarly enhanced regional connectivity.
    • National water access has increased from 69% to 72% between 2015-2022, while sanitation coverage rose from 50% to 58%, providing 1.9 million additional people with improved water access.
    • Through the Bank’s agriculture sector, over 1.5 million households have seen their average annual incomes surge from US$320 in 2017 to US$1,300 in 2022. Agricultural productivity has soared, with maize production increasing from 2.9 million tonnes to 3.9 million tonnes and aquaculture output expanding from 20,000 tonnes to 76,000 Tonnes. The Bank’s interventions in the sector have generated approximately 500,000 jobs.
    • Following the Bank’s intervention in the social sector, including the $30 million Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project, SME productivity and competitiveness have improved, leading to increased job creation. Eight industrial yards have been constructed in Chipata, Kasama, Mongu, Ndola, Solwezi, Lusaka, Mansa, and Kitwe, with the capacity to accommodate 172 SMEs across various light manufacturing sub-sectors.

    The African Development Bank’s 2024-2029 Country Strategy Paper for Zambia focuses on two key priorities: enhancing private sector development through infrastructure investments and promoting agricultural value chains to support youth and women’s employment. This will guide the Banks’ interventions in Zambia for the stated period.

    African Development Bank Country Manager for Zambia, Olaniyi Durowoju, noted that “the office would serve as a modern and efficient workspace, and a beacon of innovation and a vibrant hub for partnerships, and collaboration with the Bank’s stakeholders, enabling us better to serve our clients and the people of Zambia”.

    – on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Additional Photos: https://apo-opa.co/4mYbuCR

    Media contact:
    Emeka Anuforo,
    Communication and External Relations Department,
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eastern Cape government activates disaster teams in response to cold front

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has activated its disaster management teams in response to severe cold front and associated weather conditions that have struck the province since Monday, 9 June 2025.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the provincial government confirmed that emergency response teams have been dispatched to various areas and are working around the clock to provide critical support to communities impacted by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall.

    The South African Weather Service has issued an Orange Alert Level 6, warning of disruptive snowfall in high-lying regions of the province, potential road closures, flooding, and possible power interruptions.

    Several roads have been affected by the heavy rains, including the R61 from Umthatha to Ngcobo and N2 to Kokstad near Emakhaphetshwini outside Umthatha. Damages have also been reported in homes in the OR Tambo, Joe Gqabi, Sarah Baartman Districts and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

    Rescue teams were dispatched to bolster rescue efforts just along the R61 outside Mthatha, where three children were stuck on a tree. The children have since been rescued.

    The provincial government also confirmed that roads such as Wapadsberg Pass, along the R61 between Nxuba and Graaff-Reinet, have been blanketed in snow, prompting a warning to motorists to drive with extreme caution.

    “The provincial government’s primary objective is to safeguard lives and infrastructure during this extreme weather event. Community members are advised to remain alert, monitor official updates, and strictly follow safety directives,” the provincial government said.

    Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, has urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential traveling, as well as travelling through flood-prone and mountainous areas.

    He also urged citizens to immediately report hazards, such as downed power lines and road accidents to the nearest authorities.

    “Our disaster teams are on high alert and ready to respond wherever assistance is needed. We urge the public to stay cautious and prioritise safety above all else.

    “Government is fully mobilised, coordinating closely with local municipalities and emergency services to manage the impact of the weather system and support those affected,” Mabuyane said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Emergency workers to be better protected from racial abuse

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Emergency workers to be better protected from racial abuse

    Emergency workers will be better protected from violence and abuse when visiting homes as the government introduces new laws to support frontline staff.

    Image: Getty Images

    The new measures, tabled today as amendments to the government’s landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls.

    Currently, it is illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home.

    The gap was originally designed to ensure that the laws that allow police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did not overstep into private conversations held in homes.

    By stopping short of people’s houses, the law has left emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls, and unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour.

    Reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or religion while in private homes have increased, and the government thinks it is vital they get the protections they deserve as they carry out their vital work to resolve home disputes and provide health care.  

    By closing the loophole in the Public Order Act 1986, the government is making clear that racially or religiously motivated abuse and threats towards our emergency workers will never be tolerated, regardless of where it takes place.

    Under the change, offenders of abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.

    Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

    Our emergency workers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe and they should never have to tolerate abuse due to their race or religion while simply doing their job. 

    As part of our Plan for Change, this government is rebuilding the bond between the public and police, and part of that means ensuring our officers have the protections they deserve.  

    By closing this loophole, we’re sending a clear message that racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our communities will not be tolerated.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation.

    Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they are.

    I will not stand any health worker being subjected to abuse and take a zero-tolerance approach, and these new measures will crack down on perpetrators.

    Minister for Fire, Alex Norris said:

    All emergency service workers should be able to carry out their duties without being subjected to unacceptable racial and religious abuse.

    This government stands firmly behind emergency service workers and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking their lives to keep us safe.

    Andy Rhodes, Director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said:

    Policing is an extremely fulfilling profession where officers can make a genuine difference to people’s lives and to their communities. We welcome the amendment to the legislation, which will better protect officers and staff who are there to protect the public.

    Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in private homes, and over time, this can take a toll.

    The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on individual victims, and racial, and faith-based discrimination against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any form.

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    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao joint maritime search and rescue exercise conducted smoothly (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Marine Department (MD), in collaboration with the search and rescue (SAR) agencies in Guangdong and Macao as well as several Hong Kong government departments, including the Guangdong Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Macao Marine and Water Bureau, the Macao Customs, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Government Flying Service, the Fire Services Department and the Civil Aid Service, smoothly conducted a joint maritime SAR exercise in the waters off Ha Mei Wan, Lamma Island, today (June 11).
     
         A spokesman for the MD said, “The objective of the SAR exercise is to test the communication efficiency, co-ordination capabilities and resource deployment among the SAR agencies in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The exercise also aims to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and neighbouring regional SAR centres to enhance their response capabilities in the event of future major maritime emergency incidents.”
     
         The exercise simulated a collision between a cross-boundary high-speed passenger ferry carrying around 70 passengers from Macao to Hong Kong and a local oil tanker in the waters north of Shek Kwu Chau. The accident caused damage to the ferry’s hull; two passengers on board went missing after falling overboard, and many passengers were injured. Following the collision accident, the local oil tanker caught fire, trapping a seriously injured crew member in the engine room.
     
         Under the co-ordination of the MD’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the participating SAR units took various contingency measures to carry out SAR operations. These operations included traffic regulation in the surrounding area to ensure safety at the scene to search for and rescue the missing persons who had fallen into the sea, extinguishing the fire on board the oil tanker, providing on-the-spot first aid to the injured, and deploying a helicopter to transfer the seriously injured to hospital for treatment. The exercise lasted about three hours, mobilising 17 SAR vessels, a helicopter and a total of more than 230 people.
     
         The MD regularly conducts exercises with various SAR units and maritime stakeholders to strengthen co-operation with SAR centres in neighbouring areas and provide effective and rapid SAR services.

                        

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Condolences for families who lost loved ones in cold snap

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the families of the six people who died as a result of severe weather and flooding in the Eastern Cape.

    The province has experienced flooding, windy conditions and snow recently. 

    The President implored communities to take caution as the severe winter conditions persists. 

    “While government discharges its responsibilities and services to citizens, we welcome the support we see at times such as this from businesses, community- and faith-based organisations, charities and organisations such as the National Sea Rescue Institute. I thank everyone from all walks of life who are working to keep all of us safe and comfortable this winter.

    “This is a time where we need to take care of ourselves in our homes and reach out to neighbours and friends who need help of any kind.

    “We also need to exercise caution on our roads when travelling for work or leisure, or as we get out in nature where we may want to see such sights as snowfalls or flooded rivers. We must observe by-laws and regulations that exist to protect us in these conditions,” the President said in his statement on Wednesday.

    Furthermore, the President urged communities to stand together during this time.

    “We must pull together where disaster strikes and while none of us should evade accountability, we must put problem-solving and collaboration ahead of blame and conflict.

    “Our beautiful country is a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable place for all of us for most of the year, but we cannot escape winter’s intensity and our own vulnerability. Let’s show our care for each other this winter and let ubuntu see us through to spring,” President Ramaphosa said. 

    This as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Level 9 warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms over the eastern half of the Eastern Cape with possible flooding over the OR Tambo District Municipality.

    This as the cut-off low system persists over the interior of the country.

    READ | Eastern Cape residents urged to postpone travel amid warning of heavy rain

    Meanwhile, adverse weather has also affected other parts of the country with the N2 around Kokstad and Port Shepstone having been closed due to snowfall.

    “To save lives, we have decided to close completely the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as the R603 – Tacoma to Reit. Our message to motorists and snow chasers is that prevention is better than cure,” said KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma.

    READ | N2 in KZN closed due to snowfall

    In addition, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has called on motorists to take extra caution when driving on the roads as icy cold weather conditions have gripped the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

    The North West Provincial Government ( NWPG) has urged communities to stay vigilant amid severe weather and strong, fire-spreading winds.

    “Freezing weather is upon us and an increasing dependence on indoor heating techniques like paraffin stoves, heaters and open fires are likely to be the order of the day,” the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) said in a statement.

    READ | Call for caution as severe winter weather increases risk of domestic and veld fires

    Ahead of the start of the icy weather, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, also called for increased vigilance.

    “This intense cold front is expected to begin over the weekend and affect large parts of the country,” he said in a statement on Friday.

    – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Correction: Offentliggørelse af prospekter, Investeringsforeningen Maj Invest

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hermed offentliggøres opdaterede prospekter for en række afdelinger i Investeringsforeningen Maj Invest.

    Prospekterne er blevet opdateret som følge af, at der er lavet en tilføjelse til investormålgruppen for de pågældende afdelingers w-andelsklasser.

    Det drejer sig om en tilføjelse til investormålgruppen for w-andelsklasserne i følgende afdelinger:

    • Danske Aktier KL
    • Emerging Markets Value KL
    • Globale Aktier non fossil KL
    • Grønne Obligationer KL
    • Net Zero 2050 KL
    • Planet & People KL
    • Value Aktier Akkumulerende KL
    • Value Aktier KL
    • Vækstaktier KL

    Prospekterne er vedhæftet denne meddelelse og kan ligeledes tilgås via foreningens hjemmeside.

    For eventuelle spørgsmål kontakt Lise Bøgelund Jensen, direktør i foreningens investeringsforvaltningsselskab, på telefon 33 28 28 28.

    Med venlig hilsen 

    Investeringsforeningen Maj Invest

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Q+A follows The Project onto the scrap heap – so where to now for non-traditional current affairs?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne

    Two long-running television current affairs programs are coming to an end at the same time, driving home the fact that no matter what the format, they have a shelf life.

    The Project on Channel 10 will end this month after 16 years, and after 18 years on the ABC, Q+A will not return from its current hiatus.

    Each was innovative in very different ways.

    Q+A was designed specifically to generate public participation. Its format of five panellists, a host and a studio audience of up to 1,000 was a daring experiment, because the audience was invited to ask questions that were not vetted in advance.

    This live-to-air approach gave it an edgy atmosphere not often achieved on television. From time to time, the edginess was real.

    In 2022, an audience member made a statement supporting Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and repeated Russian propaganda to the effect that Ukraine’s Azov battalion was a Nazi group that had killed an estimated 13,000 people in the Donbas region.

    After a brief discussion of these allegations, the host Stan Grant asked the man to leave, saying other audience members had been talking about family members who were dying in the war, and he could not countenance the advocating of violence.

    In 2017 the Sudanese-Australian writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied was involved in a fiery exchange with Senator Jacqui Lambie over sharia law.

    They had been asked by an audience member if it was time to define new rules surrounding migration to avoid community conflict, to which Lambie replied: “Anyone that supports sharia law should be deported.”

    Abdel-Magied questioned if Lambie even knew what that meant, before getting into a heated defence of feminism and Islam.

    In 2024, an audience member listening to politicians on the panel debate family violence could not contain his frustration, calling out:

    How dare you go into politics, in an environment like this, when one woman is murdered every four days, and all you […] can do is immediately talk about politics? That is just disgraceful.

    His outburst went viral.

    He had put his finger on what was an increasing problem with the program. It became hostage to fixed political positions among those of its panellists drawn from party politics.

    As a result, it became predictable, and although the surprise element supplied by audience participation remained a strength, the panellists’ responses increasingly became echoes of their parties’ policies.

    While the objective no doubt was to achieve a range of perspectives, it began to look like stage-managed political controversy.

    This is not to criticise the established presenters – Tony Jones, who fronted the program for 11 years, Stan Grant and most recently Patricia Karvelas, all gifted journalists who adroitly managed the time bombs occasionally set off in their midst.

    Unfortunately, especially for Grant, the program was a lightning rod for attacks on the ABC by The Australian newspaper. ABC management’s abandonment of him, after a particularly vicious attack in 2023 over his commentary during coverage of the king’s coronation, was disgraceful.

    Resigning from the program, Grant said: “Since the king’s coronation, I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words. They have tried to depict me as hate filled. They have accused me of maligning Australia. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

    The ABC is promising to continue with audience-participation programming along the lines of Your Say, a kind of online questionnaire which the ABC says was successfully tried during the 2025 federal election.

    How such a format would translate to television is not clear.

    Meanwhile at Ten, there is promise of a new current affairs program, but details are scant.

    The Project will be a hard act to follow. It promised “news done differently” – and it delivered. News stories were given context and a touch of humanity by a combination of humour, accidents, slips of the tongue and the intellectual firepower of Waleed Aly.

    Aly is a Sunni Muslim, and his “ISIL is weak” speech in 2015 spoke directly and passionately to the fears of the public at the peak of one of the many panics over terrorism.

    Inevitably, much of the attention in the wake of the announced closure has been on the celebrated gaffes of long-time presenter Carrie Bickmore, a little rich to be reproduced in a sober article such as this, but findable here.

    It may not be an auspicious time for launching a new current affairs program at Ten. Its ultimate parent company, Paramount, in the United States, is in the process of negotiating a settlement with US President Donald Trump over a trumped-up court case in which the president is suing the company for US$20 billion (A$30.7 billion).

    He says an interview done by another Paramount company, CBS News, with the Democrats’ former presidential nominee Kamala Harris during the election campaign was “deceptively edited”.

    This is said to have no prospect of succeeding in court, but Paramount wishes to merge with Skydance Media and fears the Trump administration would block it if the company doesn’t come across. The Wall Street Journal is reporting it is proposing to settle for $15 million.

    Senior editorial staff at CBS have already resigned in protest at Paramount’s cowardice, so what price editorial independence at Ten?

    Denis Muller 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. Q+A follows The Project onto the scrap heap – so where to now for non-traditional current affairs? – https://theconversation.com/q-a-follows-the-project-onto-the-scrap-heap-so-where-to-now-for-non-traditional-current-affairs-258690

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Beni: Judicial Actors and Police Officers Trained in Criminal Investigation Techniques


    Download logo

    About twenty staff members from the military and civil judicial administration of Beni and Butembo, as well as Congolese police officers, attended two simultaneous training sessions from May 26 to June 5, 2025, at MONUSCO’s headquarters in Beni. The first focused on ballistic expertise applied to criminal trials, while the second centered on cybercrime and digital investigation techniques.

    Over the ten days, the trainees—including public prosecutors, judicial police officers, and police agents—followed a comprehensive training program combining theoretical presentations, practical workshops, case studies, and experience sharing. The sessions were led by experts in ballistics and judicial investigation from MONUSCO’s Justice Support Section.

    According to the participants, the training helped deepen their technical and legal skills in response to firearm-related crime. Among them was Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo of the Congolese National Police, who said he learned many important concepts related to criminality.

    He praised the quality of the training, stating that it would enhance his professional skills and help the Congolese justice system better respond to challenges, particularly those arising from the development of new technologies.

    “We learned a lot about techniques, methods, etc. We explored the different types of ballistics: internal ballistics, external ballistics, and terminal ballistics. All of this was new to us. We also learned how things work with firearms and different types of ammunition. This added real value to our profession. From now on, we’ll be able to conduct ballistic investigations and write reports for the appropriate authorities. We’re going to improve the way we work because we’ve gained new knowledge” he stated.

    Like the other participants, Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo expressed hope that MONUSCO would organize more training sessions of this kind to help judicial administration agents deepen their understanding of criminality and investigative procedures.

    “This will really help us. These are lifelong skills. We won’t lose them. It’s a real asset” the officer emphasized.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • Indian Navy, Coast Guard praised for swift rescue after fire on MV Wan Hai 503

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Taiwan Government has extended its heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for their prompt and professional response in rescuing crew members from the Singapore-flagged merchant vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off the Kerala coast.

    In a statement posted on X, the Taiwan representative office in India said, “The Taiwan Government is grateful for the swift rescue operation provided by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to Wan Hai 503. We wish the missing crew members return safe and the injured recover soon.”

    The Indian Coast Guard continues to lead firefighting efforts on the container ship, which suffered an onboard explosion and blaze while en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva. As of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, visible flames had reduced, though thick smoke continued to emanate from the vessel, according to the Coast Guard.

    Out of the 22 crew members aboard, 18 have been rescued, while four remain missing. The rescued crew includes several individuals who sustained injuries in the incident.

    The incident occurred approximately 44 nautical miles off the coast of Azhikkal in Kerala. Following the explosion, the crew abandoned the ship due to escalating fire. The merchant vessel was carrying containerised cargo and had an international crew comprising eight Chinese, six Taiwanese, five Myanmarese, and three Indonesian nationals.

    The Chinese Embassy in India also expressed appreciation for the timely assistance provided by Indian authorities. Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing wrote on X, “Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members a speedy recovery.”

    The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy continue coordinated efforts to control the fire and locate the missing crew members. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

    -ANI

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers is a start, but Australia and its allies must do more

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Whyte, Scientia Associate Professor of Philosophy and ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Sydney

    The Australian government is imposing financial and travel sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers: Itamar Ben-Gvir (the national security minister) and Bezalel Smotrich (finance minister).

    This is a significant development. While Australia has previously sanctioned seven individual Israeli settlers, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are the most high-profile Israeli nationals to face such sanctions.

    Civil society organisations have long called for sanctions against these ministers and others in the Israeli cabinet.

    Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong previously rebuffed such calls by saying that “going it alone gets us nowhere”. These latest sanctions have been imposed by a coalition of five states: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

    A joint statement by the foreign ministers of these countries says Ben Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.”

    Explaining the sanctions further, Wong told ABC Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are the “most extreme proponents of the unlawful and violent Israeli settlement enterprise”.

    A history of violent statements

    There is no doubt both men are extremists.

    Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for Israel’s police force, was convicted of racist incitement in 2007.

    As national security minister, he has handed out thousands of assault rifles to West Bank settlers. He has also boasted he’s worsened the “abominable conditions” of Palestinian prisoners.

    Smotrich has overseen a dramatic expansion of unlawful settlements in the West Bank. He’s vowed to annex the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.

    He has also complained no one would allow Israel “to cause two million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned.”

    Last month, he argued that “until the last hostage is returned, we should not even be sending water” to Gaza.

    The joint statement by the foreign ministers explains Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been sanctioned for “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.

    The statement notes these measures “cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza”. However, it also goes on to express “unwavering support for Israel’s security” and vows to “continue to work with the Israeli government”.

    It does not note that the International Court of Justice has found Palestinians in Gaza are facing a plausible risk of genocide.

    Nor does it make clear Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are not bad apples; they are integral members of the far-right Israeli government that is responsible for the destruction of Gaza and the starvation of its people.

    Indeed, just this week, a UN independent fact-finding commission report found Israel was committing the “crime against humanity of extermination” in Gaza, among other war crimes.

    What are Magnitsky sanctions?

    Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have been sanctioned under Australia’s Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011. This act grants the foreign minister broad discretionary powers to impose sanctions.

    In 2021, the Australian government amended this act to allow the government to impose sanctions on specific “themes”, such as:

    • serious violations or serious abuses of human rights
    • threats to international peace and security
    • activities undermining good governance or the rule of law, including serious corruption.

    These targeted sanctions on human rights abuses are often called “Magnitsky-style sanctions” after the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in custody after exposing serious corruption in Russia. They enable a government to freeze the assets of and impose travel bans on individuals and specific entities, not just countries.

    Since coming into force, Australia has imposed the Magnitsky-style sanctions on numerous Russian military leaders, members of Myanmar’s junta, and the commander in chief of the Iranian Army.

    But Australia does not only sanction individuals from these countries. It also imposes country-wide sanctions on Russia, Myanmar and Iran.

    These broader sanctions restrict all trade in arms, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, as well as spare parts and accessories.

    Australia can – and should – do more

    The Australian Centre for International Justice, which had lobbied the government to sanction Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, welcomed the decision. It called it:

    an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to upholding international law and human rights.

    But the centre’s acting executive director, Lara Khider, stressed the need for further concrete action. This includes “the imposition of a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel”.

    Indeed, sanctions are not just political or diplomatic tools that states can apply at their discretion. International law can require states to apply sanctions, such as through a resolution of the UN Security Council.

    Last July, the International Court of Justice declared that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, including its imposition of a regime of racial segregation, is unlawful.

    In that advisory opinion, the court also clarified the legal obligations of all states concerning Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Such obligations include the duty on all states to “take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation”.

    Nothing less than a two-way trade and arms embargo is adequate now. Just as Australia imposes such sanctions on Russia, Myanmar and Iran, it must do the same for Israel.

    Jessica Whyte receives funding from the Australian Research Council. With Sara Dehm, she co-authored a submission to the 2024 inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime which criticised Australia’s failure to impose sanctions on the state of Israel.

    Sara Dehm receives funding from the Australian Research Council. With Jessica Whyte, she co-authored a submission to the 2024 inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime which criticised Australia’s failure to impose sanctions on the state of Israel.

    – ref. Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers is a start, but Australia and its allies must do more – https://theconversation.com/sanctioning-extremist-israeli-ministers-is-a-start-but-australia-and-its-allies-must-do-more-258688

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 11, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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    Jun 11, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Wed Jun 11 05:57:09 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 110557

    Day 2 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1257 AM CDT Wed Jun 11 2025

    Valid 121200Z – 131200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF
    THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND TEXAS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Widely scattered strong to severe storms are expected Thursday
    across parts of the central to northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
    Isolated strong to severe storms may also occur over parts of Texas.

    …Synopsis…
    The stronger flow aloft will remain over northern portions of the
    CONUS on Thursday, with a low-amplitude wave moving across the
    northern Plains. South of there, a weak upper low will move from TX
    toward the lower to middle MS Valley late.

    At the surface, a boundary will stretch roughly from SD eastward to
    the Mid Atlantic, with a large area of mid to upper 60s F across
    much of the plains and Midwest. A weak is forecast over southwest
    NE, with an inverted trough extending northeastward toward southern
    MN.

    …Northern Plains…
    Early day rain/thunderstorms will shift north across eastern SD and
    southern MN during the day in a zone of warm advection, with air
    mass recovery to the southwest across NE and western KS/eastern CO.
    Strong heating and southeast surface winds will yield storms moving
    off the Front Range, with locally strong gusts or marginal hail.
    Robust convection will form within the surface trough over NE,
    extending into southeast SD/western IA/southwest MN as well, with
    more of a variety of storms expected. Both damaging winds and hail
    are expected. Shear will be marginal but an MCS cannot be ruled out
    overnight.

    …Much of southern/central/eastern TX…
    Substantial moisture and instability will again develop with 70s F
    dewpoints and cool temperatures aloft. Clusters of storms are likely
    to be ongoing roughly along or east of I-35 much of the day, and
    areas of strong wind gusts may occur. West of there, stronger
    heating will occur over southwest TX. Shear will be weak but
    multicellular convection capable of marginal hail or localized
    downbursts may occur.

    ..Jewell.. 06/11/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z

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    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 11, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 110559

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1259 AM CDT Wed Jun 11 2025

    Valid 111200Z – 121200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
    SOUHT-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Thunderstorms associated with severe gusts and hail will be possible
    today across parts of the southern Plains and Sabine River Valley.
    Marginally severe storms will also be possible in parts of the Upper
    Midwest and northwestern states.

    …Southern Plains/Sabine River Valley…
    At mid-levels, a shortwave trough will move eastward across the
    southern Plains today. Ahead of the trough, flow will be
    southwesterly across much of the eastern half of Texas. At the
    surface, a moist airmass will remain in place from the eastern Texas
    Hill Country eastward into the Sabine River Valley, where surface
    dewpoints will be in the lower to mid 70s F. Early in the period, a
    line of storms is expected to move eastward across this moist
    airmass. The line will likely lay out an outflow boundary across
    parts of the Texas Coastal Plain. To the south of this boundary,
    moderate instability is expected to develop by afternoon.
    Thunderstorm development will be most likely along and near the
    boundary during the mid to late afternoon, with multiple clusters of
    storms moving eastward across central and southeast Texas. RAP
    forecast soundings across the Texas Coastal Plain at 21Z have a
    MLCAPE peaking near 3000 J/kg, with 0-6 km shear around 30 knots.
    The environment should support a severe threat, associated with
    supercells and/or short bowing line segments. Wind damage will be
    the primary threat, although hail will also be possible.

    …Northern Rockies/Northern High Plains…
    A shortwave trough will move across the northern Rockies today. At
    the surface, a moist airmass will be in place from the northern
    Rockies eastward into the northern High Plains. Destabilization will
    occur during the day across this airmass as surface temperatures
    warm. Models forecasts suggest that MLCAPE could reach 1000 J/kg in
    some areas. By early to mid afternoon, convection is expected to
    develop in the higher terrain, with storms moving eastward into the
    lower elevations. Forecast soundings across the region suggest that
    low to mid-level lapse rates will become very steep, and that
    moderate deep-layer shear will be present. For this reason, a threat
    for hail and isolated severe gusts will be possible, especially near
    and after peak heating.

    …Upper Midwest…
    West-northwesterly mid-level flow will be in place today from the
    northern Plains eastward into the Upper Midwest. At the surface, a
    cold front will move slowly southward across the mid Missouri and
    upper Mississippi Valleys. This front will be a focus for convective
    development today. To the south of the front, surface dewpoints in
    the 60s F will likely contribute to moderate instability by
    afternoon. Although deep-layer shear will be relatively weak,
    low-level lapse rates are forecast to become very steep, locally
    exceeding 9 C/km in some areas. Thunderstorms that develop on the
    warm side of the boundary where lapse rates are maximized could
    develop a threat for isolated damaging wind gusts and hail.

    ..Broyles/Squitieri.. 06/11/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mozambique: Spiralling hunger crisis and violence amid collapsing aid budgets


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    In a visit to the neglected crisis raging in the north of Mozambique, Egeland described it as at a “critical tipping point,” sounding the alarm over skyrocketing violence, the devastation from multiple cyclones, and the near collapse of aid lifelines due to global funding cuts.  

    “In a region suffering from daily atrocities and monthly disasters, I have seen the human toll caused by the global retreat of solidarity and funding. Climate shocks, increasing violence, and spiralling hunger are having a terrible impact on the population. They now stand at the edge of an abyss, with immense suffering ahead unless the world ends its neglect,” said Egeland.  

    Armed attacks in Cabo Delgado surged by 155 per cent in March alone, with 52 atrocities resulting in 153 abductions and 39 killings. The violence has displaced over 1.4 million people to date, while more than 600,000 others who have returned home now face renewed insecurity and little to no assistance.  

    Simultaneously, three consecutive cyclones—Chido, Dikeledi, and Jude—have battered Mozambique in just three months, affecting more than 1.4 million people, and destroying homes, schools, health centres and farmland across several provinces.  

    The compounded crises have pushed nearly five million Mozambicans into critical levels of hunger, with over 900,000 facing emergency conditions—just one step below famine.   

    “Hunger took hold in Mozambique the moment conflict did,” Egeland said. “Where bullets fly, crops wither, supply chains collapse, and families are left hungry.”  

    In conflict-hit Cabo Delgado, farming and markets have collapsed; in Nampula and Zambezia, cyclone-damaged crops have left families struggling to survive.  

    Fuel shortages, infrastructure damage, and insecurity are now paralysing aid operations across the country. Humanitarian agencies, including NRC, have been forced to reduce life-saving activities due to lack of funds and growing access challenges, including administrative and bureaucratic restrictions, attacks and ambushes on aid convoys.  

    “In 2024, we reached over 125,000 people, but the scale of this crisis far outstrips our current capacity,” Egeland said. “We have been forced to drastically reduce our first line response—such as survival kits and shelters to people left homeless by the latest cyclone—because of the US funding cuts.”   

    The World Food Programme has already halved its assistance, reaching only 520,000 people of the one million targeted in 2024. This year, the number of people receiving food aid is expected to plummet even further to just 250,000, despite the growing number of people in need.  

    “Mothers I met told me they don’t know who they would turn to if we had to stop helping them,” Egeland said. “They’ve already had to cut down on their food, and their children are sleeping hungry. I want to be clear that, whatever happens, we are here to stay and deliver, and we must find a way to keep delivering in a world of chaos.   

    “I call on governments and the private sector to urgently mobilise funding, guarantee safe access for aid workers, and commit to long-term support for the rights and dignity of displaced Mozambicans. Several governments and multinational corporations are in Mozambique for its natural resources, with little returns to the impoverished population.”  

    NRC stresses the need for immediate and sustained international action to avert a full-scale famine, restore food security, and support the country’s fragile recovery. This includes urgent investment in agricultural recovery and fisheries support for coastal areas, nutrition for children, and protection for people forced to flee violence.  

    “Turning our backs now is not an option—for the sake of millions facing starvation, and for our shared humanity,” Egeland said.  

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Underwood Delivers Remarks at Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Markup to Highlight How Republican Funding Bill Undermines Veterans’ Benefits and Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON—During today’s House Appropriations full committee markup of the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) delivered the following remarks: 

    “Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill we are considering today. 

    Our veterans are heroes who have given so much to our country. Their sacrifices can never be fully repaid, but the least we can do is to provide them with high-quality healthcare and other benefits they are entitled to. 

    When they come home, they deserve to know that the country they fought for is going to deliver on its promises. 

    And today, we have the opportunity to keep those promises—but unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle have chosen to join the Trump Administration in turning their backs on veterans.  

    To start, this bill takes a page right out of the Project 2025 playbook by wasting billions of taxpayer dollars to privatize veterans’ medical care—even though this approach will only lead to higher costs, longer wait times, and more barriers to care.  

    So while this Committee could be investing in vital, VA-based care that is consistently preferred by veterans and outperforms private community care, House Republicans have written a bill that will raise costs AND lower the quality of veterans’ care. This is unacceptable.  

    If that wasn’t bad enough, let’s talk about the PACT Act.  

    I was proud to support this historic, bipartisan expansion of health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances like burn pits and Agent Orange.  

    Since its passage, the VA has delivered new PACT Act-related disability benefits to more than 1.4 million veterans and over 14,000 survivors of veterans who died of a toxic exposure-related illness.  

    The PACT Act was a promise: if you put your life on the line for this country, we will take care of you. 

    But this bill breaks that promise by failing to provide guaranteed advance funding for the PACT Act’s Toxic Exposure Fund.  Advance funding provides the certainty the VA needs to plan for and deliver consistent high-quality care for our veterans who were subjected to toxic exposures.  

    And it doesn’t stop there. This bill is packed with the same cruel, performative policy riders we see year after year. As a nurse, I believe health care is a human right—including the full range of reproductive health care services. But this bill blocks the VA from providing abortions or even abortion counseling.  

    It would force many of our veterans—like countless women across this country since the disastrous Dobbs decision—to wait till they are on their deathbeds to receive essential health care. It’s extreme, it’s deadly, and it’s anti-veteran. 

    The bill also underfunds military construction by $904 million, delaying critical infrastructure needs that are vital to our military readiness. That hurts recruitment, worsens the quality of life for servicemembers and their families, and undermines our national security.  

    But perhaps most alarming – this bill FAILS to stop the Trump Administration’s dangerous, unconstitutional effort to dismantle the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

    So far, the Trump Administration has illegally fired thousands of VA staff that support critical services like processing claims benefits and keeping the Veterans Crisis Line running, and they have cancelled more than 500 contracts.  These cuts have interrupted veteran services and threatened the future of critical research from cancer treatments to suicide prevention.   

    And this is just the beginning.  

    Donald Trump’s VA Secretary has said publicly that the Administration’s goal is to reduce the agency’s staff by 15 percent –that’s 80,000 fewer professionals working to keep our promises to those who have served this country and many future generations of veterans left behind.  

    Already I have heard from veterans in my District about the distress caused by these impending cuts. At my most recent town hall, one veteran who has sought mental health care at the VA since the 1970 shared his concerns about the future of his care in midst of these impending cuts.  

    Another constituent of mine reached out via email and shared that “veterans that use the center for mental health issues are having anxiety attacks over the issues at the VA.” This is the real cost of the Administration’s decisions.  

    And instead of standing up for our veterans, my Republican colleagues have written a bill that rubber stamps the Administration’s illegal and cruel acts.  

    For all these reasons and more, I cannot support this bill.  

    Our veterans deserve better. They deserve a Congress that honors their service—not just with words, but with action.  

    They deserve a fully funded VA, access to comprehensive health care—including reproductive care—and a government that keeps its promises.  

    I ask my colleagues across the aisle to do the right thing, stand up for veterans, and reject this misguided bill.” 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eulogy by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Special Provincial Funeral of Rev Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, University of Venda Stadium, Thohoyandou

    Source: President of South Africa –

    Programme Directors,
    The Farisani Family,
    Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba,
    Representatives of the African National Congress and the broader liberation movement,
    Leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa,
    Traditional and religious leaders present,
    Leadership of the University of Venda,
    Fellow Mourners,
     
    Fellow South Africans, batho ba Limpopo, muta waDean Farisani,
     
    We are to bid farewell to Dean Tshenuwani Farisani.
     
    His life bears witness to the mission of Christ espoused in the Gospel of Luke chapter 4.
     
    “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed.”
     
    We have lost an extraordinary man who led an extraordinary life.
     
    He was born in 1948, a year that was a turning point in South Africa’s history. 
     
    This was the year the National Party swept to power and ushered in the reviled system of apartheid.
     
    Dean Farisani was born into circumstances that mirrored the lives of millions of black South Africans at the time.
     
    He was just a child, barely three years old, when his family was confronted with the ugly face of injustice.
     
    Many years later, in 1996, he would testify at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on how his family were victims of forced removed from the Songozi Tsapila area near then Louis Trichardt, now Makhado.
     
    The authorities arrived one day without warning, and his parents were ordered to vacate the area immediately.
     
    He recounted how they had to carry their belongings on their backs and leave, on foot. That which could not be carried, including all the family’s livestock, was left behind.
     
    They were relocated to another empty piece of land and told this was their new home. They were never compensated for the land that was stolen from them.
     
    Eight years later, in 1959, the family were forcibly removed again. 
     
    Two years later, in 1961, again.
     
    These experiences instilled in him a deep sense of justice. 
     
    They planted the seeds of his political consciousness when he was still in his teens.
     
    He only entered formal schooling at the age of 12. Like most children in rural areas at the time, he was a child labourer on the white farms.
     
    At school a missionary from the Evangelical Lutheran Church noticed his academic brilliance and he was prepared to enter theological training.
     
    It was at Maphumulo Theological Seminary in KwaZulu-Natal that he first became acquainted with the Black Consciousness Movement.
     
    Its teachings fired his growing political awareness.
     
    For him, there was no contradiction between the teachings of his faith and the mission of national liberation.
     
    He soon became attracted to liberation theology, and its message that true Christian faith demands active resistance to all forms of oppression and solidarity with the poor.
     
    Apartheid was a great injustice, and he, heroic heart, was not content to choose a quiet life of pastoralism.
     
    He was eventually expelled from the seminary after hebecame involved with underground political organisations like the South African Students Organisation, the Black People’s Convention and the Black Consciousness Movement.
     
    By then he was at the Beuster Mission at Maungani outside Thohoyandou and a rising figure in the BCM, going on to be elected its president in 1973.
     
    I first met Dean Farisani when he spoke at my high school, Mpaphuli.
     
    We formed an immediate and lasting bond.
     
    For many years we worked alongside each other in the Black Evangelical Youth Organisation.
     
    There were many points in the life of the great man we lay to rest today where he found himself sorely tested.
     
    During the late 1970s and 1980s was arrested on a number of occasions for his political activities. But it was his third detention, in 1981, that he found his courage truly tested. His faith tested. His principles tested.
     
    He was detained by the Venda police on suspicion of being involved in the bombing of a police station in Sibasa. 
     
    He was held for more than eight months and severely tortured. 
     
    In his book, Diary from a South African Prison, he recounts the unimaginable ordeal of beatings, electricshocks, being forced to squat for days and being smothered.
     
    In an interview given years later he recounts how his torturers tried everything to force a confession, even offering him the position of Bishop of Venda.
     
    And yet he, strong in will, did not yield.
     
    Fellow Mourners, Comrades, 
    Fellow South Africans,
     
    Dean Farisani was a courageous revolutionary who inspired a generation to reclaim their pride and stand up for their rights. I was amongst them.
     
    He was a beloved father and a grandfather who will be sorely missed by his wife, mufumakadzi Mudzunga, his daughters Nzumbululo and Ndamulelo, by his son Zwovhonala and by the entire extended family.
     
    He was a renowned academic and prolific scholar whose writings gave voice to the voiceless. 
     
    He was a guide and mentor to many. He was a dear friend.
     
    And yet it is Dean Farisani’s most salient quality that I will most remember him for: he was a man of unwavering principle.
     
    Nothing could sway him from what was right, from his dedication to the cause of the South African people, and to their total emancipation.
     
    In detention, he was offered positions and status. He refused them.
     
    When he was released and went into exile in the United States, he could have easily put the entire experience behind him and led a quiet life. 
     
    Instead he campaigned vigorously against the regime from abroad.
     
    When Venda was proclaimed as a so-called independent homeland by the apartheid regime he was outspoken in his opposition, even when this brought him into conflict with church leaders in his circuit.
     
    His activism continued into the democratic South Africa.
     
    He was determined to be part of the struggle to overcome the injustice and inequality bred of apartheid.
     
    He was elected to the first democratic Parliament in 1994. 
     
    He would go on to serve further as an MEC here in Limpopo and as speaker of the Legislature.
     
    These roles placed him in a position of power and influence. Yet they did not change him. 
     
    He did not succumb to the allure of high office. He was never arrogant. 
     
    He was a servant leader who came, served and left, and continued to contribute to the betterment of his beloved country.
     
    He did not regard loyalty to a political cause or party as being above his own principles.
     
    When he saw corruption being perpetrated by those entrusted with public funds, he was vocal and scathing in his criticism. He held power to account.
     
    The Foundation that bears his name continues to be an influential voice in the public space in advancing social justice, including for apartheid’s many victims.
     
    Fellow Mourners,
     
    Neither beatings nor torture could make Dean Farisani surrender his principles. The trappings of power did not interest him. He was content to walk in the footsteps of his Lord with the downtrodden, the oppressed and the marginalised.
     
    He understood his life’s mission and it was not negotiable.
     
    These are the greatest lessons we take from his life. These are the reflections we take today as we lay this great son of the soil to rest.
     
    To the family, we share in your great sorrow. Yet even amidst our mourning we celebrate a man who has left such a deep and lasting impact on all of us. He was an inspiration. 
     
    In Dean Farisani’s book of poetry, titled Justice in my Tears, there is a moving poem.
     
    It is called “The Lord is my Shepherd: Psalm 23 in Pietermaritzburg and Howick.”
     
    It was published in 1977, the period of his first imprisonment.
     
    In it he writes:
     
    “The Lord is my shepherd, 
    I shall not buckle
    He rests me in the land of freedom
    I drink from the cup of liberty,
    Even when I wander in the valley of torture.
    I shall fear no human beasts,
     
    He shall fight my fight.
    His angels and his visions
    Guide me through brutal interrogations
    He gives me life in the hands of murderers
    Giving me a crown for a victory his own”
     
    Dean Farisani, yours was a life of service to others. As the South African people we crown you as you go to your eternal rest.
     
    In the words of the Psalm 23 you so loved, surely goodness and mercy did follow you all the days of your life. May you dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
     
    Fare well brother, comrade, friend, patriot.
     
    I thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 10th, 2025 VIDEO: Heinrich Joins Press Conference Blasting Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Betrayal’ for Raising Energy Prices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in a press conference on how Trump and Republicans’ reconciliation bill will raise energy costs for working families, all to pay for tax handouts for their billionaire donors.

    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) hosts a press conference blasting Trump and Republicans’ reconciliation bill for raising energy costs, June 10, 2025.
    Heinrich’s remarks as delivered are below:
    As Senator Schatz said, the conundrum we’re in with electricity right now is that we haven’t been in this supply demand space since air conditioners became a widely available technology.
    That was the last time we saw the kind of growth in demand that we’re experiencing right now. On the supply side, the place we find ourselves in right now is one where, if you want to order a combined cycle of natural gas turbine, if you ordered it yesterday, you’re going to get it in 2030 or 2031.
    If you want to build a new API, 1000 Nuclear Generating Station, as the President has said he does, it’s going to take you 5 to 10 years to actually build that.
    If you want to do the geothermal stuff that’s taking off in Utah, to some extent in New Mexico, that’s scaling slow: It’s going to be 5 to 10 years before that stuff is at scale.
    So if you look at this incredibly increased demand from artificial intelligence, from electrification, from the surge we’ve seen in manufacturing, and you look at the supply that’s coming onto the grid in 2024 and what’s coming on in 2025 well over 90% of that is actually renewables plus storage.
    And that’s the case because it’s the cheapest, fastest to permit and fastest to build.
    So if you start throttling back 90% of your supply at a time when demand is going through the roof, what’s the impact of that?
    And I’m here to tell you, the impact is electricity bills are going up.
    They are going up all across the country.
    And Republicans are going to own that because there is no world in which we throttle supply like they are doing right now, especially with this reconciliation bill, but in 5 or 10 other different ways as well, and you don’t see those electric bills go through the roof.
    IRA tax credits are the biggest piece of that but it’s not the only one.
    They basically eviscerated the agencies that finance or permit many of these things.
    They said they wanted to build nuclear.
    The only nuclear that’s been built in the last 30 years is what we just saw happen in Georgia, and that happened because the loan program office — where they’ve lost half the staff and defunded it in the president’s budget.
    If you want to produce oil and gas, you need somebody at the Bureau of Land Management who can actually pick up the phone about a permit.
    They have chased people out of the Bureau of Land Management.
    You add that to the kind of permitting abuse that we’ve seen with Empire Wind, a fully permitted multi-gigawatt project, and then you throw in some steel and aluminum tariffs just to make the natural gas projects that are in the books even more expensive.
    This is a perfect storm of higher electricity rates, and if they pass this reconciliation bill without changes, they’re going to own every bit of it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • Amit Shah reviews flood management preparedness ahead of monsoon

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to review the country’s flood preparedness ahead of the monsoon. The meeting focused on long-term flood mitigation strategies, the status of measures taken since last year’s review, and the use of technology for effective flood management.
     
    The Home Minister reviewed the adoption of new technologies by various agencies involved in flood management and called for their expanded use. He stressed the need for wider application of space technology by central agencies for flood control and water management.
     
    Shah reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, disaster management in India is being driven with a zero-casualty approach. He directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to coordinate with State and District Disaster Management Authorities for effective dissemination of early warning alerts. He urged all States and Union Territories to implement NDMA advisories in a timely manner and asked NDMA and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to ensure close coordination with the states for efficient flood response.
     
    The Home Minister acknowledged the efforts of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) in extending the time window for issuing flood forecasts and advisories. He called for further improvements in forecast accuracy and underlined the need for flood monitoring centres of the CWC to align with national requirements and international standards. He asked the Ministry of Jal Shakti, NDMA, and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to monitor glacial lakes and take timely action in case of any outburst.
     
    The Home Minister appreciated the efforts of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) in extending the flood forecasting window from 3 to 7 days. He said, “The flood monitoring centres of the CWC must be aligned with our national requirements and developed to meet international standards.” He asked the Ministry of Jal Shakti, NDMA, and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to closely monitor glacial lakes and act swiftly in case of any breach or outburst.
     
    He stressed the importance of road infrastructure in flood-prone areas and asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to work with state authorities. “Drainage systems should be an integral part of highway designs to prevent waterlogging and road damage during heavy rains,” he said.
     
    On ecological measures, the Home Minister called for increasing forest cover along the Narmada River basin. He said, “If successful, this model can be implemented in other river basins as well. It will help revive river ecosystems, reduce soil erosion, and address declining rainfall.”
     
    The meeting also discussed the recurring problem of urban flooding. Shah directed central agencies to take proactive steps for flood control in cities and prepare comprehensive flood management plans for large urban areas. He noted the role of wetlands and said, “Rejuvenation of wetlands and afforestation are essential to deal with heavy rainfall in short durations during monsoon.” He also asked the Ministry of Jal Shakti to improve the condition of wetlands in the Brahmaputra basin, which he said would also support economic and tourism activities.
     
    The Home Minister suggested that agencies such as the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), IMD, NRSC and others organise a conference bringing together experts to discuss floods and related technologies. “In 2014, India was far behind in the field of meteorology. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we are on par with developed countries. Now we must aim to be number one,” he added.
     
    Departments including IMD and CWC presented detailed updates on the measures taken since last year’s flood review. Ministries and departments briefed the Home Minister on their preparedness for the current monsoon and their future plans. Shah expressed satisfaction with the preparations and called for collaborative development of software systems to manage extreme weather conditions.
     
    He said, “All departments must work together to build systems that can respond effectively to climate-related challenges and protect lives and infrastructure.”
     
     
    June 11, 2025

  • Propulsion bay leak delays Axiom-4 mission again; repair work begins

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The highly anticipated Axiom-4 mission, which was scheduled to launch on June 11 after a series of earlier delays, has been postponed once again due to a leak detected in the propulsion bay during a pre-launch test, SpaceX said on Wednesday.

    “Standing down from tomorrow’s (June 11) Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the ISS to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOX leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. Once complete—and pending Range availability—we will share a new launch date”, SpaceX said in a post on X. 

    ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan also took to X, saying, “The Axiom 04 mission, slated for launch on 11th June 2025 to send the first Indian Gaganyatri to the ISS, has been postponed. As part of launch vehicle preparations to validate the performance of the booster stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, a seven-second hot test was carried out on the launch pad. During the test, a LOX (liquid oxygen) leak was detected in the propulsion bay.”

    “Following discussions between ISRO, Axiom, and SpaceX experts, it has been decided to correct the leak and conduct the necessary validation tests before clearing the mission for launch. Hence, the launch of Axiom 04 has been postponed,” he added.

    The mission, operated by the US-based Axiom Space, was set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla along with three international crew members to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

    The launch was scheduled to take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:30 p.m. IST. The Axiom 04 mission has faced multiple delays, having been rescheduled from its original target of May 29 to June 8, then June 10, and most recently to June 11.

    The mission is of major significance for India, as Shukla is set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station, and only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard the Soviet space station Salyut 7 in 1984.

    Shukla will serve as the pilot of the Axiom 04 mission, with Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States leading the crew. The other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.

    Once aboard the ISS, Shukla is expected to carry out experiments related to food and nutrition. The scientific mission is a collaboration between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with additional support from NASA.

    These experiments aim to advance the understanding of space nutrition and help develop self-sustaining life support systems critical for long-duration space exploration.

    The research will focus on the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae—a nutrient-rich, high-potential food source for future space missions.

    The experiment will evaluate key growth parameters and examine transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes in different algal species in space compared to their behaviour on Earth.

    (With agency input)

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Opening Speech By His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs At The Seventh Edition of the Global Security Forum

    Source: Government of Iran

    In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

    May peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,,,

     

    I welcome you all to Doha on the occasion of the seventh edition of the Global Security Forum, under the theme “The Impact of Non-State Actors on Global Security”.

    At this time, this forum holds exceptional significance, as it brings us together at a moment when the world—more than ever—requires profound and sincere dialogue, as well as innovative partnerships capable of addressing the challenges of our turbulent world.

    Distinguished Attendees, 

    Our international system is currently undergoing profound transformations that compel us to reassess our concepts of security and stability.

    Conflicts are no longer transient events that can be contained; rather, they have evolved into prolonged phenomena that interconnect and overlap, imposing on the world complex crises that feed into one another—from Ukraine to Gaza, passing through the multiple crises in our region.

    At the core of this intricate scene, we observe the persistence and expansion of conflicts both temporally and geographically, with no clear prospects for resolution. This is due to the absence of collective political will and the prioritization of narrow interests over the requirements of just and comprehensive peace.

    At the core of this intricate scene, we observe the persistence and expansion of conflicts both temporally and geographically, with no clear prospects for resolution. This is due to the absence of collective political will and the prioritization of narrow interests over the requirements of just and comprehensive peace.

    This persistence leaves behind entire generations growing up under the shadow of violence, despair, and loss of hope, which is perhaps the most perilous consequence of these conflicts.

    Children of Gaza, Syria, Sudan, and Ukraine are not merely statistics in the reports of international organizations; rather, they represent the future of our societies and serve as a reflection of our success or failure in creating a world that is safer and more humane.

    And even if wars were to cease tomorrow, we would find ourselves facing the immense challenge of reconstruction—not only to repair the physical destruction but also to rebuild communities on social and psychological levels.

    Amid the multiplicity of crises and the decline in international funding, issues such as the reconstruction of Syria or Gaza appear to have become deferred aspirations on the agenda of the international community.

    Therefore, our vision for the solution is not limited to ceasefires and ending wars alone; it extends to establishing solid foundations for comprehensive and sustainable recovery, through collective responsibility and genuine international commitment.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, 

    Amidst these intertwined challenges, the role of humanitarian organizations, civil society institutions, media entities, and local initiatives has emerged as a pivotal element in the equation of security and peace.

    These entities have become the first line of defense in responding to crises, often overcoming bureaucratic and political constraints that hinder official bodies.

     However, on the other hand, we face non-state actors who exploit security vacuums and thrive on chaos and suffering, ranging from terrorist groups to organized crime networks.

    The rogue actions of certain states, which are met with only a small amount of wisdom and a great deal of weakness and complacency from some governments, serve as a pretext for infiltrating the hearts and minds of people and hijacking the role of the sole defender of their rights.

    Amidst this crisis-ridden landscape, the truth is obscured, and blame is scattered: Is the root cause the rogue states themselves, the weak governments failing to fulfill their duties, or the absence of wisdom, which has become a rare commodity in an era where standards are blurred and balances disrupted?

    Herein lies the importance of this year’s forum theme— the lines between construction and destruction, between those who seek peace and those who invest in war, must be drawn clearly and precisely.

    Addressing these challenges requires a smart approach; one that supports and empowers positive forces while containing and drying up the sources of terrorist and criminal organizations that exploit the suffering of peoples to advance their own agendas.

    This can only be achieved through more inclusive global governance and strategic partnerships between governments and civil society.

    Distinguished Attendees,

    What has been happening in the Gaza Strip for more than a year and a half offers painful lessons about this dynamic.

    Amid unprecedented destruction and a humanitarian disaster that has crossed all red lines, humanitarian organizations and local initiatives play a crucial role in keeping the lifeline flowing, in conveying the suffering of civilians to the world, and even in contributing to mediation and negotiation efforts.

    What is most painful, and a stain on the conscience of the entire world, is that food and medicine have become weapons in this war. The death of children from hunger and cold is exploited as a tool to achieve narrow political objectives, while an entire population is besieged and denied the most basic rights to receive aid, without any accountability.

    The State of Qatar will continue, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, and regional partners, its diligent efforts to achieve a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure the unobstructed flow of humanitarian aid.

    We firmly believe that supporting the Palestinian people is not a matter of political negotiation, but a moral and humanitarian duty rooted in our commitment to justice.

     

     

    Ladies and Gentlemen,
    Despite the bleakness of the overall situation, positive indicators emerge that must be upheld and strengthened.

    • In Syria, we observe a nation undergoing reconstruction, with its people striving to shape a new vision for their country, while recognizing the sensitivity of the current phase and the necessity for a comprehensive national discourse.
    • In Lebanon, the election of a President of the Republic and the formation of the government represent an opportunity to revitalize institutions and strengthen confidence in the state and its future, provided that this is accompanied by substantial reforms and genuine engagement of civil society.

    We also observe encouraging positive signs, as recently witnessed here in Doha, through hosting peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, which resulted in reaching preliminary understandings on a ceasefire, de-escalation, and confidence-building measures.

    These models demonstrate how formal processes, when combined with community initiatives, can help create a supportive environment for national reconciliation and regional stability.

    The diverse experiences we witness affirm a fundamental truth: sustainable security cannot be achieved solely through top-down decisions, but rather by building cohesive communities capable of resilience, through expanding partnerships and activating the role of all societal components in shaping the future.

    Distinguished Attendees,

    The State of Qatar has always been committed to the principle of dialogue as a fundamental means of resolving conflicts and building peace.

    We believe that constructive engagement with humanitarian organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academic circles constitutes an integral part of any serious effort to achieve sustainable stability.

    Based on our extensive experience in mediation and conflict resolution, we have realized that achieving genuine peace requires establishing channels of dialogue with all influential parties, respecting the specificities of each community, acknowledging historical grievances, and addressing them with a spirit of justice and reconciliation.

    Despite all the challenges we face, I firmly believe that hope remains our choice.

    The ability to bring about positive change is still within our reach, if there is genuine will, if we can rise above narrow interests, and if we place the human being—his dignity, rights, and aspirations—at the heart of every policy and initiative.

    In the State of Qatar, we are committed to continuing our role as an active partner in efforts toward peace and development. This includes supporting political solutions to conflicts, humanitarian actions, and building safety nets that protect communities from extremism and violence.

    We look forward to this forum serving as a platform for innovative ideas and practical solutions, and as a step towards closer partnerships between governments and communities, for a world that is safer, more just, and more respectful for human dignity.

    I wish you fruitful discussions and thank you for listening

     

    May peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,,,

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Opening Remarks by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Qatar Economic Forum

    Source: Government of Iran

    In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

    Your Highness the Amir  – may God protect him,

    Your Excellencies,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Distinguished Guests,

    May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

    It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar. Doha has grown into a prominent center for international dialogue and active diplomacy, and a global platform where leaders, policymakers, and thinkers come together to exchange ideas and promote cooperation.

    This year’s Qatar Economic Forum takes place amidst major political and economic transformations, underscoring the urgent need for dialogue platforms that bring together decision-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders to chart future investment opportunities and formulate a collective stance on the challenges we face, most notably international stability and sustainable growth.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza remains, despite the tireless efforts of the State of Qatar—working in close coordination with our partners in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America—to bring this tragic war to an end, yet unfortunately we continue to witness repeated setbacks to achieving a ceasefire.

    When the Israeli-American soldier, Idan Alexander, was released, we hoped it would mark a turning point—an opportunity to halt the violence and begin the path toward peace. Instead, that moment was met with an intensified campaign of bombardment, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians.

    This aggressive and irresponsible behavior continues to undermine every opportunity for peace. Nevertheless, we remain firmly committed to pursuing our diplomatic efforts, alongside our partners, until this war is brought to an end—until all hostages and detainees are released, and the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Gaza is alleviated, and the region is no longer held hostage by constant and imminent threats.

    Regarding Syria, the recent decision to lift U.S. sanctions on this brotherly nation marks a significant step in the right direction. We hope to see similar measures to follow. This sends a clear and vital message to the region and the world: that our collective priority must be to offer people emerging from conflict a genuine opportunity to rebuild their lives and shape a better future.

    Distinguished Guests,

    Political stability and economic prosperity are deeply interconnected—neither can be achieved in isolation from the other.

    From this standpoint, the State of Qatar pursues an active and principled diplomatic approach, grounded in impartial mediation and constructive engagement to help resolve conflicts peacefully, recognizing that lasting peace is the foundation for any sustainable development.

    We regard every diplomatic effort we undertake as an investment in a more secure and prosperous future. When a young student in Gaza completes their education, or a Syrian family returns home after years of displacement, we see the tangible and meaningful impact that stability has—not only on individual lives, but on entire economies and societies.

    Distinguished Guests,

    In the State of Qatar, we aspire to build a diversified and prosperous economy —one driven by knowledge, innovation, and aligned with the pace of the global technological revolution, characterized by flexibility and adaptability. We aspire for Qatar to be a beacon of technological advancement and a global center for investment and business, built on trust, and for Qatar to always remain a reliable partner, whether in energy or investment, as well as in diplomacy.

    In line with this vision, we are actively working to translate our aspirations into reality by diversifying our foreign investments to enhance our strategic balance and contribute to the development of a long-term, sustainable economy. The Qatar Investment Authority continues to play a central role in this effort, pursuing long-term strategic partnerships across the globe. Over the past year, it has made significant investments spanning the United States, Africa, and China.

    These initiatives reflect our strong confidence in the resilience and potential of global markets—especially emerging markets—and their role in shaping the future.

    Domestically, Qatar’s economy maintained positive momentum, achieving real GDP growth of 2.4% in 2024, with total output reaching QAR 713 billion.

    This growth has been driven largely by significant progress in Qatar’s non-oil sectors, which expanded by 3.4% annually—an encouraging sign of steady advancement toward the objectives outlined in our Third National Development Strategy.

    By the end of 2024, new foreign direct investment (FDI) had reached QAR 9.9 billion, reflecting the growing confidence of international investors in the strength and resilience of the Qatari economy.

    To sustain this momentum, the State of Qatar continues to enhance its legislative and administrative frameworks, aiming to create a more efficient, transparent, and investor-friendly business environment.

    In this spirit, we are pleased to announce today the launch of the first package of incentives for all investors, focusing on strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, modern technology, and logistics. This initiative marks a significant step forward in fostering growth across key sectors that will serve as the foundation of our national economy’s future.

    In addition to industrial growth, this year marked the launch of the Simaisma tourism project—one of the largest entertainment developments in the region. This project serves as a major catalyst for the real estate and tourism sectors, and a powerful driver of integrated economic development.

    In the field of innovation and digital transformation, Qatar has further solidified its position as an emerging technology hub. In February 2025, we hosted the second edition of Web Summit, which brought together over 25,000 participants from 124 countries.

    The summit successfully fostered meaningful connections between emerging tech ecosystems in Asia and Africa and leading global corporations and sovereign wealth funds—further enhancing Qatar’s role as a digital gateway between regions.

    Reinforcing this momentum, Qatar recently secured the hosting rights for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) for the next five years, with the inaugural edition set for November. This achievement firmly establishes Qatar as a key player in the global digital economy.

    To build on this progress, Qatar will soon launch a new, globally ambitious project, to be unveiled later this year.

    Together, these milestones highlight Qatar’s determination to strengthen its position as a global economic and investment hub, and to chart a future grounded in diversity, innovation, and sustainability.

    Distinguished Guests,

    The State of Qatar is committed to playing a leading role in shaping a more balanced global economy—one that fosters genuine partnership and places human beings at the center of development. We envision Qatar as a platform where ideas converge, interests align, and progress is nurtured in an environment grounded in peace, stability, and investment.

    In this spirit, we call for a holistic approach—one that integrates security with development, diplomacy with economic growth, and ensures that human dignity remains at the heart of any plans for prosperity.

    Thank you for your kind presence. I wish you a productive forum and meaningful discussions. I look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue during the sessions ahead, and to the emergence of new economic partnerships that will help drive sustainable development—both in our region and around the world.

    May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Dialogue Session for His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs with Bloomberg, as part of the Qatar Economic Forum

    Source: Government of Iran

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): President Trump was in the region last week. It was the first Lme a US President has paid a visit to Qatar since 2003. How significant was this visit for the Gulf do you think? And also how do you think this

    President’s approach to the region differs from his predecessors?

     

    His Excellency: Well I believe that the President’s first trip to the GCC region, visiLng Saudi, Qatar, and UAE has been a great demonstraLon for the potenLal of that region. This sent a very strong message to the enLre world that there is a very high potenLal in that region. This region is flourishing, this region has a lot to do when it comes to contribuLng to the future technology and the revoluLon of arLficial intelligence and the need of course for power. Basically, we have had a great visit and I believe this is equivalent to the rest of the countries in the GCC. During that visit we had wide range of topics that’s being discussed whether it’s on regional security, on the future economic cooperaLon between the two countries and how to untap the potenLal between the two countries. These topics actually have varied whether it’s how to partner in arLficial intelligence, how to partner in energy and how to expand also in being a criLcal and vital part of the supply chain for the United States economy which is the leading economy in the world. I believe this was very much perceived in a posiLve way by the region and of course we know that the policy varies from one administraLon to another. We are glad to see that the Middle East, and GCC in parLcular, is a priority for this administraLon, and we believe that there is a lot of potenLal for both of us in the region and the United States that we can untap in the next few years. And also I think that one of the key elements of the President’s visit is making sure that the situaLon in this region remain stabilized and we have seen what a delicate period that we are going through in that region whether it’s on their talks, on the US talks with Iran, or with the situaLon in Gaza and the changes that happened in Syria. And we are hoping that these kind of engagements will lead us to a point where we can have all these conflicts seXled and hopefully being more focused on the prosperity of the region. 

     

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): President Trump has been labeled a transacLonal President. He certainly likes to do deals. He has wriXen a book about the art of the deal and he likes things of value, especially if they come free. I want to ask you about the giY of this Boeing jet that Qatar wants to give to use as interim Air Force 1. It’s being met with a lot of controversy back home. What was the purpose of this giY? And is it as some criLcs say, an opportunity for Qatar to gain influence with this administraLon?

    His Excellency: Well look actually we have seen that there was a lot of controversy that’s being created out of this, what I call it, an exchange between two countries and basically the relaLonship that we have between Qatar and the United States is a very insLtuLonal relaLonship that witnessed different administraLons, and the insLtuLonal relaLonship remained very strong and at the backbone of this partnership. The plane story is a Ministry of Defense to Department of Defense transacLon which is basically done in full transparency and very legally and it is part of the cooperaLon that we have been always doing together for decades. For example, the airliYing in Afghanistan is something that we have almost 80% of that done by our air forces. The security deployment of the United States during the World Cup to support our efforts was done by the United States and I see it as a normal thing that happens between allies and basically I don’t know why people are thinking about it, that this is considered as a bribery or considered as something that Qatar wants to buy an influence with this administraLon. I don’t see any honestly valid reason for that and I believe that there is a huge issue in misconcepLon or unfortunately some spoilers who are trying to portray Qatar as a country that tries to buy its way. I believe if you look at the track record at least for the last 10 years whenever there is some scoop coming out in the media and trying to put Qatar under a spotlight that Qatar is bribing to get the World Cup or Qatar is bribing the EU Parliament or whatever, unLl like the end Qatar is trying to bribe the Prime Minister of Israel. I’m sure that, you know, it does tell you something that for the last 10 years, none of these cases has stand or had any proof that Qatar has done anything wrong. We are a country that would like to have strong partnership and strong friendship and anything that we provide to any country, it’s provided out of respect for this partnership and it’s a two ways relaLonship. It’s mutually beneficial for Qatar and for the United States and I believe everybody acknowledges this. I think that we need to overcome this stereotype of seeing Qatar as a small Arab naLon because it’s gas rich, it cannot find its way without buying it with money. It’s really a misconcepLon that hurts a lot not our reputaLon but the reputaLon also of other countries and insLtuLons.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): Is the controversy worth it though if it means that there’s going to be further congressional scruLny of all of Qatar’s dealings now with the US?

    His Excellency: Well, there is actually nothing that has been done by us under the table or like we are trying to do like a covert operaLon. It’s a Ministry of Defense to Department of Defense. There is a proper legal review now conducted between the two departments and nothing has happened yet actually. Now, our intenLon is to have a very clear exchange that the US is in need for to accelerate, you know, a temporary Air Force One. Qatar has the ability to provide this. We stepped up and basically a lot of naLons have giYed the US many things. I am not comparing that to the Statue of Liberty but I don’t know if this sounded a liXle bit maybe strange for the US because it’s coming from a small Arab naLon. I think that, you know, this has played some way a factor in this but I am hoping that people in the United States and even the poliLcians over there, they look at us as a friend, as a partner, as a reliable partner that we’ve been always there for the US whenever we were needed whether it’s in the war against terror, whether it’s in freeing American hostages from all around the world. It’s not something that we’ve been doing to buy an influence but this is a duty on us as a partner, as an ally of the United

    States and as there is a duty for the United States towards Qatar.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): I want to turn to regional geopoliLcs. Yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister says that Israel is now carrying out operaLons with the purpose of taking over the Gaza Strip. They will carry out an unprecedented aXack on Hamas. That is a quote. The war is clearly entering into a new phase aYer a ceasefire that was negoLated earlier this year. Qatar played a pivotal role in that. It lapsed in March. The death toll conLnues to go up. There’s sLll what’s thought to be 20 hostages sLll alive in the Gaza Strip. There’s a humanitarian crisis going on there. What hope is there now for a lasLng ceasefire,

    Your Excellency?

    His Excellency: Well, it’s unfortunate that we’ve been seeing the situaLon unfolding in this way and it’s becoming very frustraLng for everyone and especially for us here in Qatar, we’ve been there from the beginning trying to mediate and trying to get to a deal where it alleviates the suffering of the PalesLnian people in Gaza and freeing the hostages and bringing them back to their family and trying to bring a path that will create a peaceful environment and security for both people. And that’s basically what we were aiming. And what I think that the last year and a half now has shown you that the only way forward is through negoLaLons. And unfortunately, that someLmes, you know, or many of the Lmes, these negoLaLons being sabotaged by poliLcal games with a very narrow vision and, you know, it’s just being postponed. One of the examples we had, the first deal that freed more than 100 Israeli hostages in November 23, it collapsed in one week. Then we had the second deal that’s been based on a framework that’s agreed on December 23 and we couldn’t announce it or we couldn’t finalize it unLl January 25. That states very clearly that this deal should include mulLple phases, that we have to do everything we can to avoid to return to the war and ensuring that all the hostages will be freed and there is a withdrawal from Gaza Strip and there is a clear way forward for the Gaza’s people to alleviate their situaLon. This deal has collapsed in 2nd of March and we have seen how the situaLon has been unfolding since then and the blockade on Gaza for now more than 60 days. And we are hearing also some responsible statements about the humanitarian situaLon over there, about, you know, the way of distribuLng these aids and distribuLng food in the form of meals and calculated calories for pre-qualified and pre-screened people. I think all these things that are happening has been unprecedented in our world today and it shouldn’t be acceptable for the internaLonal community. Yes, yet we have seen that, you know, unfortunately the Israeli government is carrying it out with impunity. Now, we conLnue our efforts despite everything and every aXempt to sabotage our efforts and try to also blackmail us and, you know, conLnuing aXacking us while we were the only country that’s helping together with Egypt and United States and we have just that this is just making us more determined to bring stability to the region, to end the war on Gaza, to free all the hostages and to bring them back to their family and to provide security for both people. The rounds of negoLaLons that took place in Doha in the past couple of weeks unfortunately didn’t lead us anywhere yet because there is a fundamental gap between the two parLes which is one party is looking for a parLal deal that might have the possibility to lead to a comprehensive deal and the other party is looking just for one-off deal and to end the war and to get all the hostages out and we couldn’t bridge this fundamental gap with whatever proposals we have provided given the past experience of the first deal that it collapsed and basically we are stuck in a situaLon that if this operaLon is starLng is just going to postpone the diplomaLc conclusion of the war which will end only diplomaLcally from our point of view and will just cost us a death toll on the PalesLnian side and also on the hostages side. Just I wanted to add one very important point to this. The delicacy of that situaLon in the region right now is criLcal and basically we have seen that the conLnuaLon of this campaign and this way and this behavior and it’s not only in Gaza but Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria is something becoming unbearable yet you have seen that all of us as governments, as countries we are calling for peace, we are calling for peaceful resoluLons and there is nothing stopping this kind of behavior. That will only add anger to the people in that region. This will add legiLmacy for non-state actors and is just going to fuel the narraLve of extremism and terrorism.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): In President Trump’s speech last week in Riyadh, he talks about the birth of a new Middle East, the economic transformaLon and also the Gulf states playing an increasingly influenLal diplomaLc and mediaLon role and the prospect of regional stability. Can there actually be regional stability in the absence of a soluLon to the PalesLnian and

    Israeli conflict that has been going on for decades?

    His Excellency: Well, we believe that this conflict is a core for the regional stability, and we hope that there will be a chance someLme soon. It requires a strong leadership, strong leadership from the PalesLnian side, from the Arab side and from the Israeli side because there will never be a deal without a compromise between all the parLes that ensuring that there are condiLons that can be created for the people to coexist together. This region has been for centuries with a beauLful social fabric that has different backgrounds and different ethnicity and different religions. Unfortunately, it’s been drained with these ancient wars and proxies that evolved over the last few decades. I cannot recall since I was born that there was a moment of stability in the region when we talk about the overall. We are blessed that the GCC was protected except during the Iraq war. But since we grew up, we grew up on just conflicts aYer another, aYer another.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): We’ve got a couple of minutes, but I do want to ask you because you were in Tehran over the weekend. How likely is it that you think we will get to an Iran-U.S. nuclear deal by the end of this year?

    His Excellency: I believe there is a posiLve momentum. We had a very good conversaLon with President Trump when he was here. We see him as a President who tried to talk to everyone, which is something that we very much encouraged. Also, he is trying to avoid any conflict or any escalaLon. This determinaLon in itself is showing leadership and poliLcal will. On the other side, on Iran, we have seen and sensed the same posiLvity. Of course, Oman is leading the mediaLon, and we are trying to support their efforts. I have suggested that aYer the visit of President Trump to have a trilateral engagement with the Iranians and our Omani colleagues. We were discussing ideas that can bridge the gaps between the two parLes. We hope that those ideas will work. The last thing that we want in that region is a nuclear race or another round of escalaLon that is next to our countries.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): Final quesLon on the Qatar economy. We have had the World Cup bump, you could call it. Of course, you have big visions of what you want to achieve in the next few years. What is the plan for the next five years by 2030?

    His Excellency: It is a very ambiLous plan. I have a friend who once told me that the World Cup was like an IPO for Qatar. I believe this was, thanks to God, this was a very successful IPO. It has been oversubscribed. We have seen the growth in many sectors aYer that. Basically, Qatar is trying to work on a transformaLon plan where we transform our economy into more being diversified, with a diversified base internally. We have been talking about this for the last 25 years and we have been working toward that objecLve. We are focusing on developing different sectors, whether it is on the manufacturing, on the logisLcs, on the educaLon, on the healthcare, on the tourism and technology. We have seen the technology revoluLon right now that is happening. We have seen that this technology revoluLon is not only happening away in the world, but countries like UAE is leading in arLficial intelligence or Saudi leading in data centers and we are trying to be part of this ecosystem and being a complementary for this region. Basically, we see that the potenLal is huge. The capability is there. Qatar has successfully built global brands in the last few decades. Qatar Airways is one of the main examples when you see that you have a leading airline being nominated number one for the last few years. This is something making us proud and we would like to see more and more brands coming out of Qatar like this.

    Joumanna Bercetche (Bloomberg TV): Your Excellency, thank you so much. Thank you. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatari-Egyptian Joint Statement on Ceasefire Negotiations in Gaza Strip

    Source: Government of Iran

    Doha – June 1, 2025

    The State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt continue their intensive efforts to bring views closer and address contentious points with a view to reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, based on the proposal of the U.S. President’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, thereby enabling the resumption of indirect negotiations on the basis of this proposal.

    Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the negotiations. They also call for all parties to exercise responsibility and support the efforts of mediators aimed at resolving the crisis in the Gaza Strip, through restoring stability and calm to the region.

    The two countries are also striving to swiftly reach a 60-day temporary truce, which would pave the way for a permanent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. This would facilitate the resolution of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region, enable the opening of border crossings, and allow the entry of humanitarian and relief aid to alleviate the suffering faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza. Ultimately, this effort aims to bring an end to the war entirely and initiate the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in accordance with the plan adopted by the emergency Arab summit held in Cairo on March 4, 2025.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Press Conference of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Latest Developments Regarding the Joint Mediation Efforts to End the Ongoing War in the Gaza Strip

    Source: Government of Iran

    The State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States of America are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of joint mediation efforts, leading to an agreement between the parties in the Gaza Strip conflict on the exchange of prisoners and hostages, the restoration of sustained calm, and progress toward a permanent ceasefire between the two sides, in addition to the delivery of substantial amounts of humanitarian and relief aid to our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip.

    I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to our partners in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, particularly the U.S. President-elect’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Mr. Steve Witkoff, and the Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, Mr. Brett McGurk, for their efforts that contributed to advancing the negotiations and reaching this agreement. Special thanks go to our brothers in the team from the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, and to His Excellency Minister Hassan Rashad, who worked diligently in partnership with their Qatari counterparts to achieve this agreement.

    With the approval of both parties involved in the negotiations on this agreement, efforts are underway to finalize all executive procedures tonight. Subsequently, internal procedures will be undertaken by the Israeli government, after which the agreement will come into effect on Sunday, the 19th of January. The exact time for the implementation of the agreement will be determined at a later stage.

    As for the details of the agreement, the initial phase, which spans 42 days, will involve a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastward, away from densely populated areas, to be stationed along the borders across all regions of the Gaza Strip. The phase will also include a prisoner and hostage exchange based on a specified mechanism, the exchange of remains of the deceased, the return of displaced individuals to their places of residence and facilitating the departure of patients and wounded individuals for medical treatment.

    The first phase also includes intensifying the delivery of humanitarian aid and its secure and effective distribution on a wide scale across the Gaza Strip, rehabilitating hospitals, health centers, and bakeries, providing civil defense supplies and fuel, and delivering shelter necessities for displaced individuals who lost their homes due to the war.

    Under the agreement, Hamas will, in the first phase, release 33 Israeli detainees, including civilian women, female soldiers, children, the elderly, and sick and injured civilians, in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons and detention centers.

    As for the details of the second and third phases, the agreement will be finalized during the implementation of the first phase.

    The State of Qatar underscores the necessity for both parties to fully adhere to the implementation of the agreement in its three phases to spare civilian lives and shield the region from the repercussions of this conflict, paving the way for achieving comprehensive and sustainable peace. Qatar will continue to collaborate jointly with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to ensure the parties’ commitments are upheld and to guarantee the continuation of negotiations for the implementation of the remaining phases.

    We look forward to the concerted efforts of regional and international actors in providing humanitarian assistance and supporting the United Nations in delivering aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The State of Qatar will spare no effort in extending support to our affected families in the Gaza Strip and providing all necessary measures to alleviate the suffering of the people of the Strip.

    Since October 8, under the directives and direct follow-up of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, we have spared no effort, working tirelessly day and night to reach this moment. Since the success of the mediation in halting the initial fighting last November and securing the release of 109 hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian detainees, we have been continuously working to ensure the achievement of an agreement that spares innocent lives, halts the machinery of war, and restores hope for a secure future in our region, providing the peoples of the region with the chance to dream of a better future.

    Over the course of 411 days, meetings and communications continued with our partners and the parties to the conflict. Today, we have reached this much-anticipated moment, but it is merely the beginning. The responsibility now falls on the parties, supported by mediators and the international community, to navigate toward the shores of peace. This will be the focus of our efforts in the upcoming phase.

    I would like to extend my gratitude to all our regional and international partners who supported us in these efforts and throughout the journey until reaching this agreement.

    In conclusion, I would like to say to our brothers and sisters in Gaza that the State of Qatar will always continue to support the Palestinian people. This issue is being given direct attention and constant follow-up by His Highness the Amir of the State, whether day or night, hour by hour, and minute by minute. We tell them, thanks be to God, who has enabled us to reach this state today, and we hope that this marks the final chapter of the days of war. We urge all parties to commit to implementing all provisions of this agreement and to adhere to the continuation of these measures as outlined in the agreement. The State of Qatar will remain consistently engaged with its partners to ensure the full implementation of this agreement and to restore comprehensive and sustainable calm in the Gaza Strip. Qatar will not abandon the people of Gaza.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Press Conference of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Lebanese Presidential Palace

    Source: Government of Iran

     

    In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

    May the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you.

    Firstly, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to General Joseph Aoun on his appointment as President of the Republic. We congratulate Lebanon on the end of its presidential vacancy, and we hope that this significant step will pave the way for lasting security and stability in Lebanon.

    We also look forward to the formation of the Lebanese government, hopefully soon, and to completing all necessary steps to strengthen state institutions in order to fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese people.

    Our visit today to Beirut is a gesture of support from the State of Qatar. The State of Qatar has always stood by Lebanon and its people, in both times of joy and times of hardship. God willing, you can always count on our unwavering support.

    The State of Qatar has consistently supported our sisterly Lebanon in recent years, whether through humanitarian aid, support for community initiatives, or assistance to the Lebanese Army. This support will continue. We have reaffirmed with His Excellency the President, Qatar’s commitment to sustaining its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, the military institution that unites all Lebanese.

    We also emphasize the importance of upholding the agreement regarding the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from southern Lebanon and ensuring the full implementation of related resolutions. Furthermore, we urge all parties to adhere to Resolution 1701, with the ultimate goal of Lebanon regaining full sovereignty over all its territories.

    The State of Qatar reaffirms its continued support for the Lebanese people. Once the government is formed, we look forward to collaborating with the Lebanese government to support state institutions and work on joint projects between our two countries.

    Thank you.

    In response to the First question, HE said:

    The State of Qatar has always been present, and we are committed, by all means, to fulfilling our duty towards the brotherly Lebanese people, Lebanon, and our brothers across the region.

    Regarding our support for the implementation of the resolution and the Israeli withdrawal agreement, as well as rejecting Israeli violations and attacks on Lebanon’s sovereignty, this is absolutely unacceptable. We consistently raise this issue in all our international discussions and in our contacts with the Israeli side. The State of Qatar will continue to play this role.

    On another level, in terms of economic and reconstruction support, there is no doubt that the State of Qatar will remain present, as it has been on every occasion and during every event. We look forward to the completion of the government formation, after which these files will be discussed. We are hopeful of establishing a strategic partnership that will serve the interests of both our countries and people.

    In response to the Second question, HE said:

    The issue of stability in the Middle East is, first and foremost, tied to resolving the root causes of the conflicts. We are all aware that the core issue in the region is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. The rejection of efforts to establish peace, including the two-state solution and the creation of an independent Palestinian state, will not lead to stability. Unfortunately, this situation allows extremists to exploit the chaos and take advantage of the reckless actions of the Israeli occupation to further their own agendas. The State of Qatar, without a doubt, completely rejects this.

    Since the beginning of this year, there have been positive indicators, whether it is the filling of the presidential vacancy in Lebanon or the changes taking place in Syria. We wish all the best for these developments. Just as wars have had a successive impact on the region, we hope that peace will also have a similar, cascading effect, and we look forward to that with optimism.

    Today, we are, of course, facing a difficult situation alongside our Palestinian brothers, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, following the success of the ceasefire agreement. We are committed to continuing this agreement until it reaches its final phase, ensuring the complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. We also aim to put an end to the actions and violations that our brothers in the West Bank are enduring.

    Regarding the issue of the partnership between the State of Qatar and Lebanon, we are awaiting, the formation of the government. Once that is complete, the State of Qatar will assess the sectors where Lebanon needs support. We will then work together to build a partnership, as I mentioned earlier, based on mutual benefit.

    Thank you very muc

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal house fire, Trentham

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are now in a position to release the name of the man who was found deceased after a house fire in Trentham, Upper Hutt on Tuesday [10 June] morning.

    He was 69 year old, John Louis.

    Police extends our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

    The cause of the fire is not believed to be suspicious.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ13: Disposal of yard waste

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ13: Disposal of yard waste 
    Question:
     
    The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up Y·PARK, a yard waste recycling centre, in 2021, with the purpose of converting recycled yard waste into useful materials to reduce disposal at landfills and associated carbon emissions. Y·PARK has a target handling capacity of about 11 000 tonnes in the first year, which would gradually increase to an annual average of around 22 000 tonnes. However, information from the Government shows that Y·PARK’s throughput last year was 6 876 tonnes. Besides, earlier on some trucks were reportedly driven from Y·PARK carrying yard waste to landfills in the New Territories West for disposal, and the EPD subsequently explained that the yard waste in question was not acceptable as it contained a large amount of impurities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of Y·PARK’s criteria for the recovery of yard waste, whether it has studied the reasons for the gradual decline in the amount of yard waste handled by Y·PARK in recent years, including whether this is affected by Y·PARK’s recovery criteria or the fact that yard waste producers recycle their own waste;
     
    (2) as it is learnt that Y·PARK’s major sources of yard waste are (i) ‍construction works and (ii) clearance work arising from regular vegetation maintenance, whether there is a statistical breakdown of the amount of yard waste respectively from (i) and (ii) handled by Y·PARK from 2021 to date; of the amount of yard waste that was sent to but not accepted at Y·PARK over the past three years, and whether it has looked into how such yard waste was subsequently disposed of (such as conversion into biochar and being sent to landfills);
     
    (3) given that according to a paper submitted by the Government to the Subcommittee to Study Policy Issues Relating to Municipal Solid Waste Charging, Recovery and Recycling of this Council in January 2023, a pilot biochar plant in EcoPark, which will further convert recyclable products of Y·PARK into biochar, has an estimated capability of converting about 6 000 tonnes of local woody waste into some 1 200 tonnes of biochar annually, of the amounts of waste handled and biochar produced since the plant came into operation, and whether such amounts could meet the targets; if not, when they are expected to meet the targets; and
     
    (4) given that according to the report on Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong, the amounts of yard waste recovered and disposed in Hong Kong in 2023 were 10 400 tonnes and some 83 000 tonnes respectively, while the amount of yard waste handled by Y·PARK in the same year was 8 609 tonnes, whether it has assessed if there is room for improvement in Y·PARK’s handling capacity; whether the Government has further strategies in place to enhance the recovery rate of yard waste?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

    After the onslaught of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up a temporary yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK, in 2021 to collect and process yard waste generated from regular vegetation maintenance and public construction works on one hand, and to assist in treating large quantities of yard waste generated after emergency incidents such as super typhoons on the other. The service fees paid by the EPD to the contractor are not based on the amount of yard waste received, but on the quantity of recyclable products produced by the contractor, which reflects Y·PARK’s performance more accurately.
     
    The reply to the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam is as follows:
     
    (1)To ensure the smooth operation of Y·PARK and the quality of the recyclable products, Y·PARK has established appropriate standards for yard waste recycling, including not accepting infected or infested wood, yard waste which is difficult to process such as tree stumps, pure twigs, leaves, grass clippings, or yard waste containing large amount of impurities. If yard waste is mixed with large amount of impurities, the chipping operations may be severely affected. For instance, Y·PARK’s wood chipper experienced mechanical failures due to metal rods hidden in the wood. Time and manpower were required to remove the rods, replace parts and repair the equipment. Such incidents could even halt the production line. Meanwhile, the quality of the recyclable products produced may be affected by impurities. For instance, plastics mixed into the recyclable products would limit their use in gardening. In this regard, the contractor of Y·PARK maintains communication with yard waste producers to explain how to properly separate waste at source to reduce instances where Y·PARK has to reject yard waste.  
    (2) Since its commencement of operation in 2021 up to April this year, Y·PARK has received a total of approximately 31 540 tonnes of yard waste, of which more than 50 per cent from construction works and about 40 per cent from routine vegetation maintenance. The EPD does not have the quantity of rejected yard waste and information on its final disposal means.
     
    (3) The first Pilot Biochar Production Plant (PBPP) in Hong Kong established by the EPD was originally scheduled to commence production in November 2023, with an estimated handling capacity of processing about 6 000 tonnes of local wood materials and producing about 1 200 tonnes of biochar annually. The PBPP commenced its testing in May 2023, during which many technical issues were overcome and various operational conditions (including processing temperatures, duration, and different types of wood-based raw materials) were adjusted and tested, in order to identify the optimal operating conditions and ensure high-quality biochar can be produced with less energy consumption. The PBPP finally commenced production in October 2024. From the start of the PBPP’s testing stage to the end of April 2025, the PBPP has processed over 1 200 tonnes of local wood materials from yard waste, converting them into more than 270 tonnes of biochar. The purposes of setting up the PBPP are to explore the technical feasibility of converting local wood materials from yard waste into biochar, as well as to study the quality of the biochar produced and its practical applications in the local market. As such, the actual processing quantity of the PBPP is adjusted based on testing needs and is also affected by the supply of wood materials and local market demand for biochar applications. With the PBPP entering production stage for only about six months, the EPD will consolidate operational experiences with a view to gradually increasing its processing quantity upon establishing technical requirements and market applications.
     
    (4) In order to further enhance the yard waste processing quantity of Y·PARK, the EPD are adopting a multi-pronged approach to increase the yard waste recycling rate. Measures include: (i) the EPD will continue to liaise with relevant government departments and other yard waste producers, encouraging them to adhere to the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, and treat and reuse yard waste on-site as far as possible, while yard waste that cannot be treated or reused on-site could be delivered to Y·PARK or other suitable recycling facilities for treatment; (ii) to encourage the Y·PARK contractor to recycle collected yard waste as far as possible to increase its recycling rate. The current contract stipulates that the service fees paid by the EPD to the contractor are based on the quantity of recyclable products produced, providing a financial incentive to the contractor; and (iii) in the long run, the Government reserves land in the New Territories North New Town to establish a larger-scale yard waste recycling facility to enhance yard waste handling capacity.
    Issued at HKT 12:08

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER STATEMENT ON TRUMP RENAMING FORT HENRY JOHNSON BACK TO FORT POLK

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today released the following statement on President Trump announcing the Army would be renaming Fort Johnson, named in honor of the Medal of Honor recipient, Albany Resident, Harlem Hellfighter, and New York Army National Guard Sgt. William Henry Johnson, back to Fort Polk:
    “This is a vile insult to the memory and heroic patriotism of Sgt. Henry Johnson, a Medal of Honor recipient and Albany resident who Theodore Roosevelt called ‘one of the five bravest Americans’ to have served in World War I. Allied Commander Gen. John Pershing singled out Johnson for his valor in repelling a German raider party of at least 12 men, and Johnson protected his fellow soldiers under heavy fire and repelled the raiding party resulting in several enemy casualties, engaging in hand to hand combat. For this he received no American military honor because of a racist and segregated military,” said Senator Schumer. “For nearly a century, the nation for which he was willing to give his life shamefully failed to recognize Henry Johnson’s heroics, simply because of the color of his skin, and now they are disgracefully removing his name from an honor he unquestionably earned via superhuman heroism on the battlefield. Henry Johnson loved America when America did not love him back. Yet he still willingly put his life on the line for our great nation. Some might call that the warrior spirit. I call it patriotism of the very highest order.”
    Schumer continued, “Sgt. Johnson is a true American hero who displayed the most profound bravery on the battlefield, and returning this fort to its former name, and taking this honor away from a medal of honor recipient is a disgusting new low for the Trump administration. It is utterly indefensible. All of America should be outraged at this slap in the face of a war hero. The Trump administration should be ashamed and should immediately reverse this decision.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 11, 2025

  • Thunderstorms, heavy showers likely in many states; IMD issues orange alert

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued an Orange Alert for several regions, warning of moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 60 kmph over the next two to three hours.

    The alert covers large parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam, with the IMD urging residents to remain cautious and follow official weather advisories.

    In Madhya Pradesh, districts including Dhar, Barwani, Khargone, Dindori, Mandla, and Balaghat are likely to experience intense weather conditions. Chhattisgarh is also expected to be significantly impacted, with warnings issued for Mungeli, Kabirdham, Bemetara, Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Balod, Kanker, and Narayanpur.

    Parts of eastern Maharashtra, particularly Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Wardha, and Nanded, are under similar warnings. In Karnataka, the alert applies to Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, and Ramnagar districts, where adverse weather is anticipated.

    The forecast also suggests intensified rainfall and storm activity in several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakkurichi, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, and Theni. In Kerala, residents of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram have been advised to remain alert. Assam’s Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sibsagar districts are also expected to witness thunderstorm activity.

    Authorities have urged people in the affected areas to stay indoors, avoid sheltering under trees or near unstable structures, and refrain from unnecessary travel. Commuters are advised to check road and traffic conditions before heading out, as sudden heavy rainfall may lead to waterlogging or hazardous driving situations.

    -IANS

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Train versus truck exercise a multi agency success

    Source:

    Trawool Fire Brigade and Seymour VICSES hosted a large-scale multi-agency training exercise last month in collaboration with Victoria Police, St John Ambulance Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, V/Line and Defence Australia.

    A train versus truck collision was simulated in Seymour on Friday 30 May with over 200 people participating in the event including first responders, injured passengers, and event observers.

    From a hazmat incident to an amputation, the experience provided all involved with an opportunity to refine their first response skills working alongside other agencies.

    Trawool Fire Brigade Captain and Exercise Director Sean Kerris was pleased with the outcomes of the exercise and thanked Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) for hosting the successful event.

    “The exercise itself was designed to utilise a real-life scenario in a high-risk local area to guide the end product,” Sean said.

    “We used lessons from recent Trawalla, Kerang and Lara train incidents and the Wallan derailment to formulate the exercise, alongside coroner reports, inquiry documents and firsthand recounts to further elevate it.

    “The realistic response allowed crew members to challenge themselves through real-time concerns and foster innovation when working with multiple agencies.”

    CFA Deputy Group Officer Mitchell Shire Laiton Telfer said brigade members predominantly supported fire suppression and the hazmat incident on the night.

    “It was great to work with the other agencies to get to know them better, as we do see them out on ground at the local incidents we respond to,” Laiton said. 

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

    June 11, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Careless driving – Girraween

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    NT Police Force have arrested a 32-year-old man after he allegedly crashed through a residential fence and attempted to evade arrest by diving into a lagoon yesterday afternoon.

    Around 2:20pm, police received reports that a vehicle had collided with a fence at the corner of Daniel Circuit and Girraween Road. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle stationary and still running; however, the driver had fled the scene on foot.

    A short time later, police located the driver who then entered a nearby lagoon and swam to the middle to avoid apprehension.

    Additional resources were deployed, including the Search and Rescue Section, who provided a vessel to assist. During the arrest, it is alleged the man attempted to grab an officer’s firearm; however, the officer was able to block this attempt.

    The 32-year-old was subsequently arrested without further incident and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment.

    Investigations remain ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information to contact 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2500059377. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    **This release has been updated to include that the incident occurred yesterday afternoon being Tuesday 10 June 2025. **

    MIL OSI News –

    June 11, 2025
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