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Category: Tourism

  • Union Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move aimed at transforming India’s sporting ecosystem, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025. The policy replaces the National Sports Policy of 2001 and sets a comprehensive roadmap to establish India as a leading sporting nation, with a particular focus on preparing for the 2036 Olympic Games.

    The National Sports Policy 2025 is the culmination of extensive consultations involving Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations, athletes, experts, and public stakeholders. It lays out a strategic framework for developing sports in the country across multiple dimensions, including excellence, economic growth, social development, mass participation, and educational integration.

    The policy aims to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem from grassroots to elite levels, focusing on early talent identification, building competitive leagues, expanding infrastructure in rural and urban areas, and enhancing training, coaching, and athlete support systems. It also seeks to modernize governance within National Sports Federations and promote the use of sports science, medicine, and technology to boost performance.

    Recognizing the economic potential of sports, the policy promotes sports tourism, international event hosting, and the development of a robust sports manufacturing and startup ecosystem. It calls for greater private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, and innovative financing mechanisms.

    Social inclusion is another key pillar, with targeted programs to increase sports participation among women, tribal communities, economically weaker sections, and persons with disabilities. The policy also aims to revive indigenous and traditional games, promote dual-career pathways, and engage the Indian diaspora through sports.

    To foster a culture of fitness and make sports a mass movement, National Sports Policy 2025 proposes nationwide campaigns, the introduction of fitness indices in schools and workplaces, and improved access to sports facilities. In line with the National Education Policy 2020, it emphasizes integrating sports into school curricula and equipping educators with specialized training.

    The policy outlines a robust implementation strategy, including a national monitoring framework with defined performance benchmarks and timelines. It will serve as a model for states and union territories to align their sports policies with national goals. The “whole-of-government” approach aims to mainstream sports across various departments and schemes, ensuring a unified and impactful strategy.

    With this ambitious and forward-looking policy, the government aims to position India not only as a global sporting powerhouse but also to promote healthier, more inclusive, and empowered citizens through sports.

  • Union Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move aimed at transforming India’s sporting ecosystem, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025. The policy replaces the National Sports Policy of 2001 and sets a comprehensive roadmap to establish India as a leading sporting nation, with a particular focus on preparing for the 2036 Olympic Games.

    The National Sports Policy 2025 is the culmination of extensive consultations involving Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations, athletes, experts, and public stakeholders. It lays out a strategic framework for developing sports in the country across multiple dimensions, including excellence, economic growth, social development, mass participation, and educational integration.

    The policy aims to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem from grassroots to elite levels, focusing on early talent identification, building competitive leagues, expanding infrastructure in rural and urban areas, and enhancing training, coaching, and athlete support systems. It also seeks to modernize governance within National Sports Federations and promote the use of sports science, medicine, and technology to boost performance.

    Recognizing the economic potential of sports, the policy promotes sports tourism, international event hosting, and the development of a robust sports manufacturing and startup ecosystem. It calls for greater private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, and innovative financing mechanisms.

    Social inclusion is another key pillar, with targeted programs to increase sports participation among women, tribal communities, economically weaker sections, and persons with disabilities. The policy also aims to revive indigenous and traditional games, promote dual-career pathways, and engage the Indian diaspora through sports.

    To foster a culture of fitness and make sports a mass movement, National Sports Policy 2025 proposes nationwide campaigns, the introduction of fitness indices in schools and workplaces, and improved access to sports facilities. In line with the National Education Policy 2020, it emphasizes integrating sports into school curricula and equipping educators with specialized training.

    The policy outlines a robust implementation strategy, including a national monitoring framework with defined performance benchmarks and timelines. It will serve as a model for states and union territories to align their sports policies with national goals. The “whole-of-government” approach aims to mainstream sports across various departments and schemes, ensuring a unified and impactful strategy.

    With this ambitious and forward-looking policy, the government aims to position India not only as a global sporting powerhouse but also to promote healthier, more inclusive, and empowered citizens through sports.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US Tightens Policy on Cuba

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    HOUSTON, July 1 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed a memorandum to tighten policies toward Cuba, including restrictions on some financial transactions and travel.

    According to a White House fact sheet, the memo prohibits tourist travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba, requires mandatory records of all travel-related transactions for at least five years and regular compliance audits.

    The Trump administration seeks to end economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, and security services.

    The memorandum prohibits direct or indirect financial transactions with entities controlled by the Cuban military, such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA /GAESA/ and its subsidiaries. A growing number of Cubans and entities are now prohibited from doing business with Americans as the decades-long U.S. economic embargo intensifies.

    D. Trump has always taken a tough stance on Cuba. On the first day of his second term, he returned the island nation to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, reversing the decision of his predecessor, Joseph Biden.

    In the final days of his first presidential term in 2021, D. Trump called Cuba a “state sponsor of terrorism.”

    Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla called the memorandum “criminal behavior that violates the human rights of the entire nation.”

    “The presidential memorandum against Cuba, released today by the US government, intensifies the aggression and economic blockade that punishes the entire Cuban people and is the main obstacle to our development,” Minister X wrote on social media. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Is Kenya’s president safe in a crowd? Security expert scans VIP protection checklist

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Douglas Lucas Kivoi, Principal Policy Analyst, Governance Department, The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA)

    Protecting any president requires multiple layers of intelligence, physical security and rapid response security protocols. Exact operational details are classified, but there are global best practices in VIP protection.

    The issue of presidential protection in Kenya has become particularly relevant following an incident in early May 2025 when someone in a crowd threw a shoe at President William Ruto during a public event, hitting his hand.

    I have studied policing and security policies in Kenya for over 15 years, interacting closely with the country’s security protocols. In my view this incident exposed several critical security lapses around the elite officers tasked with protecting the president.

    The security of the president is a critical issue in Kenya. The country is exposed to terror groups like the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab and other criminal networks in the region.

    In 2021, a businessman embedded himself into the presidential motorcade and drove into then president Uhuru Kenyatta’s official residence. In 2017, an unidentified man who was said to have illegally accessed the highly protected state house grounds was shot dead by presidential guards.

    There are multiple layers to Kenya’s protection protocols. They include National Intelligence Service officers, the Kenya Defence Force, Presidential Escort Police officers drawn from the highly trained General Service Unit, bomb disposal experts and regular police officers. Their deployment depends on the nature of the presidential engagement.

    While the shoe incident may be passed off as simply embarrassing, it should serve as a wake-up call to tighten security protocols around the president without necessarily compromising his public engagement with citizens.

    What’s in place

    Prior to any presidential visit across the country, security teams conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the destination. This includes coordinating with local policing agencies, clearing airspace, mapping secure transport routes and identifying nearby medical facilities in case of emergencies.

    Presidential motorcade routes are pre-planned and a dry run is made. This often includes mapping alternative routes to avoid predictability should there be assailants along a presidential route. It is common to see some roads temporarily closed and security officers conducting sweeps for any threats or explosives. In areas deemed high risk, counter security sniper teams are covertly deployed in strategic areas.

    Cases of attacks on presidential motorcades are rare in Kenya. However, in 2002 during presidential campaigns, angry opposition supporters stoned then president Daniel Moi’s motorcade. In November 2021, an angry mob hurled rocks at then deputy president Ruto’s motorcade.

    The National Intelligence Service and Presidential Escort Unit covertly scout locations in advance, assessing potential security vulnerabilities. Crowd sizes, and entry and exit points for the head of state are mapped out in advance.

    In cases where meetings are held in town halls or huge tents, attendees are screened using metal detectors and/or physical searches. Uniformed and plainclothes security officers embed themselves in the crowd to monitor any threats.

    The president and any dignitaries accompanying him have at least three layers of security.

    The inner ring consists of close protection officers who are always within an arm’s length of the president to physically thwart any threats. The middle ring has armed security guards who watch for, among others, sudden movements and abnormal behaviour within the crowd. The outer ring consists of regular police and paramilitary units from the General Service Unit who secure the outside perimeter.

    The presidential motorcade is a coordinated convoy of heavily armoured vehicles. It includes lead and chase cars, communication units and emergency response teams. Traffic is managed by local traffic police officers to ensure unobstructed movement. Routes are kept confidential until necessary.

    The president’s security may opt to use a decoy vehicle if there is a security threat, to confuse and derail potential risk sources. In all these cases, there is a contingent of specialised General Service Unit officers, called the Recce unit, that always accompanies the president.

    Kenya’s presidential security precautions follow standard VIP security protection like those for heads of state across the world. However, in some neighbouring countries, for instance, presidents move in heavily armed military convoys. This has not been seen in Kenya.

    If a potential threat is detected, the president is immediately shielded and whisked away to a secure vehicle or evacuated by air in high-risk events. In such cases, the Kenya Defence Forces secures the president.

    Despite stringent security measures, incidents can occur. For instance, in March 2025, a British tourist was fatally hit by a vehicle in Ruto’s motorcade. This prompted investigations and reviews on motorcade safety protocols.

    Such events highlight the challenges of balancing presidential security with public safety, especially in densely populated urban areas.

    Security failures

    The shoe-throwing incident targeting Ruto highlighted five major failures in presidential protection protocols.

    First, crowd screening and access control failures. The alleged assailant was very close to the president, suggesting an inadequate distance between the crowds and the president. The inner ring of security also failed to spot the perpetrator raising a shoe in the air to use as a projectile. This indicates weak front-row eye sweeps and scans by the president’s security.

    Second, there was an apparent delay in security response. The elite officers around the president should have subdued the alleged attacker within seconds. It could mean most had their eyes on the president or cameras, as opposed to scanning the crowds for any sudden movements.

    Third, security allowed the president to stand too close to a crowd that hadn’t been screened. Best practices require a no-go zone of three to five metres for individuals who have not been scanned or screened.

    Fourth, there was an apparent gap in intelligence and threat assessment. Aggressive or agitated people next to the president should draw the attention of security officers. Plainclothes security officers are usually deployed to monitor crowd behaviour. It isn’t enough to rely on uniformed officers.

    Undercover agents are critical for flagging pre-attack signals, such as nervousness or repeated adjustments of positions.

    Fifth, there was no clear evacuation plan for the president. After the incident, the president continued speaking. In high-risk scenarios, protocols often demand instant relocation of the president to a secure vehicle or helicopter, where the military takes over and airlifts him to safety.

    What should change

    Kenya’s presidential security detail may be forced to:

    • increase standoff distance between the president and crowds

    • deploy more plainclothes officers to blend in and monitor crowds around the president

    • mandate stricter screening of those in close proximity to the president

    • conduct more frequent security risks drills for rapid neutralisation of potential threats.

    The exact details of presidential security in Kenya are confidential. However, the overarching structure aims to provide comprehensive protection to the president while maintaining public safety and order during official engagements. No security protocol is 100% foolproof. But a balance needs to be struck between overly aggressive crowd control and accessibility.

    Douglas Lucas Kivoi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Is Kenya’s president safe in a crowd? Security expert scans VIP protection checklist – https://theconversation.com/is-kenyas-president-safe-in-a-crowd-security-expert-scans-vip-protection-checklist-256268

    MIL OSI –

  • Multiple cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi; Shimla-Sunni-Karsog highway blocked after heavy rain

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Multiple cloudbursts and torrential rain continued across Himachal Pradesh on Monday, resulting in flash floods. One of the worst-hit routes is the Shimla-Sunni-Karsog highway, which has been completely blocked near Devidhar, about 35 kilometres from the state capital Shimla, stranding dozens of vehicles and commuters.

    Long queues of vehicles were seen piling up on both sides of the landslide site.

    Some people went missing in multiple cloudbursts overnight in Karsog division in Mandi district.

    The cloudbursts triggered flash floods that washed away many houses.

    At least 41 people have been rescued by the district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

    According to reports, 10 houses and a bridge were swept away by floods in Kuklah. In Mandi district, the 16-MW Patikari Hydro-Electric Power Project has also been washed away.

    The run-of-the-river power project is built on the Bakhli Khad, a left-bank tributary of the Beas river.

    Owing to the heavy inflow of water, 150,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Pandoh Dam.

    The situation turned critical as the downpour in the Beas upper catchment led to a sharp increase in inflow at Pandoh Dam.

    Locals and tourists have been strictly warned to stay away from the riverbanks.

    The 126-MW Larji Hydro Electric Project in Kullu also saw an abnormal rise in water discharge.

    Owing to heavy rain, Mandi District Magistrate Apoorv Devgan ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions in the district on Tuesday as a precautionary step.

    On Monday, a five-storey building collapsed in the suburbs of Shimla city. However, no lives were lost, as residents had vacated the building.

    The state suffered a loss of Rs 75.69 crore till Monday due to torrential rain that has occurred across the state in the past 10 days.

    As per the Revenue Department, the state has witnessed 23 deaths as a result of flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, etc, from June 20 to June 30. Also, 259 link roads across the state remain closed, while 614 distribution transformers and 144 water supply schemes across the state remain disrupted.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Popular Science Tourism: A New Vector of Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    A foresight session dedicated to the development of popular science tourism was held at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade. The main goal of the event was to develop a strategy for attracting foreign tourists interested in scientific achievements and technologies. This corresponds to the new vector of development of the city’s tourism industry, which was discussed during the accelerator “International Tourism Products of Russia”. The project is being implemented by the Center of Competence in Tourism and Hospitality with the support of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

    The development of popular science tourism at the international level is an important step towards strengthening cultural and scientific ties between Russia and other countries. We strive to create tourism products that will be interesting and useful to guests from different parts of the world, allowing them to learn more about Russian science, technology and innovation. Our task is to make St. Petersburg a center of attraction for everyone interested in science and striving for new knowledge, – noted Marina Morozova, General Director of the Center of Competence in Tourism and Hospitality.

    The foresight session was attended by representatives of tour operators, the museum community, research institutes, including the Almazov National Medical Research Center, and leading universities. The moderators were associate professors of the Higher School of Service and Trade of the IPMEiT Irina Kapustina and Ksenia Pasternak.

    The projects were assessed by the expert opinion of the General Director of the international hospitality school ACORN Hospitality and Tourism Business School Olga Weiss, the General Director of the travel agency Tolstoy House Sofia Sheynina, the head of the paid services department of the Almazov National Medical Research Center Elena Zolotukhina, the public representative of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Svetlana Selishcheva, the President of the Association of Participants in the Sphere of Medical and Health Tourism Sofia Mozokina, and the author of the program Management of State Programs and Implementation of National Projects in the Russian Federation Denis Askinadze.

    Unlike a tourism product with a pronounced cultural component, our project is focused on the scientific, industrial and scientific and production potential of the city. In the future, we also hope to attract tourists as future students, which is especially interesting for educational organizations. But even if they do not choose our universities, popular science tourism will become a powerful tool for popularizing science and a kind of soft power demonstrating the scientific, technical and scientific and production potential of our country, explained the Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg Evgeny Pankevich.

    Participants analyzed current trends and prospects for the development of popular science tourism, developed tourist routes and educational programs aimed, in particular, at attracting tourists from the Middle East, the CIS and Vietnam.

    Events like today’s foresight session play a key role in shaping the strategy for the development of popular science and industrial tourism. The Higher School of Service and Trade, as part of its activities project office “Industrial Tourism – Polytech” actively develops this important market segment, providing training for qualified personnel and promoting Russian scientific and technological heritage. We are convinced that such activities will significantly not only increase the tourist attractiveness of the region, but will also contribute to enhancing the brand of Russian industry, as well as strengthen Russia’s image as a leader in the field of science and technology, – noted the Director of the Higher School of Service and Trade Olga Voronova.

    The meeting culminated in the development of a passport for a unique tourism product in the field of popular science tourism for inquisitive travelers from all over the world.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • India hosts first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue in Chennai to boost maritime cooperation and tourism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue in Chennai on Monday, marking a significant milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Southeast Asian nations.

    Held aboard the MV Empress at Chennai Port, the dialogue brought together over 30 delegates from all ten ASEAN countries, along with Timor Leste, to explore ways to enhance cruise connectivity, promote sustainable tourism, and strengthen cultural and economic ties across the Indo-Pacific region.

    Sonowal emphasized India’s vision to professionalise 5,000 km of navigable waterways and boost cruise passenger traffic to one million annually by 2029 under the Sagarmala initiative. He also outlined plans for an integrated cruise network linking Indian and ASEAN ports, aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 and ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

    “Together, we want to develop a sustainable cruise circuit among culturally vibrant coastal regions of India and ASEAN, transforming the region into the hub of cruise tourism for the Global South,” the Minister said.

    The two-day dialogue includes thematic sessions on investment and cruise tourist circuits, and will continue in Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Delegates will visit historic temples and monuments, highlighting India’s rich coastal tourism potential.

    Minister of State Shantanu Thakur highlighted ASEAN’s central role in India’s Act East Policy and reiterated India’s commitment to revitalising centuries-old maritime ties through cruise tourism and the blue economy.

    The event also saw participation from senior government officials and industry leaders. The Indian government envisions making the ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue a recurring platform for advancing regional cruise tourism and maritime cooperation.

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press Conference – Bankstown

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    PROFESSOR GEORGE WILLIAMS, VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT OF WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: I’d like to begin by acknowledging the people of the Dharug Nation and pay my respects to elders past and present, and particularly welcome Minister Jason Clare, the Education Minister, Mary O’ Kane, we’ve also got Andrew Giles here as well; Emeritus Professor Barney Glover and we’ve got Professor Geoff Lee as well from WSU.

    I’m delighted that this is the first day of ATEC here on our Bankstown campus. It’s a particularly important place to recognise the start of ATEC. We’re going to have TAFE moving into this building shortly and I’m looking forward to our students whizzing up and down the lifts. I’m delighted to see a lot of our students here today as well, studying education. From our point of view, we’re really committed as a university to delivering on the Accord. We see ourselves as the university of the Accord that will make sure we reach our targets of 1.8 million people by 2050 studying at university. That gets us from 45 to 55 per cent of students studying a bachelor’s degree. And we know here what is needed to get those students into study, particularly equity students, and to give them the opportunities that they deserve.

    I’d also say, though, what we’re seeing at Western as the Accord recognised, is that there are problems with the system that are getting in the way of us being able to deliver on that ambitious goal. We’ve seen 10 to 15 per cent decreases in the number of students from low SES and also equity backgrounds, such as first in family coming to university. And so, for us today, this is a really important announcement because it marks the opportunity to start fixing a broken system so that every student, irrespective of their postcode, irrespective of their background, has the opportunity to world world-class university education.

    From our point of view, we look forward to working with the Minister in ATEC, particularly to fix the Job-ready Graduates programme, which is means a $50,000 arts cost of a degree for many of our students and that’s actively dissuading our students from studying at university. We also know that it needs to go beyond the really good package that reduces student debt to actually dealing with the fees in the first place to make sure that students can afford to come to university. We also look forward to working with ATEC, particularly on international students. They are critical contributors to the Western Sydney economy, particularly nurses and other areas where we’re dealing with critical shortages. And in our case, 24 cents in every dollar paid by an international student supports an Australian student in their study. They support food, equity programmes and the like. And again, we look forward to contributing there. So, from our point of view, we’re really delighted here at Bankstown on this historic day. I’d also like particularly to acknowledge Barney, whose vision led to this building some years ago. And we’re pleased to be here, pleased to support ATEC and look forward to supporting its work.

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks very much, George. And this is really the perfect place to launch the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. As George mentioned, this is the vision of Barney in many senses. This building emerged out of the ground over the course of COVID and now stands as the tallest building in Bankstown, with that big sign at the top saying Western Sydney University. And I said when this building was officially opened a couple of years ago that this is more than just a building, it’s a beacon. When those lights shine brightly over Bankstown every night, people see it. I know the students here would see it. And I hope that young people right across our community see it and think, well, maybe university is for me as well.

    When I was a kid growing up in Western Sydney, university was somewhere else. And for a lot of kids that I went to school with, university felt like it was for someone else, that it was not for kids in the western suburbs of Sydney. There was lots of Macca’s logos, lots of KFC logos, lots of Westfield logos, not a lot of university logos. That’s now changing, and that’s important if we’re going to break down that invisible barrier that stops a lot of young people from giving university a crack in the first place. And that’s a big part of what the Universities Accord was about. It’s also a big part of what ATEC is about. And as you just mentioned a moment ago, George, something else exciting is about to happen here at this fantastic building, and that is, from January next year, Bankstown TAFE is moving in. The top eight floors of this building will be occupied by students from Bankstown TAFE that are just across the road at the moment. And so, from next year, in one building, you’re going to have TAFE and university all under one roof. That sends a really important message as well, about making sure that our tertiary education system is more joined up, that we’re working together, that we’re making it easier for students to move between TAFE and university. And again, that’s a really big part of what the Universities Accord report was all about, about trying to break down that artificial barrier that stops a lot of people from moving from one part of the system to another.

    The Universities Accord report was released just over a year ago and it’s a really important piece of work. And I want to thank Professor Mary O’ Kane in particular, and the team that she led for producing that report for the nation. It’s a blueprint for how we reform higher education for the next decade and beyond. And we’ve now started the process of implementing its recommendations. That includes things like university study hubs in our regions and in our suburbs. It includes fee-free university courses, those bridging courses that help young people – that might have finished school, but they’re not ready for uni yet – to do a free course to get ready to start a university degree. It includes the changes we’re making to HECS. We’ve made changes to indexation last year. In a couple of weeks, I’ll introduce legislation into the Parliament that will cut the student debt of 3 million Australians by 20 per cent, including the students that are here with us today.

    And it also includes paid prac for the first time ever. From today, the Australian Government will be investing in providing financial support for teaching students, for nursing students, for midwifery students, and for social work students while they do the practical part of their training. It’s worth almost half a billion dollars and it’s real practical support while you do your practical training. These are young people who are going to teach our children, who are going to look after us when we’re sick, who are going to help women during childbirth, help women fleeing domestic violence, some of the most important jobs in this country. And this is real practical help to help with the practical part of their degree.

    And today something else happens, something else from the Accord comes to life. And that’s the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. And its real purpose is to drive long term reform. Implementing the Accord is the job of more than just one minister or two ministers or, or one government or two governments. It’s long-term reform, and that requires a steward that’s going to drive and implement reform over the next decade and beyond. And that’s why Mary and the team recommended it. That’s why the government is implementing it. From today, an interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission comes to life while we introduce legislation to make it permanent. And the people who recommended it are the people who are going to help to bring it to life. I’m bringing the band back together.

    Professor Mary O’ Kane, thank you for agreeing to be the interim chair of, well, the chair of the interim ATEC. Barney, you’re sort of wearing a semi hat here as the head of JSA, but helping us as one of the commissioners as well. And Larissa Behrendt, distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, who’s not with us today, but has also agreed to be one of the commissioners of the interim ATEC. It’s about getting the people who recommended this to help bring it to life, to lift words off the page and make this real. As George pointed out, the role of the ATEC is critical. It’s about making the system more joined up. It’s about compacts with universities about what they do. It’s about striking funding agreements with universities to implement the important work that universities do in different parts of the country. Not every university needs to be the same or do the same thing and the ATEC will be critical in that and providing advice to us on the cost of courses and the funding of courses and the costs that students pay. So, this is really important and it’s not just about universities. We called this the Australian Tertiary Education Commission for a reason, because we want to look at the whole system, make sure that it’s more joined up and working together. And so, this body reports to both of us, Minister for Education and the Minister for Skills. And I’d ask Andrew to say a few words.

    ANDREW GILES, MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING: Yeah, thanks very much, Jason. This is a really important day. Jason, you’ve just been talking about long term reform. Well, I’m conscious that people have been talking about harmonisation in tertiary education for a very, very long time. But today it becomes concrete, with the interim Australian Tertiary Education Committee taking its first steps. And I really do look forward to hearing from Mary and from Barney in a few minutes about the journey to date and the journey going forward.

    Because this is long term reform that has been a long time in the making but is absolutely fundamental for the reasons that Jason set out. But also as we think about the needs of the Australian economy today and into the future, I’m very conscious that Jobs and Skills Australia are telling us that nine in 10 jobs require some form of post compulsory qualification and that amongst those there’s roughly a 50/50 split between those that require a university degree and those that require vocational education and training. So, when I think about that split, I think about how important it is that we’re standing right here in Bankstown, in your electorate Jase, in a building that will very shortly bring that vision to physical life with the proximity of TAFE and university students. And that’s a symbol also of a big part of the ongoing work of the ATEC about building clearer pathways between vocational and university education, breaking down some of those barriers, because there’s really two barriers that we’re talking about here. The ones that are preventing too many Australians from accessing university or vocational pathways, and those that are stopping people from being the adaptive learners that they want to be and which our economy demands. So, there’s really important work in two respects for the ATEC to get underway.

    I feel really excited, though, to be at the ground floor of this great long-term enterprise as we seek to do two things. We seek to support a labour market that works for Australia to grow the Australian economy, to make sure that there’s a better fit between the jobs that are out there and the pathways that we are offering and making accessible to young and indeed not so young Australians. And on the other hand, to make sure that every Australian can access the skills they want for a fulfilling, rewarding and secure job into the future. So, today we take a really big step forward. It’s a step that’s really all about partnership. I’m thrilled to work so closely with Jason in his capacity as Minister for Education. I’m thrilled to work with people across the sector, whether it’s in vocational education, whether it’s in university, whether it’s employers, whether it’s unions, whether it’s experts, to make sure that we have an education system that is fit for purpose. And when I say fit for purpose, that’s fit for the needs of our economy and fit to meet the needs and the aspirations of every Australian in every corner of this great country. With that, I’m really pleased to hand over to Mary O’ Kane, who really in, in many senses is the architect of this vision and then will take on board stewardship of seeing it realised. So, thank you, Mary.

    MARY O’KANE, CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF THE INTERIM AUTRALIAN TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION: Thank you, Minister. Well, this is a very exciting day and it’s particularly thrilling to have a group of teaching students here. You’re the symbol of why we worked hard on the Accord and why we’re so thrilled that the Tertiary Education Commission is starting. It’s actually starting again. A little bit of a history lesson. It actually was the Labor Government at the end of the war established it. It was then picked up by the Menzies Government, the Liberal Government after that, and added to, and went for a long time to 1988. And there hasn’t been one for a while. But in the Accord work, we determined that you really need something that interprets the higher education system to the community, to government, and that can listen to the higher education system and interpret that back. So, if you like, it’s a whisperer, it’s the higher education whisperer for the nation.

    And like the commission of post the Second World War, this one has some really big things to advise government on. We just heard Minister Giles talk about the importance of the national economy. And unless we have the right skills, we won’t have the economy or the society we want. And this is really about growing that skills base enormously, growing the types of skills, modernising them, but also making sure that we have the right pathways, we have the right and above all, the numbers going in. And we’re not going to get the numbers into higher education unless we have different mechanisms to the ones we have now. It’s not just about people going to school and going on to higher ed; it’s about people being able to come back in to do university later in life. It’s about going through different pathways. And this is why there’s a lot about access in the Accord and that we’ll be trying to enliven in the Tertiary Education Commission. So, how can people have done really good courses at TAFE, go to university and the other way around?

    When I was in South Australia, we had, one of the favourite things people would do, would do a degree in history at one of the universities and then go to Regency TAFE and do a hospitality qualification. And that combination was a really good one for the tourism industry and so on. So, it’s very exciting to be part of this sort of new, looking at new ways to realise a much larger higher education system, even stronger knowledge system than we have in Australia. A new, the economy being stronger and our place in the sort of international system, you know, being even more marked than it is at present. And so, I hope that for you, you’ll be measuring us. I hope you’ll be looking at the Tertiary Education Commission and saying, yes, it’s doing what I want or it’s not, and if not, I hope you’ll come and talk to us, because it’s very much an open for business, talking to the students, talking to the universities and passing it all on to government. So, thank you for being here today while we celebrate. And I’ll do a shout out to Larissa. Hopefully she’s watching on some sort of thing. She’s up in Yucala with a range of Indigenous students who are there with her and filming for various things. So, thank you very much. I should have said we’d talk to Barney.

    BARNEY GLOVER, JOBS AND SKILLS AUSTRALIA COMMISSIONER: You probably, you could not stop me. Thank you, Mary, for those words. I want to particularly thank the two ministers that are here today. My minister, Andrew Giles, Minister for Skills and Training in Australia. The real energy behind what Andrew wants to achieve, to transform the Australian vocational education and training system to support the labour market we need now and into the future and the work that Jason Clare has done as Minister for Education to bring the ATEC today into fruition to support the Accord and to see today not just the ATEC established and for Mary to lead this implementation phase with the support of Larissa and myself, but so many other aspects of the Accord recommendations that the government’s already picked up and are in place. And placement payments today for those students you mentioned across nursing, midwifery, social work and teaching, to receive the benefit they need to avoid poverty in placements is a wonderful achievement of the accord and congratulations to the government.

    There are a number of reasons why I think this is a really important day. It’s not just that two ministers are here that’s significant in itself. I want to congratulate George for the work that Western Sydney has done to take this building, to make it what I believe will be one of the most important dual sector enterprises in higher education and vocational education training in Australia. When those TAFE students are here next year, this will be as big as most dual-sector universities in Australia. So, it will be in itself a great opportunity to press what joined up means for tertiary education Australia to have a harmonised tertiary education system in this country and to do it in ways we haven’t been able to do before. So, there’s a challenge here for TAFE NSW and for George and for Michelle Simons, who does a wonderful job here as the Dean of the School of Education. A wonderful challenge to say, what can we do differently? What can we do better? How can we ensure that we produce graduates from higher ed and those who complete vet qualifications with the skills and knowledge they need for the economy of the future, as Mary said, because there are wonderful opportunities in the future for all Australians, but we’ve got to match up our skills and our jobs.

    It’s one thing that Jobs and Skills Australia has been saying for some time, we need a joined up tertiary education system. We need to better match our skills from our education and training into our job market. We need to recognise that increasingly we need post-secondary qualifications for the future. And as Minister Giles said, we’ve got to get the balance right between higher education and vet. And that’s not about different ways of cutting the same cake. It’s growing this cake. And that really means. And this is another reason why it’s exciting to be here in Bankstown, because as Mary said, we’ve got to uplift more Australians to participate in post-secondary education more than we’ve ever done before. And that means reaching into equity, in first in family, as George said, students from a low socio-economic background, First Nations Australians. I pay tribute to the work that Larissa has done to make First Nations Australians at the centre of the Accord and at the centre of the ATEC. And she does a wonderful job in supporting that. And people with disability and other equity groups, we need to make sure they’re fully represented.

    So, this is a great place to do this. It was a great place to build this building. Not just that it was 50 metres from the Minister for Education’s electoral office. That was just an additional benefit, but to put it here in the South-West of Sydney and to reach out to these communities and say it’s not just higher education, tertiary education is in reach and it will be transformational and it will ensure that this region has the economic uplift and the social and cultural benefits that tertiary education can bring. Exciting day. Well done to everyone. Thank you.

    CLARE: Can I just make some comments on reports this morning of alleged sexual assault of children in childcare centres in Victoria. This morning I’ve spoken to Lizzie Blandthorn, the Minister for Children. I’ve also spoken to Tim Watts, member for Gellibrand, in the area where some of these child care centres are located in Victoria. This is extremely serious. There is nothing more serious than this. The alleged perpetrator is in custody right now, but this is one of the reasons why this was top of the agenda when education ministers met in Adelaide on Friday. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve banned the use of personal mobile phones in childcare centres. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve made mandatory reporting of physical and sexual assaults in childcare centres a requirement within 24 hours rather than seven days. It’s one of the reasons why I will bring legislation to the Federal Parliament in the next few months to cut off funding to childcare centres that aren’t up to scratch. And as I said, it’s one of the reasons why this was top of the agenda when education ministers met on Friday to look at what are the next steps that we need to take to make sure that our children are safe in child care centres. There are more than 1 million parents who rely on our early education and care system to care for our children, to educate our children and to keep our children safe. This is personal for me because I’m one of those parents and there is nothing more important to me than making sure that we take every step we need to take to keep our kids safe. Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Port Marlborough Ready to Progress New Cook Strait Ferry Infrastructure

    Source: Port Marlborough

    Port Marlborough welcomes the Government’s announcement today confirming agreement has been reached on the core infrastructure required to support the new Cook Strait ferry service. Today’s announcement by Minister for Rail, Winston Peters, sets the foundation for the delivery of key marine infrastructure in both Picton and Wellington. In Picton, this includes the construction of a new wharf and linkspan to accommodate the incoming ferries, alongside upgrades to terminal interfaces and the construction of the long-awaited Dublin Street overbridge.
    Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn says this agreement is a critical step forward, enabling momentum to build following the Government’s earlier decision to proceed with the procurement of two new rail-enabled ferries.
    “For more than a decade, we’ve worked to support a long-term solution for inter-island connectivity. The agreements confirmed today now give clarity to all parties and set the direction for progressing the infrastructure that will strengthen the vital transport link between the North and South Islands.” says Mr Welbourn.
    The Minister was welcomed to Picton today and toured the project area with the Port Marlborough team, providing the opportunity to discuss progress and planning underway.
    “We were pleased to host the Minister and show the work already happening on the ground. Port Marlborough is committed to delivering this infrastructure on behalf of our region and the country. We were able to show the Minister our proactive efforts to advance delivery while effectively navigating the constraints of a live port environment.”
    Mr Welbourn says Port Marlborough is now focused on moving ahead at pace with design and commercial arrangements.
    “We look forward to continuing close collaboration with our project partners as we deliver infrastructure that supports the future of ferry operations, enables our national supply chain and meets the needs of our communities for decades to come.”

    Confirmed Scope for Picton Infrastructure:
    Port Marlborough delivering
    – Construction of a new wharf to accommodate the larger, rail-enabled ferries
    – New linkspan to connect the ferries to the terminal and landside infrastructure
    – Upgrades to the existing terminal interface, reusing passenger and commercial vehicle facilities
    Other project information
    – Newly built terminal building to be renovated for longer use
    – Reuse of as much of the existing rail yard as possible
    – Relocation and reuse of the existing passenger walkway
    – Construction of a new overbridge at Dublin Street, separating road and rail to improve safety and efficiency
    About Port Marlborough
    Port Marlborough is the key maritime gateway for Te Tau Ihu, facilitating the SH1 inter-island link, and movement of South Island trade, providing critical logistics, marine, port, and marina services. Operating from Picton, Havelock, Waikawa and remote Marlborough Sounds Sites, Port Marlborough supports a diverse range of industries, including Inter- Island ferries, export cargo, tourism, cruise industry, aquaculture, forestry, and the marine sector. The port handles over 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually and operates one of the largest marina businesses in the Southern Hemisphere through its subsidiary Marlborough Sounds Marinas.
    Additionally, the port manages pilotage, towage, berthing logistics for shipping throughout the Marlborough Sounds and delivers success to the region through its strategy of balancing the needs of People, Planet, Prosperity and Partnerships. The port is committed to delivering value to Marlborough’s industries while prioritising sustainability and long-term economic growth.
    For more information see: https://www.portmarlborough.co.nz/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Xinjiang unveils 6 new scenic highway routes to boost tourism

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

    URUMQI, June 30 — Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has unveiled six new scenic highways, investing 10.7 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) to develop 965 km of tourism-focused roads.

    The routes connect diverse landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and grasslands to forests, lakes, deserts and oases, and aim to enhance the region’s “fast entry, slow travel” transportation network and enrich self-driving tourism experiences, according to the regional transport department.

    The newly constructed highways are designed to bridge key attractions across Xinjiang’s vast terrain, where destinations are often widely dispersed, the department said.

    Xinjiang has intensified efforts to build a multidimensional travel network in recent years. Alongside the highways, the region has expanded aviation routes, launched specialty railway circuits like the Taklimakan Desert Loop, and developed iconic tourist roads.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang opens

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

    Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang opens

    Updated: July 1, 2025 08:36 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows the Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The 209.45-kilometer-long highway linking Altay City and Hemu Village opened officially on Monday, connecting a number of tourist destinations. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A car runs on the Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A car runs on the Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows yurts for catering services run by local villagers alongside the Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A car runs on the Altay-Hemu highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Food security in Africa: managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Christian Siderius, Senior researcher in water and food security, London School of Economics and Political Science

    Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is growing at 2.7% per year and is expected to reach two billion by the year 2050. The region’s urban population is growing even faster: it was at 533 million in 2023, a 3.85% increase from 2022.

    The need to feed this population will put pressure on land and water resources.

    I’m part of a group of researchers who have looked at whether regional food production would be sufficient to supply growing urban populations. By and large, we have found high levels of food self-sufficiency. But climate change could put a spanner in the works.

    We have also looked at the potential of local water conservation measures to help achieve food self-sufficiency in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Our study shows that measures such as better irrigation or water harvesting could boost food production while buffering the vagaries of weather.

    We found that ambitious – yet realistic – adoption of such measures increases food supply to cities and makes the region as a whole self-sufficient.

    A new model

    In large parts of eastern Africa, rainfall is relatively abundant and well distributed over the growing season, resulting in good yields. In future, however, the gap between water availability and crop water demand is expected to increase.

    We wanted to know whether sub-Saharan Africa would be able to increase its food production to meet future demand, in a changing climate. To do so, we built a novel foodshed model which simulates crop production using climate data and links urban demand to nearby food supply. Foodsheds have been defined as areas where supply matches demand. We assessed various water management measures that could buffer weather variability or increase production (or both). Understanding the potential of such measures can help mobilise and target much needed investments in Africa’s food system.

    Conserving water and growing more food

    First, we looked at whether regional food production was sufficient to supply growing urban populations.

    Combining large databases and crop simulations, we outlined the regions that food might come from for urban areas. Sub-Saharan Africa produces 85% of its overall crop food demand at present, according to our calculations, much of it in eastern Africa. Tanzania, Kenya, and even Uganda – if it were to use its food exports for domestic consumption – come close to being self-sufficient.

    Local exceptions are the large cities of Mombasa, the largest port city in Kenya, and Arusha, an important tourism and diplomatic and conference hub in Tanzania, and their immediate surroundings.

    In future, a larger population will demand more food. At the same time, the gap between how much water is available and how much crops need is expected to increase. Higher water losses due to higher temperatures will not be fully compensated for by changes in rainfall, according to climate model projections. And even where rainfall is projected to increase, more extreme events are likely to affect crop production. It might rain either too much or too little, which will lead to higher year-to-year variability.

    Our study shows that local water conservation measures could buffer some of the projected negative impacts of climate change in eastern Africa. It could also boost food production.

    Water harvesting, soil conservation and making sure water infiltrates in the soil would slow runoff and store more water in the soil.

    Irrigation systems should be gradually upgraded to drip irrigation or sprinklers. This will improve irrigation efficiency and water consumption. On rainfed areas, rainwater harvesting reservoirs should be installed. The water stored could be used for supplemental irrigation during dry periods. Soil moisture conservation measures will also be applied. These measures will prevent water from evaporating from the bare soil. Irrigation could offset occasional drought risk and so provide better financial stability or create possibilities for planting a different or a second or third crop, further increasing production and income.

    Even the foodsheds of rapidly growing cities such as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania will be able to supply enough to meet demand from relatively short distances.

    Large scale expansion of irrigation onto new lands should, however, be considered carefully. Potential trade-offs with energy and tourism incomes must equally be considered.

    In an earlier study, assessing Tanzania’s ambitious formal irrigation expansion plans, we found that expansion without water conservation measures would pose considerable risk to hydropower production in the new Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. It would also be a risk to river-dependent ecosystems and national parks and the substantial tourism income that they generate.



    Read more:
    Kenya needs to grow more food: a focus on how to irrigate its vast dry areas is key

    Why our findings matter

    Producing more food in Africa is essential to keep pace with population growth and changing diets. The alternative is an increasing dependence on imports from outside the continent. In 2021, the total value of Africa’s food imports was roughly US$100 billion. Imports can be a useful supplement to local production, but major food exporters in Europe and America are already producing at peak productivity. They have limited scope to increase area and production.

    Security concerns around global supply chains in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and broader geo-political realignment have also made countries wary of relying too much on others.

    Our study confirms the potential of Africa to supply much of the increased demand for food within the continent. We looked at all food crops, including regionally important ones such as cassava, beans and millet. Countries in eastern Africa play a pivotal role.

    Improved productivity due to measures proposed would reduce the need for more land elsewhere to grow crops, and limit conflicts related to land use. This is equally important for biodiversity and tourism.



    Read more:
    Diet and nutrition: how well Tanzanians eat depends largely on where they live

    Looking forward

    What we propose requires large investments. Exploring these costs against benefits in a case study in the Rufiji basin in Tanzania we found that most water management measures would be cost effective, but only when considering the overall impact of water conservation on agriculture, hydropower production, and the riverine ecosystem.

    Not all farmers will be able to finance these measures themselves. The government and private sector have to provide incentives, reduce risks and increase access to affordable loans.

    Nor should these measures be taken in isolation. Other buffer mechanisms to support a stable food supply are increased storage facilities for food, diversified production, and stable and diversified trade relationships.
    With farmers innovating, the region’s infrastructure rapidly developing, and expanding urban areas becoming catalysts for growth, there is both the need and the scope to further invest in and improve the region’s food system.

    Christian Siderius received funding to conduct this research from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) for the Future Water Challenges project (E555182DA/5200000978/9) and in preparation of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit. Other cited work was carried out under the Future Climate for Africa UMFULA project with financial support from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (grants NE/M020398/1 and NE/M020258) and the UK government’s former
    Department for International Development.

    Christian is a director and founder of Uncharted Waters Ltd, a not-for-profit climate-food system analytics company, and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom, and Visiting Senior Researcher the Water Resources Management group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands

    – ref. Food security in Africa: managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region – https://theconversation.com/food-security-in-africa-managing-water-will-be-vital-in-a-rapidly-growing-region-241281

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Counting Uganda’s lions: we found that wildlife rangers do a better job than machines

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Planetary Health and Resilient Conservation Group, Griffith University

    Lions are a symbol of Africa’s last wild places. It’s a species central to many of the continent’s cultures and religions. But lion populations have reportedly declined over the past 50 years, especially in parts of west and east Africa.

    Concern over this decline has prompted large financial commitments to shore up numbers. These investments must go hand in hand with the critical work of closely monitoring lion populations. It’s important to understand how their numbers and their distribution respond to conservation actions such as anti-poaching, managing conflicts with cattle farmers, and securing protected areas.

    Many traditional methods used to count lions can produce unreliable results. And many existing estimates are based on assumptions about vast expanses which have not been surveyed.

    We are researchers with over 50 years of combined experience in conservation, big cat ecology, and the complexities of people and wildlife living together. We have long suspected wildlife tourism rangers operating within our study locations in Uganda could help us find lions in hard-to-reach places and map their distribution. After all, tourism rangers are government employees whose primary role is to guide tourists in observing and photographing wildlife daily. They have a deeper understanding of animal behaviour than most others.

    We therefore set out to study the efficacy of wildlife tourism rangers in collecting data necessary for estimating lion population numbers. We compared their performance to another commonly used field method to count big cats: remote infrared camera traps. We found that an approach led by wildlife rangers could be very useful in counting lions in many parts of their African range.

    Counting the lions of the Nile River

    As the morning sun rises on the banks of the River Nile in north-western Uganda, two wildlife rangers turn on their iPhones, preloaded with tracking software which will help them monitor where they have searched for lions. Lilian Namukose and Silva Musobozi head into the heart of Murchison Falls National Park. Here, their daily work is to locate and photograph the region’s largest predator: the African lion.

    The study area is the Nile Delta region (255km²) of the park, Uganda’s largest protected area. The region flanks the upper reaches of the Nile River, Africa’s longest waterway. It is a biodiversity hotspot but faces immense human pressures, from commercial oil extraction and wire snare poaching.



    Read more:
    The fast, furious, and brutally short life of an African male lion

    For these reasons it is critical to establish robust measures of how many lions still exist there, and develop monitoring schemes which will be long lasting.

    Over 76 sampling days we collaborated with Namukose and Musobozi, who drove 2,939km searching for lions. At the same time, we deployed infrared camera traps across 32 locations in the same study area. This allowed us to compare how these two methods performed head-to-head in exactly the same study area and time period. What we measured was the number of individually identifiable lions through their unique whisker spot patterns, suitable for advanced scientific analysis called spatial capture-recapture modelling.

    At the end of our survey period the rangers detected 30 lions 102 times, generating an estimate of 13.91 individuals per 100km² with acceptable precision. By contrast, the infrared camera traps could not reliably identify lions. There were only two usable detections because of poor image quality.

    One of the most important results of our surveys was that the ranger-led survey was 50% cheaper than running camera traps, and each detection by a camera trap was 100 times more expensive than a detection by a ranger.

    What rangers could mean for lion conservation across Africa

    Our survey of Murchison’s Nile Delta region showed us two key things. First, rangers’ intimate knowledge of lion behaviour (especially specific thickets, and regions of high lion activity) helped us achieve high lion detection rates. Second, using tourism rangers as lion monitors gives rangers an entry point into the conservation science field.

    This approach not only empowers rangers as active conservation stakeholders, but builds the local capacity that’s needed in many of the places where lions still roam. This science capacity is key if lion populations are to be monitored accurately and regularly (ideally yearly).

    This is all the more critical in key source sites of lions in Uganda which have experienced significant declines in recent years, especially Kidepo Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The current lion population in Uganda is estimated at 291 individuals, far lower than many other places in east Africa (the Maasai Mara alone holds about 400 lions).

    Silva Musobozi, one of the rangers who did the fieldwork of the scientific study, adds:

    Rangers are arguably the closest group to wildlife on the ground and have good knowledge of animal behaviour. Through capacity building and training, rangers can be better incorporated into the scientific and management process.

    Nicholas Elliot of Wildlife Counts in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to the research on which this article is based.

    Alexander Richard Braczkowski receives funding from Northern Arizona University and Griffith University.

    Duan Biggs is a member of the IUCN (World Conservation Union).

    Arjun M. Gopalaswamy and Peter Lindsey do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Counting Uganda’s lions: we found that wildlife rangers do a better job than machines – https://theconversation.com/counting-ugandas-lions-we-found-that-wildlife-rangers-do-a-better-job-than-machines-244206

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: We discovered Raja Ampat’s reef manta rays prefer staying close to home – which could help us save more of them

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Edy Setyawan, Marine Ecologist, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a tough swimmer. They can travel hundreds of kilometres to feed themselves. The longest recorded movement for an individual reef manta ray was 1,150km, observed in eastern Australia.

    But even though they are able to swim long distances, our study on reef manta rays in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, discovered they are more likely to swim short distances. They appear to prefer staying close to their local habitats, strengthening their social bonds and forming distinct populations.

    Our research – involving researchers from Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia and published in the Royal Society Open Science journal in April – increases our understanding of this globally vulnerable species.

    Policymakers can use our findings to enhance conservation efforts for the species in Raja Ampat waters, which currently are facing challenges due to fishing and tourism.

    Why don’t reef manta rays roam far?

    Our study found reef manta rays occupy three distinct habitats within Raja Ampat. As of February 2024, we recorded 1,250 individual manta rays around Waigeo Island’s extensive coral reef ecosystem in the northwest of Raja Ampat; 640 manta rays around the coral reef ecosystem in the southeast of Misool, southern Raja Ampat; and no more than 50 manta rays in the Ayau atoll ecosystem up north.

    Within their own habitat, the manta rays tend to move around from one area to another, sticking to relatively short distances within 12 kilometres. They only occasionally make longer trips to similar areas in other habitats across Raja Ampat.

    We believe there are a few reasons why reef manta rays in Raja Ampat do not often venture far. The first reason is the presence of natural barriers, such as deep waters – over 1,000 metres below sea level – between Ayau Atoll and Waigeo Island, as well as the sea between Misool and Kofiau, which is 800-900 metres deep.

    Travelling through deep waters poses increased risks to reef manta rays due to potential encounters with natural predators, such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) and large sharks, which frequently inhabit deep open water.

    The second reason is that each habitat is well-equipped with sufficient resources, such as food and cleaning stations, reducing the need for the reef manta rays to travel extensively.

    Our previous research has identified dozens of feeding areas and cleaning stations in each habitat occupied by local populations of reef manta rays in Raja Ampat.

    Raja Ampat’s ‘small town’ of reef manta rays

    The habits of reef manta rays in Raja Ampat are gradually forming a unique population.

    We have found that they do not form a single large population, but instead split into three local populations, creating a metapopulation. A metapopulation consists of several local populations of the same species, each occupying its own habitat but all situated within the same geographic region.

    Think of a metapopulation as a small town, consisting of three hamlets. When each hamlet has enough food and water, the people prefer to stay in their own settlement. But they still live in the same town and occasionally visit each other.

    We found this movement pattern based on our tracking process from 2016 to 2021 using acoustic telemetry, which functions similarly to office check-in systems.

    In the tracking process, we combined this acoustic tracking with network analysis to map out the movement network of the manta rays, consisting of nodes and links. Nodes represent important areas for the manta rays, like cleaning stations and feeding areas, and links represent the movement between these key areas.

    The metapopulation occurs because individual manta rays migrate between local populations. Based on our observation, the migrating manta rays usually head back to their original area — it is often seasonal – while those that spread out generally do not return.

    This movement pattern means there is less mixing of individuals between local populations compared to within a single local population.

    How to better protect reef manta rays

    Some conservation policies and efforts have successfully increased the populations of reef manta rays in Raja Ampat.

    But increased human activities such as fishing and tourism in eastern Indonesia still pose challenges. While manta rays are not directly caught or hunted, they often get entangled in fishing lines and nets, which may cause harm and sometimes death.

    Additionally, with the increasing popularity of Raja Ampat as a top tourism destination, overcrowding and aggressive behavior by divers and snorkelers in Raja Ampat disrupt manta ray cleaning and feeding, which may affect their health and fitness.

    Conservation strategies for reef manta rays require a more precise and targeted approach to effectively address these growing challenges.

    The recognition of these rays as a metapopulation comprising three distinct local populations can inform a strategy shift in conservation management.

    Recently, we have presented our research findings and recommendations to the authorities responsible for managing the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area (MPA) network.

    We recommend the MPA management authority in Raja Ampat create and implement three separate management units, each tailored to the specific needs of one of the local manta ray populations.

    Separate units are necessary because each habitat has different demographics and is far apart, making it difficult to manage them as a single unit. This strategy is feasible because local rangers in each habitat already conduct regular patrols and monitoring.

    We also see the urgent need to protect a critical area for various activities of reef manta rays in Raja Ampat called Eagle Rock, which is currently outside existing protected zones. Located in west of Waigeo, Eagle Rock could be effectively safeguarded by expanding the Raja Ampat MPA network to encompass this area.

    Protecting Eagle Rock is crucial, not only because it serves as a vital migration corridor connecting significant areas and habitats within the South East Misool MPA, Dampier Strait MPA, Raja Ampat MPA, and West Waigeo MPA, but also due to the increased threat from nickel mining activities on Kawe Island.

    MPAs prohibit industrial fishing, restrict tourism and all unsustainable activities — including mining — to minimise environmental impact.

    Besides mapping out the movement patterns and networks of key areas and habitats of reef manta rays in Raja Ampat, our research lays the groundwork for future studies, including genetic analysis and satellite tracking.

    These advanced techniques can offer deeper insights into the population structure, home range, and distribution of reef manta rays in the region, helping to enhance management and conservation strategies.

    Edy Setyawan has received funding from the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) New Zealand, and the WWF Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN), United States.

    – ref. We discovered Raja Ampat’s reef manta rays prefer staying close to home – which could help us save more of them – https://theconversation.com/we-discovered-raja-ampats-reef-manta-rays-prefer-staying-close-to-home-which-could-help-us-save-more-of-them-230692

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Sea of opportunity: protecting mangroves and seagrass could boost Indonesia’s new climate targets

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Brurce Muhammad Mecca, Senior Analyst, Climateworks Centre

    Aerial view of Mangrove forest, Mandalika, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia. (Shutterstock)

    Indonesia has signalled it could include blue carbon ecosystems — carbon-rich coastal and marine areas, like mangroves and seagrass — in its new climate targets. This shift follows years of relying heavily on the forestry and land sectors as well as the energy sector.

    This could be a turning point, given Indonesia is one of the most important countries globally for ocean-based climate change mitigation. Indonesia’s blue carbon ecosystems are crucial, housing 22% of the world’s mangroves and 5% of seagrass meadows.

    However, the country is losing its mangroves and seagrass in recent years due to changes in land use. As of 2019, only 16% of mangroves and 45% of seagrass were inside protected areas. Damage to mangrove and seagrass ecosystems can release carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.

    For that reason, it’s crucial that Indonesia considers establishing more protected areas for its mangrove and seagrass ecosystems as part of its new climate targets. This could shield them from harmful activities like industrial fishing, unsustainable aquaculture, massive infrastructure development and overtourism.

    Two kinds of protected areas

    A 2023 Climateworks Centre study highlighted how Indonesia could prevent up to 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2030 – equal to Singapore’s 2030 emissions reduction target – by protecting 39,000 hectares per year of mangroves and 8,600 hectares per year of seagrasses. The combined area of these mangroves and seagrasses is almost three-quarters the size of Jakarta.

    One way to do this is by including both ecosystems inside two kinds of protected areas. The first is marine protected areas (MPAs), which are areas designated by the government to protect essential ecosystems. The other kind — known as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) – are just as crucial for ecosystem protection.

    Many activities are prohibited in marine protected areas, such as industrial fishing, mass tourism and mining. The government plans to increase Indonesia’s MPA cover from 8% to 10% by 2030, which is an opportunity to prioritise mangroves and seagrass.

    Meanwhile, OECMs can allow Indonesia to target, recognise, and support areas beyond marine protected areas. These other conservation measures can play an important role in protecting blue carbon ecosystems across the country.

    For example, the indigenous community of Rote Ndao in Eastern Indonesia’s traditional marine management system protects the local marine ecosystems – despite not being considered an marine protected area. Research shows that Indonesia has more than 390 potential marine OECMs. Many have conservation measures that have been implemented by local communities for centuries.

    Key places to protect

    While Indonesia still urgently requires broad investment in the collection of high-quality data for mapping blue ecosystems, our findings highlight some key priority locations for mangroves and seagrass to be included in the country’s ocean strategy.

    For mangrove ecosystems, we highlight Kalimantan and Papua as areas of particular importance. Between 2009 and 2019, approximately 19% of mangroves in Kalimantan (58,000 hectares) were deforested due to palm oil and aquaculture. By comparison, Papua has a large area of carbon-dense mangroves, and a low historic rate of deforestation.

    Meanwhile, protection of seagrass is quite tricky because an Indonesian seagrass map has not been completed.

    Before defining specific seagrass areas to be protected, the government can verify the data in provinces such as Maluku, North Maluku, Bangka Belitung Islands, South East Sulawesi, West Papua and South Sulawesi. These areas have the potential for seagrass ecosystems to be included in a protection plan.

    The government could also prioritise seagrass ecosystems in the Riau Islands and West Nusa Tenggara. These regions have extensive seagrass areas lacking marine protected area coverage.

    A new target for mangrove and seagrass protection

    Indonesia can set a clear and measurable area-based target to protect its mangrove and seagrass ecosystems in the upcoming climate targets. This could align the country’s climate actions on ocean and marine to its overall climate ambition. It will also lay the foundation for attracting climate financing, which Indonesia will need to achieve its targets.

    Local participation is also important. Indonesia can design and implement its mangrove and seagrass ecosystems protection target with the involvement and consent of local communities. This would align with Indonesia’s existing targets, such as its Blue Economy Roadmap, to ensure coordinated efforts across government agencies.

    As the world works towards net zero emissions, Indonesia has a huge opportunity to boost its climate leadership. Protecting and restoring more of the country’s carbon-rich mangroves and seagrass meadows can ensure the future thriving of marine ecosystems that so many Indonesians rely on.

    Editor’s Note : In 13 August, 11.57 AM WIB, we made a correction to a sentence in the article’s previous version:

    “By comparison, Papua has a large area of carbon-dense mangroves, and a low historic rate of deforestation, with no indication of this changing.”

    The previous sentence was inaccurate because while the historic rate was low, the implication was deforestation would continue, when in fact there are indications this could change in the future.

    We replaced the sentence with “By comparison, Papua has a large area of carbon-dense mangroves, and a low historic rate of deforestation.”

    Para penulis tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi di luar afiliasi akademis yang telah disebut di atas.

    – ref. Sea of opportunity: protecting mangroves and seagrass could boost Indonesia’s new climate targets – https://theconversation.com/sea-of-opportunity-protecting-mangroves-and-seagrass-could-boost-indonesias-new-climate-targets-229819

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Canada Day: Symbols take centre stage in debates about Canadian nationalism

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Paul Hamilton, Associate Professor of Political Science, Brock University

    The recent resurgence of Canadian nationalism is a response to explicit threats made by United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to make Canada the 51st American state.

    Canadian flag sales have skyrocketed, informal and formal boycotts of American goods are continuing and Canadians are being urged to stay home and spend their vacation dollars domestically. Even in Québec, pro-Canadian sentiments are evident. Canadian nationalism is back.



    Read more:
    Is Trump’s assault on Canada bringing Québec and the rest of the country closer together?

    Yet only a decade ago, the newly elected Justin Trudeau labelled Canada the first “post-national nation” in an interview with The New York Times. In essence, the prime minister suggested, Canada was moving beyond nationalism to some new phase of social identity. Nationalism, like a step in the launch of a spacecraft, would be jettisoned now that it was a vestigial and outdated feature of Canadian society.

    As we argue in a recently presented paper to be published soon, Canadians are nowhere near either a homogeneous, popularly held identity, nor are they “beyond nationalism” as if it were an outdated hairstyle.

    Instead, Canadian steps toward a united, widely held nationalism continue to be stymied by both substantial constitutional issues (Québec, western alienation, Indigenous aspirations to self-determination) but also by battles over banal symbols of national identity. Canadians are, in the words of journalist Ian Brown, “a unity of contradictions.”

    The importance of symbols

    In his influential book, Banal Nationalism, British social science scholar Michael Billig highlighted the role of symbols like stamps, currency and flags to identify barely noticed transmitters of national consciousness.

    Writing in 1995, at a time of ethnic nationalist resurgence in the former Yugoslavia, Billig contrasted the understated, reserved nationalism of citizens of established states like Canada with the dangerous, passionate expressions of nationalism in the Balkans.

    This genteel nationalism is barely noticed much of the time, but proposals to alter national symbols arouse debate — like during the great Canadian flag debate of the mid-1960s — and expose deep emotional attachments. Canadians, too, are nationalists.

    But they’re also citizens of a liberal democracy where nationalistic narratives compete to define and unite the nation. Societies evolve and generational change can lead to new symbols reflecting changing values. The historical episodes of discontent pertaining to national symbols show how Canadian society has evolved since its drift away from Britain after the Second World War.

    During the flag debate, Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson said Canada needed a new flag that would present a united nation rather than a confusing amalgamation of different people. Conservative Leader John Diefenbaker, on the other hand, argued Canada should be “all Canadian and all British” during the debate, adding that any Canadian who disagreed should “be denounced.”

    The leaders could not agree, with Diefenbaker opting for something like the status quo and Pearson for a complete redesign that would represent all Canadians, regardless of national heritage. In a 1964 La Presse article on the debate, columnist Guy Cormier crudely voiced Québec’s concerns that Pearson’s handling of the flag debate was an attempt to “artificially inseminate” his agenda on the province. The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin reported on the debate, declaring that “tinkering with a nation’s flag is sort of like playing volleyball with a hornets nest.”

    Mountie symbolism

    As Canada became increasingly more multicultural in the 1980s, another symbol became the centre of controversy. A Sikh entering the RCMP wanted to be able to wear a turban instead of the traditional Stetson.

    Despite government and RCMP support, public opinion was mixed. Racist lapel pins were sold with the message “Keep the RCMP Canadian” as some argued the old uniform should remain and that new recruits should adapt to it.

    While few Canadians knew much about the design and history of the RCMP uniform, almost all Canadians consider it an iconic representation of Canada. Changes to it represent a threat to some, inclusion for others.

    Changes to the anthem, passport

    Changes to O Canada, the national anthem, have been proposed over the past decades. Recently, a more inclusive version was drafted, changing “in all thy sons command” to “all of us command.”

    Conservative MPs and some television pundits argued the change wasn’t necessary and the anthem doesn’t belong to a political party. Opponents argued that most people aren’t offended by the anthem’s lyrics, the anthem wasn’t broken and was not in need of fixing. Ultimately, the change was made, with great praise from some and vexation from others.

    Removing images of the late Terry Fox in 2023 from the Canadian passport, a document few think about until checking its expiry date before a vacation, caused significant uproar.

    Other images from Canadian history were also removed, but Fox’s removal was most notable since he was someone most Canadians consider the embodiment of a Canadian hero.

    The response to these changes ranged from mild — with those arguing that Canada needs more Terry Fox, not less, — to furious, as some accused Trudeau of being out of touch with Canadians and a “fault finder-in-chief.”

    Far from trivial, these arguments over national symbols reveal how deeply some Canadians are attached to them. The nature of Canadian identity and nationalism will continue to be dated and contested. In that respect, Canadians are no different than the citizens of any other country.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Canada Day: Symbols take centre stage in debates about Canadian nationalism – https://theconversation.com/canada-day-symbols-take-centre-stage-in-debates-about-canadian-nationalism-259847

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-5

    Source: US Whitehouse

    MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT

    THE SECRETARY OF STATE

    THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

    THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

    THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

    THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

    THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

    THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

    THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

        AGENCY

    THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF

       STAFF

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

       BUDGET

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL

       SECURITY AFFAIRS

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND HOMELAND

        SECURITY ADVISOR

    THE COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC

        POLICY

    THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND

       TECHNOLOGY POLICY

    THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF

       AMERICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

    THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS

       ADMINISTRATION

    THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR

       INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL

       MANAGEMENT

    SUBJECT:       Reissuance of and Amendments to National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba

    Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States recognizes the need for more freedom and democracy, improved respect for human rights, and increased free enterprise in Cuba.  The Cuban people have long suffered under a Communist regime that suppresses their legitimate aspirations for freedom and prosperity and fails to respect their essential human dignity.

    My Administration’s policy will be guided by the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, as well as solidarity with the Cuban people.  I will seek to promote a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people.  To that end, we must channel funds toward the Cuban people and away from a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.

    In Cuba, dissidents and peaceful protesters are arbitrarily detained and held in terrible prison conditions.  Violence and intimidation against dissidents occur with impunity.  Families of political prisoners are retaliated against for peacefully protesting the improper confinement of their loved ones.  Worshippers are harassed, and free association by civil society organizations is blocked.  The right to speak freely, including through access to the internet, is denied, and there is no free press.  The United States condemns these abuses.

    The initial actions set forth in this memorandum, including restricting certain financial transactions and travel, encourage the Cuban government to address these abuses.  My Administration will continue to evaluate its policies so as to improve human rights, encourage the rule of law, foster free markets and free enterprise, and promote democracy in Cuba.

    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It shall be the policy of the executive branch to:

    (a)  End economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or its military, intelligence, or security agencies or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people.

    (b)  Ensure adherence to the statutory ban on tourism to Cuba.

    (c)  Support the economic embargo of Cuba described in section 4(7) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (the embargo), including by opposing measures that call for an end to the embargo at the United Nations and other international forums and through regular reporting on whether the conditions of a transition government exist in Cuba.

    (d)  Amplify efforts to support the Cuban people through the expansion of internet services, free press, free enterprise, free association, and lawful travel.

    (e)  Not reinstate the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy, which encouraged untold thousands of Cuban nationals to risk their lives to travel unlawfully to the United States.

    (f)  Ensure that engagement between the United States and Cuba advances the interests of the United States and the Cuban people.  These interests include:  advancing Cuban human rights; encouraging the growth of a Cuban private sector independent of government control; enforcing final orders of removal against Cuban nationals in the United States; protecting the national security and public health and safety of the United States, including through proper engagement on criminal cases and working to ensure the return of fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government; supporting United States agriculture and protecting plant and animal health; advancing the understanding of the United States regarding scientific and environmental challenges; and facilitating safe civil aviation.

    Sec. 3.  Implementation.  The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall begin to implement the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum as follows:

    (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate and in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Transportation, shall initiate a process to adjust current regulations regarding transactions with Cuba.

    (i)    As part of the regulatory changes described in this subsection, the Secretary of State shall identify any entities or subentities, as appropriate, that are under the control of, or act for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel (such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), its affiliates, subsidiaries, and successors), and publish a list of those identified entities and subentities with which direct or indirect financial transactions would disproportionately benefit such services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people or private enterprise in Cuba.

    (ii)   Except as provided in subsection (a)(iii) of this section, the regulatory changes described in this subsection shall prohibit direct or indirect financial transactions with those entities or subentities on the list published pursuant to subsection (a)(i) of this section.

    (iii)  The regulatory changes described in this subsection shall not prohibit transactions that the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, determines are consistent with the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum and:

    (A)  concern Federal Government operations, including Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and the United States mission in Havana;

    (B)  support programs to build democracy in Cuba;

    (C)  concern air and sea operations that support permissible travel, cargo, or trade;

    (D)  support the acquisition of visas for permissible travel;

    (E)  support the expansion of direct telecommunications and internet access for the Cuban people;

    (F)  support the sale of agricultural commodities, medicines, and medical devices sold to Cuba consistent with the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) and the Cuban Democracy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.);

    (G)  relate to sending, processing, or receiving authorized remittances;

    (H)  otherwise further the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States; or

    (I)  are required by law.

    (b)  Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall initiate a process to adjust current regulations to ensure adherence to the statutory ban on tourism to Cuba.

    (i)    The amended regulations shall require that educational travel be for legitimate educational purposes.  Except for educational travel that was permitted by regulation in effect on January 27, 2011, all educational travel shall be under the auspices of an organization subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and all such travelers must be accompanied by a representative of the sponsoring organization.

    (ii)   The regulations shall further require that those traveling for the permissible purposes of non academic education or to provide support for the Cuban people:

    (A)  engage in a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and

    (B)  meaningfully interact with individuals in Cuba.

    (iii)  The regulations shall continue to provide that every person engaging in travel to Cuba shall keep full and accurate records of all transactions related to authorized travel, regardless of whether they were effected pursuant to license or otherwise, and such records shall be available for examination by the Department of the Treasury for at least 5 years after the date they occur.

    (iv)   The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation shall review their respective agencies’ enforcement of all categories of permissible travel within 90 days of the date the regulations described in this subsection are finalized to ensure such enforcement accords with the policies outlined in section 2 of this memorandum.

    (c)  The Secretary of the Treasury shall regularly audit travel to Cuba to ensure that travelers are complying with relevant statutes and regulations.  The Secretary of the Treasury shall request that the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury inspect the actions taken by the Department of the Treasury to implement this audit requirement.  The Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury shall provide a report to the President, through the Secretary of the Treasury, summarizing the results of that inspection within 180 days of the adjustment of current regulations described in subsection (b) of this section and annually thereafter.

    (d)  The Secretary of the Treasury shall adjust the Department of the Treasury’s current regulation defining the term “prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba” so that, for purposes of title 31, part 515 of the Code of Federal Regulations, it includes Ministers and Vice-Ministers; members of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers; members and employees of the National Assembly of People’s Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; Director Generals and sub-Director Generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; and members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional).

    (e)  The Secretary of State and the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations shall oppose efforts at the United Nations or (with respect to the Secretary of State) any other international forum to lift the embargo until a transition government in Cuba, as described in section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act, exists.

    (f)  The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall provide a report to the President assessing whether and to what degree the Cuban government has satisfied the requirements of a transition government as described in section 205(a) of the LIBERTAD Act, taking into account the additional factors listed in section 205(b) of that Act.  This report shall include a review of human rights abuses committed against the Cuban people, such as unlawful detentions, arbitrary arrests, and inhumane treatment.

    (g)  The Attorney General shall, within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, issue a report to the President on issues related to fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government.

    (h)  The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall review all democracy development programs of the Federal Government in Cuba to ensure that they align with the criteria set forth in section 109(a) of the LIBERTAD Act.

    (i)  The Secretary of State shall convene a task force, composed of relevant agencies, including the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and appropriate non-governmental organizations and private-sector entities, to examine the technological challenges and opportunities for expanding internet access in Cuba, including through Federal Government support of programs and activities that encourage freedom of expression through independent media and internet freedom so that the Cuban people can enjoy the free and unregulated flow of information.

    (j)  The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall continue to discourage dangerous, unlawful migration that puts Cuban and American lives at risk.  The Secretary of Defense shall continue to provide support, as necessary, to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security in carrying out duties regarding interdiction of migrants.

    (k)  The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall annually report to the President regarding the engagement of the United States with Cuba to ensure that engagement is advancing the interests of the United States.

    (l)  All activities conducted pursuant to subsections (a) through (k) of this section shall be carried out in a manner that furthers the interests of the United States, including by appropriately protecting sensitive sources, methods, and operations of the Federal Government.

    Sec. 4.  Earlier Presidential Actions.  (a)  This memorandum amends sections 1 and 3 of National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 of June 16, 2017 (Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba) (NSPM-5), and reissues NSPM-5 in its entirety.  It does not otherwise amend the text or timelines reflected in the original NSPM-5 and is not intended to direct agencies to repeat actions already implemented under that NSPM.

    (b)  This memorandum supersedes and replaces both National Security Presidential Directive 52 of June 28, 2007 (U.S. Policy toward Cuba), and Presidential Policy Directive 43 of October 14, 2016 (United States-Cuba Normalization).

    (c)  This memorandum does not affect either Executive Order 12807 of May 24, 1992 (Interdiction of Illegal Aliens), or Executive Order 13276 of November 15, 2002 (Delegation of Responsibilities Concerning Undocumented Aliens Interdicted or Intercepted in the Caribbean Region).

    Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)  the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strengthens the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba

    Source: US Whitehouse

    STRENGTHENING THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD CUBA: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) to strengthen the policy of the United States toward Cuba.

    • This NSPM restores and strengthens the robust Cuba policy from the President’s first term, reversing the Biden Administration’s revocation that eased pressure on the Cuban regime.
    • The NSPM ends economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people.
      • Direct or indirect financial transactions with entities controlled by the Cuban military, such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), and its affiliates are prohibited, with exceptions for transactions that advance U.S. policy goals or support the Cuban people.
    • It enforces the statutory ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba and ensures compliance through regular audits and mandatory record-keeping of all travel-related transactions for at least five years.
    • The NSPM supports the economic embargo of Cuba and opposes calls in the United Nations and other international forums for its termination.
    • The NSPM amplifies efforts to support the Cuban people through the expansion of internet services, free press, free enterprise, free association, and lawful travel.
    • It ensures the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy remains terminated to discourage dangerous, unlawful migration.
    • The NSPM ensures that engagement between the United States and Cuba advances the interests of the United States and the Cuban people, including through promoting human rights, fostering a private sector independent of government control, and enhancing national security.
    • The NSPM mandates a review of human rights abuses in Cuba, including unlawful detentions and inhumane treatment, and requires a report on fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government.

    PROMOTING A STABLE, PROSPEROUS, AND FREE CUBA: President Trump is committed to fostering a free and democratic Cuba, addressing the Cuban people’s long-standing suffering under a Communist regime.

    • The Cuban people have long suffered under a Communist regime that suppresses their legitimate aspirations for freedom and prosperity, arbitrarily detains dissidents, and holds political prisoners in inhumane conditions.
    • Violence and intimidation against dissidents occur with impunity, while families of political prisoners face retaliation for their advocacy.
    • The regime harasses worshippers, blocks free association by civil society organizations, and denies free speech, including through limited internet access and the absence of a free press.
    • The Cuban government harbors fugitives of American justice and fails to meet the basic requirements of a free and just society.

    HOLDING THE CUBAN REGIME ACCOUNTABLE: President Trump is continuing efforts from his first term to stand with the Cuban people and hold the regime accountable.

    • In his first term, President Trump implemented a robust policy towards Cuba, reversing the Obama Administration’s one-sided deal that eased restrictions without securing meaningful reforms for the Cuban people.
    • Now, President Trump is once again implementing a firm policy stance.
      • President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise: “As president, I will again stand with the people of Cuba in their long quest for justice, liberty and freedom.”
    • President Trump also recently implemented a new travel ban that applies to Cuba.
      • It lists Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and cites its failure to cooperate or share sufficient law enforcement information with the United States, its historical refusal to accept back its removable nationals, and its high visa overstay rate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Six New Tourist Highways Open in Xinjiang

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    URUMQI, June 30 (Xinhua) — Six new highways have opened to traffic in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a total investment of 10.7 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) and a total length of 965 km.

    The routes connect diverse natural landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and steppes to forests, lakes, deserts and oases, and aim to develop Xinjiang’s “fast entry, slow travel” tourism network and expand opportunities for independent car tourism, according to the regional transportation department.

    The new highways link key attractions across Xinjiang’s vast territory, where tourist sites are often relatively far apart, the department said.

    In recent years, Xinjiang has stepped up efforts to build a multi-dimensional tourism transportation network. The region has opened new civil aviation routes, launched specialized railway lines such as the Taklamakan Desert Loop, and built scenic roads for car tourism. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in Indigenous tourism

    Alberta’s tourism sector is thriving, with the province hitting a record-breaking $14.4 billion in visitor spending last year. Indigenous-led tourism is playing a key role in this growth by creating year-round demand, with almost half of international visitors seeking unique and authentic experiences when travelling to Alberta to discover the rich Indigenous cultures, traditions and perspectives across the province.

    To support the growing demand for Indigenous-led tourism experiences, Alberta’s government has committed to investing another $6 million over three years through Travel Alberta’s renewed agreement with Indigenous Tourism Alberta. This investment builds upon the province’s previous record-breaking investments in Indigenous-led tourism, creating meaningful employment and ownership opportunities for Indigenous Peoples while helping reach the ambitious goal of growing Alberta’s annual visitor spending to $25 billion by 2035.

    “This continued support gives Indigenous tourism operators the opportunity to provide authentic experiences for visitors to learn about the histories, arts, cultures and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. Not only does this strengthen Alberta’s visitor economy, but it creates jobs and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities across the province while fostering understanding and supporting reconciliation.”

    Andrew Boitchenko, Minister of Tourism and Sport

    This continued investment by Alberta’s government will support Indigenous Tourism Alberta’s mentorship and development programs for Indigenous tourism operators, as well as enable joint promotional activities that drive international demand for Indigenous tourism operators across the province. By continuing to invest more in Indigenous-led tourism than any other province, Alberta’s government is positioning the province as a premier destination for travellers and helping the rich histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples shine on the world stage.

    “When Indigenous communities lead their own tourism initiatives, the benefits ripple far beyond the visitor experience. This renewed investment supports Indigenous ownership, strengthens local economies and helps build vibrant, self-sustaining communities. We recently expanded the mandate of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to include tourism, opening more doors for Indigenous entrepreneurs to access capital, grow their businesses and shape the future of Alberta’s tourism sector. We’re proud to stand with Indigenous Tourism Alberta in building a stronger, more inclusive economy for all.”

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Indigenous Relations

    “We’re seeing increasing demand for Indigenous tourism from all over the world at our business, and a strong partnership between Indigenous Tourism Alberta and Travel Alberta is so important to keep that progressing. Tourism is competitive, and Indigenous entrepreneurs represent a huge opportunity as a market differentiator for the entire industry in Alberta, so I’m thrilled to see this collaboration continue.”

    Brenda Holder, chair and founding member of Indigenous Tourism Alberta, owner of Mahikan Trails

    “This renewed investment is a continuation of our long-standing partnership with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, built on a shared vision: more authentic, transformative travel experiences, driven by Indigenous communities that want to share their stories with the world. It reaffirms our belief that Indigenous tourism has the power to support thriving communities, creating economic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to own and lead.”

    Jon Mamela, chief commercial officer, Travel Alberta

    Quick facts

    • Through Travel Alberta’s renewed agreement with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, Alberta’s government is investing $6 million over three years to support Indigenous-led tourism.
    • Since 2021, Alberta’s government invested a historic $12 million to support the growth of Indigenous-owned tourism businesses and organizations across the province.
    • Indigenous tourism contributed $126 million in GDP to Alberta’s economy last year, and is projected to contribute another $138.6 million in 2025.

    Related information

    • Indigenous Tourism Alberta
    • Higher ground: a tourism sector strategy

    Related news

    • Alberta’s tourism soars past national average (Jun. 18, 2025)
    • Alberta tops Canada in tourism growth (Apr. 8, 2025)
    • Supporting Indigenous business development (Mar. 21, 2025)
    • Alberta tourism shines on the national stage (Jan. 24, 2025)
    • AIOC mandate expands to tourism (Oct. 30, 2024)
    • Celebrating Indigenous Tourism (Oct. 4, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Additional bins will help keep popular visitor spots tidy

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Visitors will find it easier to dispose of their litter at several popular spots across Highland after the rollout of additional bins. The rollout has been planned to support the tourism season as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improve and support sustainable tourism in the area.

    Councillor Derek Louden, Chair of Highland Council’s Corporate Resources Committee, said: “The Corporate Resources Committee considers the Highland Council’s Delivery Plan on an ongoing basis, which includes an ambitious portfolio of projects targeting increased investment in tourism infrastructure. 

    “At the most recent committee meeting on 5 June, Members were pleased to hear about the plans that are in place to support responsible tourism and to address the concerns raised by our communities regarding littering.  Building upon the launch of the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme in 2024, it is encouraging to see that additional large bins are being rolled out for 2025.”

    Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “These plans for 2025 include providing waste enclosures at key sites including Inverness Torvean, Dunnet Seadrift, Wick Riverside, Golspie Beach (Shore Street), Ullapool Latheron Lane, Gairloch Harbour, and Kylesku Bridge (East).  These enclosures have been aesthetically designed to improve the look of the waste facilities at some of our key tourist sites.

    “A common theme we found in the feedback received from residents and tourists is that improved infrastructure should encourage more responsible behaviours. Increasing our bin capacity at these popular visitor sites will help to protect our fragile environment by minimising overfilling during peak periods.”

    The bin design incorporates a reduced opening which will protect waste on windy days and prevent instances of fly tipping.  Sites were selected based upon intelligence gathered during previous tourism seasons by multi-disciplinary teams across the Council. 

    The sites receiving additional bins will be:

    • Dunnet Head Car Park
    • Dunnet Seadrift Car Park
    • Wick Riverside Car Park
    • Glengarry Viewpoint Car Park
    • Nairn Harbour
    • Gairloch Harbour
    • Little Gruinard Bay Car Park
    • Rogie Falls
    • Durness Village Car Park
    • Golspie Shore Street Car Park
    • Kylesku Bridge (East) Car Park

    For further information and details about joining the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme, please visit: www.highland.gov.uk/motorhome and for details regarding locations of our Public Conveniences and Waste and Recycling Centres please visit: www.highland.gov.uk/tourism.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Wine tourism as a pillar of national identity and regional development – E-002472/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002472/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    Wine tourism is an increasingly popular type of thematic tourism that boosts not only the national economy, but also the cultural identity of Greece. The promotion of our wine-making heritage presents more than a mere tourism option; it constitutes a strategic weapon of cultural resilience and strengthening the region. When we support Greek wines, we support national production. This is why we need to ensure that wine tourism is developed in terms of national strategy, and not just as a commercial tool.

    In view of the above, can the Commission say:

    • 1.How could it support Greece in making wine tourism part of a broader national cultural tourism narrative highlighting Greek identity?
    • 2.What measures are being taken to ensure that small traditional producers and family wineries participate equally in eco-tourism development programmes, without being crowded out by large enterprises and multinational schemes?
    • 3.How can local communities and local and regional authorities be further supported so that wine tourism boosts local economies and does not lead to cultural homogenisation or dependence on imported tourism development models?

    Submitted: 18.6.2025

    Last updated: 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Development and revitalisation of Comiso Airport – E-002436/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002436/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    Comiso Airport, which opened in 2013 at a cost of more than EUR 70 million[1], is now completely unused, with zero flights and zero passengers[2]. This is a serious waste of public funds and an obstacle to the European objective of territorial cohesion.

    Although Airports Council International has recognised the importance of smaller airports for tourism, connectivity and the development of peripheral regions, it would appear that the airport does not even have a business plan.

    This situation undermines territorial continuity, which is vital for ensuring minimum air transport services that meet the criteria of regularity, frequency and fair pricing, as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008.

    The intermodal services and infrastructure required to fully develop the airport and make it competitive are also lacking.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of Comiso Airport’s business plan?
    • 2.What are the reasons for the delays, if any, in the most recent Comiso Airport procedure, within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008, and what information can it provide in this regard?
    • 3.What specific EU resources can be used to ensure that Comiso Airport is fully operational, improve its infrastructure and foster the development of its intermodal services?

    Submitted: 17.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.enac.gov.it/app/uploads/2024/04/152-157_comiso.pdf.
    • [2] https://www.ragusaoggi.it/lo-strano-destino-dellaeroporto-di-comiso-prima-parte/.
    Last updated: 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Bynum Announce $9.7 Million for Rural Airports Across Oregon

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 30, 2025
    Airports in Redmond, Creswell, Mulino, Roseburg, Ashland and Condon to benefit.
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum, today announced $9.7 million combined in federal grants for infrastructure improvements to taxiways, fencing, aircraft storage and more at airports throughout Oregon.
    “Rural airports are a vital lifeline to communities that depend on them for economic growth and emergency services,” Wyden said. “I applaud these federal investments that will help strengthen infrastructure in these communities, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support rural airports across Oregon.”
    “Oregon’s regional airports serve as vital hubs for our communities and economies – supporting local businesses, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Merkley said. “This federal funding will allow several Oregon regional airports to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our communities and economy. I’ll fight to protect the efficiency and safety of Oregon’s airports and the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”
    “I’m glad to see this critical funding coming to our rural airports in Roseburg and Creswell,” said Rep. Hoyle. “These investments are about more than just runways—they’re about jobs, emergency response, small business growth, and making sure rural Oregon stays connected. I’ll keep fighting to make sure communities like ours aren’t left behind.”
    “Rural airports are a critical part of keeping our communities connected and making travel accessible to everyone,” said Rep. Bynum. “Whether it be for work or vacation, flying should be safe and reliable. I’m ecstatic that over $8 million will go to Roberts Field airport in Redmond to provide Oregonians with the quality transportation they deserve. I’ll always fight to bring big wins home to Oregon’s Fifth.”
    The $9.71 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration will be distributed as follows:
    Roberts Field, Redmond – $8.38 million
    Hobby Field, Creswell – $448,000
    Mulino State Airport, Mulino – $336,500
    Roseburg Regional Airport, Roseburg – $300,000
    Ashland Municipal/Sumner Parker Field, Ashland – $159,000
    Condon State Pauling Field, Condon – $76,000
    “We are grateful for the leadership and advocacy of U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum, in securing this crucial funding,” said Redmond Airport Director Zachary Bass. “This federal investment underscores the strategic importance of Redmond Airport to the future of our region. The $8.38 million will support a transformative terminal expansion, adding over 80,000 square feet, increasing capacity, and enhancing accessibility. Beyond improving the travel experience, this project will drive local economic growth, create hundreds of construction and airport industry jobs, and strengthen Central Oregon’s connection to national markets.”
    “The City of Condon appreciates the FFA grant to make much needed improvements to Condon’s Linus Pauling Field,” said Condon Mayor Dustan Hall. “This state airport is an integral part of the agricultural and tourism industry in Gilliam County.” 
    Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle and Bynum have long supported rural airports across Oregon. In May, the Oregon delegation announced $22 million for airport infrastructure investments across the state. In September 2024, Wyden and Merkley announced $10 million in federal grants for airports in Medford and Prineville. In July 2024, Merkley, Wyden and Hoyle announced $17 million from the federal Airport Improvement Program for airports across Oregon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 News release Suriname certified malaria-free by WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Today, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities.

    “WHO congratulates Suriname on this remarkable achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification is a powerful affirmation of the principle that everyone—regardless of nationality, background, or migration status—deserves universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Suriname’s steadfast commitment to health equity serves as an inspiration to all countries striving for a malaria-free future.”

    With today’s announcement, a total of 46 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO, including 12 countries in the Region of the Americas.

    “Suriname did what was needed to eliminate malaria—detecting and treating every case quickly, investigating to prevent spread, and engaging communities,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO’s regional office for the Americas. “This certification reflects years of sustained effort, especially reaching remote areas. It means future generations can grow up free from this potentially deadly disease.”

    Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.

    Dr Amar Ramadhin, Minister of Health of Suriname, stated: “Being malaria-free means that our population is no longer at risk from malaria. Furthermore, eliminating malaria will have positive effects on our healthcare sector, boost the economy, and enhance tourism.

    “At the same time, we recognize that maintaining this status requires ongoing vigilance. We must continue to take the necessary measures to prevent the reintroduction of malaria. We are proud that our communities are now protected, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our beautiful Suriname—while remaining fully committed to safeguarding these hard-won gains.”

    Suriname’s road to elimination

    Suriname’s malaria control efforts began in 1950s in the country’s densely-populated coastal areas, relying heavily on indoor spraying with the pesticide DDT and antimalarial treatment. By the 1960s, the coastal areas had become malaria-free and attention turned towards the country’s forested interior, home to diverse indigenous and tribal communities.

    Although indoor spraying was successful in coastal areas, its impact was limited in the country’s interior due to the prevalence of traditional open-style homes that offer minimal protection against mosquitoes. In 1974 malaria control in the interior was decentralized to Medische Zending, Suriname’s primary health care service, which recruited and trained healthcare workers from the local communities to provide early diagnosis and treatment.

    The surge in mining activities, particularly gold mining which often involves travel between malaria-endemic areas, led to increases in malaria, reaching a peak of more than 15 000 cases in 2001, the highest transmission rates of malaria in the Americas.

    Since 2005, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the capacity to provide diagnosis was greatly expanded with both improvements in microscopy and the use of rapid diagnostic tests, particularly among mobile groups. Artemisinin-based treatments with primaquine were introduced in Suriname and neighboring countries through PAHO-led studies under the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI-RAVREDA), supported by the United States. Prevention among high-risk groups was also strengthened through the distribution of insecticide-treated nets funded by the Global Fund.

    By 2006, malaria had drastically decreased among the indigenous populations, prompting Suriname to shift its focus to high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas. To reach these groups—many of whom were migrants from neighboring endemic countries—the country established a network of Malaria Service Deliverers, recruited directly from the mining communities. These trained and supervised community workers provide free malaria diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services, playing a vital role in closing access gaps in hard-to-reach regions.

    Through ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment regardless of legal status, deploying an extensive network of community health workers, and implementing nationwide malaria screening, including at border crossings, Suriname successfully eliminated malaria. The last locally transmitted case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was recorded in 2018, followed by the final Plasmodium vivax case in 2021.

    Sustained leadership commitment and funding

    The government of Suriname has shown strong commitment to malaria elimination, including through the National Malaria Elimination Taskforce, Malaria Program, Malaria Elimination Fund, and cross-border collaboration with Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. For many years PAHO/WHO, with the support of the U.S. Government, has provided technical cooperation throughout Suriname’s anti-malaria campaign. Since 2016 Suriname also participated in the “Elimination 2025” initiative – a group of countries identified by WHO as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2025.

    This success in Suriname is a demonstration that malaria elimination is possible in challenging contexts in the Amazon basin and in tropical continental countries. The country’s malaria-free certification plays a critical role in advancing PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, in countries of the Americas by 2030.

    Note to the editor

    WHO malaria-free certification

    The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification is made by the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification and validation from the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. For more on WHO’s malaria-free certification process, visit  this link.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Technologies of the Future: Demo Day of the Accelerator “City Energy. Wednesday 2.0” was held at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The State University of Management hosted the Demo Day of the Acceleration Interuniversity Program “City Energy. Environment 2.0”, which was held at the State University of Management from February to June 2025.

    Over 1,000 students from the State University of Management and other Russian universities took part in the accelerator; 212 startup projects were prepared; over 30 experts from such fields as medicine, education, IT, construction, agro-industrial complex, ecology and others were involved in providing expert advice to the teams.

    The acceleration program included an educational block, expert webinars, team consultations with trackers, equator, expert consultations and project defense. The industrial partner was Technopark, a part of the Rusnano Group.

    The trackers of the acceleration program were teachers of the project management department, who have extensive experience in tracking and mentoring student teams. The tracking process was carried out using the BusinessChain platform from the partner of the State University of Management, IPI Lab.

    On the final day of the program, student teams presented projects such as:

    “City breathing” (the product is a bull for collecting cigarette butts for subsequent processing).
    “The Light of the Future 2.0” (adaptive lighting system with AI and motion sensors to save electricity and increase people’s performance).
    “Smart Bird Monitoring System” (software, which will allow to collect, analyze and recommend taking measures based on data from video surveillance and humidity and sensors, lighting, temperature and ammonia concentration. The product is focused on poultry farms).
    “Dron Cleaning” (autonomous drone for cleaning water bodies. The product is focused on hotel owners, fishing facilities, NPOs, distributors).
    “Universkino” (the organization of a cinema on the territory of the GUU in the open air with the involvement of students, applicants and partners of the GUU).
    “QR code, as a way of quick connection with the owner of a lost thing” (a service for creating personalized icons / stickers / stickers intended for labeling personal things and increasing the likelihood of returning a lost thing to the owner).
    The game on ecology “Eco -geria” (board game on ecology for children is 7-12 years old, which will allow the environmental education of the younger generation).
    Wedding machine of useful drinks “Ne Ice” (an automatic machine for the preparation of fruit frhes with ice).
    The mobile application “Interactive map of Russia” is an interactive map that allows you to open tourist places in Russia, as well as upload a description and photos of new places. Extended functionality will allow users to get acquainted and unite for planning joint trips).
    Guli-Guli WMS system (simple warehouse management system for B2B and B2C customers)
    “Smart device for the refrigerator” (allows you to keep records of products and shelf life, make a menu and inform the owner about the need to buy the necessary products).

    The works were evaluated by the following jury members:

    Head of the Acceleration Program “City Energy. Environment 2.0”, Deputy Head of the Project Management Department of the State University of Management, certified project manager IPMA® Level B Ekaterina Khalimon; Deputy General Director of TEN Group LLC – TechnoSpark technology park in Troitsk Igor Volkov; Head of the Committee of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Moscow Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Yuri Bocharov; Head of the Logistics Department of the transport company KIT Alexander Alexandrov; Chairman of the Youth Association for Project Management Young Crew SOVNET Mikhail Zorin; Associate Professor of the Project Management Department of the State University of Management, experienced mentor and tracker of student startups Tatyana Chernova; Associate Professor of the Project Management Department of the State University of Management, experienced mentor and tracker of student startups Tatyana Mezina.

    The experts noted the deep development of the projects: the teams presented manufactured technological prototypes, mock-ups, 3D models, certificates from companies with intentions to further implement the technological product in the company’s activities. In addition, the jury members offered their assistance in the further implementation of startup projects, in finding potential investors and partners.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Assistant Minister Gbaa Engages United States (U.S.) Embassy Over Potential Visa Restrictions

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

    Download logo

    In a bid to prevent potential U.S. visa restrictions on Liberian nationals, the Assistant Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa, led an engagement with U.S. Embassy officials in Monrovia. The meeting was held with Mr. Nicolas Worden, Acting Consular Chief, and Mr. Raymond Stephens, Public Affairs Officer, to address concerns raised by the U.S. government that could result in stringent visa limitations within the next 50 days. The bilateral discussion, held at the U.S. Embassy, was part of a broader effort by the Government of Liberia to maintain strong diplomatic relations with the United States and ensure continued access to various categories of U.S. visas, including those for tourism, business, education, and immigration.

    During the meeting, U.S. officials expressed growing concern over multiple visa-related challenges originating from Liberia. These include the overstay of non-immigrant visitors and tourists, the submission of fraudulent documentation, and increasing incidents of misrepresentation such as falsified identities, family relationships, and travel purposes by visa applicants. According to Mr. Worden, approximately 20% of Liberians granted non-immigrant visas to the United States do not return at the end of their authorized stay. This statistic has triggered heightened scrutiny of visa applications from Liberia and has contributed to increased denial rates across multiple visa categories. The U.S. representatives acknowledged the proactive steps already being taken by the Government of Liberia, notably the formation of a high-level presidential task force spearheaded by H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and co-led by Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs. This task force was launched to diplomatically address and resolve the U.S. concerns in a timely and effective manner.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that collaborative public affairs and communication strategies will be key in addressing the crisis. Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa and her team committed to spearheading comprehensive public awareness campaigns, including media outreach and community engagement, to educate citizens on the importance of compliance with visa terms and U.S. immigration policies. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs views this issue as a matter of national urgency,” said Hon. Gbaa. “We remain fully committed to working in concert with the United States to address these concerns through transparency, diplomacy, and strategic public engagement. We urge all Liberians to adhere strictly to the rules governing their stay in the United States.” The potential restrictions outlined by the U.S. government cover a wide range of visa categories, including tourist (B-2), business (B-1), student visas (F-1), fiancée visas (K-1), non-immigrant visas, and the popular Diversity Visa (DV) program. The restrictions would not apply to lawful permanent residents but would significantly impact ordinary Liberians seeking temporary or permanent travel opportunities to the United States. 

    Liberia is among 36 countries reportedly under review by the U.S. government for potential visa sanctions. These concerns date back to assessments conducted during the Trump administration, which highlighted weaknesses in identity verification, passport security, overstay rates, and inadequate cooperation in repatriation of deportees. The U.S. maintains that countries failing to meet specified benchmarks within 60 days of the proclamation may face far-reaching visa restrictions. With only 50 days remaining, both governments agreed that immediate and consistent action is needed to address the outlined issues. The Ministry is calling on all relevant Liberian stakeholders, including travel agencies, immigration officers, and community leaders, to support this national endeavor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding Liberia’s global mobility and fostering strong bilateral ties with the United States. Further updates will be provided as diplomatic and public affairs efforts continue in the days ahead.

    – on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Choosing to be an orphan: for some Kenyan families it’s a strategy for survival

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andreana Prichard, Associate Professor of Honors and African History, University of Oklahoma

    In the world of international child development and orphan care, it’s not uncommon for children with families to declare themselves orphans. In fact, this practice can be traced back to precolonial times in Kenya.

    Andreana Prichard has done research on the practice in Kenya. We asked her to share her insights into it.

    Why do some people in Kenya assume the identity of ‘orphan’?

    We often think of “orphans” as children who have lost both parents and who lack kin networks. One might ask why someone would “opt in” to orphan status when they do not fall within the classical definition of the term.

    In my paper I look at the issue of orphanhood over the last 160 years. Case studies from Kenya I examine illustrate that the practice I define as “opting in” to orphanhood has precolonial roots. I define “opting in” as choosing to take on the label of being an orphan. This can be done by parents, relatives or even, in some instances, the child. This is because the label “orphan” has come to confer unique opportunities.

    The practice became increasingly popular in the mid-1990s, when parents in eastern and southern Africa who had contracted HIV began to die in large numbers. Activists feared many children would be left without caregivers.

    In response, the number of orphanages proliferated as humanitarian actors, churches and states inundated east Africa with orphan-focused NGOs.

    In 2020, officials in Kenya estimated that there were at least 910 residential institutions for children in the country (of which 581 were registered), housing between 26,198 and 85,733 Kenyan children.

    The predicted “orphan crisis” never materialised, partly because families and communities stepped in to care for newly parentless children. But the idea of an “orphan crisis” remained, and so did the funding and infrastructure.

    This phenomenon occurred across the continent, not just in Kenya. However, its effects were felt particularly acutely in eastern and southern Africa where HIV/Aids prevalence rates were higher and where there was more western tourism.

    Today, many African families see orphan-focused NGOs as a path to access education and improve their lives. My research shows that children themselves sometimes affiliate with an institution that provides shelter, food and schooling. Children facing abuse from caregivers may also prefer the relative anonymity and safety of an institution.

    In some cases, receiving orphan services actually raises the status of the “orphan” child above that of other children. They have access to more material resources than they might have had in their villages or at home. They might have more leisure time and less work. They may have access to better bedding, shoes and clothing. They are also likely able to attend school more consistently and have a real opportunity to attend university.

    Does ‘opting in’ have a long history?

    Yes, it does.

    In the precolonial period, most parentless or vulnerable children were cared for through lasting community support systems. Orphanhood, as it exists today as a child lacking support, protection, or care from kin, was largely avoided.

    However, the late 19th to mid-20th centuries brought new actors to the east African region. The practice of “opting in” became a strategic, temporary option used by families to access services from western humanitarians.

    The earliest example of this shift I found in my research is from the 1890s. Fearing their children would be caught in the Indian Ocean slave trade, African parents sometimes chose to send their children to British missions until the region was safe. They knew the missionaries opposed the slave trade and knew they offered food and medical care.

    African parents thought they were making temporary arrangements to keep their children safe. Missionaries, however, understood parents to have abandoned their children. When parents returned to repay the debt – with agricultural produce or trade goods – and to reclaim their children, missionaries refused them.

    In another example from Kenya in the 1950s, the British colonial government opened “reform schools” for young men. The Wamumu Approved School was renowned for the relative quality of education it provided. But the state admitted only the “most vulnerable” for a free education. Feeling they had no way to access Wamumu, students claimed to be orphans.

    What have been the negative effects of Kenya’s orphan system?

    There are several problems with creating a situation in which people present themselves as vulnerable just to gain safety or improve their social and economic standing.

    First, research has shown that building orphanages in poor communities incentivises parents to abandon their children if they’re not also given the help to remain together.

    Second, research shows that children are often put at risk in these institutions. Institutionalisation exposes children to risks such as sexual abuse, gender-based violence and neglect.

    Third, orphanages have become so lucrative that African orphanage owners will go to great lengths to fit African children into the categories westerners wish to fund. The phenomenon of “paper orphans” is a prime example. “Paper orphans” are children who are recruited from their homes by proprietors (or middlemen/brokers) of orphanages and residential-care facilities. Fraudulent documentation is created for them – often including false death certificates of parents and new identity registration documents – rendering them orphans on paper, and vulnerable in practice.

    What should be done?

    Governments in Europe, Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are trying to phase out orphanages, as are some African countries.

    Based on my research I believe that working with families to support vulnerable children in their homes of origin or with extended families is a better option. This can be done through assistance programmes for vulnerable families as well as child welfare programmes. These allow families to remain intact when experiencing hardship.

    Kenya is taking steps to do this by replacing orphanages and other forms of residential children’s homes with family-based, foster and community-based care and other forms of assistance. Family strengthening approaches include positive parenting instruction, life skills training, and income-generating activities, as well as supportive supervision.

    In addition to this, missionary and voluntourism trips to orphanages and residential care facilities should be banned or limited.

    Andreana Prichard received funding from the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Grant.

    – ref. Choosing to be an orphan: for some Kenyan families it’s a strategy for survival – https://theconversation.com/choosing-to-be-an-orphan-for-some-kenyan-families-its-a-strategy-for-survival-247371

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Interview: China’s Indigenous C909 Airliner Opens New Horizons in Regional Aviation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    SHANGHAI, June 30 (Xinhua) — China’s commercial jet airliner C909, formerly known as ARJ21, celebrated the ninth anniversary of its maiden flight on Saturday.

    The C909 is a turbofan regional airliner developed by China itself, seating 78 to 97 people and having a range of 2,225 km to 3,700 km. It complies with international civil aviation regulations and is the first of its kind independently developed by China.

    According to the data, a total of 166 C909 aircraft have been delivered to the market to date, serving more than 700 air routes and carrying more than 24 million passengers.

    The C909 was a breakthrough in the commercial operation of domestic jet airliners and explored the development path of the entire life cycle of Chinese-made commercial aircraft, Chen Yong, chief designer of the aircraft, told Xinhua News Agency.

    LINKING BORDER CITIES

    The C909 aircraft were first put into service in China’s border areas, including the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwest China), the northeast region and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (north China). By expanding the regional air route network, they improve travel convenience, support people’s mobility and stimulate local economic development.

    Since the C909’s debut in Xinjiang in June 2023, a total of 22 aircraft of this model have entered service, opening more than 120 routes and carrying more than 1.3 million passengers safely, according to Chen Yong, who is also the chief engineer of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the developer of the C909.

    In June 2025, when Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region entered its peak tourist season, four daily round-trip flights were launched between the popular cities of Kashi (Kashgar) and Yining. The flights are operated by C909 aircraft of Chengdu Airlines and China Express.

    “We have received positive feedback from various airlines, including Chengdu Airlines, which confirmed that in terms of performance, this model of aircraft is very well suited to operating conditions in regions such as Xinjiang,” Chen Yong said.

    In addition, these airliners have expanded the international route schedule. On October 26, 2019, the C909 launched its first international flight, connecting Harbin in northeast China and Vladivostok in Russia. The airline promotes economic, cultural and tourism exchanges and integration between cities on both sides of the border.

    MARKET EXPANSION TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

    On 18 April 2023, the C909 made its maiden flight in Indonesia, thus initiating regional inter-island routes and expanding services to cross-border trunk routes. Notably, the Manado-Guangzhou route, with a length of over 2,700 km, is the longest commercial route served by the C909 to date.

    Chen Yong believes that the advanced airport infrastructure, flexible route configuration and comfortable passenger conditions make the C909 particularly suitable for the operational needs of the Southeast Asian aviation market. The aircraft has pioneered a new business model for domestic passenger aircraft in the region: it is leased to airlines under dry lease and wet lease agreements.

    The term “dry lease” means the provision of only the aircraft by the lessor, while aircraft package leasing means the provision of not only the aircraft but also the flight crew, safety management, maintenance and operational control.

    For example, two C909 aircraft that Chengdu Airlines wet leased to Vietnam’s Vietjet Air operate daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, respectively.

    “The runway length of Con Dao Airport is only 1,800 meters, and the sea serves as a natural boundary on both sides. This fully confirmed the C909’s short and narrow runway performance and its suitability for the humid climate of Southeast Asia,” Chen Yong added.

    Today, three Southeast Asian airlines – Indonesia’s TransNusa, Laos’ Lao Airlines and Vietnam’s Vietjet Air – operate a total of seven C909 aircraft. Fifteen new routes have been opened, providing air service between 18 cities, and the combined passenger traffic on these routes has exceeded 370,000 person-times.

    EXPANSION OF SERIAL PRODUCTION

    Developing variants of aircraft models is a characteristic feature of the commercial aviation industry. Currently, four variants of the C909 jet airliner are available to the public: a cargo aircraft, a command aircraft for emergency response, a medical aircraft, and a business jet.

    Chen Yong says the C909 cargo aircraft can meet various air cargo needs, covering the special cargo market, highland market and short-haul international cargo routes. The rescue command aircraft version can provide situational awareness, decision-making and coordination in disaster relief. Its versatility extends to applications such as transporting rescue forces and establishing temporary communication networks in disaster-stricken areas.

    The medical aircraft model is capable of performing rescue and air ambulance missions, as well as aeromedical transportation of patients. The business jet is flexible, efficient, quiet and comfortable. Its functionality package can be easily adjusted to meet specific customer requirements.

    “Over its nine-year operational history, the C909 has undergone a series of upgrades and optimizations. These modifications have been aimed at improving various aspects of the aircraft, including its performance, crew experience and passenger cabin comfort,” Chen Yong said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Museum of History’s “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity – Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition receives its 200 000th visitor (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity – Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) has been widely welcomed by the local public and visitors since its opening on April 16. The exhibition received its 200 000th visitor today (June 30), and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, presented a souvenir to the 200 000th visitor who is a primary school teacher. Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the exhibition features 130 sets of treasured exhibits from Shaanxi and archaeological finds from Hong Kong, such as the world-renowned terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shihuang and a dazzling array of warrior of Emperor Jing of Han. Admission is free. The exhibition will run until July 7, and members of the public are welcome to seize the opportunity to visit this exhibition in the remaining week.
     
         The 200 000th visitor is Ms Woo, a primary school teacher from LKWFS Lau Tak Yung Memorial Primary School. She has led over 30 Primary Five students to visit the exhibition today. She said that the students had studied the history of the Qin and Han dynasties in the Chinese language course, so the school arranged this museum visit. The most remarkable exhibits for her are the Terracotta General from the Qin dynasty and the pottery acrobat figurine from the Han dynasty, which highlight the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans. The HKMH presented a teaching kit specially produced for primary and secondary schools as a souvenir. The teaching kit includes Qin and Han dynasties matching games, a timeline of the Qin and Han dynasties, multi-perspective relic boxes, and worksheets for extended learning, allowing students to enhance their understanding of the history of the Qin and Han dynasties in a lively way. Teaching kits are also available free of charge to primary and secondary schools, and the museum will gradually distribute them to schools.
     
         The exhibition is the second major exhibition of the General History of China Series. In addition to the local public and tourists from the Mainland and overseas, the exhibition has also been well received by schools. More than 4 700 students from over 120 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools have visited the exhibition. The HKMH has organised a series of fascinating educational and extension programmes for free, including public lectures by experts from Shaanxi and scholars from Hong Kong, guided tours as well as workshops for making mini terracotta warriors and clay mirrors, which have been highly popular. Additionally, the museum has collaborated with the Hong Kong Public Libraries to organise outreach programmes, attracting over 60 000 participants.
     
         For information about the exhibition, please visit hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/exhibition/The-Great-Unity.html. After the exhibition concludes, the Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO) plans to produce a virtual exhibition featuring selected exhibition content, which will be uploaded to the websites of the CCPO and the HKMH in July for online revisits. Please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/en.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –