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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel Strikes Yemeni Red Sea Ports

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    SANAA/JERUSALEM, July 7 (Xinhua) — Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s Red Sea ports in the western province of Hodeida late Sunday.

    The strikes came minutes after the Israeli military issued an urgent evacuation warning on the X social media platform. Witnesses reported explosions in several locations along Yemen’s west coast, including the port of Hodeida.

    Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the strikes targeted what he described as Houthi strongholds, including the ports of Hodeida, al-Salif and Ras Isa, the Ras Katib power plant and the Galaxy Leader ship, which was captured by Houthi forces in November 2023.

    He suggested that a wider escalation could follow. “Yemen will be treated the same way as Tehran,” he said. “The Houthis will continue to pay a high price for their actions.”

    Earlier on Sunday, a rocket fired by Houthi forces triggered air raid sirens in southern Israel and was intercepted without casualties, the Israeli army said. The Houthis said it was a hypersonic missile aimed at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

    Israel has carried out several strikes on key ports and infrastructure in Yemen in recent months, while the Houthis continue to fire rockets into Israel while declaring solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • BRICS demand wealthy nations fund global climate transition

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations prepared to address the shared challenges of climate change on Monday, the final day of their summit in Rio de Janeiro, demanding that wealthy nations fund global mitigation of greenhouse emissions.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has touted the importance of the Global South in tackling global warming as he prepares to host the United Nations climate summit in November.

    Still, a joint statement from BRICS leaders released on Sunday argued that fossil fuels will continue to play an important role in the global energy mix, particularly in developing economies.

    “We live in a moment of many contradictions in the whole world. The important thing is that we are willing to overcome these contradictions,” Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva said on the sidelines of the summit, when asked about the plans to extract oil off the coast of the Amazon rainforest.

    In their joint statement, BRICS leaders underscored that providing climate finance “is a responsibility of developed countries towards developing countries,” which is the standard position for emerging economies in global negotiations.

    Their declaration also mentioned the group’s support for a fund that Brazil proposed to protect endangered forests – the Tropical Forests Forever Facility – as a way for emerging economies to fund climate change mitigation beyond the mandatory requirements imposed on wealthy nations by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

    China and the UAE signaled in meetings with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Rio that they plan to invest in the fund, two sources with knowledge of the discussions Reuters media last week.

    The joint statement from BRICS leaders also blasted policies such as carbon border taxes and anti-deforestation laws, which Europe has recently adopted, for imposing what they called “discriminatory protectionist measures” under the pretext of environmental concerns.

    (Reuters)

  • BRICS demand wealthy nations fund global climate transition

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations prepared to address the shared challenges of climate change on Monday, the final day of their summit in Rio de Janeiro, demanding that wealthy nations fund global mitigation of greenhouse emissions.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has touted the importance of the Global South in tackling global warming as he prepares to host the United Nations climate summit in November.

    Still, a joint statement from BRICS leaders released on Sunday argued that fossil fuels will continue to play an important role in the global energy mix, particularly in developing economies.

    “We live in a moment of many contradictions in the whole world. The important thing is that we are willing to overcome these contradictions,” Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva said on the sidelines of the summit, when asked about the plans to extract oil off the coast of the Amazon rainforest.

    In their joint statement, BRICS leaders underscored that providing climate finance “is a responsibility of developed countries towards developing countries,” which is the standard position for emerging economies in global negotiations.

    Their declaration also mentioned the group’s support for a fund that Brazil proposed to protect endangered forests – the Tropical Forests Forever Facility – as a way for emerging economies to fund climate change mitigation beyond the mandatory requirements imposed on wealthy nations by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

    China and the UAE signaled in meetings with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Rio that they plan to invest in the fund, two sources with knowledge of the discussions Reuters media last week.

    The joint statement from BRICS leaders also blasted policies such as carbon border taxes and anti-deforestation laws, which Europe has recently adopted, for imposing what they called “discriminatory protectionist measures” under the pretext of environmental concerns.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Shell second quarter 2025 update note

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The following is an update to the second quarter 2025 outlook and gives an overview of our current expectations for the second quarter. Outlooks presented may vary from the actual second quarter 2025 results and are subject to finalisation of those results, which are scheduled to be published on July 31, 2025. Unless otherwise indicated, all outlook statements exclude identified items. 

    See appendix for the definition of the non-GAAP measure used and the most comparable GAAP measure.

       Integrated Gas

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted EBITDA:
    Production (kboe/d) 927 900 – 940  
    LNG liquefaction volumes (MT) 6.6 6.4 – 6.8  
    Underlying opex 1.0 1.0 – 1.2  
    Adjusted Earnings:
    Pre-tax depreciation 1.4 1.4 – 1.8  
    Taxation charge 0.8 0.3 – 0.6  
    Other Considerations:
    Trading & Optimisation is expected to be significantly lower than Q1’25.

     Upstream

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted EBITDA:
    Production (kboe/d) 1,855 1,660 – 1,760 Reflects scheduled maintenance and the completed sale of SPDC in Nigeria.
    Underlying opex 2.2 1.9 – 2.5  
    Adjusted Earnings:
    Pre-tax depreciation 2.2 2.0 – 2.6  
    Taxation charge 2.6 1.6 – 2.4  
    Other Considerations:
    The share of profit / (loss) of joint ventures and associates in Q2’25 is expected to be ~$0.2 billion. Q2’25 exploration well write-offs are expected to be ~$0.2 billion.

     Marketing

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted EBITDA:
    Sales volumes (kb/d) 2,674 2,600 – 3,000  
    Underlying opex 2.4 2.3 – 2.7  
    Adjusted Earnings:
    Pre-tax depreciation 0.6 0.5 – 0.7  
    Taxation charge 0.4 0.2 – 0.6  
    Other Considerations:
    Marketing adjusted earnings are expected to be higher than Q1’25.

      Chemicals and Products

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted EBITDA:
    Indicative refining margin* $6.2/bbl $8.9/bbl  
    Indicative chemicals margin* $126/tonne $166/tonne The Chemicals sub-segment adjusted earnings are expected to be a loss.
    Refinery utilisation 85% 92% – 96%  
    Chemicals utilisation 81% 68% – 72% Chemicals utilisation impacted by unplanned maintenance at Monaca.
    Underlying opex 2.0 1.7 – 2.1  
    Adjusted Earnings:
    Pre-tax depreciation 0.9 0.8 – 1.0  
    Taxation charge / (credit) 0.1 (0.3) – 0.2  
    Other Considerations:
    Trading & Optimisation is expected to be significantly lower than Q1’25. The Chemicals & Products segment adjusted earnings is expected to be below break-even in Q2’25.

    *See appendix

     Renewables and Energy Solutions

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted Earnings — (0.4) – 0.2 Trading & Optimisation is expected to be lower than Q1’25.

    Corporate

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    Adjusted Earnings (0.5) (0.6) – (0.4)  

    Shell Group

    $ billions Q1’25 Q2’25 Outlook Comment
    CFFO:
    Tax paid 2.9 2.8 – 3.6  
    Derivative movements — (1) – 3  
    Working capital (2.7) (1) – 4  
    Other Shell Group Considerations:
    – 

    Guidance

    The ‘Quarterly Databook’ contains guidance on Indicative Refining Margin, Indicative Chemicals Margin and full-year price and margin sensitivities.

    Consensus

    The company compiled consensus, managed by Vara Research, is expected to be published on July 23, 2025.

    Appendix

    Indicative Margins

    Chemicals & Products Q1’25 Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Indicative refining margin $6.2/bbl $8.9/bbl
    Indicative chemicals margin $126/tonne $166/tonne

    The formulas for Indicative refining margin (IRM) and Indicative chemicals margin (ICM) have been updated following the completion of the Singapore divestment. Applying the previous formula for Q2’25 the IRM would have been: $7.5/bbl and the ICM $143/tonne. 

    Volume Data

    Operational Metrics Q1’25 Q2’25 QPR Outlook Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Integrated Gas      
    Production (kboe/d) 927 890 – 950 900 – 940
    LNG liquefaction volumes (MT) 6.6 6.3 – 6.9 6.4 – 6.8
    Upstream      
    Production (kboe/d) 1,855 1,560 – 1,760 1,660 – 1,760
    Marketing      
    Sales volumes (kb/d) 2,674 2,600 – 3,100 2,600 – 3,000
    Chemicals & Products      
    Refinery utilisation 85% 87% – 95% 92% – 96%
    Chemicals utilisation 81% 74% – 82% 68% – 72%

    Underlying Opex

    Underlying operating expenses is a measure aimed at facilitating a comparative understanding of performance from period to period by removing the effects of identified items, which, either individually or collectively, can cause volatility, in some cases driven by external factors. For further details see the 1st Quarter 2025 unaudited results.

    $ billions Q1’25 Q1’25 Adjusted Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Production and manufacturing expenses 5.5    
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 2.8    
    Research and development 0.2    
    Operating Expenses (Opex) 8.6 8.6  
    Less: Identified Items   0.1  
    Underlying Opex   8.5  
        of which:      
        Integrated Gas 1.0 1.0 1.0 – 1.2
        Upstream 2.2 2.2 1.9 – 2.5
        Marketing 2.4 2.4 2.3 – 2.7
        Chemicals and Products 2.1 2.0 1.7 – 2.1
        Renewables and Energy Solutions 0.7 0.7  

    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation

    $ billions Q1’25 Q1’25 Adjusted Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Depreciation, Depletion & Amortisation 5.4 5.4  
    Less: Identified Items   0.3  
    Pre-tax depreciation (as Adjusted)   5.1  
        of which:      
        Integrated Gas 1.4 1.4 1.4 – 1.8
        Upstream 2.2 2.2 2.0 – 2.6
        Marketing 0.5 0.6 0.5 – 0.7
        Chemicals and Products 1.1 0.9 0.8 – 1.0
        Renewables and Energy Solutions 0.1 0.1  

    Taxation Charge

    $ billions Q1’25 Q1’25 Adjusted Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Taxation Charge 4.1 4.1  
    Less: Identified Items and Cost of supplies adjustment   0.3  
    Taxation Charge (as Adjusted)   3.8  
        of which:      
        Integrated Gas 0.8 0.8 0.3 – 0.6
        Upstream 3.0 2.6 1.6 – 2.4
        Marketing 0.4 0.4 0.2 – 0.6
        Chemicals and Products — 0.1 (0.3) – 0.2
        Renewables and Energy Solutions — 0.1  

    Adjusted Earnings

    The “Adjusted Earnings” measure aims to facilitate a comparative understanding of Shell’s financial performance from period to period by removing the effects of oil price changes on inventory carrying amounts and removing the effects of identified items. These items are in some cases driven by external factors and may, either individually or collectively, hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period. This measure excludes earnings attributable to non-controlling interest. For further details see the 1st Quarter 2025 unaudited results.

    $ billions Q1’25 Q1’25 Adjusted Q2’25 Updated Outlook
    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 4.8 4.8  
    Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to Shell plc shareholders   —  
    Less: Identified items attributable to Shell plc shareholders   (0.8)  
    Adjusted Earnings   5.6  
        of which:      
        Renewables and Energy Solutions (0.2) — (0.4) – 0.2
        Corporate (0.5) (0.5) (0.6) – (0.4)

    Enquiries

    Media International: +44 (0) 207 934 5550

    Media U.S. and Canada: Contact form

    Cautionary Note

    The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties.  The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

    The numbers presented in this announcement may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures due to rounding.

    Forward-Looking statements
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; “aspire”; “aspiration”; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; “desire”; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; “vision”; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F and amendment thereto for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, July 7, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

    Shell’s net carbon intensity
    Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “net carbon intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “net carbon intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

    Shell’s net-zero emissions target
    Shell’s operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years.  However, Shell’s operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

    Forward-Looking Non-GAAP measures

    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements, Cash capital expenditure, Net debt and Underlying operating expense.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA are measures used to evaluate Shell’s performance in the period and over time.
    The “Adjusted Earnings” and Adjusted EBITDA are measures which aim to facilitate a comparative understanding of Shell’s financial performance from period to period by removing the effects of oil price changes on inventory carrying amounts and removing the effects of identified items.
    Adjusted Earnings is defined as income/(loss) attributable to shareholders adjusted for the current cost of supplies and excluding identified items. “Adjusted EBITDA (CCS basis)” is defined as “Income/(loss) for the period” adjusted for current cost of supplies; identified items; tax charge/(credit); depreciation, amortisation and depletion; exploration well write-offs and net interest expense. All items include the non-controlling interest component.
    Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements is a measure used by Shell to analyse its operating cash generation over time excluding the timing effects of changes in inventories and operating receivables and payables from period to period. Working capital movements are defined as the sum of the following items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: (i) (increase)/decrease in inventories, (ii) (increase)/decrease in current receivables, and (iii) increase/(decrease) in current payables. Cash capital expenditure is the sum of the following lines from the Consolidated Statement of Cash flows: Capital expenditure, Investments in joint ventures and associates and Investments in equity securities. Net debt is defined as the sum of current and non-current debt, less cash and cash equivalents, adjusted for the fair value of derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign exchange and interest rate risks relating to debt, and associated collateral balances. Underlying operating expenses is a measure of Shell’s cost management performance and aimed at facilitating a comparative understanding of performance from period to period by removing the effects of identified items, which, either individually or collectively, can cause volatility, in some cases driven by external factors. Underlying operating expenses comprises the following items from the Consolidated statement of Income: production and manufacturing expenses; selling, distribution and administrative expenses; and research and development expenses and removes the effects of identified items such as redundancy and restructuring charges or reversals, provisions or reversals and others.

    We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.
    The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC.  Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mastercard collaborates with Eastern Bank PLC and IDEX Biometrics to launch its global first biometric metal credit card in Bangladesh

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The new card combines cutting-edge biometric authentication with the sophistication of a metal design, offering both enhanced security and premium user experience for cardholders.

    Dhaka, Bangladesh, 7th July 2025: Mastercard has collaborated with Eastern Bank PLC to introduce its first biometric metal credit card, marking a significant leap forward in Bangladesh’s payment technology landscape. As part of the ultra-premium World Elite Mastercard portfolio, this innovative card combines cutting-edge biometric authentication with the sophistication of a metal design, offering both enhanced security and premium user experience. Co-powered by IDEX Biometrics, Kona I, and Infineon Technologies, the launch reflects a shared commitment to driving secure, seamless, and future-ready payment experiences in the country.

    The new card will empower Mastercard cardholders to authenticate in-store purchases effortlessly using just their fingerprint—eliminating the need for PINs or signatures. Leveraging advanced biometric technology, it’ll ensure that only the authorized user can complete the transaction, safeguarding sensitive financial data and setting a new benchmark for secure, premium payment experiences.

    With cardholder data securely stored directly on the card, transactions will be authenticated through the user’s fingerprint—adding a powerful layer of protection against fraud. One of the most user-friendly features of the new card will be its seamless enrollment process—cardholders can conveniently register their fingerprint from the comfort of home using a kit provided by the bank.

    Enhancing its security credentials further, the card will be equipped with Mastercard Identity Theft Protection, a robust feature that continuously scans the web for signs of identity fraud, offering cardholders proactive and comprehensive protection.

    Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director & CEO, Eastern Bank PLC, said, “Eastern Bank PLC is pioneering the payment landscape in Bangladesh, confirming its leadership and innovation positioning. This IDEX Biometrics solution will provide a first-class payment experience and a new payment standard, powering secure contactless transactions in the country.”

    Syed Mohammad Kamal, Country Manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard is delighted to collaborate with Eastern Bank PLC to launch its first biometric metal card in Bangladesh. This groundbreaking innovation reaffirms Mastercard’s leadership in redefining the future of payments—where cutting-edge security meets seamless convenience. By embedding fingerprint authentication into a sleek metal card, Mastercard has set a new benchmark for premium cardholders who demand both sophistication and safety. Beyond its advanced technology, the World Elite Mastercard credit card will unlock a host of exclusive privileges, delivering an elevated experience that reflects the evolving expectations of today’s discerning consumers.”

    Anders Storbraten, CEO, IDEX Biometrics, said, “We are excited that the IDEX Biometrics technology is part of this major milestone for the industry. This is a big win for customers, who can benefit from secure, seamless and highly innovative payment solutions. The biometric metal card from EBL brings it all together.”

    Tolgahan Yildiz, Head of Trusted Mobile Connectivity and Transactions Product Line, Infineon Technologies, said, “With our ongoing commitment to the smart card market and investment in innovation, we’re proud to enable the launch of this biometric metal card solution.”

    This exclusive World Elite Mastercard credit card will also unlock a host of premium privileges through Mastercard’s Priceless Specials platform, such as:

    • A complimentary one-night stay at luxury hotels
    • A free gourmet meal at top restaurants across Asia Pacific
    • Exclusive rooftop dining at CÉ LA VI, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, plus a SG$100 voucher
    • Access to over 46 premium golf clubs, including TPC® courses operated by the PGA TOUR

    The new card will also enable additional perks for cardholders, including:

    • Global data roaming with Flexiroam
    • Discounted car rentals from Hertz
    • USD 1,000 off Uniworld river cruises
    • Fast-track elite memberships with hotel loyalty programs like GHA DISCOVERY, HoteLux, Wyndham Rewards, and I Prefer

    Further, cardholders will gain access to exclusive and specially curated experiences through Mastercard’s globally renowned Priceless platform. They will also be able to enjoy complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through Mastercard’s LoungeKey program, along with access to select domestic lounges—ensuring comfort and convenience wherever they travel.

    To elevate the experience even further, a 24/7 concierge service will be available to cardholders, ensuring seamless assistance and effortless access to the finest experiences around the globe—from last-minute reservations to curated travel recommendations.

    Enclosed: Photos of the card, the launch advertisement and the representatives of the companies collaborating to create and launch the card.

    About IDEX Biometrics

    IDEX Biometrics ASA (OSE: IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market.

    For more information, please visit www.idexbiometrics.com or contact ir@idexbiometrics.com

    About Mastercard

    Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

    For more information, please visit www.mastercard.com

    About Eastern Bank PLC

    A game changer in Bangladesh’s fast growing financial sector, the success of EASTERN BANK PLC comes from its continuous effort to innovate products and services, its commitment to offer service excellence and passion for performance. With a sound asset quality, strong liquidity, adequate capital coverage and good corporate governance, EASTERN BANK PLC is a symbol of stability in Bangladesh Financial Market. EASTERN BANK PLC has been known for its consistent and sustainable growth over the past 30 years and is being acclaimed for its customer-focus approach. EASTERN BANK PLC is committed to remain a strong partner in accelerating Bangladesh’s journey to a trillion-dollar economy by 2040.

    For more information, please visit www.Eastern Bank PLC.com.bd

    About Infineon

    Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization with its products and solutions. The Company had around 58,060 employees worldwide (end of September 2024) and generated revenue of about €15 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (ending 30 September). Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the OTCQX International over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: IFNNY).

    For more information, please visit www.infineon.com

    Trademark Statement
    IDEX, IDEX Biometrics and the IDEX logo are trademarks owned by IDEX Biometrics ASA. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.

    About this notice
    This notice was issued by Erling Svela, Vice president of finance, on 7 July 2025 at 08:00 CET on behalf of IDEX Biometrics ASA.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A test of political courage: Yoorrook’s final reports demand action, not amnesia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeremie M Bracka, Law Lecturer and Transitional Justice Academic, RMIT University

    Australia’s colonial era may be formally over but its legacies of inequality, land dispossession and systemic racism continue to shape daily life for First Peoples.

    Last week, the Victorian Yoorrook Justice Commission delivered its two final reports to the Victorian governor, concluding the most ambitious effort yet to reckon with these injustices.

    The reports, Yoorrook for Transformation and Yoorrook Truth Be Told, contain 100 detailed recommendations across five volumes. They deliver a devastating account of dispossession, family separation, cultural erasure and structural racism, past and present.

    Their scope is historic. But the question remains: will they change anything?

    A bold innovation in truth-telling

    Yoorrook is not just another inquiry.

    Established in 2021, it is Australia’s first formal truth commission and the only one globally to be established alongside a Treaty process in a settler-colonial democracy.

    It was designed by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and has been led and shaped by Aboriginal communities.

    Its mandate is wide: to investigate both historical and ongoing injustices across all areas of life from land, law, health and education to housing, finance and child protection.

    Over the past four years, Yoorrook has compelled testimony from ministers and senior bureaucrats, visited prisons and out-of-home care facilities, and travelled across the state to conduct on-country truth-telling with Elders.

    In the words of one witness, Aunty Stephanie Charles:

    Our Land, Our Language, Our
    Lore and Our Lives have been denied
    for far too long. In order to move
    forward these must be recognised
    an respected. This is Yoo-rrook.

    Why truth commissions matter

    Truth commissions emerged most famously in South Africa, where they were used to document atrocities during apartheid.

    In recent years, however, they’ve also appeared in stable democracies grappling with colonial legacies: Canada’s commission on residential schools, Belgium’s commission on its African empire, and multiple United States commissions examining slavery, segregation and systemic racism.

    In postcolonial states such as Australia, truth-telling is particularly powerful and necessary, because harm has not only been inflicted but denied.

    As anthropologist W.E.H. Stanner put it in 1968, Australia has long maintained a “great Australian silence” – a wilful forgetting of how the nation was built on the dispossession of others.

    Yoorrook challenges this silence. It has created an official record of Victoria’s colonial and ongoing harms, and opened a rare space for Indigenous people to define harm on their own terms, including what justice and healing should look like.

    Structural injustice laid bare

    The commission’s final reports lay out both stories and statistics. These include:

    • in the past, Victoria explicitly authorised child removals on racial grounds and controlled every aspect of Aboriginal life under protectionist laws
    • today, the state still removes Aboriginal children at more than 20 times the rate of non-Indigenous children
    • Aboriginal people remain vastly over-represented in police custody, prison populations and cases of public housing exclusion.

    Yoorrook is connecting these dots, showing how the injustices of colonisation did not end but evolved into contemporary legal and institutional forms.

    Importantly, the commission has not shied away from naming these harms. It has condemned Victoria’s systemic racism – including alleged genocide – and called for radical change not just recognition.

    Among its recommendations are calls to return land and water to Traditional Owners, to embed First Peoples’ control over education and child protection, and to establish reparations and shared governance structures across public institutions.

    Will this lead to real change?

    Yoorrook’s reports could be transformative if acted on – but this is far from guaranteed.

    The Canadian experience is instructive. While its Truth and Reconciliation Commission garnered attention, many Canadians today are unfamiliar with its findings and progress on its recommendations has been slow.

    In Australia, there’s a similar risk that Yoorrook may preach to the choir while political leaders move on. Despite a public apology in 2008, most recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody remain unfulfilled.

    Since then, more than 500 additional Indigenous people have died in custody.

    We must resist the cycle of “truth without justice.”

    In recent hearings, Yoorrook commissioners pressed ministers to move beyond rhetoric. While several public apologies were made, including from Victoria’s attorney-general and the police minister, the commission rightly warned apologies without action are hollow.

    Where to from here?

    The failure of the Voice referendum in 2023 showed just how contested questions of history, race and recognition remain in Australia.

    But it also underscored the need for renewed engagement with the truth, not just in parliaments but in homes, schools, workplaces and media.

    Yoorrook’s challenge is not only to shape policy but to shift public consciousness. In this sense, it must speak to all Victorians.

    Without broader buy-in, even the best-designed truth commission risks being forgotten.

    A test of political courage

    Yoorrook has done its part. It has listened to more than 1,500 voices. It has built the record. It has made the case for transformation.

    Now, the Victorian government and indeed all of us must decide what to do with that truth. Will we confront it? Will we act on it? Or will we retreat once more into silence?

    Yoorrook has narrowed the range of permissible lies in this country. But narrowing lies is not the same as achieving justice. That next step is ours to take.

    Jeremie M Bracka was awarded the Malcolm Moore Industry Research Grant to support the implementation of the Final Reports of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

    – ref. A test of political courage: Yoorrook’s final reports demand action, not amnesia – https://theconversation.com/a-test-of-political-courage-yoorrooks-final-reports-demand-action-not-amnesia-260580

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Delhi: Rain brings much-needed relief from humid weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had gripped the city over the past few days.

    Rain began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds blanketing the sky across the capital. The showers helped bring down temperatures and eased the persistent humidity.

    However, the downpour also led to waterlogging in several areas, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, where vehicles were seen wading through waterlogged streets.

    “Whenever it rains, the roads get waterlogged for up to five kilometres,” said one stranded commuter.

    Amit, another commuter, added, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just an hour of rain. My car also got a puncture.”

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls across all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi.

    As of now, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days.

    According to the IMD, the weather in Delhi is expected to remain normal, with a forecast of “generally cloudy skies, very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning” over the next two to three days. Parts of Delhi had also received rainfall on Sunday morning.

    The IMD reported that the monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy showers, is likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and East Madhya Pradesh on July 7. The IMD also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest India, the West Coast, and Northeast India over the next 6–7 days.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Nearly 70,000 devotees perform Amarnath Yatra in first four days; 8,605 more join today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nearly 70,000 pilgrims have undertaken the annual Amarnath Yatra in the first four days since it began on July 3, officials confirmed on Monday. Of these, 21,512 devotees had Darshan at the holy cave shrine on Sunday alone, marking a strong turnout for one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimages.

    Early Monday morning, another batch of 8,605 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys bound for the base camps in Kashmir Valley. According to officials, the first convoy comprising 3,486 pilgrims is en route to the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir, while the second convoy, carrying 5,119 Yatris, is heading toward the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam.

    The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the pilgrimage, said thousands of pilgrims are also arriving directly at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps to register on the spot and join the Yatra. Officials confirmed that two pilgrims have died of natural causes since the Yatra began.

    This year’s pilgrimage is taking place under tight security arrangements, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. In response, authorities have deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to reinforce the presence of the Army, CRPF, BSF, SSB, and local police.

    The entire Yatra route, including all transit camps and pilgrim accommodations, has been placed under multi-tiered security cover. The pilgrimage starts at Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar and proceeds toward the two base camps, eventually leading up to the holy cave shrine located at 3,888 meters in the Himalayas.

    Amid the tense security environment, local residents in Kashmir have come out in full support of the Yatra, continuing a long-standing tradition of hospitality. As the first batch of pilgrims entered the Valley through Qazigund, they were warmly greeted by Kashmiris holding garlands and placards—a symbolic response to the recent acts of terror. On Sunday, locals offered cold drinks and drinking water to pilgrims returning from the Baltal camp. Many Yatris expressed heartfelt gratitude for the love and support shown by the local population.

    The 2025 Amarnath Yatra will continue for 38 days, concluding on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Pilgrims undertake the journey via two traditional routes: the 46-kilometre trek from Pahalgam, passing through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, and the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route, which allows for a same-day return after Darshan.

    This year, helicopter services have been suspended due to security reasons, making the Yatra a wholly ground-based journey.

    At the heart of the Yatra lies the sacred Amarnath cave shrine, which houses a naturally forming ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva. The structure is said to wax and wane with the lunar cycle and symbolizes divine presence.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • Nearly 70,000 devotees perform Amarnath Yatra in first four days; 8,605 more join today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nearly 70,000 pilgrims have undertaken the annual Amarnath Yatra in the first four days since it began on July 3, officials confirmed on Monday. Of these, 21,512 devotees had Darshan at the holy cave shrine on Sunday alone, marking a strong turnout for one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimages.

    Early Monday morning, another batch of 8,605 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys bound for the base camps in Kashmir Valley. According to officials, the first convoy comprising 3,486 pilgrims is en route to the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir, while the second convoy, carrying 5,119 Yatris, is heading toward the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam.

    The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the pilgrimage, said thousands of pilgrims are also arriving directly at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps to register on the spot and join the Yatra. Officials confirmed that two pilgrims have died of natural causes since the Yatra began.

    This year’s pilgrimage is taking place under tight security arrangements, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. In response, authorities have deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to reinforce the presence of the Army, CRPF, BSF, SSB, and local police.

    The entire Yatra route, including all transit camps and pilgrim accommodations, has been placed under multi-tiered security cover. The pilgrimage starts at Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar and proceeds toward the two base camps, eventually leading up to the holy cave shrine located at 3,888 meters in the Himalayas.

    Amid the tense security environment, local residents in Kashmir have come out in full support of the Yatra, continuing a long-standing tradition of hospitality. As the first batch of pilgrims entered the Valley through Qazigund, they were warmly greeted by Kashmiris holding garlands and placards—a symbolic response to the recent acts of terror. On Sunday, locals offered cold drinks and drinking water to pilgrims returning from the Baltal camp. Many Yatris expressed heartfelt gratitude for the love and support shown by the local population.

    The 2025 Amarnath Yatra will continue for 38 days, concluding on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Pilgrims undertake the journey via two traditional routes: the 46-kilometre trek from Pahalgam, passing through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, and the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route, which allows for a same-day return after Darshan.

    This year, helicopter services have been suspended due to security reasons, making the Yatra a wholly ground-based journey.

    At the heart of the Yatra lies the sacred Amarnath cave shrine, which houses a naturally forming ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva. The structure is said to wax and wane with the lunar cycle and symbolizes divine presence.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • Initial phase of Bihar’s special intensive revision almost over

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ‘is almost complete’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a statement on Sunday. The process, aimed at updating the electoral rolls, is progressing smoothly with strong ground-level support from electors, officials, and volunteers.

    According to ECI, over 1.69 crore Enumeration Forms — accounting for 21.46% of the total 7.90 crore electors in the state — were received as of 6:00 PM on July 6. Notably, more than 65 lakh forms were collected in the last 24 hours alone. With 19 days still remaining until the July 25 deadline, officials are optimistic about achieving full coverage.

    Uploading of forms is also underway, with 7.25% already digitized. Electors can also submit or upload their filled forms via the ECINET App or the ECI portal.

    A workforce of 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) is conducting door-to-door visits to assist voters, often capturing live photographs to ease the process. An additional 20,603 BLOs are being appointed to ensure timely completion of the drive. Nearly 4 lakh volunteers — including government staff, NCC cadets, and NSS members — are supporting senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

    The revision is being carried out strictly in line with SIR guidelines dated June 24, 2025. Draft electoral rolls will be published on August 1, incorporating names from forms received before the July 25 deadline. Any deficiencies can be rectified during the subsequent claims and objections period.

    The extensive effort is being coordinated by 239 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 963 Assistant EROs, 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar. Additionally, 1.54 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from various political parties are actively supporting the campaign.

    Officials have urged all eligible voters to cooperate and ensure timely submission of forms to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll.

     

  • Initial phase of Bihar’s special intensive revision almost over

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ‘is almost complete’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a statement on Sunday. The process, aimed at updating the electoral rolls, is progressing smoothly with strong ground-level support from electors, officials, and volunteers.

    According to ECI, over 1.69 crore Enumeration Forms — accounting for 21.46% of the total 7.90 crore electors in the state — were received as of 6:00 PM on July 6. Notably, more than 65 lakh forms were collected in the last 24 hours alone. With 19 days still remaining until the July 25 deadline, officials are optimistic about achieving full coverage.

    Uploading of forms is also underway, with 7.25% already digitized. Electors can also submit or upload their filled forms via the ECINET App or the ECI portal.

    A workforce of 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) is conducting door-to-door visits to assist voters, often capturing live photographs to ease the process. An additional 20,603 BLOs are being appointed to ensure timely completion of the drive. Nearly 4 lakh volunteers — including government staff, NCC cadets, and NSS members — are supporting senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

    The revision is being carried out strictly in line with SIR guidelines dated June 24, 2025. Draft electoral rolls will be published on August 1, incorporating names from forms received before the July 25 deadline. Any deficiencies can be rectified during the subsequent claims and objections period.

    The extensive effort is being coordinated by 239 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 963 Assistant EROs, 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar. Additionally, 1.54 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from various political parties are actively supporting the campaign.

    Officials have urged all eligible voters to cooperate and ensure timely submission of forms to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll.

     

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New governance for Health New Zealand

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is today announcing the reestablishment of the Health New Zealand Board, with new appointments to drive its priority of ensuring timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.  The re-established Health New Zealand Board will take over from the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners appointed last year to stabilise the organisation and set a clear direction.  “Under Professor Lester Levy’s leadership as Commissioner, Health New Zealand has delivered a strong financial plan, and a clear Health Delivery Plan is now in place. He is refocusing the organisation on patients and driving progress on the Government’s health targets, which are seeing waitlists reduced,” Mr Brown says.  Professor Levy has been appointed Chair of Health New Zealand for a 12-month term to ensure continuity of leadership. His appointment will maintain momentum on the Government’s health targets and keep the focus firmly on patients. Mr Brown also announced his intention to begin a nomination process later this year for a permanent Chair to take effect from 1 July 2026.  “I have also appointed an experienced team of Board members who will support Health New Zealand to deliver for patients, including the appointment of Dr Andrew Connolly as Deputy Chair. Dr Connolly is an experienced surgeon and clinical director who has also held numerous appointments across Governments, including Chair of the Medical Council, Crown Monitor, and Commissioner on District Health Boards.  “I am also appointing Hamiora Bowkett as a Crown Observer to keep a close watch on performance and support the Board with independent oversight. This role will focus on supporting the Board’s re-establishment and ensuring Health New Zealand delivers on the Government’s health targets. Mr Bowkett will advise me directly, with a particular focus on Health New Zealand’s financial position and the delivery of health targets.” “We’re also tackling one of the biggest barriers to better care – our ageing health infrastructure – by establishing a dedicated Infrastructure Committee to make sure our Government’s significant investment in health infrastructure delivers modern facilities, on time and on budget.  “This is about accountability. Patients care about seeing a doctor sooner, getting their hip surgery faster, being treated in a hospital that works. That’s what these governance changes are designed to achieve.”  The key appointments include: 
     

    Professor Lester Levy, currently Commissioner of Health New Zealand and Chair of the Health Research Council, has been appointed Chair of the Health New Zealand Board for a 12-month term.
    Dr Andrew Connolly, a senior surgeon and clinical leader, is appointed Deputy Chair.
    Board members include Roger Jarrold, Dr Frances Hughes, Parekawhia McLean, Peter McCardle, and Terry Moore.
    Hamiora Bowkett is appointed as Crown Observer to support and monitor Health New Zealand.
    A new Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Dr Margaret Wilsher, will oversee the delivery of critical health projects, supported by experienced members: Mark Binns, James Christmas, Sarah Sinclair, Evan Davies, and Roger Jarrold. 

    “I want to acknowledge the work of Professor Levy as Commissioner, and thank Deputy Commissioners Roger Jarrold, Ken Whelan, and Kylie Clegg for the rapid progress they have made in refocusing Health New Zealand on patients.  “There is still much work to do, and I look forward to working with the Health New Zealand Board to deliver for patients, achieve the Government’s health targets, and continue driving progress on the key priorities I announced in March.  “These changes ensure we have the right people in the right roles to get it done.”  Appointed members will assume their roles on 23 July 2025, when the Commission ends. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Israel’s Netanyahu says he believes Trump can help seal ceasefire deal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he believed his discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday would help advance talks on a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal, as Trump predicted an agreement could be reached this week.

    Israeli negotiators taking part in the ceasefire talks that resumed in Doha on Sunday have clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire agreement under conditions that Israel has accepted, Netanyahu said on Sunday before flying to Washington.

    “I believe the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance these results,” he said, adding his determination to ensure the return of hostages held in Gaza and to remove the threat of the Palestinian militant group Hamas to Israel.

    It will be Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.

    Trump said he believed a hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached this week, which could lead to the release of “quite a few hostages.”

    “I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week,” Trump told reporters before flying back to Washington after a weekend golfing in New Jersey.

    Public pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire and end the war in Gaza, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. Others, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, have expressed support.

    Palestinian group Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a “positive spirit”, a few days after Trump said Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day truce.

    But in a sign of the potential challenges still facing the two sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.

    The first session of indirect Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks in Qatar ended inconclusively, two Palestinian sources familiar with the matter said early on Monday, adding that the Israeli delegation didn’t have a sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas.

    Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that changes sought by Hamas to the ceasefire proposal were “not acceptable to Israel”. However, his office said the delegation would still fly to Qatar to “continue efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to.”

    Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the militant group has so far refused to discuss.

    Netanyahu said he believed he and Trump would also build on the outcome of the 12-day air war with Iran last month and seek to further ensure that Tehran never has a nuclear weapon. He said recent Middle East developments had created an opportunity to widen the circle of peace.

    HOSTAGES

    On Saturday evening, crowds gathered at a public square in Tel Aviv near the defence ministry headquarters to call for a ceasefire deal and the return of around 50 hostages still held in Gaza. The demonstrators waved Israeli flags, chanted and carried posters with photos of the hostages.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced the population, mostly within Gaza, and left the territory in ruins.

    Around 20 of the remaining hostages are believed to be still alive. A majority of the original hostages have been freed through diplomatic negotiations, though the Israeli military has also recovered some.

    (Reuters)

  • Israel’s Netanyahu says he believes Trump can help seal ceasefire deal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he believed his discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday would help advance talks on a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal, as Trump predicted an agreement could be reached this week.

    Israeli negotiators taking part in the ceasefire talks that resumed in Doha on Sunday have clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire agreement under conditions that Israel has accepted, Netanyahu said on Sunday before flying to Washington.

    “I believe the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance these results,” he said, adding his determination to ensure the return of hostages held in Gaza and to remove the threat of the Palestinian militant group Hamas to Israel.

    It will be Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.

    Trump said he believed a hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached this week, which could lead to the release of “quite a few hostages.”

    “I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week,” Trump told reporters before flying back to Washington after a weekend golfing in New Jersey.

    Public pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire and end the war in Gaza, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. Others, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, have expressed support.

    Palestinian group Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a “positive spirit”, a few days after Trump said Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day truce.

    But in a sign of the potential challenges still facing the two sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.

    The first session of indirect Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks in Qatar ended inconclusively, two Palestinian sources familiar with the matter said early on Monday, adding that the Israeli delegation didn’t have a sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas.

    Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that changes sought by Hamas to the ceasefire proposal were “not acceptable to Israel”. However, his office said the delegation would still fly to Qatar to “continue efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to.”

    Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the militant group has so far refused to discuss.

    Netanyahu said he believed he and Trump would also build on the outcome of the 12-day air war with Iran last month and seek to further ensure that Tehran never has a nuclear weapon. He said recent Middle East developments had created an opportunity to widen the circle of peace.

    HOSTAGES

    On Saturday evening, crowds gathered at a public square in Tel Aviv near the defence ministry headquarters to call for a ceasefire deal and the return of around 50 hostages still held in Gaza. The demonstrators waved Israeli flags, chanted and carried posters with photos of the hostages.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced the population, mostly within Gaza, and left the territory in ruins.

    Around 20 of the remaining hostages are believed to be still alive. A majority of the original hostages have been freed through diplomatic negotiations, though the Israeli military has also recovered some.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    • Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of the company’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, will enable Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison to shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods.
    • The agreement supports Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s commitment to sustainability and digital innovation, and its transformation into an AI-powered TechCo, building a smarter, greener, and more inclusive Indonesia.

    7 July 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications company, has deployed Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, to reduce energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions across its nationwide radio access network (RAN).

    Using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyse real-time traffic patterns, Nokia Energy Efficiency enables Indosat to adjust or shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods. The solution, engineered with intelligent thermal management to cut network cooling energy needs, is available in a SaaS model that eliminates large up-front capital expenditure and avoids the need to perform on-site software maintenance and updates, contributing to greener network operations.

    The multi-vendor, AI-driven energy management solution can reduce energy costs and carbon footprint with no negative impact on network performance or customer experience. It can be rolled out in a matter of weeks.

    The initiative marks another critical step in Indosat’s broader transformation journey—from a conventional telecom operator into an AI TechCo—powered by intelligent technologies, cloud-based platforms, and a commitment to sustainability. By embedding automation and intelligence into network operations, Indosat is unlocking new levels of efficiency, agility, and environmental responsibility across its infrastructure.

    “As data consumption continues to grow, so does our responsibility to manage resources wisely. This collaboration reflects Indosat’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation, using AI to not only optimize performance, but also reduce emissions and energy use across our network.” said Desmond Cheung, Director and Chief Technology Officer, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.

    Indosat’s commitment to sustainability has already earned it regional recognition. It was the first operator in Southeast Asia to achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management—underscoring its pledge to minimize environmental impact through operational excellence. The collaboration with Nokia builds upon a successful pilot project, in which the AI-powered solution demonstrated its ability to reduce energy consumption in live network conditions.

    Following the pilot project, Nokia deployed its Energy Efficiency solution to the entire Nokia RAN footprint in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Central and East Java.

    “We are very pleased to be helping Indosat deliver on its commitments to sustainability and environmental responsibility, establishing its position both locally and internationally. Nokia Energy Efficiency reflects the important R&D investments that Nokia continues to make to help our customers optimize energy savings and network performance simultaneously,” said Henrique Vale, Vice President, Cloud and Network Services, APAC, Nokia.

    Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, including its Autonomous Networks Fabric solution, utilizes Agentic AI to deliver advanced security, analytics, and operations capabilities that provide operators with a holistic, real-time view of the network so they can reduce costs, accelerate time-to-value, and deliver the best customer experience.

    Autonomous Networks Fabric is a unifying intelligence layer that weaves together observability, analytics, security, and automation across every network domain; allowing a network to behave as one adaptive system, regardless of vendor, architecture, or deployment model.

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    • Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of the company’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, will enable Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison to shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods.
    • The agreement supports Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s commitment to sustainability and digital innovation, and its transformation into an AI-powered TechCo, building a smarter, greener, and more inclusive Indonesia.

    7 July 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications company, has deployed Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, to reduce energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions across its nationwide radio access network (RAN).

    Using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyse real-time traffic patterns, Nokia Energy Efficiency enables Indosat to adjust or shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods. The solution, engineered with intelligent thermal management to cut network cooling energy needs, is available in a SaaS model that eliminates large up-front capital expenditure and avoids the need to perform on-site software maintenance and updates, contributing to greener network operations.

    The multi-vendor, AI-driven energy management solution can reduce energy costs and carbon footprint with no negative impact on network performance or customer experience. It can be rolled out in a matter of weeks.

    The initiative marks another critical step in Indosat’s broader transformation journey—from a conventional telecom operator into an AI TechCo—powered by intelligent technologies, cloud-based platforms, and a commitment to sustainability. By embedding automation and intelligence into network operations, Indosat is unlocking new levels of efficiency, agility, and environmental responsibility across its infrastructure.

    “As data consumption continues to grow, so does our responsibility to manage resources wisely. This collaboration reflects Indosat’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation, using AI to not only optimize performance, but also reduce emissions and energy use across our network.” said Desmond Cheung, Director and Chief Technology Officer, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.

    Indosat’s commitment to sustainability has already earned it regional recognition. It was the first operator in Southeast Asia to achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management—underscoring its pledge to minimize environmental impact through operational excellence. The collaboration with Nokia builds upon a successful pilot project, in which the AI-powered solution demonstrated its ability to reduce energy consumption in live network conditions.

    Following the pilot project, Nokia deployed its Energy Efficiency solution to the entire Nokia RAN footprint in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Central and East Java.

    “We are very pleased to be helping Indosat deliver on its commitments to sustainability and environmental responsibility, establishing its position both locally and internationally. Nokia Energy Efficiency reflects the important R&D investments that Nokia continues to make to help our customers optimize energy savings and network performance simultaneously,” said Henrique Vale, Vice President, Cloud and Network Services, APAC, Nokia.

    Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, including its Autonomous Networks Fabric solution, utilizes Agentic AI to deliver advanced security, analytics, and operations capabilities that provide operators with a holistic, real-time view of the network so they can reduce costs, accelerate time-to-value, and deliver the best customer experience.

    Autonomous Networks Fabric is a unifying intelligence layer that weaves together observability, analytics, security, and automation across every network domain; allowing a network to behave as one adaptive system, regardless of vendor, architecture, or deployment model.

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia partner to reduce energy demand and support AI-powered, sustainable operations

    • Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of the company’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, will enable Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison to shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods.
    • The agreement supports Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s commitment to sustainability and digital innovation, and its transformation into an AI-powered TechCo, building a smarter, greener, and more inclusive Indonesia.

    7 July 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications company, has deployed Nokia Energy Efficiency, part of Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, to reduce energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions across its nationwide radio access network (RAN).

    Using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyse real-time traffic patterns, Nokia Energy Efficiency enables Indosat to adjust or shut idle and unused radio equipment automatically during low network demand periods. The solution, engineered with intelligent thermal management to cut network cooling energy needs, is available in a SaaS model that eliminates large up-front capital expenditure and avoids the need to perform on-site software maintenance and updates, contributing to greener network operations.

    The multi-vendor, AI-driven energy management solution can reduce energy costs and carbon footprint with no negative impact on network performance or customer experience. It can be rolled out in a matter of weeks.

    The initiative marks another critical step in Indosat’s broader transformation journey—from a conventional telecom operator into an AI TechCo—powered by intelligent technologies, cloud-based platforms, and a commitment to sustainability. By embedding automation and intelligence into network operations, Indosat is unlocking new levels of efficiency, agility, and environmental responsibility across its infrastructure.

    “As data consumption continues to grow, so does our responsibility to manage resources wisely. This collaboration reflects Indosat’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation, using AI to not only optimize performance, but also reduce emissions and energy use across our network.” said Desmond Cheung, Director and Chief Technology Officer, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.

    Indosat’s commitment to sustainability has already earned it regional recognition. It was the first operator in Southeast Asia to achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management—underscoring its pledge to minimize environmental impact through operational excellence. The collaboration with Nokia builds upon a successful pilot project, in which the AI-powered solution demonstrated its ability to reduce energy consumption in live network conditions.

    Following the pilot project, Nokia deployed its Energy Efficiency solution to the entire Nokia RAN footprint in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Central and East Java.

    “We are very pleased to be helping Indosat deliver on its commitments to sustainability and environmental responsibility, establishing its position both locally and internationally. Nokia Energy Efficiency reflects the important R&D investments that Nokia continues to make to help our customers optimize energy savings and network performance simultaneously,” said Henrique Vale, Vice President, Cloud and Network Services, APAC, Nokia.

    Nokia’s Autonomous Networks portfolio, including its Autonomous Networks Fabric solution, utilizes Agentic AI to deliver advanced security, analytics, and operations capabilities that provide operators with a holistic, real-time view of the network so they can reduce costs, accelerate time-to-value, and deliver the best customer experience.

    Autonomous Networks Fabric is a unifying intelligence layer that weaves together observability, analytics, security, and automation across every network domain; allowing a network to behave as one adaptive system, regardless of vendor, architecture, or deployment model.

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube  

    The MIL Network –

  • Trump calls Musk’s formation of new party ‘ridiculous’ and criticizes his own NASA pick

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump on Sunday called Elon Musk’s plans to form a new political party “ridiculous,” launching new barbs at the tech billionaire and saying the Musk ally he once named to lead NASA would have presented a conflict of interest given Musk’s business interests in space.

    A day after Musk escalated his feud with Trump and announced the formation of a new U.S. political party, the Republican president was asked about it before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, as he returned to Washington upon visiting his nearby golf club.

    “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion,” Trump told reporters.

    “It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

    Shortly after speaking about Musk, Trump posted further comments on his Truth Social platform, saying, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”

    Musk announced on Saturday that he is establishing the “America Party” in response to Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill, which Musk said would bankrupt the country.

    “What the heck was the point of @DOGE if he’s just going to increase the debt by $5 trillion??” Musk wrote on X on Sunday, referring to the government downsizing agency he briefly led. Critics have said the bill will damage the U.S. economy by significantly adding to the federal budget deficit.

    Musk said his new party would in next year’s midterm elections look to unseat Republican lawmakers in Congress who backed the sweeping measure known as the “big, beautiful bill.”

    Musk spent millions of dollars underwriting Trump’s 2024 re-election effort and, for a time, regularly showed up at the president’s side in the White House Oval Office and elsewhere. Their disagreement over the spending bill led to a falling out that Musk briefly tried unsuccessfully to repair.

    Trump has said Musk is unhappy because the measure, which Trump signed into law on Friday, takes away green-energy credits for Tesla’s electric vehicles. The president has threatened to pull billions of dollars Tesla and SpaceX receive in government contracts and subsidies in response to Musk’s criticism.

    NASA APPOINTMENT ‘INAPPROPRIATE’

    Trump in his social media comments also said it was “inappropriate” to have named Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator considering Musk’s business with the space agency. In December Trump named Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut, to lead NASA but withdrew the nomination on May 31, before his Senate confirmation vote and without explanation.

    Trump, who has yet to announce a new NASA nominee, on Sunday confirmed media reports he disapproved of Isaacman’s previous support for Democratic politicians.

    “I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life,” Trump said on Truth Social. “My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”

    Musk’s announcement of a new party immediately brought a rebuke from Azoria Partners, which said on Saturday it will postpone the listing of its Azoria Tesla Convexity exchange-traded fund because the party’s creation posed “a conflict with his full-time responsibilities as CEO.” Azoria was set to launch the Tesla ETF this week.

    Azoria CEO James Fishback posted on X several critical comments about the new party and reiterated his support for Trump.

    “I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO,” Fishback said.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump calls Musk’s formation of new party ‘ridiculous’ and criticizes his own NASA pick

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump on Sunday called Elon Musk’s plans to form a new political party “ridiculous,” launching new barbs at the tech billionaire and saying the Musk ally he once named to lead NASA would have presented a conflict of interest given Musk’s business interests in space.

    A day after Musk escalated his feud with Trump and announced the formation of a new U.S. political party, the Republican president was asked about it before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, as he returned to Washington upon visiting his nearby golf club.

    “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion,” Trump told reporters.

    “It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

    Shortly after speaking about Musk, Trump posted further comments on his Truth Social platform, saying, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”

    Musk announced on Saturday that he is establishing the “America Party” in response to Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill, which Musk said would bankrupt the country.

    “What the heck was the point of @DOGE if he’s just going to increase the debt by $5 trillion??” Musk wrote on X on Sunday, referring to the government downsizing agency he briefly led. Critics have said the bill will damage the U.S. economy by significantly adding to the federal budget deficit.

    Musk said his new party would in next year’s midterm elections look to unseat Republican lawmakers in Congress who backed the sweeping measure known as the “big, beautiful bill.”

    Musk spent millions of dollars underwriting Trump’s 2024 re-election effort and, for a time, regularly showed up at the president’s side in the White House Oval Office and elsewhere. Their disagreement over the spending bill led to a falling out that Musk briefly tried unsuccessfully to repair.

    Trump has said Musk is unhappy because the measure, which Trump signed into law on Friday, takes away green-energy credits for Tesla’s electric vehicles. The president has threatened to pull billions of dollars Tesla and SpaceX receive in government contracts and subsidies in response to Musk’s criticism.

    NASA APPOINTMENT ‘INAPPROPRIATE’

    Trump in his social media comments also said it was “inappropriate” to have named Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator considering Musk’s business with the space agency. In December Trump named Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut, to lead NASA but withdrew the nomination on May 31, before his Senate confirmation vote and without explanation.

    Trump, who has yet to announce a new NASA nominee, on Sunday confirmed media reports he disapproved of Isaacman’s previous support for Democratic politicians.

    “I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life,” Trump said on Truth Social. “My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”

    Musk’s announcement of a new party immediately brought a rebuke from Azoria Partners, which said on Saturday it will postpone the listing of its Azoria Tesla Convexity exchange-traded fund because the party’s creation posed “a conflict with his full-time responsibilities as CEO.” Azoria was set to launch the Tesla ETF this week.

    Azoria CEO James Fishback posted on X several critical comments about the new party and reiterated his support for Trump.

    “I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO,” Fishback said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Employment – First-ever strike at Pharmac – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Health economists, Māori health experts, and medical practitioners who are members of the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi at Pharmac will strike this week, the first-ever at the agency, after their employer proposed an unacceptable pay offer and an extensive clawback of conditions.
    The strike will involve walking off the job on Wednesday 9 July at 10:30am for one hour.
    “The team at Pharmac, like many other Government agencies, are constantly being asked to deliver more with less,” PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons says.
    “Pharmac does essential work getting life-saving medicines to New Zealanders. Workers and their families deserve a fair pay increase and decent conditions of work, not this terrible pay offer and a reduction in their conditions of work.”
    The PSA initiated bargaining over a year ago in June 2024, but Pharmac did not bargain until October.
    At the bargaining, Pharmac management proposed a number of reductions in terms and conditions of employment, including a service eligibility for step pay progression and only making redundancy available to permanent staff, as well as a pay offer of just 0.2 per cent.
    In June this year, the PSA proposed mediation after Pharmac proposed to remove members’ step pay system.
    In mediation, Pharmac proposed a number of new reductions in terms and conditions. Most notably, it proposed a reduction in the size of step pay increases in exchange for a one-off ‘buyout’ of the step increase employees would have otherwise received this year.
    “The public servants at Pharmac care deeply about serving New Zealanders. All they ask in return is the right pay and conditions so that they can do their jobs effectively,” Fitzsimons says.
    Pharmac staff will be picketing outside their office at 40 Mercer Street from 10:30am-11:30am during the industrial action.
    The parties are attending mediation with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment on 16 and 17 July 2025.
    Other PSA statements on Pharmac:
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Already short-staffed Wellington Hospital gynaecology ward losing beds – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    The Wellington Hospital gynaecology ward that is losing beds to its Emergency Department in a trial, was already short-staffed more than a quarter of all shifts, figures obtained by NZNO show.
    It has been revealed that Wellington Hospital is cutting beds from its maternity and gynaecology wards in a trial designed to make more room for patients from its overcrowded Emergency Department (ED).
    The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has obtained figures under the Official Information Act showing safe staffing levels identified by the Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM) programme from January to October last year.
    NZNO delegate Michelle Cotton says the figures show the gynaecology ward was already short staffed 27% of all shifts.
    “That means there are not enough nurses already for more than a quarter of all shifts.
    “NZNO is concerned this trail is aimed at meeting the Coalition Government’s arbitrary and unfunded six-hour wait time target for EDs,” she says.
    “This trial is starting after the only gynaecological oncologist at Wellington Hospital retired and wasn’t replaced. This is partly the cause of empty beds because those women are being treated in Christchurch.
    “The trial requires the ante and postnatal services to be reduced from three pods to two. There will be less options for partners to stay and more women will be required to share rooms.
    “This trail is putting the health care of women and their newborn babies at risk. They deserve better at this crucial time in their lives,” Michelle Cotton says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Typhoon Danas lashes southern Taiwan with record winds, injuring hundreds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Typhoon Danas lashed southern Taiwan with record winds and strong rain early on Monday, killing two people and injuring more than 330 in a rare hit to the island’s densely populated west coast, where businesses and schools were shut.

    Taiwan is regularly struck by typhoons but they generally land along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific.

    Typhoon Danas, at one point listed by Taiwan’s weather authority at the second-strongest level, headed northerly towards the Taiwan Strait after making landfall along its southwestern coast late on Sunday.

    It has greatly weakened since and was forecast to hit eastern China later this week.

    “The typhoon track is rare… the whole of Taiwan will be affected by the wind and rain one after another,” President Lai Ching-te said in a post on Facebook, urging citizens to make preparations.

    Power to more than half a million homes was cut and over 300 domestic and international flights were cancelled, government data showed. The north-south high-speed rail line scaled back services.

    The National Fire Agency said one person was killed by a falling tree while driving and another died after their respirator malfunctioned due to a power cut.

    Record winds of around 220 kilometres per hour were recorded in the southwestern county of Yunlin, while more than 700 trees and street signs were blown over across western cities and towns, government data showed.

    There was no major report of damage in the Tainan Science Park that houses tech giants such as TSMC 2330.TW.

    (Reuters)

  • Typhoon Danas lashes southern Taiwan with record winds, injuring hundreds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Typhoon Danas lashed southern Taiwan with record winds and strong rain early on Monday, killing two people and injuring more than 330 in a rare hit to the island’s densely populated west coast, where businesses and schools were shut.

    Taiwan is regularly struck by typhoons but they generally land along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific.

    Typhoon Danas, at one point listed by Taiwan’s weather authority at the second-strongest level, headed northerly towards the Taiwan Strait after making landfall along its southwestern coast late on Sunday.

    It has greatly weakened since and was forecast to hit eastern China later this week.

    “The typhoon track is rare… the whole of Taiwan will be affected by the wind and rain one after another,” President Lai Ching-te said in a post on Facebook, urging citizens to make preparations.

    Power to more than half a million homes was cut and over 300 domestic and international flights were cancelled, government data showed. The north-south high-speed rail line scaled back services.

    The National Fire Agency said one person was killed by a falling tree while driving and another died after their respirator malfunctioned due to a power cut.

    Record winds of around 220 kilometres per hour were recorded in the southwestern county of Yunlin, while more than 700 trees and street signs were blown over across western cities and towns, government data showed.

    There was no major report of damage in the Tainan Science Park that houses tech giants such as TSMC 2330.TW.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Albanese Government Must Act, CSIRO Research Fuels Calls for Deep Sea Mining Moratorium

    Source: Deep Sea Mining Campaign

    As the peak international body on deep sea mining begins a three-week meeting, CSIRO has released a series of reports commissioned by mining proponent The Metals Company (TMC) that underscore the severe environmental risks and scientific uncertainty surrounding the dangerous industry.

    The findings confirm international consensus; the deep ocean is too poorly understood to proceed with deep sea mining safely or responsibly, prompting major environmental organisations to call on the Albanese Government to support a moratorium.

    The timing of the CSIRO reports appears to align with what was, until recently, TMC’s plan to submit an application to the ISA on June 27 – plans the company has now abandoned in favour of a controversial U.S. based pathway via a dormant 1980s law and enabled by the Trump administration. 

    Pressure is mounting on the Albanese Government to adopt a precautionary stance supporting a moratorium at the ISA in line with many of its major partners, including the UK, Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand. Currently, 37 countries back a deep sea mining moratorium.

    TMC continues to apply pressure on international regulators to accelerate approvals for this high-risk untested industry. With a state-funded agency producing research likely to be used to legitimise mining in international waters, ocean advocates are calling on the Albanese Government to direct CSIRO to take no further actions on behalf of TMC. 

    The CSIRO reports confirm the likely damage to the seafloor and to the marine environment that civil society, Indigenous Pacific communities, and independent scientists have warned about; deep sea mining is too destructive and there is too much uncertainty to proceed. 

    “These findings echo the concerns we’ve heard right across the Pacific region – that the deep ocean is a highly complex, precious environment, and that accelerating deep sea mining would be dangerous,” said Phil McCabe, Pacific Regional Coordinator at the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

    There remains a severe lack of real-world data about deep sea ecosystems – particularly in relation to the long-term environmental impacts and the risk of toxic pollution entering the food chain. Scientists warn that many of these impacts are likely to be irreversible in human timeframes. The CSIRO reports acknowledge the potential for heavy metals to bioaccumulate in marine life, including tuna, swordfish, whales, and dolphins. 

    “We’ve seen this before; traffic light systems, digital twin technology, adaptive management systems – all designed to give the illusion of sustainable management,” said Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, Research Coordinator at the Deep Sea Mining Campaign. “When the science is this uncertain, the only responsible signal is red.”

    TMC’s recent decision to abandon its application to the ISA and instead issue permits through a dormant U.S. law has been widely condemned by governments and legal experts as a direct challenge to international law and multilateralism. The move undermines the ISA’s authority just as states prepare to negotiate key regulations. 

    “Australia’s credibility is on the line,” said Duncan Currie, International Lawyer and advisor to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. “CSIRO’s involvement with The Metals Company (TMC) risks implicating Australia in their attempt to sidestep international governance. The Albanese Government must now draw a clear line; support a moratorium at the International Seabed Authority, and ensure CSIRO takes no further action on TMC’s behalf.”

    “At the ISA, a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining is the only viable path to protecting the deep sea,” said Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. “Delegates at the ISA must listen to the science and the voices of Pacific nations and back a moratorium to stop deep sea mining before it starts.”

    The Deep Sea Mining Campaign, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, and Surfrider Australia call on the Albanese Government to announce its support for a Moratorium at the upcoming ISA meeting in Jamaica; and direct CSIRO to take no further actions on behalf of TMC.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • Israel attacks Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and power plant

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel has attacked Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, the Israeli military said early on Monday, marking the first Israeli attack on Yemen in almost a month.

    The strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, and Ras Qantib power plant were due to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, the military added.

    Hours after the strikes, the Israeli military said two missiles were launched from Yemen and attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of interception were still under review.

    The Israeli ambulance service said it had not received any calls regarding missile impacts or casualties following the launches from Yemen.

    Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade, in what it says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

    Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired toward Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.

    Israel also attacked Galaxy Leader ship in Ras Isa port, which was seized by Houthis in late 2023, the military added on Monday.

    “The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities,” the military said.

    The Houthi military spokesperson said following the attacks that Houthis’ air defences confronted the Israeli attack ‘by using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles’.

    Residents told Reuters that the Israeli strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah put the main power station out of service, leaving the city in darkness.

    There were no immediate reports of casualties.

    Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Israel launched a series of strikes on Hodeidah, shortly after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for people at the three Yemeni ports.

    The assault comes hours after a ship was attacked off of Hodeidah and the ship’s crew abandoned it as it took on water.

    No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but security firm Ambrey said the vessel fits the typical profile of a Houthi target.

    Israel has severely hurt other allies of Iran in the region – Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

    The Tehran-backed Houthis and pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq are still standing.

    The group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, created the force challenging world powers from a group of ragtag mountain fighters in sandals.

    Under the direction of al-Houthi, the group has grown into an army of tens of thousands of fighters and acquired armed drones and ballistic missiles. Saudi Arabia and the West say the arms come from Iran, though Tehran denies this.

    (Reuters)