Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The number of children facing emergency levels of hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to surge by at least 20% by the new year due to ongoing violence, displacement and seasonal food shortages,  according to Save the Children.[1] 

Analysis of new data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Partnership—the leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises—found that about 14 million children— one in five – will face crisis levels of hunger or worse between January and June next year. 

Among them, around 2.1 million will face more severe emergency levels of hunger, characterised by acute malnutrition and a heightened risk of hunger-related death. [2] 

Three-quarters of the 2.1 million children facing emergency hunger across the country live in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika where various conflicts, as well as attacks by different armed groups against civilians, dramatically escalated earlier this year. 

This led to a surge in hunger, displacement, civilian casualties and cases of sexual violence. More than two million people have been displaced by violence in DRC this year.  [3] 

Food insecurity has devastating effects on children’s health, leading to malnutrition, stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased vulnerability to diseases.  Children who do not have sufficient access to food will also struggle to focus and learn, if they have access to education.  

Greg Ramm, country director for Save the Children in DRC, said:  

“After a catastrophic escalation of hunger among children in DRC earlier this year, the latest findings by the IPC show that the situation has failed to improve as 14 million children in the country continue to face crisis levels of hunger, including 2 million children facing a hunger emergency. The ongoing violence in eastern DRC has left families without access to food, healthcare, and other essential services and made the DRC one of the world’s biggest displacement crises. The situation for families returning home is scarcely better. Poverty rates remain high, particularly in rural areas, trapping millions of people in repeated cycles of hunger. 

“The international community must take immediate action to address this crisis and prevent further suffering especially among children. We urgently need more funding to support lifesaving food security and nutrition programmes, so families have enough to eat and children don’t suffer from malnutrition.” 

Save the Children started working in eastern DRC in 1994, and is currently working with 13 local partners, as well as international partners and government authorities, to deliver critical health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and education support to children and their families.    

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

Source: APO

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Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will be paying State visit to Angola and Botswana from November 8-13, 2025. This will be the first ever State visit by an Indian Head of State to Angola and Botswana.

2. President Murmu will be visiting Angola from 8-11 November, 2025 at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola. India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. President Murmu will be holding bilateral talks with President Lourenço on 9 November. President Murmu will be attending the 50th anniversary celebrations of Angola’s independence on November 11, 2025. President Murmu is scheduled to address the Angolan Parliament, and will be interacting with the Indian community in Angola. India and Angola enjoy close ties of friendship and cooperation, which have been growing across sectors. The State visit of President Murmu will provide an opportunity to review entire gamut of bilateral ties and to provide further momentum to mutually beneficial cooperation.

3. On the second leg of her visit, President Murmu will be visiting the Republic of Botswana from 11-13 November 2025 at the invitation of the President of Botswana, His Excellency Adv. Duma Gideon Boko. The State visit underscores India’s commitment to strengthen its long-standing and friendly ties with Botswana. During the visit, President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with the President of Botswana on 12 November. President Murmu is scheduled to address the National Assembly of Botswana, interact with the members of the Indian community in Botswana, and visit sites of cultural and historical importance.The visit will provide fresh momentum to collaborative ties with Botswana and strengthen cooperation in new areas for mutual benefit.

4. The State visit of President Murmu is reflective of India’s firm commitment to deepen its partnership with the African region, and will further strengthen India’s long-standing cooperative ties with Angola and Botswana.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

Source: APO

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Ambassador Gervais Moumou, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Arab Emirates, represented the Republic of Seychelles at the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025.

The Summit, which brought together over 14,000 participants from governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector, served as a key platform to advance inclusive social development and reaffirm the shared global commitment to leaving no one behind.

In his intervention, Ambassador Moumou noted that, despite its small size and limited resources, Seychelles has built a social model grounded in equity, solidarity, and inclusion. He highlighted that Seychelles continues to lead the African continent with a Human Development Index of 0.848, maintaining social cohesion through a careful balance between economic realities and social aspirations.

Ambassador Moumou equally stressed the need to keep climate action central to global development, calling for practical measures to strengthen resilience, including the operationalisation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).

Reaffirming Seychelles’ commitment to the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS – ABAS Agreement, he highlighted that the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) must remain a global priority and expressed confidence in the international community’s leadership in implementing the MVI for sustainable and equitable development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.

Source: APO

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HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Thursday with HE Minister of Local Government of the Republic of Rwanda Dominique Habimana, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha.

The meeting discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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The funeral service of veteran freedom fighter Fesehaye Haile (Afro), Governor of the Central Region, was held at Asmara Martyrs Cemetery today at 10:00 a.m. in the presence of President Isaias Afwerki, Ministers, senior government and PFDJ officials, Army Commanders, family members, and a large number of nationals.

Veteran freedom fighter Fesehaye Haile, who passed away on 4 November at the age of 78 due to illness, was one of the heroes produced by Eritrea’s struggle for independence. He devoted 52 years of his life to achieving national independence, safeguarding national sovereignty, and contributing to the nation-building process.

He joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Forces in July 1973 after serving as a member of the “Tihisha” agitational group from 1972 to 1973.

During the armed struggle for independence, he served his nation and people with utmost dedication in various capacities, including as a combatant in the Eritrean People’s Liberation Army, and in the EPLF Departments of People’s Administration and Intelligence and Security.

After independence, veteran freedom fighter Fesehaye continued to serve his country as Deputy Governor of Asmara; Executive Director of the Northern Red Sea Region; Director General of the Customs Department at the Ministry of Finance; Director General of Civil Aviation; and Governor of the Gash-Barka and Central Regions, respectively.

President Isaias Afwerki laid a wreath on the tomb of veteran fighter Fesehaye Haile; Mr. Yemane Gebreab on behalf of the PFDJ; Ambassador Abdella Musa, Governor of the Anseba Region, on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government; Mr. Zerit Tewoldebrhan on behalf of the Central Region; and Mr. Gideon Fesehaye, son of the veteran fighter.

Veteran freedom fighter Fesehaye is survived by his wife and three children.

Expressing deep sorrow over the passing away of veteran freedom fighter Fesehaye Haile, the Ministry of Local Government conveys condolences to families and friends.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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Eritrean communities in Sweden and the United Arab Emirates conducted various activities focusing on raising awareness, strengthening organization, enhancing contributions to national development programs, and promoting the true image of Eritrea and its people.

Accordingly, Eritrean communities in all cities of Sweden celebrated the founding of the Eritrean Community Day in Sweden, featuring programs depicting the culture and identity of Eritrea’s ethnic groups, the history of the people’s struggle, as well as resilience and unity.

Mr. Biniam Misgina, Chairman of the Eritrean Community in Sweden, said that the program—which included traditional cuisine and exhibitions of cultural artifacts—was organized in central markets and other locations frequented by large numbers of people.

Likewise, the Swedish branch of the National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans conducted seminars in the Swedish cities of Stockholm, Uppsala, Gothenburg, Örebro, Umeå, Sandviken, and Katrineholm.

The seminars, led by Mr. Abraham Kifletsion, Vice Chairman of the National Association; Mr. Seium Woldemariam, member of the Central Committee of the National Association; and Mr. Tekeste Fesehaye, Chairman of the Swedish Branch, were aimed at enhancing awareness and strengthening participation and contribution of members in national development programs.

In the same vein, a seminar was organized for nationals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, focusing on the prevailing situation in the homeland and regional developments.

At the seminar, Mr. Mohammed Selim, Managing Director at the Eritrean Consulate General in the United Arab Emirates, and Mr. Tesfu Gebretensae, Head of Public and Community Affairs, delivered extensive briefings and responded to questions raised by participants.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.