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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of the North-West Polytechnic University have completed their master’s degree

    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, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) have successfully completed their master’s degree program, according to a statement on the official website of the university.

    The graduation ceremony took place recently at SZPU. The event was conducted by the head of the Kazakh department of the university, Kun Jie.

    Vice-Rector of SZPU Yue Xiaokui warmly congratulated the eight Kazakhstanis on the successful completion of their studies and called on them to show courage in overcoming various difficulties in a promising scientific career.

    The Kazakh branch of SZPU plans to intensify cooperation in order to set an example of cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education, he said.

    In October 2023, eight Kazakhstani students received admission letters and became the first master’s students of the Kazakhstan branch of SZPU. Eight months later, they moved from Almaty to Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, and continued their studies at the Institutes of Electronic Information, Computer Science, and Materials Science of SZPU.

    With the help of their academic supervisors, at the end of June last year they successfully substantiated their choice of the topic for their diploma thesis and in June of this year they defended their final theses and received their academic degrees.

    Let us recall that in May 2023, within the framework of the China-Central Asia summit, an agreement was signed between SZPU and the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi /KazNU/ to open a Kazakhstan branch of SZUIU. Already in October of the same year, the branch accepted the first batch of students.

    Earlier this year, an agreement was signed between SZIU and KazNU to establish the China-Kazakhstan Elite Engineering Institute in Almaty. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China reports drop in drug arrests

    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, June 25 (Xinhua) — China has seen a steady decline in arrests for drug crimes in recent years, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said Wednesday.

    China’s procuratorates have arrested more than 53,000 people suspected of drug-related crimes from January 2024 to May 2025, down 14 percent from the same period last year, a press conference said.

    Miao Shengming, deputy prosecutor general of the NPC, noted that China has stepped up efforts to combat drug crimes, especially those related to money laundering.

    During the reporting period, Chinese prosecutors ordered the arrest of more than 700 people on suspicion of drug-related money laundering, and initiated criminal proceedings against more than 1,300 people, the NPC added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center has welcomed its first baby in 2025

    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

    CHENGDU, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first giant panda cub in 2025 was born at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

    The cub was born on June 21 at 11:50 p.m. by a female panda named “Linlan” as a result of a successful natural mating with a male named “Yasin” that took place in early March.

    “Despite the fact that 7-year-old Linglan is a first-time mother, she copes with her role perfectly: skillfully carrying the bear cub in her teeth, protecting it and licking it,” said deputy head of the base Wu Honglin.

    Base staff continue to closely monitor the health of “Linlan” and the baby.

    Since the 1980s, the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center has made the most active efforts to solve the problems that most hinder the captive breeding of this rare animal. As a result, the number of giant pandas kept at the center has increased from 6 in 1983 to more than 380 today. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow and Kyiv will choose dates for continuing contacts after the implementation of previously reached agreements in Istanbul is completed – D. Peskov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, June 25 /Xinhua/ — The dates for the continuation of talks between Russia and Ukraine will be determined after the completion of the implementation of the agreements previously reached in Istanbul. Moscow and Kyiv are not exchanging opinions on the draft memorandums while the process of implementing existing humanitarian agreements is underway, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

    “No. At the moment, the implementation of those humanitarian agreements that were reached during the second round is being completed,” he said.

    The spokesman added that after that it would be time to “decide on dates for the continuation.”

    Earlier, D. Peskov said that a new round of negotiations with Kiev would take place after June 22, and specific dates are being worked out. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China launches 300 billion yuan medium-term lending facility

    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, June 25 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) on Wednesday launched a 300 billion yuan (about 41.86 billion U.S. dollars) medium-term lending facility (MLF) to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system.

    According to the regulator, the one-year transaction was carried out on a fixed-quantity basis and interest-rate trading.

    With 182 billion yuan of MLF maturing this month, net inflows through the facility in June were only 118 billion yuan.

    Earlier this month, the PBOC also conducted two direct reverse repos, which brought in a total of 200 billion yuan of net liquidity, bringing the total medium-term net liquidity injections for June to 318 billion yuan.

    Analysts note that as government bond issuance accelerates, sustained liquidity support plays a key role in reducing funding volatility and strengthening market expectations. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: School Waltz: Polytechnic Graduates from Lyceum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The White Hall hosted a ceremonial presentation of certificates of secondary general education to graduates of the SPbPU Natural Science Lyceum. The Polytechnic University is honoring its youngest graduates in the year of the Lyceum’s 30th anniversary.

    The main heroes of the celebration were, of course, the smart, lively children, whom their parents and teachers looked at with emotion and tenderness. The younger brothers and sisters of the graduates, perhaps future lyceum and polytechnic students, were present in the hall.

    The first to congratulate the heroes of the occasion was the Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov: Having entered the Natural Sciences Lyceum two years ago, you declared that you were students, and all this time you lived according to the rules of adult life – with sessions, exams, classes – so you are ready to continue your education at the university. Polytechnic is proud of you. It’s great that you studied at our school, do not forget about us, about your teachers, and come back with ideas and projects.

    The teachers also said that they would like to see their beloved students at the Polytechnic again, this time as students.

    “Today I thought about how different you are, my dear students, how different from each other,” physics teacher Fyodor Nikitin addressed the children. “In what different ways and means you achieved your goals. Some of you worked hard, while others caught everything on the fly. Some had and still have golden hands, while others relied more on their heads. Some were and still are geniuses of communication. And this difference ultimately makes you competitive. Therefore, I want to wish you to find a path on which all your strengths would manifest themselves, and all your shortcomings, on the contrary, would be smoothed out.”

    What did your lyceum years give you? You had some, you know, a small spark, some energy that allowed you to overcome difficulties. And this spark flared up. I wish that it, this power, would help you in the future, – added chemistry teacher Igor Menshikov.

    Physics teacher Tatyana Vorobyova said that she was proud of how the children coped with the Unified State Exam task in her subject.

    Someone wrote the same way as he studied all this time, but many wrote better! I am very glad that you remembered everything that we taught you and thus showed yourself. I do not want to say goodbye to you under any circumstances. I really hope that we will meet within these walls.

    Biology teacher Valentin Nikolsky singled out the students’ parents: Guys, you probably have the best parents. I don’t know them, but I know their embodiment, their children, wonderful and interesting. Thanks to you, I go to work with joy. Today is a little sad, of course, because I have to say goodbye to you, but I think not forever. Don’t forget your native lyceum.

    And here is the solemn moment – Vice-Rector Dmitry Tikhonov and Director of the Natural Sciences Lyceum Roman Baibikov presented the graduates with certificates and souvenirs. This year, 75 people graduated from the Lyceum: 61 – from the physics and mathematics department and 14 – from the chemical and biological department. Four graduates received certificates with first-degree honors (gold medal): Elizaveta Shabunina, Grigory Shchegolyaev, Alisa Teplova and Roza Gesina. Another six received certificates with second-degree honors (silver medal). These are Alexandra Prokopenko, Vyacheslav Kovalev, Ekaterina Churkina, Anastasia Kemnits and Maria Solovieva.

    All the lyceum graduates successfully passed the Unified State Exam. This year, gold medalist Grigory Shchegolyaev received 100 points in physics. The best result in the Unified State Exam — 275 points — was received by Vyacheslav Kovalev.

    Many lyceum students showed good results at city and all-Russian subject Olympiads. And Andrey Kapustyanik became a two-time prize winner of the final stage of the All-Russian School Olympiad (in the 10th and 11th grades) in robotics.

    This year, every graduate of the Lyceum automatically receives an additional 10 points when entering the Polytechnic University.

    After the ceremony of handing out certificates, Arseniy Kazachenko, whose two sons have already graduated from the Polytechnic Lyceum, spoke on behalf of the parents. He thanked the teachers and the administration and, of course, congratulated the children. The graduates themselves did not remain in debt – they also prepared a speech addressed to the teachers and parents, to everyone who supported them at this stage of their life.

    And then the young couples went up on stage and performed the school graduation waltz. This has been happening for many years now and has become a good tradition of the Polytechnic.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada joins new NATO Defence Investment Pledge

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The world is increasingly dangerous and divided, with the rules-based international system under unprecedented pressure and global conflict becoming more frequent and volatile. To meet this moment, Canada and its Allies are building their defence capabilities to strengthen our collective security.

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies have agreed to a new Defence Investment Pledge of investing 5 per cent of annual GDP by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective security. The commitment aligns with Canada’s own strategic defence and security goals.

    As part of this 5 per cent pledge, Canada will invest 3.5 per cent of GDP for core military capabilities, expanding on our recent investments. That means further investments in our Canadian Armed Forces, modernizing our military equipment and technology, building up Canada’s defence industries, and diversifying our defence partnerships. An additional 1.5 per cent of GDP will be dedicated to investments in critical defence and security-related expenditure, such as new airports, ports, telecommunication, emergency preparedness systems, and other dual-use investments which serve defence as well as civilian readiness. Importantly, the progress of this pledge will be reviewed in 2029 to ensure Allies’ expenditures align with the global security landscape.

    At the Summit, Canada and its Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and the leaders agreed on the imperative for a just and lasting peace. Canada’s contributions to Ukraine’s defence and its defence industries, including Canada’s $2 billion in military assistance announced last week at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, are included in our NATO contributions, as the security of Ukraine is critical to our collective security.

    Quotes

    “The world is increasingly dangerous and divided. Canada must strengthen our defence to better protect our sovereignty, our interests, and our Allies. These investments won’t just build our military capacity – they will build our industries and create good, high-paying jobs at home. If we want a more secure world, we need a stronger Canada.”

    “Canada is a proud founding member of the Alliance. In an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world, we are making the critical investments needed to keep Canadians safe, support our Armed Forces, and strengthen our role in Europe and on the world stage. The renewed Defence Investment Pledge to invest 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 reaffirms Canada’s strong commitment to our security, to our sovereignty, and to NATO.”

    Related Product

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Green maritime fuel supply chain set

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan today attended the Mainland-Hong Kong Green Energy Matchmaking Event, which aims to provide a collaborative platform for relevant suppliers and companies with demand, to catalyse a comprehensive green maritime fuel supply chain and trade.

    The event was organised by the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and co-organised by the Transport & Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.

    It was held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen today. 

    More than 200 representatives from various enterprises gathered to exchange views and discuss collaborations in relation to fuel off-take and to sign relevant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

    Speaking at the Hong Kong venue, Ms Chan said Hong Kong and the Mainland have strong complementarity in the development of green maritime fuels.

    “The Mainland’s core strength lies in the production of green fuels, while Hong Kong, as the southern gate of Mainland China and an international financial, trading and maritime centre, is not only home to a large number of international shipping enterprises, but also enjoys advantages such as free flow of capital, a financial and legal system that is in line with the rest of the world, and a trade settlement mechanism that allows immediate payment settlements.”

    She added that Hong Kong is the top bunkering centre in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the second largest in the whole of China and ranks seventh globally.

    “By adopting the ‘north-to-south sales’ model, under which the high-quality green maritime fuels produced on the Mainland can be exported to the world through Hong Kong’s international trading gateway, we will open up new ‘blue ocean’ opportunities for enterprises from the two places.”

    The transport chief also pointed out the event materialised the target of the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in November last year, which said the Government will develop Hong Kong into the preferred green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the region. 

    Furthermore, Ms Chan witnessed the signing of MoUs between the TLB and various parties to collaborate on promoting the development of green maritime fuel-related businesses and establishing a market for the trade of green maritime fuels.

    Meanwhile, Commissioner for Maritime & Port Development Amy Chan attended the event at the Shenzhen venue, where she announced that the Marine Department will gazette the Code of Practice for Methanol Bunkering within this month, and launch the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Votes to Boost National Security and Border Protections

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Votes to Boost National Security and Border Protections

    Washington, June 25, 2025

    WASHINGTON—The House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported this advancement. This bill invests in border security and public safety and supports the Trump administration’s policy initiatives.
    “Under President Trump’s leadership, we have the most secure border in American history,” said Rep. Simpson. “Now is the time to strengthen our border protections and provide our brave Border Patrol agents with the resources they need to keep our homeland safe. I have long maintained that border security is national security, and supporting this advancement reaffirms that commitment.”
    Highlights of the bill include:

    Upholding the America First vision by realigning the Department of Homeland Security’s priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat posed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries and ensuring the safety and security of every American.
    Prioritizing border security and the detention and swift removal of criminal aliens.
    Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly fentanyl that poisons our communities.
    Protecting vulnerable children by strengthening exploitation investigations.
    Prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory.
    Prohibiting gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and surgery for ICE detainees.

    The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 36 to 27.
    This funding package will now go to the full floor of the House of Representatives for further consideration.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The mystery of Mercury’s missing meteorites – and how we may have finally found some

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben Rider-Stokes, Post Doctoral Researcher in Achondrite Meteorites, The Open University

    Mercury seen by Nasa’s Messenger spacecraft on the left. On the right, there’s an approximation of Mercury’s true colour as might be seen by the human eye. NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

    Most meteorites that have reached Earth come from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But we have 1,000 or so meteorites that come from the Moon and Mars. This is probably a result of asteroids hitting their surfaces and ejecting material towards our planet.

    It should also be physically possible for such debris to reach the Earth from Mercury, another nearby rocky body. But so far, none have been confirmed to come from there – presenting a longstanding mystery.

    A new study my colleagues and I conducted has discovered two meteorites that could have a Mercurian origin. If confirmed, they would offer a rare window into Mercury’s formation and evolution, potentially reshaping our understanding of the planet nearest the Sun.

    Because Mercury is so close to the Sun, any space mission to retrieve a sample from there would be complex and costly. A naturally delivered fragment, therefore, may be the only practical way to study its surface directly – making such a discovery scientifically invaluable.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Observations from Nasa’s Messenger mission have inferred the surface composition of Mercury. This suggests the presence of minerals known as such as sodium-rich plagioclase (such as albite), iron-poor pyroxene (for example enstatite), iron-poor olivine (such as forsterite) and sulfide minerals such as oldhamite.

    The meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 7325 was initially proposed as a possible fragment of Mercury. However, its mineralogy includes chromium-rich pyroxene containing approximately 1% iron. This poorly matches Mercury’s estimated surface composition. As a result of this, and other factors, this link has been challenged.

    Aubrite meteorites have also been proposed as potential Mercurian fragments. Recent modelling of their formation suggests an origin from a large planetary body approximately 5,000km in diameter (similar to Mercury), potentially supporting this hypothesis.

    Although aubrites do not exhibit chemical or spectral (the study of how light is broken up by wavelength) similarities with Mercury’s surface, it has been hypothesised that they may derive from the planet’s shallow mantle (the layer beneath the surface). Despite ongoing research, the existence of a definitive meteorite from Mercury remains unproven.

    Our latest study investigated the properties of two unusual meteorites, Ksar Ghilane 022 and Northwest Africa 15915. We found that the two samples appear to be related, probably originating from the same parent body. Their mineralogy and surface composition also exhibit intriguing similarities to Mercury’s crust. So this has prompted us to speculate about a possible Mercurian origin.

    Both meteorites contain olivine and pyroxene, minor albitic plagioclase and oldhamite. Such features are consistent with predictions for Mercury’s surface composition. Additionally, their oxygen compositions match those of aubrites.
    These shared characteristics make the samples compelling candidates for being Mercurian material.

    However, notable differences exist. Both meteorites contain only trace amounts of plagioclase, in contrast to Mercury’s surface, which is estimated to contain over 37%. Furthermore, our study suggests that the age of the samples is about 4,528 million years old. This is significantly older than Mercury’s oldest recognised surface units, which are predicted (based on crater counting) to be approximately 4,000 million years.

    If these meteorites do originate from Mercury, they may represent early material that is no longer preserved in the planet’s current surface geology.

    Will we ever know?

    To link any meteorite to a specific asteroid type, moon or planet is extremely challenging. For example, laboratory analysis of Apollo samples allowed meteorites found in desert collection expeditions to be matched with the lunar materials. Martian meteorites have been identified through similarities between the composition of gases trapped in the meteorites with measurements of the martian atmosphere by spacecraft.

    Until we visit Mercury and bring back material, it will be extremely difficult to assess a meteorite-planet link.

    The BepiColombo space mission, by the European and Japanese space agencies, is now in orbit around Mercury and is about to send back high-resolution data. This may help us determine the ultimate origin body for Ksar Ghilane 022 and Northwest Africa 15915.

    If meteorites from Mercury were discovered, they could help resolve a variety of long-standing scientific questions. For example, they could reveal the age and evolution of Mercury’s crust, its mineralogical and geochemical composition and the nature of its gases.

    The origin of these samples is likely to remain a subject of continuing debate within the scientific community. Several presentations have already been scheduled for the upcoming Meteoritical Society Meeting 2025 in Australia. We look forward to future discussions that will further explore and refine our understanding of their potential origin.

    For now, all we can do is make educated guesses. What do you think?

    Ben Rider-Stokes receives funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

    – ref. The mystery of Mercury’s missing meteorites – and how we may have finally found some – https://theconversation.com/the-mystery-of-mercurys-missing-meteorites-and-how-we-may-have-finally-found-some-259596

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jackson Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill, The Marshall “Major” Taylor Congressional Gold Medal Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01) and Jim Baird (R-IN-04) led 43 of their colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Marshall “Major” Taylor Congressional Gold Medal Act. This legislation would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor — America’s first Black sports star, recognizing his significance to the nation as a trailblazing athlete. 

    Taylor managed to become the first African American world champion in any sport and earned the title of “world’s fastest man” despite the extraordinary challenges of the Jim Crow era. He endured attempts by white promoters in both the North and South to exclude him from races. White riders, too, subjected Taylor to curses, insults, and even physical harm during competitions. Despite these adversities, Taylor’s exceptional talent and tenacity turned him into a sensation, drawing tens of thousands at races across the United States, Europe, and Australia.

    “It is without question that Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor was a man before his time, a stellar athlete, a leader in the field of cycling, and a trailblazer,” said Rep. Jackson. “I believe it is fitting that Congress award the ‘world’s fastest man’ one of our nation’s most prestigious honors.”

    “Even when compared to today’s athletes, Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor is among the greatest cyclists of all time,” said Rep. Baird. “His accomplishments are especially impressive considering the challenges he faced on his climb to cycling greatness. Marshall Taylor is one of the greatest athletes in Indiana history, and I can think of no one better suited to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.”

    “Marshall W. ‘Major’ Taylor challenged both the odds and the adversity of his time with dignity and determination, and he went on to ultimately triumph,” said Karen Brown Donovan, the great-granddaughter of Major Taylor. “The awarding of a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal would be a significant achievement towards honoring his life and legacy.”

    Supporting Individuals and Groups

    119th Congress

    Co-lead: Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

    Original Cosponsors (44 total): Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI-AL), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), David Scott (D-GA-13), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02),  Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Sharice Davis (D-KS-03),  Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09),  Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC),  Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07),  Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12),  Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06),  Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Nanette Barragan (D-CA-44), Troy Carter (D-LA-02),  Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Shomari Figures (D-AL-02).

    Supporting Organizations: Washington Area Bicyclist Association, The League of American Bicyclists, Major Taylor Association, Bike to the Beach, and Black Girls Do Bike, Inc.

    118th Congress

    Co-lead: Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

    Original Cosponsors (32 total): Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), André Carson (D-IN-07), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA-04), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Earl Blumenauer (D-WA-03), James McGovern (D-MA-02), David Scott (D-GA-13), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Al Green (D-TX-09), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), David Trone (D-MD-06), Ann Kuster (D-NH-02), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02). 

    Supporting Organizations: Bronzeville Trail Task Force, Inc., Major Taylor Association, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, League of American Bicyclists, ADD Impact Network & Bike to the Beach, and Black Girls Do Bike, Inc. 

    About Major Taylor

    Taylor, the son of a veteran who fought in the Civil War, was born in 1878. Despite racial tension, Taylor was educated and viewed as an adopted son by an affluent white family from Indianapolis, Indiana, who also employed his father, Gilbert Taylor. Due to his relationship with the family, Taylor received gifts, including his first bicycle. Upon receiving the bicycle, Taylor displayed natural talent. 

    Taylor received the nickname “Major” as a child while performing bicycle tricks outside of his workplace at Hay & Willits Manufacturing, Indiana Bicycle Co., in Indianapolis. His employer was so impressed with his abilities that the company enrolled him in his first race, which he won at the age of eleven. Taylor moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his employer, mentor, and racing manager, Louis D. “Birdie” Munger, in 1895, because Munger was forced out of his Indianapolis-based firm due to his mentorship of Taylor. 

    In 1896, at the age of eighteen, Taylor received a professional racing license from the League of American Wheelmen, despite the league’s 1894 “white only” rule for amateur membership. This membership led to his eventual professional debut.  

    Later that year, Taylor gained notoriety in his first professional contest by competing in the “Six Day Race” at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This race was considered a test of endurance, where cyclists would test both their mental and physical ability in front of a packed house at the Garden. At the conclusion of day six, Taylor finished eighth out of twenty-six and cycled roughly 1,732 miles. 

    In 1899, Taylor would win the world one-mile sprint championship in Montréal, becoming the first Black American and the second Black athlete to win a world title. Taylor would go on to set seven cycling records and become the first Black world champion, which led to his being considered the first international superstar. Taylor would even revolutionize the sport by creating an innovative adjustable handlebar stem, which to date is called the “Major Taylor Stem.”

    While experiencing racial prejudice throughout his career, Taylor became one of the first Black athletes to secure corporate sponsorships. He represented bicycle brands such as Iver Johnson, Sager, Stearns, and Orient, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest Black men in America. Due to his devout commitment to his faith, Taylor refused to race on Sundays, which led to him turning down a significant number of lucrative offers to race in Europe. However, once he achieved international superstardom, Taylor was able to negotiate “no Sundays” provisions in his European racing contracts. 

    Taylor retired from racing in 1910 and started many business ventures. In 1928, he published his autobiography “The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World” with the intent of impacting justice, equal rights, and the ‘square deal’ for African Americans in sports. 

    About the Congressional Gold Medal

    Since the late 1700s, Congress has expressed public gratitude to individuals and groups by awarding medals and other similar decorations. The Continental Congress awarded the first Congressional Gold Medals. Since that time, Congress has awarded gold medals to express public gratitude for distinguished contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events. Two-thirds of both the House and Senate must cosponsor the legislation to advance it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the 49th Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha – June 24, 2025

    Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has participated in the 49th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), held in Doha, under the chairmanship of HE Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly State of Kuwait, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, and in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC countries.

    During the meeting, the latest developments in the region were discussed, particularly the Iranian missile attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

    During the meeting, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, considering it a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter. He noted that Qatar will continue to deal with all developments wisely, in line with its commitment to the principle of good neighborliness and the promotion of security and stability in the region.

    He also expressed the State of Qatar’s gratitude to the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, who expressed their sister countries’ solidarity with Qatar following the Iranian attack, stressing that Gulf solidarity remains a crucial factor in light of common challenges.

    During the meeting, the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf expressed its full solidarity with the State of Qatar and its full support for the measures it is taking to preserve its security and stability.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Preview Citation

    Format: Chicago

    Alexander Copestake, Divya Kirti, and Maria Soledad Martinez Peria. “Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability”, Fintech Notes 2025, 004 (2025), accessed June 25, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014250.063

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    Summary

    Policymakers in many countries aim to increase the uptake of retail digital payment systems. This Note examines whether interoperability can help achieve this goal. We provide a conceptual framework that explains how interoperability can support the adoption of digital payments by increasing users’ freedom to choose their favorite app. We present evidence consistent with this framework using granular data covering the universe of transactions on India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an interoperable platform that has become the world’s largest retail fast payment system by volume. We find that interoperability has indeed supported adoption, suggesting that promoting interoperability could be a promising policy lever for countries seeking to transition away from cash.

    Subject: Digital financial services, Financial markets, Financial regulation and supervision, Financial services, Fintech, Monetary policy, Money, Payment systems, Technology

    Keywords: Digital financial services, Fintech, Fintech, Interoperability, Networks, Payment systems, Payments, UPI

    Publication Details

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 June 2025 Joint News Release Energy Access Has Improved, Yet International Financial Support Still Needed to Boost Progress and Address Disparities

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 finds that almost 92% of the world’s population now has basic access to electricity Although this is an improvement since 2022, which saw the number of people without basic access decrease for the first time in a decade, over 666 million people remain without access, indicating that the current rate is insufficient to reach universal access by 2030. Clean cooking access is progressing but below the rates of progress seen in the 2010s, as efforts remain hobbled by setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, following energy price shocks, and debt crises.

    Released today, the latest edition of the annual report that tracks progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 highlights the role of distributed renewable energy (a combination of mini-grid and off-grid solar systems) to accelerate access, since the population remaining unconnected lives mostly in remote, lower-income, and fragile areas. Cost-effective and rapidly scalable, decentralised solutions are able to reach communities in such rural areas.

    Decentralised solutions are also needed to increase access to clean cooking. With an estimated 1.5 billion people residing in rural areas still lacking access to clean cooking, the use of off-grid clean technologies, such as household biogas plants and mini-grids that facilitate electric cooking, can provide solutions that reduce health impacts caused by household air pollution. Over 670 million people remain without electricity access, and over 2 billion people remain dependent on polluting and hazardous fuels such as firewood and charcoal for their cooking needs.

    Notable progress was made in different indicators. The international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy grew for the third year in a row to reach USD 21.6 billion in 2023.  Installed renewables capacity per capita continued to increase year-on-year to reach a new high of 341 watts per capita in developing countries, up from 155 watts in 2015.

    Yet regional disparities persist, indicating that particular support is needed for developing regions. In sub-Saharan Africa – which lags behind across most indicators – renewables deployment has rapidly expanded but remains limited to 40 watts of installed capacity per capita on average which is only one-eighth of the average of other developing countries. Eighty-five percent of the global population without electricity access reside in the region, while four in five families are without access to clean cooking. And the number of people without clean cooking access in the region continues to grow at a rate of 14 million people yearly.

    The report identified the lack of sufficient and affordable financing as a key reason for regional inequalities and slow progress. To build on the achievements to date and avoid any further regressions on access to electricity and clean cooking due to looming risks in global markets, the report calls for strengthened international cooperation of public and private sectors, to scale up financial support for developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Urgent actions include reforms in multilateral and bilateral lending to expand the availability of public capital; more concessional finance mobilisation, grants, and risk mitigation instruments; improvement in risk tolerance among donors; as well as appropriate national energy planning and regulations.

    Key findings across primary indicators

    • Almost 92% of the world’s population now has access to electricity, leaving over 666 million people without electricity in 2023, with around 310 million people gaining access since 2015. Eighteen of the 20 countries with the largest electricity access deficits in 2023 were in sub-Saharan Africa. The greatest growth in access between 2020 and 2023 occurred in Central and Southern Asia, with both regions making significant strides towards universal electricity access, reducing their basic access gap from 414 million in 2010 to just 27 million in 2023.
    • Little to no change was observed in access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking between 2022 and 2023. Although the number of the world’s population with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies increased from 64% in 2015 to 74% in 2023, around 2.1 billion people remain dependent on polluting fuels and technologies. If current trends continue, only 78% of the global population will have access to clean cooking by 2030.
    • In 2022, the global share of renewable energy sources in total final energy consumption (TFEC) was 17.9% as TFEC continued to increase gradually, while installed renewable energy capacity reached 478 watts per capita in 2023, indicating almost 13% growth from 2022. But progress is not sufficient to meet international climate and sustainable development goals. In addition, global efforts must address significant disparities. Despite progress in expanding renewable capacity, least developed countries and sub-Saharan Africa had only 40 watts per capita in installed renewables capacity, compared to developed countries which had over 1,100 watts installed.
    • Global energy efficiency experienced sluggish progress in recent years. The global trend shows that primary energy intensity, defined as the ratio of total energy supply to gross domestic product, declined by 2.1% in 2022. Although it is an improvement of more than four times the weak 0.5% improvement rate of 2021, it is insufficient to meet the original SDG 7.3 target. Going forward, energy intensity needs to improve by 4% per year on average. 
    • International public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy increased by 27% from 2022, reaching USD 21.6 billion in 2023.  However, the report reveals that the developing world received fewer flows in 2023 than in 2016, when commitments peaked at USD 28.4 billion. Despite gradual diversification, funding remained concentrated, with only two sub-Saharan African countries in the top five recipients. Debt-based instruments drove most of the increase in international public flows in 2023, accounting for 83% in 2023, while grants made up only 9.8% of flows.

    The report will be presented to decision-makers at a special launch event on 16 July 2025 at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, which oversees progress on the SDGs.

    Quotes

    Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

    “Despite progress in some parts of the world, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa. This is contributing to millions of premature deaths each year linked to smoke inhalation, and is holding back development and education opportunities. Greater investment in clean cooking and electricity supply is urgently required, including support to reduce the cost of capital for projects.”

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency

    “Renewables have seen record growth in recent years, reminding the world of its affordability, scalability, and its role in further reducing energy poverty. But we must accelerate progress at this crunch time. This means overcoming challenges, which include infrastructure gaps. The lack of progress, especially on infrastructure, is a reflection of limited access to financing. Although international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy grew to USD 21.6 billion in 2023, only two regions in the world have seen real progress in the financial flows. To close the access and infrastructure gaps, we need strengthened international cooperation to scale up affordable financing and impact–driven capital for the least developed and developing countries.”

    Stefan Schweinfest, Director, United Nations Statistics Division

    “This year’s report shows that now is the time to come together to build on existing achievements and scale up our efforts. Despite advancements in increasing renewables-based electricity, which now makes up almost 30 percent of global electricity consumption, the use of renewables for other energy-related purposes remains stagnant. While energy intensity improved in 2022, overall progress remains weak, threatening economic growth and the energy efficiency goals agreed upon at COP28. The clock is ticking. The findings of this year’s report should serve as a rallying point, to rapidly mobilize efforts and investments, so that together, we ensure sustainable energy for all by 2030.”

    Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank

    “As we approach the five-year mark to achieve the SDG7 targets, it is imperative to accelerate the deployment of electricity connections, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where half of the 666 million people lacking access reside. As part of the Mission 300 movement, 12 African nations have launched national energy compacts, in which they commit to substantial reforms to lower costs of generation and transmission, and scale up distributed renewable energy solutions. Initiatives such as this unite governments, the private sector, and development partners in a collaborative effort.

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, World Health Organization

    “The same pollutants that are poisoning our planet are also poisoning people, contributing to millions of deaths each year from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, particularly among the most vulnerable, including women and children,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We urgently need scaled-up action and investment in clean cooking solutions to protect the health of both people and planet—now and in the future.”

    About the report

    This report is published by the SDG 7 custodian agencies, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO) and aims to provide the international community with a global dashboard to register progress on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy and international cooperation to advance SDG 7.

    This year’s edition was chaired by IRENA.  

    The report can be downloaded at https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/

    Funding for the report was provided by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Hague Summit Declaration

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    1. We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, have gathered in The Hague to reaffirm our commitment to NATO, the strongest Alliance in history, and to the transatlantic bond. We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all. We remain united and steadfast in our resolve to protect our one billion citizens, defend the Alliance, and safeguard our freedom and democracy. 
       
    2. United in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations, in accordance with Article 3 of the Washington Treaty. Our investments will ensure we have the forces, capabilities, resources, infrastructure, warfighting readiness, and resilience needed to deter and defend in line with our three core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security. 
       
    3. Allies agree that this 5% commitment will comprise two essential categories of defence investment. Allies will allocate at least 3.5% of GDP annually based on the agreed definition of NATO defence expenditure by 2035 to resource core defence requirements, and to meet the NATO Capability Targets. Allies agree to submit annual plans showing a credible, incremental path to reach this goal. And Allies will account for up to 1.5% of GDP annually to inter alia protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base. The trajectory and balance of spending under this plan will be reviewed in 2029, in light of the strategic environment and updated Capability Targets. Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, will include direct contributions towards Ukraine’s defence and its defence industry when calculating Allies’ defence spending. 
       
    4. We reaffirm our shared commitment to rapidly expand transatlantic defence industrial cooperation and to harness emerging technology and the spirit of innovation to advance our collective security. We will work to eliminate defence trade barriers among Allies and will leverage our partnerships to promote defence industrial cooperation. 
       
    5. We express our appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to us by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We look forward to our next meeting in Türkiye in 2026 followed by a meeting in Albania. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates two epidemiologically linked measles infection cases

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CHP investigates two epidemiologically linked measles infection cases 
    The two cases are family members living together. The first case involves a six-month-old baby boy. He presented with fever on June 21, and developed cough, runny nose and skin rash the following day. He was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital on June 23 and was admitted for treatment. His respiratory specimen sample tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing.

    During contact tracing, the CHP found that the boy’s 29-year-old father also presented symptoms of measles, including fever and cough, on June 20 and developed skin rash on June 23. The CHP arranged the patient to attend the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital for isolation and testing on June 24. His respiratory specimen sample tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. 
    An epidemiological investigation revealed that the baby boy has not yet reach the age to receive the first dose of the measles vaccine, while his father was uncertain whether he had received measles vaccination. One of their household contacts also presented relevant symptoms earlier and has recovered now. Testing is being arranged for this household contact.
     
    The CHP continues to investigate the cases to identify potential sources of infection and high-risk exposure. Initial investigation revealed that no epidemiological linkages have been established between these two cases and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong. 
    The number of measles cases in some overseas countries remains at a high level this year. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received a measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination.
    ???
    Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
     For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic pageIssued at HKT 20:37

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS continues visit to Tianjin (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Tianjin today (June 25) to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 (also known as the Summer Davos). In the evening, he travelled to Beijing to attend the Host Member Gala Dinner for the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

    In the morning, Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the Summer Davos and delivered a speech. In addition to attending the opening ceremony, Mr Chan participated in a discussion session in the afternoon titled, “Is the Asian Century at Risk?”. Other regional leaders in attendance included the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Pham Minh Chinh; the Deputy Chairperson of Indonesia’s Gerindra Party, Ms Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo; and the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr Sunil Handunneththi. The discussion focused on how Asia could address local development and external challenges amid the current geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and technological transformation.

    During the session, Mr Chan remarked that the Asian region is developing rapidly, with Hong Kong benefitting from its unique position under “one country, two systems”. He highlighted Hong Kong’s dual advantages of priority access to the Mainland’s market and its connectivity to the global economy, serving as a gateway between the Mainland and the world. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong facilitates efficient two-way capital flows and cross-border financial co-operation within Asia and between Asia and other regions. In the current international geopolitical and economic environment, Hong Kong is actively supporting Mainland enterprises in expanding internationally and building global industry chains and supply chains.

    In response to questions, Mr Chan emphasised that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Hong Kong has provided a more stable and secure business environment that allows society to focus on economic development. He pointed out that the performance of Hong Kong’s capital markets over the past year, along with surveys conducted by various foreign chambers of commerce, demonstrates that international investors are showing confidence in Hong Kong with their capital and actions. Mr Chan further noted that Hong Kong’s openness, diversity and international outlook under “two systems”, along with its common law system, remain key advantages in attracting international businesses and talent.

    Mr Chan also met with the Chairman ad interim of the World Economic Forum, Mr Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, during which he briefed him on Hong Kong’s latest economic developments, including progress in the financial and innovation and technology (I&T) sectors. The two sides also explored opportunities to strengthen co-operation in technological innovation and personnel exchanges. Mr Chan expressed gratitude to the World Economic Forum for offering secondment opportunities to Hong Kong SAR Government personnel, enabling them to gain more international exposure.

    During his time in Tianjin, Mr Chan participated in the following activities:

    (1) A thematic session titled “Funding China’s Next Tech Breakthrough” hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, where he shared with representatives from investment banks, funds, asset management firms, I&T companies and think tanks how Hong Kong provides a full range of fundraising options – from start-up investments to stock market listings – to provide financial support to the accelerated development of I&T enterprises;

    (2) An exchange session between technology enterprises from Tianjin and Hong Kong organised by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, where Mr Chan introduced the dual advantages of Hong Kong’s financial and I&T synergy to I&T enterprises from Tianjin and Hong Kong, and accelerating the development of I&T through financial empowerment. Some members of the I&T delegation on the visit also participated in the session, where they explored collaboration opportunities with Tianjin’s I&T companies; and

    (3) A gathering hosted by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Tianjin, where Mr Chan shared updates on Hong Kong’s economy, future development directions, and opportunities for further strengthening co-operation between Tianjin and Hong Kong in finance, trade and I&T.

    After concluding his visit to Tianjin, Mr Chan proceeded to Beijing to attend the Host Member Gala Dinner for the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the AIIB.

    Mr Chan will attend the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the AIIB tomorrow (June 26).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Christopher Hui attends AIIB meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said today Hong Kong shares the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) mission of providing high-quality financial disclosures as a reliable player that builds trust with stakeholders.

    He made the statement during a side event at the AIIB’s 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors on “Implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) from the Ground Up: The AIIB Journey”.

    Mr Hui noted that while the AIIB is one of the first multilateral development banks to adopt the ISSB Standards, Hong Kong was also confirmed by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation earlier this month as among the initial set of jurisdictions having set a target of fully adopting the ISSB Standards.

    He said: “By aligning with a global standard, we ensure international comparability of our data. This not only boosts investor confidence but also creates a strong foundation for new opportunities.”

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work in collaboration with financial regulators and stakeholders to support the pragmatic implementation of the ISSB Standards through enhancing capacity building and promoting the use of technological solutions, Mr Hui added.

    In addition, Mr Hui also spoke on “Fostering Development and Infrastructure Connectivity” at the Governors’ Business Roundtable in the afternoon.

    He shared with delegations from other member states Hong Kong’s efforts in fostering development in sustainable finance as well as developing diverse and innovative financial products.

    The latter includes the roll-out of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and the issuance of infrastructure loan-backed securities by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) with the AIIB as an anchor investor. He told the delegations that a third issuance by the HKMC can be expected this year.

    At the AIIB President’s Reception and the Special Session of the Board of Governors’ meeting held yesterday, Mr Hui met AIIB President Jin Liqun and AIIB President-elect Zou Jiayi.

    He also met financial officials of other member states to update them on Hong Kong’s latest developments in green and sustainable finance, and the recent vibrant financial market situation.

    Additionally, Mr Hui held bilateral meetings separately with delegations from Egypt, Germany and Poland on the sidelines of the annual meeting to explore opportunities for further co-operation.

    During his stay in Beijing, Mr Hui met Industrial & Commercial Bank of China President Liu Jun and China Construction Bank Chief Financial Officer Sheng Liurong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: The Hague Summit Declaration

    Source: NATO


    issued by the NATO Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in The Hague 25 June 2025

    1. We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, have gathered in The Hague to reaffirm our commitment to NATO, the strongest Alliance in history, and to the transatlantic bond. We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all. We remain united and steadfast in our resolve to protect our one billion citizens, defend the Alliance, and safeguard our freedom and democracy.
       
    2. United in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long- term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations, in accordance with Article 3 of the Washington Treaty. Our investments will ensure we have the forces, capabilities, resources, infrastructure, warfighting readiness, and resilience needed to deter and defend in line with our three core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.
       
    3. Allies agree that this 5% commitment will comprise two essential categories of defence investment. Allies will allocate at least 3.5% of GDP annually based on the agreed definition of NATO defence expenditure by 2035 to resource core defence requirements, and to meet the NATO Capability Targets. Allies agree to submit annual plans showing a credible, incremental path to reach this goal. And Allies will account for up to 1.5% of GDP annually to inter alia protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base. The trajectory and balance of spending under this plan will be reviewed in 2029, in light of the strategic environment and updated Capability Targets. Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, will include direct contributions towards Ukraine’s defence and its defence industry when calculating Allies’ defence spending.
       
    4. We reaffirm our shared commitment to rapidly expand transatlantic defence industrial cooperation and to harness emerging technology and the spirit of innovation to advance our collective security. We will work to eliminate defence trade barriers among Allies and will leverage our partnerships to promote defence industrial cooperation.
       
    5. We express our appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to us by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We look forward to our next meeting in Türkiye in 2026 followed by a meeting in Albania.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Geoff Beattie 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. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

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    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Geoff Beattie 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. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Ballad of Wallis Island is a masterpiece of the extraordinary made ordinary

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicola Bishop, Academic Enhancement Lead, De Montfort University

    With The Ballad of Wallis Island, Tom Basden and Tim Key have written a poignant and comical exploration of music, loss, nostalgia and hope.

    The film has been compared to Once (2007) and Local Hero (1983), similarly low-key films that put music at the heart of quiet personal transformations. It also shares common ground with movingly situated, deliberately gently paced and panoramically shot films like The Dig (2021).

    It was made in just 18 days on a tight budget in a typical Welsh summer. A doctor was on hand to stop the actors getting hypothermia when they filmed shots in the sea. Filmed in an eclectic mausoleum of an old manor house, with a charmingly decorated coat of arms in the hallway, leaky taps and socially awkward characters, it is easy to see why romcom giant Richard Curtis called it “one of the great British films of all time”.

    The film takes place on the fictional Wallis Island, home to millionaire Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric and almost obsessive fan of former folk-rock duo McGwyer Mortimer (Herb and Nell, played by Basden and Carey Mulligan). Invited to the island to play a private gig, Herb and Nell face their musical and romantic past, all under the gaze of an ecstatic Charles.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Pared back and slow paced, the film downplays the complex emotions at its core and leaves the audience to connect their own dots. Instead of verbose dialogue or emotional clashes it uses everyday details to encourage the audience to be observant – a two-second shot that picks out a framed picture on a sideboard, the shadow that passes over a face, a simple gesture.

    Sitting comfortably alongside these big feelings – love, loss, grief, change, nostalgia – are all of the hallmarks of a British comedy classic. Victoria Wood-esque puns (watch out for Dame Judi “Drenched”), slapstick physical gags and pop culture references keep the audience laughing without unbalancing the pathos. It is reminiscent of Wood’s sitcom Dinnerladies (1998-2000), in the breadcrumb trail of slipped in details that provide laughter in the moment but which return to make the audience think twice.

    Basden’s brilliance

    Writer and star Tom Basden has form in the sitcom world. As well as his sitcom Plebs (2013), his most recent television project, Here We Go (2022), shares many of the subtle emotional touches and casually observed titbits of everyday life.

    Here We Go is a wonderful blend of quirky British antics and emotional depth, equally aided by a stellar script and cast. Purportedly filmed as part of a media project by the youngest member of the Jessop family, and sequenced into flashbacks and forwards across several days or weeks, the episodes drip-feed humdrum details that later gain significance. And like Dinnerladies, the funniest observations are those that the audience earn, not those that are given away, by rewatching again and again.

    The trailer for The Ballad of Wallis Island.

    While Here We Go uses disordered sequencing to reveal the meaning behind tiny details, The Ballad of Wallis Island uses objects that give hints about the past. Pictures of Charles and Marie at gigs, fridge magnets of the places they visited, the ticket stumps and magazine interviews of a super-fan collector. The extraordinariness of now is rooted in the everyday of Charles’s past. Even the source of his wealth rests on a single ordinary moment that has the potential to change all of their lives.

    Key and Basden turn the complex emotions of minutia into a powerful narrative. A bar of well-used soap on the side of the bathtub, a plastic bag of 20-pence pieces, and a bowl of homemade soup become symbols of emotional connection to the story, while their everydayness stops them from feeling saccharine or soppy.

    This is, as others have called it, a nostalgic film, about loss and moving on. But it also records a present that is made up of tiny glimpses of everyday life, captured like Here We Go, against a backdrop of the familiar and the ordinary. The quietly hopeful takeaway from the film is that small gestures are as memorable as any stadium finale.

    Nicola Bishop 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. The Ballad of Wallis Island is a masterpiece of the extraordinary made ordinary – https://theconversation.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-is-a-masterpiece-of-the-extraordinary-made-ordinary-259635

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Ballad of Wallis Island is a masterpiece of the extraordinary made ordinary

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicola Bishop, Academic Enhancement Lead, De Montfort University

    With The Ballad of Wallis Island, Tom Basden and Tim Key have written a poignant and comical exploration of music, loss, nostalgia and hope.

    The film has been compared to Once (2007) and Local Hero (1983), similarly low-key films that put music at the heart of quiet personal transformations. It also shares common ground with movingly situated, deliberately gently paced and panoramically shot films like The Dig (2021).

    It was made in just 18 days on a tight budget in a typical Welsh summer. A doctor was on hand to stop the actors getting hypothermia when they filmed shots in the sea. Filmed in an eclectic mausoleum of an old manor house, with a charmingly decorated coat of arms in the hallway, leaky taps and socially awkward characters, it is easy to see why romcom giant Richard Curtis called it “one of the great British films of all time”.

    The film takes place on the fictional Wallis Island, home to millionaire Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric and almost obsessive fan of former folk-rock duo McGwyer Mortimer (Herb and Nell, played by Basden and Carey Mulligan). Invited to the island to play a private gig, Herb and Nell face their musical and romantic past, all under the gaze of an ecstatic Charles.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Pared back and slow paced, the film downplays the complex emotions at its core and leaves the audience to connect their own dots. Instead of verbose dialogue or emotional clashes it uses everyday details to encourage the audience to be observant – a two-second shot that picks out a framed picture on a sideboard, the shadow that passes over a face, a simple gesture.

    Sitting comfortably alongside these big feelings – love, loss, grief, change, nostalgia – are all of the hallmarks of a British comedy classic. Victoria Wood-esque puns (watch out for Dame Judi “Drenched”), slapstick physical gags and pop culture references keep the audience laughing without unbalancing the pathos. It is reminiscent of Wood’s sitcom Dinnerladies (1998-2000), in the breadcrumb trail of slipped in details that provide laughter in the moment but which return to make the audience think twice.

    Basden’s brilliance

    Writer and star Tom Basden has form in the sitcom world. As well as his sitcom Plebs (2013), his most recent television project, Here We Go (2022), shares many of the subtle emotional touches and casually observed titbits of everyday life.

    Here We Go is a wonderful blend of quirky British antics and emotional depth, equally aided by a stellar script and cast. Purportedly filmed as part of a media project by the youngest member of the Jessop family, and sequenced into flashbacks and forwards across several days or weeks, the episodes drip-feed humdrum details that later gain significance. And like Dinnerladies, the funniest observations are those that the audience earn, not those that are given away, by rewatching again and again.

    The trailer for The Ballad of Wallis Island.

    While Here We Go uses disordered sequencing to reveal the meaning behind tiny details, The Ballad of Wallis Island uses objects that give hints about the past. Pictures of Charles and Marie at gigs, fridge magnets of the places they visited, the ticket stumps and magazine interviews of a super-fan collector. The extraordinariness of now is rooted in the everyday of Charles’s past. Even the source of his wealth rests on a single ordinary moment that has the potential to change all of their lives.

    Key and Basden turn the complex emotions of minutia into a powerful narrative. A bar of well-used soap on the side of the bathtub, a plastic bag of 20-pence pieces, and a bowl of homemade soup become symbols of emotional connection to the story, while their everydayness stops them from feeling saccharine or soppy.

    This is, as others have called it, a nostalgic film, about loss and moving on. But it also records a present that is made up of tiny glimpses of everyday life, captured like Here We Go, against a backdrop of the familiar and the ordinary. The quietly hopeful takeaway from the film is that small gestures are as memorable as any stadium finale.

    Nicola Bishop 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. The Ballad of Wallis Island is a masterpiece of the extraordinary made ordinary – https://theconversation.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-is-a-masterpiece-of-the-extraordinary-made-ordinary-259635

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How your gut bacteria could help detect pancreatic cancer early

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Falk Hildebrand, Researcher in Bioinformatician, Quadram Institute

    SewCreamStudio/Shutterstock

    Whether you had breakfast this morning or not, your pancreas is working quietly behind the scenes. This vital organ produces the enzymes that help digest your food and the hormones that regulate your metabolism. But when something goes wrong with your pancreas, the consequences can be devastating.

    Pancreatic cancer has earned the grim nickname “the silent killer” for good reason. By the time most patients experience symptoms, the disease has often progressed to an advanced stage where treatment options become severely limited. In the UK alone, over 10,700 new cases and 9,500 deaths from pancreatic cancer were recorded between 2017 and 2019, with incidence rates continuing to rise.

    The most common form, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), develops in the pancreatic duct – a tube connecting the pancreas to the small intestine. When tumours form here, they can block the flow of digestive enzymes, causing energy metabolism problems that leave patients feeling chronically tired and unwell. Yet these symptoms are often so subtle that they’re easily dismissed or attributed to other causes.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Now researchers are turning to an unexpected source for early PDAC detection: faecal samples. While analysing poo might seem an unlikely approach to cancer diagnosis, scientists are discovering that our waste contains a treasure trove of information about our health.

    This is because your gut is home to trillions of bacteria – in fact, bacterial cells in your body outnumber human cells by roughly 40 trillion to 30 trillion. These microscopic residents form complex communities that can reflect the state of your health, including the presence of disease.

    Since PDAC typically develops in the part of the pancreas that connects to the gut, and most people have regular bowel movements, stool samples provide a practical, non-invasive window into what is happening inside the body.

    Pancreatic cancer explained,

    Global evidence builds

    This innovative approach has been validated in studies across several countries, including Japan, China and Spain. The latest breakthrough comes from a 2025 international study involving researchers in Finland and Iran, which set out to examine the relationship between gut bacteria and pancreatic cancer onset across different populations.

    The researchers collected stool samples and analysed bacterial DNA using a technique called 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Despite the complex name, the principle is straightforward: scientists sequence and compare a genetic region found in every bacterium’s genome, allowing them to both identify and count different bacterial species simultaneously.

    The findings from the Finnish-Iranian study were striking. Patients with PDAC exhibited reduced bacterial diversity in their gut, with certain species either enriched or depleted compared with healthy people. More importantly, the team developed an artificial intelligence model that could accurately distinguish between cancer patients and healthy people based solely on their gut bacterial profiles.

    The field of microbiome research is evolving rapidly. While this study used amplicon sequencing, newer methods like “shotgun metagenomic sequencing” are providing even more detailed insights. This advanced technique captures the entire bacterial genome content rather than focusing on a single gene, offering an unprecedented resolution that can even detect whether bacteria have recently transferred between individuals.

    These technological advances are driving a fundamental shift in how we think about health and disease. We’re moving from a purely human-centred view to understanding ourselves as “human plus microbiome” – complex ecosystems where our bacterial partners play crucial roles in our wellbeing.

    Beyond pancreatic cancer

    The possibilities go well beyond pancreatic cancer. At Quadram, we’re applying similar methods to study colorectal cancer. We’ve already analysed over a thousand stool samples using advanced computational tools that piece together bacterial genomes and their functions from fragmented DNA. This ongoing work aims to reveal how gut microbes behave in colorectal cancer, much like other scientists have done for PDAC.

    The bidirectional interactions between cancer and bacteria are particularly fascinating – not only can certain bacterial profiles indicate disease presence, but the disease itself can alter the gut microbiome, as we previously showed in Parkinson’s disease, creating a complex web of cause and effect that researchers are still unravelling.

    Nonetheless, by understanding how our microbial partners respond to and influence disease, we’re gaining insights that could revolutionise both diagnosis and treatment. Our past research has shown this to be incredibly complex and sometimes difficult to understand, but developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence are increasingly helping us to make sense of this microscopic world.

    For cancer patients and their families, this and other advancements in microbiome research offer hope for earlier detection. While we’re still in the early stages of translating these findings into clinical practice, the potential to catch this silent killer before it becomes deadly could transform outcomes for thousands of patients, but will require more careful and fundamental research.

    The microbial perspective on health is no longer a distant scientific curiosity – it’s rapidly becoming a practical reality that could save lives. As researchers continue to explore this inner frontier, we’re learning that the answer to some of our most challenging medical questions might be hiding in plain sight – in the waste we flush away each day.

    Falk Hildebrand receives funding from the UKRI, BBSRC, NERC and ERC.

    Daisuke Suzuki receives funding from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

    – ref. How your gut bacteria could help detect pancreatic cancer early – https://theconversation.com/how-your-gut-bacteria-could-help-detect-pancreatic-cancer-early-259220

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Some people are turning to nicotine gum and patches to treat long COVID brain fog

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    Andrey Popov/Shutterstock.com

    Some people with long COVID are turning to an unlikely remedy: nicotine gum and patches. Though typically used to quit smoking, nicotine is now being explored as a possible way to ease symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue.

    One such case, detailed in a recent article in Slate, describes a woman who found significant relief from debilitating brain fog after trying low-dose nicotine gum. Her experience, while anecdotal, aligns with findings from a small but interesting study from Germany.

    The study involved four participants suffering from symptoms related to long COVID. The researcher administered low-dose nicotine patches once daily and noticed marked improvements in the participants’ symptoms. Tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath and trouble with exercise rapidly improved – by day six at the latest.

    For those who had lost their sense of taste or smell, it took longer, but these senses came back fully within 16 days. Although it’s not possible to draw definitive conclusions on cause and effect from such a small study, the results could pave the way for larger studies.

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    While some people slowly recover from COVID, others remain unwell for years, especially those who became sick before vaccines were available. Between 3% and 5% of people continue to experience symptoms months, and sometimes even years, after the initial infection. In the UK, long COVID affects around 2.8% of the population.

    Brain fog and other neurological symptoms of long COVID are thought to result from a combination of factors – including inflammation, reduced oxygen to the brain, vascular damage and disruption to the blood-brain barrier. Research continues as there is still a lot we don’t know about this condition.

    The researcher in the German study thinks that long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog and mood changes, might partly be due to problems with a brain chemical called acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. This chemical is important for many functions in the body, including memory, attention and regulating mood.

    Normally, acetylcholine works by attaching to special “docking sites” on cells called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which help send signals in the brain and nervous system. But the COVID virus may interfere with these receptors, either by blocking them or disrupting how they work. When this happens, the brain may not be able to send signals properly, which could contribute to the mental and physical symptoms seen in long COVID.

    So why would nicotine potentially be useful? Nicotine binds to the same receptors and might help restore normal signalling, but the idea that it displaces the virus directly is still speculative.

    Nicotine is available in different forms, such as patches, gum, lozenges and sprays. Using nicotine through the skin, for example, with a patch, keeps the amount in the blood steady without big spikes. Because of this, people in the study didn’t seem to develop a dependence on it.

    Chewing nicotine gum or using a lozenge can cause spikes in nicotine levels, since the nicotine is absorbed gradually through the lining of the mouth. But unlike a patch, which delivers a steady dose, the user has more control over how much nicotine they take in when using gum or lozenges.

    There are mixed results on the effectiveness of nicotine on cognitive functions such as memory and concentration. But most studies agree that it can enhance attention. Larger studies are needed to gauge the effectiveness of nicotine specifically for long COVID symptoms.

    An estimated 2.8% of people in the UK have long COVID.
    Chaz Bharj/Shutterstock.com

    Not without risks

    Despite its benefits, nicotine is not without risks. Even in gum or patch form, it can cause side-effects like nausea, dizziness, increased heart rate and higher blood pressure.

    Some of these stimulant effects on heart rate may be useful for people with long COVID symptoms such as exercise intolerance. But this needs to be closely monitored. Long-term use may also affect heart health. For non-smokers, the risk of developing a nicotine dependency is a serious concern.

    So are there any options to treat long COVID symptoms?

    There are some studies looking at guanfacine in combination with N-acetylcysteine, which have shown improvement in brain fog in small groups of people. There has been at least one clinical trial exploring nicotine for mild cognitive impairment in older adults, though not in the context of long COVID. Given that anecdotal reports and small studies continue to draw attention, it is likely that targeted trials are in development.

    The main recommendations by experts are to implement lifestyle measures. Slowly increasing exercise, having a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, drugs and smoking, sleeping enough, practising mindfulness and doing things that stimulate the brain are all thought to help brain fog.

    For those grappling with long COVID or persistent brain fog, the idea of using nicotine patches or gum might be tempting. But experts caution against self-medicating with nicotine. The lack of standardised dosing and the potential for addiction and unknown long-term effects make it a risky experiment.

    While nicotine isn’t a cure and may carry real risks, its potential to ease long COVID symptoms warrants careful study. For now, those battling brain fog should approach it with caution – and always under medical supervision. What’s clear, though, is the urgent need for more research into safe, effective treatments for the lingering effects of COVID.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. Some people are turning to nicotine gum and patches to treat long COVID brain fog – https://theconversation.com/some-people-are-turning-to-nicotine-gum-and-patches-to-treat-long-covid-brain-fog-259093

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Iran’s history has been blighted by interference from foreign powers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simin Fadaee, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Manchester

    Iranians commemorate the 1979 revolution in Qom, central Iran. Mostafameraji via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    Israel’s recent surprise attack on Iran was ostensibly aimed at neutralising Iran’s nuclear programme, but it didn’t just damage nuclear installations. It killed scientists, engineers and senior military personnel.

    Meanwhile, citizens with no ties to the government or military, became “collateral damage”. For 11 days, Israel’s attacks intensified across Tehran and other major cities.

    When the US joined the attack, dropping its bunker-buster bombs on sites in central Iran on June 21, it threatened to push the region closer to large-scale conflict. Israel’s calls for regime change in Iran were joined by the US president, Donald Trump, who took to social media on June 22 with the message: “if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

    Trump’s remarks are reminders of past US interventions. The threat of regime change by the most powerful state in the world carries particular weight in Iran, where memories of foreign-imposed coups and covert operations remain vivid and painful.

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    In the early 1890s, Iran was rocked by a popular uprising after the shah granted a British company exclusive rights to the country’s tobacco industry. The decision was greeted with anger and in 1891 the country’s senior cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi, issued a fatwa against tobacco use.

    A mass boycott ensued – even the shah’s wives reportedly gave up the habit. When it became clear that the boycott was going to hold, the shah cancelled the concession in January 1892. It was a clear demonstration of people power.

    This event is thought to have played a significant role in the development of the revolutionary movement that led to the Constitutional Revolution that took place between 1905 and 1911 and the establishment of a constitution and parliament in Iran.

    Rise of the Pahlavis

    Reza Shah, who founded the Pahlavi dynasty – which would be overthrown in the 1979 revolution and replaced by the Islamic Republic – rose to power following a British-supported coup in 1921.

    Autocrat: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

    During the first world war, foreign interference weakened Iran and the ruling Qajar dynasty. In 1921, with British support, army officer Reza Khan and politician Seyyed Ziaeddin Tabatabaee led a coup in Tehran. Claiming to be acting to save the monarchy, they arrested key opponents. By 1923, Reza Khan had become prime minister.

    In 1925, Reza Khan unseated the Qajars and founded the Pahlavi dynasty, becoming Reza Shah Pahlavi. This was a turning point in Iran’s history, marking the start of British dominance. The shah’s authoritarian rule focused on centralisation, modernisation and secularisation. It set the stage for the factors that would that eventually lead to the 1979 Revolution.

    In 1941, concerned at the close relationship Pahlavi had developed with Nazi Germany, Britain and its allies once again intervened in Iranian politics, forcing Pahlavi to abdicate. He was exiled to South Africa and his 22-year-old son, Mohammad Reza, was named shah in his place.

    The 1953 coup

    Mohammad Mosaddegh became Iran’s first democratically elected prime minister in 1951. He quickly began to introduce reforms and challenge the authority of the shah. Despite a sustained campaign of destabilisation, Mossadegh retained a high level of popular support, which he used to push through his radical programme. This included the nationalisation of Iran’s oil industry, which was effectively controlled by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company – later British Petroleum (BP).

    Mohammad Mosaddegh in court martial by Ebrahim Golestan.
    Ebrahim Golestan via Wikimedia Commons

    In 1953, he was ousted in a CIA and MI6-backed coup and placed under house arrest. The shah, who had fled to Italy during the unrest, returned to power with western support.

    Within a short time, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi established an authoritarian regime that governed through repression and intimidation. He outlawed all opposition parties, and numerous activists involved in the oil nationalisation movement were either imprisoned or forced into exile.



    Read more:
    Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain

    The 1979 revolution: the oppression continues

    The shah’s rule became increasingly authoritarian and was also marked by the lavish lifestyles of the ruling elite and increasing poverty of the mass of the Iranian people. Pahlavi increasingly relied on his secret police, the Bureau for Intelligence and Security of the State.

    Meanwhile, a scholar and Islamic cleric named Ruhollah Khomeini, had been rising in prominence especially after 1963, when Pahlavi’s unpopular land reforms mobilised a large section of society against his rule. His growing prominence brought him into confrontation with the government and in 1964 he was sent into exile. He remained abroad, living in Turkey, Iraq and France.

    By 1964 cleric Ruhollah Khomeini had become the focus for some anti-government protests in Iran.
    emam.com via Wikimedia Commons

    By 1978 a diverse alliance primarily made up of urban working and middle-class citizens had paralysed the country. While united in their resistance to the monarchy, participants were driven by a variety of ideological beliefs, including socialism, communism, liberalism, secularism, Islamism and nationalism. The shah fled into exile on January 16 1979 and Khomeini returned to Iran, which in March became an Islamic Republic with Khomeini at its head.

    But the US was not finished in its attempts to destabilise Iran. In 1980, Washington backed Saddam Hussein in initiating a brutal eight-year war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of Iranian lives and severely disrupted the country’s efforts at political and economic reconstruction.

    Iran and the US have remained bitter foes. Over the years ordinary Iranians have suffered tremendously under rounds of US-imposed sanctions, which have all but destroyed the economy in recent years.

    This new wave of foreign aggression has arrived at a time of significant domestic unrest within Iran. Since the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, which began in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police, there has been a general groundswell of demand for social justice and democracy.

    But the convergence of external aggression and internal demands has brought national sovereignty and self-determination to the forefront, as it did during previous major struggles. While world powers gamble with Iran’s future, it is the Iranian people through their struggles and unwavering push for justice and democracy who must determine the country’s future.

    Simin Fadaee 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. Iran’s history has been blighted by interference from foreign powers – https://theconversation.com/irans-history-has-been-blighted-by-interference-from-foreign-powers-259700

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why there’s a growing backlash against plant-based diets

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Beacham, Research Fellow, University of Bristol Business School, University of Bristol

    Geinz Angelina/Shutterstock

    People in the UK are eating too much meat – especially processed meat – according to a recent report from the Food Foundation, a UK charity.

    The report recommends revisiting school food standards, which advises schools to serve meat three times a week. The consequence? Children often eat a higher proportion of processed meat than adults.

    The effects of meat-heavy diets are well documented. Some analyses estimate that overconsumption of meat, especially processed red meat, costs the global economy around £219 billion annually, in terms of harms to human health and the environment. At the same time, a growing body of evidence shows that a transition toward more plant-based diets is not just beneficial, but essential.

    And yet efforts to reduce meat consumption haven’t always been well received. In Paris, for instance, the mayor’s initiative to remove meat from municipal canteen menus twice a week triggered an angry backlash from unions and workers who called for the return of steak frites.

    A few years ago, meat consumption in the UK was falling, and interest in initiatives like Veganuary was surging. Venture capital flooded into plant-based startups, from cricket burgers to hemp milk.

    But enthusiasm, and investment, has since declined. Meanwhile, populism and “culture war” narratives have fuelled social media misinformation about food, diet and sustainability, hampering progress. So what has changed? And why is meat once again a flashpoint in the food debate?

    Working with the H3 Consortium, which explores pathways to food system transformation in the UK, our research has focused on why the backlash against plant-based diets is growing and what it means for people, animals and the planet.

    Part of the answer lies in coordinated messaging campaigns that frame meat and dairy not just as “normal” but as “natural” and essential to a balanced diet. One example is the Let’s Eat Balanced campaign, run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board since 2021. It promotes meat and dairy as key sources of micronutrients such as Vitamin B12 and implicitly positions plant-based diets as nutritionally inadequate.

    But here’s the irony: many intensively farmed animals don’t get B12 from their diet naturally. Their feed is supplemented with vitamins and minerals, just as vegan diets are supplemented. So is meat really a more “natural” source of B12 than a pill?

    That raises a broader question: what could a fair and sustainable transition to plant-based protein look like – not just for consumers, but for farmers and rural communities? Some analyses warn that rapid shifts in land use toward arable farming could have serious unintended consequences, such as disrupting rural economies and threatening livelihoods.

    There are also legitimate questions about the healthiness of meat and dairy alternatives. Despite the early hype around alternative proteins, many products fall under the category of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – a red flag for consumers wary of additives and artificial ingredients.

    The popularity of books like Chris van Tulleken’s Ultra-Processed People has stoked concerns about emulsifiers, ingredients used to bind veggie burgers or prevent vegan milk from curdling, and some headlines have asked whether they “destroy” our gut health.

    Still, it’s a leap to suggest that conventional red meat is the healthier alternative. The health risks of processed meat are well established, especially the carcinogenic effects of nitrites used to keep meat looking fresh in packaging.

    Some people suggest eating chicken instead of read meat because it produces less greenhouse gas. But raising chickens also causes problems, like pollution from chicken manure that harms rivers, and it depends a lot on soy feed, which can be affected by political and trade issues.

    There’s a strong case for reducing meat consumption, and the scientific evidence to support it is robust. But understanding the backlash against plant-based eating is essential if we want to make meaningful progress. For now, meat is not disappearing from our diets. In fact, the food fight may be just getting started.

    Jonathan Beacham receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).

    David M. Evans receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1). He is affiliated with Defra (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) as a member of their Social Science Expert Group.

    – ref. Why there’s a growing backlash against plant-based diets – https://theconversation.com/why-theres-a-growing-backlash-against-plant-based-diets-259455

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinhua Commentary: Taiwan leader’s distorted view of history destined for dustbin

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

    Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te has once again exposed his separatist intentions — this time by twisting history to fit a narrative divorced from fact and steeped in distortion and deceit.

    In the first of a planned series of speeches, Lai delivered not a reflection of historical truth but a calculated mix of falsehoods and misinterpretations crafted to advance his political agenda to seek “Taiwan independence.”

    The historical record is clear: the island’s bond with the Chinese mainland are deeply rooted and amply evidenced. Most of the island’s population, including its ethnic minorities, are descendants of migrants from the Chinese mainland over successive periods.

    Numerous historical records and documents have chronicled the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people, with the earliest accounts tracing back to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). Starting from the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368), the central governments of China all set up administrative bodies to exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan.

    In 1624, Dutch colonialists invaded and occupied the southern part of Taiwan. In 1662, Zheng Chenggong, a general of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), led an expedition and expelled the Dutch colonizers from Taiwan.

    The subsequent Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) also set up administrative bodies in Taiwan. In 1684, a Taiwan prefecture administration was set up under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province. In 1885, Taiwan’s status was upgraded to a province of China.

    While Taiwan has its own historical trajectory, it has never existed as a country separate from China. Lai, however, went so far as to claim that China only began its relationship with Taiwan in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, falsely equating Zheng Chenggong’s reclaiming of Taiwan and the Qing Dynasty’s governance with foreign occupations by the Dutch and Spanish colonists.

    One must not forget that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have long stood shoulder to shoulder in the face of foreign aggression. For instance, after the outbreak of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the 1930s, at least 50,000 people from Taiwan joined their mainland compatriots in fighting the Japanese invasion, driven by the belief that “to save Taiwan, one must first save the motherland.”

    The courage and sacrifices of the people in Taiwan in resisting foreign aggression are part of the shared memory of the Chinese nation. Yet Lai has sought to reframe this legacy as “Taiwanese defending their own country,” distorting historical truth to advance his “Taiwan independence” narrative.

    As many in Taiwan have noted, Lai’s remarks were riddled with hollow slogans, fragmented history, and a worldview increasingly detached from reality. By distorting historical truth and repackaging it into a fabricated narrative, Lai sought to stir confrontation, deepen social rifts, and deploy historical distortion as political propaganda to mobilize public sentiment and tighten his grip on power.

    But fabricated claims that run counter to history, reality and legal principles will never stand the test of time. Lai’s separatist remarks are destined to be swept into the dustbin of history.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhou-20 crew set for second extravehicular activities

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

    The Shenzhou-20 crew members, who are currently on board China’s space station, will conduct a second round of extravehicular activities within the next few days, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.

    Since completing their first spacewalk on May 22, the crew has undertaken a series of tasks, including monitoring the station environment, conducting inspections and maintenance of the space station’s equipment, and managing inventory and transfers.

    The CMSA noted that the crew has made steady progress in experiments in fields such as space life sciences and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technology.

    It also confirmed that after two months in orbit, the three crew members are in good health and the space station is operating smoothly, fully prepared for the upcoming spacewalk.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to work with other BRICS countries for peace, stability in Middle East: FM spokesperson

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

    China is ready to join hands with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

    Brazil, the BRICS chair, released the BRICS Joint Statement on the Escalation of the Security Situation in the Middle East Following Military Strikes on the Territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In response to a related query, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing that BRICS is a force for progress that champions global peace and stability and defends international fairness and justice.

    Following the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, BRICS released a joint statement calling for ceasefire, dialogue and consultation, which played a constructive role for deescalation of tensions in the region, Guo said.

    At last year’s BRICS Summit in Kazan, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that BRICS should be “committed to peace” and “act as defenders of common security,” Guo said, adding China stands ready to work with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East. 

    MIL OSI China News –