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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB and ULMA Group sign €45 million loan to support innovation and sustainability in the construction value chain

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The loan will boost investment by ULMA Group in new solutions to cut consumption and recycle materials, upgrade its facilities, and increase its energy efficiency.
    • It will also go towards building a new plant to develop advanced technologies for the production of materials.
    • The financing agreement supports the EIB’s strategic priorities for innovation and climate action, and its affordable and sustainable housing initiative.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and ULMA Group have signed a €45 million loan to finance the company’s innovation and sustainability activities. ULMA Group is a Spanish industrial cooperative group based in the Basque Country, with a strong international presence. Among its nine business lines, the manufacture of equipment, innovative materials and other solutions for the construction sector stands out.

    The EIB loan will finance the Group’s investments in advanced manufacturing technologies for its construction business line and polymer concrete architectural solutions. It will also help provide the investment needed for the construction of a plant to produce new, sustainable building materials. In addition, the EIB will support ULMA Group as it improves its energy efficiency, furthering its decarbonisation and sustainability strategy. The investments will be made in ULMA operations in the autonomous community of the Basque Country.

    Antonio Lorenzo, Head of Corporate Lending in the EIB for Spain and Portugal, said: “With this operation, the EIB is supporting the EU construction industry, contributing to its sustainability, innovation and competitiveness. Supporting this industry is also a key part of the Bank’s commitment to adopting innovative materials and technologies in construction, to increase access to affordable and sustainable housing for all Europeans.”

    The financing agreement supports innovation, climate action and environmental sustainability, and social infrastructure in the European Union, which are three of the eight core priorities set out in the EIB Group 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap. Social infrastructure is being supported by the ULMA deal’s contribution to the EIB’s affordable and sustainable housing initiative.

    General Manager of ULMA Group Iñaki Gabilondo said: “This agreement will allow us to pursue innovative sustainability projects in the construction sector, with a clear positive impact for people and the world we live in. It bolsters our strong commitment to creating a more efficient, responsible and forward-looking industrial model. In addition, having the support of a prestigious organisation like the EIB is clear recognition of the value and robustness of this social business endeavour.”

    Background information

    European Investment Bank

    The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. Operating around eight core priorities, it finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Agreement, as pledged in its Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects that contribute directly to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed new financing worth €12.3 billion for over 100 high-impact projects in 2024, contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    ULMA Group

    ULMA Group is made up of nine industrial cooperatives that employ 5 747 people and operate across 81 countries. With a total sales volume of €1.15 billion in 2024, ULMA Group is an illustration of success in the Basque cooperative movement.

    Since it was founded, it has been able to continuously grow and diversify its business lines and activities, as a social business project that works for the betterment of its surroundings.

    The nine companies that make up ULMA are exemplary operators in diverse industrial sectors, providing solutions for construction, packaging machinery, smart warehousing, forging, prefabricated systems for drainage and architecture, rollers for conveyor belts, maintenance services, greenhouse manufacturing and embedded electronics. The latest innovation out of ULMA Group applies artificial intelligence in the healthcare field for early detection of certain diseases.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB and ULMA Group sign €45 million loan to support innovation and sustainability in the construction value chain

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The loan will boost investment by ULMA Group in new solutions to cut consumption and recycle materials, upgrade its facilities, and increase its energy efficiency.
    • It will also go towards building a new plant to develop advanced technologies for the production of materials.
    • The financing agreement supports the EIB’s strategic priorities for innovation and climate action, and its affordable and sustainable housing initiative.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and ULMA Group have signed a €45 million loan to finance the company’s innovation and sustainability activities. ULMA Group is a Spanish industrial cooperative group based in the Basque Country, with a strong international presence. Among its nine business lines, the manufacture of equipment, innovative materials and other solutions for the construction sector stands out.

    The EIB loan will finance the Group’s investments in advanced manufacturing technologies for its construction business line and polymer concrete architectural solutions. It will also help provide the investment needed for the construction of a plant to produce new, sustainable building materials. In addition, the EIB will support ULMA Group as it improves its energy efficiency, furthering its decarbonisation and sustainability strategy. The investments will be made in ULMA operations in the autonomous community of the Basque Country.

    Antonio Lorenzo, Head of Corporate Lending in the EIB for Spain and Portugal, said: “With this operation, the EIB is supporting the EU construction industry, contributing to its sustainability, innovation and competitiveness. Supporting this industry is also a key part of the Bank’s commitment to adopting innovative materials and technologies in construction, to increase access to affordable and sustainable housing for all Europeans.”

    The financing agreement supports innovation, climate action and environmental sustainability, and social infrastructure in the European Union, which are three of the eight core priorities set out in the EIB Group 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap. Social infrastructure is being supported by the ULMA deal’s contribution to the EIB’s affordable and sustainable housing initiative.

    General Manager of ULMA Group Iñaki Gabilondo said: “This agreement will allow us to pursue innovative sustainability projects in the construction sector, with a clear positive impact for people and the world we live in. It bolsters our strong commitment to creating a more efficient, responsible and forward-looking industrial model. In addition, having the support of a prestigious organisation like the EIB is clear recognition of the value and robustness of this social business endeavour.”

    Background information

    European Investment Bank

    The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. Operating around eight core priorities, it finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Agreement, as pledged in its Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects that contribute directly to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed new financing worth €12.3 billion for over 100 high-impact projects in 2024, contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    ULMA Group

    ULMA Group is made up of nine industrial cooperatives that employ 5 747 people and operate across 81 countries. With a total sales volume of €1.15 billion in 2024, ULMA Group is an illustration of success in the Basque cooperative movement.

    Since it was founded, it has been able to continuously grow and diversify its business lines and activities, as a social business project that works for the betterment of its surroundings.

    The nine companies that make up ULMA are exemplary operators in diverse industrial sectors, providing solutions for construction, packaging machinery, smart warehousing, forging, prefabricated systems for drainage and architecture, rollers for conveyor belts, maintenance services, greenhouse manufacturing and embedded electronics. The latest innovation out of ULMA Group applies artificial intelligence in the healthcare field for early detection of certain diseases.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Final draft agenda – Thursday, 10 July 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    80 Case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 July 2025, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 14:00 81 Arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 July 2025, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 14:00 82 Urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 July 2025, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 14:00 56 Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 as regards obligations of economic operators concerning battery due diligence policies
    Antonio Decaro (A10-0134/2025)      – Amendments; rejection Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 19:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 16:00 37 Future of the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector: leveraging research, boosting innovation and enhancing competitiveness
    Hildegard Bentele (A10-0123/2025)      – Amendments by the rapporteur, 71 MEPs at least; Alternative motions for resolutions Wednesday, 2 July 2025, 13:00 84 Tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions     – Motions for resolutions Monday, 7 July 2025, 19:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 19:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 20:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 16:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 4 July 2025, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 7 July 2025, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 as regards obligations of economic operators concerning battery due diligence policies – A10-0134/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Members present for the final vote

    Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Pascal Arimont, Bartosz Arłukowicz, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Anja Arndt, Thomas Bajada, Barbara Bonte, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Pascal Canfin, Laurent Castillo, Mohammed Chahim, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Antonio Decaro, Ondřej Dostál, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Andreas Glück, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Esther Herranz García, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Katri Kulmuni, Peter Liese, César Luena, Catarina Martins, Dolors Montserrat, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jacek Ozdoba, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Carola Rackete, Oliver Schenk, Jonas Sjöstedt, Sander Smit, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Beatrice Timgren, Flavio Tosi, Dimitris Tsiodras, Ana Vasconcelos, Aurelijus Veryga, Kristian Vigenin, Michal Wiezik, Anna Zalewska

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Li Andersson, Daniel Buda, Stefano Cavedagna, Susanna Ceccardi, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Geadis Geadi, Nicolás González Casares, Nora Junco García, Billy Kelleher, Seán Kelly, Norbert Lins, Victor Negrescu, Valentina Palmisano, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Elena Sancho Murillo, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Anna Stürgkh, Bruno Tobback, Laurence Trochu, Roberto Vannacci, Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Barry Cowen, Elisabeth Dieringer, Mélanie Disdier, Evin Incir, Liudas Mažylis, Aleksandar Nikolic, Volker Schnurrbusch, Petra Steger, Matej Tonin, Ivaylo Valchev, Lucia Yar

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 as regards obligations of economic operators concerning battery due diligence policies – A10-0134/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Members present for the final vote

    Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Pascal Arimont, Bartosz Arłukowicz, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Anja Arndt, Thomas Bajada, Barbara Bonte, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Pascal Canfin, Laurent Castillo, Mohammed Chahim, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Antonio Decaro, Ondřej Dostál, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Andreas Glück, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Esther Herranz García, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Katri Kulmuni, Peter Liese, César Luena, Catarina Martins, Dolors Montserrat, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jacek Ozdoba, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Carola Rackete, Oliver Schenk, Jonas Sjöstedt, Sander Smit, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Beatrice Timgren, Flavio Tosi, Dimitris Tsiodras, Ana Vasconcelos, Aurelijus Veryga, Kristian Vigenin, Michal Wiezik, Anna Zalewska

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Li Andersson, Daniel Buda, Stefano Cavedagna, Susanna Ceccardi, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Geadis Geadi, Nicolás González Casares, Nora Junco García, Billy Kelleher, Seán Kelly, Norbert Lins, Victor Negrescu, Valentina Palmisano, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Elena Sancho Murillo, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Anna Stürgkh, Bruno Tobback, Laurence Trochu, Roberto Vannacci, Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Barry Cowen, Elisabeth Dieringer, Mélanie Disdier, Evin Incir, Liudas Mažylis, Aleksandar Nikolic, Volker Schnurrbusch, Petra Steger, Matej Tonin, Ivaylo Valchev, Lucia Yar

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 4, 2025
  • Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.

    Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.

    Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”

    “Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.

    “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.

    Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.

    Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.

    Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.

    Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.

    Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.

    CALL FOR SANCTIONS

    Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.

    A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

    On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.

    “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.

    SHELTERED

    Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.

    Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.

    Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.

    Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.

    Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”

    “Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.

    “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.

    Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.

    Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.

    Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.

    Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.

    Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.

    CALL FOR SANCTIONS

    Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.

    A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

    On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.

    “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.

    SHELTERED

    Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.

    Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.

    Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.

    Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.

    Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”

    “Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.

    “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.

    Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.

    Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.

    Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.

    Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.

    Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.

    CALL FOR SANCTIONS

    Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.

    A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

    On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.

    “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.

    SHELTERED

    Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.

    Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.

    Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.

    Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.

    Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”

    “Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.

    “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.

    Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.

    Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.

    Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.

    Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.

    Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.

    CALL FOR SANCTIONS

    Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.

    A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

    On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.

    “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.

    SHELTERED

    Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.

    Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.

    Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.

    Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.

    Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”

    “Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.

    “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.

    Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.

    Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.

    Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.

    Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.

    Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.

    CALL FOR SANCTIONS

    Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.

    A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

    On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.

    “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.

    SHELTERED

    Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.

    Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.

    Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.

    Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Austrian State Visit an opportunity to strengthen relations

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The State Visit to South Africa by Austria President Alexander van der Bellen and his delegation presents an opportunity for the two countries to deepen trade and investment relations.

    This according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who welcomed the delegation at the Union Buildings on Friday morning.

    In his opening remarks, President Ramaphosa described the visit as a “new chapter in relations”.

    “Through the bilateral consultations we have maintained cordial relations rooted in mutual respect, shared values and a common commitment to multilateralism. We are also committed to deepening investment and trade between our two countries.

    “South Africa is Austria’s largest economic and trade partner in Africa. Our country accounts for almost a third of Austria’s total exports to the continent. There are more than 70 Austrian companies with subsidiaries or agencies in South Africa across a range of sectors.

    “There is significant potential to deepen investment and trade links in areas such as the green economy, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure development and tourism,” President Ramaphosa said.

    He highlighted the two countries’ commitment to a transition towards low carbon climate economies – noting the European country’s move towards green hydrogen which South Africa is also pursuing.

    “As South Africa strives to achieve energy security through investment in renewable and clean energy, we look forward to expanding our cooperation with Austria.

    “We noted with interest the launch of Austria’s first green hydrogen production facility in 2023. We are eager to share our Green Hydrogen Economy Strategy and explore avenues for cooperation,” he said.

    The global environment

    President Ramaphosa noted that the state visit takes place at a time of “heightened global insecurity, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, the climate emergency and conflicts in many parts of the world”.

    “These events reinforce the need for multilateralism to remain at the centre of world affairs. They further underscore the need for the urgent reform of the institutions of global governance, including the United Nations Security Council.

    “South Africa and Austria share a common commitment to a world free of conflict and war, where sustainable development is a reality for all,” he said.

    The President reflected on South Africa’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.

    “It reflects our commitment to advancing the African Agenda, multilateral cooperation and the interests of all countries and peoples.

    “Austria is a valued partner of South Africa and we look forward to taking this partnership to even greater heights,” President Ramaphosa concluded.

    The state visit will culminate in the South Africa-Austria Business Forum to be held later on Fridaya. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Banking: Deaf people can now feel music as future of innovation unveiled at Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition

    Source: Samsung

     
    LONDON, UK – 4 July – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the winners of its fifth annual Solve for Tomorrow competition, which aims to uncover the most promising tech inventions from young people by asking 16-25 year olds to come up with ideas that help solve societal challenges.
     
    The ideas showcased the passion young people have for future innovation and their drive to design a better world – exploring how technology can solve the issues they care about while tackling broader societal challenges. Nottingham based Eseose Okotako (23) of team Athena was announced as the winner in the 18-25 category with their impressive idea, a haptic collar that syncs with any audio to translate music into tailored vibrations, allowing deaf users to feel melody, rhythm and emotion.
     
    Meanwhile, in the 16-18 category, Manchester based trio Daniel Aju (18), Harris Asif (18) and Nahom Ghirmay (18) of team Sanoband were announced in first place following their idea of a device that aims to help individuals with alcohol addiction by detecting cravings early, preventing relapse and supporting long-term recovery.
     
    This year marked the first time the competition shortlisted 100 young people for workshops and mentoring stage, an increase from 24 to 49 teams in total, nearly doubling the number of participants. Samsung also supported every shortlisted young person with Samsung products.
     
    Entries this year ranged from an assistive glove that replaces the lost dexterity within people with immobile hands, to an AI-driven breast health app that syncs with wearables to guide self-exams, track changes, and generate clinician-ready reports. An app, designed by team HeartAware that uses an AI-powered tool on your phone to detect heart risks, also received critical acclaim from the judges.
     
    On top of this, team Zera, who designed a thermoelectric device to ease menopausal symptoms also won the People’s Choice Award – the best of the finalist submissions, which was voted on by over 2,000 people on Samsung’s social channels.
     
    The 100 were shortlisted by a panel of Samsung experts and tech-for-good founders who reviewed submissions from 508 eligible applicants across the country, 49 teams took part in a programme of design thinking, market research and a newly introduced physical and digital prototyping workshop. Throughout the process, they also received mentoring, support and guidance from Samsung colleagues to help bring their ideas to life.
     
    The programme follows statistics released that show nearly two-thirds (60%) of young people across the UK are considering a career in technology. Yet, 96% of respondents believe there are barriers to entering the industry and 65% feel their personal background impacts their ability to harness their creativity through tech.[1] The Solve for Tomorrow programme exists to prove that young people from all walks of life can come up with ideas that can make a difference in the world through the use of technology.
     
    The existing partnerships between Samsung UK and organisations such as InnovateHer and the Social Mobility Foundation are essential to this mission, helping to reach and support young people who aren’t currently in education, employment or training.
     
    The shortlisted ten teams were invited to Samsung’s head offices to showcase their ideas and formally pitch to a panel of Samsung experts and tech entrepreneurs. This was followed by the annual Solve for Tomorrow awards ceremony, where the winners were crowned.
     
    Speaking about this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition, Soohyun Jessie Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics UK, said: “Solve for Tomorrow continues to empower young people to reflect on what truly matters to them whilst simultaneously channelling these passions into tangible action. It’s phenomenal to witness what young people are capable of even within the space of four months on the programme. Their commitment and passion is an inspiration and we’re so excited to support Eseose and team Sanoband to bring their ideas closer to the communities they care about.”
     
    Eseose from team Athena, said: “It was an amazing experience being a part of this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. You don’t need qualifications or a team to enter – just a great idea! The experience has been incredibly valuable and helped with my confidence, and I strongly encourage anyone who is interested to give it a go. I’m glad I did!”
     
    More details on how to enter the next Solve for Tomorrow competition will be announced later this year.
     
    For more information on Solve for Tomorrow visit: https://www.samsung.com/uk/solvefortomorrow/
     
     
    [1] Consumer research was commissioned to 1,000 UK teenagers aged 13-19 between the 4th and 10th October 2024 by OnePoll. Onepoll are members of ESOMAR and comply with the ESOMAR guidelines for online research.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Millions of leaseholders backed with strengthened rights

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Millions of leaseholders backed with strengthened rights

    Leaseholders to be better protected and more able to challenge excessive service charges to address cost of living concerns

     Millions of leaseholders will receive stronger rights, powers and protections to better challenge extortionate service charges thanks to major reforms to the feudal leasehold system.

    Leaseholders are required to pay a service charge to cover the upkeep of shared areas in their building, however in too many cases they are left facing very unclear and unaffordable fees. 

    By switching on measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, almost five million leaseholders in England and Wales will receive the transparency they need to hold their landlords to account and easily challenge these costs. 

    Leaseholders will receive standardised service charge documentation, which will spell out clear and detailed information about how their service charges are calculated and spent. 

    This will make it easier for them to challenge unreasonable bills and potentially save money where expenses are unjustified, with further reforms to stop them having to automatically pay for landlords’ litigation costs even where they have won their case.

    Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said:

    “The cost of living remains a pressing concern for leaseholders and many are struggling financially as a result of high and rising service charges, and other opaque and excessive leasehold costs. 

    “This bold package of reforms will arm leaseholders with greater rights and protections and empower them to challenge poor practice and unreasonable charges and fees – driving up leaseholder living standards as we work to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end as part of our Plan for Change.” 

    Demands for service charges are currently only required by law to include a limited amount of details, which can leave leaseholders in the dark over what services or works make up their bill.

    This can leave leaseholders at risk of being overcharged for poor quality work, or out of pocket for work that has not been carried out in some of the worst cases, on top of existing cost of living pressures.

    The government is today (Friday) pushing ahead to implement these reforms and is consulting over the best way forward to ensure they are robust, workable and protect leaseholders effectively. 

    Queries about service charges accounted for one in three of all enquiries to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) last year, showing the need for the government to act and drive-up transparency.  

    Further reforms – in addition to measures in the Act – will see the Section 20 ‘major works’ process improved to ensure leaseholders are not hit by one-off, unexpected and very large bills with little or no notice as is the case currently. LEASE will shortly be publishing an insight report into the challenges currently experienced by leaseholders going through this process.  

    Other measures will give leaseholders the power to demand a switch or veto a landlord’s choice of managing agent and introduce mandatory qualifications for the role to stamp out bad practice in line with Lord Best’s 2019 recommendations. This reform will ensure all managing agents have the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs effectively, and put an end to leaseholders and residential freeholders suffering abuse and poor service.

    These reforms will help drive up living standards in our Plan for Change and complement work to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end and make commonhold the default for new flats, ahead of publication of a draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill later this year.   

    Key points being consulted on:    

    • Better service charge transparency, including new standardised service charge demand forms, annual reports, service charge accounts and administration charges   
    • Improving buildings insurance transparency, including what information should be provided to leaseholders, so they have assurance they are getting fair value and are better able to challenge any unreasonable insurance charges   
    • Rebalancing the litigation costs regime and removing barriers for leaseholders to challenge their landlord   
    • Reforming the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works   
    • Considering the case for greater protections for leaseholders paying fixed service charges, protections for client money, or improvements to the process for appointing a manager in cases of serious management failure   
    • Opportunities to encourage the provision of information and services digitally to be more accessible and reduce costs, but also ensuring safeguards so that all leaseholders receive the information they need   
    • Introducing mandatory qualifications for managing agents to ensure that all agents have the knowledge and skills they need to provide a good service for leaseholders.

    Notes to editors:   

    • The consultation can be found here: Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services: consultation – GOV.UK
    • In 2023-24, leaseholders paid an average service charge of £1,720 per annum for the maintenance of the building and communal areas in addition to their other property costs such as mortgage and utilities. This is the equivalent to an average weekly amount of £33 (EHS, 2023-24)      
    • Queries about service charges account for 1 in 3 of all enquiries (10,319 out of 34,517) to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE, 2024)    
    • The Financial Conduct Authority found an average increase of 125% in insurance charges in blocks of flats between 2016 and 2021. (FCA, 2022)

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    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local schools achieve ‘School of Sanctuary’ status

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Head of KS4 and Assistant Headteacher, Millbay Academy with Councillor Sally Cresswell

    Two local schools have been recognised nationally for their efforts to create a culture of welcome and belonging for children from families seeking asylum and refuge in Plymouth.  

    Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are the first schools in the city to gain the national School of Sanctuary accreditation.  

    In each school pupils, parents, staff and governors have worked together, supported by the Plymouth Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Team at the council to create caring communities in which children learn positive messages about equality and diversity.  

    This week, at the EMA Team Hub, hosted by Plymouth Teacher and Schools Alliance, Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, presented certificates to the two successful schools, and other schools keen to gain this award, joined the celebration.  

    She said: “We are working hard to make Plymouth a welcoming city, and it is great to see how our schools are going even further by achieving this excellent recognition of Schools of Sanctuary.    

    “We are really keen to encourage more of our schools to get involved.  This acknowledgement and presentation will hopefully create even more interest and awareness.  We know our schools do so much in this area, and this is the opportunity to celebrate that work.  Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are true pioneers. 

    Headteacher and Deputy, Mount Street Primary School with Councillor Sally Cresswell

    “It is important that schools provide the very best learning opportunities for the children while they settle in – this is why the council are working with the Schools of Sanctuary to guide schools through the whole process towards accreditation.  

    “I would like to say a huge congratulations to the schools for achieving this award, and for all their hard work.” 

    Matthew Bisco, Senior Deputy Head at Millbay Academy, said: “Millbay Academy are incredibly proud to be recognised for our continuous work in this area.  

    “The School of Sanctuary values are those we live and breathe. I hope that this accreditation gives further confidence to our city’s refugee, asylum seeker and migrant families, demonstrating our commitment to them, and recognising the gift of having such a rich and diverse set of lived experiences within our community.  

    “Congratulations and full gratitude to all the staff, students and parents who are so committed and learn so much from this work together.”

    The Headteacher from Mount Street Primary added: “We are delighted to be re-accredited as a School of Sanctuary. This recognition reflects the values we live by every day of inclusion, compassion and community. It’s a journey we began years ago and one we are committed to continuing.” 

    We hope that many more schools will engage with this project. You can learn more about the School of Sanctuary awards at: https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/    

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: 34 International Cargo Air Routes Link China’s Xinjiang to the Outside World

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — A cargo air route was launched on Thursday between Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Serbian city of Nis, served by Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air.

    Its Boeing 767-300F aircraft delivered 52.71 tons of goods to Serbia as part of cross-border e-commerce.

    According to the Zhongxinshe News Agency, citing a source in the Xinjiang Airport Group, eight new international cargo airlines were opened in January-June this year, linking Xinjiang with the outside world. The total number of international cargo air routes in Xinjiang has now reached 34. Thanks to this, Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has become a key aviation logistics hub connecting Xinjiang with Central Asia and Europe. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Jiamusi City to Speed Up Practical Cooperation Between Local Governments of China and Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — Jiamusi City in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province will speed up practical cooperation between local governments of China and Russia, Mayor Wang Te said during a meeting with a Russian delegation on Thursday.

    According to the website of the Heilongjiang Provincial Government, Wang Tie, on behalf of the Jiamusi City Government, warmly welcomed the Russian delegation. According to him, Jiamusi is currently actively implementing the important agreements between the heads of state of the two countries and actively serves the cause of “selling Chinese goods throughout Russia and buying Russian goods for all of China”, which provides important opportunities and ample space for strengthening cooperation between the two sides.

    He expressed the hope that the two sides would continue to strengthen exchanges between local governments, establish a mechanism for regular meetings with Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Sakhalin Oblast, Vladivostok, Kamchatka Krai and other regions, accelerate practical cooperation, expand the scope and introduce new models of cooperation, and make every effort to promote cooperation in broader areas and at a deeper level.

    The members of the Russian delegation unanimously stated that over the years, a number of fruitful works have been carried out jointly with Jiamusi in the fields of economy, culture, education, sports and tourism. They expressed hope that this meeting will become an opportunity to further deepen exchanges with Jiamusi, actively seek more joint projects, so as to give new strength and new impetus to the development of China-Russia relations.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Become part of the virtual museum of GUU graduates

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On July 4, on the day of the graduation of the students of the State University of Management, everyone can take a 3D photo for the SUM graduates museum.

    Special equipment is located on the 1st and 8th floors of the academic building.

    There are also themed photo zones on the main square and in the Information Technology Center, a red carpet awaits graduates near the dormitories, and refreshments can be obtained near the Sports Complex.

    The graduation program can be viewed here, as well as on a special TG channel.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ngāi Tukairangi staff advance Kiwifruit careers through EIT study

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

    11 hours ago

    Three staff members from Ngāi Tukairangi Trust are enhancing their careers in the kiwifruit industry by combining hands-on experience with academic study at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).

    Kevin Kooijman, Maria Edmonds and Janiva Singh (Ngāti Kahungunu) have each completed Level 3 of the Horticulture Apprenticeship Programme and are now working towards Level 4. Based at Ngāi Tukairangi’s Hawke’s Bay kiwifruit orchard, they say their study through

    Maria Edmonds (left), Janiva Singh and Kevin Kooijman are progressing through EIT’s Horticulture Apprenticeship Programme while working at Ngāi Tukairangi’s Hawke’s Bay orchard.

    EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus has given them the knowledge and confidence to grow in the industry.

    Maria joined Ngāi Tukairangi five years ago after almost a decade in the hospitality industry.

    “Horticulture gave me the mum-friendly hours hospitality couldn’t, and I also noticed there weren’t many women in management roles, especially outside of HR. I wanted to change that,” she said.

    Now a Vine Manager overseeing 60 hectares of kiwifruit, Maria praised EIT for adapting its pipfruit-based content to suit their needs.

    “They’ve let us do things from a kiwifruit perspective and even set up kiwifruit bays using plants we provided.”

    With more than a decade of experience in orcharding, Vine Supervisor Kevin was initially hesitant to return to study. But Kevin is now an advocate for upskilling, having discovered how much there still is to learn.

    “I used to think you had to be on the orchard to really learn. But I was surprised by how much I picked up through the course, especially the soil science. Learning the technical terms has made it easier to explain things to my team.”

    He plans to enrol in Level 5 next year and says classroom-based learning has worked well for him.

    “I’d recommend it to anyone, even if you’ve been in the industry 15 years. You don’t know everything. There’s always more to learn.”

    At 24, Janiva is the newest to horticulture of the three. She works as an orchardist at Ngāi Tukairangi and began studying at EIT soon after joining the team.

    “I had no experience with kiwifruit or horticulture. But the study answered a lot of the questions I had out in the field. It made everything click,” she said.

    She said the combination of practical and theoretical learning helped accelerate her understanding and allowed her to step into more responsibility.

    “I want to learn the orchard from the ground up, understand every role, and then work my way into management. That’s the goal.”

    The move into horticulture has also deepened her sense of cultural connection.

    “As a wahine Māori, I believe we have a role to protect our whenua and act as kaitiaki. Working in this industry has helped me live that value.

    It’s been both challenging and rewarding,” she said.

    All three credit their study at EIT and the support of their employer for helping them build skills and grow in confidence.

    “Before I started studying, there didn’t seem to be a lot of room for growth,” Maria said. “Now I know exactly what I need to do, and I’ve been able to take on more and more.”

    Their stories highlight the value of accessible training and supportive workplaces in developing talent across the horticulture sector.

    Ngāi Tukairangi Area Manager Liam Sykes said the EIT programme has been a valuable development pathway for their staff.

    An EIT graduate himself, Sykes said it helped spark his own passion for horticulture and is something he now encourages all staff to take up.

    “We’ve been avid users of the programme since entering the horticulture space in 2017. It gives a broad understanding of the industry, really good tools, and that extra bit of science to understand how we grow fruit,” he said.

    “It also gets their brains firing. It makes them question what we do on orchard, pose questions to our managers, and creates really good discussion points.”

    Liam said there is also a strong sense of achievement among staff, pointing to Kevin as a standout example.

    “Kevin got 100 per cent in one of his classes. He’s super proud of it, and we regularly use it as an example of our guys excelling.”

    Clare Buckner, Program Co-ordinator of the Fruit Production qualifications, says: “EIT is proud to partner with horticultural businesses like

    Ngāi Tukairangi, and we endeavour to have flexibility in our programs to meet industry needs”.

    “It is rewarding to see these efforts being appreciated. We have strong, individual relationships with all our ākonga and their managers, and feel genuinely supported and valued by this essential Hawkes Bay industry.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rays of Hope Forum: Hope for Africa and Beyond

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –

    Thanks to support from the IAEA initiative “Rays of Hope” Cancer patients around the world can now more easily receive the life-saving care they need, participants were told at the forum “Rays of Hope”.

    The Rays of Hope initiative aims to increase access to cancer care where it is needed most by helping low- and middle-income countries build and strengthen their capacity in medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Since its launch in Ethiopia three years ago, more than 90 countries have applied for support.

    “Cancer kills 2,000 people a day in Africa, making it the leading cause of death on the continent,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Monday at the opening of the forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “Three years ago, we launched the Rays of Hope initiative here at the African Union headquarters. Today, we are helping to bring cancer care to countries where it was previously unavailable.”

    Temesgen Tirune, Deputy Prime Minister, said: “This forum must be a signal to work together. Let it inspire us to strengthen cooperation, increase investment and continue to show solidarity – so that no child dies from curable cancer, no mother has to wait forever for a diagnosis and no country is left behind simply because of its geography or the size of its GDP.”

    The opening of the Rays of Hope forum was also addressed by Ethiopian Health Minister Mekdes Daba Feissa and African Union Chief of Staff Mohamed Al-Amin Suef.

    During the morning sessions, representatives of countries supported by the Rays of Hope initiative shared their experiences. Among them were: the Minister of Health of Benin Benjamin Hunkpatin, Minister of Scientific Research and Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, Minister of Health of Ethiopia Mekdes Daba Feissa, Minister of Health of Lesotho Selibe Mokhoboroane, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Senegal Ibrahima Say, Deputy Minister of Health of Botswana Lawrence Ookeditse and Principal Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Health Fredrick Uma Oluga.

    The importance of the Rays of Hope initiative was also underscored by the countries that have made contributions to it. The forum was addressed by the German Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union in Ethiopia Jens Hanefeld, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia Maurizio Busanelli, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the African Union Tsutomu Nakagawa and the First Counsellor of the French Embassy in Ethiopia and the African Union Julien Voiturier.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign diplomats explore trade opportunities in Chongqing’s Pengshui

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

    Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing welcomed a delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives from July 2 to 3, as part of an initiative to promote local industries and expand global cooperation.

    A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    The trip was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government and the Pengshui County Government. Nearly 70 representatives from consulates, international chambers, and media outlets across 11 countries—including Japan, Canada, Brazil, Myanmar, and Vietnam—took part in the visit.

    The delegation explored Pengshui’s growing potential in specialty agriculture, traditional Miao medicine, and cultural tourism.

    A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    At Shan’gan township’s “Miao Medicine Valley,” the delegation was introduced to locally grown wasabi—an uncommon crop in the region. Takada Mari, Consul-General of Japan in Chongqing, said that wasabi typically requires very specific conditions and said she had not expected it to grow successfully in Pengshui. She described the flavor as developing slowly with a natural taste, and noted that local production of wasabi, along with ongoing exchanges with Japanese businesses, could pave the way for deeper cooperation in trade, culture, and talent development.

    A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    The delegation also visited Pengshui’s sweet potato development center, an agricultural product exhibition hall, and rural revitalization demonstration areas. Many participants said that the opening of a high-speed rail line to Pengshui has greatly improved accessibility and opened new opportunities for collaboration.

    U Kyaw Zay Yar Lin, Consul-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, noted that Pengshui’s traditional attire and music reminded him of his own home country. He expressed strong interest in exploring trade possibilities for local specialty products such as Miao herbal medicine and sweet potatoes, emphasizing the cultural connection between ethnic communities in both countries.

    A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    Birgit Murr, head of the commercial section at the Austrian Consulate General in Chengdu, highlighted the high quality of Pengshui’s organic agricultural products, particularly those with national geographical indication status. She said such credentials could serve as a strong marketing point for expanding sales to other regions in China and into international markets.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Partners with Mastercard and Immersve to Introduce Zero-Fee Crypto Card

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet has teamed up with payments leader Mastercard and infrastructure provider Immersve to launch a new crypto-linked card that allows users to make payments directly from their digital wallets at the more than 150 million merchants that accept Mastercard globally. The product aims to drive ease of use and efficiency in the crypto card space.

    The card will be available through the Bitget Wallet app and supports real-time funding via onchain swaps and deposits. Leveraging Mastercard Digital First technology, users can apply for the card digitally and within minutes add it to their mobile wallets for use at both physical and online merchants.

    Powered by Immersve, a Mastercard-licensed issuer, transactions are settled onchain through crypto to fiat conversion while adhering to Mastercard’s regulatory framework, including KYC and AML requirements. The card will first be rolled out in the United Kingdom and European Union, with plans to expand to Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months.

    The launch comes amid continued interest in practical crypto applications and efforts by the payments ecosystem to connect blockchain-enabled solutions to the financial mainstream. Bitget Wallet, which reports over 80 million users globally, is positioning the card as a way to extend self-custodied assets into everyday commerce. The product also includes optional incentives such as transaction-based rewards, yield on idle balances in wallet, and one-time bonuses for completing identity verification.

    “Crypto payments should be as seamless and secure as traditional transactions. With this partnership, Bitget Wallet users can now pay with crypto anywhere Mastercard is accepted,” said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO at Bitget Wallet. “We’re seeing massive demand for real-world crypto utility, and this collaboration with Mastercard and Immersve provides the infrastructure to make that vision a reality.”

    “Digital wallets are quickly becoming as ubiquitous as email addresses. At Mastercard, we’re committed to working with innovative companies like Bitget Wallet and Immersve to make crypto transactions simple, secure, and accessible at scale,” said Scott Abrahams executive vice president, Global Partnerships at Mastercard. “This is a critical step in bringing digital assets closer to mainstream utility.”

    “Partnering with forward-thinking teams like Mastercard and Bitget Wallet is exactly how we scale real-world crypto use,” said Jerome Faury, CEO of Immersve. “We’re bridging the gap between Web3 and traditional finance, allowing users to spend crypto as easily as they spend fiat—on a global scale.”

    For more information on how Bitget Wallet is enabling seamless crypto payments, visit Bitget Wallet website web3.bitget.com and blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    About Immersve
    Immersve is a principal member of the Mastercard network. Its issuing-as-a-service platform supports both centralised and decentralised payment experiences. Exchanges, web3 wallets and DeFi protocols can easily integrate with Immersve’s APIs and smart contracts to transact anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Immersve is a registered Financial Services Provider. For more information on the APIs go to docs.immersve.com.

    Join our waitlist and Discord community for more information: https://discord.gg/HZZJjsBk

    About Mastercard www.mastercard.com
    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.

    Media Contacts:
    Mastercard Communications Contact: Biz.Cozine@mastercard.com
    Bitget Communications Contact: media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eca20f1d-d156-4594-a96b-dc99ee024060

    The MIL Network –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Chevron Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment to Africa as Diamond Sponsor of African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

    Source: APO

    Chevron’s return as a Diamond Sponsor at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 comes as the energy major deepens its footprint across Africa, marking a renewed commitment to unlocking long-term growth opportunities in both mature and emerging markets. Chevron is ramping up its activities across the continent – securing new acreage, expanding gas infrastructure and advancing exploration efforts in high-potential basins across the continent.  

    In Nigeria, Chevron’s plan to scale up oil exploration follows a recent discovery in the Niger Delta – the Meji NW-1 well. In February 2025, Chevron extended its contract with Shelf Drilling for the Scepter jack-up rig offshore Nigeria, ensuring continuity of drilling operations through mid-2026. In Equatorial Guinea (EG), Chevron has stakes in three fields and recently entered into two production-sharing contracts for the EG-06 and EG-11 blocks. Chevron is engaged in discussions to monetize gas from the Aseng field and to develop a transboundary field between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.  The company has also indicated it is considering drilling an exploration well in PEL 82 in Namibia’s offshore Walvis Basin in 2026 or 2027, activating its growing African exploration portfolio. 

    In Angola, Chevron has expanded its footprint with new deepwater concessions and the Sanha Lean Gas Connection Project, which achieved first gas in December 2024 and links gas fields in Blocks 0 and 14 to the Angola LNG plant – enhancing monetization of associated gas and strengthening energy security. In 2024, the company signed two Risk Service Contracts for Blocks 49 and 50 in ultra-deepwater acreage in Angola’s Lower Congo Basin, laying the foundation for future development. Chevron’s active participation in Angola LNG, which is set to undergo expansion to accommodate new gas supplies, and as partner of New Gas Consortium underscores its commitment to the country’s gas value chain. 

    Meanwhile, in Egypt Chevron remains excited about its exploration portfolio where it has 3 blocks — including operatorship of Nargis and North el Dabaa – and continues to look for new opportunities. Chevron recognizes that Algeria holds a world-class hydrocarbon system with the potential for significant oil and gas resources. Earlier this year Chevron signed a study agreement with Algeria’s national hydrocarbons agency, Alnaft to assess potential offshore hydrocarbon resources. This expansion supports Algeria’s broader objective of boosting foreign investment and developing new reserves to sustain its export-driven energy economy. 

    “Chevron’s commitment to Africa is more than just operational – it’s strategic. Their continued investment across Nigeria, Angola and now Algeria and Namibia shows real confidence in the future of African energy. As a Diamond Sponsor of AEW 2025, Chevron is not only driving upstream and gas development, but helping shape the dialogue around sustainability, infrastructure and long-term energy security for the continent,” said Tomás Gerbasio, Vice President of Commercial and Strategic Engagement at the African Energy Chamber.  

    The energy major’s presence at AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies in Cape Town – where it will headline as a Diamond Sponsor – reflects this dual focus on opportunity and responsibility. As delegates gather to shape the future of African energy, Chevron brings to the table a proven track record, fresh investment and a long-term view of Africa as a critical pillar in the global energy mix. 

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Berthing of world class container vessel demonstrates SA’s marine infrastructure prowess

    Source: Government of South Africa

    South Africa’s port landlord, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), has berthed one of the largest container vessels in the world, MSC Nicola Mastro, on her maiden voyage at its deepwater Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape this morning. 

    With capacity of 24 116 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit), 299 metres in width and 61 metres in beam, the historical berthing of this vessel demonstrates TNPA’s marine capabilities and fit-for-purpose port infrastructure designed to accommodate new-generation vessels. 

    This achievement solidifies TNPA’s status as a significant player in the global maritime industry.

    The successful berthing of MSC Nicola Mastro was made possible by a four-tug operation. These tugboats (tugs) have a bollard-pull of 60 to 70 tonnes, fully capable to handle larger vessels efficiently. 

    This special operation necessitated the ports authority to increase the number of tugs required for safe navigation in the port, from the standard two-tug operation to four. Tugboats are critical marine assets that enable the safe manoeuvring of vessels during pilotage operations. 

    “The arrival of this vessel on our shores brings to the fore the critical role SA ports should uphold in responding to the needs of the current global trade ecosystem. Our ability to dock one of the world’s largest container ships has the potential to transform shipping patterns. It positions the Port of Ngqura as the key container transhipment hub, within the global and Saharan Africa markets,” said Acting TNPA Chief Executive, Phyllis Difeto.

    The Port of Ngqura features depths ranging from 16 -18 meters and boasts deepwater berths, making it a major attraction for container traffic and transhipment opportunities.

    Nicola Mastro surpasses the size of previous vessels that have docked at the Port of Ngqura, which were limited to 366 meters in length. Her on-time berthing was skilfully managed by a marine crew of approximately 24 members, led by Marine Pilot Olwethu Mtsewu-Sisilana, alongside the marine crew in tug services, pilotage and berthing. Mtsewu-Sisilana is one of TNPA’s Marine Pilots with an open licence, allowing her to handle any size of vessel docking and sailing at the port. 

    Originally from Qanda village of eXesi in the rural Eastern Cape, Mtsewu-Sisilana began her maritime career in 2008 through a Transnet bursary and has recorded a major milestone in her career through this docking. 

    TNPA is gearing towards receiving more vessel call-ins of this calibre. The vessel is scheduled to depart on 5 July 2025, following the completion of the cargo operation at the container terminal.

    TNPA is responsible for the safe, effective and efficient economic functioning of the national ports system, which it manages in a landlord capacity. 

    It provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa — Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mossel Bay and Ngqura. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Indonesian Court Delivers Blow to South Sumatra Smoke Haze Victims and to Environmental Justice

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Palembang – July 4, 2025 – In a deeply disappointing decision, the Palembang District Court in Sumatra has rejected a lawsuit filed by dozens of smoke haze victims and a supporting intervention by Greenpeace Indonesia against three pulpwood plantation companies – PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries. The ruling is a setback in the fight for public health and a clean environment in South Sumatra.

    Haze victims staged a peaceful protest in front of the Palembang District Court, South Sumatra, Indonesia. © Abriansyah Liberto / Greenpeace

    The court’s decision to reject the lawsuit – apparently by finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue – disregards the community’s fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment. It also severely curtails the public’s ability to seek justice.[1] The lawsuit, brought by the victims, was a legitimate exercise of their constitutional and legal rights, aiming to achieve accountability for their suffering from the recurring forest and land fires enabled by peatland drainage carried out by the plantation companies.”

    The plaintiffs are members of the community who are clearly and directly impacted by the smoke haze resulting from peatland fires within the defendants’ concessions. They have endured both material and immaterial losses, and now they face this heartbreaking news,” said Belgis Habiba, Forest Campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia. “Furthermore, the intervening plaintiff, Greenpeace Indonesia, also has the established right to demand the restoration of the environment damaged by the defendants’ peatland drying activities. The court appears to have ignored witness and expert testimonies, previous cases on environmental standing to sue, as well as the undeniable fact that the dangers of peatland fires and smoke haze continue to loom over South Sumatra.”

    This ruling comes at a time of escalating peatland fire risks, with the South Sumatra Provincial Government having just declared an “Emergency Haze Alert” status. By dismissing this lawsuit, the panel of judges has ironically weakened the nation’s commitment to mitigating and tackling the annual fire and haze crisis.

    The plaintiffs’ legal team has announced they will thoroughly review the full ruling, which has yet to be published, and are considering an appeal. “We believe that the people of South Sumatra have an undeniable right to clean and healthy air, and this must be tirelessly fought for,” said Ipan Widodo, representing the plaintiffs’ legal team. “If the panel of judges allows plantation companies responsible for producing haze to escape accountability, then the devastating impact of smoke haze will continue to haunt the residents of South Sumatra.”

    In a display of disappointment, victims of the smoke haze and community members in South Sumatra held a flower-scattering protest in front of the Palembang District Court. Messages of “Justice for Haze Victims,” “Deepest Condolences for the Demise of Justice at Palembang District Court,” and “Palembang District Court Makes It Even Harder to Breathe” adorned the court building’s front fence. Dressed entirely in black, the protestors symbolized the denial of justice for the haze victims.

    “Amidst the South Sumatra Provincial Government’s declaration of an emergency haze alert, this decision seems to contradict the commitment of law enforcement and the government in combating forest and peatland fires and smoke haze,” said Muhkamat Arif, one of the eleven plaintiffs. “Naturally, the judges’ decision is incredibly disappointing, but it will not diminish our spirit to keep fighting until we win.”

    Referring to Supreme Court Circular Letter No. 1 of 2017, the panel of judges should have upheld a crucial principle of the judicial system: that substantive justice – which relates to the essence and purpose of law in realizing true justice for society – must take precedence over formal justice, which only adheres to procedural or technical rules in court proceedings. This case dismissal signals a crisis of judicial partiality regarding the right to a healthy environment in the midst of a climate emergency. Therefore, the South Sumatra Smoke Suit Initiative (Inisiasi Sumatera Selatan Penggugat Asap – ISSPA) urges the Supreme Court Supervisory Body and the Judicial Commission of the Republic of Indonesia to evaluate the handling of this lawsuit and increase scrutiny of similar rulings that could exacerbate the national ecological crisis.

    Notes to editor
    [1] The full text of the judgement has not yet been released by the court, but the respondent companies’ argument that the community lacked standing was apparently accepted, according to the brief note uploaded to the court website.

    [2] PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries are listed as part of the APP Business Group in documents submitted during the company’s application to re-associate with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

    [3] Photos and videos from today’s action outside the court are available for media use.

    Media Contacts
    Belgis Habiba, Greenpeace Indonesia, +62 897 0005 629
    Yolanda Pradinata, LBH Palembang, +62 821 7764 1251
    Igor O’Neill, Greenpeace Indonesia – [email protected], +61 414 288 424

    South Sumatra Smoke Suit Initiative (Inisiasi Sumatera Selatan Penggugat Asap – ISSPA):
    Greenpeace Indonesia, Pantau Gambut, Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI), YLBHI-LBH Palembang, Indonesian Centre for Environmental Law (ICEL), Public Interest Lawyer Network (PIL-Net) Indonesia, Spora Institute, Perkumpulan Rawang, Perkumpulan Tanah Air, Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah Serikat Petani Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) Wilayah Sumatera Selatan, Solidaritas Perempuan Palembang, Sarekat Hijau Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Spektakel Klab, Kontra Visual, Diskomik, Himpunan Mahasiswa Pertanian Universitas Sriwijaya (Himasperta UNSRI), Aksi Kamisan Sriwijaya, Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Hukum Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FH UNSRI), Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FE UNSRI), Pergerakan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah (PMII UIN Raden Fatah).

    MIL OSI NGO –

    July 4, 2025
  • Israeli military prepares plan to ensure Iran cannot threaten Israel, defence minister says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Israeli military is preparing an enforcement plan to “ensure that Iran cannot return to threaten Israel”, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told senior military officials.

    He said the military must be prepared, both in intelligence and operations, to ensure Israel has air superiority and to prevent Tehran from reestablishing its previous capabilities.

    He made his remarks following a 12-day air war between the longtime enemies in June, during which Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the aim was to prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.

    Iran denies seeking nuclear arms and that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

    Israel and Iran agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended hostilities on June 24.

    (Reuters)

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Trump administration has ‘shaken’ world order in three key respects – Italian minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ROME, July 4 (Xinhua) — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has “shaken” the world order in three key areas: tariffs, international taxation and the financial dimension linked to the U.S. dollar, Italian Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday.

    “The first is tariffs, the second is international taxation. The third is the financial dimension and the relative strength of the US dollar, which is a form of implicit tariff,” he said. “We need to pay attention to these three aspects,” the official added.

    The minister stressed that a weak dollar effectively acts as an implicit tariff, making American goods cheaper and imported goods more expensive and disrupting international trade flows.

    Giorgetti’s comments come amid ongoing trade tensions between the United States and the European Union that have arisen since D. Trump’s return to the White House at the beginning of the year.

    Market data reflect the minister’s concerns. The euro was trading at around $1.175 apiece at the end of the day on Thursday, down about 14 percent since the start of the year.

    Against a broader basket of currencies, the US dollar has fallen 10.8 per cent this year, the worst first six months since 1973 and the worst half-year since the second half of 1991, the Guardian newspaper reports.

    According to Italy’s National Institute of Statistics, the country’s imports from the United States rose 18.5 percent year-on-year in May, while Italian exports to the United States increased by just 2.5 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sales of new passenger cars in Russia fell by 26 percent in the first half of the year — media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, July 4 /Xinhua/ — Sales of new passenger cars in Russia in the first half of 2025 amounted to 526.7 thousand units, down 26 percent compared to the same period last year, RIA Novosti reported, citing the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

    In June, 89.6 thousand units of new passenger cars were sold in the country, which is 27 percent less than a year earlier and 1 percent less than in May of this year.

    In January-June, sales of new Lada cars in Russia amounted to 155.5 thousand units, making them the leader of the auto market. In second place for the specified period was the Chinese Haval, whose sales amounted to 63.9 thousand units /with a decrease of 21.5 percent/. The top three is rounded out by the Chinese brand Chery, whose sales decreased by 22.6 percent to 55.3 thousand units.

    In the first six months of 2025, sales of new light commercial vehicles in Russia fell by 19 percent to 48.8 thousand units. Sales of trucks and buses fell by 54 percent to 27 thousand units. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Applications open for auction of spectrum in 2.5/2.6 GHz band

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Applications open for auction of spectrum in 2.5/2.6 GHz band 
         A spokesperson for OFCA said, “As announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will continue to make available more suitable radio spectrum to the market in a timely manner to support wider and more advanced applications of communications technology (including 6G). The Communications Authority (CA) and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) issued a joint statement in April this year, announcing the decision to reassign a total of 50 MHz of spectrum in the aforementioned band through auction in the fourth quarter of this year. The mid-band spectrum balances the needs of both network coverage and capacity and has the potential to support mobile broadband services and other innovative applications using 5G or more advanced mobile services.”
     
         The CA will conduct the auction of the 50 MHz of spectrum in the aforementioned band on October 20. The spectrum will be reassigned to the successful bidders under unified carrier licences with a new assignment period of about 10 years and 10 months. The arrangement enables all 140 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band to expire together on March 30, 2039, so that the CA can carry out holistic spectrum planning and reassign relevant spectrum more flexibly having regard to future mobile technology development to enhance spectral efficiency. Parties interested in participating in the auction may submit their applications to OFCA from September 4 to 5.
     
         The SCED has set the auction reserve price for the use of the spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band, i.e. $4 million per MHz. The actual amount of spectrum utilization fees payable will be determined through the auction.
     
         Detailed arrangements for the auction are set out in the information memorandumIssued at HKT 16:25

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Lord Moore of Etchingham: Lord Speaker’s Corner | House of Lords | Episode 30

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    ‘The demand for journalism is unprecedented in the whole of human history. But what’s got much harder is to work out what the best media for it is, and where the money lies and where the future lies.’

    Former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Lord Moore of Etchingham, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.

    Charles Moore, now Lord Moore of Etchingham, also previously edited the Spectator and the Sunday Telegraph and is the authorised biographer of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

    ‘For the Conservative Party, Thatcher is the ‘big one’, as Churchill was and still is. It’s been very difficult for women leaders – of whom there have now been three in the Conservative Party. Should you be like Mrs Thatcher or not like Mrs Thatcher, as a woman leader?’

    In this episode, Lord Moore talks to the Lord Speaker about Britain’s first female Prime Minister, his career and journalism today. He also reflects on changes in the style of government and former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

    See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers

    W1251BJETI7BCZQT

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em4t1S4sOWw

    MIL OSI Video –

    July 4, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Covid-19 pandemic had bigger impact on women’s health than men’s The Covid-19 pandemic affected women’s mental and physical health more than men’s, according to research from the University of Aberdeen.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    The Covid-19 pandemic affected women’s mental and physical health more than men’s, according to research from the University of Aberdeen.
    Published in Social Science & Medicine, the study aimed to understand whether the pandemic had differing effects on the health behaviours of women and men.
    The research team, led by Professor Paul McNamee from the University of Aberdeen and collaborators from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and the University of Turin, analysed Understanding Society national data from January 2015 to March 2023 to compare results pre- and post-pandemic.
    Researchers examined a range of health behaviours including fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol use and physical activity as part of the study as well as comparing measures of mental health. They found that on both counts women were more negatively affected by the pandemic than their male counterparts.
    The study found women reported fewer days of fruit consumption and smaller reductions in alcohol intake during the Covid pandemic.
    Psychological distress increased for both women and men during the pandemic, with women experiencing a greater rise. And the link between health behaviours and mental health weakened for women during the pandemic, with a healthy lifestyle no longer showing a significant connection to mental health.
    In contrast, these relationships remained consistent for men. Prior to the pandemic, health behaviours offered greater protective benefits for women’s mental health, but during the pandemic, this protective effect became stronger for men.
    Professor Paul McNamee who led the research at the University of Aberdeen said: “We found that women reported poorer overall changes in health behaviours than men during the pandemic. Specifically, women reported fewer days of fruit consumption and smaller reductions in alcohol intake. We also found that psychological distress increased for both women and men during the pandemic, with women experiencing a greater rise.”
    Dr Karen Arulsamy from Duke-NUS Medical School said: “The adverse changes in women’s health behaviours compared to men persist through to May 2023, suggesting longer-term effects were likely worsened by financial pressures during this period. It’s important we keep tracking these trends.”
    Dr Silvia Mendolia from the University of Turin said: “Our study also shows that the pandemic considerably weakened the protective effect of health behaviours on mental health for women but not for men. For women, adopting a healthy lifestyle was strongly correlated with mental health before the pandemic, but this relationship was no longer significant during the pandemic.”
    Professor McNamee concludes: “Although conducted using data before and during the pandemic, these findings still have relevance today – they suggest that at times of heightened stress, women from lower socio-economic backgrounds with caregiving responsibilities that limit their ability to maintain levels of social engagement face more challenges in engaging in healthier behaviours. Therefore, targeted interventions such as social prescribing, accessible through referral from primary care providers and other voluntary agencies, could be made more widely available.”
    The research was funded by a research award from the Scottish Government Rural & Environmental Science and Analytical Services’ (RESAS) Strategic Research Programme 2022-27. Financial support was also provided by the University of Aberdeen and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 4, 2025
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