Category: Politics

MIL-OSI China: China champions global cooperation on wetland conservation at COP15

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

Amid growing global attention to wetland conservation, China’s efforts and achievements in this field are particularly eye-catching at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), due to conclude in Victoria Falls on Thursday.

From building the world’s largest number of international wetland cities to achieving legislative breakthroughs and forging capacity-building partnerships with other countries, China has embraced a comprehensive approach to wetland protection, deeply rooted in ecological civilization and its unwavering support for global efforts.

An aerial drone photo taken on June 5, 2025 shows volunteers taking a boat to inspect the breeding habitat of migrant birds at a wetland on the estuary of the Baisha River in Qingdao City, east China’s Shandong Province. (Photo by Wang Haibin/Xinhua)

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS

At the height of summer, deep within the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve in central China’s Yueyang city, Hunan province, schools of fish swim freely in the lake, deer bound through the forests, and birds sing joyfully among the trees.

“We are proud to say that the wetlands are now the ecological calling cards of Yueyang,” said Yu Ge, a representative of the city who attended COP15 in the resort city of Victoria Falls in the Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe.

The COP15, themed “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” brought together government representatives to strengthen international commitments to wetland conservation and to highlight the vital role of wetlands in sustaining ecological health, biodiversity and climate resilience.

Yu actively promoted Yueyang at every event during his short stay in Zimbabwe, warmly inviting participants from different countries to explore the city. With approximately 285,200 hectares of wetlands, Yueyang has stepped up its conservation efforts in recent years and was officially recognized as an international wetland city at this year’s COP15.

A total of nine Chinese cities won the prestigious title during the meeting, bringing the total number of such cities in China to 22, the highest in the world, showcasing the country’s significant achievements in wetland conservation.

According to China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China currently boasts 56.35 million hectares of wetlands, ranking fourth in the world. It is also home to 82 Wetlands of International Importance and five national parks.

Yan Zhen, deputy head of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said during the meeting that in recent years, China has continuously improved its legal and institutional framework for wetland conservation, comprehensively protected wetland ecosystems, and actively engaged in international cooperation, continuously contributing to global wetland protection efforts.

“Over the last 20 years, China has made significant progress in wetland conservation, marking a turning point that has led to a more balanced and sustainable relationship between humans and nature,” Yan said.

SHINING EXAMPLE

China became a party to the Ramsar Convention in 1992 and hosted COP14 in 2022, during which it was elected as chair of the standing committee to lead the convention process for the following three years.

This photo taken on July 22, 2025 shows a herd of yaks in a wetland near Mapam Yumco Lake in Burang County of Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua during COP15, Musonda Mumba, secretary general of the Convention on Wetlands, said she assumed the role six weeks before the opening of COP14 and felt “very fortunate” to start the journey with China. “China has provided leadership in making sure that all the draft resolutions made at COP14 were dealt with and delivered in a timely manner.”

China’s Wetland Protection Law, effective since June 2022, is the country’s first dedicated legislation on wetlands, providing a comprehensive legal framework for wetland conservation, restoration, management and sustainable use.

Hailing the law as a “shining example” to the world, Mumba said, “China is one of the very few countries that actually have a wetland law. And that for me is also incredibly impressive, because not only does the law talk about having inventory, having the right data, managing these wetland systems, it also talks about the role of cities and why these cities matter.”

The success in wetland conservation has not only benefited China’s biodiversity, but also contributed to the health of cross-border ecosystems by integrating wetland protection with other environmental goals, such as migratory bird conservation, she noted.

Moreover, China’s efforts to raise awareness have sparked a significant increase in global interest in wetland conservation over the past years, she added.

“Indeed, if you look across the world, China has taken a leadership position in doing the right thing for wetlands,” Coenraad Krijger, CEO of Wetlands International, a global not-for-profit organisation, told Xinhua on the sidelines of COP15.

He applauded China for its leading role in the global wetland preservation agenda, noting that China’s status as a major investment partner in the world makes it a key player in safeguarding the health of wetland ecosystems.

“Through the trade relations that China has, and the investments that China has all over the world, (China) is also connected to (other) very important wetlands worldwide,” Krijger said.

While development is welcome, there is a need to maintain a balance between development and the health of wetlands, he said, adding that he is eager to visit Chinese wetland cities in the future to learn how they achieve urban development while reaping the benefits of preserving the wetlands.

UNWAVERING COMMITMENT

In many rapidly developing regions of Africa, urban expansion has taken a toll on wetlands, a growing issue that communities and policymakers are striving to address.

This photo taken on Nov. 27, 2023 shows little swans resting at a wetland in Yueyang City, central China’s Hunan Province. (Photo by Cao Zhengping/Xinhua)

According to Wetlands International’s Director for East Africa Julie Mulonga, many African countries have policies in place to protect wetlands, but there is a lack of investment in implementation measures.

Local communities and indigenous knowledge play a crucial role in effectively driving wetland conservation efforts, she said, adding that China’s wetland management experience could provide a valuable reference and its advanced technology could go a long way in helping the continent achieve green development.

Over the years, China has been actively supporting many African countries in wetland governance through legislative exchanges, technical training and talent development, helping enhance their ability to restore and preserve wetlands.

Wetlands are crucial for ecological resilience, and their future hinges on unwavering international cooperation, said Xia Jun, director general of the International Cooperation Department at China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration. “This profound understanding underpins China’s unwavering commitment to its conservation.”

In 2024, China launched the International Mangrove Center (IMC) in the southern city of Shenzhen to promote global mangrove conservation, sustainable use and international cooperation.

Xia described the IMC as a landmark initiative that reflects the spirit of global cooperation.

With the support of the IMC, the Mangrove Conservation Foundation, a private foundation based in China, has been carrying out programs in African countries such as Madagascar and Kenya to help preserve mangroves, which are vital coastal ecosystems along the continent’s shorelines, Sun Lili, co-founder and executive board chair of the foundation, told Xinhua.

Christine Colvin, Freshwater Policy Lead, WWF International, said: “This COP is really important in terms of setting goals for the next period, for the next decade, and the strategic plan for the contracting parties to Ramsar, and it prioritises international cooperation.”

Colvin said that China is demonstrating to municipalities and local governments around the world how to bring nature back into cities and design new urban areas that are more permeable, allowing the natural water cycle to function.

Commending China for leading the way in this field, the WWF official said they are looking forward to continuing cooperation with China to boost global efforts to preserve wetlands and build more permeable sponge cities.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legal and Finance Sectors – MinterEllisonRuddWatts advises Camco on innovative blended finance fund

Source: MinterEllisonRuddWatts

MinterEllisonRuddWatts is proud to have assisted Camco, a leading UK-based impact fund manager, with the establishment of an innovative blended finance fund called TIDES (Transforming Island Development through Electrification and Sustainability).

TIDES is an innovative fund aiming to help unlock USD100 million of public and private sector finance to support renewable energy developments in the Pacific Islands. The fund has received contributions from the New Zealand and UK governments in the form of first loss equity.

This first-of-its-kind fund for the region is designed to deliver deep impact by strengthening the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. It will provide flexible financing to local renewable energy developers behind zero-emissions projects across a full range of sizes, from mini-grids to large grid-connected systems.

Partner Lloyd Kavanagh and Senior Associate Ken Ng attended the signing ceremony of TIDES at the British High Commission in Wellington yesterday, alongside Minister for Climate Change, the Honourable Simon Watts, British High Commissioner HE Ms Iona Thomas OBE, and the Managing Director of Camco Management Limited, Geoff Sinclair.

Lloyd Kavanagh commented: “We are delighted to support Camco in launching the TIDES fund, a pioneering initiative that bl

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: New Caledonia’s oldest party for independence rejects ‘Bougival’ deal

By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific Desk

New Caledonia’s oldest pro-independence party, the Union Calédonienne (UC), has officially rejected a political agreement on the Pacific territory’s political future signed in Paris last month.

The text, bearing the signatures of all of New Caledonia’s political parties represented in the local Congress — a total of 18 leaders, both pro-France and pro-independence — is described as a “project” for an agreement that would shape politics.

Since it was signed in the city of Bougival, west of Paris, on July 12, after 10 days of intense negotiations, it has been dubbed a “bet on trust” and has been described by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls as a commitment from all signing parties to report to their respective bases and explain its contents.

The Bougival document involves a series of measures and recognition by France of New Caledonia as a “State” which could become empowered with its own international relations and foreign affairs, provided they do not contradict France’s key interests.

It also envisages dual citizenship — French and New Caledonian — provided future New Caledonian citizens are French nationals in the first place.

It also describes a future devolution of stronger powers for each of the three provinces (North, South and Loyalty Islands), especially in terms of tax collection.

Since it was published, the document, bearing a commitment to defend the text “as is”, was hailed as “innovative” and “historic”.

New Caledonia’s leaders have started to hold regular meetings — sometimes daily — and sessions with their respective supporters and militants, mostly to explain the contents of what they have signed.

The meetings were held by most pro-France parties and within the pro-independence camp, the two main moderate parties, UPM (Union Progressiste en Mélanésie) and PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party).

Over the past two weeks, all of these parties have strived to defend the agreement, which is sometimes described as a Memorandum of Agreement or a roadmap for future changes in New Caledonia.

Most of the leaders who have inked the text have also held lengthy interviews with local media.

Parties who have unreservedly pledged their support to and signed the Bougival document are:

Pro-France side: Les Loyalistes, Rassemblement-LR, Wallisian-based Eveil Océanien and Calédonie Ensemble

Pro-independence: UNI-FLNKS (which comprises UPM and PALIKA).

But one of the main components of the pro-independence movement, the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) — as its main pillar — the Union Calédonienne, has held a series of meetings indicating their resentment at their negotiators for having signed the contested document.

UC held its executive committee on July 21, its steering committee on July 26, and FLNKS convened its political bureau on July 23.

A ‘lure of sovereignty’
All of these meetings concluded with an increasingly clear rejection of the Bougival document.

Speaking at a news conference in Nouméa yesterday, UC leaders made it clear that they “formally reject” the agreement because they regard it as a “lure of sovereignty” and does not guarantee either real sovereignty or political balance.

FLNKS chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou, who is also UC’s chair, told local reporters he understood his signature on the document meant a commitment to return to New Caledonia, explain the text and obtain the approval of the political base.

“I didn’t have a mandate to sign a political agreement, my mandate was to register the talks and bring them back to our people so that a decision can be made . . . it didn’t mean an acceptance on our part,” he said, mentioning it was a “temporary” document subject to further discussions.

Tjibaou said some amendments his delegation had put on the table in Bougival “went missing” in the final text.

Union Calédonienne chair and chief FLNKS negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou . .. some amendments that his delegation had put on the table in Bougival “went missing” in the final text. Image: RNZ Pacific

‘Bougival, it’s over’
“As far as we’re concerned, Bougival, it’s over”, UC vice-president Mickaël Forrest said.

He said it was now time to move onto a “post-Bougival phase”.

Meanwhile, the FLNKS also consulted its own “constitutionalists” to obtain legal advice and interpretation of the document.

In a release about yesterday’s media conference, UC stated that the Bougival text could not be regarded as a balance between two “visions” for Kanaky New Caledonia, but rather a way of “maintaining New Caledonia as French”.

The text, UC said, had led the political dialogue into a “new impasse” and it left several questions unanswered.

“With the denomination of a ‘State’, a fundamental law (a de facto Constitution), the capacity to self-organise, and international recognition, this document is perceived as a project for an agreement to integrate (New Caledonia) into France under the guise of a decolonisation”.

“The FLNKS has never accepted a status of autonomy within France, but an external decolonisation by means of accession to full sovereignty [which] grants us the right to choose our inter-dependencies,” the media release stated.

The pro-independence party also criticised plans to enlarge the list of people entitled to vote at New Caledonia’s local elections — the very issue that triggered deadly and destructive riots in May 2024.

It is also critical of a proposed mechanism that would require a vote at the Congress with a minimum majority of 64 percent (two thirds) before any future powers can be requested for transfer from France to New Caledonia.

Assuming that current population trends and a fresh system of representation at the Congress will allow more representatives from the Southern province (about three quarters of New Caledonia’s population), UC said “in other words, it would be the non-independence [camp] who will have the power to authorise us — or not — to ask for our sovereignty”.

They party confirmed that it had “formally rejected the Bougival project of agreement as it stands” following a decision made by its steering committee on July 26 “since the fundamentals of our struggle and the principles of decolonisation are not there”.

Negotiators no longer mandated
The decision also means that every member of its negotiating team who signed the document on July 12 is now de facto demoted and no longer mandated by the party until a new negotiating team is appointed, if required.

“Union Calédonienne remains mobilised to arrive at a political agreement that takes into account the achievement of a trajectory towards full sovereignty”.

On Tuesday, FLNKS president Christian Téin, as an invited guest of Corsica’s “Nazione” pro-independence movement, told French media he declared himself “individually against” the Bougival document, adding this was “far from being akin to full sovereignty”.

Téin said that during the days that led to the signing of the document in Bougival “the pressure” exerted on negotiators was “terrible”.

He said the result was that due to “excessive force” applied by “France’s representatives”, the final text’s content “looks like it is the French State and right-wing people who will decide the (indigenous) Kanak people’s future”.

Facing crime-related charges, Téin is awaiting his trial, but was released from jail, under the condition that he does not return to New Caledonia.

The leader of a CCAT (field action coordinating cell) created by Union Calédonienne late in 2023 to protest against a proposed French Constitutional amendment to alter voters’ rules of eligibility at local elections, was jailed for one year in mainland France. However, he was elected president of FLNKS in absentia in late August 2024.

CCAT, meanwhile, was admitted as one of the new components of FLNKS.

In a de facto split, the two main moderate pillars of FLNKS, UPM and PALIKA, at the same time, distanced themselves from the pro-independence UC-dominated platform, opening a rift within the pro-independence umbrella.

The FLNKS is scheduled to hold an extraordinary meeting on August 9 (it was initially scheduled to be held on August 2), to “highlight the prospects of the pursuit of dialogue through a repositioning of the pro-independence movement’s political orientations”.

French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls (centre) shows signatures on the last page of New Caledonia’s new Bougival agreement earlier this month . . . “If tomorrow there was to be no agreement, it would mean the future, hope, would be put into question” Image: FB/RNZ Pacific

Valls: ‘I’m not giving up’
Reacting to the latest UC statements, Valls told French media he called on UC to have “a great sense of responsibility”.

“If tomorrow there was to be no agreement, it would mean the future, hope, would be put into question. Investment, including for the nickel mining industry, would no longer be possible.”

“I’m not giving up. Union Calédonienne has chosen to reject, as it stands, the Bougival accord project. I take note of this, but I profoundly regret this position.

“An institutional void would be a disaster for [New Caledonia]. It would be a prolonged uncertainty, the risk of further instability, the return of violence,” he said.

“But my door is not closed and I remain available for dialogue at all times. Impasse is not an option.”

Valls said the Bougival document was “‘neither someone’s victory on another one, nor an imposed text: it was built day after day with partners around the table following months of long discussions.”

In a recent letter specifically sent to Union Calédonienne, the French former Prime Minister suggested the creation of an editorial committee to start drafting future-shaping documents for New Caledonia, such as its “fundamental law”, akin to a Constitution for New Caledonia.

Valls also stressed France’s financial assistance to New Caledonia, which last year totalled around 3 billion euros because of the costs associated to the May 2024 riots.

The riots caused 14 dead, hundreds of injured and an estimated financial cost of more than 2 billion euros (NZ$5.8 billion) in damage.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “Shoulder to Shoulder – to a Common Victory”: Xinhua Photo Exhibition Opens in Minsk in Honor of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

MINSK, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) — A Xinhua photo exhibition titled “Shoulder to Shoulder – Towards a Common Victory” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War opened in Minsk on Thursday. The exhibition was visited by more than 300 people, including representatives of Belarusian political, military and academic circles, media and public organizations.

The exhibition features 34 photographs that vividly reflect the heroic struggle of the Chinese people against the Japanese aggressors, tell the touching story of the joint resistance of Soviet volunteer pilots and the Chinese people, and also demonstrate the deep military friendship between the peoples of China and Belarus during the World Anti-Fascist War.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Lukashevich, who visited the exhibition, shared his impressions.

“This is an interesting and rich exhibition. It was very interesting for me to get acquainted with its content. Photographic documents are displayed here, the history that unites Belarus and China. Today, the two countries together advocate for the preservation of historical memory. It is very important now to talk about the true side of this history. This is also of great importance for young people, so that there is no distortion of the realities in which we live,” noted S. Lukashevich. According to him, historical truth for the peoples of China and Belarus is a very important element on which it is possible to build a correct, literate and educated society.

In turn, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan told Xinhua that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union and the World Anti-Fascist War.

“China and the USSR, as the main theaters of military operations in Asia and Europe during World War II, became the mainstay in the fight against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making a decisive contribution to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. The photo exhibition vividly reproduces the heroic deeds of the Chinese nation in the united resistance to the Japanese invaders, and also tells about the true friendship between China and the USSR, forged during the war years. After 80 years, China and Belarus firmly adhere to the course of preserving historical memory, joint development and protecting international justice, jointly striving for a brighter future for humanity,” the Chinese ambassador concluded.

The exhibition was organized by the Minsk office of the Xinhua News Agency and China Image Group with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Belarus. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Veerawit Tianchainan named New Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director, Leading the Charge for Environmental Justice

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Bangkok, 1 August 2025 – Greenpeace Southeast Asia has appointed Veerawit Tianchainan as its new Executive Director, effective 1 August 2025. Assuming leadership at a time of intensifying escalating climate threats and systemic environmental injustices, Veerawit brings a bold and values-driven vision to lead the organisation in confronting the climate crisis and champion environmental justice across Southeast Asia.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia has appointed Veerawit Tianchainan as its new Executive Director, effective 1 August 2025. Assuming leadership at a time of intensifying escalating climate threats and systemic environmental injustices, Veerawit brings a bold and values-driven vision to lead the organization in confronting the climate crisis and champion environmental justice across Southeast Asia. © Chanklang Kanthong / Greenpeace

A seasoned leader in environmental and human rights advocacy, Veerawit brings over 25 years of experience working across Southeast Asia and globally. His career spans diplomacy, public policy, grassroots mobilisation and international cooperation with governments, multilateral institutions and civil society movements.

Early in his career, Veerawit worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Regional Office in Thailand before founding the Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR), the country’s first nationally registered non-profit organisation dedicated to refugee protection. Under his leadership, TCR became a leading advocate for the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons across Thailand and the region.

Prior to joining Greenpeace, Veerawit held leadership roles with the USAID-WWF Mekong for the Future Programme, where he led initiatives on environmental governance, community rights and natural resource protection across the Lower Mekong and wider ASEAN region. He also served leadership roles at The Freedom Story in Chiang Rai and the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and has advised the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children and the Asian Research Center for Migration.

Upon his appointment, Veerawit stated:

“We can only secure a thriving future for people and planet by standing up to unjust systems and creating bold, fair alternatives that put communities and the environment first. Greenpeace is a force for transformation – driven by courage, hope, and the power of people coming together. I’m proud to stand with Southeast Asia’s communities as we fight for environmental justice and a dignified future for all.”

Welcoming the new Executive Director, Wahyu Dhyatmika, Chair of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Board of Directors, commented:

“Veerawit’s bold vision, deep roots in community engagement, and proven leadership come at a time when bold action is urgently needed. The Board is confident he will guide Greenpeace Southeast Asia with purpose and drive the systemic change required to meet today’s environmental challenges.”

With presence in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, for over 25 years, Greenpeace Southeast Asia continues to champion renewable energy, forest and ocean protection, and climate justice – working alongside communities and grassroots movements to build a just, peaceful and sustainable future.

Download the image of Veerawit here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Somrudee Panasudtha, Senior Media Campaigner, Greenpeace Thailand

Tel. 081 929 5747 Email: [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Woodside decommissioning “more like decomposing”: Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

PERTH, Friday 1 August 2025 — In response to reports that fossil fuel giant Woodside has been hit with mandated orders over decommissioning by safety regulator NOPSEMA, the following statement can be attributed to Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific:

“It’s unsettling but unsurprising that Woodside is yet again in trouble with the federal regulator NOPSEMA. Woodside’s mess is its own to clean up through thorough, safe and timely decommissioning of its toxic, retired offshore projects. But at this rate, what Woodside calls decommissioning is more like decomposing.

“Woodside’s decommissioning woes are piling up as its safety record and timelines blow out. The latest issues highlighted by the regulator include plastic from its Victorian structures washing up on local beaches, dangerous worker safety incidents, and ongoing issues related to the giant riser turret mooring that sank to the ocean floor near Ningaloo Reef.

“This follows on from troubling reports last week that taxpayers are expected to foot Chevron’s bill for the massive clean-up required of the once-pristine Barrow Island. It has never been clearer that the oil and gas industry cannot be trusted to operate off the beautiful WA coast. We cannot risk similar outcomes at Scott Reef, where Woodside wants to drill up to 57 wells. The federal and Western Australian governments must make the polluters pay for their own full and proper clean up and prevent further risks to WA’s nature by rejecting Woodside’s dirty gas proposal at Scott Reef.”

-ENDS-

Photos and videos available here

For more information or interviews, contact Kimberley Bernard on +61407581404 or [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: News 07/29/2025 Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Ban the National Education Association from Influencing Congress
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Terminating Education Association Congressional Handouts (TEACH) Act to ban the National Education Association (NEA) from influencing the decisions of the federal government. This follows Senator Blackburn’s legislation to revoke the congressional charter of the NEA, the nation’s largest teachers’ union and the only labor union with a federal charter.

“The National Education Association has abandoned its mission of supporting America’s teachers and students in the name of pushing its far-left political agenda,” said Senator Blackburn. “The NEA has become nothing more than a radical-left activist group, and it has no business using its status as a congressionally chartered entity to push woke gender ideology, antisemitism, and propaganda on America’s students.”

BACKGROUND
- The National Education Association (NEA) voted to fight against President “Trump’s embrace of fascism,” promote LGBTQ events in public schools, and members backed severing all ties with the Anti-Defamation League. These latest examples of NEA’s blatant political bias, along with its recent promotion of hatred and antisemitism, are a clear departure from the organization’s intended purpose.
- The NEA has a long list of egregious violations of public trust:
THE TEACH ACT

The TEACH Act would:
- Ban the NEA from influencing the decisions of the federal government; and
- Require the NEA to submit an annual certification to the Secretary of Education that the association has not engaged in any such attempts.
Click here for bill text.
MIL OSI USA News –
August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Trump signs executive order increasing tariff on Canada to 35%

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

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order increasing the tariff on Canada from 25 percent to 35 percent, with the higher tariff set to go into effect on Aug. 1, the White House said in a fact sheet.

“Canada has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and it has retaliated against the United States for the president’s actions to address this unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States,” said the fact sheet.

The White House said that in response to Canada’s “continued inaction and retaliation,” Trump has found it necessary to increase the tariff on Canada to “effectively address the existing emergency.”

Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will continue to remain exempt from the new tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade the 35 percent tariff will be subject, instead, to a transshipment tariff of 40 percent.

The fact sheet addressed the presidential action as “necessary and appropriate to protect American lives and the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

In February, Trump signed an executive order to impose an ad valorem duty rate of 25 percent on imports from Canada in response to the national emergency. In March, he determined that Canada had failed to adequately address the situation and proceeded with the imposition of the 25 percent tariff, according to the fact sheet.

“Now, President Trump is taking further action to hold Canada accountable for its continued role in the illicit drug crisis,” the White House said.

On Thursday, Trump also announced so-called “reciprocal tariff rates” of up to 41 percent on many countries.

In April, Canada imposed 25-percent tariffs on U.S. vehicles that didn’t meet CUSMA rules and on non-Canadian, non-Mexican content in vehicles imported under CUSMA, as countermeasures, said its government.

Canada was the top buyer of U.S. exports last year, importing 349 billion dollars worth of goods, while exporting 413 billion dollars to the United States as its third-largest source of foreign goods, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Trump signs executive order modifying tariff rates with dozens of trading partners

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

U.S. President Donald Trump steps off Marine One upon his arrival at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order further modifying tariff rates with nearly 70 trading partners.

The order hereby imposes “additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners.”

Most of the new tariff rates range from 10 percent to 40 percent, according to an annex to the release from the White House.

The new tariff rates will take effect seven days after the date of the executive order with exceptions on logistical grounds.

Trump noted in the executive order that some U.S. trading partners, despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that do not sufficiently address “imbalances” in trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on “economic and national security matters.”

“There are also some trading partners that have failed to engage in negotiations with the United States or to take adequate steps to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters,” he said.

According to the order, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, together with other senior officials, shall publish every six months a list of countries and specific facilities used in circumvention schemes, to inform public procurement, national security reviews, and commercial due diligence.

In addition, major U.S. governmental agencies are directed and authorized to take “all necessary actions” to implement and effectuate this order, consistent with applicable law, including through temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or notices.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese envoy rejects US accusations over Ukraine crisis

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

A Chinese envoy on Thursday rejected U.S. accusations against China over its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

At a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, the U.S. representative accused China of being “the most important supplier” of Russia’s war efforts.

In response, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, dismissed the false and slanderous narratives against China from the U.S. side as completely unacceptable.

China did not start the Ukraine crisis and is not a party to it. China has never supplied lethal weapons to either side of the conflict and has strictly controlled the export of dual-use goods, including drones, said Geng.

“The parties to the conflict are not under Security Council sanctions. China has normal trade relations with Russia and Ukraine. By doing so, it does not violate international law or breach its international obligations. China’s legitimate rights and interests must not be infringed upon,” he said. “In fact, till now, the United States has maintained its trade with Russia. If the United States is doing that itself, why doesn’t it allow others to do the same?”

The Ukraine crisis is at a critical juncture where there are prospects and hopes for a political solution. It is not right for the United States, on the one hand, to expect China to play a role in putting an early end to the conflict, and on the other hand, to keep on smearing and pressurizing China, said Geng.

China, once again, urges the United States to stop its pointless blame game, stop shifting responsibilities, and play a constructive role in ending the fighting and promoting peace talks, he said.

To resolve the Ukraine crisis, what is needed is unity and cooperation, not division and confrontation, he added.

On the supply of weapons to Ukraine, Geng expressed concern about the expanding variety and range of weapons flowing to the battlefield, as well as a growing lethality and destructive power.

The reckless supply of weapons to the battlefield will only intensify confrontation, prolong the conflict, cause risks of proliferation, and inflict further casualties and suffering on the people of both sides and the broader region, he warned.

The urgent priority for Russia and Ukraine is to work together to de-escalate the situation on the battlefield as soon as possible. They should maintain the momentum of talks, continue to build consensus and ultimately reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement, said Geng.

Since day one of the conflict, China has advocated for the peaceful resolution of disputes and has called on the parties to the conflict to end hostilities, start negotiations and restore peace sooner rather than later. China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in an early political settlement of the crisis, he said.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Chairs Markey, Duckworth, Booker Slam Trump Administration Plan to Eliminate EPA’s Ability to Protect Public Health from Climate Change

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington (July 31, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.)—co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—issued the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, a landmark determination that requires the EPA to address greenhouse gas emissions and pollution because of the threat that climate change poses to public health and welfare. By rescinding the endangerment finding, the Trump administration will effectively declaw the EPA, giving big businesses a green light to pollute our air and devastate environmental justice communities.

“Once again, the Trump administration is sacrificing our children’s future to protect polluters in the present. Trump and Zeldin are annihilating the key legal foundation that requires our government to act on climate change because it threatens the health of Americans—their repeal of the endangerment finding is ignorant, runs counter to scientific fact and will put lives at risk. Environmental justice communities are particularly threatened by this wrong-headed decision, since they are most exposed to climate impacts and have the fewest resources to protect themselves. The Trump administration must reverse this decision—it flies in the face of science, the law, and our moral responsibility to protect our future.”

As co-chairs of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Markey, Duckworth, and Booker have long pushed to strengthen and defend environmental justice efforts across the country. Earlier this month, the three condemned Republicans’ cuts to environmental justice grants that were included in Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Betrayal. Earlier this week, Markey held a press conference outside EPA headquarters to rail against the Trump administration’s plans to rescind the endangerment finding. In March, Duckworth and Booker condemned the Trump administration for shutting down all of EPA’s environmental justice offices and slashing over 30 EPA regulations that have helped protect our nation’s public health and the environment for decades.

In February, Markey, Duckworth, and Booker—along with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.)—urged EPA Administrator Zeldin to reopen the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), which Duckworth and Booker led the charge to create. Markey, Duckworth, and Booker also helped introduce legislation that would permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) in response to Attorney General Bondi’s order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ.

MIL OSI USA News –

August 5, 2025
PM Modi invites citizens to share ideas for Independence Day speech

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited citizens across the country to share their ideas and suggestions for this year’s Independence Day address.

In a post on X, PM Modi urged the public to contribute their thoughts via the open forums on MyGov.in and the NaMo app.

“As we approach this year’s Independence Day, I look forward to hearing from my fellow Indians! What themes or ideas would you like to see reflected in this year’s Independence Day speech? Share your thoughts on the Open Forums on MyGov and the NaMo App,” the Prime Minister wrote.

As per tradition, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and addresses the nation every year on August 15.

Last year, on India’s 78th Independence Day, PM Modi’s speech focused on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, which outlines the Government’s vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.

The Prime Minister also spoke on various key issues, including Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), improving ease of living, the role of women in the Air Force, tackling nepotism in politics, the safety of Bangladeshi Hindus, the idea of a uniform civil code, and India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics.

Continuing the ceremonial traditions, the Prime Minister also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and received a ‘Rashtriya Salute’ after hoisting the national flag. Last year, the salute was presented by the Punjab Regiment’s military band, which included one JCO and 25 other ranks, led by Subedar Major Rajinder Singh.

This year marks PM Modi’s 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, making him only the third Indian Prime Minister-after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi-to achieve this milestone.

August 5, 2025
Mission Karmayogi crosses 1.26 crore users, expands digital training across govt

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Mission Karmayogi, the central government’s ambitious civil services capacity-building programme, is witnessing robust nationwide adoption. As of July 21, over 1.26 crore govt officials across central and state levels have registered on the iGOT-Karmayogi digital learning platform.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed that all ministries and departments of the central government have been fully integrated with the platform. The digital shift represents a transformative step in government training, moving away from conventional models to a more adaptive, role-based approach.

The iGOT-Karmayogi portal provides customised training that aligns with the competency frameworks of individual departments. Of the total users, around 41 lakh are central government employees, while 85 lakh belong to various state services. The platform currently offers more than 3,000 live courses covering a range of functional, behavioural, and domain-specific competencies. Together, these courses have seen over 3.8 crore completions, reflecting the growing demand for continuous learning within public administration.

Designed as a comprehensive digital learning ecosystem, iGOT-Karmayogi has been integrated with key training components such as induction sessions, mid-career programmes, and in-service development. It aims to equip civil servants with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to meet the evolving challenges of governance in the 21st century.

To measure the initiative’s impact, the Department of Personnel and Training has introduced a Monitoring and Evaluation framework with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track stakeholder performance and drive service delivery improvements.

August 5, 2025
Pakistan jails more than 100 members of ex-PM Imran Khan’s party for 2023 riots

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced more than 100 members of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party to prison terms on charges related to riots that targeted military sites in 2023, a court order said.

Fifty-eight of the defendants, who included parliamentarians and senior officials, were sentenced to 10 years in prison and the rest were given sentences ranging from one to three years, the court said.

The accused include Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz, the leaders of Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) in the lower and upper houses of parliament respectively, the court order seen by Reuters read.

“The prosecution has proved its case against the accused without a shadow of doubt,” it said in announcing the sentences.

Khan, who has been in prison since 2023 facing charges of corruption, land fraud and disclosure of official secrets, is being tried separately on similar charges related to the riot.

The government accuses him and other leaders of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

He denies wrongdoing and says all the cases are politically motivated as part of a military-backed crackdown to dismantle his party. The military denies it.

Khan’s arrest had prompted the countrywide violent protests.

Thursday’s ruling does not directly affect the incitement case against him in which prosecution is still presenting witnesses.

The PTI party said it will challenge the verdict.

The ruling is the third such mass conviction this month; Khan’s party says they have included at least 14 of its parliamentarians.

They will lose their seats in parliament under Pakistani laws, which will shred Khan’s opposition party’s strength.

Another 77 were acquitted for lack of evidence in the latest verdict, which is linked to an attack on the office of an intelligence agency in eastern city of Faisalabad, the court said.

The party plans new protests starting on August 5, the second anniversary of Khan’s jailing, to demand his release.

(Reuters)

August 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Atos – Half-year 2025 results on track. Full Year 2025 targets confirmed

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Press Release

Half-year 2025 results on track
Full Year 2025 targets confirmed

Significant progress in the execution of the Genesis transformation plan
- Reset of cost base well engaged, already impacting profitability
- Over 50% of the overall Genesis restructuring target incurred
  at the end of June
- Growth pillar initial phase achieved to deliver long-term ambition
Operating Margin up 80 bps proforma from 2.0% to 2.8%, to €113m (+15.4% yoy) despite the material decline in revenue, as anticipated
- Atos SBU: +1.7 pts to 5.7% driven by initial benefits from the restructuring plan and tight contract management
- Eviden SBU: -1.7 pts to -7.9% – consistent with previously announced seasonality
Significant improvement in Free Cash Flow¹to -€96m (including -€154m cash restructuring) from -€593m in H1 2024
H1 revenue at €4,020m, down 17.4% organically due to expected impact of contracts exit and low business traction in 2024.
Achieved a 10 pts yoy Book-to-Bill improvement reaching 83% despite soft market environment with:
- Improved or flat order entry in all regions apart from France
- Continued strategic deal wins with 11 large multi-year contracts signed vs. 5 in H1 2024. The positive commercial momentum is expected to continue in H2 2025
- Rolling 12-month pipeline increased by €1.5bn in Q2 including €1.3bn in large deals (over €30m)
Full Year 2025 targets and long-term trajectory confirmed
Share Purchase Agreement signed with the French State for the sale of Advanced Computing activities

Paris, August 1^st, 2025 – Atos, a leading provider of AI-powered digital transformation, today announces its half year 2025 financial results.

Philippe Salle, Atos Group Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, declared:

“In a challenging environment, I am very encouraged by the determination of our teams in rolling-out the Genesis transformation plan with no delay. The voluntary optimization of the Group cost base is already starting to show initial benefits as shown through our half-year results: the operating margin is improving by over 15% year-on-year, a positive momentum which we intend to pursue. Our limited cash consumption is reflecting our disciplined approach to cash management, and we notice a sheer increase in enthusiasm among our customers towards the strategic refocusing of the Group.
We also reached a new significant milestone towards the sale of our Advanced Computing activities with the signature of a share purchase agreement with the French State.
We are looking ahead to the rest of the year and beyond with confidence and a single focus: executing on our strategy. We remain strongly committed to our 2025 targets and our long-term financial trajectory.”

H1 2025 performance highlights

In € million	H1 2025	H1 2024	Var.	H1 2024*	Organic Var.
Revenue	4,020	4,964	(944)	4,865	(845)
Operating Margin	113	115	(2)	98	+15
In % of revenue	2.8%	2.3%	+0.5 pts	2.0%	+0.8 pts
OMDA	309	373	(64)
In % of revenue	7.7%	7.5%	+0.2 pts
Net income – Group share	-696	-1,941	+ 1,245
Free Cash Flow²	-96	-593	+ 497
Net debt (excl. IFRS 9 adjustment)	-1,681	-4,218	+ 2,537

*: at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

Operational performance

Group revenue reached 4,020 million euros in the first half 2025, reflecting a 17.4% organic decline compared to the first half of 2024, driven by 2024 contract losses and voluntary contract exits, especially in the Atos Strategic Business Unit (SBU) in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as overall soft market environment. The Atos SBU generated revenue of 3,603 million euros, down 17.9% organically compared to the first half of 2024. The Eviden SBU revenue was down 11.9% compared to the first half of 2024, to 417 million euros in the first half of 2025.

Group operating margin reached 113 million euros in the first half of 2025, representing an organic 15% increase compared to the first half of 2024 and 2.8% of revenue (compared to 2.0% in the first half of 2024), despite a 845 million revenue decline year-on-year. This performance demonstrates the initial benefits of the cost reduction measures engaged since the beginning of the year, especially in the Atos SBU where the operating margin improved 18% year-on-year. The Eviden SBU profitability was lower than last year, as expected, due to a strong seasonality throughout the year.

Disclosure in this section represents the revised reporting structure of Atos Group, following the implementation of the new organization in the first half 2025 reporting period. These are those that will be presented in the consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2025, which will be included in the 2025 half year report. Atos has identified Atos France, Atos BNN Benelux & the Nordics, Atos UK&I, Atos USA & CA, Atos GACE, Atos IM, Atos Global Delivery Centers, Eviden and Global Structures as the operating segments, mirroring the internal reporting structure. This reflects the review, management and assessment of the group’s operating results by Group Management following the implementation of the new organization.

In € million	H1 2025 Revenue	H1 2024* Revenue	Organic variation	H1 2025 OM	H1 2024 OM*	H1 2025 OM	Organic variation*
In € million	H1 2025 Revenue	H1 2024* Revenue	Organic variation	H1 2025 OM	H1 2024 OM*	H1 2025 OM	Organic variation*
ATOS	3,603	4,391	-17.9%	204	173	5.7%	+18.2%
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	767	831	-7.6%	1	-11	0.1%	ns
USA & Canada	695	978	-29.0%	70	92	10.1%	-24.4%
France	591	663	-10.8%	13	9	2.1%	+45.4%
UK & Ireland	583	821	-29,0%	50	48	8.6%	+4.5%
International Markets	561	668	-16.0%	46	39	8.2%	+18.8%
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	402	425	-5.4%	23	-1	5.6%	ns
Global Delivery Centers	5	6	-18.7%	2	-3	0.1%	ns
Eviden	417	474	-11.9%	-33	-30	-7.9%	+11.5%
Global Structures	–	–	–	-57	-45	-1.4%	+28.8%
Group total	4,020	4,865	-17.4%	113	98	2.8%	+15.4%

*: at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

Atos – Germany, Austria & Central Europe revenue was 767 million euros in the first half of 2025, representing a 7.6% organic decline compared to the first half of 2024 with a significant ramp down from a couple of large clients who implemented insourcing strategies. It also stemmed from managed exits from low profitability contracts. That was partially offset by successful fertilization and cross selling at existing clients.

Operating margin improved by 140 basis points year-on-year despite the non-recurring treatment of some reorganization expenses in the first half of 2024. It reached breakeven in the first half of 2025 thanks to the restructured delivery of existing contract portfolio and benefits from cost-saving initiatives.

Atos – USA & Canada revenue decreased by 284 million euros year-on-year on a proforma basis. This was driven essentially by 2024 large contract completions and ramp-downs as well as an uncertain macro and political environment. Churn on small size contracts was more than offset by growing activity at existing clients and new contracts during the period.

Operating margin improved 60 basis points compared to the first half of 2024 despite the material impact from revenue fall thru, thanks to the Genesis-led margin optimization actions already in place. It stood at 70 million euros in the first half of 2025.

Atos – France revenue reached 591 million euros in the first half of 2025, down 10.8% organically from the first half of 2024, due to high exposure to the recently muted public sector and the impact of financial restructuring on client perception in 2024.

Operating margin improved by 80 basis points year-on-year thanks to the benefit of cost-cutting initiatives on indirect costs, an improved billability rate despite revenue decline and improving low profitability contract management, quality of delivery and automation.

Atos – UK & Ireland revenue reached 583 million euros in the first half of 2025, down 29% organically year-on-year mostly as a result of planned large public sector BPO contracts completion in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Operating margin improved 280 basis points compared to the first half of 2024. In absolute terms, it was stable year-on-year despite the sharp decrease in revenue, thanks to the restructuring of low profitability contracts, successful delivery of new business and an already visible impact from cost-saving initiatives.

Atos – International Markets revenue was down 16% organically in the first half of 2025, to 561 million euros, mostly driven by softer performance in Asia Pacific, Switzerland and Major events that had benefited from the Olympics in the first half of 2024. That was partially offset by growing revenues in South America.

Operating margin improved by 240 bps compared to the first half of 2024 and reached 46 million euros in the first half of 2025 (up 7 million year-on-year). The contribution from lost revenue was more than offset by improved productivity, benefits from the Genesis transformation plan and lower one-off costs year-on-year with Olympics-related marketing costs incurred in the first half of 2024.

Atos – BNN, Benelux and the Nordics revenue stood at 402 million euros in the first half of 2025, down 5.4% organically compared to the first half of 2024 with churn partially offset by growing activity at existing clients.

Operating margin turned positive in the first half of 2025, to 23 million euros, or 5.6% of revenues. This was driven by the ramp up of higher profitability contracts and positive contribution from the Genesis action plan and continued positive service and project delivery.

Eviden revenue was 417 million euros in the first half of 2025, down 11.9% organically year-on-year, driven by the anticipated strong seasonality in Advanced Computing (down 10.9% compared to the first half of 2024).
Operating margin was –33 million euros, compared to -30 million euros in the first half of 2024 again, due to the seasonality in Advanced Computing. Significant revenue and profit recognition is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. On a full-year basis the business unit is expected to generate positive operating margin.

Global Structures costs stood at -57 million euros in the first half of 2025, compared to -45 million euros in the first half of 2024, due to the non-recurring treatment of reorganization costs in the first half of 2024 and the UEFA marketing costs incurred centrally in the first half of 2025.

Update on the Genesis plan execution

At the Capital Markets Day that was held on May 14, 2025, the Group unveiled “Genesis”, its strategic and transformation plan for the next 4 years. It includes 22 workstreams regrouped under 7 pillars:

Growth
Human Resources
Countries review
Portfolio review
Gross Margin
Cost review
Cash

During the first half of 2025 significant progress was achieved, including the following:

Growth transformation: it has now passed the initial phase with a new growth and sales teams operating model deployed in all geographies and centrally. That included the right sizing and upskilling of the teams and sales enablement initiatives as well as prioritization to ensure frontline excellence and support future growth ambition. With that, processes were streamlined and optimized, enabling the sales force to concentrate efforts on meeting client needs. It is anticipated to yield results from the second half onwards
Countries review: to sharpen the geographical focus as announced in the Capital Markets Day, the Group exited one country and formally launched disposal processes for additional non-core countries
Contract portfolio review: in the first half of 2025, the Group reduced its exposure to low margin contracts (ie contracts with a project margin below 5%) to only three significant ones (vs seven at the end of 2024), and totaling a c.16 million euros negative impact on operating margin compared to c.52 million euros in the first half of 2024
Delivery and G&A optimization: the billability rate improved from 76% to 79% during the first half, and the General & Administrative cost base was reduced by 10% compared to the same period last year. Overall, over 50% of the 3-year restructuring envelope of 700 million euros was incurred at the end of June. The total headcount was 69,597 at the end of the period

Order entry and backlog

Commercial activity

Order entry reached €3.3 billion in H1 2025, slightly lower than the reported H1 2024 level, due to:

Muted commercial activity in France where significant organizational changes are being implemented to improve commercial efficiency, enrich our offering and secure long term business performance. All other regions delivered roughly flat or growing order entry in the first half of the year
The soft market environment observed in the last few months

Book-to-bill ratio was 83% in the first half of 2025, up from 73% in the same period of 2024. Main contract signatures in the second quarter of 2025 included two 4+ years Digital workplace deals totaling 140 million euros (of which 100 million euros in North America and 40 million euros in the UK), a 5+ years 80 million euros mainframe deal with a North American wholesaler of technology products, a 4+ years 50 million euros Cybersecurity contract in the public sector in Belgium, and two 3+ years digital applications contracts in Europe for a cumulative amount of 90 million euros with a consumer goods player on one side and a public sector body on the other.

Backlog & commercial pipeline

At the end of June 2025, the full backlog reached €12 billion representing 1.5 years of revenue.
The full qualified pipeline amounted to €4.1 billion at the end of June 2025, representing 6.1 months of revenue.

Net income

OOI
Other operating income and expenses amounted to –566 million euros in the first half of 2025, compared to –1,819 million euros in the first half of 2024. It mostly included restructuring and other non-recurring charges in relation to the Genesis transformation plan, as well as litigation provisions.

Financial income
Net financial expense was -202 million euros in the first half of 2025, compared to -175 million euros in the first half of 2024, reflecting the new debt structure of the Group and the fair value adjustment of the net debt.

Tax
Tax charge stood at -41 million euros in the first half of 2025, compared to -62 million euros in the first half of 2024.

Net result group share
As a result of the above net result Group share was a loss of –696 million euros in the first half of 2025, compared to a loss of –1,941 million euros in the first half of 2024.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow for the period stood at –96 million euros for the period excluding changes in working capital actions (WCA), reflecting the following items:

Operating margin before depreciation and amortization (OMDA) of 309 million euros
Capex of –93 million euros, or 2.3% of revenues
Leases of –122 million euros
Change in working capital requirement (excluding WCA) of 167 million euros, mostly driven by lower activity in the first half of 2025
Cash restructuring of –154 million euros, in relation to the Genesis transformation plan
Tax paid of -13 million euros
Net cash cost of debt of –80 million euros, including 18 million euros of financial income
Other items for –109 millions, that included litigation and onerous contracts

Net debt and debt covenants

At June 30, 2025, net debt was 1,681 million euros (746 million euros including IFRS 9 debt fair value adjustment), compared to 1,238 million euros as of December 31, 2024 (275 million euros including IFRS 9 debt fair value adjustment), and mainly consisted of:

Cash and cash equivalents for 1,364 million euros
Borrowings for 3,057 million euros (nominal value, excluding PIK) or 2,186 million euros including IFRS 9 fair value adjustment and PIK

The new credit documentation requires the Group to maintain:

from 31 March 2025, a minimum liquidity level of €650 million, to be verified at the end of each financial quarter
from 30 June 2027, as from each half-year end, a maximum level of financial leverage (“Total Net Leverage Ratio Covenant”), which is defined as the ratio of Financial indebtedness (mainly excluding IFRS 16 impacts and IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment) to pre-IFRS 16 OMDA; the ceilings thus applicable will be determined no later than 30 June 2026 with reference to a flexibility of 30% in relation to the Business Plan adopted by the Group at that time; these ceilings will in any event remain between 3.5x and 4.0x.

As of June 30, 2025, the Group financial leverage ratio (as defined in glossary) was 4.0x.

Outlook

The Group confirms its full year 2025 targets:

c. 8.5 billion euros revenue³
around 4% operating margin
net change in cash⁴ before debt repayment of c. -350 million euros

The long-term financial trajectory also remains unchanged.

In 2026, the Group expects to generate positive organic growth and net change in cash⁴ before debt repayment and M&A.

In 2028, with the assumption of a disposal of Advanced Computing in FY 2026 and a progressive reduction of its geographic footprint, the Group expects:

to grow revenues organically to between 8.5 and 9 billion euros, representing a 5-7% CAGR between 2025 and 2028. Strategic, targeted and disciplined M&A could further increase revenue to up to 9 to 10 billion euros
to reach an operating margin of around 10%, supported by cost reduction measures and structural visible growth, partially offset by an acceleration of R&D investments
to achieve a leverage ratio below 1.5x net debt/OMDAL⁵. On the path to an investment grade rating, the Group expects to achieve a BB profile in 2027

Sale of Advanced Computing

On July 31, 2025, Atos Group signed a share purchase agreement with the French State for the sale of its Advanced Computing business, excluding Vision AI activities, for an enterprise value (EV) of €410 million, including €110m earn-outs that are based on profitability indicators for fiscal years 2025 (€50 million potential earn-out that should be paid upon closing) and 2026 (€60 million additional potential earn-out). This EV is in line with the confirmatory offer received from the French State on June 2, 2025 which has been approved by Atos Group Board of Directors.

Atos Advanced Computing business regroups the High-Performance Computing (HPC) & Quantum as well as the Business Computing & Artificial intelligence divisions. The transaction perimeter is expected to generate revenue of circa €0.8 billion in 2025.

The French State will become the new shareholder of these activities, further supporting the business and its development over the long term.

Social processes for the signing of the SPA agreement are closed. The transaction is expected to close over H1 2026 once the carveout is completed and relevant authorizations have been received.

Interim condensed consolidated financial statements

Atos Group Board of Directors in its meeting held on July 31, 2025, has reviewed the Group interim condensed consolidated financial statements closed at June 30, 2025. The Statutory Auditors have completed their usual limited review of the half-year condensed consolidated financial statements and issued their unqualified report.

Conference call

Atos Group’s Management invites you to attend the first half 2025 results conference call on Friday, August 1st, 2025, at 08:00 am (CET – Paris).

You can join the webcast of the conference via the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/mz677p34

If you want to join the conference by telephone, please register via this link:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIc7cb4acc36ee4ddbbe4878cdc98936fa

Upon registration, you will receive the dial-in info and a unique PIN to join the call as well as an email confirmation with the details.

After the conference, a replay of the webcast will be available on atos.net, in the Investors section.

Forthcoming events

October 20, 2025 (After Market Close)

Third quarter 2025 revenue

APPENDIX

H1 2024 revenue and operating margin at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue and OM for H1 2025 is compared with H1 2024 revenue and OM at constant scope and foreign exchange rates. Reconciliation between the H1 2024 reported revenue and OM, and the H1 2024 revenue and OM at constant scope and foreign exchange rates is presented below, by segment.

H1 2024 revenue	H1 2024 published	Restatement	H1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	H1 2024*
In € million	H1 2024 published	Restatement	H1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	H1 2024*
ATOS	4,259	234	4,493	-3	-85	-13	4,391
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	779	62	841	0	-11	0	831
USA & Canada	949	38	987	0	0	-9	978
France	686	39	725	-4	-58	0	663
UK & Ireland	791	17	808	0	0	13	821
International Markets	675	27	702	0	-16	-17	668
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	375	49	424	1	0	0	425
Global Delivery Centers	4	2	6	0	0	0	6
Eviden	705	-234	471	3	0	0	474
Global Structures	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Group Total	4,964	0	4,964	0	-86	-13	4,865

H1 2024 Operating Margin	H1 2024 published	Restatement	H1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	H1 2024*
In € million	H1 2024 published	Restatement	H1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	H1 2024*
ATOS	175	-1	174	1	-15	12	173
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	-16	2	-14	-2	-2	7	-11
USA & Canada	97	0	96	0	0	-4	92
France	14	-2	12	2	-10	5	9
UK & Ireland	47	0	47	0	0	1	48
International Markets	40	0	40	0	-3	2	39
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	-4	3	-1	-3	0	3	-1
Global Delivery Centers	-3	-3	-6	3	0	-1	-3
Eviden	-16	2	-14	-2	0	-13	-30
Global Structures	-44	-1	-45	1	0	-1	-45
Group Total	115	0	115	0	-15	-2	98

*: at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

Restatement corresponds to the transfer of Cybersecurity Services from Eviden to Atos.

Scope effects amounted to €-86 million. They related to the divesture of Worldgrid in France, International Markets (Iberia) and Germany.

Currency effects negatively contributed to revenue of -13 million. They mostly came from the depreciation of the US dollar, the Brazilian real, the Argentinian peso and the Turkish lira, partially compensated by the appreciation of the British pound.

Q1 2024 revenue at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue for Q1 2025 is compared with Q1 2024 revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates.

Q1 2024 revenue	Q1 2024 published	Restatement	Q1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	Q1 2024*
In € million	Q1 2024 published	Restatement	Q1 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	Q1 2024*
ATOS	2,155	118	2,273	-1	-43	22	2,251
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	385	30	416	0	-6	0	410
USA & Canada	474	20	493	0	0	15	509
France	354	20	375	-2	-30	0	343
UK & Ireland	410	9	419	0	0	10	430
International Markets	339	14	352	0	-8	-4	341
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	190	25	215	0	0	0	215
Global Delivery Centers	2	1	3	0	0	0	3
Eviden	324	-118	206	1	0	1	207
Global Structures	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Group Total	2,479	0	2,479	0	-44	23	2,458

* at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

Q2 2024 revenue at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue for Q2 2025 is compared with Q2 2024 revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates.

Q2 2024 revenue	Q2 2024 published	Restatement	Q2 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	Q2 2024*
In € million	Q2 2024 published	Restatement	Q2 2024 restated	Internal transfers	Scope effects	Exchange rates effects	Q2 2024*
ATOS	2,105	116	2,220	-2	-42	-35	2,140
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	394	31	425	0	-5	0	420
USA & Canada	476	18	494	0	0	-24	470
France	331	18	350	-2	-28	0	320
UK & Ireland	380	9	389	0	0	2	391
International Markets	337	13	350	0	-8	-13	327
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	184	25	209	0	0	0	210
Global Delivery Centers	2	1	3	0	0	0	3
Eviden	381	-116	265	2	0	0	266
Global Structures	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Group Total	2,486	0	2,486	0	-42	-36	2,407

* at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

Q1 2025 and Q2 2025 revenue according to the new Group reporting structure

In € million	Q1 2025 Revenue	Q1 2024* Revenue	Organic variation*	Q2 2025 Revenue	Q2 2024* Revenue	Organic variation*
In € million	Q1 2025 Revenue	Q1 2024* Revenue	Organic variation*	Q2 2025 Revenue	Q2 2024* Revenue	Organic variation*
ATOS	1,861	2,251	-17.3%	1,742	2,140	-18.6%
Germany, Austria & Central Europe	385	410	-6.1%	382	420	-9.1%
USA & Canada	370	509	-27.3%	324	470	-31.0%
France	304	343	-11.4%	287	320	-10.2%
UK & Ireland	302	430	-29.6%	280	391	-28.4%
International Markets	290	341	-14.8%	271	327	-17.1%
BNN Benelux & the Nordics	206	215	-4.4%	196	210	-6.4%
Global Delivery Centers	2	3	-10.6%	2	3	-23.9%
Eviden	208	207	0.1%	210	266	-21.3%
Global Structures	–	–	–	–	–	–
Group total	2,068	2,458	-15.9%	1,952	2,407	-18.9%

* at constant scope and June 2025 average exchange rates

H1 2025 consolidated Profit & Loss Account

(in € million)	6 months ended June 30, 2025	6 months ended June 30, 2024
Revenue	4,020	4,964
Personnel expense	-2,115	-2,615
Non-personnel operating expense	-1,792	-2,235
Operating margin	113	115
% of revenue	2.8%	2.3%
Other operating income and expense	-566	-1,819
Operating income (loss)	-452	-1,704
% of revenue	-11.3%	-34.3%
Net cost of financial debt	-162	-73
Other financial expense	-62	-135
Other financial income	22	33
Net financial income (expense)	-202	-175
Net income (loss) before tax	-654	-1,879
Tax charge	-41	-62
Net income (loss)	-695	-1,941
Of which:
▪ attributable to owners of the parent	-696	-1,941
▪ non-controlling interests	1	0

H1 2025 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

in € million	6 months ended June 30, 2025	6 months ended June 30, 2024
Net income (loss) before tax	-654	-1,879
Depreciation of fixed assets	134	125
Depreciation of right-of-use	99	138
Net addition (release) to operating provisions	-1	-10
Net addition (release) to financial provisions	6	28
Net addition (release) to other operating provisions	199	-55
Amortization of intangible assets (PPA from acquisitions)	12	29
Impairment of goodwill and other non-current assets	24	1 570
Losses (gains) on disposals of non-current assets	3	71
Net charge for equity-based compensation	–	3
Unrealized losses (gains) on changes in fair value and other	–	-1
Net cost of financial debt	162	73
Interests on lease liability	15	19
Net cash from (used in) operating activities before change in working capital requirement and taxes	-3	111
Tax paid	-13	-45
Change in working capital requirement	43	-1 477
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	28	-1,411
Payment for tangible and intangible assets	-93	-278
Proceeds from disposals of tangible and intangible assets	–	5
Net operating investments	-93	-273
Amounts paid for acquisitions and long-term investments	–	-10
Net proceeds from disposals of financial investments	1	-1
Net long-term financial investments	1	-11
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	-92	-284
Common stock issued	1	–
Purchase and sale of treasury stock	–	-1
Dividends paid*	–	-12
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests	–	-2
Lease payments	-122	-159
New borrowings	–	470
Repayment of borrowings	–	-10
Interests paid	-80	-53
Other flows related to financing activities	-6	-77
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	-207	155
Increase (decrease) in net cash and cash equivalents	-271	-1,540
Opening net cash and cash equivalents	1,739	2,295
Increase (decrease) in net cash and cash equivalents	-271	-1,540
Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents	-104	4
Closing net cash and cash equivalents	1,364	759

H1 2025 Balance Sheet

(in € million)	June 30, 2025	December 31, 2024
ASSETS
Goodwill	574	653
Intangible assets	306	349
Tangible assets	524	580
Right-of-use assets	466	550
Equity-accounted investments	12	12
Non-current financial assets	98	131
Deferred tax assets	213	184
Total non-current assets	2,193	2,458
Trade accounts and notes receivable	2,190	2,435
Current taxes	90	102
Other current assets	1,340	1,510
Current financial instruments	0	2
Cash and cash equivalents	1,364	1,739
Total current assets	4,984	5,788
TOTAL ASSETS	7,176	8,246

(in € million)	June 30, 2025	December 31, 2024
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock	19	18
Additional paid-in capital	1,887	1,887
Consolidated retained earnings	-1,302	-1,354
Net income (loss) attributable to the owners of the parent	-696	248
Equity attributable to the owners of the parent	-91	799
Non-controlling interests	1	–
Total shareholders’ equity	-91	799
Provisions for pensions and similar benefits	664	782
Non-current provisions	465	345
Borrowings	2,174	2,089
Deferred tax liabilities	138	69
Non-current lease liabilities	438	498
Other non-current liabilities	4	3
Total non-current liabilities	3,884	3,787
Trade accounts and notes payable	971	1,018
Current taxes	66	75
Current provisions	386	315
Current portion of borrowings	11	17
Current lease liabilities	190	207
Other current liabilities	1,759	2,028
Total current liabilities	3,383	3,660
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	7,176	8,246

Glossary

Operational capital employed: Operational capital employed comprises net fixed assets and net working capital but excludes goodwill and net assets held for sale.

Current and non-current assets or liabilities: A current and non-current distinction is made between assets and liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position. Atos has classified as current assets and liabilities those assets and liabilities that Atos expects to realize, use or settle during its normal cycle of operations, which can extend beyond 12 months following the period end. Current assets and liabilities, excluding the current portion of borrowings, lease liabilities and provisions, and current financial instruments represent the Group working capital requirement.

DSO: (Days of Sales Outstanding). DSO is the amount of trade accounts receivable (including contract assets) expressed in days of revenue (on a last-in, first-out basis). The number of days is calculated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Organic growth: Organic growth represents the percent growth of a unit based on a constant scope and exchange rates basis.

CAGR: The Compound Annual Growth Rate reflects the mean annual growth rate over a specified period of time longer than one year. It is calculating by dividing the value at the end of the period in question by its value at the beginning of that period, raise the result to the power of one divided by the period length, and subtract one from the subsequent result. As an example:

2019-2021 revenue CAGR = (Revenue 2021 / Revenue 2018) (1/3) -1

Operating margin: Operating margin equals to External Revenues less personnel and operating expense. It is calculated before Other Operating Income and Expense as defined below.

Other operating income and expense:

Other operating income and expense include:

the amortization and impairment of intangible assets recognized as part of business combinations such as customer relationships, technologies and goodwill
when accounting for business combinations, the Group may record provisions in the opening statement of financial position for a period of 12 months beyond the business combination date. After the 12-month period, unused provisions arising from changes in circumstances are released through the income statement under “Other operating income and expense”
the cost of acquiring and integrating newly controlled entities, including earn out with or without presence conditions
the net gains or losses on disposals of consolidated companies or businesses
the fair value of shares granted to employees including social contributions
the restructuring and rationalization expense relating to business combinations or qualified as unusual, infrequent and abnormal. When a restructuring plan qualifies for Other operating income and expense, the related real estate rationalization & associated costs regarding premises are presented on the same line
the curtailment effects on restructuring costs and the effects of plan amendments on defined benefit plans resulting from triggering events that are not under control of Atos management
the net gain or loss on tangible and intangible assets that are not part of Atos core-business such as real estate
other unusual, abnormal and infrequent income or expense such as major disputes or litigation.

Gross margin and indirect costs: Gross margin is composed of revenue less the direct costs of goods sold. Direct costs relate to the generation of products and/or services delivered to customers, while indirect costs include all costs related to indirect staff (defined hereafter), which are not directly linked to the realization of the revenue. The operating margin comprises gross margin less indirect costs.

EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization): for Atos, EBITDA is based on Operating Margin less non-cash items and is referred to as OMDA (Operating Margin before Depreciation and Amortization).

OMDA (Operating Margin before Depreciation and Amortization) is calculated as follows:

Operating margin:

less – Depreciation of fixed assets (as disclosed in the “financial report”)
less – Depreciation of right of use (as disclosed in the “financial report”)
less – Net charge (release) of provisions (composed of net charge of provisions for current assets and net charge of provisions for contingencies and losses, both disclosed in the “financial report”)
less – Net charge (release) of provisions for pensions (as disclosed in the “financial report”).

OMDAL: OMDA – lease repayments.

Gearing: The proportion, expressed as a percentage of net debt to total shareholders’ equity (Group share and minority interests).

Interest cover ratio: Operating margin divided by the net cost of financial debt, expressed as a multiple.

Leverage ratio: Net debt (before changes in working capital actions and IFRS 9 fair value adjustment) / OMDAL rolling 12-months.

Operating income (loss): Operating income (loss) comprises net income (loss) before deferred and current income taxes, net financial income (expense), and share of net profit (loss) of equity-accounted investments.

Cash flow from operations: Cash flow coming from the operations and calculated as a difference between OMDA, net capital expenditures, lease payment and change in working capital requirement.

Net cash or net debt: Net cash or net debt comprises total borrowings (bonds, short term and long-term loans, securitization and other borrowings), short-term financial assets and liabilities bearing interest with maturity of less than 12 months, less cash and cash equivalents. Liabilities associated with lease contracts and derivatives are excluded from the net debt.

Free Cash Flow (FCF): The Free Cash Flow represents the change in net cash or net debt, excluding capital increase, share buyback, dividends paid to shareholders and non-controlling interests, net acquisition or disposal of companies.

Earnings (loss) per share (EPS): Basic EPS is the net income (loss) divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is the net income (loss) divided by the diluted weighted-average number of common shares for the period (number of shares outstanding + dilutive instruments with dilutive effect).

Revenue: Revenue related to Atos’ sales to third parties (excluding VAT).

TCV (Total Contract Value): The Total Value of a Contract at signature (prevision or estimation) over its duration represents the firm order and contractual part of the contract excluding any clause on the decision of the client, as anticipated withdrawal clause, additional option or renewal.

Order entry/bookings: The TCV, orders or amendments signed during a defined period. When an offer is won (contract signed), the total contract value is added to the backlog and the order entry is recognized.

Book-to-bill: The Book-to-Bill is the ratio expressed in percentage of the order entry in a period divided by revenue of the same period.

Backlog/Order cover: The value of signed contracts, orders and amendments that remain to be recognized over their contract lives.

Pipeline: The value of revenues that may be earned from outstanding commercial proposals issued to clients. Qualified pipeline applies an estimated percentage likelihood of proposal success.

Direct Staff: Direct staff includes permanent staff and subcontractors, whose work is billable to a third party.

Indirect staff: Indirect staff includes permanent staff or subcontractors, who are not billable to clients. Indirect staff is not directly involved in the generation of products and/or services delivered to clients.

Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group’s expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about Atos’s beliefs and expectations and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to Atos’s plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described within the 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on April 10, 2025 under the registration number D.25-0238. Atos does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law.

This document does not contain or constitute an offer of Atos’s shares for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in Atos’s shares in France, the United States of America or any other jurisdiction. This document includes information on specific transactions that shall be considered as projects only. In particular, any decision relating to the information or projects mentioned in this document and their terms and conditions will only be made after the ongoing in-depth analysis considering tax, legal, operational, finance, HR and all other relevant aspects have been completed and will be subject to general market conditions and other customary conditions, including governance bodies and shareholders’ approval as well as appropriate processes with the relevant employee representative bodies in accordance with applicable laws.

About Atos Group

Atos Group is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 70,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion, operating in 67 countries under two brands — Atos for services and Eviden for products. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, Atos Group is committed to a secure and decarbonized future and provides tailored AI-powered, end-to-end solutions for all industries. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Contact

Investor relations: investors@atos.net

Individual shareholders: +33 8 05 65 00 75

Media relations: globalprteam@atos.net

1 Excluding change in Working Capital Actions

2 Excluding change in Working Capital Actions

3 At Dec 31, 2024 currency

4 At constant currency

5 Defined as Operating Margin before Depreciations, Amortization and Leases

Attachment

Atos Group – 2025 08 01 – H1 2025 Results – PR

The MIL Network –

August 5, 2025

Bihar government doubles honorarium for MDMS cooks, night watchmen, health instructors in schools

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a major announcement ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday declared a significant hike in the honorarium for several categories of support staff in government schools, including cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors.

The announcement was made via a post from the Chief Minister’s official X account, highlighting the government’s continued focus on strengthening the education sector through better compensation and support for ground-level workers.

As per the revised honorarium, cooks employed under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) saw their monthly payment increase from Rs 1,650 to Rs 3,300, while night watchmen deployed in secondary and higher secondary schools have seen a monthly honorarium increase from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

Similarly, physical education and health instructors’ monthly honorarium increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000 apart from annual increment raised from Rs 200 to Rs 400 for eligible personnel.

CM Nitish Kumar said, “These workers have played an important role in strengthening the education system. Doubling their honorarium will boost their morale and lead to greater dedication in their duties.”

Highlighting the evolution of the education sector since his government took over in November 2005, the CM noted, “The education budget has risen from Rs 4,366 crore in 2005 to Rs 77,690 crore in 2025. Progress includes massive teacher recruitment, new school buildings, and infrastructure development.”

Earlier, the journalist pension scheme increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000, social security pension for the elderly, disabled, and widows was hiked from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, ASHA workers’ incentive was raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, and MAMTA workers now get Rs 600 per delivery, up from Rs 300 earlier.

These measures signal the government’s intent to consolidate support across various working-class and grassroots segments.

(IANS)

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump signs executive order to change tariff rates with dozens of trading partners

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

NEW YORK, July 31 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order further changing tariff rates with nearly 70 trading partners.

The decree introduces “additional ad valorem duties on goods from certain trading partners.”

According to an appendix to the White House press release, most of the new tariff rates range from 10 percent to 40 percent.

The new tariffs will come into force seven days after the date of the decree, except in cases related to logistics.

As D. Trump noted in the document, some US trading partners, despite participating in the negotiations, proposed conditions that do not sufficiently eliminate the “imbalance” in trade relations or do not meet US demands on “economic and national security issues.”

“Some trading partners have failed to engage with the United States or to take adequate steps to sufficiently align their actions with the United States on economic and national security issues,” the president said.

The order requires the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with other senior officials, to publish every six months a list of countries and specific facilities used in tariff evasion schemes to inform government procurement, national security reviews, and commercial due diligence.

In addition, key U.S. government agencies are directed and authorized to take “all necessary actions” to implement this order consistent with applicable law. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 1 August 2025 Joint News Release Breastfeeding in Indonesia on the Rise, But Mothers Need More Support
Source: World Health Organisation

Jakarta, 1 August 2025 – As Indonesia commemorates World Breastfeeding Week 2025, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are highlighting the importance of strengthening support systems for breastfeeding mothers across the country.

World Breastfeeding Week is observed around the world from 1–7 August. In Indonesia, this important occasion is observed throughout the month of August, under the theme: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”.

UNICEF and WHO commend the Government of Indonesia’s continued commitment to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants under six months has steadily increased, rising from 52% in 2017 to 66.4% in 2024. However, many infants are not exclusively breastfed for the full six months – the duration required to achieve the full health benefits.

With reliable and long-lasting support, mothers can better access help when they need it, wherever they are – at work, home or in their community. This includes skilled counselling from trained health workers, workplace policies and physical arrangements that enable breastfeeding, and ongoing support from community networks.

“By investing in support systems for breastfeeding mothers, we create a vital a safety net that ensures no mother has to navigate breastfeeding challenges alone,” said UNICEF Indonesia Representative, Maniza Zaman. “When women and their babies are supported to breastfeed successfully, it sets off a chain of positive outcomes – not only for the child’s development, but also for stronger families, healthier communities and ultimately a better future for the nation.”

“Indonesia’s steady rise in exclusive breastfeeding is a remarkable achievement and reflects the commitment of families, communities and the health system,” said Dr N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative to Indonesia. “With stronger support systems, every mother in Indonesia can have the resources needed to exclusively breastfeed for the full recommended six months, giving every child the healthiest start to life.”

Breastfeeding is a baby’s first source of protection and nutrition. UNICEF and WHO recommend that infants are breastfed within one hour of birth and exclusively breastfed in their first six months of life, with no other foods and liquids provided.

Evidence shows that breastfeeding boosts children’s cognitive development by 3–4 IQ points, reduces overweight and obesity risk and provides lifelong protection against non-communicable diseases. Babies who are not breastfed are up to 14 times more likely to die before their first birthday than those who are exclusively breastfed during their first six months.

Unlike formula production, breastfeeding is also environmentally sustainable, lowering carbon emissions and reducing packaging waste.

UNICEF and WHO call on all stakeholders – the government, workplaces, healthcare institutions, the private sector and communities – to accelerate efforts to support breastfeeding mothers. Key actions include:
- Expand access to skilled breastfeeding counselling through health facilities, community services, and remote options such as tele-counselling established by the Ministry of Health.
- Ensure all maternity facilities implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
- Enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) to protect families from unethical marketing.
- Integrate breastfeeding education into healthcare training curricula.
- Adopt family-friendly policies—including paid maternity leave, lactation rooms and flexible workplace arrangements.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
August 5, 2025
Reinvigorate ‘Made in India’ as hallmark of unquestionable quality amid US tariffs: SBI report

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The imposition of 25 per cent tariff on India with penalty is a “bad business decision” but the mysterious forces of global supply chain will auto adjust and cushion the impact, and Indian businesses and firms would do well to reinvigorate the ‘Made in India’ as a hallmark of unquestionable quality, an SBI Research report said on Friday.

Not surprisingly, the US GDP, inflation and currency face a greater risk of downgrades compared to India, the report noted.

Though the US is India’s top exporter (20 per cent in FY25), India has diversified its export destinations, and the top 10 countries only accounted for 53 per cent of total exports.

The top 15 items exported to the US accounted for 63 per cent of total exports. Electronics, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals and nuclear reactors and machinery account for 49 per cent of India’s exports to the US.

The earlier tariff imposed by the US on such articles varied from 0 per cent (on diamonds, smartphones, pharma products, among others) to a maximum of 10.8 per cent (other bed linen of cotton). Now all of them will face a 25 per cent tariff.

“Exports of smartphones and photovoltaic cells to the US have seen a spurt by the PLI scheme of the government, and rationalisation of the GST on cut and polished diamonds has pushed gems and jewellery exports to the US. For the other products, it’s the robust demand from the US that led to higher exports, according to the SBI report.

India has been a cornerstone of the global supply chain for affordable, high-quality and availability of essential medicines, particularly life-saving oncology drugs and antibiotics.

In the generic drug market, India supplies nearly 47 per cent of the pharmaceutical needs of the US. If the US shifts manufacturing and API production to other countries or domestic facilities, it will take a minimum of 3-5 years for meaningful capacity. So, the tariff rise may lead to drug shortages and price increases for American citizens.

As the US accounts for 40 per cent of India’s pharma exports, if a 25 per cent tariff continues, it may hit earnings of pharma companies by 2-8 per cent in FY26, as many big pharma companies’ revenue from the US stood in the range of 40-50 per cent.

Further, the tariff will reduce competitiveness in the world’s largest pharma market and the profit margins pressure due to the inability to pass on costs, the report noted.

“When we map the sectors with most favoured nation (MFN) tariffs imposed by India on the corresponding imports from the US, the average MFN tariff comes to around 20 per cent. Certain sectors like Automobile, FMCG, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, electrical equipment, textile and consumer durables stand out as the tariff applied is 15 per cent or more. The Indian government can think of reducing the tariffs in such sectors,” the SBI report suggested.

(IANS)

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Knife robberies fall under dedicated new taskforce
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Knife robberies fall under dedicated new taskforce

Communities hit hardest by knife crime see a drop in offences and more weapons removed from the streets.
The number of robberies involving a knife – or the threat of one – have dropped after months of targeted police action in seven highest risk areas, according to new data published by government today.

After seeing a stark rise in knife-enabled robbery in the year to June 2024, driven by a 14% increase across seven police forces, the Home Secretary set up a dedicated police taskforce last October and after just nine months of activity, there has been a 6% overall reduction compared with the previous year across those highest risk areas – with places like the West Midlands seeing a substantial annual drop of 25%.

The reduction has been driven by intense police efforts and a range of tactics, including upping visible patrols, using drones, knife arches and detection dogs to support police on the ground, and deploying plain clothes officers.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper:

Since day one we have acted with urgency to turn the tide on knife crime, which destroys lives and devastates communities.

When we came to office, knife-enabled robbery was increasing at a concerning rate, but we have now started to drive numbers of those offences down through the work of our dedicated taskforces, and as a result, we have also seen the first small reduction in overall knife crime for four years.

The drop in knife enabled robbery in key problem areas shows the impact that our strong new action on knife crime is having, but we now need to supercharge these efforts through more smart and targeted interventions. Anyone can be a victim of knife crime, but new ‘hex mapping’ technology shows that the vast majority of knife crime is concentrated in a relatively small, hyper-concentrated number of areas.

As part of the Plan for Change, we will use that new technology to support our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade. In the 2020s, the way to be ‘tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’ is also to be smart on crime, using the latest technology to target criminals and problem areas, and keep the country safe.

The announcement comes as a ban on ninja swords come into force today – the first part of the government’s manifesto commitment to introduce Ronan’s Law, and latest step under the pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade.

Ahead of the ban, at least a thousand deadly weapons have been handed in following the country’s largest weapons surrender scheme.

Launched in June, the Home Office developed this scheme with members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime to provide a broader range of ways the public could surrender weapons outside of police stations. This saw Faron Paul, CEO of FazAmnesty, driving a custom built and fully secure surrender van, across London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, and Words4Weapons supplying 37 new surrender bins, all funded by the Home Office. The surrender van will also be deployed at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival.

Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner and mother to Ronan said:

Ronan was just 16 years old when his life was stolen by a 22-inch ninja sword that should never have been so easy to buy. Ronan’s Law is not only a step towards justice for my son, but for every parent who wants to see their child come home safely.

This law is about saving lives, closing dangerous loopholes, and holding those responsible to account.

The government’s knife surrender scheme has been a sign of commitment to tackling the scourge of knife crime. While there is still much more to do, these are significant steps in the right direction.

Sandra Campbell, CEO of Word 4 Weapons said:

For over 16 years, Word 4 Weapons has played a leading role in the UK’s national weapon surrender schemes, enabling thousands of knives and dangerous items to be taken off the streets through our network of secure and accessible surrender bins.

These initiatives are designed to help save lives, raise awareness, and give communities a practical way to reduce harm.

We therefore welcome the government’s decision to ban dangerous weapons like ninja swords, a move that reinforces the importance of community-led approaches to tackling knife and weapon-related violence. We remain committed to supporting this work and expanding our efforts to build safer public spaces for all.

Ronan’s Law will also see the government bring in the toughest measures to date to tackle the sale of weapons online – requiring retailers to report bulk or suspicious knife orders to the police; put in place more stringent age verification checks and impose significant fines on tech executives whose platforms fail to prevent illegal sales.

As part of the government’s mission to halve knife crime over the next decade the Home Office is also delivering a pilot using sophisticated new mapping technologies to target hyper-concentrated knife crime hotspots, backed by up to £5 million this year.

This funding will be targeted towards 50 of the top 100 hyper-local knife crime hotspots to trial targeted intervention tactics and prevent further offending. This could include using more facial recognition and advanced knife detection technology, or the use of police drones to support the increased presence of police officers in our communities – part of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

These activities are taking place against the backdrop of the summer long Safer Streets Initiative launched by the Home Secretary to tackle town centre crime, which is delivering a smarter, more visible police and community operation across the country.

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Published 1 August 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
August 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Marine climate interventions can have unintended consequences – we need to manage the risks
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily M. Ogier, Associate Professor in Marine Social Science, University of Tasmania

Stock for you, Shutterstock

The world’s oceans are being rapidly transformed as climate change intensifies. Corals are bleaching, sea levels are rising, and seawater is becoming more acidic – making life difficult for shellfish and reef-building corals. All this and more is unfolding on our watch, with profound consequences for marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

In response, scientists, governments and industries are trying to intervene.
People all over the world are experimenting with new ways to capture and store more carbon dioxide, or make up for damage already done.

Ocean-based climate actions include breeding more heat-tolerant corals, restoring mangroves, and farming seaweed. Such interventions offer hope, but they’re also inherently risky. Some may be ineffective, inequitable or even harmful.

The pace of innovation is now outstripping the capacity to responsibly regulate, monitor and evaluate these interventions. This means current and future generations may not be getting value for money, or worse – the chance to avoid irreversible change may be slipping away.

In our new research, published in Science, we reviewed the latest evidence on known and perceived risks of new ocean-based climate interventions. We then gathered emerging ideas on how to reduce those risks.

We found the risks aren’t being widely considered, and the benefits are unclear. But there are emerging assessment tools and planning frameworks we can build on, to plan ocean-based climate actions that meet humanity’s climate goals.

The promise and peril of marine climate interventions

Marine climate interventions vary in scope and ambition. Examples can be found all over the world. These include:
- making oceans in North America more alkaline (less acidic) so they can take up more carbon dioxide
- breeding heat-tolerant corals in Australia to transplant onto degraded reefs
- farming seaweed in Africa to capture carbon and reduce ocean acidity
- restoring mangroves in Asia to defend coastal communities
- avoiding emissions by banning offshore oil and gas exploration.
Some interventions are still at proof-of-concept stage, and several have been tested and abandoned. Others are facing challenges owing to complexity of monitoring and verification.

Each has its own set of benefits, costs and risks. For example, making the ocean more alkaline may help to squeeze in more carbon from the atmosphere, but it’s difficult to verify how much carbon has been removed. This makes it hard to justify the costs and the potential damage to ecosystems, such as effects on local fish populations.

Restoring coral can support biodiversity in the short term, but it may not last as warming exceeds their (modified) ability to adapt. This type of intervention is also expensive and labour-intensive, with unintended emissions from energy-intensive processes. So it may be impossible to scale up.

Seaweed farming at scale would occupy thousands if not millions of square kilometres of oceans, displacing fishing, shipping and conservation. Harvesting 1 billion tonnes of seaweed carbon would require farming more than 1 million square km of the Pacific Ocean, and would deliver just 10% of the annual atmospheric carbon dioxide removal required to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

It’s doubtful whether seaweed farming would actually remove carbon from the atmosphere. But seaweed farming can – if well-planned – produce a range of other climate-related benefits.

Moreover, interventions often overlap in space and time, creating cumulative impacts and unintended consequences. In some cases, the projects may displace other users, undermine Indigenous rights, or erode public trust in climate science and policy. Without careful understanding and planning, these efforts could exacerbate the very problems they aim to solve.

Governance gaps and ethical dilemmas

One of the most pressing challenges is the lack of regulation and oversight suited to the scale and complexity of marine climate interventions.

Existing regulations are often outdated, fragmented, or designed for land-based systems. Few countries have biosafety laws for the ocean. This means many interventions proceed without comprehensive risk assessments or community consultation.

Ethical dilemmas abound. Who decides what constitutes a “healthy” ocean? Who bears responsibility if an intervention causes harm? And how do we ensure benefits — such as improved livelihoods or climate resilience — are equitably distributed?

Currently, scientists, funding bodies and non-government organisations do the bulk of the decision-making. There is limited input from governments, local communities and Indigenous Peoples. This imbalance risks perpetuating historical injustices and undermining the legitimacy of many ocean-based climate actions.

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement has been proposed for St Ives in Cornwall.
diego_torres, pixabug, FAL

Toward responsible marine transformation

We identified opportunities for scientists, policymakers, and funding bodies to work together more effectively on more comprehensive assessments of interventions.

Guidelines and insights are emerging from experimental-scale research into capturing and storing “blue” carbon in ocean and coastal ecosystems. Similarly, a non-profit organisation in the United States has developed a code of conduct for marine carbon dioxide removal. However these guidelines are yet to be integrated into broader governance frameworks.

Awareness of the urgent need to ensure intervention is done responsibly is also growing. Many high-level policy documents now recognise the importance of transitioning to more sustainable, equitable, and adaptive states. For example, the Samoa Climate Change Policy 2020 recognises the need to adapt coastal economies and communities to warming oceans, while also working to reduce carbon emissions.

We can use the ocean in our fight against climate change (United Nations)

Proceed with caution

The ocean is central to our climate future. It absorbs heat, stores carbon, and sustains life. But it is also vulnerable — and increasingly, a site of experimentation. If we are to harness the promise of ocean-based climate action, we must do so with care, humility, and foresight.

Responsible governance is not a barrier to innovation — it is its foundation. By embedding ethical, inclusive, and evidence-based principles into our marine climate strategies, we can chart a course toward a more resilient and equitable ocean future.

Emily M. Ogier receives salary support from the Australia Research Council. She receives funding from The Nature Conservancy, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Blue economy Centre for Research Excellence. She is affiliated with the Centre for Marine Socioecology.

Gretta Pecl receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment, Department of Primary Industries NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Tasmania), the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, The Ian Potter Foundation and has received travel funding support from the Australian government for participation in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change process. She is affiliated with the Biodiversity Council and the Centre for Marine Socioecology.

Tiffany Morrison receives funding from the Australian Research Council Laureate and Discovery Programmes, WorldFish-CGIAR ( (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research), and The Nature Conservancy Science for Nature and People Partnership.

– ref. Marine climate interventions can have unintended consequences – we need to manage the risks – https://theconversation.com/marine-climate-interventions-can-have-unintended-consequences-we-need-to-manage-the-risks-262343
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramkalawan Attends 10th Anniversary Celebration of the My First Job Scheme

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, through its Employment Department, hosted a special commemorative ceremony on Thursday afternoon at the Eden Bleu Hotel to mark the 10th anniversary of the My First Job (MFJ) Scheme—an initiative that has played a vital role in empowering and integrating young Seychellois into the workforce.

The event was graced by the presence of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, who delivered the keynote address as Guest of Honour. In his remarks, the President commended the Ministry and its partners for the tangible impact the scheme has had over the past decade, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to youth empowerment and the promotion of inclusive employment opportunities.

The ceremony, which was also attended by First Lady Mrs. Linda Ramkalawan, Vice-President Mr. Ahmed Afif, and various distinguished guests, featured a captivating video montage retracing the decade-long journey of the MFJ Scheme. Delivering the official keynote address on behalf of the Ministry, Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Mrs. Patricia Francourt, reflected on the programme’s vision, key milestones, and inspiring success stories that have shaped its impact over the years.

The programme included heartfelt testimonies from MFJ participants, musical performances, and a series of award presentations – among them the Loyalty Award and the Excellence Award – honouring outstanding contributions by both employers and beneficiaries who have played a pivotal role in the success of the scheme.

A highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of the new My First Job Scheme logo, symbolising the scheme’s evolution and future aspirations.

The event concluded with a commemorative group photo and a light cocktail, bringing together government officials, employers, programme alumni, and stakeholders in a spirit of reflection, pride, and continued collaboration.

The My First Job Scheme, launched in 2015, remains a cornerstone of the government’s employment strategy – bridging the gap between education and the workforce while fostering a culture of professionalism and responsibility among young workers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

MIL OSI Africa –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: 6+6 Committee and Advisory Committee Conclude Consultative Meeting on Electoral Framework

Source: APO

.

At the end of their two-day consultative meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the 6+6 Committee and the Advisory Committee agreed on the necessity of amending Libya’s constitutional and legal framework to facilitate presidential and parliamentary elections with broadly accepted results.

Members of the 6+6 Committee praised the Advisory Committee’s recommendations published on 5 May and committed to integrating them into efforts to make the electoral laws more implementable.

Both committees acknowledged that a comprehensive political settlement is crucial for paving the way for elections. This settlement requires amending the Constitutional Declaration, revising electoral laws to ensure the integrity of election outcomes, establishing a unified government with a clear, time-bound electoral mandate, and adopting both domestic and international guarantees to rebuild trust among stakeholders, particularly between the Libyan people and political institutions.

Stengthen local governance, ensure election security, advance national reconciliation, and enhance spending transparency while combating corruption.

This meeting came as part of UNSMIL’s ongoing consultations with Libyan stakeholders, ahead of the anticipated announcement of a political roadmap during the upcoming Security Council briefing.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

MIL OSI Africa –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Angola protests: United Nations (UN) urges restraint, investigations into deaths

Source: APO

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What began as protests against fuel price hikes in Angola have escalated into deadly unrest across the country, with at least 22 people killed and more than 1,000 detained, prompting calls from the UN for restraint and urgent investigations into possible rights violations by security forces.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Thursday urged Angolan authorities to conduct prompt, thorough and independent investigations into the deaths as well as the reported use of excessive force during the demonstrations.

“Unverified footage suggests that security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters, which points to an unnecessary and disproportionate use of force,” OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said.

He added that while some demonstrators resorted to violence and looting, any force used by authorities must comply with international human rights standards.

“Any individuals who may have been arbitrarily detained must be immediately released.”

Rapid escalation in situation

The protests began on Monday as a strike by minibus taxi drivers over a one-third rise in diesel prices, part of a government effort to reduce fuel subsidies. According to media reports, the demonstrations quickly spread, becoming one of Angola’s most disruptive protest waves in recent years.

Government officials reported that at least one police officer was among those killed. Nearly 200 people are said to have been injured and shops and vehicles reportedly vandalised, mostly in the capital, Luanda.

Sporadic gunfire was also reported in parts of the city earlier in the week, and emergency services were overwhelmed. Many businesses remained shuttered Thursday, and hospitals reportedly struggled to cope with the number of casualties.

Ensure rights protection

OHCHR emphasised that while authorities have a responsibility to maintain public order, they must do so in a way that protects human rights.

“All protesters taking to the streets to express their opinions should do so peacefully,” said Mr. Al-Kheetan. “All human rights violations must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.”

The UN rights office also reiterated the importance of safeguarding fundamental freedoms, including the rights to life, expression and peaceful assembly, in any law enforcement response.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

MIL OSI Africa –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Exclusion, endurance, and the fight for inclusion

Source: APO

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Marlene Le Roux has lived with the effects of disability since she was three months old. Now 57, she has spent decades confronting physical, structural, and social barriers.

Resilience is part of her everyday reality, as she manages pain, stays engaged, and keeps going even when her body resists.

Ms Le Roux had spent the day before speaking and dancing to mark South Africa’s Freedom Day in Cape Town. By morning, her legs gave in. She was at the physio, acupuncture needles in her thigh to ease the pain.

That pain, she says, is part of the “gift”– a lived experience that gave her the lens to understand the marginalization millions face every day.

“I have a job, that’s why I could pay for treatment,” she said. “Others with polio? They suffer. They die in their beds.”

Her story begins with polio and builds into a fight fueled by loss, sustained by purpose, and anchored in a refusal to accept exclusion.

She’s lived the weight of exclusion twice over. First, as a child disabled by apartheid-era neglect, contracting polio at just three months old, after clinics denied the remaining vaccines to non-white children. And later, as a mother to her son Adam, who had profound cerebral palsy and required constant care. Adam later passed away, a loss that deepened her resolve.

That urgency is also reflected in efforts across the United Nations system. In 2019, the UN launched the Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) to promote accessibility, participation, and accountability in its operations.

By 2023, more than 60 UN entities had adopted action plans under the strategy, and over $77 million had been mobilized to support more than 100 initiatives in 93 countries. Yet implementation remains uneven, with many persons with disabilities still facing barriers even within institutions that champion inclusion.

At the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, where Ms Le Roux is the CEO, accessibility is built into the structure: automated doors, wheelchair seating, level entryways, tactile carpeting, comfort rooms. Staff receive training on both visible and non-apparent disabilities. Every feature is intentional, designed in consultation with those who use them.

“Life here at Artscape is very easy for people with disabilities,” said vocalist Nikita Scott, a wheelchair user. “It feels like a second home. You just feel freer because there are no challenges you have to face as a disabled person.”

Families raising children with disabilities find refuge at Artscape. “They can attend performances and relax in a space that doesn’t treat them as an afterthought,” Ms Le Roux said. “Here, no one stares.”

Artscape also supports grassroots groups, including Lief en Leed (Love and Sorrow), a community initiative in Mamre. Its founder, Michael September, who has speech and mobility impairments, said people still assume disability means incapacity.

“Artscape is one of the few places that sees our dignity first,” he said.

Ms Le Roux’s leadership style is grounded in presence and humility. It’s not uncommon to see her joking with staff or sitting down for tea with the cleaning crew. “No one should be invisible,” she said. “Everyone here matters.”

She helped launch the ArtsAbility Festival, an annual celebration that features performers with disabilities and challenges public perceptions through art and movement. The Unmute Dance Company, a regular participant, blends wheelchairs, crutches, and movement to challenge perceptions.

“Artscape focuses on what people can do, not what they lack,” she said. “When they perform, you see ability. Not disability.”

She sees these lessons as central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the pledge to “leave no one behind.”

“We can’t just have things on paper and expect it to work. It has to be in the fiscal budget, in the mindset, in the leadership.”

To her, inclusion isn’t a checklist but a cultural shift. She meets regularly with an advisory group of people with disabilities to keep the work grounded in lived experience.

In 2024, she launched Warrior Woman, a petition and art installation to protest gender-based violence. She plans an annual march to parliament with the statue in hand. “We’ve had enough of talking,” she said.

“Artscape is more than a theatre,” she said, adding that it’s a platform to open doors and influence lives.

“I can look glamorous now because I have a job. I can pay for treatment; I can walk into the best orthopaedic surgeon. But what happens to others? They suffer. They die. My job is to open doors for them.”

And she’ll keep pressing forward, legs willing or not, until systems do too.

Ms Le Roux’s full interview can be watched in this episode of our Sustainable Africa Series

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

MIL OSI Africa –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China to review, supervise CK Hutchison’s overseas ports deal in accordance with law

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

China’s Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the Chinese government will conduct reviews and supervision on the sales of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited’s overseas port assets in accordance with the law.

The ministry’s spokesperson He Yadong made the remarks at a regular press conference when answering a media query.

The Chinese government will protect fair market competition, safeguard the public interests of the society, and resolutely defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests, He said, adding that relevant Chinese authorities have issued multiple statements on the matter.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
Centre accelerates efforts to fill vacant posts in ministries and departments

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Centre is taking steps to fill vacant posts across central government ministries and departments, Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Thursday. As of March 1, 2021, there were 40,35,203 sanctioned posts under the central government.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on July 24, Dr. Singh stated that the filling of vacancies is an ongoing process and depends on the specific requirements and conditions within different departments. The respective ministries and departments are responsible for maintaining detailed records of vacancies and appointments.

The government has issued detailed instructions to all departments, including taking advance action to report direct recruitment vacancies to the relevant recruiting agencies. For promotions, a Model Calendar has been prescribed to streamline Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings and ensure the readiness of promotion panels when vacancies arise.

For deputation-based appointments, the authority to fill posts up to Level 13A and below in the pay matrix has been delegated to individual ministries and departments.

The government has also launched Mission Recruitment, a dedicated mission-mode initiative introduced in June 2022. As part of this effort, Rozgar Melas are being organized regularly across 45–50 cities, serving as a catalyst to expedite the appointment process across Central Government organizations.

Annual reports containing consolidated data on sanctioned posts and persons-in-position are published by the Pay Research Unit of the Department of Expenditure. These reports are publicly accessible on the Department’s official website: https://doe.gov.in/hi/annual-report-pay-and-allowances.

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mong Kok Community Hall temporary shelter opened

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Mong Kok Community Hall temporary shelter opened
The YTMDO will closely monitor the situation and liaise with other government departments to provide residents with appropriate assistance.
Issued at HKT 14:54

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: Interest Rates Need to Come Down

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Senator Marshall Joins Fox Business to Discuss Interest Rates and Trade Deals
Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Fox Business to discuss the Federal Reserve’s refusal to lower interest rates, and how the President’s trade strategy isn’t harming Americans but will get us leverage on our geo-political rivals.

Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview
On the Federal Reserve not raising interest rates:
“Well, I wasn’t surprised, because there’s a reason that President Trump calls him Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell. Let’s go back to March of 2021, and Jerome Powell says inflation is going to be transitory. It’s 18 months later, and it’s just starting to peak, and it’s not a couple months after that before it starts coming down. So, he is indeed always too late.
“And let me put an exclamation point behind what President Trump is saying. To that average Kansas farmer back home, they have an operation loan of a million dollars. We saw interest rates on those loans go from 2% to 9% and that’s what caused a record drop in net farm income. So, he’s right. Every point matters. And I’m not saying we should drop at two or three points, but dropping at a quarter point or a half point, come on. I think that the economy would dictate that. Now we don’t know what’s holding up Jay Powell, except he’s always too late.”
On the real impact of the trade deals President Trump has secured:
“Well, I’m going to trust Michelle Bowman, of course. She’s from Council Grove, Kansas, but let’s just think about this for a second. Of all the goods that Americans consume, only about 11% of them are imported. Only 11%. So, let’s just suppose there’s a 10% tariff on 11% of what we consume. Well, my little math says that’s going to be a 1.1% increase, assuming that’s all passed along to the consumer, and you know, it’s not going to. So, I think that these tariffs could cause a one-time hit of one or 2%, but I think the manufacturers are going to absorb a lot of that. The wholesalers are going to absorb a lot of that as well.
“And meanwhile, we’re trying to balance this trillion-dollar trade deficit. So, I think President Trump is right on task. Look at what he’s doing; Cambodia and Thailand today, he’s surrounded China. He’s got Indonesia done, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, [and] South Korea. So, he’s going to push China. They’ve got till August. The 12th is their deadline, I believe. So, President Trump is doing a good job.”

MIL OSI USA News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Roch Wamytan: Paris political agreement for New Caledonia ‘not enough’ for Kanaks

By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor

A former New Caledonia Congress president says there are “not enough” benefits for Kanaks in a new “draft” agreement he signed alongside pro and anti-independence stakeholders in France last month.

Roch Wamytan said that, after 10 days of deadlock discussions in Paris, he failed to secure the pro-independence mandate.

He told RNZ Pacific that he refused to sign a “final agreement”.

Instead, he said, he opted for a “draft” agreement, which is what he signed. It has been hailed as “historic” by all parties involved.

While France maintains its “neutrality”, Wamytan said that at the negotiating table it was two (France and New Caledonia’s pro-France bloc) against one (pro-Kanaky).

A main point of tension was the electoral law changes, which sparked last year’s civil unrest.

“We call on France to respect the provisions of international law, which remains our main protective shield until the process of decolonisation and emancipation is completed. Hence, our incessant interventions during negotiations on this subject [electoral law changes],” Wamytan told RNZ Pacific.

He said it was difficult to understand whether France wanted to decolonise New Caledonia or not.

Concrete measures
“We have a lot of concrete measures in this proposed agreement, but the main question is a political question. Where are you [France] going with this? Independence or integration with France?”

The document, signed in the city of Bougival, involves a series of measures and recognition by France of New Caledonia as a “State” as well as dual citizenship — French and New Caledonian — provided future New Caledonian citizens are French nationals in the first place.

But this week, New Caledonia’s oldest pro-independence party, the Union Calédonienne (UC), officially rejected the political agreement signed in Paris.

Wamytan maintains New Caledonia is not France. But the French ambassador to the Pacific has previously told RNZ Pacific New Caledonia is France.

However, Sonia Backès, the leader of the Caledonian Republicans Party and the president of the Provincial Assembly of Southern Province, says the agreement signed in France is “final”.

“Roch Wamytan and the pro-independence delegation signed an agreement in Bougival. Since their return to New Caledonia, their political supports have been fiercely critical of the agreement,” her office said via a statement.

“As a result, radical pro-independence leaders like Roch Wamytan have chosen to renege on their commitment and withdraw their signature. This agreement is final; there is no other viable political balance outside of it.”

So why did Wamytan sign?
When asked why he signed the draft agreement when he did not agree with it, he said: “After the 10 days they obliged us to sign something.”

“We told them that we [didn’t have] the mandate of our parties to sign an agreement, but only a ‘project’ or ‘draft’.

“It was important for us to return with a paper and to show, to explain, to present, to debate, for the debate of our political party. This is the stage where we are at now, but for the moment, we do not agree with that.

“We [tried] to explain to [France and pro-France bloc] that we have a problem [with electoral law change being included].

“This is our problem. So we signed only for one reason . . . that we have to return back home and to explain where we are now, after 10 days of negotiation. [Did we] achieve the objectives, the mandate given by our political parties?”

He said one thing he wanted to make clear was that what he had signed was not definitive and was now up for negotiation.

An FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) Congress meeting is set down for this weekend with the Union Calédonienne Congress meeting held a weekend prior.

Wamytan said that it was now up to the FLNKS members to have their say and decide where to next.

“They will decide if we accept this draft agreement or we reject,” he said.

“We have two options: we accept with certain conditions, for example, on the question of the right to vote on the electoral rule. Or for the question of the trajectory from here to independence, through a referendum or the framework proposed by President Macron.”

“This is an important element to discuss with France, but after this round of discussions.”

He expected further meetings with France after community consultations.

Communication problem
Wamytan admitted that the pro-independence negotiators did not communicate clearly about the agreement to their supporters.

He said after signing the document, President Macron and the pro-France signatories were quick to communicate to the media and their supporters — and the messages filtered to his supporters resulting in anger and frustrations.

He said the anger has mostly been around the signing itself, with people mistaking the draft proposal as final.

“The political, pro-Kanaky party were very, very, very angry against us. We did not communicate and this I think is our problem.”

Bribery allegations
Wamytan has also dismissed unconfirmed reports that negotiators were bribed to sign a historic deal in Paris.

He said he was aware of people “chucking accusations of bribery” around, but said they were false.

“It has never been in the minds of Kanak independence leaders doing such practices,” he said.

“After the signature of the Matignon Accord 37 years ago, with [FLNKS leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou] and with us after the signature of Nouméa accord in 1998, we heard about the same allegation and some rumours like this.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

August 5, 2025

Category: Politics

Source: MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Knife robberies fall under dedicated new taskforce

Share this page

Updates to this page

The promise and peril of marine climate interventions

Governance gaps and ethical dilemmas

Toward responsible marine transformation

Proceed with caution