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Category: Aviation

  • MIL-OSI Security: Head of the Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti Announces Results of Health Care Fraud Takedown

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Good morning.

    Thank you all for joining us today as we announce the largest coordinated health care fraud takedown in the history of the Department of Justice.

    Today marks a decisive moment in our fight to protect American taxpayers from fraudsters and to defend the integrity of our nation’s health care system.

    We are announcing charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $14.6 billion in false claims submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs.

    In a takedown this large, I can’t possibly describe all of the work that went into dismantling each scheme, but there are four key points that bear emphasizing.

    First, let me be clear about what these health care fraud schemes mean for every hardworking American family: These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money — they stole from you.  Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers, who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice. And when criminals defraud these programs, they’re not just committing theft — they’re driving up our national deficit and threatening the long-term viability of health care for seniors, disabled Americans, and our most vulnerable citizens.

    This enforcement action involves the seizure of cash, as well as luxury vehicles and properties, returning real money to American taxpayers and to our government health care programs.

    Second, we are seeing a disturbing trend of transnational criminal organizations engaging in increasingly sophisticated and complex criminal schemes that defraud the American health care system.

    As part of this takedown, we’ve identified and charged defendants operating from Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and other foreign countries who have infiltrated our health care system to steal American taxpayer dollars.

    As one example, we dismantled a scheme involving a sophisticated operation run from Russia and Eastern Europe that strategically bought dozens of medical supply companies in the United States and submitted more than 10 billion dollars in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare. To make matters worse, these perpetrators used the stolen identities of more than one million Americans, spanning all 50 states, to submit these false claims.

    But I’m pleased to report that federal agents intercepted and arrested key members of that organization at U.S. airports and at the U.S.-Mexico border, cutting off their intended escape routes.

    The days of transnational criminal organizations using American health care programs as their personal piggy banks are over.

    Third, this takedown resulted in criminal charges against 74 defendants, including medical professionals, who fueled America’s deadly opioid epidemic for personal profit. These are not isolated instances of poor judgment. These are calculated schemes designed to exploit Americans struggling with addiction while enriching the very people who were duty-bound to help them heal.

    We charged pill mill operators who prescribed unnecessary opioids.  We dismantled networks of corrupt pharmacies that existed solely to distribute drugs to addicts and dealers, feeding the addiction crisis that has devastated so many American communities.

    This is not health care; it is a staggering breach of trust.  And under my leadership, the Criminal Division will prosecute these criminals as aggressively as we would prosecute any drug dealer — because that’s exactly what they are.

    Fourth, many of the defendants charged as part of this takedown specifically targeted some of our most vulnerable citizens: elderly Americans in nursing homes, individuals with disabilities, those battling serious illnesses, and more.  For example, our prosecutors charged seven defendants, including five medical professionals, in connection with approximately $1 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health care benefit programs for performing medically unnecessary skin grafts on dying patients as they were seeking to spend their final days with dignity and grace.

    That conduct is exactly as callous and disturbing as it sounds. Patients and their families trusted these providers with their lives.  Instead of receiving care, they became victims of elaborate criminal schemes.

    Today’s takedown marks a historic day. In addition to the tireless work of our Fraud Section’s Health Care Fraud Unit, this extraordinary effort would not have been possible without the law enforcement agencies with me here today: Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

    And of course, countless other partners across the federal, state, and local law enforcement community and dozens of United States Attorneys’ Offices. Thank you to all who made today possible.

    Despite these historic achievements, we aren’t resting on our laurels. We’re making advancements to stay ahead of criminals and their illicit schemes.

    That is why, today, I am also announcing that we are working with our partners at FBI, HHS-OIG, and other federal agencies to create a Health Care Fraud Data Fusion Center to revolutionize how we detect, investigate, and prosecute health care fraud.  These efforts will be led by the Criminal Division, specifically, the Fraud Section’s Health Care Fraud Unit and comprised of data specialists from the Unit’s Data Analytics Team. The Fusion Center will break down information silos, using coordinated data analysis to enable our investigative teams to quickly identify and dismantle emerging fraud schemes.

    This takedown represents the largest health care fraud takedown in American history.

    But it’s not the end—it’s the beginning of a new era of aggressive prosecution and data-driven prevention.

    Thank you.

    I will now turn it over to Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Status of the Chagos Archipelago –  Part II: United Kingdom’s Agreement with Mauritius

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The following is a guest post by Clare Feikert-Ahalt, a senior foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress covering the United Kingdom and several other jurisdictions. Clare has written numerous posts for In Custodia Legis, including Revealing the Presence of Ghosts; Weird Laws, or Urban Legends?; FALQs: Brexit Referendum; 100 Years of “Poppy Day” in the United Kingdom; and Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office Spurs Possible Law Change.

    Yesterday’s post described the historic status of the Chagos Archipelago and the United Kingdom’s (UK) power over the territory. Today’s post describes the new agreement, which returns sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and allows for the continued use of the UK-US military base.

    On May 22, 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement that “recognis[es] the wrongs of the past” with regards to the Chagos Archipelago. The agreement transfers sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) from the UK to Mauritius, while providing the UK with “rights and authorities [over Diego Garcia] that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base.”

    The agreement, which took over two years and 13 rounds of negotiations to achieve, secures British interests in Diego Garcia, including an area of 12 nautical miles surrounding the island, for 99 years. The agreement provides the UK with the right to access, maintain, and invest in the base, along with the ability to use it for defense purposes. It places a binding obligation on both parties to ensure the secure and effective operation of the base. The UK’s secretary of state for defence notes the agreement achieves the “secured unrestricted access to, and use of, the base, as well as control over movement of all persons and all goods on the base and control of all communication and electronic systems.”

    Any activities on the wider islands of the Chagos Archipelago, such as the construction of any structure, artificial island, sensor, or barrier within 24 nautical miles, must be approved through a joint decision process between the UK and Mauritius, which serves as an “effective veto” of development in the islands surrounding Diego Garcia as the UK does not want other countries, particularly those hostile to the UK, to have a presence near this facility.

    The 99 years can be extended for a further 40 years if both parties agree, and it may be extended again thereafter. The estimated cost to UK for 99 years “is £101 million [annually] and the net present value of payments under the treaty is £3.4 billion” (approximately US$136 million and US$4.6 billion respectively) accounting for approximately 0.2% of the defense budget. The government has stated this is less than the cost of running an aircraft carrier, without aircraft, for a year.

    The agreement provides for the resettlement of the residents of Diego Garcia, known as the Chagossians, on the islands of the Chagos Archipelago, with the exception of Diego Garcia. It also provides for the establishment of a trust fund of £40 million (approximately US$54 million) to benefit Chagossians and an annual grant of £45 million (approximately US$61 million) for 25 years to fund projects that promote economic development and welfare in Mauritius. Article 11 of the agreement states that it “constitutes the full and final settlement of all claims by Mauritius in relation to the Chagos Archipelago.”

    The treaty was laid before both Houses of Parliament on May 22, 2025, and either of the Houses of Parliament may object to its ratification until July 3, 3035.

    The Defense Facility on Diego Garcia

    The secretary of state for defence for the UK stated “[t]he importance of Diego Garcia cannot be overstated” and a government press release announcing the agreement notes that the base is central to both the UK and US’s emergency planning and operations, with the base serving as:

    “a critical logistics hub at a strategic location, with a full range of facilities that acts as a key refueling and resupply station for naval and air operations. This enables power projection and global reach, allowing for rapid and flexible deployment of our forces across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia.”

    While most of the work on, and capabilities of, Diego Garcia are not disclosed, the secretary of state for defence and the UK prime minister have publicly acknowledged that the base supports operations, including those related to counter-terrorism, in the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. Public statements detail that the base houses:

    • an airfield enabling strike operations and the rapid deployment of the military in this area, “… creat[ing] real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific;”
    • a deep-water port that, among other uses, “supports missions from nuclear-powered submarines to [the UK’s] carrier strike group;”
    • advanced communications, which includes management of the electromagnetic spectrum satellite;
    • surveillance capabilities;
    • facilities that support the global operation of GPS, notably one monitoring station and one of four ground antennas;
    • Ground-Base Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System, which “provides situational awareness of objects in Earth’s orbit, helping to track space debris that pose a risk to space systems”; and
    • “three pieces of critical Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring equipment”, including seismic monitoring equipment that checks for indicators of nuclear testing, helping to secure compliance with the nuclear test ban treaty.

    The presence of the base in the center of the Indian Ocean also helps to safeguard an important trade route, through which “a third of the world’s bulk cargo and two-thirds of global oil shipments are transported.”

    The US Navy describes the facility on Diego Garcia as “the tip of the spear” and states that it “provides logistic support to operational forces forward deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf areas of responsibility in support of national policy objectives.”

    The prime minister stated that the agreement is vital to the UK’s defence and intelligence, and for securing the safety and security of the British people at this time. He stated “… the base was under threat” from legal challenges by Mauritius, and the government believes there is no viable alternative to protect the base and secure the islands surrounding it.

    The prime minister further noted that if the UK disregarded any future legal judgements, “international organisations and other countries would act on them. And that would undermine the operation of the base.” The UK was particularly concerned at the prospect of other countries establishing a presence in the islands surrounding Diego Garcia, or conducting training exercises nearby, which could impact the operation of the base, and that it would be unable to prevent this without an agreement.

    The prime minister has described the base as “one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States.” The UK foreign secretary stated the US was unhappy with the uncertainty created by the situation and “strongly encouraged [the UK] to strike a deal.” It was against this background that negotiations were commenced and the treaty was made.

    Reaction to the Agreement

    The opposition conservative party has been critical of the agreement, stating that the government “prioritised heeding the most pessimistic legal advice” concerning the potential of legal judgments. The opposition further stated that the agreement puts the defense facility at risk due to Mauritius’ ties to Russia and China. The UK shadow secretary of state said in parliament that “[t]he Government should not be surrendering strategically vital sovereign territory, especially when we face such threats, and they certainly should not be paying billions for the privilege”, noting further that the agreement does not offer any protection to the Chagossians.

    Internationally, the agreement has been backed by the UK’s “Five Eyes” partners, which include the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Japan, India, and the African Union have also welcomed the agreement. US President Donald Trump expressed his support for the agreement and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that while the administration is not a party to the agreement, it “remain[s] responsible for operating the U.S. Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia, which continues to play a vital role in supporting forward-deployed operational forces and advancing security across the region.”

    The US secretary of state stated:

    “The Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. This is a critical asset for regional and global security.”

    While the agreement has been welcomed by the UK and several of its allies, the United Nations has condemned the agreement, issuing a press release stating:

    “By maintaining a foreign military presence of the United Kingdom and the United States on Diego Garcia and preventing the Chagossian people from returning to Diego Garcia, the agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians’ right to return, which also hinders their ability to exercise their cultural rights in accessing their ancestral lands from which they were expelled.”

    The UN has urged the UK to “apply a human rights-based approach in addressing historical injustices against the Chagossian people.”

    Additional Law Library of Congress Resources on the Laws of Mauritius and the UK

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, delivered a speech at the CityWeek 2025 on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

    Last week, I represented the British government on a trip to Singapore.

    I was there to celebrate 60 years of partnership between our 2 countries.

    And drum up investment into British technology.

    It was my first time in Singapore.

    And it struck me that it’s a place that has mastered the art of reinvention.

    From traditional fishing village to global financial centre.

    Small trading post to one of the most competitive economies in the world.

    An economy that, like ours, knows that the key to staying competitive is being squarely focussed on the future.

    It’s a similar idea that brings us together today.

    Because this is a sector that’s also defined by an ability to reinvent itself.

    Where centuries-old banks have had to rip up the playbook.

    To compete with nimble, digital-first firms.

    And where new technologies have made the way you work unrecognisable from how it once was.

    One of my first proper jobs was in a finance team.

    It was 1989, and I worked in the purchase ledger at The Body Shop – a hero of the British high street at the time.

    I matched goods that came in with invoices.

    And inputted all of that into an arcane mainframe computer.

    I’m sure quite a few of you will remember those days.

    And the change after change you’ve seen your institutions through since.

    Because before PIN codes, there was paper.

    Before blockchain, there were books of accounts that landed with a thud on the desk.

    Before cashless, there was ‘Cashier number 3 please’.

    These are changes that financial services firms have not just weathered, but pioneered.

    To keep this sector as the engine of economic growth it truly is.

    And to keep creating products that improve the lives of working people.

    Over the past few years, another change has rippled through the sector:

    AI has reshaped what’s possible.

    And there’s not a sector of our economy it will leave untouched.

    There’s a simple difference between this change and those that came before:

    Sheer speed.

    In past waves of transformation, industry and the state alike could afford to dip a toe in.

    To spend a few years seeing how the water feels.

    This time, we need to jump.

    Since joining government, I’ve been clear that the UK will not be swept along as others lead the AI revolution.

    We’ll shape that revolution here.

    6 months ago, we launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

    Setting out how the UK will seize the massive potential for economic growth that AI offers us.

    Growth that’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.

    Since that launch, we’ve opened up applications for areas in the UK to become AI Growth Zones – hotspots of AI infrastructure and investment.

    And had over 200 responses.

    The full weight of government is behind the plan.

    With the Chancellor announcing £2 billion to deliver it, as part of the Spending Review.

    And a Modern Industrial Strategy that doubles down on our commitment to AI…

    …as one of the 6 frontier technologies our digital and tech sector plan focusses on.

    Crucial to that plan is adoption.

    Because talking about the power of AI to grow the economy is all well and good.

    But unless companies use it, that growth only exists in theory.

    Not in practice.

    Financial services is at the front of the pack here.

    Around 3 quarters of firms surveyed by the Bank of England the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) already use AI.

    That’s the 3rd highest rate of adoption across the economy.

    That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

    The UK led the world in open banking.

    We led the world in near-instant digital payments.

    And our reputation in fintech is second-to-none.

    The most valuable private tech company in Europe is Revolut, a British fintech.

    Our fintech crown is one I’m infinitely proud of.

    If we’re to hold on to it, you need a government that continues to back you.

    That doesn’t just call for you to keep exploring new technologies.

    But actively enables you to do it.

    When I talk to firms about adoption, they tell me about 2 barriers more than any other.

    A lack of skills.

    And finding their way through a web of complex regulation.

    On skills, we’re partnering with 11 major tech companies to train 7.5 million workers in the UK with essential AI skills by the end of this decade.

    So that a lack of expertise will never put a ceiling on what you can do.

    Regulation shouldn’t be that ceiling, either.

    In her Mansion House speech last year, the Chancellor set out a vision:

    For a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

    Since then, she’s launched a radical action plan on regulation to kickstart growth.

    My part in that is making sure we ease the burden on businesses when it comes to adopting emerging tech.

    About 9 months ago, I launched the Regulatory Innovation Office.

    A dedicated unit to curb red tape.

    And get game-changing tech into the public’s hands quickly and safely.

    It’s already delivered results.

    Apian, a British start-up founded by NHS doctors, is now freed up to use drones to take blood samples from Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge, over to a lab in St. Thomas’ for testing.

    Before the NHS had the okay to work with them, those samples were carted over in vans.

    The journey took around half an hour.

    More if they were snarled up in traffic.

    After support from Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), each delivery now takes just 2 minutes.

    Beds are freed up faster.

    NHS waiting lists go down.

    And a crucial difference is made for patients where every second counts.

    Thanks to RIO’s close work with regulators, companies have made advances like these in fields like space or engineering biology, too.

    But I want more sectors to benefit from the breath of fresh air it offers.

    Instead of being stifled by a blanket of bureaucracy.

    So, today, I can announce that RIO is joining forces with digital regulators.

    To consolidate a labyrinth of regulation, and make it easier for innovators to bring AI products to market quickly and easily.

    This marks a significant boost for fintechs.

    Right now, your efforts to use emerging tech can get mired in a lack of clarity.

    Because there’s no single port of call on what you can do with AI.

    You’re left going from regulator to regulator, picking your way through different sets of rules.

    For start-ups and scale-ups without big legal teams, that’s nigh-on impossible to navigate.

    And for bigger banks and firms, it’s days of productivity sunk.

    Now, RIO is teaming up to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF).

    To bring all of that guidance together into a one-stop shop.

    A digital library that lets you quickly search for answers.

    These are changes that firms of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of.

    Up-and-coming fintechs to household-name banks will go from idea to impact faster:

    Using AI to spot credit card fraud hours before humans can alone.

    To get instant answers to your customers.

    To analyse stocks, so people can get more out of their investments.

    We’re clearing the path for you to harness AI to stay ahead of the game.

    And to make people’s lives fundamentally better.

    Because I know this is a sector that will keep reinventing itself.

    Just as I know that AI will continue to bring profound, positive change to the UK.

    With the right backing on adoption…

    Access to skills…

    And clarity on regulation…

    We’ll make sure that this isn’t just a change that fintechs and banks are part of.

    But a change that you lead.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Odysight.AI (Nasdaq: ODYS) Added to the Russell Microcap® Index

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Omer, Israel, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.AI Inc. (Nasdaq: ODYS), a pioneering developer of AI systems for Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), was added to the Russell Microcap® Index, effective after the U.S. market opened on June 30 as part of the 2025 Russell indexes reconstitution.

    The annual Russell U.S. Indexes reconstitution captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of Wednesday, April 30th, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

    “Inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index highlights the momentum we have built since our Nasdaq listing in February” commented Einav Brenner, CFO. “We believe this recognition enhances our visibility with institutional investors and underscores confidence in our long-term growth strategy. As we scale, we remain focused on delivering innovation, value, and sustained performance for our stakeholders.”

    Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Russell’s U.S. indexes serve as the benchmark for about $10.6 trillion in assets as of the close of June 2024. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, the global index provider.

    About Odysight.AI

    Odysight.AI is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.AI leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.AI’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.AI’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.Odysight.AI or follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

    About FTSE Russell, an LSEG Business

    FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $18.1 trillion is benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. Leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks choose FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

    FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. 

    For more information on the Russell Microcap® Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.AI technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.AI’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.AI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2025 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.AI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Company Contact:
    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OSS Announces New $5 Million Order from the U.S. Navy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ESCONDIDO, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS or the Company) (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in rugged Enterprise Class compute for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and sensor processing at the edge, today announced a new $5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon Reconnaissance Aircraft. OSS expects the order to contribute to its revenue throughout 2025.

    Under the terms of the contract, OSS will deliver 61 military-spec data storage units to the U.S. Navy. These units are designed and manufactured by OSS and incorporate hot-swappable canisters of high-capacity NVMe flash storage. The design enables rapid removal and replacement for secure data offload and analysis in demanding airborne environments.

    “We are excited to announce OSS’s latest award from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon platform,” stated OSS President and CEO, Mike Knowles. “Our success on the P-8A program reinforces the value of our growth strategy as we pursue additional multiyear platform opportunities across defense and commercial markets. To date, OSS has received over $45 million in total contracted revenue to support this mission-critical aircraft. This continued investment is a testament to our rugged, enterprise-class capabilities and the vital role OSS plays in enabling C5ISR operations on advanced airborne platforms. The $5 million contract also strengthens our confidence in our ability to achieve our 2025 annual guidance.”

    The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft used for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. OSS’s storage solutions play a key role in enabling secure, high-speed data capture and transfer necessary for the aircraft’s advanced sensor suite.

    About One Stop Systems
    One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS) is a leader in AI enabled solutions for the demanding ‘edge’. OSS designs and manufactures Enterprise Class compute and storage products that enable rugged AI, sensor fusion and autonomous capabilities without compromise. These hardware and software platforms bring the latest data center performance to harsh and challenging applications, whether they are on land, sea or in the air.

    OSS products include ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, flash storage arrays, and storage acceleration software. These specialized compact products are used across multiple industries and applications, including autonomous trucking and farming, as well as aircraft, drones, ships and vehicles within the defense industry.

    OSS solutions address the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training and large-scale inference, and have delivered many industry firsts for industrial OEM and government customers.

    As the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion-dollar edge computing market, AI enabled solutions require-and OSS delivers-the highest level of performance in the most challenging environments without compromise.

    OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com. You can also follow OSS on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    One Stop Systems cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by One Stop Systems or its partners that any of our plans or expectations will be achieved. Factors that may contribute to our plans or expectations not being achieved include but are not limited to the potential and/or the results of program awards and renewals with the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors, any actual revenue derived from the U.S. Navy order, the future adoption of technologies or applications that may compete with One Stop Systems’, and the expansion of the Company’s offerings and/or relationship with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and/or other geopolitical or economic instabilities. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Media Contacts:
    Robert Kalebaugh
    One Stop Systems, Inc.
    Tel (858) 518-6154
    Email contact

    Investor Relations:
    Andrew Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel (216) 464-6400
    Email contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General Highlights Industry Partnership in Toulouse Visit

    Source: NATO

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Toulouse, France, today (1 July 2025), engaging with Airbus leaders to strengthen ties with the defence industry. Speaking at the Airbus Top Executive Forum, Mr Rutte emphasized the shared goal of ensuring security and prosperity across all NATO nations. “We share the same objective: to ensure the prosperity and security of our economies and societies – across Europe and North America,” he said, stressing the critical need for NATO and industry to work together in a rapidly changing security landscape.

    The Secretary General, welcomed by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, addressed the urgent need for enhanced defence capabilities amid growing global threats. “There is no strong defence without a strong defence industry,” he stated, praising Airbus for contributions like the A400M aircraft and the MRTT [in full]. One week after the agreement on a 5% GDP defence spending target reached by Allies at NATO’s Summit in The Hague, he urged the industry to innovate and scale up production to meet NATO’s ambitious capability targets and keep our one billion people safe. 

    Following his address, Secretary General Rutte held a bilateral meeting with CEO Mr Faury and his team, and visited the A321 Final Assembly Line, interacting with Airbus employees. The visit underscores NATO’s commitment to fostering transatlantic industrial cooperation to deliver critical capabilities for the years to come.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General Highlights Industry Partnership in Toulouse Visit

    Source: NATO

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Toulouse, France, today (1 July 2025), engaging with Airbus leaders to strengthen ties with the defence industry. Speaking at the Airbus Top Executive Forum, Mr Rutte emphasized the shared goal of ensuring security and prosperity across all NATO nations. “We share the same objective: to ensure the prosperity and security of our economies and societies – across Europe and North America,” he said, stressing the critical need for NATO and industry to work together in a rapidly changing security landscape.

    The Secretary General, welcomed by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, addressed the urgent need for enhanced defence capabilities amid growing global threats. “There is no strong defence without a strong defence industry,” he stated, praising Airbus for contributions like the A400M aircraft and the MRTT [in full]. One week after the agreement on a 5% GDP defence spending target reached by Allies at NATO’s Summit in The Hague, he urged the industry to innovate and scale up production to meet NATO’s ambitious capability targets and keep our one billion people safe. 

    Following his address, Secretary General Rutte held a bilateral meeting with CEO Mr Faury and his team, and visited the A321 Final Assembly Line, interacting with Airbus employees. The visit underscores NATO’s commitment to fostering transatlantic industrial cooperation to deliver critical capabilities for the years to come.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bishop Street Underwriters Acquires Aerospace Insurance Managers from Hallmark Financial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bishop Street Underwriters (“Bishop Street”), a RedBird Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced that it has acquired Aerospace Insurance Managers (“AIM”), a general aviation insurance services provider, from Hallmark Financial (“Hallmark”). This acquisition marks Bishop Street’s entry into the aviation insurance market, strengthening its differentiated MGA platform with an expanded portfolio of specialized client solutions. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    AIM provides general aviation coverage for aircraft hull, aircraft and airport liability, with a focus on small aircrafts flown for pleasure or business, as well as hangar owners, FBO operators, private and municipal airports, and flight school and charter operators. Operating across 47 states, AIM will benefit from the resources and commitment to underwriting profitability offered by the Bishop Street platform, enabling improved service quality for clients and new business expansion opportunities. AIM’s 16-person team will continue to offer A+ rated coverage and be led by Sean Kelley, Vice President – Chief Underwriting Officer, and Randy Kasen, Vice President – Business Development and Operations, providing quality underwriting services to clients across the country.

    “AIM is entering an exciting new chapter, powered by access to new strategic partners and capital resources,” said Sean Kelley. “Joining the Bishop Street platform significantly strengthens our team’s capabilities, allowing us to expand our reach and positioning us to grow our business while continuing to provide top-tier client service.”

    Randy Kasen added, “Bishop Street has created a strong home base for operators like us, who provide tailored services to specific audiences and want access to a wider spectrum of resources and business development opportunities. The team’s commitment to innovation and growth couldn’t be more complementary to our goals for the future of AIM, and we look forward to seeing what comes next.”

    “We are pleased to welcome AIM to Bishop Street, maintaining our positive momentum and setting the stage for our continued expansion,” said Chad Weber, President of Bishop Street. “The team brings specialized expertise, strong capacity partners and an excellent reputation to our platform, further diversifying our portfolio and advancing our commitment to aligning with the best of the best in the insurance industry.”

    Mike Zabik, Partner of RedBird Capital, said, “The acquisition of AIM adds another high-performing, niche insurance provider to the portfolio to complement the firm’s existing business lines and create opportunities to continue scaling Bishop Street’s unique platform. Bishop Street continues to grow rapidly, fueled by opportunistic acquisitions and a unique ability to execute on strategic lift outs of specialty underwriting teams. Following the acquisition of AIM, Bishop Street has successfully completed three carrier carveouts in less than two years.”

    This acquisition follows a series of key strategic developments for Bishop Street, including the acquisitions of Landmark Underwriting, Ethos Specialty’s Transactional Liability unit, Conifer Insurance Services, Ahoy!, an investment in Verve Services and the establishment of partnerships with Skyward Specialty Insurance and Topsail Re.

    Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as the exclusive financial advisor and Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP provided legal counsel to Hallmark. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and McDermott Will & Emery LLP provided legal counsel to Bishop Street Underwriters.

    About Bishop Street
    Bishop Street Underwriters, a RedBird Capital portfolio company, seeks to partner with Managing General Agents (“MGAs”) as well as niche underwriting teams. Bishop Street aims to combine their best-in-class (re)insurance executive team’s vision with RedBird’s strong track record, expertise and network in the financial services sector to build a differentiated platform that is uniquely positioned to capitalize on secular growth tailwinds in the industry. For more information, please go to www.bishopstreetuw.com.

    About RedBird Capital Partners
    RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm that builds high-growth companies with strategic capital solutions to founders and entrepreneurs. The firm currently manages $12 billion in assets on behalf of a global group of blue chip institutional and family office investors. Founded in 2014 by Gerry Cardinale, RedBird integrates sophisticated private equity investing with a hands-on business building mandate that focuses on three core industry verticals – Financial Services, Sports and Media & Entertainment. Over his 30-year investment career, Cardinale has partnered with founders and entrepreneurs to build some of the most iconic growth companies in their respective industries. For more information, please go to www.redbirdcap.com.

    Media Contacts
    Bishop Street 
    Dan Gagnier
    Gagnier Communications
    bishopstreet@gagnierfc.com
    646.569.5897

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bishop Street Underwriters Acquires Aerospace Insurance Managers from Hallmark Financial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bishop Street Underwriters (“Bishop Street”), a RedBird Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced that it has acquired Aerospace Insurance Managers (“AIM”), a general aviation insurance services provider, from Hallmark Financial (“Hallmark”). This acquisition marks Bishop Street’s entry into the aviation insurance market, strengthening its differentiated MGA platform with an expanded portfolio of specialized client solutions. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    AIM provides general aviation coverage for aircraft hull, aircraft and airport liability, with a focus on small aircrafts flown for pleasure or business, as well as hangar owners, FBO operators, private and municipal airports, and flight school and charter operators. Operating across 47 states, AIM will benefit from the resources and commitment to underwriting profitability offered by the Bishop Street platform, enabling improved service quality for clients and new business expansion opportunities. AIM’s 16-person team will continue to offer A+ rated coverage and be led by Sean Kelley, Vice President – Chief Underwriting Officer, and Randy Kasen, Vice President – Business Development and Operations, providing quality underwriting services to clients across the country.

    “AIM is entering an exciting new chapter, powered by access to new strategic partners and capital resources,” said Sean Kelley. “Joining the Bishop Street platform significantly strengthens our team’s capabilities, allowing us to expand our reach and positioning us to grow our business while continuing to provide top-tier client service.”

    Randy Kasen added, “Bishop Street has created a strong home base for operators like us, who provide tailored services to specific audiences and want access to a wider spectrum of resources and business development opportunities. The team’s commitment to innovation and growth couldn’t be more complementary to our goals for the future of AIM, and we look forward to seeing what comes next.”

    “We are pleased to welcome AIM to Bishop Street, maintaining our positive momentum and setting the stage for our continued expansion,” said Chad Weber, President of Bishop Street. “The team brings specialized expertise, strong capacity partners and an excellent reputation to our platform, further diversifying our portfolio and advancing our commitment to aligning with the best of the best in the insurance industry.”

    Mike Zabik, Partner of RedBird Capital, said, “The acquisition of AIM adds another high-performing, niche insurance provider to the portfolio to complement the firm’s existing business lines and create opportunities to continue scaling Bishop Street’s unique platform. Bishop Street continues to grow rapidly, fueled by opportunistic acquisitions and a unique ability to execute on strategic lift outs of specialty underwriting teams. Following the acquisition of AIM, Bishop Street has successfully completed three carrier carveouts in less than two years.”

    This acquisition follows a series of key strategic developments for Bishop Street, including the acquisitions of Landmark Underwriting, Ethos Specialty’s Transactional Liability unit, Conifer Insurance Services, Ahoy!, an investment in Verve Services and the establishment of partnerships with Skyward Specialty Insurance and Topsail Re.

    Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as the exclusive financial advisor and Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP provided legal counsel to Hallmark. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and McDermott Will & Emery LLP provided legal counsel to Bishop Street Underwriters.

    About Bishop Street
    Bishop Street Underwriters, a RedBird Capital portfolio company, seeks to partner with Managing General Agents (“MGAs”) as well as niche underwriting teams. Bishop Street aims to combine their best-in-class (re)insurance executive team’s vision with RedBird’s strong track record, expertise and network in the financial services sector to build a differentiated platform that is uniquely positioned to capitalize on secular growth tailwinds in the industry. For more information, please go to www.bishopstreetuw.com.

    About RedBird Capital Partners
    RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm that builds high-growth companies with strategic capital solutions to founders and entrepreneurs. The firm currently manages $12 billion in assets on behalf of a global group of blue chip institutional and family office investors. Founded in 2014 by Gerry Cardinale, RedBird integrates sophisticated private equity investing with a hands-on business building mandate that focuses on three core industry verticals – Financial Services, Sports and Media & Entertainment. Over his 30-year investment career, Cardinale has partnered with founders and entrepreneurs to build some of the most iconic growth companies in their respective industries. For more information, please go to www.redbirdcap.com.

    Media Contacts
    Bishop Street 
    Dan Gagnier
    Gagnier Communications
    bishopstreet@gagnierfc.com
    646.569.5897

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Regula Powers Ecuador’s Plan to Modernize Every Border – From Airports to Maritime Ports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecuador’s border control authorities have significantly enhanced their identity verification capabilities by deploying a suite of advanced document examination devices from Regula. The nationwide upgrade, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local partner INSETK, brings automation, precision, and speed to the country’s border checkpoints, which collectively process nearly 1.5 million travelers annually.

    The project is a major step in Ecuador’s mission to modernize all land, air, and maritime entry points, including key international airports in Quito and Guayaquil, as well as northern and southern border crossings. These strategic locations now benefit from Regula’s advanced forensic devices, which enable fast and reliable detection of fraudulent documents—critical in the fight against identity-related crime.

    The immigration officers of Ecuador during the training on how to effectively use Regula’s devices

    Closing the gap with a set of forensic devices

    Previously, document checks at Ecuador border crossings were largely manual and supported by outdated equipment, often handled by just two officers per site. This made the process slow, error-prone, and vulnerable to sophisticated fraud.

    To address this, Ecuador’s border checkpoints were equipped with the following Regula solutions:

    • Regula 4308 at Quito International Airport: Ideal for high-traffic airports, this dual-video spectral comparator supports the full spectrum of light sources and optical filters. It also offers high-quality image capture capabilities thanks to its up to 320x optical zoom and up to 140,000 ppi resolution. As a result, border officers can thoroughly inspect all of the ID security features, including printing techniques, holograms, optically variable inks, and more.
    • Regula 4306 at Guayaquil International Airport and major land borders: A space-saving device with an 8 MP high-resolution camera and over 40 LED light sources for analyzing document authenticity, just like its counterpart, the Regula 4308.
    • Regula 4205D at frontline checkpoints: A multi-functional device tailored for primary control zones. It includes 12 light sources, automated cross-checks, and up to 30x on-screen magnification for thorough document authentication.
    • Regula 8333M at mobile checkpoints: Designed for remote or non-standard border control situations, such as processing charter flights or cruise ship passengers, this compact mobile document reader ensures that ID checks remain reliable and consistent outside traditional migration offices.

    Regula’s video spectral comparators are controlled via Regula Forensic Studio (RFS), a cross-platform software solution for advanced document checks. It enables precise measurements, image comparison, report generation, and scripted workflows for faster, consistent inspections. With RFS, officers can also verify MRZs, RFID chips, barcodes, and IPI—all without extra tools. For deeper document examination, border control officers have real-time access to Regula’s Information Reference System (IRS), which provides synchronized reference images and lighting presets for fast, precise comparison of travel documents.

    RFS also integrates with Regula Document Reader SDK to automate travel document verification and prevent fraud through data cross-verification and robust authenticity checks. Importantly, Regula’s software is backed by its proprietary identity document template database—the world’s largest—featuring over 15,000 templates from 252 countries and territories, ensuring reliable validation at border checkpoints.

    Trusted results, faster than ever

    Since implementing Regula’s solutions, Ecuadorian border control authorities have noticed notable improvements:

    • Document authentication now takes minutes instead of hours.
    • Detection of forged documents has significantly increased.
    • Automation reduces human error and increases operational efficiency.
    • Officers have more time to focus on complex cases and decision-making.

    “Apart from the technology upgrade and fraud detection improvement at the border crossings, our collaboration with Regula demonstrated another success. The project was fulfilled very smoothly. From the beginning, we’ve received full support from Regula’s team—they were always ready to help with any issue, even those caused by users on the ground. It’s definitely a level of service that makes a real difference,” says Diego Calderon, Chief Executive Officer at INSETK.

    “Border security is where precision, speed, and trust must converge. We’re proud to support Ecuador in modernizing its checkpoints with tools that meet forensic standards while being easy to use in the field. This project shows how technology can turn critical inspection tasks from time-consuming to streamlined, without compromising security,” comments Arif Mamedov, CEO at Regula Forensics, Inc.

    To learn more about Ecuador’s improved border security through advanced identity verification, visit Regula’s website for the full case study.

    About Regula

    Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification.

    Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com.

    Contact:
    Kristina – ks@regula.us

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cc26d929-dfe7-4c8c-bb73-16cfd4680292

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chandrima Chakraborty, Professor, English and Cultural Studies; Director, Centre for Global Peace, Justice and Health, McMaster University

    The June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, with 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard is sending deep reverberations through a group of Canadians who know all too well the shock, grief and horror of losing loved ones in hauntingly similar circumstances.

    They are the families of those killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 en route from Canada to India 40 years ago this month.

    I work closely with these families as a researcher and advocate. I began interviewing these families in 2014 and have witnessed firsthand their pain, advocacy and emotional turmoil of living in the shadow of a historical event.

    As reports of the Ahmedabad crash came in, the WhatsApp account of the Air India Flight 182 families immediately flooded with expressions of shock, concern, sympathy and memories triggered by the latest incident.

    On June 23, 1985, Flight 182 was brought down by terrorist bombs created and planted on Canadian soil. The devastating mid-air explosion occurred over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland. It killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadians. The crew and most of the passengers were of Indian origin.

    Investigations into the causes of the crash of Air India Flight 171, en route to London’s Gatwick airport, shortly after take-off are still underway. At least 279 people died in the crash, which also impacted people on the ground.

    Acknowledging losses as significant

    A recent public conference at McMaster University commemorated the 40th anniversary of Flight 182, bringing together Indian and Canadian families, researchers, creative artists and community members.

    Book cover for ‘Remembering Air India The Art of Public Mourning,’ edited by Chandrima Chakraborty, Amber Dean and Angela Failler.
    University of Alberta Press

    The conference dealt with critical themes, including the challenge of Flight 182 families recovering from their losses within a climate of broad indifference among their fellow Canadians.

    Regardless of what may have caused the more recent crash in western India, these Canadian families know the shock and loss that a new set of victims’ families are facing, and how important it is to support them.

    Hopefully, the home countries of last week’s crash victims — most of them Indian and British citizens, with at least one Canadian reported to have been aboard — will regard their deaths as significant losses. If so, this would be unlike what the 1985 victims’ families experienced in Canada.

    A little-mourned Canadian tragedy

    In Canada, we have a national day to remember on June 23, 1985. The bombing has been called a Canadian tragedy in a public inquiry report.

    Yet according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll, “nine out of 10 Canadians say they have little or no knowledge of the worst single instance of the mass killing of their fellow citizens.” That essentially means the bombing has yet to penetrate the consciousness of everyday Canadians or evoke shared grief or public mourning.

    The families continue to carry the torch of remembrance as they organize annual memorial vigils every June 23. Few others attend. Many victims’ relatives have died since 1985. Some spouses, siblings or parents are now in their 80s, wondering why the bombing is still not widely discussed in schools or in public discourse.

    The grinding and unsatisfying criminal proceedings, the belated public inquiry and the welcome but lukewarm apology by the Canadian government 25 years after the fact have all contributed to the failure of this tragedy to adhere more solidly to the Canadian consciousness. In fact, many continue to deny the Canadian significance of Flight 182 and view the bombing as a foreign event.

    A torch of remembrance

    At last month’s conference, my research team launched the Air India Flight 182 archive to counter this collective amnesia and lack of acknowledgement.

    Canadian archival consultant and writer Laura Millar has said that archives act as “touchstones to memory” and can aid the process of transforming individual memories into collective remembering. Adopting NYU professor Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care for the archive, we have been consulting with families to find ways to share their grief with the public.

    The Flight 182 memory archive — both physical and digital — serves as a repository for artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members. Family donations of artefacts such as dance videos and pilot wings redirect notions of archives away from a documental deposit. Hopefully, they can move the public to learn and care for the impacts of the Flight 182 bombing.

    The archive is a publicly accessible record of the tragedy, where scholars and everyday citizens can learn about the victims and their families.

    Since the past involves both the present and the future, the archive will enable a meaningful recognition of marginalized voices and histories. It can offer a form of memory justice for those who would otherwise be forgotten by sustaining memory from generation to generation.

    While the archive articulates the demand from families that the bombing of Flight 182 and its aftermath be incorporated into Canadian national consciousness, establishing this archive alone will not be enough to elevate the memory of Flight 182 to the place it deserves.

    But at least it establishes a rich, permanent academic and personal legacy for the community of mourners, and for the Canadian and global public to find it, use it and learn from its many lessons.

    Families of those on board the 1985 flight are preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the terror bombing of Flight 182 that has devastated their lives.

    As we learn more about the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, the lessons of Flight 182 will hopefully prevent a new set of families from feeling the pain of indifference on top of the unimaginable agony of loss they’re already experiencing.

    Chandrima Chakraborty receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182 – https://theconversation.com/air-india-crash-in-ahmedabad-sends-reverberations-to-canadian-families-of-air-india-flight-182-258991

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Micronesian Summit in Majuro this week aims to be ‘one step ahead’

    By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal/RNZ Pacific correspondent in Majuro

    The Micronesian Islands Forum cranks up with officials meetings this week in Majuro, with the official opening for top leadership from the islands tomorrow morning.

    Marshall Islands leaders are being joined at this summit by their counterparts from Kiribati, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.

    “At this year’s Leaders Forum, I hope we can make meaningful progress on resolving airline connectivity issues — particularly in Micronesia — so our region remains connected and one step ahead,” President Hilda Heine said on the eve of this subregional summit.

    The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia have been negotiating with Nauru Airlines over the past two years to extend the current island hopper service with a link to Honolulu.

    “Equally important,” said President Heine, “the Forum offers a vital platform to strengthen regional solidarity and build common ground on key issues such as climate, ocean health, security, trade, and other pressing challenges.

    “Ultimately, our shared purpose must be to work together in support of the communities we represent.”

    Monday and Tuesday featured official-level meetings at the International Conference Center in Majuro. Tomorrow will be the official opening of the Forum and will feature statements from each of the islands represented.

    Handing over chair
    Outgoing Micronesian Island Forum chair Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero is expected to hand over the chair post to President Heine tomorrow morning.

    Other top island leaders expected to attend the summit: FSM President Wesley Simina, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, Nauru Deputy Speaker Isabela Dageago, Palau Minister Steven Victor, Chuuk Governor Alexander Narruhn, Pohnpei Governor Stevenson Joseph, Kosrae Governor Tulensa Palik, Yap Acting Governor Francis Itimai, and CNMI Lieutenant-Governor David Apatang.

    Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa is also expected to participate.

    Pretty much every subject of interest to the Pacific Islands will be on the table for discussions, including presentations on education, health and transportation. The latter will include a presentation by the Marshall Islands Aviation Task Force that has been meeting extensively with Nauru Airlines.

    In addition, Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni will deliver a presentation, gender equality will be on the table, as will updates on the SPC and Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Programme North Pacific offices, and the United Nations multi-country office.

    The Micronesia Challenge environmental programme will get focus during a luncheon for the leaders hosted by the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority on Thursday at its new headquarters annex.

    Bank presentations
    Pacific Island Development Bank and the Bank of Guam will make presentations, as will the recently established Pacific Center for Island Security.

    A special night market at the Marshall Islands Resort parking lot will be featured Wednesday evening.

    Friday will feature a leaders retreat on Bokanbotin, a small resort island on Majuro Atoll’s north shore. While the leaders gather, other Forum participants will join a picnic or fishing tournament.

    Friday evening is to feature the closing event to include the launching of the Marshall Islands’ Green Growth Initiative and the signing of the Micronesian Island Forum communique.

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.5 million at airport (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.5 million at airport.

    ​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 30) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.5 million.

    A male passenger, aged 37, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

    The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 2).

    Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

    Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

    Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

    Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    Ends/Tuesday, July 1, 2025
    Issued at HKT 14:12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NATS technical failure of August 2023: CAA progress report on review recommendations

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Written statement to Parliament

    NATS technical failure of August 2023: CAA progress report on review recommendations

    Publication of CAA report on its progress to address recommendations made by an independent review into NATS technical failure of August 2023.

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today (1 July 2025) published a report on the progress made in relation to the 34 recommendations which were made in the independent review’s final report into the NATS technical IT failure of August 2023.

    I would like to express my gratitude to the CAA, NATS, airlines and airports for the progress they have made in responding to the recommendations which were made by the independent panel. Today’s report confirms the positive approach which has been made in responding to the recommendations by all stakeholders.

    NATS has delivered its recommendations with many of these already having been confirmed as completed by the CAA. The CAA expects to have completed validation of all recommendations made to NATS during the summer. Airlines and airports have committed to reviewing their practices for communicating and assisting their passengers during periods of disruption. The CAA are reviewing these plans and will monitor compliance through an extended compliance programme, along with establishing an industry code of conduct. The CAA will continue to hold airlines/airports to account for how they meet their obligations to consumers.

    The CAA is making good progress in responding to its recommendations. In particular it has focused its efforts in response to the panel’s recommendations relating to the expansion of its work on improving industry compliance and the rights of aviation consumers. The CAA will commence a programme of work related to the next price control review period for NATS (NR28) which will directly address a number of the recommendations which were made by the panel.

    My department remains steadfast in our commitment to delivering on the recommendations which the panel has made for government, and we will make the required legislative reforms on which this is dependent when parliamentary time allows, to ensure air passengers have the highest level of protection possible.

    The CAA will provide a further report on progress with the recommendations towards the end of the year. The expectation is that most of the recommendations made by the panel will have been validated and completed by the end of 2026.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Air China launches first international flight with Chinese-built C909

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    HOHHOT, July 1 (Xinhua) — Air China’s C909 passenger jet successfully completed a Hohhot-Ulaanbaatar flight on Tuesday, marking the official launch of the Chinese carrier’s first international route served by the aircraft.

    As it became known, flights CA757/8, operated by C909 aircraft, are carried out between the city of Hohhot (the administrative center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Republic) and the capital of Mongolia in both directions seven times a week.

    “Based on the characteristics of the C909 aircraft, we conducted an in-depth study of flight procedures, runway conditions, navigation equipment, and developed a detailed flight operation process,” said Liu Yongguang, the captain of the aircraft that carried out the first flight on the route.

    The C909 is a turbofan regional airliner developed by China itself, seating 78-97 people and having a range of 2,225 km to 3,700 km. It complies with international civil aviation regulations and is the first of its kind independently developed by China.

    According to the data, a total of 166 C909 aircraft have been delivered to the market to date, serving more than 700 air routes and carrying more than 24 million passengers.

    The C909 was a breakthrough in the commercial operation of domestic jet airliners and explored the development path of the entire life cycle of Chinese-made commercial aircraft, Chen Yong, chief designer of the aircraft, told Xinhua News Agency.

    Let us recall that on June 28, the aircraft of this type, previously known as ARJ21, celebrated the ninth anniversary of its first flight. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: First batch of overseas exhibits arrives for 3rd supply chain expo

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

    With just two weeks until the opening of the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), the first batch of overseas exhibits has successfully cleared customs and arrived in Beijing, marking a key milestone in the final preparations for the event.

    On Monday, three high-tech display items — a network switch model and two precision integrated circuit modules — entered China via Beijing Capital International Airport. Valued at 272,100 yuan (around $38,000), they are the first exhibits in CISCE history to be cleared using an ATA Carnet, also known as a “passport for goods.”

    According to Sun Yanting, head of customs clearance review at the airport’s customs office, the ATA Carnet allows for simplified, duty-free temporary importation of goods for exhibitions and other professional use. Compared with traditional clearance procedures, the ATA Carnet eliminates the need for declarations, tax guarantees or specific port entry and exit, cutting both time and costs, Sun said.

    A customs official processes the ATA Carnet declaration for the first batch of overseas exhibits for the third CISCE, June 30, 2025. [Photo by Chen Qi/China.org.cn]

    As the only organization in China authorized to issue and guarantee ATA Carnets, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) helped streamline the process by ensuring all documentation was correctly translated, verified and submitted.

    The first batch of overseas exhibits for the third CISCE clears customs in preparation for being transported to the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, June 30, 2025. [Photo by Chen Qi/China.org.cn]

    To further facilitate the arrival of CISCE exhibits, Beijing Customs has launched a dedicated “green channel” for the expo, offering round-the-clock customs services and end-to-end cargo tracking for high-value equipment. Customs officers at the airport have also established special service counters for CISCE-related goods, providing expedited clearance from document verification to final release.

    Hosted by the CCPIT, the third CISCE will take place at the China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi district of Beijing from July 16-20. This year, overseas exhibitors will make up 35% of participants.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa Group appoints Kevin Markette as Senior Director – Regional Sales South Asia

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Markette as Senior Director – Regional Sales South Asia. Based in New Delhi, Kevin will oversee all commercial activities across the South Asia region, including the strategically important Indian market.

    A seasoned aviation executive, Kevin brings over 20 years of leadership experience within Lufthansa Group, having successfully managed commercial, customer, and operational teams across Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. Raised in Spain and South Africa and trained as a Commercial Pilot, Kevin offers a truly global perspective and strong intercultural fluency.

    Kevin began his career with Lufthansa in South Africa in 2000, eventually managing Pricing, Reservations, and Ticketing for Southern Africa. In 2008, he moved to Dubai to lead Marketing and Business Development for the Gulf States, and later became Country Manager for Ghana, where he was responsible for Lufthansa’s operations in Accra.

    From 2016 to 2020, Kevin served as Head of Sales for the Southeast USA, based in Atlanta, overseeing six major gateways operated by four Lufthansa Group airlines. He was subsequently promoted to Head of Customer Relations for the Americas, based in New York, where he managed service recovery, customer feedback strategy, and commercial insights across North and South America until the end of 2022.

    Since 2022, Kevin has been based in Nairobi as General Manager for East Africa, leading the Group’s commercial strategy and partnerships across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. In this role, he spearheaded digital transformation initiatives, supported Brussels Airlines’ regional expansion, and championed sustainability efforts.

    According to Lufthansa Group Vice President Asia Pacific and Joint Ventures East, Felipe Bonifatti:

    “With over two decades at Lufthansa Group, Kevin brings extensive international experience to the Asia Pacific region. His sharp commercial insight and passion for our industry make him an invaluable addition. I am delighted to welcome him to Delhi, where he will lead all commercial activities for the Lufthansa Group in this strategically important market.”

    Kevin is passionate about building high-performing, cross-cultural teams and cultivating long-term partnerships with customers and stakeholders. Outside of work, he and his wife Jolene enjoy traveling, culinary adventures, and spending time outdoors.

    About Lufthansa Group

    The Lufthansa Group is an aviation group with operations worldwide. With 100,000+ employees from 164 nations worldwide, Lufthansa Group generated revenue of €37.6bn in the financial year 2024. Our largest business segment is Passenger Airlines while other key business segments include Logistics and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). Other companies and Group functions such as IT companies and Lufthansa Aviation Training form complementary components of the Group. All airlines and business segments play leading roles in their respective markets.

     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Death toll from Israeli strike on Gaza cafe rises to 34 – sources

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GAZA, July 1 (Xinhua) — The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a beach cafe in Gaza City has risen to 34, Palestinian medical and security sources said Monday.

    A brief statement from al-Shifa hospital said most of the dead were women and children. The injured and the bodies of the victims were taken to the hospital after the attack.

    According to eyewitnesses, the cafe, located in the western part of the al-Shati refugee camp, was often used by journalists and civilians to access the internet.

    Security officials and Palestinian eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at the target.

    Among those killed was journalist Ismail Abu Khatab, while another media worker, Bayan Abu Sultan, was wounded and is in stable condition, local sources said.

    The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: EU digital legislation not on table in trade talks with US: spokesperson

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

    The digital legislation is not on the table in the trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United States, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told a briefing Monday.

    Regnier emphasized that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that EU legislation is not up for negotiation, “and this also includes, of course, our digital legislation,” he said.

    “We’re not going to adjust the implementation of our legislation based on the actions of third countries. If we started to do that, then we would have to do it with numerous third countries,” Regnier added. Nevertheless, the spokesperson said that the Commission remains committed to reaching a trade deal with the United States by July 9.

    The United States has repeatedly criticized the EU’s digital regulations, including the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), as unfair and has urged the EU to ease oversight of American tech giants.

    In February, the White House warned in a memo that it would consider retaliatory measures if EU regulators targeted American tech firms under the DMA or the DSA.

    Just two months later, in April, the European Commission found that U.S. companies Apple and Meta violated the DMA and issued significant fines against both firms.

    European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic announced Monday that he will travel to Washington on July 1 to continue efforts toward a U.S.-EU trade deal.

    Bloomberg reported Monday that the EU is willing to accept a trade arrangement with the U.S. that includes a 10 percent universal tariff on many of the bloc’s exports, but wants the United States to commit to lower rates on key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, alcohol, semiconductors and commercial aircraft.

    The EU is also pushing the United States for quotas and exemptions to effectively lower Washington’s 25 percent tariff on automobiles and car parts as well as its 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum, according to Bloomberg. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s aircraft carrier formations return after completing far-sea training

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

    This photo shows a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday.

    The training was conducted in a well-coordinated and systematic manner as the two naval formations advanced into the Western Pacific, collaborated with relevant military forces, and completed a variety of exercises under combat conditions, such as those related to reconnaissance and early warning, counterstrike, maritime assault, air defense, and the day-and-night tactical flight of carrier-based aircraft.

    The training has yielded a series of research achievements for relevant military subjects and significantly boosted the systemic combat capabilities of China’s aircraft carrier formations, following previous dual-carrier drills conducted jointly by the two naval formations last year.

    During the training, certain foreign warships and aircraft repeatedly conducted up-close reconnaissance maneuvers, tracking, and surveillance. The Chinese naval formations maintained high vigilance and responsiveness to combat scenarios, organized multiple flights of carrier-based aircraft, and handled the situation professionally and soundly.

    According to the Chinese navy, as a routine arrangement per its annual plan, the training has effectively tested the joint training results of relevant forces and enhanced their capability to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll from Israeli strike on Gaza cafe rises to 34

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

    Injured people are seen near a beachfront cafe destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on June 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a beachfront cafe in Gaza City has risen to 34, up from an earlier report of 21, Palestinian medical and security sources said on Monday.

    Al-Shifa Hospital said in a brief statement that most of the victims were women and children. The casualties were brought to the hospital following the strike.

    Witnesses said the cafe, located west of the al-Shati refugee camp, was often used by journalists and civilians to access the internet.

    Palestinian security officials and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that an Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at the site.

    Among the dead was journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, while another journalist, Bayan Abu Sultan, was wounded and is in stable condition, local sources said.

    There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TdA leader charged with terrorism and nationwide stolen vehicle scheme among those announced as part of Operation Take Back America efforts

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    HOUSTON – A total of 202 cases have been filed from June 20-26 in border-security and other related matters in the Southern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    The filed cases include seven involving human smuggling. A total of 125 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 65 face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes, sexual assault and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to immigration crimes, firearms and illegal exportation of stolen vehicles.

    Among those newly charged are two Cuban nationals allegedly involved in a nationwide multimillion-dollar auto theft ring. Sadiel Noa-Aguila and Miguel Baez-Echevarria are allegedly part of a large ring linked to numerous vehicle thefts, primarily from major metropolitan airports and surrounding areas including Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Texas cities including Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. Several vehicles were allegedly exported to Mexico through ports of entry in Hidalgo County and El Paso. The charges allege the organization stole vehicles worth millions of dollars in total.

    Others facing charges include several Mexican nationals who allegedly illegally reentered the country this week, including Juan Lopez who had just been removed June 2. He has a previous conviction of evading arrest and had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to the criminal complaint. Charges also allege Hugo Perez-Garza and Ventura De Jesus Sandoval-Torres have previous convictions for trafficking marijuana and alien smuggling, respectively, and had been previously removed, but authorities found them in the Pharr area. Discovered near Hidalgo was Jesus Jaime Saavedra-Orozco, a convicted felon for aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced t0 18 years before his removal, according to the allegations. They all face up to 20 years in prison. 

    Also announced this week was a known Tren de Aragua (TdA) leader added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Giovanni Vincente Mosquera Serrano aka El Viejo is charged along with Jose Enrique Martinez Flores aka Chuqui with conspiring to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization – TdA – as well as conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States. Both are Venezuelan nationals and high ranking TdA members, according to the allegations. If convicted, both face up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million fine. There is a $3 million reward for information leading to Serrano’s arrest and/or conviction. 

    “Transnational criminal gangs and cartels have preyed upon Americans for far too long,” said Ganjei. “That ends now. The Southern District of Texas is committed to smashing these criminal terror groups and will use every available legal tool to do so. It doesn’t matter if you are hiding a continent away; if you hurt U.S. citizens, we will find you and bring you to justice. This is what Operation Take Back America looks like.” 

    In Laredo, a Mexican citizen with a B1/B2 visa was sentenced for transportation of child pornography. Martin Alonso Diaz-Lopez received 180 months. At the hearing, the court held him accountable for 66,489 images and noted that not only was he receiving, but also sharing the photos online and bringing them into the United States. Many of the images and videos he possessed were of very young children and toddlers being raped. Authorities had linked his email from a visa application to that of a known user sharing material online and ultimately apprehended him upon his arrival at the Lincoln-Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo applying for admission into the United States. 

    Mexican national Jesus Hernandez-Herrera received a 66 month-term of imprisonment for unlawfully reentering the country and human smuggling after crashing during a high-speed chase. He had been transporting illegal aliens in a Ford Expedition before fleeing authorities and weaving in and out of heavy traffic with speeds reaching 95 miles per hour. At his sentencing, the court heard additional evidence that described his criminal history, including another evading arrest in which he drove his car towards a federal agent and almost collided with a pedestrian. He also has five previous removals from the United States.  

    Another illegal alien learned his sentence for trafficking over $1 million in cocaine. Miguel Angel Reyes-Sanchez received 57 months in federal prison. During the investigation and operations, authorities seized over 50 kilograms of cocaine. At the sentencing, the court heard additional evidence that described Reyes-Sanchez’s role in the drug trafficking organization and that he was involved in multiple transactions.  

    In Houston, a Honduran national received his sentence for illegally reentering the United States. Denis Hernandez-Cruz was ordered to serve 60 months in federal prison. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he needed a substantial sentence to deter him from illegally reentering again. Hernandez-Cruz has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as two convictions for burglary of a habitation. He has three prior removals from the United States, most recently in April 2020.

    Angel Zavaleta-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from El Trapiche, Guerrero, Mexico, pleaded guilty in Brownsville federal court to illegal reentry into the United States. He had been removed from the United States in August 2000 and had previously returned illegally. Authorities removed him again Nov. 13, 2023, but encountered him March 25 in Harlingen. Zavaleta-Rodriguez had been residing in Sebastian illegally. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

    An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s two carrier strike groups return to homeports 2025-07-01 08:52:55 China’s two carrier strike groups have recently returned to their home ports after a series of training operations and exercises in the Western Pacific, according to the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

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

      The carrier groups of the Liaoning and Shandong conduct far-sea combat training in recent days. The photo shows the groups carrying out an at-sea replenishment. [Photo by Wang Jian / for China Daily]

      China’s two carrier strike groups have recently returned to their home ports after a series of training operations and exercises in the Western Pacific, according to the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

      The Navy said in a news release on Monday afternoon that the two strike groups, led by the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong aircraft carriers, carried out “realistic and systemic” combat training and cooperated with other PLA branches to conduct mock battles.

      Units involved in the exercises performed early-warning, reconnaissance, air and missile defense, fighter deployments, assaults against sea targets and other maneuvers, the release said.

      During the dual-carrier mission, the strike groups explored and verified their tactics and also honed their crews’ skills, effectively improving the flotillas’ combat capabilities, it stated.

      According to the Navy, during the training session, the Chinese vessels had several encounters with foreign warships and aircraft that conducted close-in reconnaissance and surveillance. The groups maintained high alert and were always ready to respond to possible threats. They mobilized carrier-based fighters to establish security perimeters, handling various scenarios professionally and effectively.

      The exercise was the second time that both of the Navy’s carrier strike groups participated in an operation together. The first time was in October, when they conducted a joint combat exercise in the South China Sea.

      Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, a spokesman for the Navy, said on June 10 in Beijing that the strike groups’ operations were “a part of routine training arrangements set by our annual work plan, and is intended for improving our units’ ability to fulfill their duties. It is in line with the international law and common practice by other navies, and is not targeted at any specific nation or objective”.

      Currently, the Navy operates two aircraft carriers — the CNS Liaoning and the CNS Shandong. Both have a standard displacement of around 50,000 metric tons and a conventional propulsion system, and they use a ski jump system to launch their J-15 fighter jets.

      The country has built a third aircraft carrier — the CNS Fujian, which is the largest and mightiest warship any Asian nation has ever built. It is also the world’s largest non-American aircraft carrier.

      Carrier-based fighter jets take off during far-sea combat training recently conducted by the Chinese navy’s Liaoning and Shandong carrier groups. [Photo by Wang Yuanlin / for China Daily]

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s aircraft carrier formations return after completing far-sea training 2025-07-01 08:51:30 China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday.

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

    This photo shows a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Yuanlin/Xinhua)

    BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday.

    The training was conducted in a well-coordinated and systematic manner as the two naval formations advanced into the Western Pacific, collaborated with relevant military forces, and completed a variety of exercises under combat conditions, such as those related to reconnaissance and early warning, counterstrike, maritime assault, air defense, and the day-and-night tactical flight of carrier-based aircraft.

    The training has yielded a series of research achievements for relevant military subjects and significantly boosted the systemic combat capabilities of China’s aircraft carrier formations, following previous dual-carrier drills conducted jointly by the two naval formations last year.

    During the training, certain foreign warships and aircraft repeatedly conducted up-close reconnaissance maneuvers, tracking, and surveillance. The Chinese naval formations maintained high vigilance and responsiveness to combat scenarios, organized multiple flights of carrier-based aircraft, and handled the situation professionally and soundly.

    According to the Chinese navy, as a routine arrangement per its annual plan, the training has effectively tested the joint training results of relevant forces and enhanced their capability to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. 

    This photo shows a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

    This photo shows the formation conducting replenishment-at-sea. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

    This photo shows Yan’an missile destroyer. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

    This photo shows fighter jets on Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

    This photo shows fighter jets preparing to take off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Hu Xiushuai/Xinhua)

    This photo shows a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Yuanlin/Xinhua)

    This photo shows fighter jets on Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Hu Xiushuai/Xinhua)

    This photo shows a fighter jet preparing to take off from an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Hu Xiushuai/Xinhua)

    This photo shows Yuncheng missile frigate. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Jian/Xinhua)

    This photo shows a fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier. China’s naval formations of two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, have completed their far-sea combat-oriented training and safely returned to their home ports, according to the Chinese navy on Monday. (Photo by Wang Yuanlin/Xinhua)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Xinjiang unveils 6 new scenic highway routes to boost tourism

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

    URUMQI, June 30 — Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has unveiled six new scenic highways, investing 10.7 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) to develop 965 km of tourism-focused roads.

    The routes connect diverse landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and grasslands to forests, lakes, deserts and oases, and aim to enhance the region’s “fast entry, slow travel” transportation network and enrich self-driving tourism experiences, according to the regional transport department.

    The newly constructed highways are designed to bridge key attractions across Xinjiang’s vast terrain, where destinations are often widely dispersed, the department said.

    Xinjiang has intensified efforts to build a multidimensional travel network in recent years. Alongside the highways, the region has expanded aviation routes, launched specialty railway circuits like the Taklimakan Desert Loop, and developed iconic tourist roads.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why your holiday flight is still not being powered by sustainable aviation fuel

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Salman Ahmad, Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, University of the West of Scotland

    Fahroni/Shutterstock

    As you wait in the departure lounge for your flight this summer, you may notice your aeroplane being pumped full of fuel ahead of takeoff. And then you may start to wonder why flying is still so dependent on fossil fuels, and whether you should have booked a holiday destination that’s accessible by a more environmentally friendly form of transport.

    So what happened to plans for so-called sustainable aviation fuel? Wasn’t it supposed to be the “game changer” that would make flying a much greener travel option than it used to be?

    Clearly, the move to adopt the technology is facing difficulties. One problem seems to be that there simply isn’t enough sustainable fuel to go around.

    But the business side of the process is also holding back sustainable fuel uptake.

    Research my colleagues and I conducted in 2021 revealed a deeply fragmented landscape at pretty much every step of sustainable fuel development. There are obstacles everywhere, blocking the paths of the producers developing these fuels, the airlines who might use them and the governmental and campaign groups pushing for change.

    Everyone seems to agree that sustainable fuel matters. They just don’t all agree about how to really get it off the ground.

    Our findings demonstrate that producers, for instance, were understandably focused on more research and development to improve efficient production. They were also worried that scaling up facilities could disrupt production that is already in place.

    Airlines meanwhile, are grappling with the economics of moving to sustainable fuel, which is around three to ten times more expensive than conventional fuel. Right now, a litre of conventional aviation fuel costs around £0.96 per litre in the UK – for sustainable aviation fuel it’s around £1.97. (Depending on the length of the journey and the size of the engine, a plane could need around 13,000 litres per hour of flying.)

    They spoke about inconsistent supply (especially at major airports), and the need for clearer regulations and incentives across the industry.

    “Cost is clearly the most important driver,” one airline executive told us, explaining that dealing with those costs would ultimately depend on passenger demand for greener travel – and how willing those passengers are to pay a premium for sustainable fuel.

    Distribution companies that take the sustainable fuel where it needs to go, have found themselves struggling to navigate the complexities of an emerging supply chain. They spoke of the logistical challenges of transporting and storing sustainable fuel, and a lack of clear communication between producers and airlines.

    They saw themselves as a crucial part of the sustainable aviation fuel puzzle, but were concerned about investing in logistics and infrastructure without guaranteed demand.

    Elsewhere, politicians and climate campaigners tend to view the adoption of sustainable fuel from a broader perspective, stressing the urgency of action on climate change. Their thinking is dominated by environmental strategy and sustainable aviation fuel regulation.

    But here, trust becomes an issue. Some of those involved with sustainable fuel development said they doubted government promises to support the sector over the long term. Others are cynical about whether airlines will really prioritise climate action over their very tight profit margins.

    Up in the air

    So sustainable fuel inspires plenty of different viewpoints and concerns. But one common thread was an overwhelming concern about cost and scale of production.

    Aside from being far more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel, building enough production facilities to make more will require billions of pounds of investment.

    The big question is who will foot the bill.

    sustainable fuel, on a wing and a prayer?
    Bulent camci/Shutterstock

    Some of this will need to be tax funded. For if the UK wants to become a leader in the use of sustainable aviation fuel, as the government says it does, it needs more than ambitious targets. It needs to start making things happen.

    And our research suggests that the industry as a whole would benefit from some certainty to encourage investment right across the supply chain. Without a clear and stable regulatory framework, everyone will remain hesitant about committing significant resources to sustainable fuel.

    Collaboration between the key players could also be improved, with a better dialogue between those in the industry and regulators, potentially leading to a shared vision for the future of sustainable aviation fuel.

    That future is by no means doomed. Major commercial airlines like Air France-KLM, IAG (British Airways) and United Airlines in the US are working with sustainable fuel producers around the world.

    But while the desire to decarbonise aviation seems clear, the path forward is not straightforward. It is a complex picture of politics, economics, trust and differing priorities.

    By navigating this turbulence wisely, the sustainable fuel sector can be part of a broader flight path to net zero. But if managed poorly, targets to dramatically increase its use will remain elusive.

    Salman Ahmad received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to undertake work that informs the contents of this article. He is also a professional member of the Project Management Institue and the Association for Supply Chain Management.

    – ref. Why your holiday flight is still not being powered by sustainable aviation fuel – https://theconversation.com/why-your-holiday-flight-is-still-not-being-powered-by-sustainable-aviation-fuel-258958

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why your holiday flight is still not being powered by sustainable aviation fuel

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Salman Ahmad, Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, University of the West of Scotland

    Fahroni/Shutterstock

    As you wait in the departure lounge for your flight this summer, you may notice your aeroplane being pumped full of fuel ahead of takeoff. And then you may start to wonder why flying is still so dependent on fossil fuels, and whether you should have booked a holiday destination that’s accessible by a more environmentally friendly form of transport.

    So what happened to plans for so-called sustainable aviation fuel? Wasn’t it supposed to be the “game changer” that would make flying a much greener travel option than it used to be?

    Clearly, the move to adopt the technology is facing difficulties. One problem seems to be that there simply isn’t enough sustainable fuel to go around.

    But the business side of the process is also holding back sustainable fuel uptake.

    Research my colleagues and I conducted in 2021 revealed a deeply fragmented landscape at pretty much every step of sustainable fuel development. There are obstacles everywhere, blocking the paths of the producers developing these fuels, the airlines who might use them and the governmental and campaign groups pushing for change.

    Everyone seems to agree that sustainable fuel matters. They just don’t all agree about how to really get it off the ground.

    Our findings demonstrate that producers, for instance, were understandably focused on more research and development to improve efficient production. They were also worried that scaling up facilities could disrupt production that is already in place.

    Airlines meanwhile, are grappling with the economics of moving to sustainable fuel, which is around three to ten times more expensive than conventional fuel. Right now, a litre of conventional aviation fuel costs around £0.96 per litre in the UK – for sustainable aviation fuel it’s around £1.97. (Depending on the length of the journey and the size of the engine, a plane could need around 13,000 litres per hour of flying.)

    They spoke about inconsistent supply (especially at major airports), and the need for clearer regulations and incentives across the industry.

    “Cost is clearly the most important driver,” one airline executive told us, explaining that dealing with those costs would ultimately depend on passenger demand for greener travel – and how willing those passengers are to pay a premium for sustainable fuel.

    Distribution companies that take the sustainable fuel where it needs to go, have found themselves struggling to navigate the complexities of an emerging supply chain. They spoke of the logistical challenges of transporting and storing sustainable fuel, and a lack of clear communication between producers and airlines.

    They saw themselves as a crucial part of the sustainable aviation fuel puzzle, but were concerned about investing in logistics and infrastructure without guaranteed demand.

    Elsewhere, politicians and climate campaigners tend to view the adoption of sustainable fuel from a broader perspective, stressing the urgency of action on climate change. Their thinking is dominated by environmental strategy and sustainable aviation fuel regulation.

    But here, trust becomes an issue. Some of those involved with sustainable fuel development said they doubted government promises to support the sector over the long term. Others are cynical about whether airlines will really prioritise climate action over their very tight profit margins.

    Up in the air

    So sustainable fuel inspires plenty of different viewpoints and concerns. But one common thread was an overwhelming concern about cost and scale of production.

    Aside from being far more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel, building enough production facilities to make more will require billions of pounds of investment.

    The big question is who will foot the bill.

    sustainable fuel, on a wing and a prayer?
    Bulent camci/Shutterstock

    Some of this will need to be tax funded. For if the UK wants to become a leader in the use of sustainable aviation fuel, as the government says it does, it needs more than ambitious targets. It needs to start making things happen.

    And our research suggests that the industry as a whole would benefit from some certainty to encourage investment right across the supply chain. Without a clear and stable regulatory framework, everyone will remain hesitant about committing significant resources to sustainable fuel.

    Collaboration between the key players could also be improved, with a better dialogue between those in the industry and regulators, potentially leading to a shared vision for the future of sustainable aviation fuel.

    That future is by no means doomed. Major commercial airlines like Air France-KLM, IAG (British Airways) and United Airlines in the US are working with sustainable fuel producers around the world.

    But while the desire to decarbonise aviation seems clear, the path forward is not straightforward. It is a complex picture of politics, economics, trust and differing priorities.

    By navigating this turbulence wisely, the sustainable fuel sector can be part of a broader flight path to net zero. But if managed poorly, targets to dramatically increase its use will remain elusive.

    Salman Ahmad received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to undertake work that informs the contents of this article. He is also a professional member of the Project Management Institue and the Association for Supply Chain Management.

    – ref. Why your holiday flight is still not being powered by sustainable aviation fuel – https://theconversation.com/why-your-holiday-flight-is-still-not-being-powered-by-sustainable-aviation-fuel-258958

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Young men on South Africa’s urban margins: new book follows their lives over 10 years

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hannah J. Dawson, Senior Lecturer, Anthropology and Development Studies, University of Johannesburg

    South Africa’s young people, aged 15 to 34, who make up more than 50% of the country’s working age population, bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment. They have done so for more than a decade. Of this group, those aged 15-24 face the highest barriers to the job market, according to data from Statistics South Africa. The majority of these young people live in the townships and informal settlements.

    A new book, Making a Life: Young Men on Johannesburg’s Urban Margins, examines how young people in Zandspruit, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Johannesburg, make a life. Anthropologist Hannah Dawson explains why she chose Zandspruit for her research and shares her findings about the sociopolitical landscape of urban settlements.

    Why the choice of Zandspruit for your research?

    It started with my arrival there in 2011 to study a wave of political protests during local elections. This sparked a much longer research journey spanning more than a decade, which this book traces.

    The settlement was established in the early 1990s and has grown into a densely populated area of around 50,000 people, across 14 pieces of land.

    The expansion of Zandspruit reflects broader trends in post-apartheid South Africa: rapid urbanisation, inadequate urban housing, rising unemployment and underemployment — including a shift from permanent to casual work, and from formal to informal employment.

    What sets Zandspruit apart is its location. It is near post-apartheid economic hubs such as Kya Sands, with its light industries and business parks, and Lanseria Airport, a growing freight and logistics hub earmarked for expansion under the Greater Lanseria Masterplan. It also borders affluent suburbs and golf estates. This makes it distinct from older, more isolated settlements in Johannesburg’s south. Its proximity to shopping malls, townhouse complexes, warehouses and commercial zones makes it a destination of choice for migrants. They include people seeking a foothold in the urban market from rural areas of South Africa as well as people from other parts of the African continent.

    This proximity makes Zandspruit a case study for understanding how residents access urban job markets, and the connections between wage and non-wage economic activities.

    What do your findings tell us about the lives of young people?

    The book draws on research primarily with young men, whose work and lives I followed over ten years. It shows how young men on the urban margins navigate structural unemployment and inequality by forging social ties, asserting belonging, and pursuing alternative livelihoods within what I call Zandspruit’s “redistributive economy”. I use the phrase “making a life” to move beyond survival or income generation. A life is not only about securing food and shelter. It involves the pursuit of social connection, identity, place and dignity.

    For many of the young men I came to know, this often involved turning down demeaning jobs in favour of self-initiated income strategies that offered greater autonomy. These included renting out shacks, running internet cafes or car washes, or operating as mashonisas (unregistered loan sharks). Such efforts reflect more than personal resilience – they reveal how men’s social position and connections within the settlement shape access to the more lucrative niches of the local economy.

    These dynamics point to a broader condition facing young people in South Africa: deep and persistent material insecurity. Yet, they also show the ways in which young people, especially young men, are actively building lives in the face of profound uncertainty. They are crafting meaning and striving for something more in a context marked by chronic unemployment and inequality.

    What did you learn about urban inequality and living on the urban margins?

    The residents of Zandspruit are not equally poor or marginalised. A focus of the book is the division between “insiders” – long-term residents with access to property who earn rental income – and “outsiders” – new arrivals and immigrants who, as tenants, are more dependent on low-paid jobs. These distinctions shape access to land, housing, livelihoods and local recognition.

    Most immigrants form a precarious tenant class, while landlords tend to be established residents with long-standing ties to the settlement. Zandspruit is a deeply stratified space where social connections, property access and local citizenship determine who belongs and who benefits. By tracing men’s positions as insiders or outsiders, the book shows how these inequalities shape their economic strategies and capacity to build a life on the urban margins.

    What do you recommend in terms of public policy?

    The book doesn’t make policy recommendations. However, it speaks to key public and policy debates. Media and policy narratives often portray unemployed youth as idle and disconnected from society, ignoring the complex, often invisible, economic activities and arrangements that structure their lives. While informal and unstable, these pursuits reflect resourcefulness, local knowledge, and a conscious rejection of degrading labour.

    It challenges the idea that informal entrepreneurship can solve youth unemployment. Most enterprises are too precarious to lift young people out of poverty. It also questions the notion that informal settlements are simply ghettos of exclusion and poverty. Instead, it highlights the inequalities within the settlement and calls for greater attention to be paid to the local economies and social orders being forged within these spaces. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to rethinking how we respond to unemployment, the urban housing crisis and inequality in South Africa.

    Hannah J. Dawson received funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the National Research Foundation.

    – ref. Young men on South Africa’s urban margins: new book follows their lives over 10 years – https://theconversation.com/young-men-on-south-africas-urban-margins-new-book-follows-their-lives-over-10-years-257026

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Naval squadrons led by Chinese aircraft carriers return to ports after completing deep-sea training /more details/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) naval squadrons led by the aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have safely returned to their home ports after completing combat-style training on the high seas, the PLA Navy said Monday.

    The training was conducted in a coordinated and systematic manner. Two aircraft carrier formations deployed to the western Pacific Ocean, interacted with the relevant branches of the armed forces, and carried out a number of tasks simulating real combat operations, such as reconnaissance and early detection, counterattack, naval assault, air defense, and day and night tactical flights of carrier-based aircraft.

    The current exercise has produced a series of research results in relevant areas of military affairs and greatly enhanced the systemic combat potential of China’s aircraft carrier formations. It is a continuation of the previous two-carrier high-sea exercise conducted jointly by the two naval formations last year.

    It is noted that during the training, individual foreign warships and aircraft repeatedly carried out close reconnaissance, escort and surveillance maneuvers. The Chinese naval units maintained heightened vigilance and combat readiness for immediate response, organized numerous carrier-based aircraft sorties, and professionally and confidently dealt with the situation that arose.

    The PLA Navy said that these exercises, conducted in accordance with the annual plan, have effectively tested the results of joint training of relevant troops and enhanced their capacity to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Into the Deep: Exploring the Hidden Slopes of Bogoslof Volcano

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Far out in Alaska’s Bering Sea, Bogoslof Volcano rises from the ocean floor—an underwater giant with just a sliver of land showing above the waves. Although it looks small from the surface, the volcano is massive beneath the sea, and it plays an important role in helping scientists understand how underwater volcanoes grow, erupt, and sometimes collapse. We’re currently aboard the research vessel Atlantis, using the deep-sea submersible, the human-occupied vehicle Alvin to explore and collect samples from the seafloor around Bogoslof.

    A group of Tufted Puffins taking flight near Bogoslof Island. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats (USGS/BOEM/NOAA/ONR). Photographer: Art Howard. 

    Bogoslof’s most recent eruption, from December 2016 to August 2017, was one of the most dramatic volcanic events in recent Alaskan history. Over nine months, it produced at least 70 explosions. Many of these happened underwater, where magma and seawater reacted violently. The blasts sent ash clouds as high as 10 kilometers into the sky, disrupted air travel across the North Pacific, and repeatedly reshaped the island’s surfaces.

    Bogoslof Island before the 2016-2017 eruption (left) and on March 11, 2017 (right).

    On this expedition, we have used Alvin to collect rock samples from two different spots on the underwater flanks of the volcano. The first location appears to be part of an old lava flow, based on its shape and the thick layer of marine life growing on it. The second site is more mysterious—it might be a small volcanic cone, a block from an underwater landslide, or something else entirely. We don’t yet know how old these rocks are or exactly how they formed, but they will help us piece together Bogoslof’s long and complex history.

    We also saw that both dive sites were covered in fine sediment, likely made up of volcanic ash and debris from past eruptions. These layers give clues about how material spreads across the seafloor and may also affect the stability of the volcano’s slopes.

    Worldview-2 satellite image of Bogoslof Volcano

    Bogoslof is unusual even among Alaskan volcanoes. It sits north of the main Aleutian volcanic arc and has a different chemical makeup than most of its neighbors. Nearly the entire volcano is underwater, which makes it hard to study and even harder to predict. Before this expedition, very few rock samples had ever been collected from its flanks.

    Our work is helping to change that. By collecting samples directly from the underwater parts of the volcano, we’re learning how Bogoslof formed, how it changes during eruptions, and what kinds of hazards it might pose in the future. Each dive adds new pieces to the puzzle of this fascinating volcano hidden beneath the waves.

    MIL OSI USA News –