NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China will work with Central Asian countries to create new miracles of turning desert into oasis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — China is willing to deepen cooperation with Central Asian countries and other countries in the field of ecology and environmental protection to jointly create new miracles of turning the desert into an oasis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

    June 17 marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Guo Jiakun made the above statement at a regular briefing when answering a question about China and Central Asian countries’ joint efforts to overcome the Aral Sea ecological crisis, a cooperation that brings green hope to Central Asia’s “dry tears.”

    Guo Jiakun recalled that desertification is a common challenge for both China and Central Asian countries. He stressed that for more than two years since the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, the two sides have been conducting in-depth joint scientific research and working on the reclamation of saline and alkaline lands, creating a demonstration zone of cotton fields with water-saving technologies. These efforts have been widely supported and fully approved by the local population.

    According to the official, overcoming the Aral Sea ecological crisis is a clear example of China’s participation in global efforts to combat desertification. Having signed the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, China has actively implemented its provisions and carried out productive international cooperation on desertification prevention and control, thus giving impetus to the green development of countries in the Global South, Guo Jiakun added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As Luxon heads to China, his government’s pivot toward the US is a stumbling block

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago

    Ahead of his first visit to China, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been at pains to present meetings with Chinese premier Xi Jinping and other leaders as advancing New Zealand’s best interests.

    But there is arguably a degree of cognitive dissonance involved, given the government’s increasing strategic entanglement with the United States – specifically, the administration of President Donald Trump.

    It was this perceived pivot towards the US that earlier this month saw a group of former senior politicians, including former prime ministers Helen Clark and Geoffrey Palmer, warn against “positioning New Zealand alongside the United States as an adversary of China”.

    Luxon has brushed off any implied criticism, and says the National-led coalition remains committed to maintaining a bipartisan, independent foreign policy. But the current government has certainly emphasised a more active role on the international stage in closer alignment with the US.

    After coming to power in late 2023, it hailed shared values and interests with the Biden administration. It then confidently predicted New Zealand-US relations would go “from strength to strength” during Trump’s second presidency.

    To date, nothing seems to shaken this conviction. Even after the explosive White House meeting in February, when Trump claimed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was a warmonger, Luxon confirmed he trusted Trump and the US remained a “reliable” partner.

    While Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters apparently disagreed in early April over whether the Trump administration had unleashed a “trade war”, the prime minister depicted the story as a “real media beat-up”. Later the same month, Luxon agreed with Peters that New Zealand and Trump’s America had “common strategic interests”.

    Closer US ties

    We can trace the National-led government’s closer security alignment with the US back to late January 2024.

    New Zealand backed two United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefires in Gaza. But Luxon then agreed to send a small Defence Force team to the Red Sea to counter attacks on shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels protesting the lack of a Gaza ceasefire.

    The government has also enthusiastically explored participation in “pillar two” of the AUKUS security pact, with officials saying it has “the potential to be supportive of our national security, defence, and foreign policy settings”.

    In the first half of 2025, New Zealand joined a network of US-led strategic groupings, including:

    To be sure, New Zealand governments and US administrations have long had overlapping concerns about China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

    The Labour-led government of Jacinda Ardern issued a defence policy statement in 2018 explicitly identifying China as a threat to the international rules-based order, and condemned the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security pact.

    Ardern’s successor, Chris Hipkins, released a raft of national security material confirming a growing perception of China’s threat.

    And the current government has condemned China’s comprehensive strategic partnership with the Cook Islands – a self-governing entity within the New Zealand’s realm – and expressed consternation about China’s recent military exercises in the Tasman Sea.

    But US fears about the rise of China are not identical to New Zealand’s. Since the Obama presidency, all US administrations, including the current Trump team, have identified China as the biggest threat to America’s status as the dominant global power.

    But while the Obama and Biden administrations couched their concerns (however imperfectly) in terms of China’s threat to multilateral alliances and an international rules-based order, the second Trump administration represents a radical break from the past.

    Not in NZ interests

    Trump’s proposed takeovers of Gaza, Canada and Greenland, his administration’s disestablishment of USAID, sanctions against the International Criminal Court, and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and the UN Council for Human Rights are all contrary to New Zealand’s national interests.

    Similarly, his sidelining of the UN’s humanitarian role in Gaza, his demand for a Ukraine peace deal on Russian terms, and his assault on free trade through the imposition of tariffs, all conflict with New Zealand’s stated foreign policy positions.

    And right now, Trump’s refusal to condemn Israel’s pre-emptive unilateral attack on Iran shows again his administration’s indifference to international law and the rules-based order New Zealand subscribes to.

    It is becoming much harder for the Luxon government to argue it shares common values and interests with the Trump administration, or that closer strategic alignment with Washington balances Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

    On the contrary, there is a real risk Trump’s apparent support for Vladimir Putin is viewed as weakness by China, Russia’s most important backer. It may embolden Beijing to be forward-leaning in the Indo-Pacific, including the Pacific Islands region where New Zealand has core interests.

    A better strategy would be for New Zealand to reaffirm its friendship with the US but publicly indicate this cannot be maintained at the expense of Wellington’s longstanding commitment to free trade and a rules-based global order.

    In the meantime, a friendly reminder to Luxon’s hosts in Beijing might be in order: that New Zealand is an independent country that will not compromise its commitments to democratic values and human rights.

    Robert G. Patman 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. As Luxon heads to China, his government’s pivot toward the US is a stumbling block – https://theconversation.com/as-luxon-heads-to-china-his-governments-pivot-toward-the-us-is-a-stumbling-block-259129

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China is ready to cooperate with Turkmenistan to fully realize the potential of cooperation based on mutually beneficial interaction – Xi Jinping /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

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — China is ready to cooperate with Turkmenistan to fully unleash the potential of cooperation based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday during a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

    Noting that China and Turkmenistan enjoy strong political mutual trust, strong will for cooperation and complementary advantages, Xi Jinping stressed that China hopes to further comprehensively expand the depth, breadth and scale of bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan and advance the construction of a China-Turkmen community with a shared future.

    The Chinese leader pointed out that the two sides should effectively integrate the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s strategy of “Reviving the Great Silk Road.” He called on China and Turkmenistan to step up cooperation in the natural gas sector, explore opportunities for cooperation in non-resource sectors, optimize trade structure, and strengthen regional connectivity.

    Xi Jinping called for more cultural exchanges to be held in China and Turkmenistan on the basis of the China-Turkmenistan cross-cultural years, and for the establishment of cultural centers in both countries to be accelerated, promoting connectivity between their peoples. The Chinese president also called on the two countries to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, security and defense, jointly combat the “three evil forces” (terrorism, extremism and separatism), and enhance cooperation in cybersecurity.

    Xi Jinping stressed that China, adhering to the policy of a good, secure and prosperous neighborliness and the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, is willing to use the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road as a major platform to jointly build a better future with neighboring countries including Turkmenistan.

    According to the Chinese leader, China supports Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization and its productive holding of the upcoming 5th meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, and is pleased to see how Turkmenistan, as an eternally neutral state, is playing an increasingly constructive role in international affairs.

    Xi Jinping expressed China’s intention to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Turkmenistan on international and regional issues, jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system and uphold the common interests of the Global South. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can Britain be a nation of tea growers? Scientists say yes – and it could even be good for your health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amanda Lloyd, Researcher in Food, Diet and Health, Aberystwyth University

    Almost 100 million cups of tea are consumed daily in the UK. Meteoritka/Shutterstock

    It’s not every day you find yourself standing in a tea garden in Devon, surrounded by rows of Camellia sinensis – the same plant species used to make tea in India, China and Japan. But there we were, in the heart of Dartmoor, picking fresh tea leaves from plants that are thriving in the UK’s cool, damp climate.

    It’s a surprising sight, and one that could become more common. Britain may be known as a “nation of tea drinkers”, but might there be opportunities for it to increasingly be a nation of tea growers? Our research has involved working with growers in Devon and Wales to explore the chemistry of UK-grown tea.

    We’re using a technique called “metabolomics” to understand what’s going on inside the leaves, and how different growing conditions, processing methods and even fermentation (like making kombucha) affect the final cup.

    Tea competes with coffee to be the UK’s favourite drink, but almost all tea leaves are imported. With concerns about climate change, food security and sustainability increasing, there’s growing interest in whether more food, including tea, can be grown in the UK.

    We chose mid-Wales and south-west England for our project because of their mild, wet climates, which are surprisingly well-suited to tea cultivation. Dartmoor, in particular, has a unique microclimate and varied soils that make it an ideal test site. There’s also a strong local appetite for sustainable farming and agricultural innovation.

    Wales already has a tea pioneer in Lucy George, a Nuffield farming scholar who began growing tea near Cardiff in 2014. Her brand, Peterston Tea, is now sold in Welsh shops and around the world. She believes that slower growth in Wales’ cooler climate may actually improve flavour, making Welsh-grown tea more than just a curiosity.

    Dr Amanda J Lloyd and Dr Ali Warren-Walker gathering samples at Dartmoor Estate Tea in Devon.
    Aberystwyth University, CC BY

    What we found

    One of our studies used metabolomics and machine learning to explore the chemical diversity of UK-grown tea.

    Metabolomics involves analysing the small molecules – known as “metabolites” – in a sample. These include sugars, amino acids and polyphenols, as well as more complex “bioactives” like catechins and flavonoids. These types of compounds influence flavour, aroma and potential health benefits.

    We used method called “direct injection mass spectrometry” to create a chemical fingerprint of each sample. Then we used machine learning to spot patterns and differences. We also looked at how the chemistry of the leaves changes depending on the time of day they’re picked and how they’re processed.

    Our findings show that tea grown in the UK has a rich and diverse chemical profile. Different varieties, picking times and processing techniques all influence the concentration of beneficial compounds like catechins and flavonoids.

    The other study was a human trial, which found that drinking green tea from Dartmoor with rhubarb root for 21 days significantly reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol, and without disrupting the gut microbiome. This suggests that UK-grown tea could be developed into a functional food, supporting health. This product is now being sold by a tea company in Carmarthenshire, west Wales.

    This is exciting because it means we can tailor how we grow and process tea to enhance both its flavour and its health benefits. And it opens the door to a potential new UK-grown tea industry. It could play a part in supporting the rural economy, reduce reliance on imports and offer a more sustainable future for UK agriculture.

    On a global level, this kind of research helps us understand how plants respond to different environments, which is crucial for food security in a changing climate.

    A Cornish tea grower explains the challenges of growing tea in the UK.

    What’s next?

    We’re now investigating how different tea varieties and processing techniques – like steaming, oxidation and novel drying methods – influence the tea’s chemical make-up. These techniques could help preserve more of the beneficial compounds and make it easier to develop new tea-based products like powders or supplements.

    Another human study is looking at how kombucha affects well-being, memory, inflammation and stress.

    We’re also continuing to test how different varieties of tea respond to the UK’s conditions, and how we can refine growing and processing techniques to produce high-quality, health-promoting tea on home soil.

    As climate change reshapes what we can grow and where, tea may just become one of the UK’s most unexpected and exciting new crops.

    Amanda Lloyd receives funding from Welsh Government Covid Recovery Challenge Fund (part of the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Division funding), alongside Innovate UK Better Food for all (10068218), and the Joy Welch Research Fund (Aberystwyth University internal)

    Nigel Holt receives funding from Innovate UK Better Food for all (10068218)

    – ref. Can Britain be a nation of tea growers? Scientists say yes – and it could even be good for your health – https://theconversation.com/can-britain-be-a-nation-of-tea-growers-scientists-say-yes-and-it-could-even-be-good-for-your-health-257495

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Combat National Security Threats from China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is cosponsoring legislation to counter threats to U.S. national security posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would direct the Attorney General to prepare a report on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to combat threats from China and espionage in the United States, so that the federal government can better form a fact-based, up-to-date strategy to contain and confront China.
    China poses one of the greatest threats to the United States’ national security and economy. In February 2023, the United States Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had traveled through American airspace for several days — an apparent act of Chinese provocation. It was also revealed last year that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has secretly been operating “service centers” across America — raising questions about China’s surveillance efforts in our country. Additionally, China has leveraged much of its legal system to steal American intellectual property. It leads America’s adversaries as the top thief of United States’ intellectual property (IP). According to the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, the CCP has stolen IP that is estimated to cost the United States from $225 billion to $600 billion every year.
    “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently worked to undermine our national security, weaken our economy and steal intellectual property,” said Senator Angus King. “The first step in combatting any threat is to ensure we have a clear understanding of the facts. The bipartisan Counting Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would be a commonsense, invaluable step forward in countering these serious threats posed by Chinese agents. By using our own intelligence and annual reporting from the Department of Justice, we can better protect our communities and companies from foreign bad actors.”
    The Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would:
    Direct the U.S. Attorney General, in coordination with other relevant government agencies, to prepare an annual report on the DOJ’s efforts to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
    Specifically, the report would include details pertaining to:
    The theft of American intellectual property (IP) and research
    Threats from non-traditional collectors, such as researchers in laboratories, at universities and at defense industrial base facilities
    An accounting of DOJ resources dedicated to combating threats from the CCP
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Alongside the Maine delegation he urged the DOJ to crackdown on illegal Chinses-owned marijuana operations in Maine. In the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), he secured a key provision requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit yearly reports focused on deterring hostility from adversaries like China and Russia. During hearings, Senator King has been a vocal advocate for strengthening the United States’ deterrence strategy to defend itself from multiple forms of Chinese aggression.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Institute of Regional Studies: Field Marshal Visits U.S. to Reinforce Role as Regional Stabilizer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ISLAMABAD, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, commenced a high-level visit to the United States this week, signalling a renewed chapter in military diplomacy amid escalating tensions across the Middle East and South Asia.

    The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad held an event on “What’s next for Iran-US Nuclear negotiations” on the 12th of June 2025 where analysts reflected on Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic and defence engagement with the United States during a critical time for global and regional security. IRS and participating analysts spoke about Pakistan’s foreign policy and regional peace, noting that Pakistan has taken a strategic reset after the altercation with India in May 2025 – choosing to not only rekindle US-Pakistan ties but to take a proactive approach in managing regional peace and security.

    With conflict intensifying between Iran and Israel, and Afghanistan remaining a fragile state following the U.S. withdrawal, Pakistan’s position (geographic, diplomatic and security) makes it a critical player for the US and the world at large. Munir’s visit is seen as part of a broader U.S. effort to cultivate reliable partners who can help contain extremist spill over, mediate regional hostilities, and provide strategic balance against escalating tensions and instability in the region.

    Welcomed by diaspora communities across major American cities, the Field Marshal’s presence has been widely perceived as a message of resilience and a signal of Islamabad’s intent to re-engage proactively with Washington on defense and security matters.

    Key Focus Areas of the Visit

    • Counterterrorism Coordination: Strengthening intelligence sharing to track extremist elements across the Afghan-Iranian corridor.
    • Securing Abandoned U.S. Military Assets: Developing joint protocols for tracking and neutralizing equipment left behind post-Afghanistan.
    • Strategic Dialogue: Opening renewed discussions on Kashmir, regional diplomacy, and economic cooperation.
    • Support to the US: in restoring the peace process with Iran-Israel

    U.S. CENTCOM Chief General Michael Kurilla’s recent acknowledgment of Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” highlights the importance of this engagement. Analysts view the visit as an inflection point in U.S.–Pakistan relations — moving from transactional ties to a more sustained security alliance.

    About

    The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) is an Islamabad-based think tank that conducts free, focused research on South Asia’s foreign and national affairs, including geostrategic, defense, economic, cultural, health, education, environment, science, technology, and social issues. IRS also works on China, West Asia, and the Central Asian Republics.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a493e54-0360-4885-abd7-a6dc8b78d613

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Putting Scotland’s Future in Scotland’s Hands

    Source: Scottish National Party

    Read John Swinney’s speech on independence at Scotland 2050 below:

    Thank you for that warm welcome.  It is encouraging to see so many people here today, invested in the future of our country and keen to work together to build it.  

    This is not only about the future of our country.  It is about our future.  And that of our children and our grandchildren.  

    I am up here speaking as a father, and grandfather, as well as First Minister.  This is about the world we build for Scotland’s next generation.  And how we make our nation – and, as much as we can, our world – the best it can possibly be.

    I spend a great deal of time thinking about this – about what we want our shared future to look like, and what we must do today to create it.

    But first, before turning to the Scotland we seek and the Scotland we have the ability to make, I want to share some details of a new analysis the government has published, Future Trends for Scotland.

    Drawing on a wide range of practitioner and other expert views, and shaped also by insights from young Scots, it sets out the trends we think are most likely to shape Scotland in the next 10 to 20 years. I hope that it can in some way shape your thinking, as it certainly will ours.

    It is about challenges as well as opportunities, and both are important. The challenges facing Scotland, known in the present and possible in the future, are many, but the opportunities are more. We must never forget that reality. 

    Each generation faces its challenges, many as great, greater even than the ones our generation faces today, and, let us remind ourselves, we have always found a way through. 

    With the Future Trends horizon scan, we have the best available Scotland specific analysis to inform our decisions, both now and for the future. 

    You will recognise some of the trends the work has identified.

    A growing risk to our democracy because of mis- and disinformation, with trust in institutions falling.

    Conflicts more frequent.

    Climate change impacting soil quality, biodiversity, food supply. 

    Global progress on inequality stalling.

    And, as a result of these and other global trends, increasing voluntary and involuntary migration.

    No guarantee living standards will increase, but a real risk of ongoing wealth and income inequality at home and significant budgetary pressures as we struggle to meet the demands of an aging population.

    But also, growing success for Scotland in fields such as space and life sciences, new opportunities in energy, and widespread adoption of AI alongside the emergence of quantum technology.

    Both hurdles and new horizons for our society and economy. Warnings where we need to change, or up the pace, but also doors opening, if we have the courage to walk through them with confidence, with boldness and self-belief.

    And it is by shaping strategy and policy towards achieving long-term outcomes that we will be ready for this new world as it evolves.  

    That is one of the reasons we are reforming the National Performance Framework so that it can provide us with a clear north star, with ambitious, citizen-centred outcomes to guide our choices and actions as we navigate this emerging new world.

    A reformed NPF will help reshape government in Scotland. It will enable us to better focus budgets, to reduce compartmentalisation and encourage collaboration between spheres of government, and with partners in the third sector and the business community. 

    It is one part, but an important part of focusing government on delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland as we build towards our vision of a Scotland that is more vibrant, more successful, more ambitious even than the Scotland of today. 

    But before looking forward, I wish to first look back.

    As others have observed, the Scotland of 2050 is as far removed from us today as the Scotland into which our parliament was born.

    Over the past quarter century, much has changed but the Scotland of today is not some alien land compared to the Scotland of then. 

    We can see clearly the threads connecting our reality now with choices made in the years between. 

    Yes, day-to-day life in Scotland has been fundamentally altered by technology – from the iPhone and the internet to emergent AI – and by geopolitics – from the rise of China to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. By climate change, globalisation, deindustrialisation. 

    Changed also as a direct result of our disastrous withdrawal from the EU and by the wholly negative impacts of austerity in the UK on the vitality of our public services or on people’s living standards and quality of life. 

    But it has also been shaped, and changed for the better, by the Scottish Parliament’s ban on smoking, by minimum pricing on alcohol, or by our decisions to rapidly expand early learning and childcare, introduce HPV vaccination and modernise our school estate.

    Yes, the Scotland of 2050 will be shaped by a series of unpredictable forces, by new technologies we have only half-imagined in the pages of science fiction, by conflicts now only simmering, by people who are only just born. 

    But it will also be shaped by us. By the decisions we take, the policy choices we implement, the vision and path forward that we set out.

    That is a great responsibility, but for me it is also exciting, inspiring, and a he privilege to shape it as First Minister.

    So how do we get from where we are to where we want to be?

    A big part of the answer is ensuring that we are in charge of our own destiny. That we have our hands on all the levers we need to make the biggest difference.

    A fiscal squeeze, better dealt with if we are fully in charge of our nation’s finances.

    The complexities of navigating climate change, much easier if we are in charge of energy policy and our vast energy resources.

    Making sure we have a big enough working population to meet the demands of an aging population, more options, more solutions possible, if we are in charge of our immigration policy, or members again of the EU.

    But I will come back to that, to how we can truly put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.

    As we look around our land in 2050, my hope is that we see a modern, dynamic Scotland, a compassionate, enterprising, forward-looking nation state, back where it belongs at the heart of Europe.

    We have taken the climate challenge and seen it as an opportunity for a complete redesign of our ways of living. For example, district heating schemes in every community, an everyday part of life, delivering low-cost heating, and significantly lower energy bills. More liveable communities, full of climate positive, modern, affordable homes, with rethought and rediscovered High Streets. More of our food grown locally, and technology enabling more of what we use every day to be produced locally. 

    We are a clean energy nation, with the vast amounts of low-cost renewable energy that we produce fuelling a host of new business opportunities. Data centres, research centres, energy intensive manufacturing industries. Low-energy costs making it cheaper to produce food. Low-energy costs making it cheaper to heat our homes. Scotland a clean energy powerhouse. An energy rich Scotland finally meaning also energy rich Scots.

    We are a high-tech, clean tech country, with our public realm digitally transformed, high-tech solutions delivering more effective, more personalised health interventions, the right systems in place to manage the acute and support us more effectively as we enter old age.

    We have seen too-high levels of child poverty not in terms of handouts, but as a handbrake on our potential, as a limit on the success our nation can achieve. And we have acted decisively to eradicate child poverty in our land. As a result, we have released the potential of tens of thousands of ambitious, eager and talented young Scots, young men and women who are playing a crucial role, a fundamental role, in building our nation anew. 

    We have looked at our place in this world and decided that the union that offers the greatest opportunity, that provides the greatest security is the European Union.

    How do we get there? 

    In part, through the perhaps mundane reality of good government. That has been my focus since I became First Minister. Interventions in that vein like a realistic medium-term finance strategy, an effective population health strategy and a clear-eyed and mobilising programme of public sector reform – all initiatives being launched over the coming week.

    By having government focused on a clear set of priorities, and producing policy that is determined by the real-world, real-life needs of people rather than what might best suit the system. 

    Eradicating child poverty. Boosting economic growth. Delivering climate action. Improving public services, especially the NHS. This prioritisation of government action on those things that matter most to people, those things that will deliver the most for people, is at the very heart of what I am trying to achieve as First Minister. Listening to the public and addressing the strain they fell over the cost of living.

    It is also about collectively owning the vision and uniting in our determination to get there. It is about focusing our efforts behind a sharp and clear set of national outcomes and ambitious short-, medium- and longer-term national goals.

    However, most importantly, it is about deciding to take Scotland’s future into our own hands. 

    It is only by taking charge of our own destiny, with our own hand on the tiller, that we are better able to ride the waves of change, that we are better able to shape our own future.

    That does not mean a Scotland standing alone, but rather a nation that has worked out its place in the world, and the contribution it wants to make to the world. An ongoing deep and rich partnership with the other nations of these isles, absolutely, but ultimately as a nation state in our own right, as a Member State of the world’s largest trading block, the world’s biggest social and economic community, the European Union. 

    I have long believed that Scotland is an afterthought to successive UK governments. Scotland is not on Westminster’s radar in the same way, say, as London, the Midlands or the Southeast. From a UK perspective that is completely understandable, but from a Scottish perspective, to accept it is total madness. 

    It holds us back in ways big and small, leaving us waiting and praying, hoping that decisions taken at Westminster are not too damaging. 

    We are prey to a broken system and a failing economic model – a system that delivers for a very few at the very top, while living standards stagnate and real wages are squeezed for the vast majority.

    It means, as a nation, that we must try to thrive on what amounts, at worst, to poison pills and, at best, policy scraps from the UK table. 

    All this when we have the capacity to stand and flourish on our own two feet.

    I know there are many in this room who are not yet persuaded by the case for independence, and others who will never be. I respect that.

    But independence is the defining choice for this generation, have no doubt. Because the UK status quo has proved itself incapable of delivering on the hopes and ambitions of the people of Scotland.

    That is why, like a clear majority of Scots, I believe that our nation should have the right to choose.

    If this is a voluntary union, as Westminster politicians insist, then it is completely untenable that there is no mechanism for Scotland to leave the Union if it so wishes.

    Whether it is Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage, no Westminster politician should have the ability to deny Scotland her right to national self-determination. 

    I want to close today with a piece of poetry that I think perfectly captures this moment in time for our nation. It was written by Liz Lochhead, Scotland’s Makar from 2011 to 2016. It has just been given pride of place, alongside many other inspirational lines of poetry and prose, on the Canongate wall of the Scottish Parliament.

    She wrote,

    this

    our one small country . . .

    our one, wondrous, spinning, dear green place.

    What shall we build of it together

    in this our one small time and space?

    Today, you have heard something of my answer, something of my ambition for Scotland. It is a vision of a country that is fairer, wealthier, more at peace with itself than the Scotland of today. 

    A Scotland that is modern, dynamic and forward-looking, living in anticipation of what more can be done, what else can be achieved. Moving forward as one, moving forward with hope and self-belief.

    Such a Scotland is within reach, I have no doubt. But if we want it, we have to work for it, we have to vote for it, we have to actively, purposefully, and I hope also joyfully, make it happen.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese authorities make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — China’s Foreign Ministry, relevant embassies and consulates, together with other government agencies, are making every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel and promptly organize their evacuation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

    The diplomat made the statement at a regular briefing, answering a question about China’s plans to evacuate its citizens from Iran and Israel amid the military escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran.

    Protecting the safety of Chinese citizens abroad is an absolute priority for the country’s government, Guo Jiakun emphasized, noting that after the outbreak of the Israeli-Iranian conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as well as Chinese embassies and consulates in both countries, immediately launched a consular emergency response mechanism and asked the authorities of both countries to effectively ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions.

    “Some Chinese citizens have now been safely evacuated to neighboring countries,” the official said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese-Kyrgyz cooperation has great potential – Xi Jinping /more details/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan has great potential, calling on the two countries to increase trade and investment and expand cooperation in developing sectors.

    Xi Jinping made the statement at a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia summit in the Kazakh capital Astana.

    Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, Chinese-Kyrgyz ties have developed rapidly and are now at the highest level in their entire history, Xi Jinping noted.

    He recalled the fruitful meeting with S. Japarov in February in Beijing. During the talks, a number of important consensuses were reached, giving a new and powerful impetus to bilateral cooperation.

    China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to continuously deepen the alignment of development strategies, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, and safeguard the common and long-term interests of both sides, Xi said.

    Xi Jinping called on the two sides to deepen financial cooperation, improve connectivity networks and promote high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

    He also called on both sides to stimulate new growth factors in clean energy, green minerals and artificial intelligence, strengthen exchanges in areas such as culture, tourism, education and health care, and implement more projects to benefit the peoples of the two countries.

    Xi Jinping stressed that China and Kyrgyzstan are beneficiaries of economic globalization, and called on the two sides to jointly oppose unilateralism, firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order, and promote the building of a more fair and equitable global governance system.

    Recalling that China and Kyrgyzstan will take turns chairing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and hosting summits, Xi Jinping said Beijing is ready to work with Bishkek to support each other and jointly promote the further development of the SCO.

    For his part, S. Japarov said that under the outstanding leadership of Chairman Xi Jinping, China is moving along the path of prosperity and strength, achieving great achievements and playing an important leadership role in the international arena.

    The Kyrgyz side attaches great importance to the development of relations with China and values strategic partnership based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, as well as good-neighborly friendship, he said.

    According to him, the Kyrgyz side firmly supports China in matters concerning its fundamental interests, adheres to the one-China principle, and also opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” and any interference by external forces in the country’s internal affairs.

    Noting that China is Kyrgyzstan’s largest trade and investment partner, the President indicated that the Kyrgyz side invites more Chinese companies to do business in Kyrgyzstan and is ready to work with China to jointly advance projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, strengthen cooperation in energy, green minerals and other areas for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

    Bishkek actively supports three important global initiatives put forward by Chairman Xi Jinping and is ready to cooperate with Beijing for their joint implementation, said S. Japarov.

    He added that Kyrgyzstan will closely coordinate positions and cooperate with China within the framework of the UN, SCO and the China-Central Asia mechanism to promote regional and global security, stability, development and prosperity.

    Following the meeting, the two heads of state attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral cooperation documents covering agriculture, customs, science and technology, media and other areas. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China, five Central Asian countries jointly form China-Central Asia Spirit 2025-06-18 00:11:49 Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that China and Central Asian countries have explored and formed the China-Central Asia Spirit, which features mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and the pursuit of common modernization through high-quality development.

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

      ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that China and Central Asian countries have explored and formed the China-Central Asia Spirit, which features mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and the pursuit of common modernization through high-quality development.

      Xi made the remarks in his speech at the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Conflict in Middle East, Budget Reconciliation, GENIUS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing negotiations of the budget reconciliation package, and final passage of the GENIUS Act.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on Trump preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon: “It’s not surprising. President [Donald] Trump has been entirely clear this entire period that Iran needs to come to the table, that he will not allow them to have a nuclear weapon. Yet what does Iran do? Continues to tap the ball. They go past the 60-day window that they’d been given, and they continue to advance their nuclear program. It’s no surprise that Israel has taken the action that they have, Maria. I think they have no choice. This is an existential decision on behalf of [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. He cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon because Iran’s been very clear: death to Israel and also death to America. We have to take them at their word. This regime has been nothing but using every tactic in the book to, basically, buy more time to ‘negotiate’ while, in the background, they continue to develop this weapon. This capability is something we can’t let them finalize. President Trump has been, again, extraordinarily clear. He will not let that happen.”

    Hagerty on the U.S. standing with Israel: “I think President Trump has been very clear. He’s not for these forever wars that go on. I agree with that. At the same time, he’s also been very clear that we stand with Israel. I think most people in America feel the same way. I think President Trump has a spectrum of options before him. I’m not going to get ahead of him and try to predict what he might do, but I’ll say this: Israel’s doing an incredible job. Their intelligence has been impeccable, and I think the Iranians need to wake up and realize they’re on their back foot. They’re on their back heel, and they need to get to the table quickly to get this resolved because they are not winning.”

    Hagerty on China supporting Iran’s terror regime: “They have been supporting Iran, Maria, over time. If you think about it, who’s been buying this illicit oil? Iran’s been evading sanctions. How? They’re selling their oil to China. China’s been providing the funds. The funds have been used, therefore, to build up Hamas, to build up Hezbollah, to build up Houthis. It’s Iranian technology, Iranian knowhow, that’s being used, along with Iranian funds, which are being, basically, funneled from China through Iran, back into these zones of terror. China needs to bring this to a complete halt. They need to join us, and we need to see this come to an end.”

    Hagerty on the ongoing budget reconciliation negotiations: “There’s a lot in that that, I think, is going to be refined. There’s going to be more deficit reduction orientation in what the Senate is working on right now. I’m not going to get in the middle of negotiations, but just take SALT, for example, the state and local tax exemption. It came over from the House with a $40,000 exemption per year. The Senate’s come back with a $10,000 exemption. That’s a negotiation that’s underway. Again, I’m not going to try to get ahead of the negotiators, but this is what’s going to take place. This is how it gets done here in Washington. Overall, though, I’d say this: we have to keep in mind that to not address this, to not address the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would deliver north of $4 trillion of tax increases to the American people. The White House budget model predicts that there would be a six percent decline in GDP next year, were that to happen. We’re not going to let that happen either, Maria. So, we’re in the process of fine-tuning. Everybody wants this to be as conservative as it can be, but also, it’s imperative that we get this passed and passed quickly, so the capital expenditure plans can firm up, so that the investments that we want to see happen in America do begin to get plans. The 2026 is the best year we’ve seen on record.”

    Hagerty on SALT provisions: “I think you look at the Senate, we don’t have a SALT constituency in the Senate. We don’t have [Republican] senators from California, New York, Illinois. We’re trying to address this, but we’re trying to do this in a fiscally responsible manner. Again, we’re in the middle of a negotiation. [Representative] Mike [Lawler] is at $40,000, the U.S. Senate right now is at $10,000. Again, I’m sure Mike will be clear in his point tomorrow, but we’re in the middle of a negotiation. We’ll see where it lands.”

    Hagerty on the IRA subsidies: “I think they’re going to be scrutinized very, very carefully, Maria. I understand the arguments that is that certain companies are relied, to their detriment, on the tax subsidies that were there, but I think we’re going through this with a fine-tooth comb. Certainly, we don’t want to see anymore new utilization of these types of tools, and I think they’re trying to minimize the disruption in the damage that might have occurred from those companies that have already relied upon it and started projects.”

    Hagerty on final passage of the GENIUS Act: “I’m very enthusiastic about the stablecoin legislation that I’ve led. We’ve been working on this for months. We have a strong bipartisan product. We will deliver that midday today. We’ll have it ready, and I think it’s got a tremendous amount of input from the industry, from my colleagues here. We’ve involved the administration. I think we’re going to have a great product that actually sets the stage for moving into a modern-day payment system into the 21st century. Getting us off the old system that was designed in the 1970s and eighties, making the dollar the key element in the digital arena. And frankly, it will stimulate more demand for U.S. treasuries. It will strengthen the dollar’s position as a reserve currency. We’re going to see that advance in a way that, again, takes a lot of friction out of an old, clunky system, reduces counterparty risk, reduces currency risk, and will bring a lot of working capital back to the companies that need it and back into the economy. With respect to the [Securities and Exchange Commission], I couldn’t ask for a better partner than [SEC Chairman] Paul Atkins. He’s doing a terrific job already. We’re going to be working arm-in-arm to try to help advance the entire cryptocurrency industry, the entirety of this industry, that’ll keep us on the cutting edge of the 21st century. As you mentioned, I want to make my state a hub. We’ve got Bitcoin miners there. We’ve got Bitcoin Park there. We had the great Bitcoin Conference there that President Trump attended. That’s where he announced that he would be firing [Former SEC Chairman] Gary Gensler. I think that received great applause, and I think everybody’s extremely happy to see someone, strong conservative, hard-nosed fellow, like Paul Atkins, coming into office. I’m looking forward to working, arm-in-arm, together with him.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MDNIY launches ‘Yoga Bandhan’ to celebrate global unity ahead of IDY 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush, kicked off the global initiative ‘Yoga Bandhan’ today, marking a significant milestone in the lead-up to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. As one of the 10 Signature Events for IDY 2025, the program underscores India’s commitment to fostering global collaboration through yoga, promoting cultural exchange, academic dialogue, and holistic well-being.

    The inaugural event brought together yoga ambassadors from 15 countries, including academicians, practitioners, studio founders, authors, and wellness experts. Held at MDNIY’s campus in Delhi, ‘Yoga Bandhan’ served as a platform to strengthen institution-to-institution partnerships and showcase India’s leadership in global yoga diplomacy.

    In his keynote address, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, emphasized yoga’s universal appeal, noting that 95% of India’s population is aware of Ayush systems, with 35% actively practicing yoga, according to National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data. “Yoga has found resonance across the globe,” he said, highlighting initiatives like Harit Yoga, Yoga Connect, and Samyoga under IDY 2025. He revealed that over 3.3 lakh yoga events have already been organized worldwide, with projections of reaching 5 lakh by June 21, 2025.

    Kotecha also discussed upgrades to the Yoga Certification Board (YCB) to meet the rising demand for certified yoga professionals globally, inviting international delegates to collaborate with YCB for mutual growth.

    Nandini Singla, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), lauded the international dignitaries, calling them “voices of peace and harmony.” She highlighted yoga’s role in India’s cultural diplomacy, citing demonstrations by foreign dignitaries at iconic Indian locations like Delhi, Varanasi, Jodhpur, and Jaipur. Singla proposed introducing short-term yoga courses for international visitors to further promote cultural exchange.

    Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, described IDY as a global movement that unites millions in pursuit of health and harmony. “The theme of IDY 2025 reflects the Indian philosophy of *Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam*—the world is one family,” she said, emphasizing yoga’s universal relevance.

    Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of MDNIY, welcomed the global gathering, stating, “Yoga Bandhan reflects India’s commitment to sharing yoga’s timeless wisdom, fostering humanity’s shared bonds through its unifying power.”

    The event featured a guided tour of MDNIY’s campus, an interactive session on yoga communication, and a cultural yoga fusion performance by MDNIY students. Delegates explored opportunities for collaboration in yoga research, education, and training.

    Notable international delegates included Josh Pryor (President & CEO, Yoga Australia), Prof. Danilo Forghieri Santaella (University of São Paulo, Brazil), Yin Yan (Founder, Yogi Yoga, China), and Vidya Volkova (Director, Shakti Yoga Studio, Kazakhstan), among others.

    Over the coming days, these ambassadors will engage in cultural immersions, institutional visits, and policy dialogues, culminating in the grand IDY 2025 celebrations on June 21, 2025.

  • MDNIY launches ‘Yoga Bandhan’ to celebrate global unity ahead of IDY 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush, kicked off the global initiative ‘Yoga Bandhan’ today, marking a significant milestone in the lead-up to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. As one of the 10 Signature Events for IDY 2025, the program underscores India’s commitment to fostering global collaboration through yoga, promoting cultural exchange, academic dialogue, and holistic well-being.

    The inaugural event brought together yoga ambassadors from 15 countries, including academicians, practitioners, studio founders, authors, and wellness experts. Held at MDNIY’s campus in Delhi, ‘Yoga Bandhan’ served as a platform to strengthen institution-to-institution partnerships and showcase India’s leadership in global yoga diplomacy.

    In his keynote address, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, emphasized yoga’s universal appeal, noting that 95% of India’s population is aware of Ayush systems, with 35% actively practicing yoga, according to National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data. “Yoga has found resonance across the globe,” he said, highlighting initiatives like Harit Yoga, Yoga Connect, and Samyoga under IDY 2025. He revealed that over 3.3 lakh yoga events have already been organized worldwide, with projections of reaching 5 lakh by June 21, 2025.

    Kotecha also discussed upgrades to the Yoga Certification Board (YCB) to meet the rising demand for certified yoga professionals globally, inviting international delegates to collaborate with YCB for mutual growth.

    Nandini Singla, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), lauded the international dignitaries, calling them “voices of peace and harmony.” She highlighted yoga’s role in India’s cultural diplomacy, citing demonstrations by foreign dignitaries at iconic Indian locations like Delhi, Varanasi, Jodhpur, and Jaipur. Singla proposed introducing short-term yoga courses for international visitors to further promote cultural exchange.

    Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, described IDY as a global movement that unites millions in pursuit of health and harmony. “The theme of IDY 2025 reflects the Indian philosophy of *Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam*—the world is one family,” she said, emphasizing yoga’s universal relevance.

    Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of MDNIY, welcomed the global gathering, stating, “Yoga Bandhan reflects India’s commitment to sharing yoga’s timeless wisdom, fostering humanity’s shared bonds through its unifying power.”

    The event featured a guided tour of MDNIY’s campus, an interactive session on yoga communication, and a cultural yoga fusion performance by MDNIY students. Delegates explored opportunities for collaboration in yoga research, education, and training.

    Notable international delegates included Josh Pryor (President & CEO, Yoga Australia), Prof. Danilo Forghieri Santaella (University of São Paulo, Brazil), Yin Yan (Founder, Yogi Yoga, China), and Vidya Volkova (Director, Shakti Yoga Studio, Kazakhstan), among others.

    Over the coming days, these ambassadors will engage in cultural immersions, institutional visits, and policy dialogues, culminating in the grand IDY 2025 celebrations on June 21, 2025.

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Breaking down the chaos of a seemingly infinite workday

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Breaking down the chaos of a seemingly infinite workday

    In our recent 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report, we charted the emergence of the Frontier Firm—powered by intelligence on tap, run by human-agent teams, and defined by a new role for every employee, the agent boss. These firms are redesigning business processes around AI and agents to scale rapidly, operate with agility, and generate value faster than traditional companies.

    But organizations will never complete their journey to becoming a Frontier Firm by concentrating on process alone. Our research, based on trillions of globally aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, reveals a challenging new roadblock: a seemingly infinite workday. 

    AI offers a way out of the mire, especially if paired with a reimagined rhythm of work. Otherwise, we risk using AI to accelerate a broken system. To get a handle on this barrier to transformation, let’s start our infinite workday. 

    The workday often begins before a lot of people are out of bed. By 6 am, many Microsoft 365 users are scanning overflowing inboxes in hopes of getting ahead. Our telemetry data shows:  

    • 40% of people who are online at 6 am are reviewing email for the day’s priorities. 

    • The average worker receives 117 emails daily—most of them skimmed in under 60 seconds. 

    • Mass emails with 20+ recipients are up 7% in the past year, while one-on-one threads are on the decline (-5%). 

    The inbox may still be the front door to work, but too often it opens to a flood of unprioritized chaos. 

    The chaos of the infinite workday

    It starts early, mostly in email, and quickly swells to a focus-sapping flood of messages, meetings, and interruptions. 

    By 8 am, Microsoft Teams overtakes email as the dominant communication channel, shifting the day into high gear.  

    • The average worker receives 153 Teams messages per weekday. 

    • Messages per person are up 6% YOY globally—more than 20% in regions like Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and over 15% in the UK and South Korea. 

    Each email or message notification may seem small, but together they can set a frenetic tempo for the day ahead.  

    The most valuable hours of the workday are often ruled by someone else’s agenda. Half (50%) of all meetings take place between 9–11 am and 1–3 pm—precisely when, as research shows, many people have a natural productivity spike in their day, due to their circadian rhythms. But our data reveals that we fill this time with meetings, leaving little room for deep focus. Tuesdays now carry the heaviest meeting load (23%), while Fridays taper to just 16%. Instead of deep work, these prime hours are spent cycling through a carousel of calls. 

    Meetings hijack prime focus time

    Studies show that many people have two natural performance spikes each day, but our data reveals that we fill one of them with meetings, leaving little room for focus work.

    An area chart showing average productivity levels for workers between the hours of 6 am and 12 am, indicating that a high percentage of meetings are often scheduled during peak productivity hours, leaving workers with less time to dedicate to focus work.

    But meetings aren’t the only force fracturing attention. By 11 am—peak productivity for many—message activity also surges, with 54% of users active. According to our telemetry data it’s the most overloaded hour of the day, as real-time messages, scheduled meetings, and constant app switching converge, making focus on any one task nearly impossible. 

    Calendars may show a break in meetings after lunch, but that could also be a mirage. During this time we see Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (WXP) usage surge as employees attempt focus work like writing, analyzing data, and creating decks—but that time is fragmented. Our telemetry data shows that, on average, employees using Microsoft 365 are interrupted every 2 minutes by a meeting, email, or notification. That competing digital noise doesn’t appear on calendars, but as many information workers will likely attest, it’s deeply felt. In fact, our global Work Trend Index survey shows that nearly half of employees (48%)—and more than half of leaders (52%)—say their work feels chaotic and fragmented. 

    The issue isn’t just volume—it’s sprawl. Our data shows that modes of communication are changing, coordination is more complex, and mental load is heavier.  

    • 57% of meetings are ad hoc calls without a calendar invite—and 1 in 10 scheduled meetings are booked at the last minute.  

    • Large meetings (65+ attendees) are the fastest-growing type—likely a result of employees navigating increasingly complex, cross-functional teams. 

    • Nearly a third of meetings now span multiple time zones—up 35% since 2021. 

    • And in the final 10 minutes before a meeting, PowerPoint edits spike 122%—the digital equivalent of cramming before an exam. 

    For many, the workday now feels like navigating chaos—reacting to others’ priorities and losing focus on what matters most. In a time when every hour counts, that drift could quietly drain energy and stall business progress. 

    The shift to the triple peak day that started during the pandemic is no longer a trend—for many, it’s the norm. Today’s workday stretches well into the evening. Our telemetry data shows that meetings after 8 pm are up 16% year over year, with global and flexible teams accounting for much of the increase. And it’s not just meetings: the average employee now sends or receives more than 50 messages outside of core business hours, and by 10 pm, nearly a third (29%) of active workers dive back into their inboxes, pointing to a steady rise in after-hours activity. 

    But “working late” can be experienced differently. A recent study from Microsoft Research found that remote workers often see evening hours as a productive window for quiet catch-up. Hybrid workers, by contrast, are more likely to experience that same time as a source of stress. For managers and leaders, this isn’t just a footnote—it’s a signal that can help set clearer expectations, shape team culture, and better support teams. 

    And for some, this pressure spills into the weekend—making Sunday feel like just another Monday:  

    • Our telemetry data shows a notable bump in weekend email usage. Nearly 20% of employees actively working on the weekend are checking their email before noon on Saturday and Sunday—waking up to work, even on typical days off. And over 5% are back in email on Sunday evenings (6 pm and later)—the Sunday scaries are real and measurable. 

    • And while email patterns mimic the workweek, other apps tell a different story: over the weekend, usage of WXP overtakes Teams messages as employees finally carve out time for uninterrupted focus work. 

    The infinite workday bleeds into evenings and weekends

    Boundaries are eroding as 1 in 3 employees say the pace of work over the past five years makes it impossible to keep up.

    This points to a larger truth: the modern workday for many has no clear start or finish. As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity. It’s the professional equivalent of needing to assemble a bike before every ride. Too much energy is spent organizing chaos before meaningful work can begin.  

    Leaders are feeling the squeeze. With flat budgets and rising pressure to perform, 1 in 3 employees in our global Work Trend Index survey responded that the pace of work over the past five years has made it impossible to keep up. The signals are clear: it’s time to break the cycle. The future of work won’t be defined by how much drudgery we automate, but by what we choose to fundamentally reimagine. AI can give us the leverage to redesign the rhythm of work, refocus our teams on new and differentiating work, and fix what has become a seemingly infinite workday. The question isn’t whether work will change. It’s whether we will. 

    Adopting AI isn’t enough. What you need now is a Frontier Firm mindset—one that questions how time is spent, how work gets done, and what truly drives impact. Here are three places to start: 

    1. Follow the 80/20 rule. In a world of flat budgets and shrinking attention, activity is not the same as progress. The most effective organizations know this—and act on it. Frontier Firms are putting the Pareto Principle into practice, focusing on the 20% of work that delivers 80% of the outcomes. AI makes this not only possible but scalable. By deploying AI and agents to streamline low-value tasks—status meetings, routine reports, admin churn—leaders can reclaim time for what moves the business: deep work, fast decisions, and focused execution. The companies that can win in the age of AI won’t just work harder—they’ll work smarter and sharper. Not sure where to start? Watch this leadership keynote from the Microsoft 365 Community Conference on Building the Future Firm.  

    2. Redesign for the Work Chart. Today, teams are organized by static functions like finance, marketing, and engineering. But with expertise available on demand through AI and agents, rigid structures add unnecessary friction. Take a product launch: content lives in marketing, data in analytics, budget in finance, and messaging with comms. A simple update like a price adjustment can take days and multiple meetings. It’s time to move from the org chart to the Work Chart—an agile, outcome-driven model in which lean teams form around a goal and use AI to fill skill gaps and move fast. At Supergood, an AI-first agency formerly called Supernatural, employees use a platform powered by decades of ad strategy to access insights instantly—no need to loop in a strategist on every brief. 

    3. Become an agent boss. There’s a new generation of professionals rising through the chaos—not by working more, but by working smarter. We call them agent bosses. Take Alex Farach, a researcher at Microsoft who uses a trio of agents to supercharge his work: one collects new research daily, the next runs statistical analysis, and the third drafts briefs to help connect the dots. Instead of getting bogged down in manual work, Farach can focus on what matters—fast, high-quality insights that benefit the entire team. This is the future of work: human-agent teams built to adapt and scale. 

    Methodology 

    Microsoft 365 Telemetry  
    All data is based on aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, ending February 15, 2025. Data excludes education (Edu) and European Union (EU) tenants. 

    • Interruptions 
      Employees are interrupted every two minutes during core work hours—275 times a day—by meetings, emails, or chats.  
      Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of pings (meeting invites, emails, chats) per unique user per workday. The two-minute figure reflects the average time between pings during an eight-hour workday. The 275 is based on the 24-hour day. Based on the top 20% of users by ping volume received. 

    • Last-Minute PowerPoint Edits  
      Edits in PowerPoint spike 122% in the final 10 minutes before a meeting.  
      Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of PowerPoint view and edit actions per meeting participant, measured across fixed time windows before meetings. 

    • Ad Hoc Meetings  
      60% of meetings are unscheduled or ad hoc.  
      Based on a rolling 28-day volume of unique meetings per user per workday. Represents the top 20% of users by meeting volume. 

    • After-Hours Chats  
      Chats sent outside the standard 9-to-5 workday are up 15% year over year, with an average of 58 messages per user now arriving before or after hours.  
      Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of chats sent outside of Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm 

    • Late-Night Meetings & Cross–Time Zone Work  
      Meetings starting after 8 pm are up 16% year over year, driven by an increase in cross–time zone collaboration. 30% of meetings now span multiple time zones—a figure that has risen 8 percentage points since 2021.  
      Measured as a rolling 28-day sum of meetings starting between 8 pm and 11:59 pm, adjusted for each participant’s local time. 

    Work Trend Index Survey  
    The Work Trend Index survey was conducted by an independent research firm, Edelman Data x Intelligence, among 31,000 full-time employed or self-employed knowledge workers across 31 markets between February 6, 2025 and March 24, 2025. This survey was 20 minutes in length and conducted online, in either the English language or translated to local languages across markets. 1,000 full-time workers were surveyed in each market, and global results have been aggregated across all responses to provide an average. In the US, an additional sample of 4,500 full-time employed or self-employed knowledge workers was collected across nine sub-regions/metros. 

    Global markets surveyed include:   
    Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. 

    Sub-regions/Metros in the United States surveyed include: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, DC Metro, Houston, New York City, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

    Audiences mentioned in the report are defined as follows: 

    • Knowledge workers: Those who typically work at a desk (whether in an office or at home). This group includes those who are in person or working remotely in some capacity. 

    • Leaders: Knowledge workers in mid to upper job levels (e.g., SVP, VP, Sr. Director, General Manager, EVP, C-Suite, President, etc.) who have at least some decision-making influence related to hiring, budgeting, employee benefits, internal communications, operations, etc. 

    • Employees: Knowledge workers who are not in mid to upper job levels or have no influence on decision-making related to hiring, budgeting, employee benefits, internal communications, operations, etc. 

    • Managers: Knowledge workers who manage a team or group of employees. Managers can be business decision makers or non-business decision makers. 

    • Frontier Firms: Leaders who say their company has organization-wide deployment of AI and believe their organization is a leader in actively investing in AI, and is measuring ROI on these investments. They say they have seen some ROI from implementation of AI and believe it is critical to their long-term success as an organization. They believe agents will be key to realizing a return on their company’s AI investments. These leaders say they work at organizations that are currently using agents or other AI tools that bring previously outsourced skill sets in-house, or are using multi-agent systems that collaborate to achieve a goal or execute complex workflows. Their company plans to moderately or extensively incorporate agents into its AI strategy over the next 12–18 months. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: China’s support for Mali’s military carries risks: researcher outlines what they are

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dublin City University

    Mali, a landlocked Sahelian nation of 25 million people, has faced significant instability since 2012, marked by terrorism, state neglect and armed conflicts.

    That year a Tuareg rebellion started in northern Mali and President Amadou Toumani Touré was ousted in a military coup. Constitutional rule was suspended. Rebels in northern Mali went on to seize cities like Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, declaring an independent Islamic State of Azawad and imposing sharia law.

    They also destroyed cultural heritage sites, including 14 of Timbuktu’s 16 Unesco-listed mausoleums. The crisis prompted international intervention, including a UN authorised mission, which retook northern cities within weeks. Islamist rebels retreated into civilian populations and remote areas.

    Despite these efforts, violence against civilians by extremist groups and community militias has continued. By 2023, 8.8 million Malians needed humanitarian assistance. Over 375,500 were internally displaced, primarily women and children.

    Meanwhile, the former French colony had turned to China for military assistance. Between 2012 and 2013, China provided €5 million (about US$5.8 million) in logistical equipment to improve the Malian army’s mobility.



    Read more:
    China’s interests in Africa are being shaped by the race for renewable energy

    In August 2013, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army gave the Malian army military supplies totalling 1.6 billion CFA francs (about US$2.8 million). China made similar donations between 2014 and 2023.

    I am an international security and global governance researcher. My recent research explored the impact of China’s security sector assistance on Mali’s fragility.

    China’s assistance to Mali aims to equip the country to address terrorism and insurgency. But I argue that it may have unintended consequences and cause further damage to the country.

    The heavy reliance on Chinese supply exposes Mali to vulnerabilities, including supply disruptions, diminished bargaining power, and limited strategic flexibility. This could destabilise security even more should China face manufacturing issues or supply chain disruptions leading to delays or shortages in the production of weapons.

    It also raises concerns about the potential influence of China on Mali’s defence policies and decision-making processes. In turn this could entrench the Malian military government’s position. China takes a hands-off approach to the governance structures of the countries it engages with. Hopes of democratisation in the country could be affected.



    Read more:
    US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa

    Rich in resources

    Mali has significant natural resources, including 800 tons of gold reserves (it’s Africa’s fourth-largest producer), iron ore, manganese, lithium, and potential uranium and hydrocarbon deposits.

    In 2019, gold production generated US$734 million, or 9.7% of Mali’s GDP, supporting over 10% of the population.

    Chinese firms, such as Ganfeng Lithium and China National Nuclear Corporation, have invested heavily in Mali’s mining sector. They are involved in a US$130 million lithium project and uranium exploration in the Kidal and Falea regions.

    Despite security risks, including attacks on Chinese personnel in 2015 and 2021, China remains committed due to Mali’s resource potential.

    Beyond mining, China has invested in Mali’s infrastructure. A US$2.7 billion railway modernisation project connects Bamako to Dakar, facilitating resource exports like iron ore and bauxite.

    The total of Mali’s external debt to China is not explicitly stated. But the 2014 loan agreement of US$11 billion and the 2016 loan of US$2.7 billion alone suggest Mali’s debt to China could be at least US$13 billion. This is without including loans for projects like the Bamako-Ségou expressway, and bridges in Bamako.

    This has often been criticised as “debt trap diplomacy”, increasing recipient countries’ dependence on Beijing. In Mali, I believe this risks entrenching economic vulnerability and giving China geopolitical leverage.



    Read more:
    China reaps most of the benefits of its relationship with Africa: what’s behind the imbalance

    China’s security sector assistance to Mali

    Historically, Mali relied on France. More recently, it’s used Russia’s expeditionary corps, formerly known as Wagner Group, for security support.

    In 2011, China provided US$11.4 million in grants, US$8.1 million in zero-interest loans, and a US$100.8 million concessional loan to foster bilateral cooperation.

    China’s participation in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali, starting in 2013 with 395 personnel, marked a shift in its security engagement.

    Chinese peacekeepers, including engineers, medical personnel and security guards, repaired infrastructure, provided medical aid and supported Mali’s 2013 elections.

    Their professionalism earned praise from the UN special envoy Albert Gerard Koenders for helping to ensure a smooth election.

    China’s involvement in Mali challenged traditional European approaches to peacekeeping, particularly France’s military-heavy strategy.



    Read more:
    China-Africa relations: new priorities have driven major shifts over the last 24 years – 5 essential reads

    How China’s assistance contributes to Mali’s fragility

    In spite of the positives, China’s security sector assistance contributes to Mali’s fragility in several ways.

    First, its no-strings-attached nature allows Mali’s military junta to consolidate power without making democratic or governance reforms.

    This lack of accountability enables corrupt military factions to operate unchecked. Governance weaknesses and authoritarianism can continue.

    Second, the heavy reliance on Chinese supply raises concerns about the potential influence of China on Mali’s defence decisions.

    This over-reliance on military solutions risks escalating conflicts and could lead to human rights abuses by security forces, as seen in increased violence against civilians. It doesn’t address root causes of conflict like social cohesion or local governance.

    Third, Mali’s growing dependence on Chinese aid — both military and economic — makes it vulnerable to disruptions from geopolitical tensions, supply chain issues, or changes in China’s foreign policy. This limits Mali’s ability to diversify its military capabilities or respond to evolving threats.

    Finally, China’s infrastructure investments, such as the US$1.48 billion (750 billion CFA francs) Bamako-Dakar railway loan, creates “debt trap diplomacy”.

    This pattern deepens economic dependence and reduces policy autonomy, further weakening state resilience.



    Read more:
    Maps showing China’s growing influence in Africa distort reality – but some risks are real

    The way forward

    To mitigate the risks of Chinese security sector assistance and promote sustainable stability, Mali must adopt a multifaceted strategy.

    First, it should collaborate with China to align security sector assistance with civilian-led security approaches.

    Second, Mali should diversify security and economic partnerships with donors like the US, the UK, and the EU.

    Third, transparent guidelines, developed through consultation with stakeholders, should assess the impacts of assistance to avoid deepening dependence.

    Fourth, engaging civil society and publishing regular reports on security sector assistance use and outcomes will foster public trust.

    Finally, promoting regional economic integration and ties with global powers will bolster Mali’s economic resilience.

    Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah 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. China’s support for Mali’s military carries risks: researcher outlines what they are – https://theconversation.com/chinas-support-for-malis-military-carries-risks-researcher-outlines-what-they-are-257738

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Led by IAEA, International Team Samples Treated Water under Additional Measures at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led a team of international experts to collect samples today of ALPS treated water stored at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) prior to the water’s dilution with seawater and its discharge to the sea.

    The sampling mission is the fourth under the additional measures, which focus on expanding international participation and transparency. These measures permit third parties to independently verify that water discharge which Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) – operator of the FDNPS – began in August 2023 continues to be consistent with international safety standards.

    International experts from Belgium, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and Switzerland, along with IAEA staff, conducted hands-on sampling of the water stored in tanks designated for the 14th batch of ALPS-treated water to be discharged.

    The IAEA initiated the first practical steps of the additional measures in October last year. This fourth mission follows the mission in April which sampled diluted water just prior to its discharge into the sea, and a mission in February when IAEA Director General Grossi presided over the additional measures to  collect seawater samples in the vicinity of FDNPS.

    The samples collected in today’s mission will be analysed by the participating laboratories – the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, the China Institute of Atomic Energy, the Korean Institute for Nuclear Safety, the Institute for Problems of Environmental Monitoring of the Research and Production Association “Typhoon” in Russia and the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland – as well as by the IAEA’s laboratory and TEPCO in Japan. All laboratories are members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, which are selected for their high level of expertise and analytical proficiency.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: China’s support for Mali’s military carries risks: researcher outlines what they are

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dublin City University

    Mali, a landlocked Sahelian nation of 25 million people, has faced significant instability since 2012, marked by terrorism, state neglect and armed conflicts.

    That year a Tuareg rebellion started in northern Mali and President Amadou Toumani Touré was ousted in a military coup. Constitutional rule was suspended. Rebels in northern Mali went on to seize cities like Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, declaring an independent Islamic State of Azawad and imposing sharia law.

    They also destroyed cultural heritage sites, including 14 of Timbuktu’s 16 Unesco-listed mausoleums. The crisis prompted international intervention, including a UN authorised mission, which retook northern cities within weeks. Islamist rebels retreated into civilian populations and remote areas.

    Despite these efforts, violence against civilians by extremist groups and community militias has continued. By 2023, 8.8 million Malians needed humanitarian assistance. Over 375,500 were internally displaced, primarily women and children.

    Meanwhile, the former French colony had turned to China for military assistance. Between 2012 and 2013, China provided €5 million (about US$5.8 million) in logistical equipment to improve the Malian army’s mobility.

    Read more: China’s interests in Africa are being shaped by the race for renewable energy

    In August 2013, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army gave the Malian army military supplies totalling 1.6 billion CFA francs (about US$2.8 million). China made similar donations between 2014 and 2023.

    I am an international security and global governance researcher. My recent research explored the impact of China’s security sector assistance on Mali’s fragility.

    China’s assistance to Mali aims to equip the country to address terrorism and insurgency. But I argue that it may have unintended consequences and cause further damage to the country.

    The heavy reliance on Chinese supply exposes Mali to vulnerabilities, including supply disruptions, diminished bargaining power, and limited strategic flexibility. This could destabilise security even more should China face manufacturing issues or supply chain disruptions leading to delays or shortages in the production of weapons.

    It also raises concerns about the potential influence of China on Mali’s defence policies and decision-making processes. In turn this could entrench the Malian military government’s position. China takes a hands-off approach to the governance structures of the countries it engages with. Hopes of democratisation in the country could be affected.

    Read more: US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa

    Rich in resources

    Mali has significant natural resources, including 800 tons of gold reserves (it’s Africa’s fourth-largest producer), iron ore, manganese, lithium, and potential uranium and hydrocarbon deposits.

    In 2019, gold production generated US$734 million, or 9.7% of Mali’s GDP, supporting over 10% of the population.

    Chinese firms, such as Ganfeng Lithium and China National Nuclear Corporation, have invested heavily in Mali’s mining sector. They are involved in a US$130 million lithium project and uranium exploration in the Kidal and Falea regions.

    Despite security risks, including attacks on Chinese personnel in 2015 and 2021, China remains committed due to Mali’s resource potential.

    Beyond mining, China has invested in Mali’s infrastructure. A US$2.7 billion railway modernisation project connects Bamako to Dakar, facilitating resource exports like iron ore and bauxite.

    The total of Mali’s external debt to China is not explicitly stated. But the 2014 loan agreement of US$11 billion and the 2016 loan of US$2.7 billion alone suggest Mali’s debt to China could be at least US$13 billion. This is without including loans for projects like the Bamako-Ségou expressway, and bridges in Bamako.

    This has often been criticised as “debt trap diplomacy”, increasing recipient countries’ dependence on Beijing. In Mali, I believe this risks entrenching economic vulnerability and giving China geopolitical leverage.

    Read more: China reaps most of the benefits of its relationship with Africa: what’s behind the imbalance

    China’s security sector assistance to Mali

    Historically, Mali relied on France. More recently, it’s used Russia’s expeditionary corps, formerly known as Wagner Group, for security support.

    In 2011, China provided US$11.4 million in grants, US$8.1 million in zero-interest loans, and a US$100.8 million concessional loan to foster bilateral cooperation.

    China’s participation in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali, starting in 2013 with 395 personnel, marked a shift in its security engagement.

    Chinese peacekeepers, including engineers, medical personnel and security guards, repaired infrastructure, provided medical aid and supported Mali’s 2013 elections.

    Their professionalism earned praise from the UN special envoy Albert Gerard Koenders for helping to ensure a smooth election.

    China’s involvement in Mali challenged traditional European approaches to peacekeeping, particularly France’s military-heavy strategy.

    Read more: China-Africa relations: new priorities have driven major shifts over the last 24 years – 5 essential reads

    How China’s assistance contributes to Mali’s fragility

    In spite of the positives, China’s security sector assistance contributes to Mali’s fragility in several ways.

    First, its no-strings-attached nature allows Mali’s military junta to consolidate power without making democratic or governance reforms.

    This lack of accountability enables corrupt military factions to operate unchecked. Governance weaknesses and authoritarianism can continue.

    Second, the heavy reliance on Chinese supply raises concerns about the potential influence of China on Mali’s defence decisions.

    This over-reliance on military solutions risks escalating conflicts and could lead to human rights abuses by security forces, as seen in increased violence against civilians. It doesn’t address root causes of conflict like social cohesion or local governance.

    Third, Mali’s growing dependence on Chinese aid — both military and economic — makes it vulnerable to disruptions from geopolitical tensions, supply chain issues, or changes in China’s foreign policy. This limits Mali’s ability to diversify its military capabilities or respond to evolving threats.

    Finally, China’s infrastructure investments, such as the US$1.48 billion (750 billion CFA francs) Bamako-Dakar railway loan, creates “debt trap diplomacy”.

    This pattern deepens economic dependence and reduces policy autonomy, further weakening state resilience.

    Read more: Maps showing China’s growing influence in Africa distort reality – but some risks are real

    The way forward

    To mitigate the risks of Chinese security sector assistance and promote sustainable stability, Mali must adopt a multifaceted strategy.

    First, it should collaborate with China to align security sector assistance with civilian-led security approaches.

    Second, Mali should diversify security and economic partnerships with donors like the US, the UK, and the EU.

    Third, transparent guidelines, developed through consultation with stakeholders, should assess the impacts of assistance to avoid deepening dependence.

    Fourth, engaging civil society and publishing regular reports on security sector assistance use and outcomes will foster public trust.

    Finally, promoting regional economic integration and ties with global powers will bolster Mali’s economic resilience.

    – China’s support for Mali’s military carries risks: researcher outlines what they are
    – https://theconversation.com/chinas-support-for-malis-military-carries-risks-researcher-outlines-what-they-are-257738

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Postal summit held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The 6th Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Postal Summit was held in Hong Kong today where representatives from the three places engaged in business exchanges and in-depth discussions on key topics.

     

    Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau delivered opening remarks at the summit.

    ​

    State Post Bureau Director General Zhao Chongjiu, China Post Group Co Chairman Liu Aili, Macao Post & Telecommunications Bureau Director Lau Wai Meng, and Postmaster General Leonia Tai gave speeches respectively, and joined Mr Yau in officiating at the summit’s opening ceremony.

     

    Seven important consensus were reached at the meeting, including collaboratively ensuring service support for the 15th National Games and jointly launching special products.

     

    In his opening remarks, Mr Yau said it is highly significant for the postal summit to be held in Hong Kong for the first time. Under the leadership of the State Post Bureau, the summit provides a sustainable and effective platform for the postal services of the three places to deepen communication and co-operation, enhance policy co-ordination and resource sharing, and promote integration and exchange in postal development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China-Kyrgyzstan cooperation holds great potential 2025-06-17 22:05:10 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan holds great potential, urging the two countries to scale up trade and investment and expand cooperation in emerging sectors.

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua)

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan holds great potential, urging the two countries to scale up trade and investment and expand cooperation in emerging sectors.

    Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

    Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 33 years ago, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have achieved leapfrog development and are now at their best in history, Xi noted.

    The Chinese president recalled that he held a fruitful meeting with Japarov in Beijing in February, where they reached a series of important consensuses that have injected new and strong impetus into bilateral cooperation.

    China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to continuously deepen the alignment of development strategies, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard common and long-term interests of both sides, he said.

    Xi urged the two sides to deepen financial cooperation, improve connectivity networks and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

    He also called on the two sides to foster new drivers of growth in clean energy, green minerals and artificial intelligence, enhance communication in fields such as culture, tourism, education and health, and implement more projects that benefit the people.

    Noting that China and Kyrgyzstan are both beneficiaries of economic globalization, he called on the two sides to jointly oppose unilateralism, firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

    Noting that the two sides will successively assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and host summits, Xi said that China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to support each other and jointly promote the greater development of the SCO.

    For his part, Japarov said that under the outstanding leadership of President Xi, China has strived forward on the path of prosperity and strength, achieving great accomplishments and playing a crucial guiding role on the international stage.

    The Kyrgyz side attaches great importance to the development of relations with China and cherishes the strategic partnership built on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and good-neighborly friendship, Japarov said.

    On issues concerning China’s core interests, the Kyrgyz side, he said, firmly supports China’s stance, adheres to the one-China principle, opposes all forms of “Taiwan independence,” and opposes any interference by external forces in China’s internal affairs.

    Noting that China is Kyrgyzstan’s largest trading and investment partner, Japarov said the Kyrgyz side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to do business in Kyrgyzstan, stands ready to work with China to jointly advance such projects as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, strengthen cooperation in energy, green minerals and other fields, and better benefit the peoples of both countries.

    Japarov said the Kyrgyz side actively supports the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi and is ready to work with China to jointly implement them.

    Kyrgyzstan will closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the United Nations, the SCO and the China-Central Asia mechanism to promote regional and global security, stability, development and prosperity, he added.

    Following the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents covering agriculture, customs, science and technology, media and other fields. 

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock potential for cooperation based on win-win collaboration 2025-06-17 22:05:17 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock the potential for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win collaboration.

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

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

      ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock the potential for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win collaboration.

      Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

      Xi urged China and Turkmenistan to scale up natural gas cooperation, expand cooperation in non-resource fields and optimize trade structure. He called on the two sides to accelerate the establishment of cultural centers in each other’s countries and promote people-to-people connectivity.

      Xi said that China supports Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi calls on China, Tajikistan to expand scale of bilateral trade, investment 2025-06-17 22:05:24 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Tajikistan to expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment.

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Tajikistan to expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment.

    Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

    Xi recalled that during his visit to Tajikistan last year, he and Rahmon jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era between China and Tajikistan, and made new plans and arrangements for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

    He said the two sides should promptly implement them, deliver more practical results, and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future.

    Xi emphasized that China is a trustworthy neighbor and partner of Tajikistan and firmly supports Tajikistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security.

    China and Tajikistan should give full play to the role of the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two countries’ foreign ministers, and coordinate and advance cooperation in various fields, said Xi.

    The two countries should expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, further speed up the construction of transportation infrastructure projects, and continuously promote connectivity, he said.

    The role of the Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshop and Center for Traditional Medicine should be fully leveraged, while the “Chinese Culture Day” to be held this autumn in Tajikistan should be well organized, Xi said.

    He stressed that China and Tajikistan should further strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and step up efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    The two countries share common interests in safeguarding multilateralism and defending international economic and trade order, Xi said, calling on both sides to enhance coordination and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms including the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism.

    China supports Tajikistan to play an important role in global climate governance, Xi added.

    For his part, Rahmon said China, under the strong leadership of President Xi, has achieved significant economic and social development accomplishments, and played an important role in international affairs.

    He noted that Xi’s historical visit to Tajikistan last year has opened up new prospects for bilateral ties, and elevated the strategic cooperation between Tajikistan and China to a new level, adding that both sides are actively implementing the outcomes of the visit while cooperation in various fields is flourishing.

    The Tajik side, he said, is ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China and enhance strategic communication.

    He also said that Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation in traditional fields such as trade, investment, agriculture and infrastructure construction, and expand cooperation in emerging fields like new energy, green industries and artificial intelligence.

    Tajikistan is ready to work with China to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, ensure “Chinese Culture Day” a success, and deepen cooperation in law enforcement and security, Rahmon said.

    He also called on both sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation so that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism can play a bigger role.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says all related parties should work to de-escalate Mideast tension as soon as possible, avoid further escalation 2025-06-17 22:09:18 Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation.

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

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

      ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation.

      Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

      Xi said China is deeply worried as Israel’s military operation against Iran has caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposes any actions that infringe upon sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.

      He said military conflicts are not the solution to problems, and the escalation of regional situations is not in the common interests of the international community.

      Xi said China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East. 

      Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The current escalation of tariff restrictions is a consequence of the West’s confrontation with the rest of the world – Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation A. Novak

    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, June 17 /Xinhua/ — The growth of protectionism and the current escalation of tariff restrictions are a consequence of the West’s attempts to counteract the growing influence of the Global South countries on the world economy, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak said in an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper.

    According to him, since the early 2000s, the economic center of the world has been shifting from the West to the East. Developing countries are gaining a much greater role in the global economy. “Of course, such a situation does not suit those who are used to dictating their terms. And we increasingly see how, in order to counteract the growing influence of developing countries on the world economy, Western countries are making active attempts to maintain the status quo on the world stage and preserve their leadership,” A. Novak noted.

    As a consequence of this, the strengthening of protectionism in the national economy and the revision of the existing results of globalization are coming to the fore, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government noted. The main steps in this direction, he believes, were the actual destruction of the multilateral mechanisms of the World Trade Organization, unilateral tariff and non-tariff restrictions on developing countries under the pretext of “threats to national interests,” and the introduction of various sanctions against competitors.

    At the same time, according to A. Novak, it is important to understand that “tariffs are just a tool, and the goal is not at all to redirect trade flows. The goal, apparently, is to return key production chains to the native territory of the United States, to return production, competencies, infrastructure. Localization of value chains is what the Trump administration wants to achieve.”

    However, the “destabilizing US tariffs,” according to the deputy prime minister, will probably not have catastrophic consequences for the global economy.

    “Most likely, the situation with trade wars will not be universal. Some commodity flows will be redirected, as usually happens during trade wars. At the same time, a repeat of the pandemic situation, when world trade stopped and trade flows collapsed, will not happen. Therefore, the baseline forecast scenario approved by the Russian government assumes that the growth rate of world trade will slow down, but will not go into recession,” A. Novak emphasized. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neal Opening Statement at Hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

    WATCH HERE

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    Since Republicans reclaimed the power of a trifecta in Washington, we have seen nothing but an onslaught of unprecedented and irresponsible abuses of power. Whether it’s been the Elon Musk led DOGE shadow operation rifling through Americans’ confidential data or the blatant weaponization of the IRS to target critics of the President, this Administration has trampled legality and dodged transparency at every turn. They operate in deception—circumventing oversight, misleading the public, and bending the levers of power to benefit those in the President’s ear. And Republicans in Congress and on this committee are rubberstamping all of it. Blocking resolutions to get answers for the American people as the Administration ducks accountability and refusing to assert their own power as an oversight and legislative body. They’ve written a blank check for the Trump Administration to taint the system in favor of wealthy tax cheats and against everyone else.

    Now, hand in hand they’re attempting to ram through an abomination of a bill that adds at least $3 trillion to the debt and kicks 16 million from their health care. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are about to make history. They will be responsible for the biggest theft of health care we’ve ever seen. And they’re racing to do it on rushed timelines and in the dead of night before their own members, let alone the public, can catch on. They’re gutting the IRS, shredding enforcement, and handing the ultra-rich billions while everyone else gets scraps. The Administration is robbing states of manufacturing and energy projects that have already proved effective in creating jobs and spurring investments. Cancelling these projects will cost Americans thousands of jobs and hand innovations to our global competitors. How does taking jobs away from American workers and ceding innovation to China square with what this Administration claims to stand for?  

    Mr. Secretary, when you were named Treasury Secretary, you had a reputation for steady, sound, fact-based decision-making, which set you apart from others in the President’s orbit. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see you attack nonpartisan scorekeepers like CBO and JCT, who just call balls and strikes, and rely instead on fantasy math to defend a bill that I believe you know clearly explodes the deficit. Mr. Secretary, if the math you project is to be true, why don’t the bond markets believe you? You claim CBO and JCT are providing partisan numbers, but it’s the markets who are reacting. Are they partisan, too? 

    When the President took office, we warned the consequences would be swift. Over four months in, they’re undeniable. Markets have been rattled. Confidence is crashing. GDP is shrinking. Power has been turned over to unelected and unqualified loyalists and lackeys, and the President has ignited a reckless trade war he has no plan for and is over his head with. And it’s all while he guts services millions rely on so he can enrich himself and his friends.

    Under Trump and Republicans’ watch, the American people are being left with a system rigged against them. Their privacy is under threat. Their basic needs are on the chopping block. And their government is being twisted into a tool for political retribution and personal gain.

    We cannot let this stand. Oversight is a sacred obligation of Congress. When Republicans refuse to ask real questions, Democrats will. We will fight to protect taxpayers and their privacy, defend the integrity of our institutions, and ensure no one, no matter how wealthy or well-connected, is above the law.

    I yield back. 

    ###

     

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    Since Republicans reclaimed the power of a trifecta in Washington, we have seen nothing but an onslaught of unprecedented and irresponsible abuses of power. Whether it’s been the Elon Musk led DOGE shadow operation rifling through Americans’ confidential data or the blatant weaponization of the IRS to target critics of the President, this Administration has trampled legality and dodged transparency at every turn. They operate in deception—circumventing oversight, misleading the public, and bending the levers of power to benefit those in the President’s ear. And Republicans in Congress and on this committee are rubberstamping all of it. Blocking resolutions to get answers for the American people as the Administration ducks accountability and refusing to assert their own power as an oversight and legislative body. They’ve written a blank check for the Trump Administration to taint the system in favor of wealthy tax cheats and against everyone else.

    Now, hand in hand they’re attempting to ram through an abomination of a bill that adds at least $3 trillion to the debt and kicks 16 million from their health care. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are about to make history. They will be responsible for the biggest theft of health care we’ve ever seen. And they’re racing to do it on rushed timelines and in the dead of night before their own members, let alone the public, can catch on. They’re gutting the IRS, shredding enforcement, and handing the ultra-rich billions while everyone else gets scraps. The Administration is robbing states of manufacturing and energy projects that have already proved effective in creating jobs and spurring investments. Cancelling these projects will cost Americans thousands of jobs and hand innovations to our global competitors. How does taking jobs away from American workers and ceding innovation to China square with what this Administration claims to stand for?  

    Mr. Secretary, when you were named Treasury Secretary, you had a reputation for steady, sound, fact-based decision-making, which set you apart from others in the President’s orbit. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see you attack nonpartisan scorekeepers like CBO and JCT, who just call balls and strikes, and rely instead on fantasy math to defend a bill that I believe you know clearly explodes the deficit. Mr. Secretary, if the math you project is to be true, why don’t the bond markets believe you? You claim CBO and JCT are providing partisan numbers, but it’s the markets who are reacting. Are they partisan, too? 

    When the President took office, we warned the consequences would be swift. Over four months in, they’re undeniable. Markets have been rattled. Confidence is crashing. GDP is shrinking. Power has been turned over to unelected and unqualified loyalists and lackeys, and the President has ignited a reckless trade war he has no plan for and is over his head with. And it’s all while he guts services millions rely on so he can enrich himself and his friends.

    Under Trump and Republicans’ watch, the American people are being left with a system rigged against them. Their privacy is under threat. Their basic needs are on the chopping block. And their government is being twisted into a tool for political retribution and personal gain.

    We cannot let this stand. Oversight is a sacred obligation of Congress. When Republicans refuse to ask real questions, Democrats will. We will fight to protect taxpayers and their privacy, defend the integrity of our institutions, and ensure no one, no matter how wealthy or well-connected, is above the law.

    I yield back. 

    ###

     

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    Since Republicans reclaimed the power of a trifecta in Washington, we have seen nothing but an onslaught of unprecedented and irresponsible abuses of power. Whether it’s been the Elon Musk led DOGE shadow operation rifling through Americans’ confidential data or the blatant weaponization of the IRS to target critics of the President, this Administration has trampled legality and dodged transparency at every turn. They operate in deception—circumventing oversight, misleading the public, and bending the levers of power to benefit those in the President’s ear. And Republicans in Congress and on this committee are rubberstamping all of it. Blocking resolutions to get answers for the American people as the Administration ducks accountability and refusing to assert their own power as an oversight and legislative body. They’ve written a blank check for the Trump Administration to taint the system in favor of wealthy tax cheats and against everyone else.

    Now, hand in hand they’re attempting to ram through an abomination of a bill that adds at least $3 trillion to the debt and kicks 16 million from their health care. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are about to make history. They will be responsible for the biggest theft of health care we’ve ever seen. And they’re racing to do it on rushed timelines and in the dead of night before their own members, let alone the public, can catch on. They’re gutting the IRS, shredding enforcement, and handing the ultra-rich billions while everyone else gets scraps. The Administration is robbing states of manufacturing and energy projects that have already proved effective in creating jobs and spurring investments. Cancelling these projects will cost Americans thousands of jobs and hand innovations to our global competitors. How does taking jobs away from American workers and ceding innovation to China square with what this Administration claims to stand for?  

    Mr. Secretary, when you were named Treasury Secretary, you had a reputation for steady, sound, fact-based decision-making, which set you apart from others in the President’s orbit. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see you attack nonpartisan scorekeepers like CBO and JCT, who just call balls and strikes, and rely instead on fantasy math to defend a bill that I believe you know clearly explodes the deficit. Mr. Secretary, if the math you project is to be true, why don’t the bond markets believe you? You claim CBO and JCT are providing partisan numbers, but it’s the markets who are reacting. Are they partisan, too? 

    When the President took office, we warned the consequences would be swift. Over four months in, they’re undeniable. Markets have been rattled. Confidence is crashing. GDP is shrinking. Power has been turned over to unelected and unqualified loyalists and lackeys, and the President has ignited a reckless trade war he has no plan for and is over his head with. And it’s all while he guts services millions rely on so he can enrich himself and his friends.

    Under Trump and Republicans’ watch, the American people are being left with a system rigged against them. Their privacy is under threat. Their basic needs are on the chopping block. And their government is being twisted into a tool for political retribution and personal gain.

    We cannot let this stand. Oversight is a sacred obligation of Congress. When Republicans refuse to ask real questions, Democrats will. We will fight to protect taxpayers and their privacy, defend the integrity of our institutions, and ensure no one, no matter how wealthy or well-connected, is above the law.

    I yield back. 

    ###

     

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    Since Republicans reclaimed the power of a trifecta in Washington, we have seen nothing but an onslaught of unprecedented and irresponsible abuses of power. Whether it’s been the Elon Musk led DOGE shadow operation rifling through Americans’ confidential data or the blatant weaponization of the IRS to target critics of the President, this Administration has trampled legality and dodged transparency at every turn. They operate in deception—circumventing oversight, misleading the public, and bending the levers of power to benefit those in the President’s ear. And Republicans in Congress and on this committee are rubberstamping all of it. Blocking resolutions to get answers for the American people as the Administration ducks accountability and refusing to assert their own power as an oversight and legislative body. They’ve written a blank check for the Trump Administration to taint the system in favor of wealthy tax cheats and against everyone else.

    Now, hand in hand they’re attempting to ram through an abomination of a bill that adds at least $3 trillion to the debt and kicks 16 million from their health care. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are about to make history. They will be responsible for the biggest theft of health care we’ve ever seen. And they’re racing to do it on rushed timelines and in the dead of night before their own members, let alone the public, can catch on. They’re gutting the IRS, shredding enforcement, and handing the ultra-rich billions while everyone else gets scraps. The Administration is robbing states of manufacturing and energy projects that have already proved effective in creating jobs and spurring investments. Cancelling these projects will cost Americans thousands of jobs and hand innovations to our global competitors. How does taking jobs away from American workers and ceding innovation to China square with what this Administration claims to stand for?  

    Mr. Secretary, when you were named Treasury Secretary, you had a reputation for steady, sound, fact-based decision-making, which set you apart from others in the President’s orbit. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see you attack nonpartisan scorekeepers like CBO and JCT, who just call balls and strikes, and rely instead on fantasy math to defend a bill that I believe you know clearly explodes the deficit. Mr. Secretary, if the math you project is to be true, why don’t the bond markets believe you? You claim CBO and JCT are providing partisan numbers, but it’s the markets who are reacting. Are they partisan, too? 

    When the President took office, we warned the consequences would be swift. Over four months in, they’re undeniable. Markets have been rattled. Confidence is crashing. GDP is shrinking. Power has been turned over to unelected and unqualified loyalists and lackeys, and the President has ignited a reckless trade war he has no plan for and is over his head with. And it’s all while he guts services millions rely on so he can enrich himself and his friends.

    Under Trump and Republicans’ watch, the American people are being left with a system rigged against them. Their privacy is under threat. Their basic needs are on the chopping block. And their government is being twisted into a tool for political retribution and personal gain.

    We cannot let this stand. Oversight is a sacred obligation of Congress. When Republicans refuse to ask real questions, Democrats will. We will fight to protect taxpayers and their privacy, defend the integrity of our institutions, and ensure no one, no matter how wealthy or well-connected, is above the law.

    I yield back. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: China to Create New Centers for Cooperation with Central Asia – Xi Jinping

    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

    Astana, June 17 (Xinhua) — China has decided to establish three cooperation centers and a platform to simplify trade procedures within the framework of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday while speaking at the second China-Central Asia summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

    The Chinese leader noted that these institutions include the China-Central Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperation Center, the China-Central Asia Education Exchange and Cooperation Center, the China-Central Asia Desertification Cooperation Center, and the China-Central Asia Flowing Trade Cooperation Platform. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Urgent: All relevant parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible – Xi Jinping

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — All relevant parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and prevent further escalation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

    He said China was deeply concerned that Israel’s military strikes on Iran had led to a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposed any action that violated the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.

    Military conflicts are not a solution to problems, and the escalation of the regional situation does not meet the common interests of the international community, the Chinese leader noted.

    China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, he said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Power of Siberia 2 project remains relevant – Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation A. Novak

    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, June 17 /Xinhua/ – China’s rapid economic development also implies an increase in gas consumption as a more environmentally friendly alternative to coal. Russia is one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. Therefore, the Power of Siberia 2 project remains relevant. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak in an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper.

    “China is one of the largest energy consumers in the world, and its rapid economic development, industrial growth and urbanization contribute to the constant increase in energy demand. Particularly noticeable is the growing role of natural gas, which is used as a more environmentally friendly alternative to coal,” A. Novak said.

    “The role of renewable energy sources has also increased significantly in China’s energy sector in recent years – the country is the undisputed leader in terms of installed solar and wind power generation capacity,” he noted, adding that the growth in the use of renewable energy sources does not mean abandoning natural gas. Gas is expected to be used as a “balancing” fuel in cases of insufficient electricity generation from renewable sources and will remain a guarantor of China’s energy security.

    Russia, which is the leader in natural gas reserves, remains one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. “In this regard, the Power of Siberia 2 project undoubtedly remains relevant,” A. Novak emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Medical & Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis introduced the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act alongside Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Senators  Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Michael Bennet (D-CO). This bicameral and bipartisan legislation would authorize the United States to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, aimed at reducing barriers that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and partner countries. These agreements would also promote regulatory cooperation and other key trade provisions.

     

    To qualify as a Trusted Trade Partner, countries must demonstrate a commitment to global health security, uphold trade agreement compliance, protect U.S. intellectual property, and take steps to reduce trade barriers while promoting sound regulatory practices. Some potential candidates include Singapore, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, and Switzerland.

     

    The legislation aims to strengthen global medical supply chains, enhancing U.S. national security and public health while ensuring preparedness for future pandemics. It empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, reducing barriers like tariffs and quotas that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and allied nations. Additionally, it promotes regulatory cooperation and expands access to government procurement opportunities.

     

    “If COVID taught us anything it is that it’s crucial that we reduce our reliance on foreign nations, especially adversaries like Communist China, for essential lifesaving supplies such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Strengthening domestic production will enhance national security, ensure a stable supply of critical medications and medical equipment, and protect Americans from future disruptions,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is a critical step toward ensuring that America’s healthcare providers have reliable access to the essential supplies they need, by strengthening trade partnerships with our allies and expanding domestic manufacturing, we can enhance our nation’s preparedness for future health challenges. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to reinforce our medical supply chains and protect public health,” said Senator Thom Tillis.

    “During the pandemic, the U.S. faced severe shortages of medical supplies due to overreliance on foreign adversaries like China, this legislation would allow the U.S. to engage in trade negotiations with trusted allies for medical goods and services, helping ensure we’re better prepared to respond to future global health crises,” said Senator John Cornyn.

    “Life-threatening shortages of testing kits, drugs, and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how fragile our medical supply chains are. If we are caught off-guard like we were during COVID once again, more Americans will die, working with our most trusted trading partners to make our supply chains more resilient will strengthen our response to future public health emergencies while ensuring health care providers have access to essential medical products and patients have access to life-saving care,” said Senator Chris Coons.

     

    “The Chamber strongly supports the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act, which will strengthen supply chains for medical goods and services while bolstering manufacturing in the U.S. and among our close allies and partners. Enhancing the resilience of medical supply chains is important to both our public health and our national security,” said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for International Policy John Murphy.

     

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is the type of positive approach to trade America must embrace to deepen its economic partnerships with key allies. By empowering the United States Trade Representative to negotiate new agreements with trusted trade partners, the United States has the opportunity to strengthen supply chain security, support U.S. innovation and jobs, and, ultimately, improve health outcomes. It is critically important that the United States collaborate with its allies to support the public health demands of our populations and prepare to meet the challenges of the next global health emergency. NFTC applauds Senators Tillis, Coons, Cornyn, and Bennet for championing this legislation, and urges Congress to support its swift passage,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).

     

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced the Supply Chain Security and Growth Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would leverage Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) to facilitate a rapid movement of critical U.S. supply chains to Puerto Rico from less desirable and unreliable locations such as China with Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernandez (PR-AL).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Medical & Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis introduced the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act alongside Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Senators  Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Michael Bennet (D-CO). This bicameral and bipartisan legislation would authorize the United States to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, aimed at reducing barriers that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and partner countries. These agreements would also promote regulatory cooperation and other key trade provisions.

     

    To qualify as a Trusted Trade Partner, countries must demonstrate a commitment to global health security, uphold trade agreement compliance, protect U.S. intellectual property, and take steps to reduce trade barriers while promoting sound regulatory practices. Some potential candidates include Singapore, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, and Switzerland.

     

    The legislation aims to strengthen global medical supply chains, enhancing U.S. national security and public health while ensuring preparedness for future pandemics. It empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, reducing barriers like tariffs and quotas that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and allied nations. Additionally, it promotes regulatory cooperation and expands access to government procurement opportunities.

     

    “If COVID taught us anything it is that it’s crucial that we reduce our reliance on foreign nations, especially adversaries like Communist China, for essential lifesaving supplies such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Strengthening domestic production will enhance national security, ensure a stable supply of critical medications and medical equipment, and protect Americans from future disruptions,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is a critical step toward ensuring that America’s healthcare providers have reliable access to the essential supplies they need, by strengthening trade partnerships with our allies and expanding domestic manufacturing, we can enhance our nation’s preparedness for future health challenges. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to reinforce our medical supply chains and protect public health,” said Senator Thom Tillis.

    “During the pandemic, the U.S. faced severe shortages of medical supplies due to overreliance on foreign adversaries like China, this legislation would allow the U.S. to engage in trade negotiations with trusted allies for medical goods and services, helping ensure we’re better prepared to respond to future global health crises,” said Senator John Cornyn.

    “Life-threatening shortages of testing kits, drugs, and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how fragile our medical supply chains are. If we are caught off-guard like we were during COVID once again, more Americans will die, working with our most trusted trading partners to make our supply chains more resilient will strengthen our response to future public health emergencies while ensuring health care providers have access to essential medical products and patients have access to life-saving care,” said Senator Chris Coons.

     

    “The Chamber strongly supports the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act, which will strengthen supply chains for medical goods and services while bolstering manufacturing in the U.S. and among our close allies and partners. Enhancing the resilience of medical supply chains is important to both our public health and our national security,” said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for International Policy John Murphy.

     

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is the type of positive approach to trade America must embrace to deepen its economic partnerships with key allies. By empowering the United States Trade Representative to negotiate new agreements with trusted trade partners, the United States has the opportunity to strengthen supply chain security, support U.S. innovation and jobs, and, ultimately, improve health outcomes. It is critically important that the United States collaborate with its allies to support the public health demands of our populations and prepare to meet the challenges of the next global health emergency. NFTC applauds Senators Tillis, Coons, Cornyn, and Bennet for championing this legislation, and urges Congress to support its swift passage,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).

     

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced the Supply Chain Security and Growth Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would leverage Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) to facilitate a rapid movement of critical U.S. supply chains to Puerto Rico from less desirable and unreliable locations such as China with Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernandez (PR-AL).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Medical & Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis introduced the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act alongside Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Senators  Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Michael Bennet (D-CO). This bicameral and bipartisan legislation would authorize the United States to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, aimed at reducing barriers that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and partner countries. These agreements would also promote regulatory cooperation and other key trade provisions.

     

    To qualify as a Trusted Trade Partner, countries must demonstrate a commitment to global health security, uphold trade agreement compliance, protect U.S. intellectual property, and take steps to reduce trade barriers while promoting sound regulatory practices. Some potential candidates include Singapore, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, and Switzerland.

     

    The legislation aims to strengthen global medical supply chains, enhancing U.S. national security and public health while ensuring preparedness for future pandemics. It empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate Trusted Trade Partner Agreements, reducing barriers like tariffs and quotas that discourage manufacturing in the U.S. and allied nations. Additionally, it promotes regulatory cooperation and expands access to government procurement opportunities.

     

    “If COVID taught us anything it is that it’s crucial that we reduce our reliance on foreign nations, especially adversaries like Communist China, for essential lifesaving supplies such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Strengthening domestic production will enhance national security, ensure a stable supply of critical medications and medical equipment, and protect Americans from future disruptions,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is a critical step toward ensuring that America’s healthcare providers have reliable access to the essential supplies they need, by strengthening trade partnerships with our allies and expanding domestic manufacturing, we can enhance our nation’s preparedness for future health challenges. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to reinforce our medical supply chains and protect public health,” said Senator Thom Tillis.

    “During the pandemic, the U.S. faced severe shortages of medical supplies due to overreliance on foreign adversaries like China, this legislation would allow the U.S. to engage in trade negotiations with trusted allies for medical goods and services, helping ensure we’re better prepared to respond to future global health crises,” said Senator John Cornyn.

    “Life-threatening shortages of testing kits, drugs, and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how fragile our medical supply chains are. If we are caught off-guard like we were during COVID once again, more Americans will die, working with our most trusted trading partners to make our supply chains more resilient will strengthen our response to future public health emergencies while ensuring health care providers have access to essential medical products and patients have access to life-saving care,” said Senator Chris Coons.

     

    “The Chamber strongly supports the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act, which will strengthen supply chains for medical goods and services while bolstering manufacturing in the U.S. and among our close allies and partners. Enhancing the resilience of medical supply chains is important to both our public health and our national security,” said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for International Policy John Murphy.

     

    “The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is the type of positive approach to trade America must embrace to deepen its economic partnerships with key allies. By empowering the United States Trade Representative to negotiate new agreements with trusted trade partners, the United States has the opportunity to strengthen supply chain security, support U.S. innovation and jobs, and, ultimately, improve health outcomes. It is critically important that the United States collaborate with its allies to support the public health demands of our populations and prepare to meet the challenges of the next global health emergency. NFTC applauds Senators Tillis, Coons, Cornyn, and Bennet for championing this legislation, and urges Congress to support its swift passage,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).

     

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced the Supply Chain Security and Growth Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would leverage Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) to facilitate a rapid movement of critical U.S. supply chains to Puerto Rico from less desirable and unreliable locations such as China with Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernandez (PR-AL).

    MIL OSI USA News –