NewzIntel.com

Category: Aviation

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Making it easier for Chinese travellers to transit via New Zealand

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is boosting tourism and trade by making it simpler, faster and cheaper for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand.
    From November, Chinese passport holders will no longer need to obtain a Transit Visa before transiting through New Zealand airports. Instead, they will be able to get a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
    “International connections are a crucial part of our plan to drive economic growth. We rely on robust and affordable air connectivity to bring people to our beautiful country, and to get our high-quality products out to the world. Alongside the announcement of a new route from China to South America via Auckland, we expect this will significantly boost the number of passengers that choose to transit through New Zealand.
    “Instead of spending $235 and waiting four days, individuals can pay as little as $17 and can be processed in 24 hours,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.
    An NZeTA is also valid for up to 2 years, meaning that someone can travel multiple times without needing to apply again.
    “Our Government has taken action to enable another route to be opened from China via New Zealand. This will allow Auckland Airport to be a hub for further airline connections. Removing the cost and time barriers of a transit visa makes this route a more attractive option for both tourists and airlines,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
    “Every additional passenger transiting New Zealand on their way to South America or back to China will help to lower the cost of a plane ticket, which makes it cheaper for other waves of tourists to come and see what our country has to offer.
    “More capacity from airlines will make it easier to visit New Zealand and adds cargo capacity, driving economic growth and supporting the Government’s goal to double the value of tourism exports by 2034.”
    “This Government is focused on delivering smart, flexible responsive nuanced immigration solutions such as this to support New Zealand’s growing economy,” Ms Stanford says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping leaves Astana after attending the second China-Central Asia summit

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ASTANA, June 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday headed back to Beijing after attending the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

    Xi Jinping was seen off at the airport by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other senior officials.

    Kazakh Air Force fighter jets escorted Xi Jinping’s special flight after its takeoff.

    On the way to the airport, representatives of Chinese enterprises and Chinese students lined the streets waving the national flags of China and Kazakhstan to warmly congratulate Xi Jinping on his successful participation in the summit. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Articul8 Showcases Multi-Agent Reasoning System to Advance Aerospace Engineering at Paris Air Show

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Articul8, a leading enterprise GenAI company, today unveiled its next-generation multi-agent domain-specific AI platform at the Paris Air Show, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can actively reason, collaborate, and solve engineering problems across the entire aerospace lifecycle — from conceptual design to manufacturing execution.

    The showcase demonstrates how Articul8’s platform reduces errors and delays by orchestrating a team of AI agents that mirror expert-level reasoning across design, modeling, compliance, and supply chain coordination. Unlike traditional tools that passively generate outputs, Articul8’s platform enables AI agents to detect conflicts, propose fixes, and coordinate resolution in real time — with full traceability and enterprise-grade compliance.

    “We’re not just showing a point solution — we’re showing the power of connecting traditional engineering and operational silos,” said Arun Subramaniyan, CEO of Articul8. “At the Paris Air Show, we’re connecting the dots across design, engineering, and supply chain to show how GenAI can actively unlock value with precision in one of the world’s most complex industries.”

    What’s new: Resolving Engineering Failures with Multi-Agent Reasoning AI

    At the Paris Air Show, Articul8 spotlighted a persistent challenge in aerospace engineering: merging modules and sub-assemblies from different suppliers into a unified final assembly. These integration points often fail due to misaligned geometry, inconsistent specifications, or undocumented differences between supplier parts — even when all components technically fall within tolerance limits.

    To demonstrate the platform in action, Articul8 used a real-world example: a radome (aircraft nose covering) failing to merge correctly with the nose cone structure — a costly issue in aerospace assembly.

    With Articul8’s platform:

    • A Supplier Agent with geometry domain-specific model reviews design inputs and makes sure parts meet required specifications
    • A Modeling Agent with a design domain-specific model interacts directly with 3D modeling environments via APIs to check geometry and perform merge validations
    • A Process Agent with a supply-chain domain-specific model ensures the correct assembly sequence is followed, flags any anomalies, and recommends resolution paths

    When the system detects that a radome won’t merge correctly, it doesn’t just halt the process — it identifies the root cause to the right components that need to be repositioned due to their unique deviations, proposes a fix (such as a geometric adjustment), applies it via the modeling environment’s APIs, and auto-generates a compliance note for the supplier to prevent recurrence.

    This intelligent coordination eliminates trial-and-error, reduces stress on already overloaded senior experts, and ensures full traceability at every step.

    From Demo to Deployment: Domain-Specific GenAI in Action

    This live showcase extends Articul8’s growing A8-SupplyChain product line, a family of domain-specific GenAI models purpose-built for manufacturing and industrial environments. These models autonomously translate technical documentation into actionable steps, enabling real-time decision-making across engineering, production, and supplier ecosystems.

    By embedding domain-specific reasoning into every phase — from design validation to corrective action — Articul8 is helping global enterprises reduce risk, minimize delays, and ensure every step is audit-proof.

    Platform Highlights

    • Multi-Agent Domain-specific Orchestration: Domain-specific AI agents with distinct roles work together to carry out and validate engineering tasks across tools and 3D modeling environments — autonomously and in real time.
    • Built-in Domain-specific Reasoning: The system understands context, identifies failure points, and proactively recommends resolutions, knowing the specific nuances of the domain.
    • Traceability by Default: Every step, decision, and system response is logged, making it ideal for safety-critical, highly regulated environments.
    • No Clean Data Required: Articul8 ingests messy, unstructured files — reducing prep time and enabling faster deployment.

    Why It Matters

    With aerospace and defense sectors facing tighter timelines, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and distributed supply chains, Articul8’s platform delivers a new class of intelligence — one that embeds domain expertise directly into the systems teams already use.

    “Domain-specificity is where AI needs to go,” added Subramaniyan. “We’re building intelligent domain-specific agents that don’t just blindly generate outputs — they make decisions, take action, and create impact at every level of engineering.”

    About Articul8
    Articul8 AI is a technology company whose products transform enterprise data and expertise into powerful engines of growth, value and impact. Our full-stack GenAI platform is revolutionizing how enterprises harness their data and expertise to build expert-level Generative AI applications for their mission-critical challenges. Our products deliver enterprise-scale impact with ROI in hours to weeks. General-purpose GenAI models, while necessary, are not sufficient to deliver enterprise-specific decisioning and actioning. Our platform addresses this gap by making it straightforward for companies to build sophisticated, enterprise-scale and expert-level GenAI applications that encode their domain expertise. Our proprietary technology does the heavy lifting through autonomous decisions and actions, automated data intelligence, improved precision and relevance with industry knowledge encoded into Articul8’s library of domain and task-specific models. We are purpose-built for regulated industries and meet the highest standards of compliance, data security, privacy and performance, including traceability and auditability at every step. We are trusted by leading global enterprises such as Franklin Templeton, Intel, Itochu Techno-Solutions Corporation, AWS, Intel and Accenture to transform their mission-critical work.

    Media Contact
    Kacie Thomas
    (559) 287-0325
    Kacie.Thomas@articul8.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Sixth Day with Escalating Military Action

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day, with sustained missile strikes, air raids, and cyber warfare raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. Diplomatic channels remain frozen as hostilities intensify across multiple fronts.
     
    On Wednesday morning, the Israeli military reported intercepting three drones launched from Iranian territory, triggering air raid sirens in the Golan Heights. No casualties or material damage were reported.
     
    Overnight, Iran launched a fresh barrage of ballistic and hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles targeting Israel. Explosions were reported over Tel Aviv, with sirens sounding across northern Israel. In retaliation, Israeli forces conducted a series of high-intensity airstrikes on military installations in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj. The targets reportedly included facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a university campus believed to be housing sensitive research.
     
    The conflict has also expanded into cyberspace. Iranian banking systems reportedly experienced widespread disruptions, attributed to cyberattacks believed to originate from Israel or its allies. Satellite imagery released by intelligence sources indicates substantial damage to Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure following five days of sustained Israeli bombardment.
     
    Iran has framed its strikes as retaliation for what it calls acts of terrorism by the ‘Zionist regime’. Israel issued evacuation warnings to residents of Tehran’s District 18, ahead of targeted strikes. Israeli officials claim they now have, ‘very good control over the skies of Tehran’.
     
    Former U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in, calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and warning that “American patience is wearing thin.” While stopping short of announcing direct military action, Trump confirmed phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and proposed sending Vice President JD Vance, along with a special envoy, for exploratory talks with Iran. Global financial markets have responded nervously, with U.S. stock indices falling amid fears of wider regional escalation. Regional airspace remains restricted, disrupting commercial aviation and heightening security alerts across much of West Asia.
     

  • Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Sixth Day with Escalating Military Action

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day, with sustained missile strikes, air raids, and cyber warfare raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. Diplomatic channels remain frozen as hostilities intensify across multiple fronts.
     
    On Wednesday morning, the Israeli military reported intercepting three drones launched from Iranian territory, triggering air raid sirens in the Golan Heights. No casualties or material damage were reported.
     
    Overnight, Iran launched a fresh barrage of ballistic and hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles targeting Israel. Explosions were reported over Tel Aviv, with sirens sounding across northern Israel. In retaliation, Israeli forces conducted a series of high-intensity airstrikes on military installations in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj. The targets reportedly included facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a university campus believed to be housing sensitive research.
     
    The conflict has also expanded into cyberspace. Iranian banking systems reportedly experienced widespread disruptions, attributed to cyberattacks believed to originate from Israel or its allies. Satellite imagery released by intelligence sources indicates substantial damage to Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure following five days of sustained Israeli bombardment.
     
    Iran has framed its strikes as retaliation for what it calls acts of terrorism by the ‘Zionist regime’. Israel issued evacuation warnings to residents of Tehran’s District 18, ahead of targeted strikes. Israeli officials claim they now have, ‘very good control over the skies of Tehran’.
     
    Former U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in, calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and warning that “American patience is wearing thin.” While stopping short of announcing direct military action, Trump confirmed phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and proposed sending Vice President JD Vance, along with a special envoy, for exploratory talks with Iran. Global financial markets have responded nervously, with U.S. stock indices falling amid fears of wider regional escalation. Regional airspace remains restricted, disrupting commercial aviation and heightening security alerts across much of West Asia.
     

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mashatile arrives in Moscow to boost SA-Russia trade relations

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile has arrived in Moscow for a working visit aimed at strengthening economic and trade ties between South Africa and Russia. 

    The Deputy President was received at the airport by the Deputy Head of State Protocol, Andrei Milyaev, the Deputy Director of the African Department, Andrei Stolyarov, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes. 

    According to the Deputy President’s Office, the visit will focus on enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries in sectors such as agriculture, automotive, energy, and mining industries, as well as cooperation in science and technology. 

    “It will take place in two cities, namely Moscow and St. Petersburg, for high-level engagements as well as economic diplomacy activities,“ the Deputy President’s Office said in a statement. 

    In Moscow, Mashatile will meet with the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishutin, and lay a wreath at the memorial site dedicated to South Africa’s liberation stalwarts, John Beaver (JB) Marks and Moses Kotane. 

    Following this, he will participate in the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF2025). This year’s forum will be held from 19 – 21 June under the theme: “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World”.

    The Deputy President will participate in the plenary session of SPIEF2025 and has also received an invitation to speak at the Russia-Africa Business Dialogue.

    In addition, he is scheduled to deliver a public lecture at St. Petersburg State University on the topic: “South Africa’s G20 Presidency in a Rapidly Changing Geopolitical Environment”.

    He will also address attendees at the opening of the South African Trade and Investment Seminar.

    The St. Petersburg leg of the visit aims to enhance South Africa’s trade relationships and establish the country as a prime investment destination.

    According to the Deputy President’s Office, this trip is Mashatile’s first visit to Russia since he took office under the seventh administration. 

    He is accompanied by a delegation of Ministers and Deputy Ministers, who are part of the Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development Cabinet Cluster. 

    This includes the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande; Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina; Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau; Agriculture Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa; Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala; Mineral and Petroleum Resources Deputy Minister, Phumzile Mgcina, and Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister,  Peace Mabe. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text of Xi’s keynote speech at second China-Central Asia Summit 2025-06-18 15:11:20 Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech Tuesday at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The following is the full text of the speech:

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

    ASTANA, June 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech Tuesday at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

    The following is the full text of the speech:

    Championing the China-Central Asia Spirit For High-Quality Cooperation in the Region

    Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

    President of the People’s Republic of China

    At the Second China-Central Asia Summit

    Astana, June 17, 2025

    Your Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    I am delighted to join you at the second China-Central Asia Summit in the beautiful city of Astana. I’d like to thank President Tokayev and the government of Kazakhstan for the gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangement.

    During our meeting in Xi’an two years ago, we jointly outlined the Xi’an Vision for China-Central Asia cooperation. The six pomegranate trees we planted together are in full bloom today, auguring the vitality of the cooperation among the six nations.

    Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have further deepened and substantiated Belt and Road cooperation. Our trade has grown by 35 percent, and we have made important progress in industrial investment, green mining, technological innovation, and other fields of cooperation. The package of projects with Chinese financial support are well underway. While more and more Chinese new energy vehicles and photovoltaic products are entering Central Asian markets, Central Asian agricultural products, including honey, fruits, wheat and poultry, are diversifying the dinner tables of Chinese families.

    Two years on, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project has been officially launched. We are making steady progress in planning for the third railway link between China and Kazakhstan, in phase-II restoration of the China-Tajikistan highway, and in China-Turkmenistan energy cooperation. Freight train services are connecting more and more Chinese cities to Central Asia. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been upgraded and expanded. Green industries, digital economy, artificial intelligence, aviation and space are becoming new drivers of our cooperation. Cross-border e-commerce, online education, and other new business models are benefiting more and more people in China and Central Asia.

    Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have made progress in establishing cultural centers in each other as well as in opening branches of Chinese universities and Luban Workshops. China has made mutual visa-free arrangements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, facilitating more than 1.2 million travels between China and Kazakhstan alone in 2024. Tourism and culture years and art festivals of Central Asian countries are very popular in China. Chinese films and TV dramas, such as Min-Ning Town and To the Wonder, have become great hits in Central Asia. The China-Central Asia train services for cultural tourism have been successfully inaugurated. And today, we will witness the number of sister cities between China and Central Asia reach the milestone of 100 pairs.

    Two years on, we have launched 13 ministerial cooperation platforms under the China-Central Asia mechanism. The Secretariat is fully functioning, and the core framework of the mechanism is largely in place.

    I am pleased to see that our consensus at the first Summit has been implemented across the board — from the millennium-old Xi’an to Astana “the pearl of the steppe,” from the coast of the Yellow Sea to the shores of the Caspian Sea, from the Tianshan Mountain Range to the Pamir Plateau. The path of our cooperation is steadily widening, and our friendship is blooming ever more brightly.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Our cooperation is rooted in more than 2,000 years of friendly exchanges, cemented by solidarity and mutual trust cultivated through more than three decades of diplomatic ties, and taken forward via openness and win-win cooperation of the new era. Building on our collective efforts over the years, we have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development.”

    — We practice mutual respect and treat each other as equals. All countries, big or small, are equal. We handle issues through consultation and make decisions by consensus.

    — We seek to deepen mutual trust and enhance mutual support. We firmly support each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity. We do not do anything harmful to the core interests of any party.

    — We pursue mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and strive for common development. We view each other as priority partners, and share development opportunities together. We accommodate each other’s interests, and work to build a win-win and symbiotic relationship.

    — We help each other in time of need and stand together through thick and thin. We support each other in choosing development paths suitable to our respective national conditions and in taking domestic matters into our own hands. We work together to address various risks and challenges, and uphold regional security and stability.

    This China-Central Asia Spirit is an important guideline for our endeavor to carry forward friendship and cooperation from generation to generation. We should always uphold it and let it shine forever.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace across the globe, thrusting the world into a new state of heightened turbulence and volatility. A strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only way to maintain world peace and achieve common development. There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others.

    I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Three years ago, we announced together that we would build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, setting out the goal and direction of our six nations in building consensus, overcoming challenges and pursuing development. We should act on the China-Central Asia Spirit, enhance cooperation with renewed vigor and more practical measures, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forge ahead toward our goal of a community with a shared future for the region.

    First, we should stay committed to our fundamental goal of unity, and always trust and support each other. China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. With a firm belief in an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood as well as a strong dedication to amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China interacts with Central Asian countries on the basis of equality and sincerity. We always wish our neighbors well.

    Today, we will sign together a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law. This is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors. It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow.

    Second, we should optimize our cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient, and more deeply integrated. We have agreed to designate 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. We should focus our cooperation on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges, and roll out more projects on the ground. We should do our best to get early harvests as soon as possible.

    China is ready to share with Central Asian countries development experience and latest technological advances, promote connectivity in digital infrastructure, enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence, and foster new quality productive forces.

    In order to promote relevant cooperation, China has decided to establish three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework. China will provide a grant of RMB 1.5 billion yuan to Central Asian countries this year to be used in livelihood and development projects high on their agenda. China will also provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries in the next two years.

    Third, we should develop a security framework for peace, tranquility and solidarity. We should step up regional security governance, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly prevent and thwart extreme ideologies, and resolutely fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, so as to maintain peace and stability in our region.

    China supports Central Asian countries in modernizing their national defense, law enforcement and security capacities. We will do our best to help Central Asian countries combat terrorism and transnational organized crime and safeguard cybersecurity and biosecurity. We will launch more Safe City projects, and conduct more joint exercises and joint training cooperation.

    Afghanistan is our close neighbor. We should strengthen coordination to help the country boost its development capacity and achieve peace, stability, reconstruction and development at an early date.

    Fourth, we should cement the bonds of shared vision, mutual understanding and mutual affection between our peoples. China will enhance cooperation between legislatures, political parties, women, youth, media and think tanks with Central Asian countries, conduct in-depth exchange of governance experience, and share experience in green development, poverty reduction and anti-corruption.

    China is ready to set up more cultural centers, university branches and Luban Workshops in Central Asia, and launch new majors in Central Asian languages in Chinese universities. We will continue to carry out effectively the “China-Central Asia technology and skills improvement scheme” to train more high-caliber talent for Central Asian countries.

    China supports deepening subnational cooperation with Central Asia. We will make good use of sister-city relations and people-to-people exchanges to nurture heart-to-heart connections at central and subnational levels, between official and non-governmental actors, and from adjacent to broader areas.

    I hope that the travel-facilitation measures we adopt today will be implemented as soon as possible to help our people visit each other more conveniently, efficiently and frequently like relatives, and in the course help them become ever closer to each other.

    Fifth, we should uphold a fair and equitable international order and an equal and orderly world structure. China supports Central Asian countries in playing a bigger role in international affairs. We stand ready to work with all parties to defend international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In the strenuous times of war, Chinese and Central Asian peoples supported each other through adversity, and jointly made important contributions to the cause of justice of humanity. We should promote the correct view of history, defend the fruits of the victory of World War II, uphold the UN-centered international system, and provide more stability and certainty for world peace and development.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    China is building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain unwavering in opening up to the outside world, and embrace higher-quality cooperation with Central Asian countries to deepen the integration of interests and achieve common development.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Ancient Chinese philosophy advocates “mutual care and mutual benefit.” Similarly, a Central Asian proverb compares harmony and unity to happiness and wealth. China is ready to work with all parties to carry forward the China-Central Asia Spirit, pursue the goal of a community with a shared future, and strive for new progress in China-Central Asia cooperation.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi leaves Astana after attending 2nd China-Central Asia Summit 2025-06-18 15:13:46 Chinese President Xi Jinping left Wednesday for Beijing after attending the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana.

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

      ASTANA, June 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping left Wednesday for Beijing after attending the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana.

      Upon Xi’s departure, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other senior officials saw him off at the airport.

      Kazakh Air Force fighter jets escorted Xi’s plane after it took off.

      On the way to the airport, representatives of Chinese enterprises and Chinese overseas students lined the streets, waving the national flags of China and Kazakhstan to warmly congratulate Xi on his successful attendance at the summit. 

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi leaves Astana after attending 2nd China-Central Asia Summit

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

    ASTANA, June 18 — Chinese President Xi Jinping left Wednesday for Beijing after attending the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana.

    Upon Xi’s departure, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other senior officials saw him off at the airport.

    Kazakh Air Force fighter jets escorted Xi’s plane after it took off.

    On the way to the airport, representatives of Chinese enterprises and Chinese overseas students lined the streets, waving the national flags of China and Kazakhstan to warmly congratulate Xi on his successful attendance at the summit.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa baggage collection and Check-in service now also available in the greater Cologne area

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa is further expanding its innovative baggage collection and check-in service for its passengers. In cooperation with its technology partner ‘Airportr’, Lufthansa already offers this convenient service to all travelers departing from Frankfurt. As of today, the service is also available to passengers traveling to Frankfurt Airport by train from the Cologne and Siegburg/Bonn areas. In addition, travelers with Discover Airlines can now also enjoy this innovation – both in the Frankfurt and Cologne areas.

    The idea is simple and convenient: passengers can have their suitcases and luggage collected from their home or hotel. The luggage is sealed, brought securely to the airport and checked in there. Travelers receive real-time updates via a personalized tracking link and a digital baggage tag receipt. Passengers can travel to the airport conveniently and without heavy luggage and go straight to the security checkpoint – they only collect their checked baggage at their destination.

    The convenient premium service saves time, is comfortable and makes travel easier, especially by public transport.

    Interested guests can book the offer via https://www.lufthansa.com/de/de/prepare-for-your-trip/baggage  up to 36 hours before departure. The service has been available to customers from the greater Frankfurt, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Hanau, Aschaffenburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt and Bensheim areas since February. With immediate effect, passengers at Lufthansa Express Rail locations in Cologne and Siegburg/Bonn can also take advantage of the service: the service region has been extended to include the greater Cologne, Bonn, Leverkusen, Hürth and Brühl areas. The baggage collection service is available from as little as 29 euros, with prices varying depending on location and collection time.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Hilton to Triple its Presence in Africa to More Than 160 Hotels

    • Hilton expects to open more than 100 hotels in the coming years in markets including Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Angola and Madagascar
    • Most recent hotel openings include Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof, Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston and DoubleTree by Hilton Addis Ababa Airport
    • Hilton to make its Ghana debut later this year with the opening of Hilton Accra Cantonments
    • Hilton is currently hiring for 600 new hospitality jobs in Africa and expects to create 18,000 new positions as it expands its portfolio.

    Coinciding with Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced plans to almost triple its presence in Africa to more than 160 hotels trading in the coming years. Across its portfolio of market-leading brands, Hilton expects to open more than 100 hotels on the continent, supporting Africa’s burgeoning hospitality sector and creating approximately 18,000 jobs for local people.

    Carlos Khneisser, chief development officer, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said, “We are thrilled to announce several new hotel agreements which significantly expand our footprint in Africa, a continent brimming with potential and opportunity. Our development strategy underscores our commitment to supporting Africa’s hospitality sector as we partner with owners to grow our footprint, deliver exceptional stays for our customers and create jobs for local people. Africa offers incredible opportunity, from thriving business hubs to vibrant cultures, wildlife, and natural landscapes. We are excited to unveil a host of new destinations building on Hilton’s legacy of hospitality across Africa for over 65 years.”  

    Hilton Debuts in Angola

    Hilton has made its Angolan debut with the signing of three properties – two in the capital city of Luanda under its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand and affordable and upscale Hilton Garden Inn brand, as well as one in Cabinda with a property under its award-winning DoubleTree by Hilton brand.

    Hilton Luanda Hotel Godinho

    Hilton has signed Hilton Luanda Hotel Godinho in partnership with Servicab S.A. The hotel is expected to open in 2027 and will feature 220 guest rooms and suites. Stretched along an 11,250-square-metre beachfront with unobstructed views of the ocean, the property will feature multiple dining options and over 1,000 square metres of event space.

    Hilton Garden Inn Luanda Airport

    Hilton has signed Hilton Garden Inn Luanda Airport in partnership with Crestigo. Set to open in 2028, Hilton Garden Inn Luanda Airport will feature 200 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant and terrace, flexible meeting rooms, a fitness centre, a pool, and a rooftop bar. The hotel’s proximity to Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport and corporate business hubs makes it an ideal choice for business travellers.

    DoubleTree by Hilton Cabinda Futila Residences

    Hilton has also signed an agreement with Prodoil S.A. to debut its DoubleTree by Hilton brand in Angola. The property is expected to open in 2026 and will provide 290 contemporary apartments, including studio rooms, two and three-bedroom suites, as well as 10 three-bedroom oceanfront villas. It will also feature a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a natural lake.

    Additional Hilton Market Debuts

    Hilton Cotonou

    In Benin, Hilton has signed an agreement to open Hilton Cotonou in partnership with the Republic of Benin, through the Société de Développement Hôtelier du Bénin (SDHB). This landmark project marks Hilton’s official entry into the Beninese market.

    Scheduled to open in 2028, Hilton Cotonou will be strategically located on the Boulevard de la Marina, next to the Congress Palace, key government offices, and several international embassies. The hotel will feature 233 contemporary guest rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, a signature destination bar and terrace, a pool bar, a spa, an outdoor pool, and flexible meeting spaces designed for both business and social events.

    The project is expected to generate several hundred direct and indirect jobs across hospitality and related sectors. It will also enhance Benin’s capacity to host international conferences and events, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become an African hub for business and high-end tourism.

    Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn Antananarivo 

    Hilton has signed agreements to open two properties in Madagascar, marking Hilton’s re-entry into the country. Located in the heart of Madagascar’s capital and expected to open in 2028, Hilton Antananarivo will feature 170 guest rooms, multiple dining options, a ballroom, six meeting rooms, a fitness centre, spa and outdoor pool. Further South, Hilton Garden Inn Antananarivo will be part of a mixed-use development with retail and office spaces, making it ideal for business and leisure travellers. Set to open in 2027, the 120-guest room hotel will offer a restaurant, bar, flexible meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and an outdoor pool.

    Hilton’s Nigeria Expansion

    The Wave Hotel Abuja Jabi, Curio Collection by Hilton

    Located in Jabi, one of the capital’s most popular districts, The Wave Hotel Abuja Jabi, Curio Collection by Hilton, will feature 93 stylishly appointed guest rooms, upscale dining venues, an outdoor pool, and a wellness centre. Developed in partnership with The Wave Hotel Limited (OpCo), the hotel is set to open in 2026 and benefits from being a short 10-minute drive from Abuja’s Commercial Business District. Each hotel in Curio Collection is hand-picked to immerse guests in one-of-a-kind moments in the world’s most sought-after destinations, evoking a bespoke story through distinctive architecture and design, world-class food and beverage, and curated experiences. 

    Hilton Lagos Ikeja

    Hilton has signed Hilton Lagos Ikeja in partnership with Cornfield Group. Located in Ikeja’s government and residential hub, the hotel is strategically situated near corporate and governmental offices and in proximity to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Slated to open in 2029, the hotel will feature 200 modern guest rooms and suites – and offers elevated dining options such as an all-day dining restaurant, a signature restaurant, a lobby bar, a pool bar & grill, and a destination bar. The hotel will also include a spacious ballroom, four meeting rooms, and a fully equipped fitness centre.

    Hilton Garden Inn in Kano

    Marking Kano’s first internationally branded hotel, Hilton Garden Inn in Kano is being developed in partnership with Akhim Plus Limited. The hotel will offer 100 guest rooms, flexible meeting rooms, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre. Expected to open in 2029, the hotel’s location near key sites including the Government House, Emir’s Palace, National Museum, Kano Race Course, Kano Golf Club, and Meena Event Centre makes it an ideal choice for business and leisure travellers alike.

    West Africa and East Africa

    Hampton by Hilton Accra Airport

    Hilton has signed Hampton by Hilton Accra Airport with Amani International Hospitality Limited – bringing Hampton by Hilton’s award-winning hospitality to Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport. Opening in 2026, Hampton by Hilton Accra Airport will include 170 guest rooms, a fully equipped fitness centre, an outdoor pool, and meeting spaces. The hotel will also offer a dynamic open-concept social space and a round-the-clock snacks shop. It will be a part of Airport Area Accra, a mixed-use development featuring malls and corporate offices.

    In Ethiopia, Hilton recently announced agreements with Brighton Hotels and Business Plc. to open two properties – DoubleTree by Hilton Adama and DoubleTree by Hilton Dire Dawa (http://apo-opa.co/4lbtHv2) – marking the first internationally branded hotels in the cities. Opening in 2028, these hotels further reaffirm Hilton’s commitment to expanding its presence in Ethiopia, with plans to reach eight trading properties across the country in the coming years.

    Hilton has also announced its Tanzanian re-entry with the signing of Canopy by Hilton Zanzibar The Burj (http://apo-opa.co/3ST8aeB), in partnership with CPS Live Limited. Expected to open in 2027, the lifestyle hotel will feature 162 inviting and sophisticated guest rooms and suites, elevated dining spaces, and a wide array of facilities. Located in the heart of Fumba Town and part of a mixed-use development, ‘BURJ Zanzibar,’ the property will offer unique experiences tailored to guests seeking authentic local experiences.

    North Africa

    Hilton continues to grow across North Africa, with plans to triple its portfolio in Egypt (http://apo-opa.co/4l58VNw) to more than 40 trading hotels across the country in the coming years. In Morocco, Hilton is set to more than double its portfolio (http://apo-opa.co/3G2a75u), with plans to bolster its luxury presence and introduce new brands. Hilton also recently signed a new DoubleTree by Hilton property in Fes, an ancient city whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    DoubleTree by Hilton Fes Golf

    In partnership with Le Clos de l’Atlas, Hilton is set to open DoubleTree by Hilton Fes Golf in 2028. The 109-guest room property will be located next to a golf course and will offer easy access to Fes’s many cultural attractions. The hotel will also be in close proximity to Fes’s industrial quarter and an upcoming convention centre, making it ideal for business travellers as well.

    Recent & Upcoming Openings

    In South Africa, Hilton recently opened Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof (http://apo-opa.co/4l4zrXe) in partnership with Growthpoint Properties, marking the lifestyle brand’s debut in South Africa. Located in the vibrant Longkloof precinct, the hotel features 154 spacious and modern guest rooms. Each hotel room reflects the country’s cultural richness through bold local art and design and colourful prints throughout its interiors. Ideally situated in Cape Town’s City Bowl, the property offers easy access to Table Mountain, Camps Bay, and the V&A Waterfront. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ongetem, led by renowned chef Bertus Basson, celebrating South African culinary heritage with bold, contemporary flair.

    Hilton also recently opened DoubleTree by Hilton Addis Ababa Airport (http://apo-opa.co/44lFtgD) in Ethiopia. Located just minutes from Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, the property offers a complimentary airport shuttle, a rooftop restaurant, and proximity to the various events at Millenium Hall. Last year, Hilton opened the first Hampton by Hilton in Africa in South Africa with Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston (http://apo-opa.co/4lfuafR), bringing the brand’s friendly and authentic service to Johannesburg’s financial and shopping district.

    Later this year, Hilton expects to open its first hotel in Ghana with Hilton Accra Cantonments in partnership with High Street Development Company. Located in Cantonments, an upscale suburb which is home to multiple embassies and high commissions, the hotel will feature 145 guest rooms and a range of dining options including an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge and pool bar. The hotel will offer a gym, spa, and outdoor swimming pool, as well as more than 900 square metres of event space including a ballroom, seven meeting rooms and an executive boardroom.

    Hilton currently operates 63 hotels in Africa, with more than 100 under development. All hotels will be part of Hilton Honors, Hilton’s award-winning loyalty programme with over 218 million members globally. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Bench.

    Contact:
    Maya Chacko
    Hilton
    maya.chacko@hilton.com

    Connect with Hilton on: 
    Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/4lhOgGl
    X: http://apo-opa.co/40b5fSe
    LinkedIn: http://apo-opa.co/4lbh2Ij
    Instagram: http://apo-opa.co/40bQpeh  
    YouTube: http://apo-opa.co/3Ti1Uxf

    About Hilton:
    Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio (http://apo-opa.co/3G4U0nJ) of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,600 properties and nearly 1.3 million rooms, in 139 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 218 million Hilton Honors (http://apo-opa.co/3Ti1Q0t) members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app (http://apo-opa.co/4lf8yjz), guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit http://stories.Hilton.com for more information.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: China showcases its top aviation products at 55th Paris Air Show

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

    People visit the booth of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) during the 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 17, 2025.

    The 55th edition of the Paris Air Show officially opened on Monday and will run until June 22. China is showcasing some of its top aviation products at the exhibition. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   >  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Job fairs to be held on June 20

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Labour Department will hold two job fairs, where job seekers can submit applications and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews, this Friday.

    The Creating New Opportunities Job Fair, to be held at the Sau Mau Ping Community Hall in Kwun Tong will offer 700 job vacancies, including more than 500 in the catering, real estate and retail industries.

    Around 15 organisations are hiring for a wide variety of positions including branch manager, concierge officer, property officer, guest services agent, sales coordinator, artisan, taxi driver, cleaner, chef, security guard, baker, airport cargo cleaner, shop assistant, and technician.

    Around 92% of the vacancies are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $12,000 to $22,000. About 97% of the roles require a Secondary 7 education level or below, and around 72% are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.

    The other job fair due to be held on the same day is the Youth Recruitment Day at Southorn Stadium, Wan Chai. It targets young people aged 15 to 29 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below.

    A total of 27 organisations from various industries, including transport, airline services, public services, retail, catering and property management, will participate.

    The vacancies cover a wide variety of positions that do not require relevant work experience, including supervisor trainee, aircraft maintenance mechanic trainee, barista, cargo services officer, technical trainee, engineering technician and sales associate. 

    The event also features career talks on the prospects and characteristics of different industries. Artist Cheung Tin-fu and billiards player Ng On-yee have been invited to share their own career development stories.

    Priority admission will be given to eligible candidates under the Youth Employment & Training Programme.

    Various service providers will assist young people on site in selecting and enrolling in suitable training courses and provide career guidance and advice on resume preparation.

    Both events will be held from 11am to 5.30pm and admission is free.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Novian’s consolidated revenue increased 2.4% in 2024 to EUR 38.9 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Novian IT group’s consolidated revenue in 2024 amounted to EUR 38.9 million and grew 2.4% compared to 2023. The group’s EBITDA for the 12-month period was EUR 2.57 million and was 2.1 times the previous year’s figure. The operating profit for last year was EUR 1.5 million, or 14.3 times the amount in 2023.

    Novian last year earned most of its revenue – 59% – from activities related to IT solutions, with another 24% coming from software development and 17% from IT services. Its companies conducted operations in 37 countries, earning 77% of their revenue in Lithuania, 12% elsewhere in Europe, and 11% in other countries of the world.

    “We are pleased with last year’s results, which again show that the success of an IT business depends not just on experience and the application of relevant innovations but also work together with clients to create innovations. I am grateful to the team, which has contributed to this,” says Tomas Vitkus, the CEO of the Novian group.

    He says that, looking forward, the priority areas for Novian’s work include not only projects for national institutions and businesses, but also defence projects, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing solutions to address the challenges of climate change, and potential applications of quantum technologies.

    “In the context of the digital era, with Lithuania and Europe actively considering ways to strengthen their defences, advanced technological and programming solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and other innovations should be among the top priorities for the country and the region. We are confident that Novian’s experience and know-how can be useful, and we are ready to contribute to projects in this area,” Vitkus says.

    In the area of software services, the past year stood out not only for the creation of modern national-level information systems, but also for advanced defence, aviation and space projects carried out together with European partners.

    Novian has undertaken a wide range of defence projects since as far back as 2004. In 2024 alone, Novian took part in a total of seven defence projects funded by the European Commission. This year it is continuing four such projects: PEONEER (implementing Activity Based Intelligence to complement geo-spatial activities), SESIOP (enhancing the interoperability of military Air C2 systems and integrating Single European Sky rules), FIRES 2 (developing next generation ammunition), and ODINS’ EYE 2 (developing a European space-based missile early warning system).

    Another project currently underway is HIPSTER, which is developing an innovative software solution for effectively identifying, analysing and resolving hybrid threats. Using advanced OSINT, SocMINT, NLP, and AI technologies, HIPSTER will automatically detect threats and deploy countermeasures to prevent potential damage. The project is linked to EU initiatives.

    “In the area of IT solutions and services, last year stood out for new public sector cloud computing architecture and procurement consulting projects in African countries. We also expanded our business client portfolio by offering IT infrastructure services and introduced high-performance computing solutions for weather forecasting and climate change modelling,” notes Gytis Umantas, the CEO of Novian Technologies. He says the company has played an active role too in creating a quantum technology ecosystem in Lithuania. Early this year, guidelines for the development of quantum technologies in Lithuania were presented, setting out the priorities and opportunities in that field.

    Also noteworthy with regard to innovations is Novian’s membership of a consortium for implementing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) International Science and Technology Initiatives Programme (MISTI) in Lithuania. The consortium signed a cooperation agreement with MIT in early 2025. In the course of this project, Novian aims to expand the uses of AI-related innovations, to create technologies for increasing public safety and resilience and for using high-performance computing to combat climate change, and to develop quantum technologies.

    According to an independent valuation carried out by the financial consultancy Deloitte Verslo Konsultacijos, the fair value of the Novian group at the end of 2024 was almost EUR 22 million and was 11.7% higher than at the end of 2023. This figure reflects not only the financial performance of the group’s companies, but also the estimated one-off impact that could arise if there is an adverse court decision regarding the contract for a project undertaken by the group company Novian Systems to provide modernisation services for the Central Public Procurement Information System.

    The Novian group consists of Novian Technologies, Novian Systems and Novian Pro in Lithuania, Novian Eesti of Estonia, Andmevara of Moldova, Zissor of Norway, and Novian Rwanda of Rwanda. The Novian group’s results for 2024 are based on the audited results of Novian Technologies, Novian Systems, Novian Pro, and Zissor, and the unaudited results of the group’s other companies. The Novian group is owned by INVL Technology, a company that invests in IT businesses.

    The person authorized to provide additional information:
    Kazimieras Tonkūnas
    INVL Technology Managing Partner
    E-mail k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Business aviation leader Luxaviation and Haffner Energy join forces to accelerate SAF production and promotion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Business aviation leader Luxaviation and Haffner Energy join forces to accelerate SAF production and promotion

    Luxaviation signals interest in active role in SAF-dedicated entity SAF Zero

    Vitry-le-François, France / Luxembourg (June 18, 2025, 8:00 am CEST) – 

    SAF Zero, a Haffner Energy initiative, is gaining momentum: Luxaviation Group, a leading global operator in the business aviation sector, is exploring an active role in the new entity, both companies announced today at the International Paris Air Show. Luxaviation potential involvement could take the form of cash funding to finance initial development activities, support in the strategic definition and global visibility as well as offtake agreements in relevant SAF Zero projects such as Paris-Vatry SAF. 
    SAF Zero is dedicated to fast-tracking the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by establishing an investment and project development platform that brings key stakeholders together. Combining Haffner Energy’s proprietary technologies and Luxaviation’s experience and strategic positioning in the aviation sector, SAF Zero is to finance and develop industrial SAF production projects. Operating under an exclusive license, SAF Zero will supply Haffner Energy’s technologies to third parties under license agreements, designing, delivering and potentially operating key equipment based on these technologies. 
    “We are thrilled to collaborate with Luxaviation, a powerful partner working alongside us to position SAF Zero as a cornerstone of Europe’s clean aviation strategy ,” said Philippe Haffner, co-founder and CEO of Haffner Energy.
    France-based Haffner Energy relies on its 32-year experience to design, manufacture, supply, license, and operate proprietary disruptive clean fuels solutions, including critical technologies for pathway-agnostic SAF production, using all types of residual biomass and municipal waste. The company has already announced the development of a number of SAF projects, notably Paris-Vatry SAF in France, where full scale production is expected to be reached by 2030 when the next stage of the European SAF mandate kicks in.  
    As a founding partner of SAF Zero, Haffner Energy will provide engineering support and supply of critical equipment as needed for the projects developed by SAF Zero.
    “At Luxaviation, we believe that the future of aviation must be sustainable, and that requires bold partnerships and innovative solutions. Our collaboration with Haffner Energy and our interest in SAF Zero reflect our commitment to accelerating the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and driving meaningful change across the industry. By combining our operational expertise with Haffner Energy’s cutting-edge technology, we are taking a decisive step toward a cleaner, more responsible future for aviation,” said Patrick Hansen, CEO of Luxaviation Group. 
    Luxaviation operates one of the largest fleets of private aircraft worldwide. It is actively committed to the decarbonization of aviation through a three-pronged strategy: improving fuel efficiency; reducing emissions by actively increasing SAF use and electrification of ground operations; buying offsets for remaining GHG emissions. Since 2021, Luxaviation’s annual sustainability report tracks progress against targets. In 2023, Luxaviation launched “Go-to-Zero” Investment Fund to foster SAF production. 
    Both Luxaviation and Haffner Energy are members of Project SkyPower, an international CEO-led initiative dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of SAF. 

    About Haffner Energy
    Haffner Energy designs, manufactures, supplies, and operates biofuel and hydrogen solutions using biomass residues. Its innovative, patented thermolysis technology produces Sustainable Aviation Fuel, as well as renewable gas, hydrogen, and methanol. The company also contributes to regenerating the planet through the co-production of biogenic CO2 and biochar. A company co-founded 32 years ago by Marc and Philippe Haffner, Haffner Energy has been working from the outset to decarbonize industry and all forms of mobility, as well as governments and local communities. More information is available at www.haffner-energy.com.

    About Luxaviation Group
    Headquartered in Luxembourg, Luxaviation Group comprises top-of-the line aviation brands, including Luxaviation, Starspeed, ExecuJet and Paragon, operating across five continents. Services include aircraft management for private and commercial aircraft, private air charter services, and the management and operation of VIP passenger terminals throughout an FBO network of over 110+ facilities worldwide. Luxaviation Group is actively committed to the decarbonization of aviation by supporting the development of sustainable fuels and green infrastructure. More information is available at www.luxaviation.com.

    Media relations
    Haffner Energy
    Laetitia Mailhes
    laetitia.mailhes@haffner-energy.com
    +33 (0)6 07 12 96 76

    Luxaviation Group
    Juliane Thiessen
    Juliane.thiessen@luxaviation.com
    +41 76 356 8251

    Investor relations
    Haffner Energy
    investisseurs@haffner-energy.com 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • Trump calls for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ as Israel-Iran air war enters sixth day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered a sixth day despite a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for Tehran’s unconditional surrender.

    The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv.

    Israel told residents in a southwestern area of Tehran to evacuate so its air force could strike Iranian military installations. Iranian news websites said Israel was attacking a university linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the east of the capital.

    Iranian news websites said Israel was also attacking a university linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the country’s east, and the Khojir ballistic missile facility near Tehran, which was also targeted by Israeli airstrikes last October.

    The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence says Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the Middle East. Iran has said its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the U.S., Israel and other potential regional targets.

    Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that U.S. patience was wearing thin. While he said there was no intention to kill Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “for now,” his comments suggested a more aggressive stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen U.S. involvement.

    “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now … Our patience is wearing thin.”

    Three minutes later Trump posted, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

    Trump’s sometimes contradictory and cryptic messaging about the conflict between close U.S. ally Israel and longtime foe Iran has deepened the uncertainty surrounding the crisis. His public comments have ranged from military threats to diplomatic overtures, not uncommon for a president known for an often erratic approach to foreign policy.

    A source familiar with internal discussions said Trump and his team are considering a number of options, including joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

    A White House official said Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday.

    Trump also met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. Details were not immediately available.

    The U.S. is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three U.S. officials told Reuters. The U.S. has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel.

    A source with access to U.S. intelligence reports said Iran has moved some ballistic missile launchers, but it is difficult to determine if they were targeting U.S. forces or Israel.

    However, Britain’s leader Keir Starmer, speaking at the Group of Seven nations summit in Canada that Trump left early, said there was no indication the U.S. was about to enter the conflict.

    REGIONAL INFLUENCE WEAKENS

    Khamenei’s main military and security advisers have been killed by Israeli strikes, hollowing out his inner circle and raising the risk of strategic errors, according to five people familiar with his decision-making process.

    With Iranian leaders suffering their most dangerous security breach since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country’s cybersecurity command banned officials from using communications devices and mobile phones, Fars news agency reported.

    Israel launched a “massive cyber war” against Iran’s digital infrastructure, Iranian media reported.

    Ever since Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and triggered the Gaza war, Khamenei’s regional influence has waned as Israel has pounded Iran’s proxies – from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq. Iran’s close ally, Syria’s autocratic president Bashar al-Assad, has been ousted.

    Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

    Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.

    Netanyahu has stressed that he will not back down until Iran’s nuclear development is disabled, while Trump says the Israeli assault could end if Iran agrees to strict curbs on enrichment.

    Before Israel’s attack began, the 35-nation board of governors of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

    The IAEA said on Tuesday an Israeli strike directly hit the underground enrichment halls at the Natanz facility.

    Israel says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days.

    But Israel will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites like Fordow, which is dug beneath a mountain, without the U.S. joining the attack.

    Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Residents of both countries have been evacuated or fled.

    Global oil markets are on high alert following strikes on sites including the world’s biggest gas field, South Pars, shared by Iran and Qatar.

    (Reuters)

  • Many flights to Indonesia’s Bali cancelled after volcano eruption

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several flights to the Indonesian resort island of Bali were cancelled or delayed and the airport in Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara province was closed due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, officials said on Wednesday.

    Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, which is in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Tuesday, spewing ash 11 km (6.84 miles) high, forcing the country’s volcanology agency to raise the alert level to the highest.

    It erupted again on Wednesday morning, belching a 1 km (0.62 mile) high ash cloud, the agency said in a statement.

    Several international flights from India, Singapore and Australia to Bali were cancelled due to the eruption, the Bali international airport website showed.

    Singapore AirlinesSIAL.SI cancelled four flights between Bali’s Denpasar airport and Singapore, and its budget subsidiary Scoot cancelled flights to Bali and the neighbouring island Lombok, the airlines said.

    Qantas’ QAN.AX low-cost carrier JetStar cancelled several morning flights to Bali from Australia and expects afternoon flights to be delayed.

    “Forecasts show the ash cloud is expected to clear by later tonight,” JetStar said in a midday travel bulletin.

    The government closed the Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport in Maumere from Wednesday until Thursday “to ensure the safety of the passengers,” said the airport operator AirNav in its Instagram post.

    The eruption also forced local authorities to evacuate dozens of residents living in two villages near the volcano, Avi Hallan, an official at the local disaster mitigation agency told Reuters.

    “Streets in the two villages were filled with thick ash, gravel, and sand,” she said, adding no casualties were reported.

    The volcano last erupted in May.

    Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.

    (Reuters)

  • DGCA reviews operations of Air India and Air India Express

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday held a high-level review meeting with senior officials of Air India and Air India Express to assess the operational health and regulatory compliance of both airlines, which collectively operate over 1,000 flights daily.

    The review focused on maintenance-related delays, recent airspace restrictions, and passenger facilitation practices. DGCA flagged concerns over delays linked to engineering and ground handling issues at Air India, urging the airline to improve internal coordination and ensure the availability of spare parts.

    The impact of airspace closures, particularly over Iran, was also discussed. Airlines were advised to communicate proactively with passengers and adopt alternate routing strategies to minimize disruption.

    Officials emphasized adherence to Civil Aviation Requirements regarding timely passenger information in the event of delays or cancellations. DGCA underscored the importance of real-time communication and facilitation through all available channels.

    Regarding safety, the regulator reported that recent surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet showed no major safety issues, with maintenance practices found to be compliant. Out of the airline’s 33 B787-8/9 aircraft, 24 have completed an “Enhanced Safety Inspection” as of June 17, while the remaining aircraft are either undergoing maintenance or scheduled for checks.

    DGCA also called for a more robust and real-time defect reporting system to enhance operational coordination and reduce disruptions.

    Reaffirming its commitment to safety and reliability, DGCA stated it will continue to closely monitor the performance of all scheduled airlines.

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Aviation – Lufthansa honored with World Airline Awards 2025

    Source: Lufthansa

    • Most family-friendly airline and best First Class lounge worldwide
    • Austrian Airlines and Eurowings also receive Awards

    Frankfurt 17 June 2025 – Lufthansa is the world’s most family-friendly airline. This prize from the World Airline Awards 2025 was presented today by the market research institute Skytrax at the Paris Air Show. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt was also named the world’s best First Class Lounge. Austrian Airlines and Eurowings also received one of the coveted prizes – the award for “Best Airline Staff in Europe” went to Austrian Airlines in Vienna and Eurowings was named “Best Low Cost Airline in Europe”. Skytrax, a market research institute specializing in aviation, had previously surveyed 22.3 million passengers from well over 100 countries worldwide.

    “Lufthansa attaches great importance to ensuring that all guests on board feel comfortable with us – from Economy to First Class. I am therefore particularly pleased that we have received the award for the world’s most family-friendly airline and at the same time for the best First Class lounge,” says Heiko Reitz, Chief Customer Officer Lufthansa Airlines. “Above all, Lufthansa’s unsurpassed hospitality is also premium. In particular, our colleagues in the cabin, cockpit and on the ground can be very proud today. They are the ones who fulfill our promise of quality day after day.”

    Traveling with children  

    Lufthansa attaches great importance to ensuring that its youngest guests also feel comfortable on board. The airline therefore offers specially created kids’ menus prepared by the chefs at Gate Gourmet. The menus belong to the “Special Meals” category and can be pre-ordered by passengers free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. The offer applies to all classes on long-haul flights and to Business Class on short-haul flights.

    The trays are lovingly designed with colorful illustrations of the Lufthansa mascots “Lu” and “Cosmo” and the menu card invites young passengers to puzzle and color while they playfully learn how an airplane flies.

    Lufthansa has also introduced a new range of children’s toys on board. From cloud-shaped cuddly blankets for toddlers to puzzles and the game “City, Country, Flight”, there is something for every taste and every age. There is also a portfolio of coloring pages featuring Lu and Cosmo, which can be accessed via the Lufthansa eJournals homepage. Young passengers will also find magazines for children and teenagers in various languages. The in-flight entertainment program for children includes a large selection of films, series, music, audio books and podcasts. Children can also look forward to special amenity kits and, from summer 2025, new year-round “Best Friend” children’s boarding passes.

    Travel in Lufthansa First Class

    The separate First Class terminal in Frankfurt with limousine transfer directly to the aircraft and personal assistant, which has been named the best First Class lounge in the world, is emblematic of Lufthansa’s premium offering.

    Since the beginning of the year, traveling in Lufthansa’s top class has become even more exclusive. The new Lufthansa Allegris First Class on long-haul aircraft can be experienced in the summer timetable on flights from Munich to San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Shanghai and Bengaluru and sets new standards with two individual suites and the extraordinary Suite Plus: guests can heat or cool their almost one meter wide seats in the individual suites according to their personal needs. The separate cabins with ceiling-high walls and lockable door, large table and wide seat, a living room-sized screen and wireless “over-ear” headphones define a new standard in comfort and individuality. Generous storage space is provided by a personal wardrobe in the suite, so that travelers can change comfortably and have all their personal items to hand. Individual lamps allow travelers to create their very own feel-good atmosphere.

    The Suite Plus double cabin, the only one of its kind in the world, creates a special travel experience with two wide seats that can be combined to form a comfortable double bed if required. The flying private room impresses with maximum comfort and individuality. The Suite Plus offers maximum exclusivity for the single passenger and the unique opportunity to use the double cabin as a couple.

    The new First Class is part of a major Lufthansa premium offensive. Among other things, First Class guests can also look forward to renovated First Class check-in areas in Frankfurt (from late summer) and Munich as well as the newly designed First Class Lounge at Munich Airport.

    Skytrax

    The survey was conducted by the market research institute Skytrax. It evaluated the airlines’ in-flight offers and services at the airports. Skytrax has been conducting the annual passenger survey since 1999. All detailed results of the World Airlines Awards can be found at www.worldairlineawards.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 108 thousand young Muscovites attended educational days at the museum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Last academic year, over 108 thousand schoolchildren took part in the project “School Day at the Museum”. Young Muscovites attended over 4.2 thousand educational classes. This was reported by the press service of the capital’s Department of Education and Science.

    “The “School Day at the Museum” project allows students in grades 1-11 to attend educational lessons at cultural institutions, where they study school subjects and complete various assignments. This format helps to better absorb the material and practice research skills. The project unites more than 40 different sites in city, federal, departmental and private museums. Among the most popular in the past academic year were the Cosmonautics Museum, the Moscow Zoo, the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, the State Sports Museum and the State Museum of the Defense of Moscow,” the department’s press service reported.

    More than 250 interactive lessons in all subjects have been developed for students in grades 1–11. More than 110 of them can be used online. For example, in a math lesson at the Cosmonautics Museum, fourth-graders learn how Yuri Gagarin landed, down to the mileage and time. They determine at what altitude and for how long the cosmonauts can find themselves in zero gravity on board the laboratory aircraft. Young researchers also analyze infographics from the Soyuz-Apollo program to build a chronology of the crews’ flights. And in a chemistry lesson at the State Sports Museum, eighth-ninth-graders study the properties of metals and alloys from which sports awards from different years are made.

    Each school day has three to five lessons taught by school subject teachers. They use materials developed by museum staff and specialists from the Institute for the Development of Specialized Education at the Moscow City Pedagogical University.

    Elizaveta Illarionova, a sixth-grader at School No. 2087 Otkrytie, said that this year she attended study days at the Timiryazev State Biological Museum and the Cosmonautics Museum. She liked the biological museum the most because she loves biology and wants to become an anesthesiologist in the future. Elizaveta noted that there was a large exposition with plants and animals, and they also carried out interesting tasks. The children compared the characteristics of various fungi and bacteria, looked for answers to questions in the halls, redrew tree bark and found out what it was needed for. According to the schoolgirl, it was as dark as space in the Cosmonautics Museum. She remembered the models of asteroids and rockets, as well as the story of the launch of the first artificial satellite and animal flights.

    New sites regularly join the project. This year, its participants included the Borodino Battle Panorama Museum, the State Archives of the Russian Federation, the Alfred Mirek Museum of Russian Accordion, and the Radio and Television Museum of the Interactive Polytechnic Museum Dedushkin Attic.

    “The “School Day at the Museum” project allows schoolchildren to leave the formal environment for an informal one, learn to work in a team and expand their horizons with the help of the educational opportunities of Moscow museums. Every year, new sites join the project, which are able to give children an interesting experience in studying school subjects. This format allows for the best use of the museum exposition opportunities to achieve subject results, familiarize themselves with the rich history and culture of our country, and effectively use the socio-cultural space of the capital in the educational activities of schoolchildren,” the press service noted.

    Department of Culture of the City of Moscow.

    The project “Educational Day at the Museum” was launched in 2017. It was developed by the capital’s Department of Education and Science AndDepartment of CultureThe operator on behalf of the Department of Education and Science was the Institute for the Development of Specialized Education Moscow City Pedagogical University, and from the Department of Culture – Moscow Directorate for the Development of Cultural Centers (Mosrazvitie).

    Any school in the city can join the project. To do this, the teacher needs to fill out an electronic application atproject websiteThe materials necessary for conducting classes are also located here.

    A conscious choice of a professional trajectory, as well as providing conditions for satisfying the creative interests and abilities of schoolchildren are the key tasks of the “Professionalism” and “All the Best for Children” projects of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155379073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LD to hold Youth Recruitment Day

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LD to hold Youth Recruitment Day 
    The recruitment event will be held at Southorn Stadium, Wan Chai. A total of 27 organisations from various industries, including transport, airline services, public services, retail, catering and property management, will participate in the recruitment event, offering full-time and part-time on-the-job training vacancies for young people.
     
    The job vacancies cover a wide variety of positions that do not require relevant work experience, such as supervisor trainee, aircraft maintenance mechanic trainee, barista, cargo services officer, technical trainee, engineering technician and sales associate. Job seekers aged 15 to 29 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below are welcome to submit applications on the spot and may be invited for on-site interviews.
     
    The recruitment event also features career talks on the prospects and characteristics of different industries. Artist Cheung Tin-fu and billiard athlete Ng On-yee have been invited to join the event to share their stories of pursuing career development, encouraging young people to pursue their career goals with perseverance and determination. The session will be conducted in Cantonese. Priority admission will be given to the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) service targets due to limited seats.
     
    Eligible young people can enrol in the YETP on the spot. Various service providers will assist them in selecting and enrolling in suitable training courses and provide advice on resume preparation and career consultation.
     
    The recruitment event will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at Southorn Stadium, 111 Johnston Road, Wan Chai (near Wan Chai MTR Station Exit A3). Admission is free. The last admission time is 5pm. For details, please visit the YETP website at www.yes.labour.gov.hkIssued at HKT 11:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Over 700 quality job vacancies to be offered at Creating New Opportunities Job Fair

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Creating New Opportunities Job Fair at the Sau Mau Ping Community Hall in Kwun Tong on June 20, providing a large number of vacancies from various industries for job seekers.

         The job fair is co-organised by the LD and the Office of Legislative Council Member Mr Ngan Man-yu of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. About 15 organisations will participate in the job fair, offering over 700 quality job vacancies from various industries, among which more than 500 are from the catering, real estate and retail industries. Around 15 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot. A wide variety of positions will be offered, including branch manager/manageress, concierge officer, property officer, guest services agent, sales coordinator, artisan, taxi driver, cleaner, chef, security guard, baker, airport cargo cleaner, shop assistant, technician, etc. Job seekers can visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details on the vacancies.

         Around 92 per cent of the vacancies offered at the job fair are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $12,000 to $22,000. About 97 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Seven education level or below. Around 72 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.

         Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries about the employment services provided by the LD at its counter inside the venue.

         The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at the Sau Mau Ping Community Hall, 100 Sau Ming Road, Sau Mau Ping Estate, Kwun Tong (near Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre). Admission is free, with the final admission time at 5pm.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Red Flag-Alaska 25-2 begins, enhancing Indo-Pacific readiness

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Red Flag-Alaska 25-2 commenced June 12, bringing together approximately 1,500 participants and more than 70 aircraft from across the United States and allied nations for two weeks of multi-service, multi-platform, coordinated exercises.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Red Flag-Alaska 25-2 begins, enhancing Indo-Pacific readiness

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Red Flag-Alaska 25-2 commenced June 12, bringing together approximately 1,500 participants and more than 70 aircraft from across the United States and allied nations for two weeks of multi-service, multi-platform, coordinated exercises.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text of Xi’s keynote speech at second China-Central Asia Summit

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

    ASTANA, June 18 — Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech Tuesday at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

    The following is the full text of the speech:

    Championing the China-Central Asia Spirit For High-Quality Cooperation in the Region

    Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

    President of the People’s Republic of China

    At the Second China-Central Asia Summit

    Astana, June 17, 2025

    Your Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    I am delighted to join you at the second China-Central Asia Summit in the beautiful city of Astana. I’d like to thank President Tokayev and the government of Kazakhstan for the gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangement.

    During our meeting in Xi’an two years ago, we jointly outlined the Xi’an Vision for China-Central Asia cooperation. The six pomegranate trees we planted together are in full bloom today, auguring the vitality of the cooperation among the six nations.

    Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have further deepened and substantiated Belt and Road cooperation. Our trade has grown by 35 percent, and we have made important progress in industrial investment, green mining, technological innovation, and other fields of cooperation. The package of projects with Chinese financial support are well underway. While more and more Chinese new energy vehicles and photovoltaic products are entering Central Asian markets, Central Asian agricultural products, including honey, fruits, wheat and poultry, are diversifying the dinner tables of Chinese families.

    Two years on, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project has been officially launched. We are making steady progress in planning for the third railway link between China and Kazakhstan, in phase-II restoration of the China-Tajikistan highway, and in China-Turkmenistan energy cooperation. Freight train services are connecting more and more Chinese cities to Central Asia. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been upgraded and expanded. Green industries, digital economy, artificial intelligence, aviation and space are becoming new drivers of our cooperation. Cross-border e-commerce, online education, and other new business models are benefiting more and more people in China and Central Asia.

    Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have made progress in establishing cultural centers in each other as well as in opening branches of Chinese universities and Luban Workshops. China has made mutual visa-free arrangements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, facilitating more than 1.2 million travels between China and Kazakhstan alone in 2024. Tourism and culture years and art festivals of Central Asian countries are very popular in China. Chinese films and TV dramas, such as Min-Ning Town and To the Wonder, have become great hits in Central Asia. The China-Central Asia train services for cultural tourism have been successfully inaugurated. And today, we will witness the number of sister cities between China and Central Asia reach the milestone of 100 pairs.

    Two years on, we have launched 13 ministerial cooperation platforms under the China-Central Asia mechanism. The Secretariat is fully functioning, and the core framework of the mechanism is largely in place.

    I am pleased to see that our consensus at the first Summit has been implemented across the board — from the millennium-old Xi’an to Astana “the pearl of the steppe,” from the coast of the Yellow Sea to the shores of the Caspian Sea, from the Tianshan Mountain Range to the Pamir Plateau. The path of our cooperation is steadily widening, and our friendship is blooming ever more brightly.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Our cooperation is rooted in more than 2,000 years of friendly exchanges, cemented by solidarity and mutual trust cultivated through more than three decades of diplomatic ties, and taken forward via openness and win-win cooperation of the new era. Building on our collective efforts over the years, we have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development.”

    — We practice mutual respect and treat each other as equals. All countries, big or small, are equal. We handle issues through consultation and make decisions by consensus.

    — We seek to deepen mutual trust and enhance mutual support. We firmly support each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity. We do not do anything harmful to the core interests of any party.

    — We pursue mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and strive for common development. We view each other as priority partners, and share development opportunities together. We accommodate each other’s interests, and work to build a win-win and symbiotic relationship.

    — We help each other in time of need and stand together through thick and thin. We support each other in choosing development paths suitable to our respective national conditions and in taking domestic matters into our own hands. We work together to address various risks and challenges, and uphold regional security and stability.

    This China-Central Asia Spirit is an important guideline for our endeavor to carry forward friendship and cooperation from generation to generation. We should always uphold it and let it shine forever.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace across the globe, thrusting the world into a new state of heightened turbulence and volatility. A strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only way to maintain world peace and achieve common development. There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others.

    I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Three years ago, we announced together that we would build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, setting out the goal and direction of our six nations in building consensus, overcoming challenges and pursuing development. We should act on the China-Central Asia Spirit, enhance cooperation with renewed vigor and more practical measures, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forge ahead toward our goal of a community with a shared future for the region.

    First, we should stay committed to our fundamental goal of unity, and always trust and support each other. China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. With a firm belief in an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood as well as a strong dedication to amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China interacts with Central Asian countries on the basis of equality and sincerity. We always wish our neighbors well.

    Today, we will sign together a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law. This is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors. It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow.

    Second, we should optimize our cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient, and more deeply integrated. We have agreed to designate 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. We should focus our cooperation on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges, and roll out more projects on the ground. We should do our best to get early harvests as soon as possible.

    China is ready to share with Central Asian countries development experience and latest technological advances, promote connectivity in digital infrastructure, enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence, and foster new quality productive forces.

    In order to promote relevant cooperation, China has decided to establish three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework. China will provide a grant of RMB 1.5 billion yuan to Central Asian countries this year to be used in livelihood and development projects high on their agenda. China will also provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries in the next two years.

    Third, we should develop a security framework for peace, tranquility and solidarity. We should step up regional security governance, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly prevent and thwart extreme ideologies, and resolutely fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, so as to maintain peace and stability in our region.

    China supports Central Asian countries in modernizing their national defense, law enforcement and security capacities. We will do our best to help Central Asian countries combat terrorism and transnational organized crime and safeguard cybersecurity and biosecurity. We will launch more Safe City projects, and conduct more joint exercises and joint training cooperation.

    Afghanistan is our close neighbor. We should strengthen coordination to help the country boost its development capacity and achieve peace, stability, reconstruction and development at an early date.

    Fourth, we should cement the bonds of shared vision, mutual understanding and mutual affection between our peoples. China will enhance cooperation between legislatures, political parties, women, youth, media and think tanks with Central Asian countries, conduct in-depth exchange of governance experience, and share experience in green development, poverty reduction and anti-corruption.

    China is ready to set up more cultural centers, university branches and Luban Workshops in Central Asia, and launch new majors in Central Asian languages in Chinese universities. We will continue to carry out effectively the “China-Central Asia technology and skills improvement scheme” to train more high-caliber talent for Central Asian countries.

    China supports deepening subnational cooperation with Central Asia. We will make good use of sister-city relations and people-to-people exchanges to nurture heart-to-heart connections at central and subnational levels, between official and non-governmental actors, and from adjacent to broader areas.

    I hope that the travel-facilitation measures we adopt today will be implemented as soon as possible to help our people visit each other more conveniently, efficiently and frequently like relatives, and in the course help them become ever closer to each other.

    Fifth, we should uphold a fair and equitable international order and an equal and orderly world structure. China supports Central Asian countries in playing a bigger role in international affairs. We stand ready to work with all parties to defend international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In the strenuous times of war, Chinese and Central Asian peoples supported each other through adversity, and jointly made important contributions to the cause of justice of humanity. We should promote the correct view of history, defend the fruits of the victory of World War II, uphold the UN-centered international system, and provide more stability and certainty for world peace and development.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    China is building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain unwavering in opening up to the outside world, and embrace higher-quality cooperation with Central Asian countries to deepen the integration of interests and achieve common development.

    Distinguished Colleagues,

    Friends,

    Ancient Chinese philosophy advocates “mutual care and mutual benefit.” Similarly, a Central Asian proverb compares harmony and unity to happiness and wealth. China is ready to work with all parties to carry forward the China-Central Asia Spirit, pursue the goal of a community with a shared future, and strive for new progress in China-Central Asia cooperation.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning far beyond Israel’s strikes on Tehran

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    People observe fire and smoke from an Israeli airstrike on an oil depot in Tehran, Iran, on June 15, 2025. Stringer/Getty Images

    Relations between the United States and Iran have been fraught for decades – at least since the U.S. helped overthrow a democracy-minded prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, in August 1953. The U.S. then supported the long, repressive reign of the Shah of Iran, whose security services brutalized Iranian citizens for decades.

    The two countries have been particularly hostile to each other since Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979, resulting in economic sanctions and the severing of formal diplomatic relations between the nations.

    Since 1984, the U.S. State Department has listed Iran as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” alleging the Iranian government provides terrorists with training, money and weapons.

    Some of the major events in U.S.-Iran relations highlight the differences between the nations’ views, but others arguably presented real opportunities for reconciliation.

    1953: US overthrows Mossadegh

    Mohammed Mossadegh.
    Wikimedia Commons

    In 1951, the Iranian Parliament chose a new prime minister, Mossadegh, who then led lawmakers to vote in favor of taking over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, expelling the company’s British owners and saying they wanted to turn oil profits into investments in the Iranian people. The U.S. feared disruption in the global oil supply and worried about Iran falling prey to Soviet influence. The British feared the loss of cheap Iranian oil.

    President Dwight Eisenhower decided it was best for the U.S. and the U.K. to get rid of Mossadegh. Operation Ajax, a joint CIA-British operation, convinced the Shah of Iran, the country’s monarch, to dismiss Mossadegh and drive him from office by force. Mossadegh was replaced by a much more Western-friendly prime minister, handpicked by the CIA.

    Demonstrators in Tehran demand the establishment of an Islamic republic.
    AP Photo/Saris

    1979: Revolutionaries oust the shah, take hostages

    After more than 25 years of relative stability in U.S.-Iran relations, the Iranian public had grown unhappy with the social and economic conditions that developed under the dictatorial rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

    Pahlavi enriched himself and used American aid to fund the military while many Iranians lived in poverty. Dissent was often violently quashed by SAVAK, the shah’s security service. In January 1979, the shah left Iran, ostensibly to seek cancer treatment. Two weeks later, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in Iraq and led a drive to abolish the monarchy and proclaim an Islamic government.

    Iranian students at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran show a blindfolded American hostage to the crowd in November 1979.
    AP Photo

    In October 1979, President Jimmy Carter agreed to allow the shah to come to the U.S. to seek advanced medical treatment. Outraged Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, taking 52 Americans hostage. That convinced Carter to sever U.S. diplomatic relations with Iran on April 7, 1980.

    Two weeks later, the U.S. military launched a mission to rescue the hostages, but it failed, with aircraft crashes killing eight U.S. servicemembers.

    The shah died in Egypt in July 1980, but the hostages weren’t released until Jan. 20, 1981, after 444 days of captivity.

    An Iranian cleric, left, and an Iranian soldier wear gas masks to protect themselves against Iraqi chemical-weapons attacks in May 1988.
    Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images

    1980-1988: US tacitly sides with Iraq

    In September 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, an escalation of the two countries’ regional rivalry and religious differences: Iraq was governed by Sunni Muslims but had a Shia Muslim majority population; Iran was led and populated mostly by Shiites.

    The U.S. was concerned that the conflict would limit the flow of Middle Eastern oil and wanted to ensure the conflict didn’t affect its close ally, Saudi Arabia.

    The U.S. supported Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in his fight against the anti-American Iranian regime. As a result, the U.S. mostly turned a blind eye toward Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against Iran.

    U.S. officials moderated their usual opposition to those illegal and inhumane weapons because the U.S. State Department did not “wish to play into Iran’s hands by fueling its propaganda against Iraq.” In 1988, the war ended in a stalemate. More than 500,000 military and 100,000 civilians died.

    1981-1986: US secretly sells weapons to Iran

    The U.S. imposed an arms embargo after Iran was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1984. That left the Iranian military, in the middle of its war with Iraq, desperate for weapons and aircraft and vehicle parts to keep fighting.

    The Reagan administration decided that the embargo would likely push Iran to seek support from the Soviet Union, the U.S.’s Cold War rival. Rather than formally end the embargo, U.S. officials agreed to secretly sell weapons to Iran starting in 1981.

    The last shipment, of anti-tank missiles, was in October 1986. In November 1986, a Lebanese magazine exposed the deal. That revelation sparked the Iran-Contra scandal in the U.S., with Reagan’s officials found to have collected money from Iran for the weapons and illegally sent those funds to anti-socialist rebels – the Contras – in Nicaragua.

    At a mass funeral for 76 of the 290 people killed in the shootdown of Iran Air 655, mourners hold up a sign depicting the incident.
    AP Photo/CP/Mohammad Sayyad

    1988: US Navy shoots down Iran Air flight 655

    On the morning of July 8, 1988, the USS Vincennes, a guided missile cruiser patrolling in the international waters of the Persian Gulf, entered Iranian territorial waters while in a skirmish with Iranian gunboats.

    Either during or just after that exchange of gunfire, the Vincennes crew mistook a passing civilian Airbus passenger jet for an Iranian F-14 fighter. They shot it down, killing all 290 people aboard.

    The U.S. called it a “tragic and regrettable accident,” but Iran believed the plane’s downing was intentional. In 1996, the U.S. agreed to pay US$131.8 million in compensation to Iran.

    1997-1998: The US seeks contact

    In August 1997, a moderate reformer, Mohammad Khatami, won Iran’s presidential election.

    U.S. President Bill Clinton sensed an opportunity. He sent a message to Tehran through the Swiss ambassador there, proposing direct government-to-government talks.

    Shortly thereafter, in early January 1998, Khatami gave an interview to CNN in which he expressed “respect for the great American people,” denounced terrorism and recommended an “exchange of professors, writers, scholars, artists, journalists and tourists” between the United States and Iran.

    However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn’t agree, so not much came of the mutual overtures as Clinton’s time in office came to an end.

    In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush characterized Iran, Iraq and North Korea as constituting an “Axis of Evil” supporting terrorism and pursuing weapons of mass destruction, straining relations even further.

    Inside these buildings at the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, technicians enrich uranium.
    AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

    2002: Iran’s nuclear program raises alarm

    In August 2002, an exiled rebel group announced that Iran had been secretly working on nuclear weapons at two installations that had not previously been publicly revealed.

    That was a violation of the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which Iran had signed, requiring countries to disclose their nuclear-related facilities to international inspectors.

    One of those formerly secret locations, Natanz, housed centrifuges for enriching uranium, which could be used in civilian nuclear reactors or enriched further for weapons.

    Starting in roughly 2005, U.S. and Israeli government cyberattackers together reportedly targeted the Natanz centrifuges with a custom-made piece of malicious software that became known as Stuxnet.

    That effort, which slowed down Iran’s nuclear program was one of many U.S. and international attempts – mostly unsuccessful – to curtail Iran’s progress toward building a nuclear bomb.

    2003: Iran writes to Bush administration

    An excerpt of the document sent from Iran, via the Swiss government, to the U.S. State Department in 2003, appears to seek talks between the U.S. and Iran.
    Washington Post via Scribd

    In May 2003, senior Iranian officials quietly contacted the State Department through the Swiss embassy in Iran, seeking “a dialogue ‘in mutual respect,’” addressing four big issues: nuclear weapons, terrorism, Palestinian resistance and stability in Iraq.

    Hardliners in the Bush administration weren’t interested in any major reconciliation, though Secretary of State Colin Powell favored dialogue and other officials had met with Iran about al-Qaida.

    When Iranian hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran in 2005, the opportunity died. The following year, Ahmadinejad made his own overture to Washington in an 18-page letter to President Bush. The letter was widely dismissed; a senior State Department official told me in profane terms that it amounted to nothing.

    Representatives of several nations met in Vienna in July 2015 to finalize the Iran nuclear deal.
    Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs/Flickr

    2015: Iran nuclear deal signed

    After a decade of unsuccessful attempts to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Obama administration undertook a direct diplomatic approach beginning in 2013.

    Two years of secret, direct negotiations initially bilaterally between the U.S. and Iran and later with other nuclear powers culminated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, often called the Iran nuclear deal.

    Two years of secret, direct negotiations conducted bilaterally at first between the U.S. and Iran and later with other nuclear powers culminated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, often called the Iran nuclear deal.

    Iran, the U.S., China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom signed the deal in 2015. It severely limited Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium and mandated that international inspectors monitor and enforce Iran’s compliance with the agreement.

    In return, Iran was granted relief from international and U.S. economic sanctions. Though the inspectors regularly certified that Iran was abiding by the agreement’s terms, President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.

    2020: US drones kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani

    An official photo from the Iranian government shows Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a Jan. 3 drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump.
    Iranian Supreme Leader Press Office/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    On Jan. 3, 2020, an American drone fired a missile that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force. Analysts considered Soleimani the second most powerful man in Iran, after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

    At the time, the Trump administration asserted that Soleimani was directing an imminent attack against U.S. assets in the region, but officials have not provided clear evidence to support that claim.

    Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles that hit two American bases in Iraq.

    2023: The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel

    Hamas’ brazen attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, provoked a fearsome militarized response from Israel that continues today and served to severely weaken Iran’s proxies in the region, especially Hamas – the perpetrator of the attacks – and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

    2025: Trump 2.0 and Iran

    Trump saw an opportunity to forge a new nuclear deal with Iran and to pursue other business deals with Tehran. Once inaugurated for his second term, Trump appointed Steve Witkoff, a real estate investor who is the president’s friend, to serve as special envoy for the Middle East and to lead negotiations.

    Negotiations for a nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran began in April, but the countries did not reach a deal. They were planning a new round of talks when Israel struck Iran with a series of airstrikes on June 13, forcing the White House to reconsider is position.

    Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Schmidt Futures.

    – ref. US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning far beyond Israel’s strikes on Tehran – https://theconversation.com/us-and-iran-have-a-long-complicated-history-spanning-far-beyond-israels-strikes-on-tehran-259240

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The Middle East is a major flight hub. How do airlines keep passengers safe during conflict?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Natasha Heap, Program Director for the Bachelor of Aviation, University of Southern Queensland

    Screenshot June 17 2025, Courtesy of Flightradar24

    The Middle East is a region of intense beauty and ancient kingdoms. It has also repeatedly endured periods of geopolitical instability over many centuries.

    Today, geopolitical, socio-political and religious tensions persist. The world is currently watching as longstanding regional tensions come to a head in the shocking and escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

    The global airline industry takes a special interest in how such tensions play out. This airspace is a crucial corridor linking Europe, Asia and Africa.

    The Middle East is now home to several of the world’s largest international airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. These airlines’ home bases – Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, respectively – have become pivotal hubs in international aviation.

    Keeping passengers safe will be all airlines’ highest priority. What could an escalating conflict mean for both the airlines and the travelling public?

    Safety first

    History shows that the civil airline industry and military conflict do not mix. On July 3 1988, the USS Vincennes, a US navy warship, fired two surface-to-air missiles and shot down Iran Air Flight 655, an international passenger service over the Persian Gulf.

    More recently, on July 17 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine as the battle between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists continued.

    Understandably, global airlines are very risk-averse when it comes to military conflict. The International Civil Aviation Organization requires airlines to implement and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS).

    One of the main concerns – known as “pillars” – of the SMS is “safety risk management”. This includes the processes to identify hazards, assess risks and implement risk mitigation strategies.

    The risk-management departments of airlines transiting the Middle East region will have been working hard on these strategies.

    Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, the International Civil Aviation Organization has strict requirements and protocols to keep passengers safe.
    meunierd/Shutterstock

    Route recalculation

    The most immediate and obvious evidence of such strategies being put in place are changes to aircraft routing, either by cancelling or suspending flights or making changes to the flight plans. This is to ensure aircraft avoid the airspace where military conflicts are flaring.

    At the time of writing, a quick look at flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows global aircraft traffic avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. The airspace over Ukraine is also devoid of air traffic.

    Rerouting, however, creates its own challenges. Condensing the path of the traffic into smaller, more congested areas can push aircraft into and over areas that are not necessarily equipped to deal with such a large increase in traffic.

    Having more aircraft in a smaller amount of available safe airspace creates challenges for air traffic control services and the pilots operating the aircraft.

    More time and fuel

    Avoiding areas of conflict is one of the most visible forms of airline risk management. This may add time to the length of a planned flight, leading to higher fuel consumption and other logistical challenges. This will add to the airlines’ operating costs.

    There will be no impact on the cost of tickets already purchased. But if the instability in the region continues, we may see airline ticket prices increase.

    It is not just the avoidance of airspace in the region that could place upward pressure on the cost of flying. Airliners run on Jet-A1 fuel, produced from oil.

    If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, the “world’s most important oil transit chokepoint”, this could see the cost of oil, and in turn Jet-A1, significantly increase. Increasing fuel costs will be passed on the paying passenger. However, some experts believe such a move is unlikely.

    A major hub

    The major aviation hubs in the Middle East provide increased global connectivity, enabling passengers to travel seamlessly between continents.

    Increased regional instability has the potential to disrupt this global connectivity. In the event of a prolonged conflict, airlines operating in and around the region may find they have increased insurance costs. Such costs would eventually find their way passed on to consumers through higher ticket prices.

    The Middle East is a major connecting hub for global aviation.
    Art Konovalov/Shutterstock

    Passenger confidence

    Across the globe, airlines and governments are issuing travel advisories and warnings. The onus is on the travelling public to stay informed about changes to flight status, and potential delays.

    Such warnings and advisories can lead to a drop in passenger confidence, which may then lead to a drop in bookings both into and onwards from the region.

    Until the increase in instability in the Middle East, global airline passenger traffic numbers were larger than pre-pandemic figures. Strong growth had been predicted in the coming decades.

    Anything that results in falling passenger confidence could negatively impact these figures, leading to slowed growth and affecting airline profitability.

    Despite high-profile disasters, aviation remains the safest form of transport. As airlines deal with these challenges they will constantly work to keep flights safe and to win back passenger confidence in this unpredictable situation.

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

    – ref. The Middle East is a major flight hub. How do airlines keep passengers safe during conflict? – https://theconversation.com/the-middle-east-is-a-major-flight-hub-how-do-airlines-keep-passengers-safe-during-conflict-259034

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FAA Announces $1.9 Million for Projects at North Dakota Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $1,906,102 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed as follows:

    • $1,000,000 to the City of Minot to reconstruct 1,500 feet of the existing airport firefighting, rescue building, and hangar access road.
    • $322,254 to the Washburn Municipal Airport Authority for a new 200-foot Taxilane midfield to provide airfield access to a nonexclusive hangar development area to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
    • $250,000 to the Barnes County Municipal Airport Authority to fund the final reconstruction of an existing lighting vault building and equipment.
    • $225,000 to the Oakes Municipal Airport Authority to replace one existing airport rotating beacon.
    • $108,848 to the Cando Municipal Airport Authority to reseal 4,433 square yards of existing North Apron pavement and pavement joints, reseal 450 feet of existing Taxiway A pavement and pavement joints, and reseal 466 feet of existing Taxilane East pavement and pavement joints to extend its useful life.

    The AIG Program was established by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide airports with funding for modernization and safety projects. Since its creation, airports in North Dakota have received over $49 million in program funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Britain, US sign partial trade deal as key issues remain unresolved

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

    A worker cleans Land Rover cars at a Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Reading Britain on June 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Britain and the United States have formally signed a partial bilateral trade agreement during the G7 summit in Canada, according to a press release issued by the UK government on Tuesday.

    The agreement, first announced in May, includes tariff reductions on British car and aerospace exports, but several key sectors, notably steel, aluminium and pharmaceuticals, remain unresolved.

    The deal came into effect after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to implement it. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with Trump at the summit, confirmed that the core tariff reduction measures would take effect “immediately.”

    Under the agreement, the U.S. will reduce tariffs on up to 100,000 British-made cars per year from 27.5 percent to 10 percent. It also removes the 10 percent U.S. tariff on British aerospace products, including jet engines and aircraft components, a measure expected to take effect by the end of the month.

    Britain has also agreed to a quota of 1.4 billion litres of tariff-free U.S. bioethanol imports, a volume roughly equivalent to the country’s total annual domestic demand. In return, the U.S. has committed to allowing limited British beef exports.

    The British government said all American agricultural imports would still need to meet Britain’s food safety and animal welfare standards. However, British bioethanol producers and farming groups have expressed concern that the influx of U.S. products could undercut local industries.

    Despite these developments, large parts of the agreement remain incomplete. According to reports by the Financial Times, both sides are still in negotiations over steel and aluminium tariffs.

    Although Britain currently benefits from an exemption to the new 50 percent global steel duty announced by Trump, it continues to face a 25 percent tariff.

    British officials said that final arrangements have been delayed due to “technical and legal” challenges, including U.S. rules requiring that steel must be “melted and poured” in its country of origin. Much of Britain’s steel is processed from imported material and may not qualify under that definition.

    People walk past a Boots store in Manchester, Britain, on July 9, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] 

    Pharmaceuticals represent another unresolved area. While the British government says both sides aim to secure “significantly preferential outcomes” for the British pharmaceutical industry, no binding provisions have been announced.

    According to British media, Starmer has appointed his senior business adviser Varun Chandra to lead a delegation to Washington this week. The team, which includes embassy trade officials, is expected to focus on finalising the remaining elements of the agreement.

    Industry analysts and trade experts have pointed out that the deal is limited in scope and relies on executive action rather than formal legislation. This raises questions about the long-term stability of the agreement, particularly if there is a change in U.S. leadership. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xiang’an Int’l Airport under construction in Xiamen, China’s Fujian

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

    Xiang’an Int’l Airport under construction in Xiamen, China’s Fujian

    Updated: June 18, 2025 07:55 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on June 9, 2025 shows the construction site of Xiang’an International Airport in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province. The construction of the airport is expected to be completed by the end of this year. It will be put into operation by the end of 2026. By then, the airport will be able to meet the annual passenger throughput of 45 million people, cargo and mail throughput of 750,000 tonnes, and aircraft take-offs and landings of 380,000. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on June 9, 2025 shows the construction site of Xiang’an International Airport in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker conducts welding operations at the construction site of Xiang’an International Airport in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, June 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on June 16, 2025 shows the construction site of Xiang’an International Airport in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –