NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI China: Deloitte announces China’s 2025 Best Managed Companies

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

    Deloitte China announced 75 winners of the 2025 China’s Best Managed Companies awards program in Beijing on July 4. The combined 2024 revenue of the winners hit approximately 3.2 trillion yuan.

    Among those awarded, 12 are new winners, 13 platinum winners have received the award for seven consecutive years, 11 companies have won for five consecutive years and 6 for six consecutive years, with 33 other consecutive-year winners. 

    “The winning companies this year cover multiple industries including consumer, industrial manufacturing, technology, life sciences, energy, real estate, education, and finance,” said Zhao Jian, lead partner of the Deloitte China BMC Program. “The BMC program is not only a long-standing selection activity but also a platform and window for showcasing excellent enterprises.”

    Wang Tuoxuan, Deloitte China North & West China managing partner said this year’s BMC results demonstrate the strong vitality and adaptability of outstanding private enterprises under pressure.

    “China’s private economy is at a critical juncture of shifting growth drivers and enhancing resilience,” said Wang. Despite complex and changing external challenges, a group of outstanding private enterprises have been embracing change, internalizing the national strategic direction of high-quality development, and accelerating new quality productive forces as the core driver for their transformation and upgrading.

    As co-organizer and strategic academic partner of the BMC program, Professor Hui Kai-Lung, acting dean of HKUST Business School, added. “The deep resonance between excellent management practices and business education innovation is reshaping the growth paradigm of Chinese enterprises. These companies are not only industry benchmarks but also living textbooks for business education.”

    “2025 is the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the planning year for the 15th Five-Year Plan,” said Liu Xiao, co-publisher of Harvard Business Review China (Chinese edition) in his interpretation of the BMC list. “Facing the dual challenges of global value chain restructuring and accelerating technological revolution, enterprises not only need technological breakthroughs, innovation in production factors, and deep industrial transformation and upgrading, but also a corresponding paradigm shift in development to foster the emergence of new quality productive forces.”

    With a history of 32 years and a network spanning nearly 50 countries and regions, BMC is co-launched by Deloitte, Bank of Singapore, HKUST Business School and Harvard Business Review, with an aim to find companies with systematic and excellent management capabilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing E-Town unveils ambitious plan to become leading AI hub

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

    Attendees listen to a speaker at the AI Ecosystem Rainforest Conference in Beijing E-Town, July 2, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    Beijing’s Economic-Technological Development Area, known as E-Town, plans to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence, Wang Zhanshuo, deputy director of the area’s administrative committee, said at the AI Ecosystem Rainforest Conference in Beijing on July 2.

    The plan, dubbed the “Pan-AI-enabled City,” aims to cluster more than 600 leading AI enterprises by 2025, launch 100 key application scenarios for public access, and boost the industry’s scale beyond $11 billion.

    Wang said the strategy will leverage E-Town’s policies, including subsidies of up to $1.4 million for each domestically developed computing infrastructure project, and annual support of up to $13.8 million per enterprise that demonstrates competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. The area will also issue data vouchers worth $13.8 million to support data circulation and trading.

    To promote real-world AI applications, E-Town will establish integrated hubs for culture, commerce, tourism and sports, and will focus on sectors such as education, elderly care and media.

    Additionally, the “Magic World” AI community being developed by E-Town is offering companies ready-to-use facilities, free office space for the first year, and free high-performance computing power for the first month.

    “E-Town’s overall GDP growth has already reached double digits, with AI-related industries contributing more than $1.4 billion in new growth,” Wang said. “The area possesses the key scenarios and socio-economic advantages needed for developing the AI industry.”

    Li Shizun, CEO of Johnsmith.ai, was among the first to move into Magic World. Li unveiled the company’s new “Real-time Avatar,” a digital human livestreaming technology, at the event.

    The product uses eight AI agents to achieve 95% lip-sync accuracy, recognizes 98 types of user intent, and supports multilingual interaction.

    According to test data, livestream rooms using the technology saw a 42% increase in user engagement time, a 25% rise in product click-through rates, and a 16% improvement in sales conversion rates.

    Johnsmith.ai has already worked with global brands such as Lancôme and Estée Lauder, totaling more than 3 million hours of livestreaming and reaching a 96% client renewal rate in its fourth year.

    “‘Real-time Avatar’ consumes 100,000 tokens per hour — five times that of a typical chatbot — but delivers sales performance surpassing top human hosts,” Li said.

    AI-powered avatars are also gaining traction in other sectors. Matthew Heller, CEO of 37 Partners, said his team has developed a platform that uses AI technology to help sports stars connect emotionally with Chinese fans, turning NBA athletes’ intellectual property into personalized retail experiences.

    “We’re looking at generative AI avatars as a way to build those connections even deeper,” Heller said. “These avatars will be digital twins of our celebrities, with one key exception: They’ll speak the local language, so they’ll speak Mandarin.”

    AI innovation is also transforming the fashion sector. Regina Zeng, CEO of Inno Baker, showcased AI applications across the industry value chain, from generating new designs with style transfer algorithms to enabling personalized advertising based on consumer profiles and brand style.

    During a panel discussion, guests agreed that AI is evolving from an efficiency tool into a “commercial operating system.” Li said digital human livestreaming has moved beyond replacing basic labor to creating new value, with the next breakthrough expected in emotional interaction.

    Tian Ruifeng, director of industry innovation at the China Chain Store and Franchise Association, compared retail AI to a “rainforest ecosystem,” adding that E-Town’s policy practices are providing the necessary institutional framework needed to support the development and integration of AI across many sectors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: South African Police Service Budget Vote

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    South African Police Service Budget Vote

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD4eBmuv2PQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Archaeologists in Peru unveil 3,500-year-old city that linked coast and Andes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Archaeologists on Thursday unveiled a 3,500-year-old city in Peru that likely served as a trading hub linking Pacific coast cultures with those in the Andes and Amazon, flourishing around the same time as early civilizations in the Middle East and Asia.

    Drone footage released by researchers shows the city center is marked by a circular structure on a hillside terrace, with remains of stone and mud buildings constructed some 600 meters (1,970 feet) above sea level.

    The urban center, named Peñico, is located in the northern Barranca province and was founded between 1,800 and 1,500 BC. It is close to where the Caral civilization, the oldest in the Americas, developed 5,000 years ago.

    Caral, comprised of 32 monumental structures, is considered a contemporary of civilizations in Egypt, India, Sumeria and China. However, unlike them, it developed in complete isolation, according to researchers.

    Ruth Shady, the archaeologist who led the research into Peñico, said the newly unveiled city is key because experts believe it emerged after the Caral civilization was devastated by climate change.

    “They were situated in a strategic location for trade, for exchange with societies from the coast, the highlands and the jungle,” Shady said.

    Archaeologist Marco Machacuay, a researcher with the Ministry of Culture, said at a news conference that Peñico’s importance lies in it being the continuation of the Caral society.

    After eight years of studies, researchers have identified up to 18 structures in Penico, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes.

    The walls of a central plaza stand out for their sculptural reliefs and depictions of the pututu, a conch shell trumpet whose sound carries over long distances.

    In other buildings, researchers found clay sculptures of human and animal figures, ceremonial objects and necklaces made from beads and seashells, they added.

    Peru is a center of ancient cultures and home to archaeological sites such as the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Cusco and the mysterious Nazca lines located in the desert region along the country’s central coast.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: Commerce ministry says dialogue, cooperation are right way as US lifts trade restrictions

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

    China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday that dialogue and cooperation are the right path forward, in response to the U.S. lifting of a series of economic and trade restrictions on China.

    A spokesperson for the ministry made the remarks in response to a media query about recent reports that certain Chinese companies have received notices from the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the resumption of exports to China of products such as electronic design automation software, ethane, and aircraft engines.

    The spokesperson confirmed that following the recent China-U.S. economic and trade talks in London, both sides had finalized implementation details to carry out the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone talks on June 5, and to consolidate the outcomes of the economic and trade talks in Geneva.

    As part of this process, China is reviewing applications for export licenses for eligible controlled items in accordance with laws and regulations, while the United States has taken corresponding steps to remove certain restrictive measures and has informed the Chinese side, the spokesperson said.

    Describing the framework reached during the economic and trade talks in London as “hard-won,” the spokesperson stressed that dialogue and cooperation are the right path forward, while threats and coercion “lead nowhere.”

    The spokesperson urged the United States to fully recognize the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. economic and trade ties, continue to meet China halfway, and further correct its erroneous practices to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and jointly promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Smart shift: Anhui engine maker powers up with industrial internet

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

    A display showing the smart manufacturing platform powered by “5G plus industrial internet” at a factory of Anhui Quanchai Engine Co. Ltd. in Chuzhou, Anhui province, July 3, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

    In the competitive landscape of modern industry, staying agile and efficient is paramount. For Anhui Quanchai Engine Co. Ltd., a long-standing developer and manufacturer of engines in central China’s Anhui province, the answer lies in a proactive leap into the future: a 5G-enabled industrial internet platform.

    Step into a Quanchai workshop, a large digital screen displays real-time production data. Fei Chen, a section chief at the company, monitors the J1 production line, tracking everything from completion rate and cost consumption to product quality.

    “We use large screens and digital dashboards to present production data, process parameters, equipment status and warning alarms in a centralized manner,” Fei said. “This keeps managers constantly informed of production dynamics at all times, enabling refined management of the entire manufacturing process.”

    Quanchai’s transformation goes deeper than just digital displays. The company has built a smart manufacturing platform powered by “5G plus industrial internet.” It has established an intelligent factory that spans the equipment, network, platform and application layers. Supported by digital twin technology, it has achieved three-dimensional, visualized factory operations. The platform also integrates more than 850 upstream and downstream supply chain resources to enable cross-sector collaboration and optimized resource allocation.

    During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), Quanchai has prioritized digital transformation, developing a smart workshop model that connects foundational equipment with production execution, data analysis and decision-making.

    The industrial internet platform has delivered tangible economic benefits. According to Xu Changyu, director of Quanchai’s information center, the platform has markedly improved its R&D and manufacturing efficiency, shortening R&D cycles by 30% and enhancing production efficiency by 35%. Meanwhile, key performance indicators have improved, including a 12.6% drop in unit manufacturing costs and an 18% rise in inventory turnover.

    The company’s efforts have earned national recognition. In 2024, Quanchai was named an “excellence-level smart factory” by the national Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 

    The journey for Quanchai is far from over. Looking to the future, Xu said that with the rapid advancement of AI technologies such as DeepSeek, Quanchai will continue exploring the deep integration of AI and industrial internet platforms. The goal is to enhance intelligent capabilities and core competitiveness, ultimately evolving from a traditional manufacturer into a service-oriented provider of smart manufacturing solutions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • PM Modi’s Trinidad & Tobago visit highlights deepening trade, development and cultural relations

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago this week highlights India’s efforts to deepen ties with the Caribbean nation. The partnership, built on historical connections dating back nearly two centuries, now spans development cooperation, trade, digital payments, and cultural exchange.

    Trade and Investment: Unlocking New Opportunities

    The Trade Agreement signed between India and Trinidad and Tobago in January 1997, which grants Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to each other, has laid a strong foundation for expanding economic ties. Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic economic role in the Caribbean, supported by bilateral and regional trade agreements, offers Indian exporters a gateway to the wider Caribbean market and beyond.

    Bilateral trade between the two nations has shown encouraging resilience and steady growth, rising from $264 million in 2020–21 to $341 million in 2024–25. India’s major exports to Trinidad and Tobago include vehicles and parts, iron and steel, pharmaceutical products, and plastic goods. In return, India imports mineral fuels and oils, bituminous substances, mineral waxes, iron and steel, ores and ash, and aluminium from Trinidad and Tobago.

    A notable milestone came in 2024 when Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean nation to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This step is set to enhance digital payments infrastructure and promote greater financial inclusion.

    In recent years, India’s active participation in trade and investment conventions in Trinidad and Tobago has underlined the shared commitment to explore new opportunities. Sectors such as tourism, pharmaceuticals, information technology, renewable energy, and education are emerging as key areas for collaboration, signalling the growing potential of this bilateral economic partnership.

    Strengthening Institutional Frameworks and Development Cooperation

    The bilateral partnership between India and Trinidad and Tobago is anchored in institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). The first JCM was held in 2011 in New Delhi, while the latest round of FOC took place in Port of Spain in August 2021, enabling both sides to chart the way forward for expanding collaboration.

    India’s development partnership with Trinidad and Tobago has grown steadily in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India extended critical medical support by supplying 40,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, along with essential medical equipment and aid.

    Beyond healthcare, India’s assistance has strengthened other priority areas as well. A $1 million India-UNDP project supported the deployment of telemedicine and mobile healthcare robots in Trinidad and Tobago. An additional $1 million was allocated for agro-processing machinery to boost food processing capacity. In line with its commitment to regional food security, Indian cooperatives have also supplied rice and edible oil to the Caribbean nation.

    Cultural Bonds: A Living Heritage

    Cultural connections between the two countries remain vibrant, anchored by the Indian diaspora’s enduring ties to its ancestral roots. Hindi language education continues to flourish, with the support of Hindi teachers and local institutions. Nearly 300 students enrolled

  • Trump eyes simple tariff rates over complex talks, says letters going out Friday

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

    Acknowledging the complexity of negotiating with over 170 nations, Trump told reporters before departing for Iowa on Thursday that the letters will be sent to 10 countries at a time, laying out tariff rates such as 20% to 30%.

    “We have more than 170 countries, and how many deals can you make?” Trump said. “They’re very much more complicated.”

    The Republican president said he expected “a couple” more detailed agreements with other countries after Wednesday’s announcement of a trade deal with Vietnam.

    However, he said he preferred to notify most other countries of a specific tariff rate, skipping detailed negotiations.

    Trump’s comments underscored the challenges of completing trade agreements on everything from tariffs to non-tariff barriers such as bans on agricultural imports.

    Top Trump aides said in April they would work on 90 deals in 90 days, an ambitious goal that was met with skepticism from trade experts familiar with arduous and time-consuming trade deals of the past.

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg Television that about 100 countries are likely to see a reciprocal tariff rate of 10% and predicted a “flurry” of trade deals announced before a July 9 deadline when tariffs could rise sharply.

    If 10% tariffs were given to 100 countries, that would be fewer than originally envisioned by the Trump administration.

    Its original reciprocal tariff list showed 123 jurisdictions that would be given a 10% tariff rate – mostly small countries, along with some territories such as Australia’s uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands.

    Trump sent markets into a tailspin on April 2 with sweeping reciprocal tariff rates ranging from 10% to 50%, although he temporarily reduced the tariff rate for most countries to 10% to allow time for negotiations through July 9.

    Many countries with an initial 10% duty rate have not had any negotiations with the Trump administration, with the exception of Britain, which reached a deal in May to keep a 10% rate and won preferential treatment for some sectors including autos and aircraft engines.

    Major trading partners now involved in negotiations were hit with much higher tariff rates, including 20% for the European Union, 26% for India and 24% for Japan. Other countries that have not engaged in trade talks with the Trump administration face even higher reciprocal tariffs, including 50% for the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, 47% for Madagascar and 36% for Thailand.

    Trump on Wednesday announced an agreement with Vietnam that he said cuts U.S. tariffs on many Vietnamese goods to 20% from his previously threatened 46%. Many U.S. products would be allowed to enter Vietnam duty free.

    (Reuters)

  • I&B Ministry proposes overhaul of TRP guidelines to reflect modern viewing habits

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Wednesday unveiled a draft policy aimed at reforming how television viewership is measured in India. Acknowledging that audiences now consume content across cable, DTH, smart TVs, mobile apps, and streaming platforms, the proposed guidelines seek to modernize the outdated Television Rating Points (TRP) system by allowing multiple agencies to operate alongside BARC.

    Drafted amendments to the 2014 policy were released on July 2 and will undergo a 30-day public consultation. These changes are designed to remove restrictive provisions that have hindered competition, opening the field to new players and technologies. Notably, the Ministry plans to ease conflict-of-interest restrictions while strengthening the governance framework for rating organisations.

    Currently, India’s television audience is measured through approximately 58,000 people-meters—just 0.025% of the estimated 230 million TV households—limiting the system’s ability to capture diverse viewing patterns. Additionally, the existing setup fails to track viewership across connected devices, a challenge in an era where mobile and smart TV consumption is rising rapidly.

    To address these deficiencies, the draft amendments propose replacing stringent clauses that restrict advisory roles and confine broadcasters or advertisers from investing in rating agencies. By fostering a more competitive environment, the government hopes to facilitate technology upgrades, enhance data accuracy, and ensure TRP outcomes better reflect evolving audience preferences.

    Stakeholders including viewers, broadcasters, and advertisers have been invited to submit feedback by the end of the consultation window via sobpl-moib@nic.in. The draft amendments and existing policy guidelines are accessible on the Ministry’s official website.

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: High-ranking guests from SCO countries praised the “Chinese option” in the field of sustainable development

    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

    TIANJIN, July 4 (Xinhua) — “It struck me with its beautiful, well-kept areas, where modernity and history are concentrated,” said Viktor Galanov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, who is taking part in a meeting in the northern Chinese city. According to him, the state is making “maximum efforts to maintain the environmental situation in such a large city.”

    The sixth meeting of heads of ministries and departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for environmental protection was held in Tianjin on Thursday, July 3. “Cooperation for green, sustainable and low-emission development of the SCO member states” was its main theme. Following the meeting, the heads of delegations signed a joint statement and adopted the Initiative to Strengthen Cooperation between the SCO Member States in the Field of Sustainable Development.

    SCO Deputy Secretary General Janesh Kane called these documents “important,” which, according to him, will not only facilitate a joint response to challenges in the field of ecology and the environment within the SCO, but will also have a positive impact on green global development.

    Like V. Galanov, he paid tribute to China’s efforts to ensure sustainable development by combating pollution, improving air quality, large-scale afforestation, and combating desertification. China’s progress in these areas is enormous, the deputy secretary general noted.

    “Our delegation recently visited the cities of Yinchuan and Beijing to get acquainted with and study China’s experience in the field of afforestation and combating desertification. We are also interested in implementing joint projects in the field of solid waste disposal. I would like to emphasize that China serves as an example of a systematic approach to environmental protection for us, and our country is striving to adapt these approaches in national policy,” said Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Mansur Oshurbayev.

    According to him, Tianjin, as one of the largest cities in China, has significant experience in combating air and water pollution, as well as waste management. “We hope to establish a partnership with the city of Tianjin in the field of urban ecology, digital monitoring of the environment, and attract investment and know-how to implement joint projects on green technologies,” Mansur Oshurbayev added.

    Uzbekistan and China have established close cooperation in combating desertification, stated Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. In his opinion, such cooperation facilitates the transfer of technologies and knowledge from China, which demonstrates high rates of development in the field of green economy, to the countries of Central Asia.

    Most SCO countries have natural advantages in the field of green energy. They have rich resources of solar, wind and hydropower, noted Director General of the China-Eurasia Economic Cooperation Fund Lei Wentao. China, which is among the world leaders in the field of green energy technology and equipment production, is ready to cooperate to disseminate best practices and successful experience in this area. Work on the implementation of green energy projects is already underway in the regions of Central Asia and the Middle East, he said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The class of 1995 met at their home university

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    At the end of June, SPbGASU not only saw off graduates to their big professional life, but also met those who received their diplomas here 30 years ago: graduates of group 7P of the Department of Construction Production Technology and the Department of Wooden Structures visited lecture halls, the meeting room of the Academic Council, the SPbGASU History Museum and talked to each other.

    Builders, entrepreneurs, scientists

    The work biographies of graduates are impressive: career growth, scientific activity, teaching, entrepreneurship and many years of service to the cause chosen in youth.

    Most of them successfully work in the construction industry. Igor Kulakov is a civil engineer, top manager, worked in construction organizations of St. Petersburg, went from a work producer to the head of the organization, for 10 years was the head of the municipality in the Lomonosovsky district; currently – Chairman of the Committee on Urban Development Policy of the Leningrad Region. Oleg Timoshchuk headed the department of legal and methodological support of the State Construction Supervision and Expertise Service of St. Petersburg for more than 16 years, candidate of technical sciences, chairman of the state examination committee at the department of construction production technology, author of textbooks on construction technologies, expert on legal and technical issues in the field of construction. Denis Bak and Pavel Artemyev are the founders and heads of construction organizations that took part in the construction, reconstruction, major repairs, and restoration of significant objects: the General Staff building, the Astoria and Angleterre hotels, the Philip Morris tobacco factory, the Zenit Arena stadium, the Lakhta Center, and the Konevetsky Monastery.

    Sergey Dryakhlov has been working as a site manager at construction sites in St. Petersburg for many years. The reconstruction of the cultural heritage site “Pets House”, major repairs of residential buildings, reconstruction of the Admiralty Shipyards collector – this is far from a complete list of construction works in which he participated. Alla Soboleva is the chief specialist of the technical department of a developer specializing in the construction of residential buildings and social facilities. Marina Belokonova is an estimator for nuclear industry facilities; her organization’s main customers include the Kurchatov Institute and the St. Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics. Tatyana Soloshenko is a specialist in contracting, Irina Danilenko is a low-rise construction manager, Natalya Rogova, Olga Mineycheva and Olesya Litovchenko are design engineers who take part in the design, construction and reconstruction of residential and industrial buildings, bridges; they took part in the construction of the Western High-Speed Diameter, the Ring Road of St. Petersburg, and in the repair of the Trinity Bridge.

    Natalia Iskrova is the head of the economy of the State Budgetary Institution MFC of the Murmansk Region. Natalia Morozova is a specialist in the design and construction of communication networks. Larisa Anikeeva is an entrepreneur and consultant. Dmitry Titarev is a business trainer, lecturer at the St. Petersburg International Institute of Management and the Moscow School of Management “Skolkovo”, a candidate of technical sciences, and the author of books on industrial technologies.

    When asked how to build a successful career in the construction industry, Igor Kulakov answered: “Career success depends on many components: professional skills, personal qualities, willingness to take responsibility, and the ability to work in a team. In recent years, one of the main trends in the construction industry has been digitalization and automation of processes. The introduction of TIM models and artificial intelligence leads to changes in the requirements for employee qualifications. As a result, the demand for specialists with skills in working with new digital technologies is increasing. University graduates who can effectively use digital tools have a better chance of building a successful career.”

    “We will meet again at our home university”

    Within the walls of their native university, classmates recalled moments of student life.

    “Many of us noted that the years spent at the university became the most important stage in our professional development. We remembered our favorite teachers – professors Vladimir Vladimirovich Verstov, Gennady Mikhailovich Badin, Rudolf Sergeyevich Sanzharovsky, the dean of the construction faculty Viktor Borisovich Zverev. Having met, we seemed to relive our student years, remembering how we made our first projects, how we defended our diplomas, how we coped with everyday difficulties in the dormitory and worked on a collective farm, how we sang around the campfire with a guitar with a then modest classmate, and now a famous showman Sergei Shnurov,” shared Oleg Timoshchuk.

    The group plans to get back together for the 35th anniversary of the release.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lyssavirus is rare, but deadly. What should you do if a bat bites you?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinod Balasubramaniam, Associate Professor (Molecular Virology), Monash University

    Ken Griffiths/Getty Images

    A man in his 50s has died from lyssavirus in New South Wales after being bitten by a bat several months ago.

    This is Australia’s fourth human case of bat lyssavirus and the first confirmed case in NSW since the virus was first identified in 1996 in a black flying fox in Queensland.

    So what is lyssavirus? And how can you protect yourself if you come into contact with a bat?

    A close relative of rabies

    Australian bat lyssavirus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, the same group of viruses that causes rabies.

    It primarily infects bats. Active monitoring suggests fewer than 1% of healthy bats carry the virus, though prevalence rises to 5–10% in sick or injured bats.

    In bats, the virus often causes no obvious symptoms, though some show neurological signs such as disorientation, aggression, muscle spasms and paralysis. Some will die.

    The virus has been confirmed in all four mainland flying fox species (Pteropus alecto, P. poliocephalus, P. scapulatus and P. conspicillatus) as well as the yellow-bellied sheathtail bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris), a species of microbat.

    However, serological evidence – where scientists test for antibodies in bats’ blood – suggests other microbats could be susceptible too. So we should be cautious with all Australian bat species when it comes to lyssavirus.

    Rare, but potentially deadly

    Unlike rabies, which causes roughly 59,000 human deaths annually, predominantly in Africa and Asia, human infection with bat lyssavirus is extremely rare.

    Australian bat lyssavirus, as the name suggests, is unique to Australia. But other bat lyssaviruses, such as European bat lyssavirus, have similarly caused rare human infections.

    Human infection with bat lyssavirus occurs through direct contact with infected bat saliva via bites, scratches or open skin. It can also occur if our mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) are exposed to bat saliva.

    There’s no risk associated with bat faeces, urine, blood, or casual proximity to roosts.

    If someone has been exposed, there’s an incubation period which can range from weeks to more than two years. During this time the virus slowly moves through the body’s nerves to the brain, staying hidden and symptom-free.

    Treating the virus during the incubation period can prevent the illness. But if it’s not treated, symptoms are serious and it’s invariably fatal.

    The nature of the illness in humans mirrors rabies, beginning with flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue), then quickly progressing to severe neurological disease, including paralysis, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Death generally occurs within 1–2 weeks of symptom onset.

    All four recorded human cases in Australia – three in Queensland (in 1996, 1998 and 2013) and the recent NSW case – have been fatal.

    There’s no effective treatment once symptoms develop

    If someone is potentially exposed to bat lyssavirus and seeks medical attention, they can be treated with post-exposure prophylaxis, consisting of rabies antibodies and the rabies vaccine.

    This intervention is highly effective if initiated promptly – preferably within 48 hours, and no later than seven days post-exposure – before the virus enters the central nervous system.

    But no effective treatment exists for Australian bat lyssavirus once symptoms develop. Emerging research on monoclonal antibodies offers potential future therapies, however these are not yet available.

    So what’s the best protection? And what if a bat bites you?

    Pre-exposure rabies vaccination, involving three doses over one month, is recommended for high-risk groups. This includes veterinarians, animal handlers, wildlife rehabilitators, and laboratory workers handling lyssaviruses.

    It’s important for members of the public to avoid all direct contact with bats. Only vaccinated, trained professionals, such as wildlife carers or veterinarians, should handle bats.

    Public education campaigns are essential to reduce risky interactions, especially in bat-populated areas.

    If you get bitten or scratched by a bat, it’s vital to act immediately. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, apply an antiseptic (such as betadine), and seek urgent medical attention.

    This tragic case in NSW underscores that while extremely rare, bat lyssavirus is an important public health threat. We need to see enhanced public awareness and ensure vaccination for high-risk groups, alongside ongoing bat monitoring and research into new treatments.

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

    – ref. Lyssavirus is rare, but deadly. What should you do if a bat bites you? – https://theconversation.com/lyssavirus-is-rare-but-deadly-what-should-you-do-if-a-bat-bites-you-260495

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prisoner Releases in Belarus: Joint Statement to the OSCE, July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Prisoner Releases in Belarus: Joint Statement to the OSCE, July 2025

    UK and others call for immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners

    Madam Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States, who are members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and my own country, Germany.

    The following participating States are also joining this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia and San Marino.

    We welcome the release of several political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanousky, in which the United States of America played a crucial role.

    While these are positive steps, we are deeply concerned that as of 26 June at least 1 170 political prisoners still remain in custody in Belarus according to the human rights organization Viasna. Many are subjected to torture and ill-treatment, including prolonged isolation and denial of essential medical care. Tragically, at least eight of them died in detention due to these inhumane conditions.

    We are also mindful of those who, upon release, are forced to flee Belarus or are compelled to remain under continuous repression that effectively prolongs their punishment beyond imprisonment.

    Moreover, the Belarusian authorities continue to arrest and detain opponents or people perceived as such and to suppress independent media, in disregard of international obligations and OSCE principles and commitments.

    Against this background, we reiterate our call for the Belarusian authorities to: stop persecuting individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, to freedom of association and to peaceful assembly; immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, most urgently those with health issues and disabilities, the elderly and single parents and to ensure their rehabilitation; and, ensure fair and humane treatment of all prisoners, in particular by allowing prisoners who have been prevented from communicating with their families to do so, and by granting prompt access to appropriate medical care for those in need.

    We will continue to support the Belarusian people’s aspiration for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2025: Joint Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2025: Joint Statement to the OSCE

    UK and 41 other OSCE participating States mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

    Mr Chair, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 42 participating States: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the member states of the European Union and my own country Switzerland.

    On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This prohibition is clearly enshrined in international human rights law and international humanitarian law – in particular in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Convention against Torture. We recall that the prohibition of torture is also considered a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens) and therefore does not allow for any derogation, even in situations of emergency.

    Five years after the adoption of the Tirana Ministerial Council Decision on the Prevention and Eradication of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the eradication of the use of torture in the OSCE region remains a distant goal. Torture and ill-treatment continue to occur across the region. Let us use this anniversary to redouble our efforts.

    Preventing torture requires transparency and independent monitoring. We call on all participating States to consider ratifying and implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and to ensure that independent and effective National Preventive Mechanisms are in place. Regular and unrestricted access to all places of detention is essential.

    In many detention facilities, conditions remain dire: overcrowding, lack of medical care, unsanitary conditions, prolonged isolation, and abuse during custody or interrogation. These conditions can amount to inhuman or degrading treatment and, at times, to torture.

    Perhaps even more pressing, torture has reemerged as a systematic and widespread practice in the context of armed conflict including occupation in the OSCE region. Torture and other inhuman treatment or acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the systematic use of torture by Russian forces has been thoroughly documented – including by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the OSCE Moscow Mechanism and ODIHR.

    Mr Chair, we are also alarmed by numerous reports of torture and ill-treatment used to suppress civil society and silence dissent. We express our strong support for civil society and human rights defenders. Their role in documentation, victim support and independent oversight is indispensable – and must be protected from reprisals.

    The use of torture and ill-treatment as means of intimidation, punishment or coercion are unacceptable in any context, and no derogation is permitted. We stand firm in our commitment to justice and accountability. These grave violations of international law, including human rights law and OSCE commitments, must not go unpunished.

    We urge all participating States to adopt a victim-centered and gender- responsive approach in all anti-torture efforts. Rehabilitation, justice and prevention must be guided by the voices and needs of survivors. The Méndez Principles should guide ethical and non-coercive interviewing practices.

    Mr Chair, torture must never be tolerated. Let us renew our collective efforts to uphold human dignity, support victims and survivors, and ensure accountability across the OSCE region and beyond.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three new flights connect Shanghai with cities in Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

    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) — Three new passenger flights linked Shanghai with Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on Thursday and Friday, Shanghai-based Pengpai news portal reported, citing a source at Shanghai Airport.

    The Boeing 737 aircraft of the Mongolian airline MIAT Mongolia Airlines, operating flight OM265, arrived in Shanghai at 00:12 on Thursday, which marked the opening of the flight on the Ulaanbaatar-Shanghai route.

    Flights on this route are operated twice a week. The aircraft leaves Ulaanbaatar at 20:40 local time on Wednesdays and Saturdays and arrives in Shanghai at 00:10 the following day Beijing time, on the return flight it departs Shanghai at 01:10 Beijing time on Thursdays and Sundays and lands at Ulaanbaatar airport at 05:00 local time.

    On Friday, the Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq launched a flight on the Tashkent-Shanghai route. Flights on this route are carried out twice a week. The company’s A-321 aircraft departs from Tashkent at 19:00 on Monday and 18:50 local time on Thursday and lands at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 05:00 the next day Beijing time, on the return flight it leaves Shanghai at 06:40 Beijing time on Tuesdays and Fridays and arrives in Tashkent at 11:50 local time.

    Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines will launch a flight on the Shanghai-Almaty route on Friday. Flights on this route will be operated three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

    According to the schedule, the A-321 aircraft departs from Shanghai at 16:05 local time and arrives in Almaty at 19:35 local time, on the return flight it departs from Almaty at 20:50 and lands at Pudong Airport at 05:45 /on Tuesdays and Thursdays/ and 06:05 /on Saturdays/. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ordos Cultural and Creative Industries Brand Promotion Week 2025 Launched

    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

    On July 3, the Ordos Cultural and Creative Industry Brand Promotion Week 2025 kicked off at the Ordos International Exhibition Center, Inner Mongolia.

    The event has set up a theme area dedicated to Ordos culture, cultural exhibition areas of Ordos districts and khoshuns, a digital culture area, etc. The event attracts more than 100 leading companies from China and other countries. Interactive activities such as intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, art performances, etc. are simultaneously held on site.

    The event will last until July 7, during which a series of activities will be held, such as a business meeting, a Yellow River-themed photo exhibition and an original music competition, to further promote the high-quality development of the cultural and creative industry.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 335 direct university offers accepted

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Education Bureau announced today that the selection process for the fourth cohort under the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) is complete, with 335 students accepting university offers.

    A total of 814 valid nominations were received from 420 secondary schools for the fourth cohort, the bureau said.

    The eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities participating in the scheme then arranged interviews for the nominated students and carefully considered their merits.

    Firm offers were made to 342 successful nominees prior to the release of this year’s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results. Of these nominees, 335 accepted their offers and will begin studies in their chosen undergraduate programmes, across a wide spectrum of disciplines, in September.

    Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said she was pleased to note the encouraging results of the fourth cohort, in particular the continuing increase in the number of offers made to the nominees.

    She thanked the secondary schools and universities for their support for the SNDAS as well as their recognition of students’ multifaceted talents, and for cultivating more talent for Hong Kong.

    Ms Choi highlighted that talent in diversified skills and knowledge is the key to Hong Kong’s future development.

    In addition to stressing that the Government has always placed great emphasis on nurturing young people, she added that it is striving to enhance the city’s education system and creating diverse opportunities for students to reach their full potential in different areas.

    Separately, each of the eight UGC-funded universities will be invited to nominate SNDAS admittees demonstrating an outstanding performance in arts, sports and/or community service for awarding scholarships in addition to the firm offers made.

    Additionally, to promote a culture of multifaceted excellence, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau has launched the Multi-talent Development Scholarship for admittees of the SNDAS demonstrating outstanding achievements in arts, sports and/or community service on top of the firm offers made under the SNDAS.

    Each awardee, not subject to means testing, will be granted a scholarship of $10,000 per year across his or her four-year tuition period.

    The scheme’s fifth round will open to Secondary 6 students who will sit for the next HKDSE Examination and start their undergraduate studies in September 2026. Details will be announced in due course.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 335 direct university offers accepted

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Education Bureau announced today that the selection process for the fourth cohort under the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) is complete, with 335 students accepting university offers.

    A total of 814 valid nominations were received from 420 secondary schools for the fourth cohort, the bureau said.

    The eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities participating in the scheme then arranged interviews for the nominated students and carefully considered their merits.

    Firm offers were made to 342 successful nominees prior to the release of this year’s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results. Of these nominees, 335 accepted their offers and will begin studies in their chosen undergraduate programmes, across a wide spectrum of disciplines, in September.

    Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said she was pleased to note the encouraging results of the fourth cohort, in particular the continuing increase in the number of offers made to the nominees.

    She thanked the secondary schools and universities for their support for the SNDAS as well as their recognition of students’ multifaceted talents, and for cultivating more talent for Hong Kong.

    Ms Choi highlighted that talent in diversified skills and knowledge is the key to Hong Kong’s future development.

    In addition to stressing that the Government has always placed great emphasis on nurturing young people, she added that it is striving to enhance the city’s education system and creating diverse opportunities for students to reach their full potential in different areas.

    Separately, each of the eight UGC-funded universities will be invited to nominate SNDAS admittees demonstrating an outstanding performance in arts, sports and/or community service for awarding scholarships in addition to the firm offers made.

    Additionally, to promote a culture of multifaceted excellence, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau has launched the Multi-talent Development Scholarship for admittees of the SNDAS demonstrating outstanding achievements in arts, sports and/or community service on top of the firm offers made under the SNDAS.

    Each awardee, not subject to means testing, will be granted a scholarship of $10,000 per year across his or her four-year tuition period.

    The scheme’s fifth round will open to Secondary 6 students who will sit for the next HKDSE Examination and start their undergraduate studies in September 2026. Details will be announced in due course.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Participates in Meetings of Doha Process Working Groups on Afghanistan

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, July 03, 2025

    The State of Qatar participated in the meetings of the working groups of the Doha Process on Afghanistan, led by the United Nations, which were held in Doha from June 30 to July 1.

    HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab represented the State of Qatar at the meetings.

    In a speech during the meeting, HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s unwavering commitment to the Afghan people, to establishing security and stability, achieving national reconciliation, and building the Afghan state.

    His Excellency affirmed the State of Qatar’s full readiness to continue working with its regional and international partners to achieve sustainable peace in Afghanistan and support Afghan national institutions to serve the aspirations of the Afghan people. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Special Envoy of Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets Several Officials on Margin of Doha Process on Afghanistan Meeting

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, July 03, 2025

    HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab met separately with HE Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Minister of State, and Special Representative of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, HE Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva, HE Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Special Envoy to Afghanistan Tariq Ali Bakheet, World Bank’s Country Director for Afghanistan Faris Hadad, on the margin of the meetings of the working groups of the Doha Process on Afghanistan.

    The meetings discussed cooperation relations and ways to support and develop them. They also discussed developments in Afghanistan and strengthening efforts to advance the UN-led Doha Process on Afghanistan.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Vice President of Venezuela Meets Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Caracas, July 04

    HE Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez met today in Caracas with HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.

    The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways to strengthen and enhance them, particularly in the economic and development fields. Discussions also covered the Qatari mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip, the latest developments in the Middle East and Latin America, and a number of topics of common interest.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chen Ke reimagines the women of Bauhaus at UCCA Beijing

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

    Editor’s Note: The UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing is presenting “Chen Ke: Bauhaus Unknown,” an exhibition showcasing more than 60 works by Chinese artist Chen Ke that highlight the often-overlooked role of women in the Bauhaus movement.

    Drawing on archival photos and Bauhaus-era styles, Chen Ke’s exhibition focuses on the women artists who contributed to Bauhaus, a pioneering German school for modern art and design often defined by men. The show both explores art and reexamines history, asking which stories have been left out and whose achievements are remembered.

    The exhibition runs until Sept. 7.

    This photo, taken on July 2, 2025, shows the entrance to the exhibition “Chen Ke: Bauhaus Unknown” at UCCA in Beijing. The show revisits the overlooked women of the Bauhaus weaving workshop, through paintings, works on paper and a felt mural. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sophisticated wooden tools found in SW China reveal early human ingenuity

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

    A cache of 35 remarkably well-preserved wooden tools has been unearthed in southwest China, dating back around 300,000 years, offering new insights into early human technology in East Asia.

    The discovery at the Gantangqing site in Yunnan Province, detailed in a study published Friday in the journal Science, marks the earliest known evidence of complex wooden tool technology in East Asia.

    Alongside the wooden artifacts, a wealth of associated cultural relics, including stone implements, antler “soft hammers,” animal fossils and plant remains, was also found during the excavation.

    According to an international research team, led by experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the wooden tools were mainly used for foraging plant roots and stems.

    Although early humans have used wood for over a million years, wooden artifacts are quite rare in the archaeological record, particularly during the Early and Middle Pleistocene.

    The research team determined that human activity at the site took place between 360,000 and 250,000 years ago, highlighting the diversity and complexity of early human production and survival strategies.

    The wooden tools, mainly crafted from pine, bear cutting and scraping marks indicative of activities like branch pruning and shaping. Polished streaks and fractures at their tips further attest to their use.

    Soil residues found on some tool tips contain plant starch grains, confirming that these wooden tools were primarily used for digging up underground plant foods.

    The findings highlight the crucial role of bamboo and wooden tools in the lives of ancient humans in East and Southeast Asia, and reveal, for the first time, the nature of ancient human gathering economies, said Gao Xing from IVPP, the paper’s corresponding author.

    Compared to wooden tool sites in Europe, which generally feature medium-sized hunting gear, Gantangqing stands out for its broader and more diverse array of small, hand-held tools.

    The sophistication of these wooden tools underscores the importance of organic artifacts in interpreting early human behavior, particularly in regions where stone tools alone have painted a more “primitive” technological picture.

    The site also yielded stone tools, predominantly small scrapers, which were mainly used for crafting wooden tools and butchering prey, according to the study.

    The use of wooden tools likely reflects the inhabitants’ shift from stone to wooden implements due to limited stone resources.

    Four deer antler fragments identified as “soft hammers” show clear usage marks, indicating that East Asian stone tool technology in the early and middle Paleolithic was more advanced than previously thought and challenging the notion that it lagged significantly behind Western technology, according to Gao.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-EU relations should be characterized as partnership, says Chinese FM

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

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that partnership and cooperation should be core takeaways from the past 50 years of relations between China and the EU.

    Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China-EU relations have advanced to higher levels and forged a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Wang called on the two sides to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to comprehensively review and reaffirm the important insight left by history, that is: China-EU relations should be characterized as a partnership, with cooperation being the defining feature, independence the key value, win-win outcomes the prospect for development.

    The two sides should, through high-level exchanges this year, cherish the efforts of predecessors, carry forward the hard-won spirit of cooperation, and jointly usher in the next 50 years of China-EU relations that are more resilient and autonomous, more mature and stable, and more visionary, he stressed.

    Wang pointed out that some people are trying to talk down China-EU relations, exaggerate specific issues, turn economic and trade issues into security matters, or cling to prejudices against China and confine themselves in a cocoon of false information.

    However, denying past achievements clouds the vision for the future, and failing to respect the efforts of predecessors is tantamount to denying one’s own present, he warned, stressing that the trend of progress is unstoppable, and China-EU relations will only move forward, not stagnate, let alone regress.

    Wang reaffirmed the consistency of China’s policy toward Europe, expressing firm support for European integration, strategic autonomy and Europe’s role as a key pillar of a multipolar world.

    Wang stressed that amid incessant chaos and confusion in the international landscape, China has been the most important stabilizing force and the most predictable factor of certainty in the world.

    On the issue of peace and security, China is a major country with the best track record, Wang said, noting China has never planned wars, nor has it participated in conflicts, let alone engaged in geopolitical competition.

    In terms of global economic development and recovery, China’s annual contribution to world economic growth accounts for about 30 percent, Wang said, adding that China has been accelerating high-level opening up and creating a more market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment.

    On international and regional disputes, China remains committed to political settlement through dialogue and consultation, opposes the use of force and unilateral sanctions, adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries, especially small and medium-sized countries, Wang said.

    China’s development is the growth of a force for peace in today’s world, Wang said, noting that China is willing to open arms to all countries, including European countries that hope to cooperate with China, and share opportunities, in a joint effort to protect the only planet inhabited by mankind and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Germany hold 8th round of strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security

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

    A good China-Germany relationship will not only drive the overall positive development of China-EU relations but also holds great significance for global stability and development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security held in Berlin on Thursday.

    He co-chaired the talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations, and the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership has also embarked on a new decade.

    China-EU and China-Germany relations are at a crucial juncture, drawing on past accomplishments to move forward and shape the future, he noted.

    As the world’s second and third-largest economies, China and Germany shoulder important international responsibilities and bear the hopes of all stakeholders, he said, noting that the two countries should join hands to reaffirm mutual trust, further consolidate cooperation, and continue to deepen bilateral relations.

    Facing the current turbulent international situation, particularly the prevalent protectionism, anti-globalization, and unilateral bullying, China and Germany must strengthen strategic communication and coordination, Wang stressed.

    The Chinese foreign minister added that the two countries should inject more certainty into the world by building on the stable relations between them, jointly advocate and practice multilateralism, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the UN Charter, and commit to developing a more reliable, stable, and predictable all-round strategic partnership.

    Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, setting the direction and tone for the next stage of China-Germany relations.

    Despite the shifting international landscape, China-Germany relations have maintained steady development, mainly thanks to their way of dealing with each other, which is characterized by mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and pursuing win-win cooperation, Wang said, calling this the fundamental logic for sustained development of China-Germany relations.

    Given the differences in history, culture, and social systems between China and Germany, it is natural that divergences exist, Wang said, noting that the key is to enhance understanding and mutual trust, and to view differences calmly and rationally.

    China places its relationship with Germany in an important position in its diplomacy and appreciates the positive and rational attitude of the new German government in developing relations with China, he said.

    It is hoped that the German side will support China’s efforts to achieve complete national reunification just as China had unconditionally supported the German reunification, and strictly adhere to the one-China principle, said Wang.

    As a core major country in the European Union, Germany has made positive efforts to advance China-EU relations, and it is hoped that Germany will continue to play a constructive role in the development of China-EU relations, Wang said.

    Wadephul said that Germany is willing to be a mutually trustworthy and predictable partner for cooperation with China.

    In an era fraught with crises and challenges, it is very important for Germany and China to maintain close communication and coordination, he said.

    The two countries have a long history of exchanges and a solid foundation for their partnership, he said, adding that the two share consensus on many issues and can properly handle differences and disagreements with mutual respect and a constructive attitude.

    Wadephul said that Germany looks forward to enhancing exchanges with China and to continuously strengthening bilateral cooperation.

    The German government firmly adheres to the one-China policy, he said.

    During the talks, the two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis, the Iran nuclear issue, the situation in the Middle East, and multilateral strategic coordination. They agreed to strengthen communication and coordination to work for ceasefires, ending conflicts, and peaceful settlement of disputes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Trump says he expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on ‘final’ peace proposal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a “final proposal” for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.

    The president also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalization of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term.

    Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.

    He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: “We’ll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours.”

    A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel’s war in Gaza.

    Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

    A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the U.N. and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”

    ABRAHAM ACCORDS

    Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about U.S. media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House.

    “It’s one of the things we talked about,” Trump said. “I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords,” he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.

    Axios reported that after the meeting with Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.

    Trump’s meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Malign Activity in the OSCE Region: Joint statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Malign Activity in the OSCE Region: Joint statement to the OSCE

    Deputy Ambassador James Ford delivers a statement on behalf of the UK and Canada on the increasing malign activity faced by OSCE States across our region.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, and my own country the United Kingdom.

    I would like to thank the US for the opportunity to address this important topic. The principle that security is comprehensive and interconnected across the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions sits at the very heart of the OSCE. But this is not the first time that this Council has had to address hybrid threats faced by participating States across our region.

    Hybrid activity can include espionage, transnational repression, foreign information manipulation and interference, malicious cyber activity, political interference, and sabotage – including of critical national infrastructure. These tactics are used to target all parts of societies, our citizens, institutions, journalists, universities, and businesses with the aim of undermining our national security.

    In recent years, such activity has increased in both frequency and intensity. As the UK has raised before, this includes arson in London, malign activity in various NATO and EU countries, and attempts to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions in the leadup to last year’s October presidential elections.

    Moreover, the line between state and non-state actors is blurring as certain states increasingly use proxies, illicit finance and organised crime groups to facilitate and conduct hybrid attacks. Last week’s Economic and Environmental Committee highlighted the serious threat posed by the so-called ‘shadow fleet,’ an example of destabilising actions in the OSCE region in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The next Security Committee will examine how illicit financial networks enable transnational organised crime.     

    As the UK, we will continue to press for effective OSCE action to tackle reckless hybrid attacks and malign influence aimed at destabilising our society and the shared security principles on which this organisation is based.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join in the fun and help shape your community at family events

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The Love Your Community fun days will be taking place at Pendeford Dovecotes TMO on Wednesday 30 July, the Cannock Road Gurdwara on Thursday 7 August, Lanesfield Church on Wednesday 13 August, and St Joseph’s Church, Coalway Road, on Wednesday 20 August. Each will run from 11am to 3pm and all are welcome.

    Partners including the City of Wolverhampton Council, community organisations and charities, the police and other service providers will be on hand to provide a day of enjoyment, wellbeing and practical support for people of all ages across four distinct zones.

    The Kids and Family Zone will include a bouncy castle and physical play, face painting, henna art and craft activities, while the Wellbeing Zone will offer a calm and supportive environment providing information and advice from partners like Rethink and the NHS as well as mindfulness sessions and journalling activities designed to promote self-care and reflection.

    Elsewhere, the Advice and Support Zone will offer residents financial tips, energy efficiency guidance and support with managing household budgets along with gardening workshops to encourage sustainable living and community greening, and the Sports and Physical Activity Zone will feature kickabouts with Wolves Foundation, calisthenics demonstrations, interactive sessions led by WV Active and appearances by Wolves mascots Wolfie and Wendy.

    Visitors will also be encouraged to contribute to the Love Your Community Wall, sharing what they value about their neighbourhood, contributing ideas for local improvements, and making a pledge to support positive change in their community.

    Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “These Love Your Community events will bring residents together for fun, connection, and support. They are a great chance for people to find out more about what is going on locally, discover services that can make their lives easier, and share their ideas to improve their neighbourhood.

    “The Love Your Community initiative is designed to empower and encourage people to take pride in their local area through community events, shared spaces, support networks and inclusive activities.

    “This is important because we know that, when residents feel seen, heard, and included, their neighbourhoods flourish — and so does our city. So please come along, join the fun, and help shape the future of your community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE #2: Arrest – Hit and run – Leanyer

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 43-year-old male after he handed himself into police in relation to a hit and run in Leanyer on Friday 27 June 2025.

    The white Holden Commodore station wagon has been seized. He is expected to be charged with a number of offences later this evening.

    Police would like to thank members of the public who called 131 444 to provide information.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Guam nuclear radiation survivors ‘heartbroken’ over exclusion from compensation bill

    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist

    People on Guam are “disappointed” and “heartbroken” that radiation exposure compensation is not being extended to them, says the president of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS), Robert Celestial.

    He said they were disappointed for many reasons.

    “Congress seems to not understand that we are no different than any state,” he told RNZ Pacific.

    “We are human beings, we are affected in the same way they are. We are suffering the same way, we are greatly disappointed, heartbroken,” Celestial said.

    The extension to the United States Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was part of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress on Friday (Thursday, Washington time).

    Downwind compensation eligibility would extend to the entire states of Utah, Idaho and New Mexico, but Guam – which was included in an earlier version of the bill – was excluded.

    All claimants are eligible for US$100,000.

    Attempt at amendment
    Guam Republican congressman James Moylan attempted to make an amendment to include Guam before the bill reached the House floor earlier in the week.

    “Guam has become a forgotten casualty of the nuclear era,” Moylan told the House Rules Committee.

    “Federal agencies have confirmed that our island received measurable radiation exposure as a result of US nuclear testing in the Pacific and yet, despite this clear evidence, Guam remains excluded from RECA, a program that was designed specifically to address the harm caused by our nation’s own policies.

    “Guam is not asking for special treatment we are asking to be treated with dignity equal to the same recognition afforded to other downwind communities across our nation.”

    Moylan said his constituents are dying from cancers linked to radiation exposure.

    From 1946 to 1962, 67 nuclear bombs were detonated in the Marshall Islands, just under 2000 kilometres from Guam.

    New Mexico Democratic congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández supported Moylan, who said it was “sad Guam and other communities were not included”.

    Colorado, Montana excluded
    The RECA extension also excluded Colorado and Montana; Idaho was also for a time but this was amended.

    Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS) members at a gathering . . . “heartbroken” that radiation exposure compensation is not being extended to them. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon

    Celestial said he had heard different rumours about why Guam was not included but nothing concrete.

    “A lot of excuses were saying that it’s going to cost too much. You know, Guam is going to put a burden on finances.”

    But Celestial said the cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office for Guam to be included was US$560 million while Idaho was $1.4 billion.

    “[Money] can’t be the reason that Guam got kicked out because we’re the lowest on the totem pole for the amount of money it’s going to cost to get us through in the bill.”

    Certain zip codes
    The bill also extends to communities in certain zip codes in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska, who were exposed to nuclear waste.

    Celestial said it’s taken those states 30 years to be recognised and expects Guam to be eventually paid.

    He said Moylan would likely now submit a standalone bill with the other states that were not included.

    If that fails, he said Guam could be included in nuclear compensation through the National Defense Authorization Act in December, which is for military financial support.

    The RECA extension includes uranium workers employed from 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1990.

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –