NewzIntel.com

Category: Aviation

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Role in Trafficking Fentanyl to Alaska

    Source: US FBI

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and three years’ supervised release for supplying hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to Alaska over multiple months.

    According to court documents, Odarious Shaw, 25, distributed fentanyl pills to Alaska twice a week for over six months in quantities of 40-50,000 pills per shipment. In some instances, the defendant would ship as many as 500,000 pills at a time.

    Law enforcement learned that Shaw would obtain pills in Arizona and instruct buyers in Alaska to send him $150 via a money transferring service to confirm the transaction. He would then provide a date when a courier would arrive on a commercial flight at the Anchorage airport with the drugs in their checked luggage. Upon arrival, the courier would deliver the pills to the buyer, pick up the cash payment for the drugs and immediately board a flight back to Arizona to deliver the money to Shaw.

    On June 25, 2023, Shaw’s courier and codefendant, Corrion James, 26, arrived at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, with a package containing over 41,000 fentanyl pills. James was arrested at the airport after attempting to sell the pills to the arranged buyer. Those pills had an estimated street value of $400-600,000 in Anchorage, and as much as $4.8 million in rural Alaska.

    Shaw continued to try to sell drugs in Alaska after James was arrested but was subsequently arrested in Arizona in August 2023. James pleaded guilty in February 2024 and was sentenced to over three years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

    At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason found that Shaw was a leader or organizer of the drug trafficking activity in this case and said that she hopes this sentence deters people motivated by greed from trafficking this deadly drug to Alaska.

    “A single pill can destroy someone’s life and the amount of fentanyl Mr. Shaw supplied to Alaska could destroy entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Illegal fentanyl has absolutely no place here. My office will continue to hinder the inflow of illegal fentanyl into our state by working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the supply and distribution of this poisonous drug.”

    “During the course of this investigation, the FBI and our law enforcement partners intercepted tens of thousands of illicit fentanyl pills before reaching local Alaska communities, preventing untold violence and devastation,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With a task force approach, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable those who are fueling drug trafficking activities in Alaska.”

    The Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and the FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Alaska High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Death toll in Australia floods rises to four, tens of thousands stranded

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The body of a man was found in a car trapped in floodwaters in Australia’s southeast on Friday, raising the death toll to four, after three days of incessant rain cut off entire towns, swept away livestock and destroyed homes.

    Police said the man was found near Coffs Harbour, around 550 km (342 miles) north of Sydney. The search continued for a person missing since the deluge began early this week.

    Around 50,000 people are still isolated, emergency services personnel said, while residents returning to their flooded homes were warned to watch out for dangers.

    “Floodwaters have contaminants, there can be vermin, snakes … so you need to assess those risks. Electricity can also pose a danger as well,” state Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston said during a media briefing.

    Television videos showed submerged intersections and street signs, cars up to their windshields in water, after fast-rising waters burst river banks in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state.

    Debris from the floods, and dead and lost livestock, have washed up on the coast.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had to cancel his planned visit to Taree, one of the worst-hit towns, due to floodwaters.

    “We did try … but that was not possible due to the circumstance, which I’m sure people understand,” Albanese told reporters from the town of Maitland in the Hunter region.

    “But our thoughts are with communities that are cut off at this point in time. And we’re here to basically say, very clearly, and explicitly you’re not alone.”

    Australia has been enduring more extreme weather events that some experts say are happening because of climate change. After droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021.

    “What once were rare downpours are now becoming the new normal – climate change is rewriting Australia’s weather patterns, one flood at a time,” Davide Faranda, weather researcher at ClimaMeter, said in a statement.

    DISRUPTIONS IN SYDNEY

    A wild weather system that dumped around four months of rain over three days shifted south towards Sydney on Thursday bringing heavy rain overnight, though the weather bureau, in its latest update, said it is expected to ease by Friday evening.

    Water on rail tracks impacted some suburban train lines in Sydney, including its airport line services, while Sydney Airport was forced to shut down two of its three runways for one hour on Friday morning due to strong winds, delaying flights.

    Warragamba Dam, which supplies 80% of Sydney’s water supply and is currently at around 96% of capacity, could spill over, officials said.

    REUTERS

  • UK signs Chagos deal with Mauritius, India welcomes move

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain signed a deal on Thursday to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after a London judge overturned a last-minute injunction and cleared the way for an agreement the government says is vital to protect the nation’s security.
     
    The multibillion-dollar deal will allow Britain to retain control of the strategically important U.S.-UK air base on Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean, under a 99-year lease.
     
    India has welcomed the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategic island of Diego Garcia. 
     
    “India has consistently supported Mauritius’s legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago. This is in keeping with our principled position on decolonization, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
     
    “As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability,” the MEA added.
     
    The signing went ahead after a carefully choreographed ceremony was postponed when lawyers representing a British national born in the Chagos Islands were granted an interim injunction at the High Court in the early hours of Thursday.
     
    Judge Martin Chamberlain then lifted that injunction following a hearing, saying Britain’s interests would be “substantially prejudiced” if the injunction were to continue.
     
    The government, which has been criticised by opposition parties for pursuing a deal they say is overly costly and would play into the hands of China, has long said the agreement is essential to secure the future of Diego Garcia.
     
    “The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain, from deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan to anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a news conference.
     
    “By agreeing to this deal now, on our terms, we’re securing strong protections, including from malign influence, that will allow the base to operate well into the next century.”
     
    The signing ends months of wrangling over the deal, the details of which were first announced in October, after the then-Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth was replaced by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who raised concerns about it.
     
    It was further delayed after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January, with London wanting to give the new administration time to examine the details of the plan. In February, Trump indicated his backing for the deal.
     
    Ramgoolam welcomed the deal, saying it had been a long fight to get to this point.
     
    “With this agreement, we are completing the total process of decolonization,” Ramgoolam said in a televised broadcast, speaking in the local Creole language.
     
    “It’s total recognition of our sovereignty on the Chagos, including Diego Garcia.”
     
    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the deal saying it “secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia”.
     
    LATEST LEGAL CHALLENGE
     
    The injunction was the latest legal challenge to the deal in the last two decades brought by members of the wider Chagossian diaspora, many of whom ended up in Britain after being forcibly removed from the archipelago more than 50 years ago.
     
    It was granted following action by Bertrice Pompe, a British national who was born in Diego Garcia and has criticised the deal for excluding Chagossians.
     
    James Eadie, the government’s lawyer, said the delay was damaging to British interests and “there is jeopardy to our international relations … (including with) our most important security and intelligence partner, the U.S.”
     
    It is one less headache for Starmer, who is under fire from his own governing Labour Party for implementing welfare cuts to try to better balance Britain’s books.
     
    But Starmer’s political opponents were again critical of the accord, arguing it was both costly and by ceding sovereignty, China could further deepen its ties with Mauritius, benefiting Beijing’s influence in the Indian Ocean.
     
    “Labour’s Chagos Surrender Deal is bad for our defence and security interests, bad for British taxpayers and bad for British Chagossians,” Conservative Party foreign affairs spokeswoman Priti Patel said on X.
     
    The financial component of the deal includes 3 billion pounds to be paid by Britain to Mauritius over the 99-year term of the agreement, with an option for a 50-year extension and Britain maintaining the right of first refusal thereafter.
     
    The base’s capabilities are extensive and strategically crucial. Recent operations launched from Diego Garcia include bombing strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024-2025, humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza and, further back, attacks on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan in 2001.
     
    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: AAD calls for public comment on draft Initial Environmental Evaluation: Australian Antarctic Program Aviation Operations 2025-2030

    Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

    The Australian Government is committed to leading the way in Antarctic environmental protection. We strive to continuously improve our environmental stewardship and minimise the environmental impacts of our operations. As such, and in accordance with our international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty system, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is assessing the environmental impacts of the Australian Antarctic Program’s aviation operations on the Antarctic environment (areas south of 60°S).

    The AAD has prepared a draft Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE): Australian Antarctic Program Aviation Operations 2025-2030.
    This IEE considers the potential environmental impacts of all Australian flights in the Antarctic Treaty area in support of the Australian Antarctic Program, for the coming five years. This includes intracontinental and intercontinental airplane flights, helicopters, operation of the Wilkins ice runway, airdrops and some remotely-piloted aircraft activities.
    The AAD invites members of the public to submit comments on the draft IEE document. Comments should focus on potential environmental impacts of the proposed activities (south of 60°S) and/or suggest additional, specific ways to reduce the environmental impacts of the proposed activities.
    Please note that this environmental assessment process is unrelated to the recently released Approach to Market for the provision of Antarctic Aviation Services.
    The closing date for public comment is 5:00pm AEST on 13 June, 2025. 
    Please submit comments and/or questions on this draft IEE to the AAD’s Antarctic and Environmental Regulation Section via email: eia@aad.gov.au 
    Or via mail:
    Gillian Slocum
    Director, Antarctic and Environmental Regulation Section
    Policy and Strategy Branch
    Australian Antarctic Division
    GPO Box 3090, Canberra City ACT 2601
    This content was last updated 15 hours ago on 23 May 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Center Woman Pleads Guilty for Her Role in a Black-Market Travel Agent Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Reginae Calhoun of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota has pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identify theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, from at least April 2024 to June 2024, Reginae Calhoun, 23, operated as a black-market travel agent.  She  purchased credit card information—including name, address, card numbers, expiration date, and CV2 code—of approximately 216 different victims on the dark web, which she used to book hotel rooms and rental cars for others.  Calhoun’s customers paid her a fraction of the actual booking costs through peer-to-peer payment applications or in cash.

    According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, Calhoun attempted to purchase airline tickets by using several different credit cards until the purchase was successful.  Due to the several attempts, the airline reported suspected credit card fraud to the airport police.  Airport police confirmed with the credit card owners that Calhoun was not authorized to use their cards.

    “The ingenuity of Minnesota’s fraudsters seems to know no bounds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “Calhoun stole hundreds of victim identities and used them to conduct a black-market travel agent fraud scheme—stealing from others to enrich herself. She will now be held accountable in federal court.”     

    “Criminals who turn to the dark web to buy and sell stolen information are part of a growing threat to our digital security,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This defendant built a business by exploiting the stolen identities and financial information of over 200 of innocent victims. The anonymity of the internet does not protect offenders from detection. The FBI and our partners will continue to find and expose these schemes and hold offenders accountable.”

    Calhoun pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025, in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the MSP Airport Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Committee Corridor, Episode 3 out now 🎧

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    New episode out now!
    In the 3rd episode of Committee Corridor Season 5, EAC Chair @toby-perkins-mp leads the conversation on aviation, airport expansion, and the impact on the UK’s net zero goals

    If you’re into climate policy, transport, or Parliament’s role in shaping a greener future, this one’s for you.

    Listen wherever you get your podcasts

    #CommitteeCorridor #HouseofCommons #Aviation #Sustainability #UKPolitics #SelectCommittees

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMbi50YxzAo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Applauds House Passage of Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Alford Applauds House Passage of Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill

    Washington, May 22, 2025

    Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) released the following statement after House Republicans passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill:

    Watch Congressman Alford’s remarks on the House floor in support of the legislation here or by clicking the image above.

    “Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans are one step closer to enacting the generational change demanded by the American people,” said Congressman Alford. “The One Big, Beautiful Bill will reset the direction of our great nation on behalf of hardworking Americans—not bureaucrats, special interests, or illegal immigrants. Republicans are taking bold action because the moment demands it. This bill is a win for the Fourth District, Missouri, and all of America. It’s a shame every single House Democrat voted for the largest tax increase in American history, open borders, and an uncertain financial future for Medicaid.”

    Background:

    Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill:

    • Stops the largest tax increase in American history, while ending taxes on tips and overtime and providing relief for seniors—allowing hardworking Missourians to keep more of their hard-earned money.
    • Strengthens Medicaid for those who need it most by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, removing more than a million illegal immigrants from the program, and ensuring able bodied adults with no dependents are pursuing work.
    • Permanently securing our southern border with funding for wall construction, new border agents, and additional security measures.
    • Strengthens and restores the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure it is a temporary life vest for the needy—not a lifestyle.
    • Modernizes air traffic control, making our skies safer and air travel more efficient.
    • Boosts defense funding to ensure the U.S. military remains the most lethal on earth.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK secures future of vital Diego Garcia Military Base to protect national security

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK secures future of vital Diego Garcia Military Base to protect national security

    The long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia.

    • Long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia
    • Vital capabilities protected to counter growing global threats, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad
    • Deal is backed by strong support from the US and key international allies

    The UK has today (22 May) signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of our most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence and security partnership.

    The base has played a vital role in defending the UK and its allies for over 50 years. This new deal ensures its continued operation for at least the next century, protecting capabilities essential to UK intelligence and counter-terrorism.

    The base plays a key role in operations that support UK forces and our allies across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia.

    Its deep-water port, airfield, and advanced communications and surveillance capabilities give the UK and its allies crucial strategic capabilities, which have played a key role in missions to disrupt high-value terrorists, including Islamic State threats to the UK.

    The legal necessity of this deal has been recognised by successive governments. The previous government started these negotiations over two years ago, and they held 11 out of the 13 rounds of talks that underpin the deal, that this government has concluded.

    Crucially, all Five Eyes partners – the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – back the agreement, along with India, recognising the critical role Diego Garcia plays in upholding global stability and deterring adversaries.

    The base is a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change, with operations there deterring threats to our nation and protecting our economic security.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: 

    As the world becomes more dangerous, our military base on Diego Garcia becomes more important. Today’s Treaty secures full operational control, strengthens our UK-US defence partnership and keeps British people safe at home for the next 99 years and beyond. 

    Without this base, our ability to deter terrorists, defend our interests and protect our troops around the world would be at risk. This agreement will safeguard our national and economic security for generations to come. 

    Critically, the deal ensures the UK retains full operational control of Diego Garcia, including management of the electromagnetic spectrum satellite used for communications – vital for countering hostile interference.

    There will also be robust provisions to keep adversaries out, including:

    • A 24 nautical mile buffer zone where nothing can be built or placed without UK consent – meaning we can protect UK interests.

    • A rigorous process, including joint decision-making, to prevent any activities on the wider islands – some over 100 nautical miles away – from disrupting base operations. Joint decision-making means there can be no development unless we agree. 

    • A strict ban on foreign security forces on the outer islands, whether civilian or military.

    • A binding obligation to ensure the base is never undermined.

    Both countries have also agreed to a ban on the presence of foreign forces across the wider territory and a binding guarantee that base operations cannot be undermined.

    Without this deal, international legal proceedings could have rendered the base inoperable, affecting UK national security in the process with our adversaries being allowed to capitalise on this – building outposts near the base.

    Within a matter of weeks, with no deal, the UK could face legally-binding provisional measures through an Arbitral Tribunal under the Law of the Sea Convention – affecting the ability of the Armed Forces to patrol the waters around the base.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP said: 

    This treaty secures the Diego Garcia military base for generations to come, protecting national and global security. 

    Without this deal, the land, sea and air operations of the base would become inoperable – doing nothing was not an option. 

    The US, Australia, Canada and India all back this deal because they understand its importance for global security. This government has always been clear that we will act in the national interest, not gamble with our national security like those who oppose this deal.

    It was clear that this agreement was the only route to securing the future of the base and preventing the UK’s adversaries from establishing a presence in the region.

    It is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to act decisively in defence of its interests and ensure that the base continues to support operations that keep British citizens safe, now and in the decades to come.

    Notes to editors:

    • The cost per year is £101 million and the net present value of payments under the treaty is £3.4 billion. All costs have been verified by the Government Actuary’s Department. 
    • Further details will be laid out in Parliament.

    Diego Garcia Capabilities

    Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago, located in the central Indian Ocean. The joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia has a strategic location which makes it vital to UK and US power projection in the Indian Ocean and beyond. The base provides a unique shared platform with irreplaceable security capabilities that enable a UK and US military presence across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa.

    Strategic and operational importance:

    • Diego Garcia’s strategic location allows it to support a wide array of operational activity in a number of theatres, helping to combat some of the most challenging threats, including terrorism, and hostile states.
    • Diego Garcia is the only UK base in the region with guaranteed freedom of use. It is central to current UK and US emergency planning and operations, just as it was with Afghanistan and Iraq.
    • The base offers the UK and its Allies unique and vital capabilities that help us understand and anticipate those who would do us harm. This includes capabilities which have been used to support counter terrorism operations against high value Islamic State targets. 
    • The base is a critical logistics hub at a strategic location, with a full range of facilities that acts as a key refuelling and resupply station for naval and air operations. This enables power projection and global reach, allowing for rapid and flexible deployment of our forces across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia.
    • The base helps protect some of the most important shipping lanes in the world, while also remaining isolated enough to be protected from attack by adversaries.
    • The close collaboration between UK and US delivers shared real-world operational outcomes, in the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. The base has also hosted visits from Allies and partners such as Japan, France, Republic of Korea and Australia.

    Base capabilities

    • Airfield: Location and infrastructure accommodate a broad range of military aircraft, with capability to support military requirements from strike operations, as seen through the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, to humanitarian response.
    • Port: A multitude of berthing options for the UK and US navies to support various missions including Carrier Strike Group deployment. The UK maintains a Nuclear Emergency Response Organisation to permit nuclear powered submarines to safely berth at the port. The US uses Diego Garcia to strategically position equipment and supplies at sea for rapid deployment in various global theatres, including for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions over the years, across the Indo-Pacific.
    • Seismic monitoring: Permanent location of three pieces of critical Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring equipment, a network constantly monitoring for indicators of nuclear testing, vital in preventing nuclear proliferation.
    • Space capabilities: Hosts one of the monitoring stations and one of the four ground antennas for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Also hosts part of the Ground-Base Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System. This provides situational awareness of objects in Earth’s orbit, helping to track space debris that pose a risk to space systems.

    Government Legal Position – Diego Garcia

    Mauritius’s legal claim of sovereignty over the island of Diego Garcia is supported by a number of international institutions, including the UN General Assembly.

    The International Court of Justice considered this issue in an Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019. An Advisory Opinion of the ICJ carries significant weight; in particular it is likely to be highly influential on any subsequent court/tribunal considering the issues arising out of disputed sovereignty, and whose judgment would be binding in international law. The ICJ concluded that “the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible”.

    The 2019 Advisory Opinion was followed in 2021 by a Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (in a case about delimitation of the boundary between Mauritius and The Maldives) which ruled that Mauritius’ sovereignty was inferred from the ICJ’s determinations.

    If a long-term deal is not reached between the UK and Mauritius, it is highly likely that further wide-ranging litigation would be brought quickly by Mauritius against the UK. This might, for example, include further arbitral proceedings against the UK under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”). A judgment from such a tribunal would be legally binding on the UK.

    The longstanding legal view of the United Kingdom is that the UK would not have a realistic prospect of successfully defending its legal position on sovereignty in such litigation. Even if the United Kingdom chose to ignore binding judgments made against it, their legal effect on third countries and international organisations would give rise to real impacts to the operation of the Base and the delivery of all its national security functions. International organisations have already adopted decisions based on Mauritian Sovereignty, and others would follow suit following such litigation.  

    These impacts could include: our ability to protect the electromagnetic spectrum from interference, to ensure access to the Base by air and by sea, effectively to patrol the maritime area around the Base, and to support the Base’s critical national security functions.

    Further, the UK would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks of Mauritius commencing proceedings, which would also be legally binding. That would mean facing the sorts of detrimental impacts set out above, with the effect of substantially disrupting the operation of the military Base, in very short order.

    This deal is thus the only way to secure unfettered access to the Base for the long-term and to ensure its full contribution to national security.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian Air Defense Forces Repelled Ukrainian UAV Attacks on Moscow — Mayor

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, May 22 (Xinhua) — The Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense forces repelled several attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying toward Moscow on Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on his Telegram channel.

    “The Ministry of Defense’s air defense continues to repel attacks by enemy drones,” he wrote.

    According to the Moscow mayor, 10 attacks were carried out during the night and first half of the day on May 22 using 34 UAVs. All of them were destroyed. “Operational services are working at the sites of the debris fall,” added S. Sobyanin.

    To ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions were introduced on the operation of the capital’s air hub airports.

    The day before, on May 21, S. Sobyanin reported the destruction of 27 Ukrainian drones flying toward the capital.

    In total, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense forces shot down 485 UAVs over Russian regions from 20:00 on May 20 to 08:00 on May 22. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping Calls on China, France to Be Reliable Forces to Maintain International Order /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and France to be reliable forces for maintaining the international order, open forces for promoting global growth and progressive forces for advancing multilateral cooperation in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

    Xi Jinping called on the two countries to jointly safeguard the authority and status of the UN, uphold the rules of international trade and the world economic order, and adhere to genuine multilateralism.

    The Chinese leader recalled that during his visit to France last May, the two sides agreed to carry forward the spirit of establishing Chinese-French diplomatic relations, which is characterized by independence and self-sufficiency, mutual understanding, strategic vision, mutual benefit and common gain, and to infuse this spirit with new and modern content. Over the past period, Chinese-French cooperation has made significant progress, the Chinese leader noted.

    The two sides should strengthen strategic communication and seek consensus, seize opportunities to deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as investment, aviation, space and nuclear energy, while expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green development, biomedicine and the “silver economy” (economic activities related to the needs and interests of the elderly), Xi said.

    The Chinese leader also stressed the need to expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges and strengthen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

    Xi Jinping stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. He said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council and independent powers, China and France are the founders and builders of the post-war international order, and the two countries should strengthen unity and cooperation.

    The more complex the international situation becomes, he added, the more China and France need to make the right strategic choices.

    The Chinese President said that China always regards Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world and supports the European Union in strengthening its strategic independence and enhancing its important role in international affairs.

    China is ready to work with the EU to address global challenges and achieve results that will benefit both sides and the world, Xi Jinping said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Xpres Spa Elevates the Travel Experience with New Wellness Benefits for Priority Pass Members

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XWELL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XWEL) (“XWELL” or the “Company”), a leading provider of wellness solutions for people on the go, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Priority Pass, the world’s original airport experiences program. Through this expanded collaboration, Priority Pass members will now have access to a broader menu of wellness services at spa locations across the United States.

    “Through our partnership with Priority Pass, we’re expanding access to best-in-class wellness services that meet the evolving needs of today’s travelers,” said XWELL Chief Executive Officer Ezra Ernst. “This collaboration not only enhances the airport experience but also introduces our spa offerings to a new audience seeking a convenient way to decompress, rejuvenate, and continue their journeys feeling refreshed.”

    The offering is part of XWELL’s continued mission to integrate restorative experiences into the travel journey—making moments of comfort and care more accessible for frequent flyers. Designed to reduce stress and support wellbeing, these services help turn airport time into a meaningful pause for physical and mental recharge.

    Priority Pass members will now be able to experience:

    • Zero-Gravity Massage Chairs – Deep relaxation through acupressure and weightless positioning
    • HydroMassage – Customizable massage for stress relief and muscle recovery
    • Relaxation Loungers – Self-guided comfort with personalized massage settings
    • CERAGEM Therapeutic Massager – Patented technology designed to relieve pain and improve circulation
    • Chakra Bed – Integrating soothing heat with chakra-aligning gemstones for full-body balance

    These offerings vary by Xpres Spa locations across the US, with select services offered at all stores—excluding Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

    For more information and a full list of participating locations, visit www.xpresspa.com.

    About XWELL, Inc.
    XWELL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XWEL) is a leading global wellness holding company operating multiple brands: Xpres Spa®, Naples Wax Center®, XpresCheck® and HyperPointe™.  

    • Xpres Spa is a leading retailer of wellness services and related products.
    • Naples Wax Center is a group of upscale skin care boutiques. 
    • XpresCheck, in partnership with the CDC and Ginkgo Biosecurity, conducts biosurveillance monitoring in its airport locations to identify new SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest and concern as well as other pathogens entering the country from across the world. 
    • HyperPointe is a leading digital healthcare and data analytics relationship company serving the global healthcare industry. 

    About Priority Pass
    Priority Pass is the world’s original and market-leading airport experiences programme. We provide travellers with access to over 1,600 airport lounges and travel experiences in over 650 airports in 148 countries. Members can access an ever-growing range of premium experiences – from spas to sleeping pods to dining – that help elevate every journey into something special. By building partnerships with other leading brands, we help to bring a better travel experience to the world.  

    Priority Pass is operated by Collinson, the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These include statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “seeks,” “future,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements relating to expectations about future results or events, including the Company’s current plans and expectations relating to the business and operations and future store openings, including but not limited to, future openings of Naples Wax Center and Xpres Spa stores, are based upon information available to XWELL as of the date of this press release, and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed. Additional information concerning these and other risks is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning XWELL, or other matters and attributable to XWELL or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. XWELL does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Defence Secretary and General Hockenhull opening remarks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Defence Secretary and General Hockenhull opening remarks

    Defence Secretary John Healey and General Sir Jim Hockenhull remarks on the Chagos Islands deal signed by the Prime Minister today.

    Defence Secretary John Healey

    Thank you, Prime Minister. 

    As the world becomes more dangerous, the Diego Garcia military base becomes more important.  

    But I want to underline the urgency and uncertainty over the future control of this UK base. 

    Within weeks, we faced new legal rulings which would weaken the UK’s full operational sovereignty over this base, and within just a few years, this irreplaceable military and intelligence base would become inoperable. 

    That’s why we have taken action today.  

    That is why the Prime Minister has signed this treaty today, securing this base for the next 99 years and beyond.  

    Our allied nations are right behind us and behind this deal – the US, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada.  

    Others want to see this base closed. They want to see this deal collapse – China, Russia, Iran.  

    The value of this deal is beyond doubt.  

    Full control of Diego Garcia for the next 99 years and beyond. 

    Full control and protection of the electromagnetic spectrum that priceless intelligence; communications, sensors; radar; a strengthened buffer zone so we can control the seas and the skies immediately around Diego Garcia and wider islands up to 100 miles – an effective veto over any developments or hostile activities. 

    And with the base in jeopardy, no action was no option, and anyone who would argue to abandon this deal would abandon this base.  So let me be clear, the British people and our British forces are safer today and into the future because of this deal.  

    Thank you.

    General Sir Jim Hockenhull

    Thank you. 

    I think it’s useful to add a military perspective here. 

    The way we see this is very simple: 

    Diego Garcia provides a vital capability to our Armed Forces, to our US allies and for our shared contribution to global security.  

    The geography offers immense and irreplaceable global reach, enabling us to pivot forces westward toward Africa and the Middle East, or eastward towards Southeast Asia and the Pacific. 

    Added to that are the facilities on the base. It has a deep water port for nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers; a runway capable of operating every type of military aircraft, with the logistical support required for modern operations and the satellite and communications infrastructure that the Prime Minister mentioned, it is an unique asset for Britain’s defence and security. 

    It gives us the ability to deploy a wide range of capabilities over a huge geography. 

    Now Diego Garcia provides its worth through the long years of counter terrorism operations and proves its value today by supporting our ability to protect maritime trade, it will be of even greater strategic significance in the future.  

    It helps keeps the United Kingdom safe and prosperous, and it allows us to work closely with our international partners.  The use of Diego Garcia by US forces is a unique contribution to the military relationship between our two countries, and one that underlines the UK’s commitment to burden sharing.  Both our militaries will continue to benefit from our investment in these facilities for the years to come.  Britain projects military power through Such alliances and through assets like this base, which give us a global reach.  I welcome the long term certainty that this treaty brings it will help the British armed forces in our efforts to support stability abroad and security at home.  

    Thank you. Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM’s remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    PM’s remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025

    PM’s remarks at his press conference on Diego Garcia.

    A few moments ago…

    I signed a deal…

    To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

    This is absolutely vital…

    For our defence and intelligence…

    And therefore –

    For the safety and security of the British people.

    The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified.

    But I want to speak as frankly as I can. 

    The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain.

    From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan…

    To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific…

    The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home.

    It has helped us to…

    Disrupt threats to the UK…

    Support counter terror operations against Islamic State…

    And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen. 

    The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East.

    It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia…

    It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face,

    Including from terrorism and hostile states…

    And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific.

    The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities – which benefit us directly.

    Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include…

    Airfield and deep-water port facilities…

    Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS…

    And the monitoring of objects in the earth’s orbit…

    And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty.

    The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States –

    Which is critical for keeping Britain safe.

    Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US.

    President Trump has welcomed the deal –

    Along with other allies.

    Because they see the strategic importance of this base –

    And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm.

    And let me be clear – 

    We had to act now…

    Because the base was under threat.

    The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position.

    And if Mauritius takes us to court again…

    The UK’s longstanding legal view…

    Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success…

    And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks.

    But this is not just about international law.

    This is about the operation of the base.

    Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us…

    International organisations and other countries would act on them.

    And that would undermine the operation of the base –

    Causing us to lose this unique capability.

    One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders…

    A right that’s recognised in regulations…

    And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union.

    The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm.

    If our right to control it is put into doubt…

    We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability…

    Rendering it practically useless.

    In addition – if we do not agree this deal…

    The legal situation would mean that…

    We would not be able to prevent China…

    Or any other nation…

    Setting up their own bases on the outer islands,

    Or carrying out joint exercises near our base.

    We would have to explain to you – the British people –

    And to our allies…

    That we had lost control of this vital asset.

    No responsible government could let that happen.

    So there is no alternative –

    But to act –

    In Britain’s national interest.

    By agreeing to this deal now – on our terms –

    We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence…

    That will allow the base to operate well into the next century…

    Helping to keep us safe for generations to come.

    Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years –

    And they have failed.

    [political content redacted]

    Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset.

    We pay for our other military bases.

    Allies like the US and France do the same.

    This cost is part and parcel of using Britain’s global reach to keep us safe at home… 

    And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year.

    *

    Today’s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term.

    There is no alternative.

    We will never gamble with national security.

    So we have acted –

    To secure our national interest…

    To strengthen our national security –

    And to protect the British people for many years to come.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • President Murmu confers Gallantry Awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu honored the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of India’s bravehearts by conferring six Kirti Chakras and 33 Shaurya Chakras to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and State/Union Territory Police at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025, held on Thursday, celebrated the heroism of these individuals who risked their lives in service to the nation, with a significant number of the awards bestowed posthumously to recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

    The Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra rank among India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards, reserved for acts of raw courage, unparalleled bravery, and a selfless disregard for personal safety in the line of duty. This year’s ceremony spotlighted the valor of 39 personnel, including Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu of the Maratha Light Infantry and Major Manjit of the Punjab Regiment, both commended for their exceptional bravery. Four posthumous Kirti Chakras were awarded to Rifleman Ravi Kumar, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzzammil Bhat, and Naik Dilwar Khan, each recognized for their unmatched valor in counter-terror operations that safeguarded the nation.

    The Shaurya Chakra recipients, numbering 33 in total, included Major (now Lt Col) Vijay Verma of the Rajput Regiment, honored for his gallant actions on October 5, 2022, as well as Deputy Commandant Vikrant Kumar and Inspector/GD Jeffrey Hmingchullo of the CRPF, celebrated for their bravery on April 2, 2023. Seven of these awards were conferred posthumously, with Major Aashish Dhonchak and Captain Deepak Singh among those who laid down their lives during operations, their sacrifices immortalized through this recognition.

    These awardees distinguished themselves across a range of high-stakes missions, showcasing heroism in diverse and perilous circumstances. In counter-terrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East, personnel neutralized dreaded terrorists, apprehended insurgents, and recovered arms and ammunition, often under extreme duress. Notably, Colonel Manpreet Singh and Rifleman Ravi Kumar earned their posthumous honors for heroic efforts in Jammu and Kashmir on September 12-13, 2023, exemplifying the courage required in such volatile regions.

    The Indian Navy also shone brightly, with officers like Commodore Sharad Sinsunwal and Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav leading successful anti-piracy operations that forced the surrender of pirates and secured the rescue of hostages. Navy personnel further demonstrated their bravery during firefighting efforts aboard a burning oil tanker, risking their lives to avert disaster. Meanwhile, in the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane and Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar exhibited remarkable courage in life-threatening situations, skillfully rescuing aircraft while ensuring no civilian casualties, a testament to their precision and valor.

    The CRPF’s relentless fight against Left-Wing Extremism was equally commendable, with officers such as Deputy Commandant Lakhveer and Constable/GD Pawan Kumar, the latter honored posthumously, recognized for apprehending Maoist insurgents and recovering weapons in affected areas. Their efforts underscored the critical role of the CAPF in maintaining internal security amidst persistent threats.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dedication and professionalism of Armed Forces rewarded with above inflation pay rise

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Dedication and professionalism of Armed Forces rewarded with above inflation pay rise

    Government recognises professionalism and dedication of the Armed Forces with 4.5% pay rise, which follows last year’s record pay deal for personnel.

    Military personnel are to receive an above inflation pay rise of 4.5% (3.75% for senior officers), recognising their extraordinary professionalism and the sacrifices they make to keep the British people safe.   

    The award forms part of the government’s efforts to fix recruitment and retention, while demonstrating how it is renewing the contract with those who serve.   

    The pay rise maintains the MOD’s status as a National Living Wage employer, while recognising the important work of military personnel in keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad – foundational to this government’s Plan for Change.  

    This pay award follows last year’s headline award of 6% (5% for senior officers) and a significant uplift for new recruits of approximately 35%, ensuring all full-time members of the Armed Forces were paid the National Living Wage for the first time. This means Armed Forces personnel have received a cumulative pay award of 10.5% (8.75% for senior officers) since July 2024.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:  

    Our people are what make the UK Armed Forces’ reputation one of the best around the world. Our forces work tirelessly to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad.  

    Today’s above inflation pay award recognises their dedication and underlines this Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

    Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: 

    This Armed Forces pay award continues to demonstrate our commitment to our people. It ensures that those who work so hard for our safety and security are supported.  

    To do what they do takes immense courage, determination and sacrifice and I’m pleased to see so much done to recognise their efforts.  

    Pay, accommodation and pension are key pieces of a bigger puzzle, and we will continue to put those pieces together to ensure the strength of our military for years to come.

    Starting salaries for Other Ranks who have completed initial training will increase to approximately £26,334, benefiting around 7,800 of our most junior personnel. 

    Starting pay for junior officers will rise to around £34,676. 

    The package includes two new targeted retention payments for specific Royal Navy Catering Services personnel, addressing critical retention challenges in this specialist area. 

    A new Afloat Environmental Allowance will replace existing provisions, bringing coherence and clarity to recognise different conditions across naval platforms. 

    Medical specialists will benefit from an increased Medical Officers’ Golden Hello to enhance its attractiveness for consultants and registrars in specialisms with workforce capability gaps. 

    The Government has already taken decisive action to tackle recruitment and retention challenges by announcing new financial retention packages.   

    Around 5,000 eligible aircraft engineers across all three Services are eligible to receive £30,000 when they sign up for an additional three years of service. And a new £8,000 retention payment for around 4,000 eligible Army Privates and Lance Corporals each year for the next three years when they sign up for an additional three years of Service.  

    This announcement follows recent action taken by the department to improve the offer for our Armed Forces personnel. This includes improving living conditions through a new Consumer Charter to provide homes fit for the heroes who serve our nation, and are creating a new, independently-appointed, Armed Forces Commissioner who will have the power to investigate issues raised directly by serving personnel and their families. 

    Last year the Armed Forces saw a headline award of 6% (5% for senior officers) and a significant uplift for new recruits of approximately 35%. The Government has taken decisive action to tackle recruitment and retention challenges by announcing new financial retention packages.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: J-10CE fighter jet displayed at international maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia 2025-05-22 17:43:03 The 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) kicked off at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi, Malaysia on May 20, 2025.

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

      Key defense products developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), including the J-10CE fighter jet, are exhibited at the 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025).

      LANGKAWI, Malaysia, May 22 — The 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) kicked off at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi, Malaysia on May 20, 2025.

      As the only Chinese defense product company present at the exhibition, the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), on behalf of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), exhibited multiple aviation equipment under the theme of “Power on Air”.

      The key defense products showcased by CATIC include the J-10CE fighter jet, the Y-20 transport aircraft, the FC-31 fighter jet, the Z-9ME helicopter, the Wing Loong II UAV, and the L-15 advanced jet trainer, with the J-10CE taking the lead. These warplanes are capable of conducting such operations as air combat operations, strategic projection, maritime offense and defense, unmanned combat operations, demonstrating the excellent technological strength of Chinese aviation equipment.

      The J-10CE fighter jet stood out among the exhibits, attracting many foreign visitors  to take photos before the J-10CE model on display.

      The J-10CE model displayed at the LIMA 2025 attracts great attention from foreign visitors.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • “Desh nahi mitne dunga, desh nahi Jhukne dunga”: PM Modi hits out at Pakistan in first rally after Operation Sindoor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a large gathering in Bikaner, hailing the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces and launching a sharp attack on Pakistan.
     
    Recalling his 2019 statement after the Balakot airstrikes, the Prime Minister said, “Saugandh mujhe iss desh ki mitti ki, main desh nahi mitne dunga, main desh nahi jhukne dunga.” Referring to the recent military action, he added, “Those who came to erase sindoor, we have demolished them.”
     
    The Prime Minister invoked the spirit of Rajasthan, calling it “Veerbhoomi”, and said, “This brave land teaches us that nothing is greater than the nation and its citizens. On April 22, terrorists destroyed the vermilion from the foreheads of our sisters by questioning their religion. The bullets were fired in Pahalgam, but they pierced the hearts of 140 crore Indians. The nation resolved that the terrorists would face punishment beyond their imagination.”
     
    Highlighting a symbolic coincidence, PM Modi noted that his first rally after the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 was also held in Rajasthan. “It is a coincidence that after the country conducted the Balakot airstrikes five years ago, my first public meeting was on this very borderland of Rajasthan. Now again, after Operation Sindoor, I am holding my first rally here among you in Bikaner,” he said.
     
    Speaking about the military operation, PM Modi revealed that Indian forces destroyed nine major terrorist hideouts in just 22 minutes. “With your blessings and the valour of our armed forces, we have fulfilled our pledge. Our government gave full freedom to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Together, they created such a ‘Chakravyuh’ that Pakistan was forced to kneel,” the Prime Minister said.
     
    He continued, “The world and enemies of the country saw what happens when the sindoor of our sisters turns into gunpowder. In response to the April 22 attack, terrorist camps were destroyed within 22 minutes.”
     
    Shifting focus to development, PM Modi spoke about the government’s efforts to modernize India’s infrastructure. “Today, I come to you after seeking blessings from Karni Mata. Her grace strengthens our resolve for a Viksit Bharat. A grand effort is underway to create world-class infrastructure across the country. In the last 11 years, there has been a sixfold increase in infrastructure spending. Roads, airports, and railway stations are being rapidly modernized,” he said.
     
    (ANI)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: PISH Polytechnic is in the first group of the best Advanced Engineering Schools of Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Digital Engineering School of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University entered the first group ranking of leading engineering schools in Russia. It reflects the quality of educational programs, scientific research, the degree of development of the development program and the management system. The rating is a guideline for school teams and their technology partners, in which areas they need to improve and develop their activities.

    The first group consists of:

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow) National Research University ITMO (Saint Petersburg) Bauman Moscow State Technical University (Moscow) Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Saint Petersburg) National University of Science and Technology MISIS (Moscow) Samara State Medical University (Samara) Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don) Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Ekaterinburg) Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Kazan) National Research Tomsk State University (Tomsk)

    Along with the universities of the Ministry of Education and Science, the first wave of the project included universities of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Digital Development, which already at the start of the project allowed for more comprehensive coverage of key sectors of the economy. The focus of the leading engineering schools and their technology partners was on strategically important areas, including automation and artificial intelligence, digital twins and new materials, optimization of technological processes, and unmanned aircraft systems. It is important that working with leading engineering schools has greatly interested businesses, so while the volume of state funding for the first wave of schools over three years amounted to 25.1 billion rubles, extra-budgetary investments amounted to 33.3 billion rubles, noted the head of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov.

    The PISH rating, formed based on the results of defenses, will allow us to further monitor the dynamics of the development of leading engineering schools.

    Let us recall that on May 15, 2025, the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU at the Council for the consideration of issues and coordination of the activities of the Advanced Engineering School presented the results of its work and development plans for two and a half years.

    The program of the SPbPU PIS “Digital Engineering” allowed us to open many new modern laboratories and scientific and educational spaces at our university, develop and launch new master’s and additional professional education programs in relevant engineering areas. I would like to note that the SPbPU PIS also expanded its effective and systematic interaction with industrial partners – high-tech companies and corporations. In addition, it was in the “Digital Engineering” PIS that the qualified partnership model was successfully tested, which formed the basis of the SPbPU development program until 2030 and in the long term until 2036. Formed teams with competencies and experience in solving breakthrough scientific and technological problems, the created scientific and scientific-technological reserve and the established effective qualified partnership with industry will help us make a breakthrough in the scientific and technological sphere, aimed at ensuring the technological leadership of our country, – commented the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

    As a representative of the company – industrial partner of the SPbPU PISh, Director of the Department of Scientific and Technical Activities of JSC TVEL Alexey Shishkin noted: Fuel Company TVEL has been a strategic partner of the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” since the beginning of the federal project Advanced Engineering Schools. Two and a half years of our joint activities have convincingly proven that the synergy of the competencies of the country’s leading polytechnic university and a high-tech company yields outstanding results, both in the field of training engineering personnel and in terms of R & D implementation. Already in 2024, graduates of the Master’s program of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” were employed by the company “Centrotech-Engineering”, which is part of the management circuit of Fuel Company TVEL. Training at the SPbPU PISh gives young engineers a unique opportunity to use and implement the latest technologies in their activities, influencing the development of the nuclear industry. We are especially pleased that it was with the specialists of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU that at the end of 2024 we successfully completed a three-year project that was significant for TVEL Fuel Company and the entire nuclear industry – the development of digital twins of fuel assemblies for water-moderated nuclear reactors – TVS-K PWR and TVS WWER.

    The implementation of the strategic initiative of the Government of the Russian Federation “Advanced Engineering Schools” in the period from 2022 to 2024 was carried out within the framework of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools” of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. Since 2025, the continuity of the activities of the project “Advanced Engineering Schools” has been ensured by including them in the federal project “Universities for the Generation of Leaders” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: RUBIS: Evolutions at the Supervisory Board and its Committees – Communication following the requests received for the inclusion of resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, 22 May 2025, 7:45am

    1.  The Supervisory Board announces the cooptation of Antoine Sautenet and reorganises its specialised Committees following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure

    Following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure on 15 May 2025, the Supervisory Board decided at its meeting on 21 May 2025, upon the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee’s recommendation, to coopt Antoine Sautenet, Head of Sustainable Development at Michelin, as independent member of the Supervisory Board.

    Antoine Sautenet joins the Board, effective 21 May 2025 and subject to ratification by the upcoming Shareholders’ Meeting, for the remainder of Nils Christian Bergene’s term of office, i.e., until the end of the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2027 to approve the financial statements for the 2026 fiscal year. Antoine Sautenet’s profile was identified during the appointment process to enrich the work of the Board. He will bring his expertise to the Board, particularly in the areas of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) and climate issues.

    Upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation, the Managing Partners have included a new resolution to the agenda of the next annual Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled for 12 June 2025 and invites shareholders to ratify this co-optation in accordance with applicable regulations.

    The composition of the Board Committees has also been adjusted to reflect the new composition of the Board, in line with the Board succession plan. Alberto Pedrosa (independent member) has been appointed, with immediate effect, Chairman of the Audit and CSR Committee, which Marc-Olivier Laurent (independent member) joins as ex officio member in his capacity as the new Chairman of the Board. Benoît Luc (independent member) joins the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee, replacing Nils Christian Bergene. The Audit and CSR Committee and the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee comprise 100% independent members.

    2.  The Supervisory Board issued a positive opinion on the two proposed resolutions submitted by Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), which the Managing Partners have consequently approved, upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation

    As indicated in its press release dated 16 May 2025, Rubis received on 15 May 2025, from Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), a request to add two resolutions to the agenda. These resolutions pertain to the appointment of Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon as members of the Supervisory Board, for a term of three years.

    The Supervisory Board, which met on 21 May 2025, expresses a favourable opinion regarding the appointment of these two candidates. The Board believes that the proposals to appoint Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon, as independent members, do not alter the overall composition of the Supervisory Board and were submitted following discussions between the Company and CNN, a shareholder with a 9.3% stake, demonstrating CNN’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue, to which the Supervisory Board, representing shareholders, is sensitive.

    It was also noted that CNN, which has engaged in a constructive manner and has a significant stake in the Company’s share capital, supports all the resolutions proposed by the Managing Partners and endorsed by the Supervisory Board.

    Patrick Molis also expressed his desire to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the functioning of the Supervisory Board following the strengthening of its duties formalised in October 2024 and, in this regard, proposed the appointment of a new independent member, Anne Lauvergeon.

    Finally, committed to complying with the corporate governance rules applicable to the Group, the Supervisory Board emphasised that the members of the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee had the opportunity to interview both candidates.

    The Managing Partners added these two draft resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025 and decided to approve these two nominations, following the favourable opinion of the Supervisory Board, on its own composition, which it has always followed. Shareholders are therefore also invited to approve the two draft resolutions submitted to the vote of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, at the initiative of CNN.

    Consequently, if the resolutions proposed or approved by the Supervisory Board are adopted, the Supervisory Board will be composed, following the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, of 14 members, including 13 independent members (i.e., 93%) and six women (i.e., 43%).

    3.  Request for amendment to the by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners

    At its meeting on 20 May 2025, the Managing Partners reviewed a request to include a draft resolution submitted by a shareholder1 representing approximately 2.78% of Rubis’ share capital, dated 17 May 2025 and brought to Rubis’ attention on 19 May 2025, aimed at amending Article 56 of Rubis’ by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners, so as to provide that the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) would now be calculated on the basis of the highest of the average of the opening prices of the last 20 trading days of all the fiscal years preceding the Relevant Fiscal Year, without any time limit.

    Rubis reiterates its strong commitment to ensuring the best possible alignment between the interests of all shareholders and those of the General Partners, and notes that the current Total Shareholder Return formula, calculated by reference to the three financial years preceding the financial year in which a possible dividend payment to General Partners is determined, is the result of an evolution proposed in line with expressed expectations. It was approved with very wide support by shareholders, representing 99.8% of the votes cast at the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of 9 December 2020.

    This method currently in force ensures a certain stability in the assessment of Rubis’ performance and is consistent with the structural shift in the valuation of European companies operating in the fossil fuel sector. It is moreover recalled that this method did not result in any dividend distributions to General Partners for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Considering the complexity and sensitivity of each of the parameters on which the formula is based, any new evolution to the General Partners dividend mechanism requires in-depth simulations and analysis to measure its direct and indirect effects, with a view to proposing a formula that protects the interests of shareholders and all other Rubis stakeholders.

    Acknowledging in particular the absence of approval by the General Partners for this proposed amendment to the by-laws, which therefore could not be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the French Commercial Code, the Managing Partners had no option but to conclude that the proposed resolution should not be included on the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled to be held on 12 June 2025.

    However, following discussions with this shareholder as part of its shareholder engagement, to which it pays close attention, Rubis will conduct an in-depth analysis of a possible evolution to the methods for calculating the dividend of the General Partners, which could be submitted, as appropriate, upon completion of this analysis and under an appropriate corporate governance framework, at the annual Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2026.

    The resolution proposals submitted by CNN, along with their statements of reasons and the opinions of the Supervisory Board and the Managing Partners, are covered in an Addendum that complements the main Notice of Meeting for the Shareholders’ Meeting. This Addendum is available on Rubis’ website: https://www.rubis.fr/en/investors/shareholders-meetings/.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANTOINE SAUTENET

    With a PhD in international law and a master’s degree in economics from the École normale supérieure in Rennes, Antoine Sautenet is currently Michelin Group’s Director of Sustainable Development. He is responsible for orchestrating the social and environmental aspects of the Group’s CSR performance.

    Within the Michelin Group, Antoine Sautenet previously held various positions in charge of public affairs and international trade in North America (Michelin representative in Canada) (2019 to 2022), Asia (Thailand) (2016 to 2019) and Europe (Paris) (2013 to 2016). He was also a project officer at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a research associate at the Asia Centre of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI).

    BIOGRAPHY OF PATRICK MOLIS

    Patrick Molis is the Chairman of CNN, a successor to Navale Worms, a historical branch of the Worms Group founded in the 19th century and specialising in shipping and logistics, particularly oil.

    CNN was acquired in 1999 by Patrick Molis, and has developed in land-based oil logistics (Compagnie Industrielle Maritime, TRAPIL), specialised shipping on ro-ro vessels for the benefit of Arianespace, Airbus, the French Armed Forces, air transport with Héli-Union, a company operating helicopters for transport to oil and gas platforms and maintenance in operational conditions of helicopters for the benefit of the French Armies.

    The historical operations have been gradually sold and CNN has focused on acquiring stakes in the industrial, maritime, logistics, energy, aeronautics and defense sectors.

    Patrick Molis, through CNN, also participated in the refinancing and takeover of the Arc Group, the world’s leading glassmaker, concluded in April 2025.

    He is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and a Knight of the Légion d’honneur.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANNE LAUVERGEON

    Anne Lauvergeon has led the French nuclear industry for a decade, as Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Areva NC from June 1999 to July 2011, then Chairwoman of the Management Board (Directoire) of Areva from July 2001 to June 2011.

    From 1997 to 1999, she was a member of the Executive Committee of Alcatel, in charge of international and industrial investments; from 1995 to 1997, Managing Partner of Lazard Frères & Cie. In 1990, she was assigned as a special advisor for international economy and foreign trade at the French Presidency, then from 1991 to 1995, Deputy Secretary General and sherpa to the French President for the organisation of international summits (G7/G8).

    She was ranked twice by Time Magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world. She also has more than 30 years of experience on Boards of Directors and co-chairs the Medef State Simplification and Reform Commission.

    She is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and an Officer of the Légion d’honneur.

    Media Relations Contact
    RUBIS – Communication RUBIS – Clémence Mignot-Dupeyrot, Head of IR
    Tel. : + 33 (0)1 44 17 95 95

    presse@rubis.fr

    		 Tel. : + 33 (0)1 45 01 87 44

    investors@rubis.fr

    1 The funds Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Worldwide High Dividend Yield Value Fund et Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund II – Currency Unhedged.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev delivered a report to the State Duma during government hour

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    “Government Hour” in the State Duma, dedicated to current issues of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic zone of Russia

    May 21, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev delivered a report to the State Duma during government hour

    May 21, 2025

    Yuri Trutnev delivered a report to the State Duma during government hour

    May 21, 2025

    “Government Hour” in the State Duma, dedicated to current issues of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic zone of Russia

    May 21, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    “Government Hour” in the State Duma, dedicated to current issues of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic zone of Russia

    Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev delivered a report at a meeting of the State Duma as part of the “government hour” dedicated to current issues of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

    “Today we are discussing the development of the Arctic – a territory that the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has defined as a geostrategic territory, and the future of not only our country, but the entire world depends on its development. We have already talked about the richest mineral reserves of the Arctic, the Northern Sea Route, and the military-strategic potential. Today, on Polar Explorer Day, we must remember those people thanks to whom the Arctic was opened to Russia and Russia has grown with Arctic territories. For more than 500 years, Russia has been the world’s leading Arctic power. Russian explorers and pioneers – from Dmitry Gerasimov and Semyon Chelyuskin to Ivan Papanin and Artur Chilingarov – ensured the exploration and development of the Arctic.

    Today, in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, complex mining projects are being implemented, high-tech enterprises and liquefied natural gas plants are being built, modern research stations and floating nuclear power plants are being created, and new nuclear icebreakers are being laid down at shipyards.

    All this is the result of great work of people. Those people who live in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, Norilsk and Naryan-Mar, Anadyr and Salekhard.

    What has the Russian Government done to develop the Arctic zone?

    The foundation was the work on attracting investments. I will say again, I am sure that this is the right start, because without earning money, but only asking for it from the budget, we are unlikely to achieve any success. The largest special economic zone in the world has been created. In creating it, we relied on the experience of the Far East. The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is better assembled than the preferential zones of the Far East. We already had experience, and what could be done better, what could be differentiated, for example, by the direction of investments, has already been done in the Arctic.

    The region has begun implementing more than a thousand investment projects with a total investment volume of more than 2 trillion rubles. 800 billion of them have already been invested in the economy. 293 new enterprises have started operating in the territory of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.

    I consider it very important that the income of the subjects of the Russian Federation has begun to grow. This is precisely the money that can be spent on medicine, roads, schools and other needs of the people. The total volume of income received by the consolidated budgets of the subjects of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation has grown by almost 70%.

    Over the past 5 years, within the framework of the implementation of national projects and a single presidential subsidy, more than 60 new hospitals and clinics, 48 schools and kindergartens, 17 sports centers have been built in the Arctic. Decisions have been made to create new university campuses in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

    3.4 million square meters of new housing were built, which made it possible to provide 57 thousand families with new comfortable apartments and houses. Thanks to the mechanism of preferential Arctic mortgages, the extension of which the President supported, 13 thousand families in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation improved their housing conditions. 9 thousand people received a plot of land under the Arctic Hectare program.

    As part of the ZATO renovation program, 161 apartment buildings, 37 educational institutions, more than 21 km of roads, 4 housing and communal services facilities were renovated, 14 youth centers were opened, and more than 40 courtyards and public areas were improved.

    The economic axis of the Arctic development is the Northern Sea Route. The Russian government has approved a plan for the development of the NSR until 2035. It provides for the construction of 10 icebreakers, 14 seaports and terminals, 3 railway lines, 46 emergency rescue vessels, and 4 emergency rescue centers.

    I would like to emphasize that the work on developing the NSR creates conditions for the implementation of production plans for companies such as NOVATEK, Gazprom, Norilsk Nickel, and Lukoil. The taxes paid by these companies alone will ensure the creation of a new tax base in the amount of 13 trillion rubles by 2035. This is the foundation on which we will continue to develop.

    A new challenge for us is the implementation of master plans for 16 Arctic core settlements. The master plans provide for the creation and reconstruction of more than 600 infrastructure facilities – roads, airports, housing and communal services, healthcare, culture, sports and leisure facilities – at a total cost of 3.7 trillion rubles, including 850 billion rubles from the federal budget.

    All master plans have been prepared and reported to the President at the International Arctic Forum. In accordance with the instructions of the head of state, sections with master plan activities have been created in new national projects of Russia, which has already provided financing for plans in the amount of 106 billion rubles, and taking into account the money that will come from writing off 2/3 of the debt to the subjects on budget loans and treasury infrastructure loans, the amount of co-financing already amounts to 172 billion rubles.

    I would like to say right away that this is not enough for us. On the one hand, never before has money come to the Arctic in such a volume. On the other hand, regarding the plans that we must implement, it is not enough. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that two days ago we received letters from some ministries stating that they cannot provide these funds in their area of responsibility. We will not agree with these answers, and we will strive to ensure that the President’s order is implemented in full. Especially since the insufficient funds for the Arctic were announced by the very departments that are the most complained about.

    In conclusion, I would like to say that we understand very well that not everything has been done. A lot needs to be done for the Arctic to develop, for the Far East to develop. I am confident that together we will solve all the tasks set.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • PM Modi to visit Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, address rally in Bikaner

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ata-start=”212″ data-end=”438″>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the revered Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, located in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, on Thursday.

    This marks his first visit to Rajasthan following India’s strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.

    During the visit, PM Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations across the country, including the newly developed Deshnok Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Yojana. He will also address a large public meeting in Palana village near Bikaner.

    His total stay in Bikaner is scheduled to last 3 hours and 25 minutes. The visit is reminiscent of his public address in Churu, delivered on the morning of the airstrikes following the Pulwama attack.

    Political observers anticipate that PM Modi may once again send a strong message to the global community, including Pakistan, especially as Thursday marks one month since the Pahalgam terror attack.

    According to official sources, the Prime Minister will arrive at Nal Airport at 9:50 a.m. by a special aircraft and then proceed to Deshnok via helicopter.

    He is scheduled to land at the Karni Mata Temple helipad at 10:30 a.m. and will spend approximately 15 minutes at the temple. Following the temple visit, he will inaugurate the Deshnok Railway Station and flag off the Bikaner–Mumbai Express train.

    He will be accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. At 11:15 a.m., the Prime Minister will depart for Palana village by road—a journey of about 8 kilometres. A massive crowd of over one lakh people is expected at the public meeting venue, where elaborate seating arrangements and a large pandal have been set up.

    During the rally, PM Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations nationwide and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth ₹26,000 crore. These include 1,000 km of electrified railway tracks, seven major road projects, three vehicle underpasses, a PowerGrid transmission project, and 900 km of national highways in Rajasthan.

    After the public meeting, the Prime Minister will return to Nal Airport by helicopter at around 12:30 p.m. and is scheduled to depart for Delhi at approximately 1:15 p.m.

    — IANS

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 22, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 22, 2025.

    Indonesian military operations spark concerns over displaced indigenous Papuans
    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist A West Papua independence leader says escalating violence is forcing indigenous Papuans to flee their ancestral lands. It comes as the Indonesian military claims 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed in an hour-long operation in Intan Jaya on May 14. In a statement,

    Compression tights and tops: do they actually benefit you during (or after) exercise?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Singh, Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock You’ve seen them in every gym: tight black leggings, neon sleeves and even knee-length socks. Compression gear is everywhere, worn by weekend joggers, elite athletes and influencers striking poses mid-squat. But do

    Australia’s knowledge of Russia is dwindling. We need to start training our future experts now
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Richardson, Visiting Fellow, Centre for European Studies, Australian National University Shutterstock Russia’s possible interest in basing long-range aircraft at an Indonesian airbase not far from Australian shores shook up a relatively staid election campaign last month. The news, which Jakarta immediately dismissed, caught many by surprise

    ‘Perfect bodies and perfect lives’: how selfie-editing tools are distorting how young people see themselves
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Coffey, Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Newcastle Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock Like many of her peers, Abigail (21) takes a lot of selfies, tweaks them with purpose-made apps, and posts them on social media. But, she says, the selfie-editing apps do more than they were designed for:

    NZ Budget 2025: tax cuts and reduced revenues mean the government is banking on business growth
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Sawyer, Professor of Taxation, University of Canterbury Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images Not a lot is known about the government’s plans for taxes in the 2025 budget. Few tax policies have been announced so far, and what has been revealed involves targeted tax cuts for business interests. This

    Evidence shows AI systems are already too much like humans. Will that be a problem?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra Peter, Director of Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney Studiostoks / Shutterstock What if we could design a machine that could read your emotions and intentions, write thoughtful, empathetic, perfectly timed responses — and seemingly know exactly what you need to hear? A machine so seductive,

    Playing the crime card: do law and order campaigns win votes in Australia?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chloe Keel, Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University Crime and public safety are usually the domain of state politics. But the Coalition tried to elevate them as key issues for voters in the recent federal election. Claiming crime had been “allowed to fester” under Labor,

    Labor now has the political clout to reset Australia’s refugee policy. Here’s where to start
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University Australia’s policy towards refugees and asylum seekers stands at a critical juncture. Global displacement is at record highs and many countries are retreating from their responsibilities. At this moment, Australia can lead by example. As Australia’s prime

    Please don’t tape your mouth at night, whatever TikTok says. A new study shows why this viral trend can be risky
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Moira Junge, Adjunct Clincal Associate Professor (Psychologist), Monash University K.IvanS/Shutterstock You might have heard of people using tape to literally keep their mouths shut while they sleep. Mouth taping has become a popular trend on social media, with many fans claiming it helps improve sleep and overall

    E-bikes for everyone: 3 NZ trials show people will make the switch – with the right support
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Shaw, Associate Professor in Public Health, University of Otago Getty Images Anyone who uses city roads will know e-bikes have become increasingly popular in Aotearoa New Zealand. But we also know rising e-bike sales have been predominantly driven by financially well-off households. The question now is,

    Drivers of SUVs and pick-ups should pay more to be on our roads. Here’s how to make the system fairer
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne In the year 2000, almost 70% of all new cars sold in Australia were small passenger vehicles – mainly sedans and hatchbacks. But over 25 years, their share has dropped dramatically

    Australia’s Wong condemns ‘abhorrent, outrageous’ Israeli comments over blocked aid
    Asia Pacific Report Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has released a statement saying “the Israeli government cannot allow the suffering to continue” after the UN’s aid chief said thousands of babies were at risk of dying if they did not receive food immediately. “Australia joins international partners in calling on Israel to allow a full

    The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield
    Al Jazeera How global power struggles are impacting in local communities, culture and sovereignty in Kanaky, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Samoa. In episode one, The Battlefield, tensions between the United States and China over the Pacific escalate, affecting the lives of Pacific Islanders. Key figures like former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and tour

    Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Hoeksema, Professor of Ecology, University of Mississippi Birds are drawn to the mirror effect of windows. That can turn deadly when they think they see trees. CCahill/iStock/Getty Images Plus When wood thrushes arrive in northern Mississippi on their spring migration and begin to serenade my neighborhood

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers on keeping Australia out of recession amid the ‘dark shadow’ of global instability
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra This week, the Reserve Bank delivered welcome news for mortgage holders, with another 25 basis points rate cut. With this cut, some are hoping that the cost-of-living pain will start to finally ease. Economists, however, are still wary of celebrating

    40 years on – reflecting on Rainbow Warrior’s legacy, fight against nuclear colonialism
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – A forthcoming new edition of David Robie’s Eyes of Fire honours the ship’s final mission and the resilience of those affected by decades of radioactive fallout. PACIFIC MORNINGS: By Aui’a Vaimaila Leatinu’u The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior III ship returns to Aotearoa this July, 40 years

    Gordon Campbell: NZ’s silence over Gaza genocide, ethnic cleansing
    COMMENTARY: By Gordon Campbell Since last Thursday, intensified Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed more than 500 Palestinians, and a prolonged Israeli aid blockade has led to widespread starvation among the territory’s two million residents. Belatedly, Israel is letting in a token amount of food aid that UN Under-Secretary Tom Fletcher has called a

    View from The Hill: Coalition split puts Victorian and NSW Nationals Senate seats at high risk
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Victorian and NSW Nationals senators due to face the voters at the 2028 election will struggle to hold their seats if the former partners do not re-form the Coalition before then. Under usual Coalition arrangements, Bridget McKenzie, from Victoria,

    New Caledonia, French Polynesia at UN decolonisation seminar in Dili
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia and French Polynesia have sent strong delegations this week to the United Nations Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in Timor-Leste. The seminar opened in Dili today and ends on Friday. As French Pacific

    NSW is copping rain and flooding while parts of Australia are in drought. What’s going on?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne Emergency crews were scrambling to rescue residents trapped by floodwaters on Wednesday as heavy rain pummelled the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. In some areas, more

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: National security brings economic benefits

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Pulling our weight in an increasingly volatile world will keep New Zealanders safe while boosting our domestic economy, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.
    “To achieve this, the Government has allocated $2.7 billion of capital and $563 million of operating funding for priority projects identified in the Defence Capability Plan we released last month. 
    “This includes the replacement of maritime helicopters and complements the $957 million for defence activities, personnel and estate previously announced,” Ms Collins says.
    “This previous announcement, and today’s commitments, brings the total investment in Defence to $4.2 billion in Budget 2025.
    “Today we announce investments in critical tools that support our national and economic security. This ranges from updated and interoperable missile systems to counter uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to protect our people and assets, through to planes that are essential for deploying troops and equipment and supporting international trade and diplomatic missions.
    “We will be looking to use New Zealand businesses where it makes sense to do so, further demonstrating the Government’s commitment to supporting those who are innovative and capable of developing tools and capability that Defence needs.
    “Ultimately, spending on Defence will result in economic benefits to everyday New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses. I look forward to seeing our Defence industry grow in a range of areas, whether through New Zealand designed or built products, particularly in the advanced technology area, infrastructure development, or domestic contractors supporting high-value military procurement.”
    The $2.7 billion in capital and $563 million in operating funding announced today for priority Defence projects covers essential items including:

    replacing the two Boeing 757s to support military operations and deployments, humanitarian and disaster relief support, and trade and diplomatic missions
    replacing the Seasprite maritime helicopters to operate from Navy ships (previously announced)
    replacing the Javelin anti-armour missile system launch units with new units to ensure interoperability with partner militaries and provide the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) with the ability to fire at longer ranges
    encrypted radios to provide deployed Army units with secure voice communication
    a counter-UAS that can be set up in fixed locations and is able to disable drones/UAS that could pose a threat to personnel, aircraft/vehicles and infrastructure
    detailed design work for the future of Devonport Naval Base; and
    investment in homes for Defence families, Defence infrastructure, modernising the Defence vehicle fleet and digital and information management projects.

    “These investments are critical to enable Defence to increase its lethality, protect New Zealand, and deliver what we expect of them,” Ms Collins says.
    “The Defence Capability Plan outlines planned commitments of $12 billion over the next four years – including $9 billion of new spending – subject to future Budget decisions and Cabinet approving business cases. Our Budget commitments are yet another strong signal that we are cracking on and delivering on this plan, which will take Defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by 2032/33.
    “The Government’s backing of Defence shows a very real recognition of the value we place on the men and women who serve and protect this country and its interests.
    “Our people are being called upon to go more places, more often and for longer to play New Zealand’s part in contributing to global security. This funding will enable them to do that.
    “We will pull our weight.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Energy Secretary Wright Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2026 Budget Request

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright testified today before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.

    Earlier this month, Secretary Wright testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to outline the Department’s priorities and provide an overview of the FY2026 request.

    The FY2026 Budget aligns with President Trump’s directive to restore American energy dominance and rein in bloated federal spending. It brings non-defense discretionary spending to the most disciplined level since 2017 and redirects more than $15 billion away from Green New Scam programs that drive up costs and weaken the U.S. energy system. For more details, view the budget toplines here.

    Secretary Wright’s opening remarks:

    Chairman Kennedy, Ranking Member Murray, and members of the committee, it is an honor to appear before you today as Secretary of Energy to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget request for the Department of Energy. I want to commend this committee for its longstanding commitment to energy policy and to the mission of the Department.

    Energy is the backbone of civilization. It is the essential catalyst of human progress— enabling everything we do, everything. From the lights in our home, the heat in our homes, the process heat in our factories, and the innovation in our National Laboratories. I’ve dedicated my life to increasing access to energy and bettering human lives, and I’m thrilled to carry my work forward at the Department of Energy.

    My priorities for the Department are clear— to unleash a golden era of American energy dominance, strengthen our national security, and lead the world in innovation. A reliable and abundant energy supply is the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation. When America leads in energy, we lead in prosperity, security and human flourishing.

    America has the historic opportunity to secure our energy systems, lead the world in scientific and technological innovation; maintain and strengthen our weapons stockpile, and meet Cold War legacy waste commitments. The Department of Energy will advance these critical missions while cutting red tape, increasing efficiency, and unleashing innovation and ensuring we are better stewards of taxpayer dollars.

    The President’s Fiscal Year ’26 budget will ensure taxpayer resources are allocated appropriately and cost-effectively. This budget will return DOE to its core mission of advancing energy innovation and global competitiveness through research and development. We will invest DOE’s resources in sources and technologies that support affordable, reliable, and secure energy and provide a return on investment for the American taxpayers.

    Achieving this vision means fully leveraging the resources that have powered our country for generations. The United States is blessed with an abundance of coal, oil, and natural gas,

    Every one of these resources was unleashed through the world-changing power of American innovation. Our National Labs are the engine that drives research and development to expand our energy dominance. When it comes to our National Labs, we are undeniably capable of doing more with less. We can both increase efficiency and drive innovation. We will prioritize research that supports true technological breakthroughs and maintains America’s global competitiveness.

    We are also taking steps to accelerate innovation in commercial nuclear development. America must lead the commercialization of affordable and abundant nuclear energy. DOE is working to advance the rapid deployment of next-generation nuclear technology, including small modular reactors.

    I am proud to report that we have officially ended the previous administration’s reckless pause on LNG export permits and are returning to regular order for reviewing and approving new permits. DOE will also work to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve— a national asset that protects our security in times of crisis.

    We are advancing President Trump’s pledge to lower the cost of living and expand consumer choice for all Americans by rightsizing DOE’s approach to home efficiency standards and regulations. This month, DOE proposed the elimination or reduction of 47 regulations – the largest deregulatory effort in history. Once finalized, these actions are projected to save the American people approximately $11 billion while restoring consumer freedom and lowering costs.

    The responsible stewardship and modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons systems is paramount for the Department of Energy and this Administration. DOE is focused on addressing critical upgrades for the U.S. nuclear stockpile and maintaining our engine powerhouses for submarines and aircraft carriers. Both tasks will become even more crucial in the next few years.

    Our nuclear innovation is a nation that began with the Manhattan Project, and the next Manhattan Project is clearly AI. DOE has a significant role to play in driving AI innovation for scientific discovery and national security. Our agency has world-class, high-performance computing capabilities, including four of the world’s top ten supercomputers. 
    Harnessing our energy potential to power global AI leadership while meeting growing energy demand will be the challenge of our time. But America doesn’t back down from big challenges or big builds.

    As Secretary of Energy, I am honored by the responsibility to help meet the American people’s growing needs for energy and lead the world in energy development. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China extends visa-free access to Latin America, impact beyond tourism

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

    A passenger aircraft of China’s Hainan Airlines is given a water salute at the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico, July 13, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    “Starting June this year, Chileans can visit China visa-free! I eagerly await my family’s visit soon,” Carolina Araya, a Chilean national, shared what she called “great news” on her WeChat Moments. Many of her friends gave her likes.

    Currently a Spanish language instructor at Anhui International Studies University in east China, Araya reminisced about a visit by her parents almost six years ago. “I really hope they can make it later this year,” she said.

    Moreover, it’s not just Chileans who will benefit. Effective June 1, 2025, China will expand its visa-free access to also include citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, with a trial period lasting until May 31, 2026.

    Holders of ordinary passports from these five Latin American nations may enjoy visa-free entry to China for various reasons — including business trips, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges or simply transit — for no more than 30 days, said a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry at a recent news briefing.

    Introduced at the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing earlier this month, this policy aligns with China’s broader initiative to extend visa exemptions and foster friendly exchanges with more Latin American and Caribbean countries.

    Liang Qing (L), a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, instructs a Peruvian student in writing Chinese calligraphy in Lima, capital of Peru, April 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Potential travel rush

    Filipe Porto, a Brazilian academic who has spent over a year in China, said the country will probably become the first overseas travel choice for his 52-year-old mother.

    “My mother has never traveled abroad,” said Porto, who is a researcher in international relations with the Federal University of ABC, Brazil. He is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of his Brazilian friends, who, according to Porto, used to find the visa application process a hassle.

    Situated on opposite sides of the globe, travel between Latin America and China once presented significant challenges, stemming not only from visa complexities but also vast distances. Nowadays, however, increased air connectivity coupled with relaxed visa restrictions have brought these distant lands much closer.

    In 2024, a direct flight was launched connecting Mexico City and south China’s Shenzhen. Covering more than 14,000 kilometers, it is the longest direct international passenger route from China.

    Other routes, such as Beijing-Madrid-Sao Paulo, Beijing-Madrid-Havana and Beijing-Tijuana-Mexico City, have also strengthened links between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

    Data from online travel platforms shows huge potential for inbound tourism from the five Latin American countries that will soon enjoy visa-free status. This year, Ctrip, a leading Chinese online travel platform, reported 168 percent year-on-year growth in inbound tourism orders from Argentina, while orders from both Brazil and Chile saw a growth of over 80 percent.

    Ctrip Vice President Qin Jing said China’s visa-free policy trial with countries like Brazil will not only spark an increased flow of cross-border tourism but also serve as an innovative step in promoting deeper cultural dialogue and shared values between China and the five Latin American nations. “We can expect the inbound tourism market to usher in a new, dynamic and reciprocal pattern in the near future,” she said.

    Federico Carabajal, a 32-year-old Argentinian winemaker, has spent more than a year working at the Stone and Moon Winery in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China. During this time, he has explored a number of Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, southwest China’s Chengdu and Chongqing, and Xi’an in the northwest.

    “China is further opening up to the world. The country is trying to showcase its rich culture, history, cuisine, technologies and smart cities to the world,” Carabajal said. “Besides, traveling in China is very safe. It’s also much cheaper than in many other countries.”

    Nicolas Billot-Grima (L), co-founder of Stone and Moon Treasury Wine Estates, tastes wine with Federico Carabajal, a winemaker from Argentina, at a cellar in Qingtongxia City, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Impact beyond tourism

    Tiva Bezerra, head of human resources at Suzano Asia, a major Brazilian pulp producer, believes the visa exemption could significantly improve how the company operates its local projects.

    “We envision it enabling more spontaneous technical exchanges, smoother executive visits — and potentially making China assignments more attractive to Latin American professionals,” Bezerra said.

    Gabriel Martin, a Uruguayan entrepreneur who owns two steakhouses while also managing a beef import venture in China, hailed the move as a potential boost for his business, because it means more clients.

    “China is one of the best countries in terms of business services,” Martin noted. “The Chinese people are warm and welcoming. Furthermore, it’s astonishing how well organized the country is, considering its vast expanse and dense population.”

    Gabriel Martin, a businessman from Uruguay, displays the steak he just cooked at LOKO steakhouse in the ancient city of Wuhu in Wuhu City, east China’s Anhui Province, June 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s continued expansion of its visa-free policy and efforts to facilitate entries send a clear signal of the country’s commitment to high-standard opening up, according to Yu Haibo, an associate professor specializing in tourism management in Tianjin-based Nankai University.

    Yu added that these measures demonstrate China’s resolve and efforts to promote a more dynamic, inclusive and resilient form of economic globalization.

    Over the years, China has consistently contributed to promoting cooperation and exchanges with LAC countries, with the past decade witnessing remarkable progress since the inaugural China-CELAC Forum.

    In the course of the last ten years, trade between China and LAC nations has doubled — amounting to an impressive 518.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.

    Chinese products, including its signature electric vehicles, are exported extensively to LAC countries, while goods originating from the region also enjoy popularity in China. Notably, Chilean cherries and beef from Argentina have made their way into the regular diet of Chinese households.

    Sun Yanfeng, a researcher at the Institute of Latin American Studies, under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that Latin American countries hope to expand exports in their economic and trade relations with China. The visa-free policy will significantly ease the process for Latin American entrepreneurs, particularly those from small and medium-sized enterprises, to visit China.

    In addition to the visa-free policy, the recent China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting also announced a set of other initiatives — such as supporting 300 impactful small-scale livelihood projects, enhancing vocational education cooperation, promoting Chinese language education and facilitating tourism dialogue.

    To Araya, the visa exemption will significantly benefit foreigners studying Chinese and Chinese students learning Spanish or Portuguese, two languages widely used in Latin America. “We may be at the other side of the world, but now we can get closer,” she said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hamilton Airbase firefighters awarded National Emergency Medals

    Source:

    A group of local volunteer firefighters have been honoured with National Emergency Medals for their efforts at the Hamilton Airbase during the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire crisis.

    The National Emergency Medal is part of Australia’s Honours and Awards system and recognises meaningful service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency.

    At a presentation ceremony held at the Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning on Friday 16 May, 17 firefighters from the region became the latest of more than 5,500 CFA members to receive the honour for the 2019-2020 fires.

    Water bombing aircraft operating out of Hamilton Airbase has long been a key component of CFA’s incident response, supporting firefighting efforts at ground level with direct suppression of fire activity via aerial attack.

    Aircraft operating out of the base rely on a volunteer bomber loader crew support to help prepare and load water and retardant and enable repeated water bombing runs to be conducted on request.

    CFA Deputy Chief Officer South West Adrian Gutsche presented the medals and said they were an important recognition of the valiant efforts of CFA members.

    “It is a great honour to receive the National Emergency Medal, and I hope it goes a small way to thanking our members for their service,” Adrian said.

    “The work that the bomber loader crews undertake is hot, strenuous and requires a high degree of care and precision so that ongoing aerial attack operations can be conducted successfully.”

    The Hamilton Airbase was activated on a total of 26 days during the 2019-20 National Emergency declaration for Glenelg and Southern Grampians, including a period of 15 consecutive days from 20 December 2019 to 3 January 2020 when fire activity was at its highest.

    “We are incredibly grateful for the important contributions bomber loader crews made during this period to protect the community,” Adrian said.

    “These volunteers come from brigades in Hamilton and surrounding areas and are members who have already dedicated many years of service within CFA.”

    Hamilton Airbase Manager and medal recipient, Ron Huf said it was an honour to be formally recognised.

    “I’m proud to be able to provide support to the community, through what I do at the airbase. It was my first year in that role and I had just done my training, which was fairly intense, but great preparation for what was to come,” Ron said.

    “I’ve been within CFA for 45 years, and spent years as a Captain and Strike Team Leader, and I got to the point where I wanted a change from being out on the fire trucks and command vehicles.

    “I found having an interest in aircraft and aviation, that I was drawn to helping in the airbase setting, and having managed resources, staff and other complexities in my past leadership roles I thought it would be a good opportunity to contribute in a different way.   

    Ron said the back-to-back days are long and hot, but the crew enjoy the camaraderie of the team environment.  

    “It is hard to quantify the work our members do at the airbase, and we all do different things within the group, but those out there loading planes definitely deserve to be recognised,” Ron said.

    “While working at the airbase in a voluntary capacity, CFA provided us with welfare support, whether that was meals, accommodation and everything in between, they really looked after us.”

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Urge Justice Department Watchdog to Open Investigation into DOJ’s Role in Unconstitutional Qatar Airplane Scheme

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff Urge Justice Department Watchdog to Open Investigation into DOJ’s Role in Unconstitutional Qatar Airplane Scheme

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in demanding an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inspector General into the Attorney General and the Department of Justice’s involvement in President Trump’s unconstitutional acquisition of a $400 million luxury plane from the Qatari government.

    The request for an inquiry cites new reporting that the U.S. government has accepted the plane from Qatar and that President Trump actively solicited the luxury aircraft from Qatar’s government. At Attorney General Pam Bondi’s confirmation hearing, Senator Padilla and his Democratic Judiciary Committee colleagues raised concerns about Bondi’s previous work as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar and how that might influence her work as Attorney General.

    “These reports raise the troubling possibility that the Department, and Attorney General Bondi personally, were integral to this scheme by crafting a legal justification to enable the President to circumvent the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, federal bribery and ethics laws, and Congress in order to acquire one of the largest foreign gifts in our history,” wrote the Senators.

    “Given today’s announcement and the fact that the Department’s leadership has effectively politicized the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which, under normal circumstances, would investigate professional misconduct by Department attorneys, it is imperative that your office undertake an independent and comprehensive investigation,” continued the Senators.

    The request to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz was sent by Padilla, Schiff, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    Last week, Senator Padilla joined 26 other Senators in cosponsored a resolution condemning President Trump’s acceptance of a luxury airplane gift, valued at $400 million, from the government of Qatar. According to reports, Trump intends to designate the plane as Air Force One while in office and transfer it to a foundation for personal use following the end of his term.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:  

    Dear Inspector General Horowitz:

    We write to request that you open an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Department of Justice’s involvement in facilitating President Trump’s effort to acquire a luxury airplane from Qatar, including the actions of Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Department of Defense confirmed today that it is accepting the plane as a gift from the government of Qatar. Given today’s announcement and the fact that the Department’s leadership has effectively politicized the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which, under normal circumstances, would investigate professional misconduct by Department attorneys, it is imperative that your office undertake an independent and comprehensive investigation.

    New revelations suggest that President Trump or senior administration officials actively solicited this foreign gift by initiating outreach to Qatar regarding the Boeing 747-8 plane in its possession, and, contrary to claims by President Trump and his associates, by proposing to Qatar that the transfer be in the form of a gift or donation, as opposed to a government-to-government sale. The reporting also raises questions as to whether the administration disclosed to the Qatari government that the Department of Defense would ultimately relinquish the plane and transfer it to President Trump after leaving office, potentially through his presidential library.

    Public reports suggest that Attorney General Bondi played a crucial role in providing cover for such a gift by issuing a legal memorandum to White House Counsel David Warrington that “concluded it would be ‘legally permissible’ for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term.” Under this scheme, the Department of Defense would serve as a clearinghouse to launder the plane on President Trump’s behalf, while bearing the enormous financial cost to retrofit the aircraft to meet necessary security and counterintelligence standards and requirements for Air Force One.

    These reports raise the troubling possibility that the Department, and Attorney General Bondi personally, were integral to this scheme by crafting a legal justification to enable the President to circumvent the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, federal bribery and ethics laws, and Congress in order to acquire one of the largest foreign gifts in our history. We are particularly concerned that elements of the Department, such as the Office of Legal Counsel, were enlisted to develop such a justification and produce one or more memoranda to allow the White House to claim that such a transfer is lawful. Among other concerns, these new revelations raise key questions regarding whether Department lawyers had a full understanding of the facts to render a complete and accurate legal opinion, or were directed to assess the legality of such a transfer based on incomplete, selective, or shaded details.

    Attorney General Bondi’s personal involvement in this scheme requires particular attention. During her confirmation hearing, Attorney General Bondi committed under oath to “consult with the career ethics officials with the Department [of Justice]” to “make the appropriate decision” with respect to matters pertaining to Qatar, given her previous registration as a lobbyist for Qatar under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The aforementioned solicitation of a $400 million gift from the Qatari government presents a plain conflict of interest that undermines the public’s trust in Attorney General Bondi’s ability to provide impartial legal advice.

    Moreover, your office is uniquely positioned to conduct such an inquiry. During Attorney General Bondi’s tenure, the Department has removed senior career ethics officials and kneecapped offices responsible for overseeing ethics and professional misconduct, including the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which was established 50 years ago in response to ethics abuses and serious professional misconduct by senior Department of Justice officials during the Watergate scandal. We have well-founded concerns that OPR is no longer able to fulfill its mandate since the Department’s political leadership removed OPR’s career lead, Jeffrey Ragsdale, who had served in the role since 2020. OPR’s absence as an oversight check on the Department’s senior leadership further reinforces the need for your office to undertake an independent investigation, including into Attorney General Bondi’s actions and whether she consulted career ethics officials as she pledged to do.

    Such an investigation would complement parallel oversight requests by Members of Congress, including a request that the acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense investigate the Department of Defense’s involvement in this scheme, questions to the Secretaries of Defense and the Air Force regarding the cost and operational security of retrofitting such a plane, and letters to Attorney General Bondi regarding her role.

    The Department of Justice has a long and storied history of rooting out and combatting corruption without fear or favor that is now at risk. In this moment, the responsibility of the Office of Inspector General to “detect and deter waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct” in the Department has never been more important. Your office has a solemn obligation to hold the Department to account, especially given the credible concerns that it has been used to justify and enable unconstitutional acts and corruption at the highest levels of government.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Palestinian president urges global action over Gaza crisis

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

    A displaced girl is seen in the seaport area of western Gaza City, on May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday called on the international community to take immediate action in response to the “catastrophic and tragic” situation in the Gaza Strip.

    “I appeal to world leaders to take urgent and decisive measures to break the blockade on Gaza, allow the entry of humanitarian and medical aid by land, sea, and air, and immediately and permanently halt this aggression,” Abbas said, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

    Abbas also urged for “the release of all detainees and prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the State of Palestine assuming full responsibility,” — steps he described as essential for reconstruction, ending hostilities, and advancing the two-state solution.

    He expressed hope that the upcoming UN high-level conference on the two-state solution in June would serve as a turning point, helping implement international resolutions and securing broader recognition and full UN membership for the State of Palestine.

    Meanwhile, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, told Xinhua on Wednesday that Israeli aircraft launched dozens of raids on Gaza since dawn, killing at least 56 Palestinians across the territory.

    Israel launched its new military campaign, dubbed Gideon’s Chariots, over the weekend. Officials said the operation aims to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of 58 hostages still held in Gaza. The campaign includes the displacement of most of Gaza’s population to further south of the territory and a push to seize control of vast areas in the enclave.

    At least 53,655 people have been killed, with 121,950 injured, since the Israeli offensive began 19 months ago, according to the Gaza health authorities on Wednesday. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s knowledge of Russia is dwindling. We need to start training our future experts now

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Richardson, Visiting Fellow, Centre for European Studies, Australian National University

    Shutterstock

    Russia’s possible interest in basing long-range aircraft at an Indonesian airbase not far from Australian shores shook up a relatively staid election campaign last month.

    The news, which Jakarta immediately dismissed, caught many by surprise in Australia. It shouldn’t have. While Indonesia’s non-aligned stance makes granting such a request highly unlikely, Russia’s defence and political ties with Southeast Asia have actually been deepening over the last decade, at least.

    All of this has gone largely unnoticed in Australia. And this highlights a significant problem: Australia has something of a knowledge deficit when it comes to Russia. This is in part due to the fact our expertise on the country has been hollowed out since the Cold War ended.

    Russia’s power plays are expanding globally

    The Soviet Union loomed large in Australia’s consciousness during the Cold War, if not high on its list of priorities.

    Today, Russia remains a major, albeit slightly diminished, power. It is a nuclear weapons state (it has more than 5,500 nuclear warheads, the most of any nation) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It is also active in other forums of importance to Australia, such as the G20 and APEC, as well as in issues like arms control and climate change.

    Most worryingly, under President Vladimir Putin, Russia will no doubt continue to be a disruptor on the international stage.

    Russia’s political and security elite perceive the country to be a great power with interests and a right to influence in every part of the world. Just to drive that message home, a giant sign quoting Putin last year read: “Russia’s borders do not end anywhere”.

    Even before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow perpetuated an ideology that it is at war with the West. This idea is a key source of legitimacy for Putin’s regime. Russia’s hostile actions against Western democracies continue to proliferate. These include disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks, election interference and, in some regions, sabotage and assassinations.

    This isn’t focused entirely on Europe and the US, either. Russia has an active – and expanding – military presence in the Asia-Pacific. Russia’s Pacific Fleet, based in Vladivostok, now has more than 20 nuclear and conventional submarines and frequently engages in training exercises with the Chinese navy.

    More “normal” relations with Russia will not return soon. A lasting peace in Ukraine seems unlikely if any interim ceasefire deal leaves large swathes of the country under a brutal Russian occupation regime. Putin is unlikely to let go of his ambitions to subjugate Ukraine and limit its independence.

    While sanctions have made it harder for Moscow to conduct the war, the Russian economy also does not appear in danger of imminent collapse.

    Meanwhile, Southeast Asia has proven susceptible to Russia’s anti-Western narratives, particularly when it comes to the claim that the Russian invasion was provoked by Western policies and threats. Most regional governments have been loathe to criticise the invasion and the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia have made state visits to Moscow despite it.

    Russia has had similar success in pushing disinformation through orchestrated social media campaigns across the Global South, including in parts of Africa where Australian companies have made significant investments in the mining sector.

    Reviving Russia literacy

    All these trends point to the need to enhance Australia’s modest level of Russia literacy, both in language skills and broader country expertise.

    This was the key message of a recent conference on “Russian activities and Australian interests in the Indo-Pacific”, hosted by the ANU’s Centre for European Studies. It was attended by a wide range of government officials, academics, analysts and foreign diplomats.

    Australia once had strong Russian-language departments at several universities. It also boasted numerous Russian and Soviet scholars of global repute, such as Harry Rigby, Sheila Fitzpatrick, Graeme Gill, Stephen Wheatcroft, Geoffrey Jukes and Stephen Fortescue.

    Today, the number of university departments teaching Russian language, history or politics has dwindled, with only the University of Melbourne offering a major in Russian language and literature. That university has also added a much-welcomed fellowship in Ukrainian studies.

    And Australia has few lecturers or researchers in international relations, history or social sciences with Russia expertise, including language skills.

    We can – and should – return our university Russian offerings to the levels we had 30 years ago. This can be done without cutting back on the existing expansive focus on other countries and regions. There is also scope for greater focus on Russia and the former Soviet countries in government.

    It will hard for Russia to shake off the pattern of failed government reform efforts defaulting to strong, centralised rule with imperial ambitions and an anti-Western posture.

    But moves towards reform could eventually bear fruit (again) when Putin leaves the stage. If this were to happen, Russia would remain a major power with a rich cultural legacy and many common interests with Australia in areas such as natural resources. There is also a significant Russian diaspora in Australia.

    For Australia, it is a mistake to think of Russia as somewhere far away. Both in simple geography – all state capitals except Perth are closer to Vladivostok than to New Delhi – and in terms of the interplay of global interests.

    Or, as British commentator Keir Giles puts it: “You may not be interested in Russia, but Russia is interested in you.”

    Jon Richardson 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. Australia’s knowledge of Russia is dwindling. We need to start training our future experts now – https://theconversation.com/australias-knowledge-of-russia-is-dwindling-we-need-to-start-training-our-future-experts-now-256445

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Peters Secures Commitment from Air Force Secretary for Future Funding to Support Basing of F-15EX Fighters at Selfridge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 05.21.2025

    WASHINGTON, DC – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) secured a commitment from Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink that future Air Force funding will be used to support the recapitalization of Selfridge’s retiring A-10 mission with the 21 new F-15EX fighter jets that were recently announced for the base. Peters emphasized the importance of robust Air Force funding to base the F-15EXs – a next generation fighter aircraft that will help ensure the long-term future of Selfridge. 
    “I’m certainly proud, as all Michiganders are, of Selfridge’s exceptional 108-year legacy defending our nation, and with this announcement I am certain this legacy will continue for decades to come,” Senator Peters said during the hearing.  
    When pressed by Peters to commit to supporting the recapitalization of Selfridge’s A-10s with the incoming F-15EX fighters, Secretary Meink said, “Based on the President’s decision, the Air Force is putting a plan together to execute the placement of the F-15EXs at Selfridge.”  
    Building on a $28 million investment he secured to construct a new aircraft hangar at Selfridge, Peters went on to acknowledge that additional infrastructure improvements are necessary to support the F-15EXs, as well as the KC-46A tanker mission Peters announced in January 2024. Peters reiterated his willingness to work with the Air Force to carry out these improvements in a timely manner.    
     

    To watch the full video of Senator Peters’ questioning, click here.
    Peters has made securing the long-term stability of Selfridge Air National Guard Base a top priority. Prior to last month’s F-15EX basing announcement, Peters sent a letter urging the Air Force to base a new fighter mission at Selfridge. Peters also led the Michigan delegation in meeting with and urging top Defense Department officials to replace Selfridge’s A-10 mission with a new, long-term fighter mission. Peters secured language in the most recent national defense bill encouraging the Air Force to plan for replacement of the 25 Air National Guard fighter aircraft squadrons across the country with advanced fighter aircraft – including the A-10 squadron based at Selfridge. Peters has also leveraged his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to push for the funding needed to procure additional F-15EX fighter jets in the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act, which passed committee in August 2024. In 2023, Peters urged the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to include funding for a F-15EX Fighter Mission at Selfridge.   
    In addition to securing a new fighter mission, in January 2024, Peters announced that the U.S. Air Force selected Selfridge to host a new squadron of twelve KC-46A refueling tankers. This announcement came shortly after Peters led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan delegation members in urging then-U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to select Selfridge for a new squadron of these next-generation tankers, which will be deployed by the U.S. Air Force for the next 50 years.  

    MIL OSI USA News –