Category: Aviation

MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: Release people detained over expressing support for Gaza March

Source: APO – Report:

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Egyptian authorities must unconditionally and immediately release anyone detained solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, including at least seven Egyptian nationals detained for expressing support for the Gaza March, Amnesty International said today. The organization is also calling on the authorities to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment related to the arrests and deportations of international activists in connection with the planned solidarity march.

Hundreds of international activists travelled to Egypt in June to take part in a global march to the city of Rafah in a bid to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip, but Egyptian authorities responded by arresting scores of Egyptian and foreign nationals and deporting non-Egyptians.

Amnesty International documented the arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, and ill-treatment of three Egyptians and five foreign nationals in connection with the Gaza March between 10 and 16 June. Amnesty International obtained a testimony that at least one Egyptian national was subjected to torture during their detention. The organization is calling for all those still being held solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians to be unconditionally and immediately released, including those detained for expressing solidarity with Palestinians since October 2023.

“The world has seen a glimpse of the brutality that Egyptian authorities continue to inflict on dissidents. The arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment that these activists have been subjected to represents just a fraction of the ongoing repression faced by virtually anyone who expresses views not condoned by the government,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.

“It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them. Egypt’s authorities should instead be facilitating the right to peaceful assembly and expression, starting by releasing anyone arbitrarily detained for demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinians and investigating all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.”

On 11 June, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement that foreign nationals must receive prior authorization to visit areas bordering Gaza through, among other means, submitting a request to Egyptian embassies. Organizers of the Gaza March told Amnesty International that they had submitted authorization requests to over 30 Egyptian embassies abroad, approximately two and a half months ahead of the march’s scheduled date. Embassy officials informed them that the requests had been forwarded to authorities in Cairo, but the organizers never received a response.

Egyptian security forces later shut down the march by arresting Egyptian and foreign activists upon their arrival at the airport, from hotels or at checkpoints on the way to Rafah, before deporting hundreds of non-Egyptians.

Arbitrary detention and torture or other ill-treatment of Egyptian nationals

According to a lawyer at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), between 10 and 12 June 2025, security forces arrested three Egyptian nationals (two men and one woman) from their homes in Cairo and al-Sharkia governorates. The three were part of a Telegram group that supported the Gaza March.

Upon their arrest, they were reportedly held in incommunicado detention at undisclosed National Security Agency (NSA) facilities for periods ranging from nine to ten days. NSA agents then brought the three to the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in Cairo on 21, 22, and 23 June.

SSSP prosecutors accused them of charges including “joining a terrorist group [the Muslim Brotherhood],” “publishing false news,” and “funding a terrorist group,” according to the ECRF lawyer. Prosecutors then ordered their pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations.

During the SSSP questioning, one of the men said that NSA agents had subjected him to electric shocks on his hands and a sensitive part of his body, and beat him with kicks and slaps to the face. The other man told the prosecutor that NSA agents beat him and forced him to strip naked. These acts constitute ill-treatment and may amount to torture.

In June, SSSP prosecutors questioned four other Egyptian nationals (three men and one woman) and ordered their detention for 15 days in connection with the same charges pending the same case, according to ECRF’s lawyer.

Arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of foreign nationals

Amnesty International spoke to five foreign nationals who had travelled to attend the Gaza March including Stefanie Crisostomo, a Croatian-Peruvian activist, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national and the Gaza March spokesperson. They told Amnesty that Egyptian police subjected them to severe beatings and other acts of violence when they arrested them. They also said that they had been held in incommunicado detention in police stations, NSA facilities, and Cairo Airport.

Crisostomo told Amnesty International that on 14 June, plain-clothed NSA agents arrested her and her husband at a hotel in Cairo without providing any reason or allowing them to contact their embassies or anyone else after confiscating their phones. They were then transferred to an undisclosed security facility, where police detained her French husband for 30 hours, while transferring Stefanie to Cairo Airport. At the airport, she refused to be deported until the police released her husband. The police then handcuffed her and grabbed her arms tightly, causing bruising. Amnesty International reviewed photographs of her arms in which the bruises are clearly visible and is concerned that this may amount to ill-treatment.

One of the other foreign nationals, who chose not to disclose his nationality, said that on 13 June police arrested him, along with approximately 15 others, at a checkpoint in Ismailia Governorate on their way to Rafah. During the arrest, police beat him with batons, striking him on his face and neck. He said that during the arrest, one of the police officers attempted to put their finger in his anus. Police took the group to an Ismailia police station and detained them until the following morning, before transferring him to Cairo Airport for deportation.

The two other men, both Norwegians, as well as Saif said that on 16 June, plain-clothed police arrested them at a coffee shop in Cairo without showing a warrant. The police then blindfolded them and drove them to an undisclosed security facility in an unmarked van. NSA officers questioned the two Norwegian men, while still blindfolded and handcuffed, about the number of participants in the Gaza March, their identities, and their accommodation. One of the men told Amnesty International that when he refused to answer, an NSA agent slapped him twice on the face and kneed him in the chest. According to the man, the blow caused a minor rib fracture.

The second man said that when he refused to answer certain questions an NSA agent slapped him on the face and kicked him in the chest.

Saif Abukeshek said that police deliberately slammed his body into walls and doors while moving him between different rooms at the facility, blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. “I could clearly hear them laughing at me crashing into the walls,” he said.

The three were later transferred to Cairo Airport to be deported after spending between two to 25 hours at the facility. None of the four men were allowed at any point to contact their embassy or anyone else to inform them about their arrest, until their deportation.

– on behalf of Amnesty International.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: XV International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom”.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom” has been held in Yekaterinburg annually since 2010 and is the main industrial, trade and export platform in Russia, serving as a platform where the foundations of industrial policy are laid. About 80% of the exhibition visitors are professional buyers from different countries of the world, specialists of industrial enterprises making decisions on the introduction of new products and technologies in production.

The 15th International Industrial Exhibition Innoprom is taking place from July 7 to 10 at the Yekaterinburg-Expo IEC. The theme of Innoprom 2025 is Technological Leadership: Industrial Breakthrough.

Drive

Meeting of Mikhail Mishustin with Acting Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Denis Pasler

Mikhail Mishustin inspected a prototype of the modernized Il-114-300 passenger aircraft

Five countries are represented with national expositions this year: the partner country of Innoprom-2025 – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as the republics of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

Among Russian companies, large-scale stands will be presented by the Rostec State Corporation, the Rosatom State Corporation, Sber, GPB, Sinara, TMK, and PC Transport Systems. Collective expositions are planned to be presented by 33 regions of Russia: Vologda Oblast, DPR, Zaporozhye Oblast, Kaluga Oblast, Kirov Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Kurgan Oblast, Lipetsk Oblast, LPR, Moscow, Orenburg Oblast, Oryol Oblast, Perm Krai, Primorsky Krai, Rostov Oblast, Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Karelia, Komi Republic, Mari El Republic, Republic of Tatarstan, Samara Oblast, Sakhalin Oblast, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Tambov Oblast, Tver Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Tula Oblast, Udmurt Republic, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Chuvash Republic, Kherson Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra.

Collective national expositions occupy an area of 2,445 sq. m. Official delegations are expected from China, the UAE, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Myanmar, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic, Congo, Burkina Faso, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as countries represented with national expositions. Delegations of business representatives from at least 52 countries are expected, including Iran, Qatar, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, and Turkey.

The main tracks of the Innoprom business program are: International Cooperation, Industrial Innovations, Digital Production, Industrial IT, Cybersecurity in Industry, Finance and Industry, Industrial Infrastructure, New Mobility, Technologies for Cities, Labor Productivity, Human Resources, and Educational Solutions for Industry. The business program sessions will be held throughout all four days of the exhibition.

The key event of the Innoprom-2025 business program will be the main strategic session “Technological Leadership: Industrial Breakthrough”, within the framework of which the presentation of the 11th Russian National Industrial Award “Industry” is planned.

The award was established in 2014 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to promote the implementation of advanced technologies in industrial production and public recognition of the best practices of Russian companies in industrial development. In 2015, “Industry” was awarded the status of a Government Award. In 2025, a record number of applications was received – 392. The largest number of applications came from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sverdlovsk, Moscow and Chelyabinsk regions. The nominees were Biotekhno LLC, KEAZ JSC, Optic Fiber Systems JSC, NPP Radar MMS JSC and Severstal PJSC. The projects of the laureate and nominees will be presented at the stand of innovative industrial projects of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: Gevo to Participate in Virtual Fireside Chat

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that Leke Agiri, Gevo’s Chief Financial Officer, and Eric Frey, Gevo’s Vice President of Finance and Strategy, will participate in a virtual fireside chat on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 10:00am ET.

Investors and other persons interested in participating in the event must register using the link below.

Registration Link: https://www.renmarkfinancial.com/live-registration/renmark-virtual-non-deal-roadshow-nasdaq-gevo-LDnER-DQV-

About Gevo

Gevo is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including synthetic aviation fuel (“SAF”), motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. We also operate an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

For more information, see www.gevo.com.

Media Contact
Heather Manuel
Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
PR@gevo.com

Investor Contact
Eric Frey, PhD
Vice President of Finance and Strategy
IR@Gevo.com

The MIL Network –

July 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Reduce, remove, reflect — the three Rs that could limit global warming

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dante McGrath, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Climate Repair, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

NASA Johnson/flickr, CC BY-NC

Since 2019, the UK has been committed to the target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Legally binding net zero targets form the basis for national efforts to meet the international goals of limiting global warming to “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and ideally to 1.5°C.

These goals, launched in 2015 as part of the UN’s Paris agreement, set the stage for climate action in a warming world. Much like the “reduce-reuse-recycle” sustainability initiative, various climate actions fit within three Rs — reduce, remove and reflect. These actions were the subject of a recent debate in the UK parliament.

My colleagues and I have reviewed how these three Rs differ in scope, scale and state of knowledge. Our analysis reveals that a range of climate interventions may complement intensified mitigation efforts (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions), but more research is urgently needed.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is at centre stage. This is non-negotiable. Emissions reduction must be deep, rapid and sustained if we are to limit global warming to less than 2°C. These drastic cuts demand an ensemble cast, players from all sectors, from energy to agriculture. The energy to power modern society accounts for almost 75% of our greenhouse gas emissions.

We need a prop change at centre stage: an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables. This requires electrification and energy efficiency measures — both are central to managing the growth in energy demand sustainably.

At stage right, greenhouse gas removal offers a supporting role by removing historical emissions and offsetting residual emissions from sectors lagging behind in the energy transition (such as shipping and aviation). A number of academics have stressed that a range of removal methods is required to achieve net zero emissions and halt the rise in global temperature.

Conventional carbon removal methods, such as forestation or the restoration of peatlands and wetlands, are vital. However, due to resource constraints (such as land and water security) and ecosystem impacts of global warming, we need to scale new methods rapidly to meet Paris agreement targets. These include ways to capture and store carbon on land and at sea.

Novel methods have many challenges, however, related to their effectiveness (including storage durability and permanence), unintended environmental consequences, economic costs and demands on natural resources. The challenges constraining the scale-up of novel removal methods must be addressed if we are to achieve net zero and halt global warming.

The consequences of climate change are outpacing efforts to abate it. With each year, the likelihood of exceeding 1.5 and 2°C warming increases, posing major risks to society and Earth’s ecosystems. That’s why the third R — reflect — needs to be assessed.

Read more:
UK funds controversial climate-cooling research

Sunlight reflection methods have been in the wings on stage left. In the context of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, they have been considered feasible in theory, but fraught with challenges in practice. As the chance of exceeding 1.5°C in the coming years increases, this form of climate intervention needs further consideration. Experts brought together by the UN Environment Programme have concluded that, although this intervention is “not a substitute for mitigation”, it is “the only option that could cool the planet within years”.

The most studied methods to reflect sunlight are called stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. These methods mimic natural processes that cool the earth by reflecting sunlight, be it through the release of reflective aerosols into the upper atmosphere, or the addition of droplet-forming salt crystals into marine clouds in the lower atmosphere.

Read more:
Five geoengineering trials the UK is funding to combat global warming

Sunlight reflection methods pose immense challenges with respect to research, ethics and governance. There are many scientific uncertainties about how these interventions will influence the climate. There is also no global regulatory framework in place. Any legislation needs to be based on scientific evidence and informed decisions.

Shining the spotlight

Meeting climate goals requires an ensemble cast performing actions across the warming world stage. Emissions reduction is indispensable and should remain centre stage in climate policy. Climate interventions at stage right and left — in the form of greenhouse gas removal and sunlight reflection — need responsible and responsive direction. Their risks and benefits need to be assessed.

Before curtains are drawn, let’s make sure every climate action — reduce, remove and reflect — gets a fair hearing.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Dante McGrath 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. Reduce, remove, reflect — the three Rs that could limit global warming – https://theconversation.com/reduce-remove-reflect-the-three-rs-that-could-limit-global-warming-258413

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Reduce, remove, reflect — the three Rs that could limit global warming

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dante McGrath, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Climate Repair, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

NASA Johnson/flickr, CC BY-NC

Since 2019, the UK has been committed to the target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Legally binding net zero targets form the basis for national efforts to meet the international goals of limiting global warming to “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and ideally to 1.5°C.

These goals, launched in 2015 as part of the UN’s Paris agreement, set the stage for climate action in a warming world. Much like the “reduce-reuse-recycle” sustainability initiative, various climate actions fit within three Rs — reduce, remove and reflect. These actions were the subject of a recent debate in the UK parliament.

My colleagues and I have reviewed how these three Rs differ in scope, scale and state of knowledge. Our analysis reveals that a range of climate interventions may complement intensified mitigation efforts (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions), but more research is urgently needed.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is at centre stage. This is non-negotiable. Emissions reduction must be deep, rapid and sustained if we are to limit global warming to less than 2°C. These drastic cuts demand an ensemble cast, players from all sectors, from energy to agriculture. The energy to power modern society accounts for almost 75% of our greenhouse gas emissions.

We need a prop change at centre stage: an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables. This requires electrification and energy efficiency measures — both are central to managing the growth in energy demand sustainably.

At stage right, greenhouse gas removal offers a supporting role by removing historical emissions and offsetting residual emissions from sectors lagging behind in the energy transition (such as shipping and aviation). A number of academics have stressed that a range of removal methods is required to achieve net zero emissions and halt the rise in global temperature.

Conventional carbon removal methods, such as forestation or the restoration of peatlands and wetlands, are vital. However, due to resource constraints (such as land and water security) and ecosystem impacts of global warming, we need to scale new methods rapidly to meet Paris agreement targets. These include ways to capture and store carbon on land and at sea.

Novel methods have many challenges, however, related to their effectiveness (including storage durability and permanence), unintended environmental consequences, economic costs and demands on natural resources. The challenges constraining the scale-up of novel removal methods must be addressed if we are to achieve net zero and halt global warming.

The consequences of climate change are outpacing efforts to abate it. With each year, the likelihood of exceeding 1.5 and 2°C warming increases, posing major risks to society and Earth’s ecosystems. That’s why the third R — reflect — needs to be assessed.

Read more:
UK funds controversial climate-cooling research

Sunlight reflection methods have been in the wings on stage left. In the context of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, they have been considered feasible in theory, but fraught with challenges in practice. As the chance of exceeding 1.5°C in the coming years increases, this form of climate intervention needs further consideration. Experts brought together by the UN Environment Programme have concluded that, although this intervention is “not a substitute for mitigation”, it is “the only option that could cool the planet within years”.

The most studied methods to reflect sunlight are called stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. These methods mimic natural processes that cool the earth by reflecting sunlight, be it through the release of reflective aerosols into the upper atmosphere, or the addition of droplet-forming salt crystals into marine clouds in the lower atmosphere.

Read more:
Five geoengineering trials the UK is funding to combat global warming

Sunlight reflection methods pose immense challenges with respect to research, ethics and governance. There are many scientific uncertainties about how these interventions will influence the climate. There is also no global regulatory framework in place. Any legislation needs to be based on scientific evidence and informed decisions.

Shining the spotlight

Meeting climate goals requires an ensemble cast performing actions across the warming world stage. Emissions reduction is indispensable and should remain centre stage in climate policy. Climate interventions at stage right and left — in the form of greenhouse gas removal and sunlight reflection — need responsible and responsive direction. Their risks and benefits need to be assessed.

Before curtains are drawn, let’s make sure every climate action — reduce, remove and reflect — gets a fair hearing.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Dante McGrath 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. Reduce, remove, reflect — the three Rs that could limit global warming – https://theconversation.com/reduce-remove-reflect-the-three-rs-that-could-limit-global-warming-258413

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Towering Plume From Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki

Source: NASA

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores, erupted on July 7, 2025, propelling a column of ash 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the air. The eruption deposited ash on villages and generated pyroclastic flows that traveled 5 kilometers (3 miles) down its slopes, according to news reports. Authorities advised nearby communities to remain on alert for potential lahars triggered by heavy rains.
Mount Lewotobi is composed of two adjacent stratovolcanoes: Laki-Laki and Perempuan, which lie less than 2 kilometers apart. Laki-Laki, the more active of the two, began erupting around 11 a.m. local time on July 7, according to Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency. At about 2 p.m., the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this image of its volcanic plume drifting westward. The eruption was still ongoing as of that evening, the agency reported.
Several weeks prior, officials had raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level when it showed an increase in earthquake activity, inflation of the ground surface, and other signs of an imminent eruption. Volcanic emissions from eruptions in both June and July caused dozens of flight cancellations to and from Bali and other airports in the region, according to news reports.
This latest event is a continuation of eruptive activity occurring at Laki-Laki since late 2023. During an especially intense period of activity in November 2024, several explosive eruptions generated deadly volcanic debris flows and darkened the landscape with ash. The conical Laki-Laki has been frequently active since the 19th century, while the taller and broader Perempuan erupted most recently in 1921 and 1935.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin inspected a prototype of the modernized Il-114-300 passenger aircraft

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Mikhail Mishustin and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Urals Federal District Artem Zhoga during a meeting at the Yekaterinburg airport

Based on the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation, a program is being implemented to modernize and resume serial production of the Il-114–300 regional passenger aircraft. The aircraft is being created specifically for local airlines, with the ability to operate in hard-to-reach regions with poor airfield infrastructure, on short and unpaved runways, in low temperature conditions, and is a modernized version of the Il-114 turboprop aircraft. It will replace the outdated An-24 on domestic airlines, as well as foreign-made aircraft of a similar class (ATR72 (France), Bombardier Dash 8 (Canada)).

The upgraded version is assembled from Russian-made components and is equipped with Russian systems and equipment. In total, more than 180 flights have been performed under the flight test program (on two prototypes).

Cruising flight speed is 450–500 km/h;

Maximum flight altitude – 7600 m;

Fuel consumption – 540 kg/h;

Runway length – 790 m;

Passenger capacity: up to 68 people.

Currently in the certification stage.

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

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at South China Morning Post China Conference 2025 (English only) (with photos/video)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the South China Morning Post China Conference 2025 today (July 8):

Ms Catherine So (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post), Ms Tammy Tam (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post), Mr Steve Finch (President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Asia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It’s a pleasure to join you here, once again, at the South China Morning Post’s annual China Conference – the 11th edition.

More than 700 of you are here for this year’s gathering. Some 300s are joining us, virtually, at this forum for business, trade, finance, investment and technology. All of you keen on getting the latest intelligence and insights, developments and business opportunities – in Hong Kong, throughout China and beyond.

The theme of this China Conference is “Where Capital Meets Innovation” – an apt description of the strengths of China, our country, and how Hong Kong contributes to its rise. That provides the world with much-needed certainty, especially in this difficult time.

This year’s international trade uncertainties, and chaos, may well continue amidst the rise of protectionism and unilateralism. The global economy is grappling with profound instability, escalating geopolitical risks and the wholesale reshaping of long-existing trading systems.

In spite of a damaged global trade order, the expanding trade and capital flows of China, our country, help buoy the economy of the region and the world.

The Mainland economy has sound fundamentals, a vast domestic market and the robust policies in place to withstand external challenges. In the first quarter of this year, the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) grew by 5.4 per cent, and key economic indicators have kept improving since the beginning of the second quarter – simply said, China, our country, is well on its way to achieving the official growth target of around 5 per cent for 2025.

As for Hong Kong, our economy expanded solidly by 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, supported by visible increases in exports and the resumption of moderate growth in overall investment expenditure. We forecast real GDP growth of 2 per cent to 3 per cent in this year.

Last week, we celebrated the 28th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s establishment. That happy occasion was a welcome opportunity to thank our country for championing Hong Kong through the “one country, two systems” principle, as well as the national strategies and made-for-Hong Kong initiatives it supports us with.

Last month, the World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Hong Kong third in the world in global competitiveness, up two places from the previous year, and up four places from 2023.

It marks Hong Kong’s return to the global top three for the first time since 2019, reflecting our commitment to change in face of today’s rising challenges.

There’s a lot more to be grateful for. In April and May, Hong Kong’s merchandise exports showed double-digit, year-on-year growth, while visitor arrivals also brought double-digit, year-on-year increases in the second quarter.

And Hong Kong, in the first half of this year, has been the world’s largest IPO (initial public offering) fundraising market, raising over US$13 billion. That’s up a whopping 22 per cent, compared with the full-year figure last year.

It speaks of Hong Kong’s long-standing appeal as a safe haven for Chinese and international capital and a bridge for global investors.

Hong Kong is, after all, the most internationalised city in the country. We offer the world a market-friendly business environment underpinned by the rule of law. We are the only common law jurisdiction in our country, with a legal system and regulatory regime similar to most global financial hubs. And we present business and investment advantages unmatched by any other city in the world.

Last year, the total number of local registered companies reached its record high, surpassing 1.46 million. And the total number of non-local companies registered here also reached a record high, and was over 15 000. Both figures continue to show encouraging growth this year.

Since January 2023, Invest Hong Kong, our dedicated investment promotion agency, has assisted more than 1 300 Mainland and overseas companies in setting up or expanding their business in Hong Kong. These companies bring in foreign direct investment of over US$21 billion to our economy, creating over 19 000 jobs.

When I assumed office as Chief Executive three years ago, I established the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises. My aim is to offer, through this Office, one-stop facilitation services and tailor-made incentives to attract strategic enterprises to our city and foster innovation and economic growth.

The Office has brought in 84 strategic companies, from such high-tech industries as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, AI and data science, fintech and life and health technology. The strategic companies will invest about US$6.4 billion in the next few years, creating over 20 000 jobs.

We also launched a new scheme in May this year to create a company re-domiciliation regime to attract companies to Hong Kong. It provides a convenient, safe and secure pathway for companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong. Different companies have already expressed their interest to the regime and two international insurance giants – as Mr Finch is surely aware – have announced they will officially re-domicile to Hong Kong. Good business always makes right decisions.

These companies all gave their strong vote of confidence in the development of Hong Kong and the country, and will help attract a wealth of partners and related companies to this part of the globe.

Another strong advantage Hong Kong offers to overseas companies here, old or new, is our easy access to the Mainland market. We are certainly a front runner in this regard.

That’s in no small part thanks to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, our de facto free trade agreement with the Mainland that provides preferential treatment to Hong Kong companies, facilitating smoother access to the Mainland’s vast market.

A new amendment agreement under the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services entered into force this March. It includes the removal of the qualifying period requirement on Hong Kong service suppliers in most sectors, meaning our many new companies can also benefit from the arrangement’s facilitation measures in accessing the Mainland market.

Together with new initiatives that allow Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law and choose Hong Kong as the seat for arbitration in their operation in a range of Mainland cities, CEPA provides a wide range of innovative enhancements that help a world of investors better capitalise on China’s growth opportunities, with the help of Hong Kong’s world-class professional services.

Then there’s technological innovation, including artificial intelligence. AI advancements are transforming production, business and consumption patterns. They are redefining the core competitiveness of economies.

These trends create new opportunities for Hong Kong, particularly in our deepening integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster city development that brings together Hong Kong, Macao, and nine southern cities on the Mainland.

With a population exceeding 87 million and a GDP of more than US$2 trillion last year, similar to the size of the 10th largest economy in the world, the Greater Bay Area is among the most open and economically vibrant regions in the country.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which includes three of the Greater Bay Area’s core cities, has been ranked second, globally, for five consecutive years in the Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Drawing together Hong Kong’s research capabilities and business competitiveness, as well as the Mainland’s innovation and advanced manufacturing prowess, the Greater Bay Area endeavours to become a world-leading I&T (innovation and technology) hub.

One spectacular example is the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, an area that straddles our boundary with Shenzhen. It will develop into a cutting-edge advanced technology centre that converges the strengths of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Last November, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government published the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park in the co-operation zone.

The Park’s first three buildings have been completed, and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute opened last November at Hong Kong Park.

That’s just the beginning. Artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, the low-altitude economy, fintech, and more, are thriving in the Greater Bay Area. And as the Park enters into the operational phase this year, more of these companies will be joining us.

Beyond I&T, we have seen the successful introduction of a wide variety of policy initiatives with the Greater Bay Area, including measures for the two-way flow of talent, schemes for supporting youth innovation, entrepreneurship and employment, and policies to facilitate mutual travel.

And the promise of further co-operation between Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland is boundless.

Ladies and gentlemen, when we talk of China’s might, many of us immediately look to the maiden visit to Hong Kong over the past weekend of the first domestically built aircraft carrier of China, our country, the Shandong. Although the fleet has just bid us farewell yesterday, the awe and pride it drew among the people of Hong Kong over its five-day visit will be long-lasting.

More than a display of maritime strength, the fleet showcases our country’s commitment to peacekeeping and regional stability. And much like how the Shandong docked in our safe harbour, Hong Kong is where the country anchors its trust.

In this era of fogged horizons, China does not just project power – it radiates investible stability. And Hong Kong is the “super connector” and “super value-adder” that links the world with opportunities from China’s growth and certainties. A link you can always bank on.

Amid an ever changing geopolitical landscape and constantly escalating uncertainties, Hong Kong is the place that promises security and development. This certainty of security and development is precisely what a world of investors need and thirst for.

Together, we will fully seize development opportunities, keep boosting our competitiveness, undertake reforms for progress, and foster innovation. The wisdom and wealth of experience of the people of Hong Kong will help the Pearl of the Orient shine brighter than ever on the world stage.

My thanks to the South China Morning Post for organising this essential, always eventful, annual gathering.

I wish you all a rewarding conference. And the best of business in the second half of 2025, a year that will surely be full of opportunities and rewards. Thank you.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 8, 2025
PM Modi gets warm welcome from Indian diaspora as he arrives in Brasília for state visit

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora as he arrived in the Brazilian capital for a State Visit. Touched by the gesture, PM Modi described it as a “memorable welcome” and praised the diaspora for staying connected with their roots.

“Landed in Brasília a short while ago. The Indian community accorded a memorable welcome, once again highlighting how passionate our diaspora is and how connected they remain with their roots,” PM Modi wrote on X.

PM Modi arrived in Brasília to the beats of a traditional Brazilian Samba Reggae performance after wrapping up a “very productive” visit to Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit. The Indian Prime Minister, who is in the capital for a State Visit, was received at the airport by Brazil’s Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro Filho.

During his stay in Brasília, PM Modi will meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss various issues related to India-Brazil relations.

PM Modi also shared on X, “At Brasília airport, the Batala Mundo band played some wonderful compositions. Theirs is a global effort to promote Afro-Brazilian percussion, in particular the Samba Reggae from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister described his Rio de Janeiro visit as “very productive”.

“Now on the way to Brasília for the State Visit. Will hold detailed talks with President Lula on different aspects of India-Brazil ties. The Rio leg of my Brazil visit was very productive. We had extensive deliberations at the BRICS Summit. I compliment President Lula and the Brazilian Government for the work they’ve done through their BRICS Presidency in making this platform even more effective. My bilateral meetings with world leaders will also boost India’s friendship with various nations,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Earlier on Monday, PM Modi praised BRICS for prioritising key global issues such as the environment and health security. He underlined these subjects as crucial for humanity’s future, adding that for India, climate justice is not merely a choice but a moral obligation.

Speaking at the BRICS session on Environment, COP-30, and Global Health, PM Modi said climate change and environmental protection have always been top priorities for India. “For us, it is not just about energy, it is about maintaining a balance between life and nature,” the Prime Minister said.

“I am glad that under the chairmanship of Brazil, BRICS has given high priority to important issues like environment and health security. These subjects are not only interconnected but are also extremely important for the bright future of humanity.

“This year, COP-30 is being held in Brazil, making discussions on the environment in BRICS both relevant and timely. Climate change and environmental safety have always been top priorities for India. For us, it’s not just about energy, it’s about maintaining a balance between life and nature. While some see it as just numbers, in India, it’s part of our daily life and traditions. In our culture, the Earth is respected as a mother. That’s why, when Mother Earth needs us, we always respond. We are transforming our mindset, our behaviour, and our lifestyle,” he said.

He added, “Guided by the spirit of ‘People, Planet, and Progress’, India has launched several key initiatives — such as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree in the Name of Mother), the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Green Hydrogen Mission, the Global Biofuels Alliance, and the Big Cats Alliance.

“During India’s G20 Presidency, we placed strong emphasis on sustainable development and bridging the gap between the Global North and South. With this objective, we achieved consensus among all countries on the Green Development Pact. To encourage environment-friendly actions, we also launched the Green Credits Initiative.”

—IANS

July 8, 2025
PM Modi arrives in Brasília for state visit, to hold talks with President Lula

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Brazilian capital Brasília on Monday, marking the second leg of his visit to Brazil after concluding a “very productive” trip to Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit.

Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi was received at the airport by Brazil’s Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro Filho.

During his State Visit, the Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Briefing reporters on Sunday, India’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, said that both sides are expected to sign four agreements or memorandums of understanding (MoUs). These will cover cooperation in renewable energy, counterterrorism, agricultural research between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Brazil’s Embrapa, and the exchange and mutual protection of confidential information.

A relationship rooted in shared values

India and Brazil share a multifaceted relationship which was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2006. The two countries also work closely in global and plurilateral forums such as BRICS, IBSA, G20, G-4, the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance.

The bilateral relationship is underpinned by a shared vision for a just global order, democratic values and the commitment to foster economic growth with social inclusion.

Historically, the cultural exchanges between Brazil and India date back to the Portuguese colonial era. Indian cattle breeds like Gir and Kankrej, exported to Brazil in the early 20th century, have significantly contributed to Brazil’s dairy industry. The popularity of Brazilian television series such as Caminho das Indias has also enhanced India’s image in Brazilian popular culture.

Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1948, with embassies opened in the same year. India’s embassy shifted from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1971.

Strengthening economic ties

The trade relationship between India and Brazil remains robust. In 2024-25, bilateral trade reached USD 12.2 billion, with Indian exports accounting for USD 6.77 billion and imports from Brazil at USD 5.43 billion. Major Indian exports include petroleum products, agro-chemicals, pharmaceuticals and engineering goods. Brazilian exports to India primarily comprise crude oil, soya oil, gold, raw sugar and cotton.

Indian investments in Brazil are estimated at over USD 6 billion, while Brazilian investments in India are around USD 1 billion. Prominent Indian firms operating in Brazil include Tata Motors, Mahindra Tractors, Infosys, Wipro and Sun Pharma, among others. Conversely, Brazilian companies such as Vale, Stefanini and WEG have a presence in India.

High-level visits and parliamentary exchanges

In recent years, high-level exchanges have imparted momentum to the relationship. President Jair Bolsonaro paid a state visit to India in January 2020 and was the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade. During the visit, an Action Plan was adopted to strengthen the Strategic Partnership, leading to the signing of 15 agreements across diverse sectors.

Parliamentary engagement has also expanded. Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, led a delegation to attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia in June 2025 and held meetings with Brazilian parliamentary leaders. Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, participated in the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in November 2024.

Recently, a multi-party parliamentary delegation led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor visited Brasilia to discuss cross-border terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. They met Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and senior Brazilian officials.

Expanding frontiers: space, energy and health

India and Brazil collaborate in space technology through agreements for peaceful use of outer space and satellite tracking. India notably launched Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite in 2021.

In oil and gas, Brazil is India’s largest upstream investment destination in the Americas, with Indian PSUs investing over USD 3.5 billion. The nations are also co-founders of the Global Biofuel Alliance, launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi.

Health and traditional medicine are other areas of cooperation. Ayurveda and Yoga are recognised under Brazil’s national policy of alternative medicine, and the two countries have agreed to collaborate on health surveillance, technology transfer and research.

July 8, 2025
King Charles hosts Macron in first European state visit since Brexit

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Britain’s King Charles will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Windsor Castle on Tuesday for the first state visit by a European leader since Brexit in a trip aimed at celebrating the return of closer political ties between the countries.

The grand ceremonial event will be the first for Macron, who enjoys a good personal relationship with the king. The last state visit to Britain by a French president was in 2008, when Nicolas Sarkozy was a guest of the late Queen Elizabeth.

Britain has been trying to reset ties with European allies since Prime Minister Keir Starmer was elected last year. The talks this week will focus on a range of issues, including how to stop people-smuggling and improving economic and defence ties at a time when the United States is retrenching from its traditional role as a defender of European security.

Although there have been tensions over the shape of post-Brexit ties and how to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats, Britain and France have been working closely together to create a planned military force to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

Sebastien Maillard, an associate fellow at London’s Chatham House think tank, said the two sides were seeking to repair some of the damage done by the Brexit negotiations in the run up to Britain leaving the EU in 2020, “when France was more or less playing the bad cop”.

While Macron’s three-day visit is filled with meetings about economic issues and foreign affairs, the first day of the visit is largely focused on pageantry, and heavy in symbolism.

Prince William and his wife Kate will greet Macron and his wife Brigitte at a military airport in London and will accompany them to Windsor where they will be officially welcomed by the king and Queen Camilla, and gun salutes.

They will then travel in a carriage procession through Windsor’s streets, attend a military parade and then have lunch with the royal family at the castle.

On Tuesday afternoon, Macron will travel back to London to speak to lawmakers in the parliament. The day will end with a state dinner at Windsor Castle, including speeches by the king and Macron in front of about 150 guests.

MIGRANTS’ RETURN DEAL

The following day Starmer will host Macron at Downing Street where they will discuss how to stop the flow of tens of thousands of asylum seekers across the Channel.

British officials are hoping that Macron will agree to a pilot of an asylum seekers’ returns deal. This would involve Britain deporting one asylum seeker to France in exchange for another with a legitimate case to be in Britain, thereby disrupting the business model of people-smuggling gangs.

A record number of asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats from France in the first six months of this year. Starmer, trailing behind Nigel Farage’s insurgent, right-wing Reform UK party in the polls, is under pressure to come up with a solution.

France has previously refused to sign up to such an agreement, saying Britain should negotiate an arrangement with all the EU countries.

On Thursday, Starmer and Macron will host a UK-France summit to discuss other bilateral issues and how to support Ukraine. The two could also announce further cooperation on nuclear investment, such as at Sizewell C.

Macron’s visit is a sign of a new era in relations.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in his memoirs published last year that Macron wanted to punish Britain after it voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Britain and France in recent years have publicly clashed over fishing rights and a submarine alliance that united Britain, Australia and the United States, but left France on the sidelines.

(Reuters)

July 8, 2025
Hopes fade for Texas flood victims as death toll tops 95

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Search teams plodded through muddy riverbanks and flew aircraft over a flood-ravaged central Texas landscape on Monday as hopes dimmed for finding more survivors among dozens still missing from a disaster that has claimed at least 96 lives, many of them children.

Three days after a torrential predawn downpour transformed the Guadalupe River into a raging, killer torrent, a Christian girls’ summer camp devastated by the flash flood confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were among those who had perished.

Ten girls and a camp counselor were still unaccounted for, officials said on Monday, as search-and-rescue personnel faced the potential of more heavy rains and thunderstorms while clawing through tons of muck-laden debris.

The bulk of the death toll from Friday’s flooding was concentrated in and around the riverfront Hill Country town of Kerrville, including the ill-fated grounds of Camp Mystic.

By Monday afternoon, the bodies of 84 flood victims – 56 adults and 28 children – were recovered in Kerr County, most of them in the county seat of Kerrville, according to the local sheriff.

As of midday Sunday, state and local officials said 12 other flood-related fatalities had been confirmed across five neighboring south-central Texas counties, and that 41 other people were still listed as missing outside Kerr County.

The New York Times, one of numerous news media outlets publishing varying death tolls on Monday, reported that at least 104 people had been killed across the entire flood zone.

‘ROUGH WEEK’ AHEAD

While authorities continued to hold out hope that some of the missing would turn up alive, the likelihood of finding more survivors diminished as time passed.

“This will be a rough week,” Mayor Joe Herring Jr said at a briefing on Monday morning.

Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls’ retreat on the banks of the Guadalupe was at the epicenter of the disaster.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” the camp said in a statement on Monday.

Richard “Dick” Eastland, 70, Mystic’s co-owner and director, died trying to save children at his camp from the flood, multiple media, including the Austin American-Statesman reported. He and his wife, Tweety Eastland, have owned the camp since 1974, according to its website.

“If he wasn’t going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,” Eastland’s grandson, George Eastland, wrote on Instagram.

MISHAP IN THE SKY

Authorities lost one of their aviation assets on Monday when a privately operated drone collided in restricted airspace over the Kerr County flood zone with a search helicopter, forcing the chopper to make an emergency landing. No injuries were reported, but the aircraft was put out of commission, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.

National Weather Service forecasts on Monday predicted that up to 4 more inches of rain could douse Texas Hill Country, with isolated areas possibly receiving as much as 10 inches (25 cm).

Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said the potential for renewed flooding was particularly heightened by the saturated condition of the soil and mounds of debris already strewn around the river channel. A flood watch was posted until 7 p.m.

State emergency management officials had warned on Thursday, ahead of the July Fourth holiday, that parts of central Texas faced the possibility of flash floods based on National Weather Service forecasts.

But twice as much rain as was predicted ended up falling over two branches of the Guadalupe just upstream of the fork where they converge, sending all of that water racing into the single river channel where it slices through Kerrville, City Manager Dalton Rice said.

Rice said the outcome, the result of an unpredictable combination of circumstances, was unforeseen and unfolded in a matter of two hours.

“Why didn’t we evacuate? Well, evacuation is a delicate balance,” he said in response to reporters’ questions on Monday. “If you evacuate too late, you then risk putting buses, or cars, or vehicles or campers on roads into low-water areas, trying to get them out, which then can make it even more challenging.”

“It’s very tough to make those calls, because what we also don’t want to do is cry wolf.”

The chief meteorologist for commercial forecaster AccuWeather, Jonathan Porter, said authorities had ample time to move people to higher ground before the flood struck.

Rice and other public officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, said the circumstances of the flooding, and the adequacy of weather forecasts and warning systems, would be scrutinized once the immediate situation was brought under control.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday asked a government watchdog to investigate whether budget cuts imposed by the Trump administration contributed to any delays or inaccuracy in forecasting the floods.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said there would be time to examine whether more could have been done to prevent the loss of life but that now was not the time for “partisan finger-pointing.”

(Reuters)

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on June 26, 2025 2025-07-08 Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of June 26, 2025.

Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

By Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND)

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of June 26, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Zhang Xiaogang: Friends from the media, good afternoon. Welcome to this month’s regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China. I have no information torelease. The floor is open for questions.

Journalist: It is reported that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ Meeting was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Please brief us on the Chinese military’s participation in SCO defense and security cooperation.

Zhang Xiaogang: The SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province from June 25 to 26. China’s Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun presided at the meeting and delivered a speech. This year, China is the rotating chair of the SCO, and hosting the Defense Minister’s Meeting is an important activity to perform the chair’s duties.

Defense and security cooperation plays a significant role in the establishment and development of the SCO. The Chinese side actively promotes strategic communication and substantive cooperation within the SCO and initiated many cooperation programs. First, we organized or participated in meetings of SCO defense ministers, chiefs of general staff, and international military cooperation organs to communicate and build consensus with other member states and send a “SCO voice” on international and regional security issues. Second, we hosted or participated in Peace Mission joint exercises, Fanfare for Peace military tattoos and expert working group meetings, and conducted professional exchanges on military medicine, military transportation, and military translation to deepen cooperation across the board. Third, we initiated and hosted the SCO Seminar for Senior-Level Officers, the SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers’ Exchange, and the SCO+ Young Scholars’ Salon to enrich exchanges among service members of the member states and strengthen their friendship and mutual trust.

He who walks with others walks far. The Chinese military will work with militaries of other SCO member states to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, further broaden and deepen defense cooperation, join hands in building a common home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Journalist: It is reported that India refused to sign the joint statement of the recent SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting due to disagreements over terrorism issues. Besides, could you provide some information about the meeting between the defense ministers of India and China?

Zhang Xiaogang: As far as I know, with joint efforts of all parties, the SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting achieved a full success. We will release information on the meeting between the Chinese and Indian defense ministers in a timely manner.

Journalist: I have two questions. First, according to media reports, sea trial of PLANS Fujian is steadily advancing and the PLA Navy will soon have three operational aircraft carriers. Does that mean China’s third aircraft carrier will be commissioned soon? What role will the three carrier task groups play in safeguarding China’s overseas interests and maintaining regional stability? Second, it is reported that the US side recently invited representatives of Taiwan’s military to observe a joint air exercise between the US and its allies. Lately, the US House Appropriation Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriation Act, which includes a $500 million budget for military assistance to Taiwan. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, building a strong and modernized navy is a century-old dream of the Chinese nation. China builds aircraft carriers in line with our national security needs and the development of equipment and technology. Starting from scratch, the PLA Navy has made leapfrog progress in aircraft carrier development. After successive commissioning of PLANS Liaoning and PLANS Shandong capable of ski jump launch, we now have the first carrier with electromagnetic catapult launch, PLANS Fujian. It should be emphasized that China develops weapons and equipment only to safeguard our national sovereignty, security and development interests. The Chinese military remains a staunch force for world peace. The more capable we are, the stronger the force in defending peace and preventing war.

On your second question, we firmly oppose any form of military collusion between the US and China’s Taiwan region. Such collusion, be it military aid, arms sale or under any other excuse, reveals the extremely malicious intention of the US to mislead Taiwan into the flames of war, harming Taiwan itself and destroying its interests. We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and stop sending wrong signals to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. We warn the DPP authorities that “soliciting US support for independence” is doomed to fail, and “resisting reunification by force” is a dead end.

Journalist: I have two questions. First, it is reported that the poll initiated by the Democratic Culture and Education Foundation in Taiwan showed that 66% of the respondents believed that the US may sell out Taiwan for its own interests; 67% believed that the US mainly uses Taiwan as a bargaining chip in its rivalry with the Chinese mainland. What’s your take on that? Second, the leader of the Taiwan region Lai Ching-te recently launched a so-called “10 talks on unity”, which include many contents on cross-Strait relations. May I have your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, the US always puts its own interests first and this won’t be different when it comes to the Taiwan question. Acting as a pawn, the DPP authorities cannot escape the fate of being abandoned. Many more compatriots in Taiwan have now realized that “Taiwan independence” is a dead end, foreign support is unreliable, and China’s reunification is inevitable. Those who act against the trend of reunification and attempt to separate the country will never have a good end.

On your second question, Taiwan is a part of China. It has never been and will never be a country. Lai Ching-te has distorted historical facts and made up false theories with an ill attempt to provoke for independence and escalate tensions across the Strait. His delirious talks will never change the legal fact that Taiwan is a part of China and the international community’s commitment to the one-China principle, and will never stop the historical trend that China will and must be reunified. The PLA shows zero tolerance towards “Taiwan independence” separatist activities. We will strengthen military training and combat readiness and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Journalist: It is reported that the US plans to deploy another Typhon mid-range missile system in the Philippines. The Philippine side claims that the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Intervention System (NMESIS) would remain within the Philippines after a recent military exercise with the US and serve as a deterrence to those attempting to coerce or invade the Philippines. Do you have any comment?

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of June 26, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

Zhang Xiaogang: The Asia-Pacific region is a key hub for peaceful development rather than an arena for major-power rivalry. The Philippines has intensified its efforts to introduce strategic and tactical weapons, tied itself to the US war chariot, and become a co-conspirator in destabilizing the region. These actions severely undermined common interests of the peoples in the region. Those who “invited wolves into the house” will ultimately have themselves harmed and their home destroyed. We urge the Philippine side to take lessons from history and avoid making a same mistake.

Journalist: I have two questions. First, the recent Jiangsu Football City League has been extremely popular. Many netizens commented in the account of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, hoping that on the day of the final game, fighter jets such as J-10 can fly over the stadium, emulating the practice of the US NFL “Super Bowl”. What’s your comment on this? Second, two warships of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), helicopter destroyer JS Ise and frigate JS Suzunami, recently docked at the Port of Manila in the Philippines to hold joint training with the Philippine military. Rear Admiral Takashi Natsui of the JMSDF accused China of increasing activities in waters surrounding Japan and unilaterally changing the status quo with strength, which posed a serious challenge to the international order. He said that Japan would closely monitor movements of the PLA Navy to ensure full vigilance and leave no room for error. What’s your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, the Jiangsu Football City League is such a big hit recently. Fans show quite strong patriotic sentiments. I should say our fighter planes will always be on their combat posts to safeguard all of us.

On your second question, Japan is not a party concerned in the South China Sea issue and therefore should not support provocative actions of some certain country. We urge the Japanese side to stop stirring up troubles on the South China Sea issue, stop undermining regional peace and stability, and do not head further down a wrong path.

Journalist: The DPP authorities claimed that 46 PLA fighter jets crossed the Taiwan Strait and six PLA vessels circled around Taiwan within 24 hours, which is the largest PLA operation around the island recently. What’s your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: PLA military drills around the Taiwan Island are necessary actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as stern warnings against the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and the interference of external forces. They are fully justified, legitimate, and reasonable. The Lai Ching-te authorities have taken continued actions to seek independence, which could push Taiwan into a dangerous situation of war. They are the culprits who undermine security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots and will surely be disdained by the people and judged by the time.

Journalist: A former commander of the US Pacific Command has reportedly said that 2027 is a critical year for the PLA not only to attack Taiwan but also to become a world-class military. The Chinese side now sails its aircraft carriers and other large vessels beyond the Second Island Chain to put pressure on Taiwan, Japan and the US. He called it “gunboat diplomacy”. Do you have any comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people, which brooks no foreign interference. The operation and training activities conducted by Chinese aircraft carrier task groups conform to international law and practices, and do not target at any third party. In addition, China has never done such things as “gunboat diplomacy”. We urge the US side not to perceive China with its own hegemonic mindset, and stop misinterpreting China’s legitimate actions with false ideas.

Journalist: China will hold a grand military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. According to the information released on June 24, weapons and equipment to be displayed in the parade are all domestically developed. What new weapons and equipment will be on display?

Zhang Xiaogang: I believe many of you are interested in this question. Please be patient about the new weapons and equipment to be displayed. And no spoilers from me.

Journalist: It is reported that the US Secretary of Defense recently claimed at a congressional hearing that China is a “pacing threat”, and that the US will prioritize re-establishing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region to “achieve peace through strength”. The One Big Beautiful Bill of the US would allocate 12 billion US dollars for the “Pacific Deterrence Initiative”, further strengthening combat readiness of US forces in the Indo-Pacific and boosting defense capabilities of Taiwan. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: Zero-sum game should not be the way that major countries handle each other, and peaceful coexistence should be a bottom line both China and the US hold. China’s development poses no threat to other countries and we never resort to deterrence or coercion preferred by some certain country.

The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair which brooks no foreign interference. The US side has repeatedly gone back on its own words and kept arming Taiwan, which would only backfire. We urge the US side to have an objective and rational perception of China, stop blaming China on everything, and stop deceiving and misleading the US public and the international community, so as to create favorable conditions for developing state-to-state and mil-to-mil relations between China and the US.

Journalist: I have two questions. First, it is reported that this year’s enrollment in military academies in Taiwan has been hotly discussed, with the number of female cadets in many academies surpassing that of male cadets. “When male soldiers are not enough, female soldiers have to fill the gap”. Such a situation does not reflect gender equality, but rather a fact that no one want to throw their lives away for “Taiwan independence”. Do you have any comment? The second question, it is reported that the Trump administration planned to significantly increase arms sales to Taiwan during the second term. In the following four years, military sales to Taiwan is expected to surpass the $18.3 billion approved during the first Trump administration. The US side is also reportedly pressuring Taiwan’s opposition parties not to obstruct the DPP authorities’ efforts to raise defense budget. In addition, Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan’s defense budget should reach 3% of its GDP or even higher, and expressed the hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation would evolve beyond military procurement to joint production and joint research and development. What’s your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: There is a good point in your first question, no one want to throw their lives away for “Taiwan independence”. It is unworthy and meaningless to be cannon fodders for the armed forces of “Taiwan independence”.

On your second question, Lai Ching-te and his kind are trying to find all kinds of ways to pay “protection fees” to their US masters, which squandered hard-earned money of the people in Taiwan. This is exactly “selling off the farmland of one’s family without being conscience-stricken”. We warn the DPP authorities that their attempts to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence” and resist reunification by force will only fail.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of June 26, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

Journalist: According to reports, during its summit in the Hague from June 24 to 25, NATO accused China of providing Russia with key support in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and expressed concerns over the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan question. NATO Secretary General recently said that China is significantly strengthening its military capabilities, building the world’s largest navy, and expanding its nuclear arsenal. Therefore, NATO should strengthen its partnership with Indo-Pacific countries to deal with the military challenges posed by China. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: China adheres to the path of peaceful development, and is committed to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China’s military development is purely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. China-Russia cooperation does not target at any third party, nor will it be interfered by any third party.

As a product of the Cold War and the largest military bloc in the world, NATO stirs up troubles and provokes conflicts and wars in various regions, making itself a true war machine. In recent years, NATO has overstretched its geographic boundary stipulated by its own Treaty, and ill-expanded its power and authority, arousing high vigilance among regional countries. We firmly oppose NATO using China as an excuse to “expand eastward into the Asia-Pacific” and urge NATO to reflect on its own behaviors, change course, and contribute more to global security and stability.

Journalist: It is reported that when meeting with heads of the world’s leading news agencies, Russian President said that China and Russia are strengthening their extensive military cooperation on defense industries and other fields. The two sides hold joint exercises on a regular basis. The Russian Defense Ministry has made a detailed road map to deepen cooperation with China. What’s your take on that?

Zhang Xiaogang: Based on the principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting at any third party, cooperation between China and Russia has maintained a steady and sound momentum.

Journalist: According to media reports, Taiwan’s first indigenous submarine Hai Kun recently completed its maiden sea trial. Do you have any comment on that?

Zhang Xiaogang: The “Taiwan independence” separatist forces tried very hard to build the submarine Hai Kun only to find a form of psychological comfort. It can be easily defeated by the PLA.

Journalist: It is reported that the Philippines has launched a so-called “New Hero-Fisherfolk” Program to encourage its fishermen to exploit fishing resources in waters near Nansha to the fullest extent. What’s your take on that?

Zhang Xiaogang: China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. The Philippine side attempts to use fishing activities as a pretext to infringe upon China’s sovereignty and make provocations. This will never work. The Chinese side will strengthen administrative control of relevant waters in accordance with laws and regulations, and firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Journalist: A former Chief of Staff of Japan Self-Defense Force said that China has increased its maritime presence near Diaoyu Dao over the past two years. The increasingly aggressive actions taken by the Chinese side recently may be preparations for a landing operation to take control of Diaoyu Dao. What’s your comment on that?

Zhang Xiaogang: Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory. Patrols and law enforcement activities conducted by the Chinese side in waters under China’s jurisdiction are legitimate actions. It is the Japanese side who is undermining stability and escalating tensions in the relevant region.

Journalist: It is reported that the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute of Sweden recently released its annual report on global nuclear forces, stating that China currently possesses 600 nuclear warheads, ranking third in the world. It says China’s stockpile is increasing at a speed of approximately 100 per year, faster than that of any other country. What is your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: I will not comment on this kind of speculative reports. China adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and commits itself to a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. We keep our nuclear force at a minimum level required for national security and have no intention to engage in arms race with any country. China will continue to safeguard its legitimate security interests and uphold world peace and stability.

Zhang Xiaogang: If there are no other questions, it concludes today’s press conference.

MIL OSI China News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces $1.1 Million for Opelousas Airport Safety Improvements from His Infrastructure Law

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $1,125,000.00 to St. Landry Parish for safety improvements at the St. Landry Parish Airport (OPL) in Opelousas. The funding comes through Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Investing in airport safety protects families and strengthens the local economy,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding will ensure St. Landry Parish Airport is safer and better equipped to serve Opelousas and the surrounding communities for years to come.”
This grant will provide federal funding to support the St. Landry Parish Airport Safety Improvement Program.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: FAA Awards $4.4 Million for Projects at North Dakota Airports
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $4,487,203 through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following:
- $1,024,246 to the City of Williston for replacing existing snow removal equipment, including multi-tasking equipment.
- $602,865 to the City of Minot for realigning existing Taxiway B by eight degrees to enhance safety, reconstructing existing Runway 8/26 lighting, and rehabilitating 6,348 of existing paved Runway 8/26 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.
- $600,000 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe for rehabilitating 3,700 feet of existing paved Runway 14/32 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.
- $355,084 to the Washburn Municipal Airport Authority to extend existing Taxiway A by an additional 300 feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
- $300,000 to the Cando Municipal Airport Authority to reseal 3,500 feet of existing Runway 16/34 pavement and joints at a nonprimary airport.
- $287,375 to the Bowman County Airport Authority to update the existing airport layout plan with a master plan narrative.
- $285,044 to the Stanley Municipal Airport Authority for expanding the West Apron by adding 1,632 square yards to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. This grant funds the second phase, which constructs 854 square yards.
- $275,000 to the Oakes Municipal Airport Authority for resealing 6,000 square yards of existing general aviation Apron pavement, resealing 210 feet of existing Hangar Taxilane pavement, resealing 1,000 feet of existing Taxiway B pavement and joints, resealing 540 feet of existing Taxiway A pavement and joints, and resealing 3,500 feet of existing Runway 12/30 pavement.
- $208,500 to the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority for resealing 1,706 feet of existing Taxiway E pavement, resealing 4,368 feet of existing Taxiway D and connector pavement and joints, resealing 3,815 feet of existing Taxiway A and connectors pavement and joints, resealing 6,900 feet of existing Runway 13/31 pavement and joints, resealing 5,650 feet of existing Runway 4/22 pavement, and resealing 3,716 feet of existing Taxiway B pavement and joints.
- $200,000 to the Rugby Municipal Airport Authority for resealing 3,600 feet of existing Runway 12/30 pavement and joints, resealing 550 feet of existing Taxilane South pavement, rehabilitating 7,300 square yards of existing Center Apron pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris, and resealing 720 feet of existing Taxiway A pavement and joints.
- $151,489 to the Rolla Municipal Airport Authority for replacing the existing Wind Cone, replacing one existing airport rotating beacon, reconstructing the precision approach path indicator system for Runway 14/32 at both Runway thresholds, reconstructing existing Runway 14/32 lighting and signage, and reconstructing existing Taxiway A lighting.
- $99,750 to the Barnes County Municipal Airport Authority for the design phase of resealing 16,082 square yards of existing General Aviation Apron pavement and joints, resealing 360 feet of existing Taxiway A pavement, and resealing 2,011 feet of existing Hangar Taxilane pavement.
- $97,850 to the Northwood Municipal Airport Authority for constructing a new 5,184 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage and maintenance to assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design.
The FAA AIP provides funding to airports nationwide for planning, capital, and safety enhancement projects.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lawler, Carbajal Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Protections for Rail Workers

Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

Washington, D.C — 7/1/25… Last week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, reintroduced their bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act. The legislation would strengthen workplace protections for railroad yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other railroad yard workers. Yardmasters are the traffic controllers of our country’s rail yards and terminals.

“I’m proud to join Rep. Carbajal in reintroducing the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act, a commonsense, bipartisan bill that closes a long-overdue gap in rail safety policy. Yardmasters are essential to the safe and smooth operation of our freight rail system, and it’s only right that they receive the same duty hour protections as other rail employees. This legislation is about protecting workers, improving safety, and ensuring our rail network continues to serve communities and commerce across the country effectively,” said Congressman Lawler.

“Yardmasters are the traffic controllers of our country’s railroad network. Like their counterparts in aviation, they play a vital role in ensuring the safety of everyone traveling by train,” said Congressman Carbajal. “My bipartisan legislation will improve working conditions and support the professionals who keep America’s railroads running safely and efficiently.”

The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees.

The bill ensures that a yardmaster may not be required or allowed to remain on duty for more than a total of 12 hours, and then must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty. First introduced in 2019, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act passed the House in 2020 as part of the INVEST in America Act. The bill has also been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Sidhu meets with Alberta counterpart and industry leaders to discuss trade, innovation and investment

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

July 7, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, spent 3 days in Calgary, Alberta, working with provincial leaders and business representatives to strengthen trade and investment opportunities for Canadian businesses.

On Thursday, July 3, Minister Sidhu met with Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration. They discussed how the federal and provincial governments can work together to advance trade diversification and promotion, including through Team Canada trade missions.

Minister Sidhu delivered remarks at the Canada-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Business Council board meeting, highlighting recent progress in the growing Canada-UAE trade relationship.

On Friday, July 4, the Minister toured local facilities that are at the forefront of using advanced technologies. At Carbon Upcycling Technologies, he saw world-leading carbon-capture and conversion technology in action. He then toured Carbonova, an innovative company that turns greenhouse gases into valuable products for a range of industries. The Minister also visited De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited’s leading manufacturing facility and saw first-hand their proud Canadian operations, including the production of aircraft headed to the EU and Colombia. He then led a round-table discussion with aerospace and defence industry leaders.

During the Calgary Stampede, Minister Sidhu met with members of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to discuss key trade priorities, particularly those of interest to Western Canadian business leaders.

Throughout the trip, Minister Sidhu highlighted the advantages of Canada’s economic resilience and global trade relationships, as well as how the Trade Commissioner Service can help Canadian businesses explore international markets and opportunities.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Releases Statement on Budget Reconciliation Bill

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
07.02.25
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement on H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation bill:
“This was one of the hardest votes I have taken during my time in the Senate.
“My goal throughout the reconciliation process has been to make a bad bill better for Alaska, and in many ways, we have done that. In addition to extending pro-growth tax cuts, a larger child tax credit, and no tax on tips or overtime, we made a historic investment and modernization of the Coast Guard; enhanced our border security and national defense; funded aviation safety, including AWOS/VWOS systems that will save lives; and provided tax-exempt status for the Community Development Quota Program to help western Alaska communities establish a sustainable economy, among other provisions.
“We have advanced new opportunities for resource development in the NPR-A, the Coastal Plain, and Cook Inlet that will help us create jobs and increase the share of revenues our state receives. I also co-led the Senate effort to restore a slightly longer phase-out for wind and solar tax credits while deleting a punitive excise tax targeting them.
“Those provisions will benefit our economy, but it is the people of Alaska that I worry about the most, especially when it comes to the potential loss of social safety net programs—Medicaid coverage and SNAP benefits—that our most vulnerable populations rely on.
“To address the bill’s shortcomings, we have helped our communities through a $50 billion rural health fund. This will mean hundreds of millions of dollars for Alaska hospitals, community health centers, and other providers. We secured commitments from the CMS Administrator to continue to address longstanding priorities which will directly help Bartlett, Fairbanks Memorial, Central Peninsula, and other hospitals in Alaska.
“In the SNAP program, we have added tribal exemptions for work requirements, delayed cost-share penalties to help Alaska get benefits to the people who need them, and included work requirement waivers that align with our Medicaid policies. We also secured commitments from the Secretary of Agriculture to provide additional flexibilities to Alaska for SNAP.
“But, let’s not kid ourselves. This has been an awful process—a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution. While we have worked to improve the present bill for Alaska, it is not good enough for the rest of our nation—and we all know it.
“My sincere hope is that this is not the final product. This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President’s desk. We need to work together to get this right.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Electrify Expo Returns to Marymoor Park July 12–13 with Top EV Brands, New Tech and the First Public Lucid Gravity Demos
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Two ticket options available, with general admission starting at $20 and kids 5 and under free
- Festival runs June 21-22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tickets available online and in person
SEATTLE, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electrify Expo, North America’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and technology festival, is returning to the Pacific Northwest this summer with its signature blend of innovation, thrills, and family-friendly fun. Taking over more than one million square feet at Marymoor Park, the festival will feature hands-on demo experiences with the latest in EVs, plug-in hybrids, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more. Unique for Seattle, Lucid will bring a fleet of its brand-new Lucid Gravity SUV, available for public demos for the first time – an experience previously exclusive to reservation holders.

Washington continues to lead electrification efforts, ranking third in the nation for EV market share according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. As of 2024, the state is home to 223,995 registered electric vehicles – a 35% jump from 2023 and a 254% increase over the past five years. The Seattle metro area remains the epicenter, with more than 113,000 EVs on the road in King County supported by one of the country’s most expansive public charging networks.

“Seattle’s tech-savvy, environmentally conscious community makes it one of the most exciting markets for EV adoption right now,” said BJ Birtwell, CEO and founder of Electrify Expo. “We’re seeing growing interest from curious consumers who want to experience EVs firsthand before taking the leap. Electrify Expo delivers that lightbulb moment by offering exciting experiences for attendees to discover the benefits of going electric.”

Popular Attractions for Seattle:
- For the first time ever, Lucid will offer consumer demo drives of its Gravity SUV. Following the vehicle’s Seattle debut at last year’s Electrify Expo event, attendees will now have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of Lucid’s luxury three-row electric SUV.
- Tesla will offer extended EV test drives via Electrify Expos’ Weekender program where attendees can take their EV of choice home and experience how it fits in their everyday life.
- The Electric Freestyle Motocross Stunt Zone will feature X Games Gold Medalist Destin Cantrell and his freestyle MX team, who will jump and soar with electric dirt bikes in thrilling live performances at select times over the weekend.
- The Pivotal Helix, an eVTOL personal aircraft, will make its Seattle debut and be on display for attendees to experience the future of transportation with SoFly.
- Attendees can experience the latest in electric mobility with hands-on demos of cutting-edge e-bikes and high-speed electric bikes from leading brands.
- Get behind the wheel of the latest electric vehicles—models not yet available in dealer showrooms—on real on-road test tracks for an unparalleled hands-on experience.
Ride and Drive experiences are the cornerstone of Electrify Expo. Thrilling, real-world demo rides take places on Marymoor Park property and head out into the city of Redmond to give attendees fun behind-the-wheel experiences in the most popular EV brands like:
- Lucid
- Ford
- Lexus
- Tesla
- Porsche
- Toyota
- Kia
Explore the hottest e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorcycles and other rideables on the market, including:
- ONYX Motors
- Can-Am
- P-51 Bikes
- E-Z-GO
- GoTrax
- Terra Bikes
- Dryft
- AIMA
- Ghostcat
Electrify Expo’s gates will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, 2025, with the full day of festivities concluding at 5 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase in person and online.

For the 2025 Seattle festival, Electrify Expo will offer two ticket options to suit every attendee’s needs:
- General Admission ($20): Full-day access to all festival zones and demo courses from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Power Pack ($99): Includes early entry at 9 a.m., VIP lounge access, exclusive priority lanes for demo rides and dedicated entry for a premium all-day experience.
Media interested in attending may request credentials by emailing ee@skyya.com. Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2025 Electrify Expo locations can visit https://www.electrifyexpo.com/partner-registration.

About Electrify Expo
Electrify Expo is North America’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and technology festival, where consumers come to shop and experience all things electric. The festival showcases the industry’s leading brands and exciting startups through hands-on activations, demos and experiences spanning EVs, micromobility, solar energy, charging solutions, powersports, automotive aftermarket, and connected home technology, providing attendees with immersive learning opportunities and memorable interactions. From high-powered demo courses to engaging education zones, Electrify Expo offers a unique festival vibe for consumers to reshape what they think they know about EVs. In 2025, Electrify Expo’s nationwide tour will visit Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from Electrify Expo, visit www.electrifyexpo.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Media Contact
Skyya PR
ee@skyya.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e855db0b-5112-46af-98a2-4caad869eaf4

The MIL Network –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Breaking ground on CFB Trenton’s new Strategic Tanker Transport Capability

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

July 7, 2025 – Trenton, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, participated in a groundbreaking ceremony at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton to mark the start of construction on a major infrastructure project that will support the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project.

Through an investment of $850 million, the Department of National Defence (DND) is moving forward with significant upgrades and additional infrastructure for the Main Operating Base (MOB) – East at CFB Trenton. These critical infrastructure upgrades will support the arrival and long-term operation of up to seven CC-330 Husky aircraft at CFB Trenton, while a second MOB under development in Edmonton will be able to support up to three and the creation of up to 1,000 jobs in the Trenton and Belleville area.

This first phase of construction, expected to continue into 2026, includes resurfacing the existing runway, aprons and taxiways. Preparations are also underway for the construction of a new two-bay hangar, training facility, fuel depot, and ramp extension. All required construction for the project, including fuelling and defuelling infrastructure, training facilities, and cargo and passenger processing infrastructure is anticipated to be completed by 2033.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: T&I Leaders Introduce Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

Last week, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding through 2029 for the United States Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the nation’s borders, facilitate maritime commerce, ensure maritime safety, and more.

“The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 marks a critical step forward in bolstering our national security, modernizing maritime infrastructure, and supporting the dedicated men and women of the United States Coast Guard. I commend Chairman Graves for his vision in shaping this important legislation. Our bipartisan bill equips our service members with the tools, training, and advanced technologies needed to counter emerging threats, secure our borders, and promote safe, efficient maritime commerce. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, I’m proud of the collaborative effort that brought this bill to life and of our shared commitment to ensuring the Coast Guard remains mission-ready. This legislation builds on the Administration’s Force Design 2028 strategy, laying the foundation for a stronger, more agile maritime force,”said Subcommittee Chairman Ezell.

“The Coast Guard is one of our nation’s six armed services, and Congress must provide these brave men and women the support they need to carry out their many missions. That’s exactly what this bill does,” said T&I Committee Chairman Graves. “From protecting our maritime borders, to stemming the tide of illegal migrants and drugs into the country, to ensuring the safety of mariners and much more, this bill supports the important security, safety, and economically critical work of the Coast Guard.”

“The women and men who keep our seas and coastlines safe from my home state of Washington to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut deserve our full support, and that’s what this bipartisan bill delivers,” said T&I Committee Ranking Member Larsen. “From preventing oil spills on the U.S.-Canada border near the Puget Sound to ensuring the Coast Guard is prepared for tsunamis to cracking down on the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the service, this bill will improve the quality of life for Coasties, increase maritime safety and strengthen our national security. I look forward to its swift passage.”

“Every single day, the Coast Guard goes to work to protect seafarers and beachgoers, and reinforce our national defense,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal. “This bipartisan bill delivers critical resources for the Coast Guard to carry out its missions, modernize infrastructure and safety systems, and enhance quality of life for our Coasties. Just as importantly, it renews our shared commitment to holding the service accountable for meaningful reforms to root out sexual assault and harassment from its ranks.”

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2029. These authorizations will support Coast Guard operations and the continued recapitalization of its historically underfunded cutter fleet, aviation assets, shoreside facilities, and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard’s acquisition process, increases transparency and accountability in the Service’s recapitalization efforts, and opens a pathway to the adoption of next-generation autonomous technologies.

The bill, with a provision led by Ezell, also creates greater parity with the other armed services, including the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard and stronger protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment, based on legislation the T&I Committee introduced last Congress following the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor.

Furthermore, the legislation strengthens U.S.-Build requirements and improves accountability to better ensure a healthy, robust U.S. shipbuilding industry, while also making changes to maritime safety laws, amending requirements for merchant mariner credentials to facilitate an increase in the pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners, increasing vessel safety, and improving regulatory processes.

Click here to read the full bill text.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill: A Win for Workers, Farmers, and America’s Future

US Senate News:

Source: US Whitehouse
President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — now the law of the land — is a sweeping legislative triumph that combines the largest tax cuts in history with landmark investments in America’s future and defense. From No Tax on Social Security for millions of seniors to permanent relief for small businesses and historic funding for national security, this bill unleashes economic prosperity and empowers every American while strengthening our nation’s defenses and boldly looking to the future.
MustReadAlaska.com: Big Beautiful Icebreakers are Alaska wins, as Russia and China work together to gain foothold in Arctic
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, includes a historic investment in US Arctic security, totaling nearly $9 billion for icebreakers that may put America back in charge of the frozen frontier.
The legislation delivers $4.3 billion for heavy Polar security cutters, $3.5 billion for medium Arctic security cutters, and an additional $816 million for lighter ice-capable vessels. It’s the largest Arctic maritime investment in US history, and it comes at a moment of escalating geopolitical stakes in the Far North.”
WFTV (Orlando, Florida): Big Beautiful Bill Act prompts largest investment in U.S. Coast Guard Service’s history
“The U.S. Coast Guard has received nearly $25 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, marking the largest investment in the Service’s history. This historic funding will strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to combat drugs and improve maritime security by enabling the purchase of new vessels and aircraft, and upgrading infrastructure.”
ABC15 (Phoenix, Arizona): Advocates for Arizona radiation exposure victims score big win in Congress
“After decades of fighting, advocates for those who faced radiation exposure in Arizona and elsewhere are getting a big win through President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill.
That push in Congress to carry on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, is finding victory after more than 30 years.”
National Federation of Independent Business: America’s Small Businesses Applaud President Trump, Congress for Stopping Massive Tax Hike on Main Street
“Since 2017, the Small Business Tax Deduction has allowed small businesses to deduct up to 20% of their business income. Without immediate action by Congress, this essential tax deduction was set to expire at the end of the year, raising taxes on millions of small businesses. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides permanent tax relief, freeing America’s small businesses to invest in their businesses and employees. Along with making the Small Business Deduction permanent, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes additional wins for small businesses:
Increases Section 179, Small Business Expensing Cap from $1.25 million to $2.5 million. This will allow small businesses to fully expense business equipment purchases in the first year.
Makes the 2017 marginal rate cuts permanent. Without this provision, five out of seven marginal (individual) income tax rates will rise at the end of the year. Nine out of 10 small businesses are organized as pass-through businesses and pay regular income tax rates rather than the C-corporation rate.
Increases and makes permanent the Small Business Estate Tax Exemption. The new exemption thresholds will be set at $15 million for individual filers and $30 million for joint filers.”
National Hog Farmer: The National Pork Producers Council thanks President Trump for signing into law the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”
“NPPC President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, said, ‘The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation for American agriculture in years. It helps producers protect our herds by fending off foreign animal diseases, and it also cuts red tape, allowing us to more easily pass down our farms to the next generation.’ NPPC thanks President Trump for signing ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ into law and Chairmen Thompson and Boozman for listening to our input and shepherding this legislation through their respective chambers.”
AgDaily: Farmers repeatedly praise this one piece of Trump’s budget bill
“‘Thank you, President Trump.’ That sentiment has been repeated often by farmers during conversations and across social media in the days since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed through Congress and was signed into law. Farmers have specifically celebrated how the bill overhauls the ‘death tax’ — the taxes imposed by the federal and some state governments on someone’s estate upon death …
This is particularly important for commodity and other traditionally large-scale agricultural producers. Unlike liquid assets such as stocks or bank accounts, a farm’s value is often tied up in land, equipment, and other hard assets. It’s not uncommon for a modest, family-run farm to be worth millions of dollars on paper, even if the family running it isn’t living a life of luxury. When those hard assets are included in an estate calculation, especially as the value of an acre increases, it doesn’t take long for farmland to hit the exemption threshold.
‘For farm families, estate taxes aren’t just an abstract policy debate — they’re a very real threat to generational farms and the livelihoods they support,’ said Amanda Zaluckyj, an AGDAILY columnist, lawyer, and part of a family farm in Michigan. ‘Land-rich but cash-poor families may be forced to sell land, equipment, or even the farm itself just to pay the estate tax bill. That’s not just a financial inconvenience — it’s a devastating blow to families who have spent generations building their operations with the intention of passing them on to their children and grandchildren.’”
Retail Insight Network: Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ wins praise from US retailers
“With Congress approving President Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” ahead of Independence Day, US retailers are voicing strong support for the legislation’s pro-growth measures, hailing it as a historic step for the economy.”
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ will unleash parallel prosperity
“We have seen American workers benefit from the president’s economic approach before. Under President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, the net worth of the bottom 50% of households increased faster than the net worth of the top 10% of households. That will happen again under the One Big Beautiful Bill. The bill prevents a $4.5 trillion tax hike on the American people. This will allow the average worker to keep an additional $4,000 to $7,200 in annual real wages and allow the average family of four to keep an additional $7,600 to $10,900 in take-home pay. Add to this the president’s ambitious deregulation agenda, which could save the average family of four an additional $10,000. For millions of Americans, these savings are the difference between being able to make a mortgage payment, buy a car, or send a child to college.
The president is delivering on his promise to seniors as well. The bill provides an additional $6,000 deduction for seniors, which will mean that 88% of seniors receiving Social Security income will pay no tax on their Social Security benefits.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also codifies no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay—both policies designed to provide financial relief to America’s working class. These tax breaks will ensure Main Street workers keep more of their hard-earned income. And they will bolster productivity by rewarding Americans who work extra hours … These productivity-enhancing measures dovetail with the second booster in the blue-collar boom: providing 100% expensing for new factories and existing factories that expand operations, plus car loan interest deductibility to support Made-in-America.”
Rep. Riley Moore: One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers for West Virginia
“President Trump’s signature legislation is a huge win for the American people that puts our nation on the path to a new Golden Age. I’m proud to have voted in favor of this legislation that puts America First.
The One Big Beautiful Bill gives the Trump Administration the tools it needs to reclaim our national sovereignty and ramp up mass deportations. It delivers the largest tax cut for working and middle-class families in American history. It also unleashes American energy, which is critical to powering our economy, reindustrializing the heartland, and winning the global AI arms race.”
Rep. Randy Feenstra: Making President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ the law of the land
“This pro-family, pro-worker, pro-growth economic package is the culmination of President Trump’s campaign promises and conservative economic principles, which will dramatically grow our economy, cut deficits, and create jobs. It is the largest tax cut in American history for families, farmers, workers, and small businesses, ensuring that Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money – not the federal government.
The provisions of the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ will be jet fuel for our economy. Estimates by the Council of Economic Advisers suggest that our GDP could grow by as much as 5.2% in the short run and 3.5% in the long run while investment in our country could see a 14.5% boost with more than four million jobs created in the long term. These figures underscore the positive effects of tax cuts, sensible deregulation, and certainty for businesses and manufacturers.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI China: PLA Navy’s Task Force Wraps Up Visit to Hong Kong 2025-07-07 23:10:46 A naval task force assigned to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) led by the aircraft carrier Shandong (Hull 17) successfully concluded its five-day visit to Hong Kong and departed on Monday morning.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
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MIL OSI China News –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Walker: The FY26 Budget: Georgia Gets the Job Done

Source: US State of Georgia

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

When you hear “state budget,” you might think of bureaucrats in suits arguing over line items in some far-off building. However, we do things differently here in Georgia, and this year’s budget proves it.

On July 1, our Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget officially took effect. It’s an almost $38 billion spending plan that reflects conservative principles: live within your means, invest in what matters and never forget whose money you’re spending. Unlike Washington, where gridlock and runaway spending seem to be the norm, Georgia passed a balanced budget on time, with no drama and no new debt.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked closely with Chairman Blake Tillery and my colleagues to ensure this budget reflects the values of middle Georgia — places like Warner Robins, Dublin, Cochran and Hawkinsville — where folks work hard, stretch a dollar and expect their government to do the same.

Let’s start with education. Whether you have a child in school, a grandchild learning to read or just want to see the next generation succeed, this budget pledges meaningful investments. We fully funded the new Promise Scholarship Program, expanding school choice so more families can find the right fit for their children. That’s a conservative win, empowering parents instead of bureaucracy.

We added $18.4 million to place 116 new literacy coaches in schools and increased funding for student mental health and advocacy specialists. These aren’t abstract policies; they’re life-changing personnel that will support schools across our state.

On the practical side, we’re helping school districts afford safer, more reliable transportation by spending $20 million on new buses and over $10 million to strengthen routes and operations. This support makes a real difference in spread-out systems like those in Laurens or Dodge County.

We also doubled down on job training. Career and technical education is booming across Georgia, and we’re meeting that demand with $33.4 million for our technical colleges, plus $15.8 million for high-demand fields like commercial truck driving, nursing and aviation.

At the end of the day, not every student needs a four-year degree to build a successful life. Whether they’re training at Oconee Fall Line Tech or Central Georgia Tech, we’re ensuring students in our area can gain the skills they need and start a career without piling on student debt or leaving home.

I was especially proud of our substantial investments in agriculture, Georgia’s number one industry. We added $7.3 million for updated ag-ed equipment and expanded Young Farmer positions in schools across the state. That kind of seed planting pays off for future family farms, vital to food security in the coming years. We also invested over $51 million to modernize Department of Agriculture facilities and funded a pilot program to promote Georgia-grown wood products, boosting our timber industry.

While our counterparts in D.C. spend months debating how many billions to borrow, here in Georgia we’re putting taxpayer dollars to work where they matter most and doing it without spending money we don’t have.

Public safety was another top budget priority this year. We committed nearly $40 million to hiring additional correctional officers and raising pay for chaplains, counselors, and food service workers. That matters here at home, too, as Pulaski State Prison and other correctional facilities in our region rely on these investments to remain fully staffed and secure. We’re also upgrading crime lab technology and building a new law enforcement training center in Monroe County, so that Georgia’s next generation of officers is well-prepared to keep our communities safe.

While Congress continues to delay federal VOCA funds that support crime victims, we stepped in with $3.1 million to keep those services going.

All of this — and I’ll say it again — while lowering taxes.

That’s the difference conservative leadership makes. We didn’t chase headlines or fund every pet project. We focused on the basics: strong schools, good jobs, safe communities and smart investments that deliver real results for the people of the 20th Senate District.

If you’d like to know more about how this budget impacts you or if you have ideas for how we can keep improving, my door is always open, and I’m proud to serve you.

# # # #

Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: The New England Strike Force Joins Nationwide Crackdown on Health Care Fraud
Source: US FBI

CONCORD- Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack, together with Acting U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Drescher of the District of Vermont and Craig M. Wolff of the District of Maine, announces a sweeping enforcement action aimed at combatting health care fraud across New England. The enforcement action is a result of the collaboration and partnership between the Districts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and the New England Strike Force.

The New England Strike Force charged six defendants in connection with unrelated allegations including conspiracies to defraud the State of New Hampshire’s Medicaid program (NH Medicaid), Medicare, and other federal benefit programs, totaling over $14 million. The charges filed in federal court throughout New England are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from various schemes, including a previously convicted social worker who submitted claims to NH Medicaid following his disbarment from billing federal health care programs, a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment that were medically unnecessary, and a conspiracy to fulfill illegitimate prescriptions for drugs including Ozempic.

The schemes charged in the District of New Hampshire include:

Previously Convicted Felon Charged in New Scheme Fraudulently Billing Medicaid and Exploiting a Vulnerable Patient
- United States v. Erik Alonso: Erik Alonso, age 54, of Miami, Florida, was charged by indictment with eight counts of health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to submit claims to NH Medicaid, despite being barred from billing federally funded health care programs following a previous heath care fraud related conviction in 2015. Alonso failed to disclose his exclusion to his employer, a Laconia, New Hampshire-based telehealth psychotherapy provider, and purportedly provided psychotherapy treatments to NH Medicaid beneficiaries between March 2022 and July 2024 via telehealth. In addition, Alonso allegedly exploited a psychotherapy patient by using purported psychotherapy sessions to seek and obtain assistance from that client with personal tasks, including preparing an application for a presidential pardon of his prior conviction and assisting him with applying for licensure in other New England states. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and John Howard, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Straw Owner of Health Care Company Used to Commit Fraud and Launder Illicit Proceeds
- United States v. Leo Anzivino Jr.: Leo Anzivino, Jr., age 34, of Teaticket, MA, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $6 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Anzivino, Jr. acted as the straw owner of a durable medical equipment (“DME”) company, Advanced Medical Supply (Advanced), and conspired with others to cause the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. The indictment further alleges that Anzivino falsified bank account documents, including beneficial ownership information, and conspired to launder fraudulent funds from the DME scheme to conceal and disguise the nature, source, origin, and control of the proceeds of the DME fraud. Anzivino, Jr., made four transfers from one Advanced account at a New Hampshire bank to another Advanced account at a Massachusetts bank, totaling over $3 million dollars, to conceal a co-conspirator’s control over the funds. The government seized approximately $353,768.29 in assets tied to the alleged scheme. This case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
The schemes charged in the District of Vermont include:

Global Pharma and Money Laundering Scheme
- United States v. Manthan Rohit Shah: Manthan Rohit Shah, 37, of Mumbai, India, was charged by indictment with misbranding prescription medication, conspiring to import controlled substances, and conspiring to commit international concealment money laundering. As alleged in the indictment, Shah owned and operated Company-1, a pharma company based in Mumbai, India. Company-1 allegedly shipped controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including drugs that contained potentially potent, dangerous, and/or addictive substances, into New England and across the United States. Shah and Company-1 used fake prescriptions to provide a veneer of legitimacy for customer orders, despite the customers never obtaining such prescriptions. Shah undertook various acts in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. For example, on or about May 6, 2025, Shah sent a text message to an undercover law enforcement agent regarding Company-1’s fulfillment of illegitimate prescriptions for 50 pens of the drug Ozempic, costing approximately $6,200, to be shipped from a location outside the United States to an address in Vermont. Shah also conspired with others to direct the shipment of pharmaceutical drugs without valid prescriptions to a network of online pharmacies and call centers that fulfilled orders placed by customers in New England and across the United States. Shah then conspired with others to launder the funds from financial accounts in the United States, through shell companies, and to Shah’s company in India. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Patrick Brown, John Howard, and Thomas Campbell.
Health Care Scheme Involving Purchase of Tulum Penthouse, High-Volume Cash Withdrawals
- United States v. Evelyn Herrera: Evelyn Herrera, 61, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $6.5 million in Medicare funds. According to the charging documents, Herrera, the owner of Merida Medical Supplies Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare from individuals residing across New England for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment, which were medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. After the funds from these fraudulent services were deposited into a bank account controlled by Herrera, she allegedly conducted financial transactions and attempted to conceal the source, origin, and control of the health care fraud proceeds generated by Merida. For example, Herrera allegedly sent an international wire from her bank account, indicating it was to be used to purchase property in Mexico, and sent other funds to a cryptocurrency wallet that she controlled. During the scheme, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a payment suspension to Herrera for suspected fraud, after which Herrerra allegedly attempted to withdraw large amounts of cash from a bank and siphon funds off to other individuals. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn. The complaint was filed in the District of Vermont.
Health Care CEO Indicted in Cross-Border Health Care Fraud Scheme
- United States v. Donald Jani: Donald Jani, 39, of Maharashtra, India, was charged by indictment with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.9 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Jani, the CEO of CSS Pain Relief, Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. Jani and his co-conspirators allegedly used the personal identifying information of elderly and disabled New England residents to fraudulently bill Medicare. As part of the conspiracy, Jani unlawfully used the personal identifying information of medical providers in the District of Vermont and elsewhere to create the false appearance that the DME claims were premised on legitimate medical orders. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, John Howard and Thomas Campbell. The indictment was brought in the District of Vermont.
The scheme charged in the District of Maine includes:

Individual Charged in Health Care and Identity Theft Scheme
- United States v. Joseph Dobie: Joseph Dobie, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, was charged by complaint with aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits in connection with an identity-theft scheme. As alleged in the complaint, Dobie used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain Medicaid and SNAP benefits in Maine, while simultaneously receiving SNAP benefits in New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Scott. The complaint was filed in the District of Maine.
Additionally, the New England Strike Force provided valuable support in a nationwide investigation:

Operation Gold Rush: Transnational Criminal Organization-Led Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

Outside of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, the New England Strike Force also supported a nationwide investigation, Operation Gold Rush, which resulted in charges in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of New Jersey against 19 defendants in connection with the largest loss amount ever charged in a health care fraud case brought by the Department at $10.6 billion. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested, including four defendants who were apprehended in Estonia as a result of international cooperation with Estonian law enforcement and seven defendants who were arrested at U.S. airports and the U.S. border with Mexico, cutting off their intended escape routes as they attempted to avoid capture. The criminal case is being prosecuted by DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and Shankar Ramamurthy, and Trial Attorneys Sara Porter, Andres Almendarez, Leonid Sandlar, Monica Cooper, Thomas Campbell, Danielle Sakowski, and Matthew Belz. Trial Attorney Sara Porter initiated the investigation, which has been supported by members of multiple Strike Forces. The civil forfeiture proceeding is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson of the District of Connecticut and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Chelsea Rooney. Office of Public Affairs | National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud | United States Department of Justice

These charges are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown. Descriptions of each case involved in the national enforcement action are available at Criminal Division | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

The New England Strike Force’s cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Leveraging advanced data analytics, forensic accounting, interagency collaboration, and subject-matter expertise, the New England Strike Force investigates and prosecutes complex health care fraud and money laundering schemes across the region, focusing on both individuals and corporations engaged in criminal conduct. DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell leads the Strike Force.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

###

MIL Security OSI –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Olayinka Ajala, Associate professor in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University

More than 40 Malian soldiers were killed and one of the country’s military bases was taken over in early June 2025 in a major attack by an al-Qaeda linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), on the town of Boulikessi.

The same group launched an attack on the historic city of Timbuktu. The Malian army claimed it repelled the Timbuktu attack and killed 14 terrorists.

Terrorist groups have attacked Boulikessi in large numbers before. In October 2019, 25 Malian soldiers were killed. The target was a G5 Sahel force military camp.

Timbuktu has been in the sights of terrorist groups since 2012. JNIM laid siege to the city for several months in 2023. Timbuktu has a major airport and a key military base.

In neighbouring Burkina Faso, there have been running battles in recent months between the military and terrorist groups. About 40% of the country is under the control of groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Military bases in the country have also been targeted.

Mali and Burkina Faso are under military rule. Insecurity, especially increasing terrorist attacks, were key reasons the military juntas gave for seizing power in both countries.

I have been researching terrorism and the formation of insurgent groups in west Africa and the Sahel for over a decade. What I am observing is that the terrorist groups are becoming more daring and constantly changing tactics, with increased attacks on military camps across the region.

Military camps are attacked to lower the morale of the soldiers and steal ammunition. It also sends a message to locals that military forces are incapable of protecting civilians.

I believe there are four main reasons for an increase in large scale attacks on military bases in the region:
- the loss of the US drone base in Niger, which has made surveillance difficult
- an increase in human rights abuses carried out in the name of counter terrorism
- a lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism
- constant changes of tactics by the terrorists.
Identifying and addressing these issues are important to counter the trend.

Why are the attacks increasing?

First is the loss of the US drone base in Agadez, Republic of Niger, in 2024 after the military seized power in the country.

I was initially sceptical when the drone base was commissioned in 2019. But it has in fact acted as a deterrent to terrorist groups.

Terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel knew they were being watched by drones operating from the base. They were aware surveillance information was shared with member states. The loss of the base has reduced reconnaissance and surveillance activities in the region.

Second, an increase in human rights abuse in the fight against terrorism in the region is dividing communities and increasing recruitment into terrorist groups. A report by Human Rights Watch in May 2025 accused the Burkina Faso military and allied militias of killing more than 130 civilians during counter-terrorism operations.

The report argued that members of the Fulani ethnic group were targeted in the operations because they were perceived to have relationships with terrorist groups. Terrorist groups are known to use such incidents to win the hearts and minds of local populations.

Third, the lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism in the region is reversing the gains made in the last decade. Major developments have included the dissolving of the G5 Sahel. This grouping was created in 2014 to enhance security coordination between members. The members were Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger. The organisation launched joint counter-terrorism missions across member states but was dissolved in December 2023 after Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

The weakening of the Multinational Joint Task Force due to the military coup in Niger and the countries’ strategic repositioning is undermining counter-terrorism initiatives. Task force members were Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

The mandate of the task force is to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating around the Lake Chad basin. After its establishment in 2015 the task force achieved significant progress. In January 2025, Niger suspended its membership, putting the fight against terrorism in the region in jeopardy.

Fourth, terrorist groups in the region are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. In April 2025, JNIM terrorists were suspected of launching a suicide drone attack on Togolese military positions.

For its part, the military in the Sahelian countries are struggling to adapt to the terrorists’ new tactics. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of drones in Africa by states and non-state actors.

Halting the trend

To combat the increasing attacks by terrorist groups, especially large-scale attacks on military positions, four immediate steps are necessary.

First, nation states need to invest in surveillance capabilities. The loss of the drone base in Niger means Sahelian states must urgently find new ways of gathering and sharing intelligence. The topography of the region, which is mainly flat, with scattered vegetation, is an advantage as reconnaissance drones can easily detect suspicious movements, terrorist camps and travel routes.

There is also a need to regulate the use of drones in the region to prevent use by non-state actors.

In addition, countries fighting terrorism must find a way to improve the relationship between the military (and allied militias) and people affected by terrorism. My latest publication on the issue shows that vigilante groups engaged by the military forces are sometimes complicit in human rights abuse.

Training on human rights is essential for military forces and allied militias.

Terrorism funding avenues must be identified and blocked. Large scale terrorist attacks involve planning, training and resources. Funding from illegal mining, trafficking and kidnapping must be identified and eradicated. This will also include intelligence sharing between nation states.

Finally, the Sahelian countries must find a mechanism to work with the Economic Community of West African States.

As the numbers and intensity of terrorist activities are increasing across the Sahel, immediate action is necessary to combat this trend.

– West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond
– https://theconversation.com/west-africa-terror-why-attacks-on-military-bases-are-rising-and-four-ways-to-respond-258622

MIL OSI Africa –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond
Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Olayinka Ajala, Associate professor in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University

More than 40 Malian soldiers were killed and one of the country’s military bases was taken over in early June 2025 in a major attack by an al-Qaeda linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), on the town of Boulikessi.

The same group launched an attack on the historic city of Timbuktu. The Malian army claimed it repelled the Timbuktu attack and killed 14 terrorists.

Terrorist groups have attacked Boulikessi in large numbers before. In October 2019, 25 Malian soldiers were killed. The target was a G5 Sahel force military camp.

Timbuktu has been in the sights of terrorist groups since 2012. JNIM laid siege to the city for several months in 2023. Timbuktu has a major airport and a key military base.

In neighbouring Burkina Faso, there have been running battles in recent months between the military and terrorist groups. About 40% of the country is under the control of groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Military bases in the country have also been targeted.

Mali and Burkina Faso are under military rule. Insecurity, especially increasing terrorist attacks, were key reasons the military juntas gave for seizing power in both countries.

I have been researching terrorism and the formation of insurgent groups in west Africa and the Sahel for over a decade. What I am observing is that the terrorist groups are becoming more daring and constantly changing tactics, with increased attacks on military camps across the region.

Military camps are attacked to lower the morale of the soldiers and steal ammunition. It also sends a message to locals that military forces are incapable of protecting civilians.

I believe there are four main reasons for an increase in large scale attacks on military bases in the region:

the loss of the US drone base in Niger, which has made surveillance difficult

an increase in human rights abuses carried out in the name of counter terrorism

a lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism

constant changes of tactics by the terrorists.

Identifying and addressing these issues are important to counter the trend.

Why are the attacks increasing?

First is the loss of the US drone base in Agadez, Republic of Niger, in 2024 after the military seized power in the country.

I was initially sceptical when the drone base was commissioned in 2019. But it has in fact acted as a deterrent to terrorist groups.

Terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel knew they were being watched by drones operating from the base. They were aware surveillance information was shared with member states. The loss of the base has reduced reconnaissance and surveillance activities in the region.

Second, an increase in human rights abuse in the fight against terrorism in the region is dividing communities and increasing recruitment into terrorist groups. A report by Human Rights Watch in May 2025 accused the Burkina Faso military and allied militias of killing more than 130 civilians during counter-terrorism operations.

The report argued that members of the Fulani ethnic group were targeted in the operations because they were perceived to have relationships with terrorist groups. Terrorist groups are known to use such incidents to win the hearts and minds of local populations.

Third, the lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism in the region is reversing the gains made in the last decade. Major developments have included the dissolving of the G5 Sahel. This grouping was created in 2014 to enhance security coordination between members. The members were Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger. The organisation launched joint counter-terrorism missions across member states but was dissolved in December 2023 after Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

The weakening of the Multinational Joint Task Force due to the military coup in Niger and the countries’ strategic repositioning is undermining counter-terrorism initiatives. Task force members were Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

The mandate of the task force is to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating around the Lake Chad basin. After its establishment in 2015 the task force achieved significant progress. In January 2025, Niger suspended its membership, putting the fight against terrorism in the region in jeopardy.

Fourth, terrorist groups in the region are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. In April 2025, JNIM terrorists were suspected of launching a suicide drone attack on Togolese military positions.

For its part, the military in the Sahelian countries are struggling to adapt to the terrorists’ new tactics. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of drones in Africa by states and non-state actors.

Halting the trend

To combat the increasing attacks by terrorist groups, especially large-scale attacks on military positions, four immediate steps are necessary.

First, nation states need to invest in surveillance capabilities. The loss of the drone base in Niger means Sahelian states must urgently find new ways of gathering and sharing intelligence. The topography of the region, which is mainly flat, with scattered vegetation, is an advantage as reconnaissance drones can easily detect suspicious movements, terrorist camps and travel routes.

There is also a need to regulate the use of drones in the region to prevent use by non-state actors.

In addition, countries fighting terrorism must find a way to improve the relationship between the military (and allied militias) and people affected by terrorism. My latest publication on the issue shows that vigilante groups engaged by the military forces are sometimes complicit in human rights abuse.

Training on human rights is essential for military forces and allied militias.

Terrorism funding avenues must be identified and blocked. Large scale terrorist attacks involve planning, training and resources. Funding from illegal mining, trafficking and kidnapping must be identified and eradicated. This will also include intelligence sharing between nation states.

Finally, the Sahelian countries must find a mechanism to work with the Economic Community of West African States.

As the numbers and intensity of terrorist activities are increasing across the Sahel, immediate action is necessary to combat this trend.

Olayinka Ajala 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. West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond – https://theconversation.com/west-africa-terror-why-attacks-on-military-bases-are-rising-and-four-ways-to-respond-258622
MIL OSI –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jobs boost as new fighter jet HQ opens in Reading in key programme milestone
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

News story

Jobs boost as new fighter jet HQ opens in Reading in key programme milestone

A flagship headquarters that will support delivery of a supersonic stealth fighter jet has opened in Reading, where hundreds of skilled personnel will be based.

Opening of Global Combat Air Programme flagship headquarters to support the delivery of a supersonic stealth fighter jet, equipped with cutting-edge technologies.

The programme already supports over 3,500 UK jobs, 1,000 additional apprenticeships, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change, with more to follow as the programme develops.

New figures show defence industry jobs in the South East have increased by 4,500 in just 12 months.

The new global HQ has been opened today (7 July) in a significant milestone for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet.

The facility will host the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and a joint venture company, called Edgewing, bringing together three industry partners – BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (Japan) – responsible for the design and development of the aircraft.

Opened by Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP today, the new multinational headquarters will help deliver the GCAP programme, bringing together the best minds from across three governments and industry to drive innovation and strengthen each country’s combat air industrial capability, supporting the vision of the Strategic Defence Review.

The opening comes on the same day as the Defence Secretary met virtually with Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani to discuss the latest progress on GCAP. The programme is already creating thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK, Japan, and Italy, including new apprentice and graduate roles, and supporting the strong relationship between industry and the Armed Forces of the three nations.

There are currently more than 3,500 people, including engineers and programmers, working on GCAP in the UK. A further 1,000 have undertaken GCAP-related apprenticeships or training schemes, supporting the Government’s Plan for Change by driving defence as an engine for economic growth. Many more will follow as the GCAP programme develops in the years ahead.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

Opening of this global HQ in Reading underlines the UK’s full commitment to GCAP and demonstrates the steps we are taking with our partners to deliver for defence.

The Strategic Defence Review captured that GCAP will deliver more than cutting-edge military capabilities. It already supports over 3,500 UK jobs, with many more to follow as the programme develops. It is also sustaining a world-leading skilled workforce for the UK’s combat air industry and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

Through this work we are helping to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of combat air power innovation for decades to come and that defence is engine for growth across the country.

Newly published figures show 151,000 UK jobs are directly supported by the MOD’s spend with industry, an increase of 14,000 on the previous year. 4,500 of the additional jobs are in the South East, including Reading, as roles in the region jumped to a total of 38,700.

The opening of the HQ comes after the government announced a historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

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Published 7 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Naval fleet led by aircraft carrier Shandong concludes Hong Kong visit 2025-07-07 20:16:59 A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

The Yuncheng missile frigate leaves the dock of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s naval base in Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Jia Xiaopeng/Xinhua)

HONG KONG, July 7 (Xinhua) — A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base.

Early that morning, locals and student representatives gathered at the dock of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s naval base in Stonecutters Island, where the Zhanjiang missile destroyer and the Yuncheng missile frigate were prepared for departure. In the vibrant waters of Victoria Harbor, the aircraft carrier Shandong and the Yan’an missile destroyer displayed signal flags stating “Thanks for your support” and “Serving the people.”

Around 10 a.m., the farewell ceremony began, during which the fleet’s commander expressed sincere gratitude to the HKSAR government and the public for their warm welcome. Guests of honor took part in a memorable photo session, capturing the moment.

After the ceremony, the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng sounded their naval whistles, and the crew lined the sides to wave goodbye to the crowd on the dock. The two vessels then departed to join the Shandong and Yan’an in a designated sea area, escorted by HKSAR helicopters and vessels.

Throughout their visit, the naval fleet engaged in a variety of activities, including a deck reception, ship tours, training demonstrations, national defense lectures, and cultural exchanges. These events ignited enthusiasm and patriotism among Hong Kong residents.

Young students proudly unfurled a large national flag on the deck of Shandong, while the elderly moved to tears stood aboard the ships. Residents joined the officers in singing songs, and the dock’s message wall was filled with blessings for the nation and expressions of gratitude for the PLA.

Statistics indicate that over 30,000 people visited the naval vessels during the fleet’s stay, creating cherished memories for both the naval personnel and their Hong Kong compatriots.

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Li Gang/Xinhua)

Local people take ferries to see off the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

Citizens taking a ferry see off the aircraft carrier Shandong in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The Yuncheng missile frigate leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

The Zhanjiang missile destroyer leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Local people in Hong Kong watch the departure of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The Zhanjiang missile destroyer leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Cheng Zijian/Xinhua)

The Zhanjiang missile destroyer leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

The Zhanjiang missile destroyer leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Local people in Hong Kong watch the departure of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Cheng Zijian/Xinhua)

Local people in Hong Kong watch the departure of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Cheng Zijian/Xinhua)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Cheng Zijian/Xinhua)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Cheng Zijian/Xinhua)

The Yuncheng missile frigate leaves the dock of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s naval base in Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Feng Li/Xinhua)

A Hong Kong citizen holding the Chinese national flag sees off the aircraft carrier Shandong under a light tower in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Li Gang/Xinhua)

Local people taking ferries see off the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The aircraft carrier Shandong departs from Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Li Yun)

The Zhanjiang missile destroyer leaves Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua)

Citizens aboard a boat see off the aircraft carrier Shandong in Hong Kong, south China, July 7, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, departed south China’s Hong Kong on Monday morning, wrapping up a five-day visit.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government organized a farewell ceremony at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

MIL OSI China News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: CoreNest Capital Announces Investments in 10 Frontier Companies Including Safe Superintelligence (SSI), Neuralink, Perceptive, Orbit Fab and Ottonomy

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreNest Capital, the Dubai-based venture capital firm focused on foundational technologies, today announced new investments across ten companies operating at the forefront of artificial intelligence, robotics, medtech, fintech, and Web3.

The latest round includes Safe Superintelligence (SSI), Neuralink, Coverstar, Nilo, Orbit Fab, Pax Markets, Perceptive, Ottonomy, Bond, Cheddr. Each company aligns with CoreNest’s thesis of backing platforms and technologies with the potential to redefine global infrastructure.

“We’re living through a technological supercycle where yesterday’s playbooks are obsolete. This era belongs to the builders who rethink what’s possible and move fast enough to make it real. At CoreNest, we don’t chase hype. We fund the foundations. The future doesn’t just happen. It gets architected.” – Bob Ras, General Partner & Co-Founder of CoreNest Capital

CoreNest’s latest investments include:

Bond: AI Chief of Staff that summarizes, alerts, and aligns teams in real time.

Cheddr: Social sports gaming platform offering fast, fun, and rewarding experiences.

Coverstar: Safe social media platform tailored for Gen Alpha users.

Neuralink: Brain–computer interfaces enabling direct neural control of devices.

Nilo: AI-powered platform democratizing 3D world-building for immersive content creation.

Orbit Fab: In-space refueling services extending satellite missions and enabling dynamic operations.

Ottonomy: Autonomous delivery robots for airports, retail, and last-mile logistics.

Pax Markets: Hardware-accelerated ATS offering zero-fee and ultra-fast trading.

Perceptive: AI-driven dental robotics providing precise, automated dental care solutions.

Safe Superintelligence (SSI): AI lab focused solely on building safe superintelligence.

CoreNest operates with a stage-agnostic, founder-aligned model, bringing technical depth, strategic guidance, and global reach to every partnership. The firm continues to focus on companies driving large-scale shifts in how societies operate, transact, and interact with emerging technologies.

About CoreNest Capital

CoreNest Capital is a global venture capital firm based in Dubai, UAE. The firm invests in bold founders building next-generation infrastructure across AI, robotics, medtech, fintech, and Web3. With a focus on high-impact technologies and long-term value creation, CoreNest provides capital, operating expertise, and deep ecosystem access to support its portfolio at every stage of growth.

CoreNest’s existing portfolio includes category-defining companies such as OpenAI, xAI, SpaceX, and Artisan, among others. Visit www.corenest.com for more information.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cbe15b5-37b0-47e3-947c-1b36f6514bdb

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025