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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI China: China, EU leaders chart course for future cooperation amid global challenges 2025-07-25 10:17:22 As China and the European Union mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made new propositions on how the two sides can navigate a fast-changing and turbulent world through partnership, cooperation and multilateralism.

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

    BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — As China and the European Union mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made new propositions on how the two sides can navigate a fast-changing and turbulent world through partnership, cooperation and multilateralism.

    China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in their history, Xi said on Thursday, calling on Chinese and European leaders to once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and to provide more stability and certainty for the world through sound, steady China-EU relations.

    The Chinese leader made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, both of whom are in Beijing to attend the 25th China-EU Summit.

    For the future development of China-EU relations, Xi made three proposals: The two sides should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership; uphold openness and cooperation and properly manage differences; practice multilateralism and uphold international rules and order.

    On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the summit with Costa and von der Leyen, with both sides pledging to promote cooperation on the economy, trade and investment.

    After the summit, Li and von der Leyen attended the China-EU Business Leaders Symposium, at which some 60 business leaders were present.

    UPHOLDING MUTUAL RESPECT

    Xi said that China and the EU should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

    The current challenges facing the EU do not come from China, and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU, Xi said. The fundamentals and prevailing trend of China-EU relations featuring cooperation over competition and consensus over differences have remained constant.

    China has regarded the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world, and consistently supported European integration and the strategic autonomy of the EU, he said, voicing hope that the EU will respect the path and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and support its development and prosperity.

    He called on both sides to deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and foster a correct perception of each other.

    Echoing the Chinese leaders’ remarks, the EU side affirmed its commitment to deepening EU-China relations, managing differences in a constructive manner, and achieving more positive outcomes in bilateral cooperation that is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial.

    ADHERING TO OPENNESS, COOPERATION

    China and the EU should uphold openness and cooperation, and properly manage differences and frictions, Xi said, adding that history and reality show that interdependency is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat.

    He said that “reducing dependency” should not lead to reducing China-EU cooperation, and the bilateral economic and trade relationship, which is by nature complementary and mutually beneficial, can indeed achieve dynamic equilibrium through development.

    China’s high-quality development and opening-up will provide new opportunities and potentials for China-EU cooperation, Xi noted.

    It is hoped that the EU can remain open in trade and investment market, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the EU, he stressed.

    China welcomes more European businesses to invest and pursue long-term operations in China, Premier Li said, calling on the EU to provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Europe.

    Li said both sides can forge an “upgraded version” of the China-EU export control dialogue mechanism to ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains between China and Europe.

    The EU side noted that the EU does not seek “decoupling and severing supply chains” and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Europe.

    Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China-EU cooperation aligns with the fundamental interests of both sides, carries profound global significance, and will provide certainty and stability for the world.

    PRACTICING MULTILATERALISM

    Confronted with the critical choice between war and peace, competition and cooperation, or seclusion and openness, multilateralism and solidarity-based cooperation remain the only viable approach, Xi said.

    He said that China and the EU should practice multilateralism, and uphold international rules and order.

    Xi said China and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules and order established after World War II, advance a more just and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.

    He said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), and contribute more to global climate response and green transition.

    The EU leaders called on the two sides, faced with a turbulent and uncertain world, to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, address global challenges such as climate change, facilitate resolutions to regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability.

    On the same day, leaders of China and the EU issued a joint statement on climate change, in which they recognized that strengthening China-EU cooperation on the issue will impact the well-being of people on both sides, and is of great and special significance to upholding multilateralism and advancing global climate governance.

    Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said that China-EU relations go beyond mere bilateral ties and are of great importance to safeguarding international law and order, and to upholding the international system with the UN at its core.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Adjustment in ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations in August 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Adjustment in ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations in August 2025 
    A department spokesman said that the adjustment on August 1, 2025, would reflect the movement of the LPG international price in July 2025. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations would range from $3.46 to $4.38 per litre, amounting to a decrease of $0.09 to $0.1 per litre.
     
    The spokesman said that the auto-LPG ceiling prices were adjusted according to a pricing formula specified in the contracts.  The formula comprises two elements – the LPG international price and the LPG operating price. The LPG international price refers to the LPG international price of the preceding month. The LPG operating price is adjusted on February 1 and June 1 annually according to the average movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index and the Nominal Wage Index.
     
    The auto-LPG ceiling prices for respective dedicated LPG filling stations in August 2025 are as follows:
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government appoints member to Hospital Authority

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government appoints member to Hospital Authority———— 
    Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling—————————
    Dr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen 
    Professor Anthony Chan Tak-cheung
    Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching 
    Mr Duncan Chiu
    Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan
    Ms Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan
    Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei 
    Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-ha
    Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
    Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung
    Mr Jat Sew-tong
    Mr Matthew Kwok Pui-ho
    Mrs Sylvia Lam Yu Ka-wai
    Professor Lau Chak-sing
    Professor David Shum Ho-keung 
    Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
    Mr Anthony Tsang Hin-fun
    Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai
    Mr Wan Man-yee
    Ms Wong Kam-fung
    Mr Billy Wong Wing-hoo
    Professor Janet Wong Yuen-ha
    Professor Zhang Zhang-jin——————-
    Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan
    Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam
    Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Ms Ann Chan————————–
    Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee
    Issued at HKT 11:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions for 2025/26 academic year enters admission stage

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 25) reminded students who have completed their online application and verification for the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (Admission Scheme) that they should log on to the designated website from July 25 to August 3 to check their admission results, submit supplementary enrolment applications, and check their admission results of the supplementary enrolment stage.

    The students concerned should log on to the admission system of the Admission Scheme under the website of the Education Examinations Authority of Guangdong Province (eea.gd.gov.cn) (Chinese version only) to check admission results. Institutions will release first-round admission results in batches following the order of first to fourth priority as follows:

    First priority admission results – 9am on July 25 (Friday)
    Second priority admission results – 9am on July 27 (Sunday)
    Third priority admission results – 9am on July 28 (Monday)
    Fourth priority admission results – 9am on July 29 (Tuesday)

    Students who meet the minimum entrance requirements (i.e. Level 3 or above for Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 or above for Mathematics and “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) but are not admitted in the first round can complete their online supplementary enrolment through the admission system from 4pm on July 29 (Tuesday) to 4pm on July 31 (Thursday). During the supplementary enrolment stage, students can choose two institutions. Institutions will announce the results of the supplementary enrolment in batches following the order of first and second priority as follows:

    First priority supplementary enrolment results – 9am on August 2 (Saturday)
    Second priority supplementary enrolment results – 9am on August 3 (Sunday)

    Students who have been admitted during the first round or supplementary enrolment stage will receive an acceptance letter from their respective institutions by post or electronically in due course. Students may contact the institutions directly for enquiries if necessary. Contact information of the student admission offices of institutions can be found in the Programme Directory of the Admission Scheme for the 2025/26 academic year (Chinese version only) on the EDB’s website (edb.gov.hk/admissionscheme). 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on the Signing of the Recissions Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
    “Trump and Senate Republicans have betrayed the American people by ramming through another damaging bill that harms our national security, undermines our ability to keep Americans safe, slashes vital programs to support working people – all so they can fund their tax cuts for the wealthiest few. These are reckless cuts.
    “Republicans and Democrats had come together to allocate these tax dollars for programs that are in the country’s best interest, and it’s a disgrace that Republicans have once again ceded their responsibilities in order to rubber stamp Donald Trump’s unpopular agenda. There are plenty of ways to cut down on wasteful spending, but what this Administration is doing is fiscal malpractice, not fiscal responsibility.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: City Cast Las Vegas Podcast: Why Sen. Rosen Says Trump’s Bill Is Screwing Over Las Vegans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    LAS VEGAS, NV – This week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined the City Cast Las Vegas podcast for a conversation about the devastating impacts that Donald Trump’s extreme tax-and-spending “Big Beautiful Bill” will have on Southern Nevada. With the help of Republicans in Congress, Trump pushed through a bill that will gut access to health care, cut funding for hospitals and food assistance programs, and even harm Nevada’s gaming industry. 
    City Cast Las Vegas: Why Sen. Rosen Says Trump’s Bill Is Screwing Over Las Vegans
    Below are quotes from Senator Rosen throughout the episode:

    On the cuts from the Republican law: “Hospitals are closing, kids are getting kicked off of Medicaid, seniors are getting kicked out of nursing homes, people aren’t going to get their school lunches and food, the list goes on and on. And the real plot twist is this: billionaires get more money.”
    On hospital funding cuts: “UMC is our level one trauma center, our public university hospital. They’re going to lose 45-50 million dollars. What does that mean? Well, it’s a Level One Trauma Center. God forbid you get in an accident and you go there, there will be less doctors, less nurses, less services. 45-50 million bucks is a big hit on a community hospital.”
    On SNAP cuts: “One in five kids in Nevada is food insecure. One in five. That’s a pretty high number. We think about school lunch and breakfast programs, and we think about their families and how over 130,000 Nevadans get SNAP. In the wealthiest nation in the world, kids will go hungry and families will go hungry, all to give money to Trump’s billionaire buddies? It’s despicable.”
    On new Republican tax on gambling: “This doesn’t only hurt Nevada, it hurts everyone… It’s going to hurt our gambling industry all across the nation.”
    On No Tax On Tips: “I put myself through college as a waitress. I know how hard it is to live on tips. Something that people don’t understand is that tips are variable. You could work a shift and not make enough money for the day. What we wanted to do was introduce the no tax on tips bill on its own so that Republicans in the House couldn’t tie it to Medicaid and snap cuts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Capital Region Members of Congress Release a Joint Statement on the Trump Administration’s Plan to Relocate USDA Agencies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization of the department that would shut down several facilities in the National Capital Region and relocate thousands of employees across the country. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA), and Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) released the following statement:

    “This is a betrayal of American farmers, and an attack on the federal workforce that will severely damage services that the American people depend on. We are disappointed but not surprised that the Trump administration is continuing its attacks on the federal workforce, this time through wasting taxpayer dollars to relocate key USDA facilities. Let us be clear: these haphazard, unlawful relocations do not save taxpayer dollars or improve agency efficiency. We’ve seen this tactic before, and we know that it only results in brain drain, crushed morale, and cuts to vital programs American farmers depend on. We will continue to stand up for the dedicated federal workers who provide critical services to our nation as they navigate these relocations, mass firings, and the administration’s continued attacks on the civil service.”

    During the first Trump administration, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A GAO study of these relocations found that these relocations had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

    • The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
    • A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
    • Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

    GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies have made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage has already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

    In March 2025, the members introduced the COST of Relocations Act, led by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Estate agencies guilty of breaking renting laws

    Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

    Four real estate agencies have pleaded guilty to breaking Victoria’s rental laws, following an investigation by Consumer Affairs Victoria’s renting taskforce.  

    The agencies admitted they failed to advertise a fixed rental price for properties listed on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. The businesses are: 

    • Wyndham Realty Pty Ltd, trading as Barry Plant, Werribee 
    • AAM Realtor Pty Ltd, trading as Ray White, Point Cook 
    • White Lotus Property Group, Truganina 
    • YouSales Pty Ltd, Docklands.  

    Consumer Affairs Victoria initially issued infringements to the agencies, but all chose to contest the penalties. They were taken to court as a result.  

    Director Nicole Rich described the breaches as serious, warning that not using a fixed price can promote illegal rental bidding.  

    “Our renting taskforce is committed to holding agents accountable if they break Victoria’s rental laws. We’ll continue to pursue those who fail to meet those standards, including taking them to court where necessary. 

    “Real estate agents are part of a licensed profession with clear legal obligations to understand and follow property sales and renting laws. This includes using their management systems correctly and ensuring staff are properly trained.  

    “Price transparency is vital. Renters have the right to know how much they can expect to pay for a rental property.” 

    Rental bidding, where renters compete to offer higher amounts to secure a property, has been banned in Victoria since 2021. It was outlawed as part of the introduction of 130 new rental law reforms.  

    Since the taskforce was established, more than 50 agencies have been fined for failing to advertise fixed rental prices. 

    As well as ensuring agents comply with renting laws, Consumer Affairs Victoria is also working with property listing websites to change their pricing parameters, to ensure properties can only be advertised with a fixed price.  

    Barry Plant Werribee, Ray White Point Cook and YouSales were fined. White Lotus Property Group received a 12-month court order prohibiting further offending. 
     
    A fifth case, involving Smart Six Corporation Pty Ltd (trading as PRD, Mildura) will be heard at the Mildura Magistrates’ Court on 19 August. 

    If you think a rental property hasn’t been advertised properly, report it to Consumer Affairs Victoria.  

    Consumer Affairs Victoria is a part of the Department of Government Services. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for Dawson County Storms

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration

    for Dawson County Storms

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has sent a request to President Donald J. TrumGov. Pillen Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for Dawson County Stormslier in the summer.

    The June 29th and 30th severe thunderstorms brought exceptionally high winds and heavy rain, which caused significant damage to public property and infrastructure, including millions of dollars of damage to NPPD infrastructure.

    Federal funding approval would help cover costs to repair damaged infrastructure and assist with recovery efforts.

    Earlier this week, Gov. Pillen issued a disaster declaration for Dawson County and directed the Nebraska Adjutant General, Major General Craig W. Strong – who also serves as State Disaster Coordinator – to activate appropriate State emergency plans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: International Observer Program showcases interoperability and readiness for U.S. partners and allies

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Pacific Air Forces’ International Affairs Division organized an International Observer Program (IOP) event during the exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025, a four-day tour to provide insight into the exercise, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 14-17, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: International Observer Program showcases interoperability and readiness for U.S. partners and allies

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Pacific Air Forces’ International Affairs Division organized an International Observer Program (IOP) event during the exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025, a four-day tour to provide insight into the exercise, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 14-17, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard, partners conduct Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation at Port of Guam

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard teamed up with local and federal partners for a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) at the Port of Guam, boosting security and compliance through a united front July 15 and 16.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard, partners conduct Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation at Port of Guam

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard teamed up with local and federal partners for a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) at the Port of Guam, boosting security and compliance through a united front July 15 and 16.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard, partners conduct Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation at Port of Guam

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard teamed up with local and federal partners for a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) at the Port of Guam, boosting security and compliance through a united front July 15 and 16.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Gangs are going global and so is the illegal gun trade – NZ can do more to fight it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato

    According to the Global Organised Crime Index, international criminal activity has increased over the past two years. And the politically fractured post-pandemic world has made this even harder for nations to combat.

    New Zealand is far from immune. According to official advice in late March to Minister of Customs and Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello:

    The threat posed by organised crime in New Zealand has increased substantially in the last five years. Even with the best of will, New Zealand is losing the fight.

    New criminal groups are becoming active here – from Burma via Malaysia, to the Comancheros and Mongols gangs. Each brings new networks, violent tactics and the potential to corrupt institutions in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific.

    As of October 2024, the national gang list contained 9,460 names. While there is debate about the accuracy of the figures, gang membership has grown considerably. This is fuelled by the global trade in illegal drugs, with local criminal profits conservatively estimated at NZ$500–600 million annually.

    The one relative bright spot is that New Zealand hasn’t yet seen the levels of firearms-related violence driven by organised crime overseas. For example, European research shows the illegal trade in guns and drugs becoming increasingly intertwined.

    But waiting to catch up with those trends should not be an option. New Zealand already has a lot firearms. In the past six years, police conducting routine patrols have reportedly encountered 17,000 guns, or nearly ten every day, nationwide.

    In 2022, official figures showed, on average, approximately one firearms offence had been committed daily by gang members since 2019.

    The risk had become apparent much earlier, in 2016, with the discovery of fourteen military assault-grade AK47s and M16s in an Auckland house being used to manufacture methamphetamine. This year, another firearms cache, including assault rifles and semiautomatics, was found in Auckland.

    Progress and problems

    On the legal front, the main avenues New Zealand gangs use to obtain illegal firearms are being closed off. Under the Arms Act, members or close affiliates of a gang or an organised criminal group cannot be considered “fit and proper” to lawfully possess a firearm.

    These people may have specific firearms prohibition orders added against them, which allow the police additional powers to ensure firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands.

    The firearms registry is key to this. There are now more than 400,000 firearms fully accounted for, making it harder for so-called “straw buyers” to onsell them to gangs.

    Despite the progress, several challenges remain. In particular, the nature of the gun registry has been politicised, with the ACT and National parties disagreeing over a review of the system’s scope.

    Arguments over the types of firearms covered and which agency looks after the registry risk undermining its central purpose of preventing criminals getting guns.

    Theft of firearms from lawful owners needs more attention, too. Making it a specific offence – not just illegal possession – would be an added deterrent.

    Tighter and targeted policy

    Accounting for all the estimated 1.5 million firearms in New Zealand will be very difficult – especially with the buy-back and amnesty for prohibited firearms after the Christchurch terror attack likely being far from complete.

    There are also tens of thousands of non-prohibited firearms in the hands of unlicensed but not necessarily criminal owners.

    Given all firearms must be registered by the end of August 2028, there should be another buy-back (at market rates) of all guns that should be on the register. This might be expensive, but the cost of opening a large pipeline to criminals would be worse.

    There needs to be greater investment in staff, education and technology within intelligence services and customs. This will help inform evidence-based policy, and support targeted law enforcement. A recent European Union initiative to track gun violence in real time is an example of how data can help in this way.

    New Zealand is a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (and its two protocols on people trafficking and migrant smuggling). But it is not a party to a supplementary protocol covering the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms and ammunition.

    That should change. Amendments to the Arms Act since 2019 mean New Zealand law and policy fit the protocol perfectly. By joining, New Zealand could strengthen regional cooperation and increase public safety, given the scale of the problem and its potential to get worse.

    Alexander Gillespie is a member of the Ministerial Arms Advisory Group (MAAG). He is also the 2024 recipient of the Borrin Justice Fellowship, and is researching revision of the NZ Arms Act. His views and opinions here are independent of both the MAAG and the Borrin Foundation.

    – ref. Gangs are going global and so is the illegal gun trade – NZ can do more to fight it – https://theconversation.com/gangs-are-going-global-and-so-is-the-illegal-gun-trade-nz-can-do-more-to-fight-it-261827

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 25, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 25, 2025.

    Gangs are going global and so is the illegal gun trade – NZ can do more to fight it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato According to the Global Organised Crime Index, international criminal activity has increased over the past two years. And the politically fractured post-pandemic world has made this even harder for nations to combat. New Zealand is far from immune. According

    Historic ICJ climate ruling ‘just the beginning’, says Vanuatu’s Regenvanu
    By Ezra Toara in Port Vila Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Ralph Regenvanu, has welcomed the historic International Court of Justice (ICJ) climate ruling, calling it a “milestone in the fight for climate justice”. The ICJ has delivered a landmark advisory opinion on states’ obligations under international law to act on climate change. The

    3 reasons young people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories – and how we can help them discover the truth
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau, Research Fellow, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University Conspiracy theories are a widespread occurrence in today’s hyper connected and polarised world. Events such as Brexit, the 2016 and 2020 United States presidential elections, and the COVID pandemic serve as potent reminders

    Waiting too long for public dental care? Here’s why the system is struggling – and how to fix it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santosh Tadakamadla, Professor and Head of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe University Just over one-third of Australians are eligible for public dental services, which provide free or low cost dental treatment. Yet demand for these services continues to exceed supply. As a result, many Australian adults

    Butter wars: ‘nothing cures high prices like high prices’ – but will market forces be enough?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Renwick, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand RobynRoper/Getty Images The alarming rise of butter prices has become a real source of frustration for New Zealand consumers, as well as a topic of political recrimination. The issue has become so serious that Miles Hurrell, chief

    Ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly has been certified as ‘sustainable’. Is that an oxymoron?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University Carol Yepes/Getty Images Last week, the ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly received B Corp certification. This certification is designed to accredit for-profit businesses that provide social impact and environmental benefit. Established on the Gold Coast in

    AI will soon be able to audit all published research – what will that mean for public trust in science?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Kaurov, PhD Candidate in Science and Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamillah Knowles & Digit/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA Self-correction is fundamental to science. One of its most important forms is peer review, when anonymous experts scrutinise research before it is

    Columbia’s $200M deal with Trump administration sets a precedent for other universities to bend to the government’s will
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Cantwell, Associate Professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University Students at Columbia University in New York City on April 14, 2025. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images Columbia University agreed on July 23, 2025, to pay a US$200 million fine to the federal government

    Miles Franklin 2025: Siang Lu’s Ghost Cities is a haunting comedy about tyranny. Is it the funniest winner ever?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joseph Steinberg, Forrest Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, English & Literary Studies, The University of Western Australia Siang Lu David Kelly/UQP The Miles Franklin judges described Siang Lu’s Ghost Cities, winner of the 2025 award, as “a grand farce and a haunting meditation on diaspora”. To my mind, it

    Keep fighting for a nuclear-free Pacific, Helen Clark warns Greenpeace over global storm clouds
    Asia Pacific Report Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior III last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons. Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing

    Business coalition calls for 25% cut in the cost of red tape by 2030
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Business, universities, and investors have jointly urged the federal government to commit to cutting the cost of red tape by 25% by 2030, in a submission for next month’s Economic Reform Roundtable. The push to reduce regulation is in line

    Grattan on Friday: net zero battle has net zero positives for Sussan Ley
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra There’s no other way of looking at it: Sussan Ley faces a diabolical situation with the debate over whether the Coalition should abandon the 2050 net zero emissions target. The issue is a microcosm of her wider problems. The Nationals,

    The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Stewardson, CEO One Basin CRC, The University of Melbourne Yarramalong Weir is one of many barriers to the passage of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC A report card into the A$13 billion Murray–Darling Basin Plan has found much work is needed

    The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Stewardson, CEO One Basin CRC, The University of Melbourne Yarramalong Weir is one of many barriers to the passage of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC A report card into the A$13 billion Murray–Darling Basin Plan has found much work is needed

    Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has fleshed out the central bank’s thinking behind its surprise decision to keep interest rates on hold this month. In a speech today to the Anika Foundation, Bullock said there has been:

    Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has fleshed out the central bank’s thinking behind its surprise decision to keep interest rates on hold this month. In a speech today to the Anika Foundation, Bullock said there has been:

    Israel waging ‘horror show’ starvation campaign in Gaza, says UN chief
    This is Democracy Now!. I’m Amy Goodman. More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory. The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and

    Israel waging ‘horror show’ starvation campaign in Gaza, says UN chief
    This is Democracy Now!. I’m Amy Goodman. More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory. The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and

    Historic ruling finds climate change ‘imperils all forms of life’ and puts laggard nations on notice
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Law and Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Hilaire Bule/Getty Climate change “imperils all forms of life” and countries must tackle the problem or face consequences under international law, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found. The court delivered its

    Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty Two teenage boys were thrown from a jet ski during a ride on the Georges River in Sydney’s south this week. One died at the scene. The other

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What makes a song ‘Australian’? Triple J’s Hottest 100 reignites a bigger question of national identity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University

    On July 26, Triple J will broadcast the Hottest 100 Australian Songs, as voted by the public. While predictions for winners and even preemptive complaining about the shortlist are taking up column space and social media posts, there is an underlying question: what we mean when we talk about “Australian songs”?

    Do these songs sound a particular way? Do they express something about what it means to be Australian? Or is it purely about where the artist was born?

    Importantly, how will each of these factors influence voting?

    Can a song sound Australian?

    Musical cultures with their own unique sounds have existed on this continent for tens of thousands of years. The sound of the didgeridoo is often used as a shorthand to signify Australianness in films, television and, to a lesser extent, popular songs.

    However, the history of dispossession and genocidal practices that have accompanied settlement in Australia means much has been lost from these musical traditions. Indigenous performers have been actively excluded from the same music-making spaces where other songs we think of as “Australian” have been created.

    Since British colonisation in the late 18th century, Australian music has also been part of global music flows. Settlers arrived with songs and musical influences from their own cultures. Jazz, country, rock and pop inspired local versions of these genres.

    But is there anything truly Australian about such music, or is it just imitation? And this conundrum connects to wider issues of Australia’s identity debated during the 20th century: was it a country, or still just a colony?

    Back in the 1970s, this question was also on then prime minister Gough Whitlams’s mind. After his election in 1972, Whitlam gave a huge boost to funding for cultural and creative activities to “help establish and express an Australian identity through the arts”, as part of a suite of nation-building activities.

    Building the pub rock canon

    The dirty guitar sounds of the pub rock scene of the 1970s, with its associated subcultures, are sometimes said to be Australia’s first distinct offering in post-rock ‘n’ roll music.

    This was followed by the rise of bands such as Midnight Oil and Cold Chisel, who found success not just by drawing on more local sounds, but also by referencing Australian places, politics and cultures.

    The Whitlam government’s broadcasting reforms meant this music had homes on community radio and the new youth station 2JJ (now Triple J).

    The bands from this era have come to make up what might be described as the Oz rock canon – a collection of works seen to make up the “best” of the art form. Canons exert a strong influence over how we assess music, meaning these bands will probably appear in the tomorrow’s countdown.

    This idea of the rock canon is almost perfectly reflected in the ten entries by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to tomorrow’s countdown. His selection of almost 100% white male musicians encapsulates the exclusionary nature rock of this period.

    The fact that our last two prime ministers, despite being from opposite sides of politics, produced very similar lists, gives us insight into the persistence of this canon, and what ideas about “Australian culture” circulate in the halls of power.

    It’s questionable whether any of the bands or songs on Albanese’s list could be said to have a coherent “Australian” sound, yet they have come to hold a place in the national imagination.

    Changing canons and new sounds

    Triple J’s Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009 was seen as a surprising recapitulation of the (male) rock canon, especially given the station’s otherwise diverse playlists.

    However, the highest-placed Australian song on the list was The Nosebleed Section by Hilltop Hoods, representing the recent and rapid rise of Aussie hip-hop.

    The 2011 Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time (the closest forerunner to the current poll) further updated the canon, with Powderfinger’s Odyssey Number Five (2000) in the top spot, and other top ten entries by electronic groups The Presets and The Avalanches.

    Nonetheless, the canon remained male dominated, with the highest woman-fronted album being Missy Higgins’s The Sound of White (2004) at number 29.

    The past decade has seen a boom in Indigenous representation on Australian airwaves and stages, with artists such as Thelma Plum, Barkaa, A.B. Original and Baker Boy.

    These artists use a range of genres and styles to express pride in their Indigeneity, and critique Australian identity. A.B. Original’s song January 26 was number 17 in 2016’s Hottest 100 countdown. This was also the last year Triple J chose this date for its annual broadcast, speaking to the power of music to reflect – and even inform – popular sentiment.

    Given recent national debates, a strong contender for the upcoming poll is Treaty (Radio Mix) by Yothu Yindi (which ranked number 11 of all time in 1991). These shifts show how canons can be unsettled over time.

    What if we don’t all agree?

    Recently, Creative Australia came under fire for trying to stifle Khaled Sabsabi’s politically-informed art in the interests of “social cohesion”.

    But others pointed out art provides crucial space for challenging prevailing ideas, and that social cohesion in a democracy is not about reaching complete agreement, but being able to handle disagreement.

    A Hottest 100 that reflects the diversity and even the tensions in Australian society may provoke arguments, but it is in these spaces that we can reflect on what it means to live on these lands.

    Ben Green receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australasian Performing Right Association.

    Catherine Strong 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. What makes a song ‘Australian’? Triple J’s Hottest 100 reignites a bigger question of national identity – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-a-song-australian-triple-js-hottest-100-reignites-a-bigger-question-of-national-identity-261560

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/24/2025 Blackburn, Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect American Taxpayers from Stolen Tax Refund Checks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced the bipartisan Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, which would allow American taxpayers who have their paper checks from the U.S. Department of Treasury lost or stolen in the mail to receive their payment by electronic deposit:

    “An outdated IRS policy is leaving Tennesseans vulnerable to having their tax refund checks repeatedly lost or stolen in the mail,” said Senator Blackburn. “When those refunds don’t arrive on time, it puts real strain on hardworking families. The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would allow taxpayers to receive a direct deposit from the Treasury Department rather than another check a criminal could intercept.” 

    “With check fraud costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, it makes no sense for the federal government to keep reissuing vulnerable paper checks after they have already been stolen or gone missing,” said Senator Warner. “This bipartisan bill offers a smart, secure fix by letting taxpayers opt for direct deposit so they can get their money faster and more safely.”

    The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). 

    This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is sponsored by Representatives David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.).

    BACKGROUND

    • Tax refund theft is on the rise, with two postal workers charged in May in connection to a $63 million scheme to steal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refund checks. 
    • Criminals take stolen IRS refund checks and sell them on the dark web. One investigation found 4,000 to 5,000 stolen checks for sale every month.
    • The total loss for American taxpayers for stolen mail is hundreds of millions of dollars.
    • Currently, if an IRS refund check is stolen, a taxpayer can only be issued a replacement paper check. This leaves the taxpayer vulnerable to having their refund check stolen again.

    THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN CHECKS ACT

    The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would require Department of the Treasury to establish a secure, streamlined process that allows eligible taxpayers to receive their replacement refunds electronically via direct deposit, helping reduce the risk of theft, delays, and fraud.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy introduces bill to open door to homeownership for American families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced the Build Now Act, which would incentivize new home construction by tying federal funds to cities’ rates of homebuilding. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined Kennedy in introducing the bill.

    “In my book, homeownership shouldn’t be a pipe dream for the average American family. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with me. Government overregulation has brought homebuilding to a grinding halt and left ordinary people twisting in the wind as existing home prices went through the roof. I’m proud to introduce the Build Now Act to discourage pointless roadblocks and incentivize cities to help make the American Dream possible again,” said Kennedy. 

    “Americans are suffering under sky-high housing prices caused by a worsening housing shortage. The Federal government should use the tools at our disposal to reward communities that are taking bold action to build more housing and reduce families’ biggest monthly expense. It’s time for Congress to act—and this bipartisan proposal is a call to action to communities across the country to build housing now,” said Warren.

    The United States today faces a housing crisis. Since 2021, the annual income needed to qualify for a mortgage has increased by 60%, driving the median age of a first-time home buyer to a record-high 38 years old.

    By May 2025, new home construction rates had collapsed to their lowest level since the pandemic. On an annual basis, new home construction has fallen nearly 5%. 

    Currently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) provides annual grants to states, cities and counties irrespective of their rate of homebuilding.

    The Build Now Act would:

    • Require HUD to remove 10% of CDBG funding from cities that fail to improve their rate of homebuilding above the national median.
    • Order HUD to proportionally reallocate those CDBG funds to cities that exceeded the national median rate of homebuilding. Under the Build Now Act, cities with the highest rates of growth would receive larger shares as funds are reallocated.
    • Allow metropolitan areas two years to start building homes before HUD determines their level of CDBG funding.

    The bill would not apply to cities where the median home value is below the national median or cities that issued an emergency disaster declaration in the last year.

    In his role on the Senate Banking Committee, Kennedy has championed the cause of making homeownership easier for families, raising the issue frequently during recent hearings:

    • In Jan. 2025, Kennedy questioned then-HUD Secretary nominee Scott Turner about the failures of previous affordable housing policies. During this hearing, he suggested an approach that would incentivize localities to allow more new home construction without affording excessive power to the federal government.
    • At a hearing one week later, Kennedy outlined a potential “carrot-and-stick” system that would spur new home construction while allowing local governments to determine their exact means of doing so.
    • In Feb. 2025, Kennedy questioned then-Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency nominee Bill Pulte on the consequences of Americans borrowing large amounts of money to buy homes, noting that “we’ve got a house of cards here.”

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jul 25, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Jul 25, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Fri Jul 25 00:59:42 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 250059

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0759 PM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

    Valid 250100Z – 251200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF
    KS/NORTHWEST OK NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES…AND ALSO
    ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Locally damaging thunderstorm wind gusts remain possible tonight
    from parts of Missouri into the lower Great Lakes region. Isolated
    hail and strong to severe gusts are also possible across parts of
    the central and northern High Plains.

    …Parts of MO into the lower Great Lakes…
    A loosely organized MCS has developed across parts of northeast MO
    this evening. This system may continue moving east-northeast along a
    surface boundary tonight, aided by very rich downstream moisture and
    moderate buoyancy (as observed in the 00Z ILX sounding). While this
    system has largely remained subsevere thus far, and low/midlevel
    flow is forecast to remain relatively modest, locally damaging gusts
    cannot be ruled out as it approaches parts of central/northern IL
    and northwest IN later tonight.

    Farther east, convection has generally weakened or moved into
    Ontario from southern lower MI this evening. Strong storms remain
    over parts of southeast Ontario, and these storms may approach parts
    of western NY with isolated strong to locally damaging gusts before
    subsiding.

    …Central/northern High Plains…
    Widely scattered strong to locally severe storms may continue
    through at least dusk across parts of the central and northern High
    Plains, within a moderately unstable environment. Effective shear of
    25-35 kt will support potential for hail with the strongest discrete
    cells, while isolated strong to severe gusts also remain possible,
    especially if any notable outflow consolidation occurs later this
    evening.

    ..Dean.. 07/25/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    .html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 1775

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 1775

    Mesoscale Discussion 1775
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0813 PM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

    Areas affected…portions of northeast Missouri into west-central
    Illinois

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch unlikely

    Valid 250113Z – 250245Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…5 percent

    SUMMARY…A couple of damaging gusts may occur with a
    cold-pool-driven MCS over the next few hours. A WW issuance is not
    expected.

    DISCUSSION…A cold-pool-driven MCS has recently organized into a
    quasi-bowing structure oriented roughly normal to the 20-30 kt
    effective bulk shear vectors. Surface observations suggest 10-20 F
    surface temperature deficits behind the main line. Given modest
    forward propagation of the MCS noted into a favorable airmass
    characterized by 2500+ J/kg MLCAPE, a couple of damaging gusts
    cannot be ruled out along locally stronger surges of the cold
    pool/convective leading line. Nonetheless, the severe threat will be
    isolated at best, so a WW issuance is not expected.

    ..Squitieri/Mosier.. 07/25/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…ILX…LSX…

    LAT…LON 40029196 40149090 39838994 39348977 39039008 38939041
    38969103 38989145 38989182 39059223 40029196

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…UP TO 60 MPH

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Fri Jul 25 02:05:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Fri Jul 25 02:11:05 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Inter-civilizational dialogue among SCO countries highlights mutual trust

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

    TIANJIN, July 24 — The Inter-Civilizational Dialogue among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries 2025 has been held in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, highlighting enhanced mutual understanding and trust.

    Centered on the theme “Promoting the Global Civilization Initiative and Building a Beautiful Common Home of the SCO,” the event on Wednesday drew over 300 delegates from government departments, think tanks, and cultural, artistic, and educational sectors across 10 SCO countries.

    Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, said that people-to-people exchanges and civil diplomacy are important topics explicitly included in the organization’s founding documents, noting that this dialogue embodies the SCO’s commitment to providing Eurasian nations with a platform for mutual learning and respect.

    Zainidin Kurmanov, vice-rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, said that against a backdrop of global turbulence, the Global Civilization Initiative’s principles — respecting civilizational diversity, championing shared human values, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening international exchanges — align closely with the “Shanghai Spirit,” and offer wisdom for addressing contemporary challenges through civilizational dialogue and are integral to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

    Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs and deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, expects to further practice new-model civilizational dialogue, promoting mutual learning, inspiration, and respect.

    “As the SCO family continues to grow, we need to expand exchange platforms for media, think tanks, cultural circles, and youth communities. This will fully mobilize the enthusiasm and initiative of all sectors in contributing to SCO friendship initiatives, ensuring our bond endures across generations,” said Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group.

    Parallel sessions focused on sustainable development, cultural heritage, and exchanges of diverse visual arts. The event also released a report titled “Building a Community with a Shared Digital Future: China’s Initiative and the Future of SCO,” and an initiative named “SCO Youth in Action: Tianjin Initiative for Upholding the Diversity of Civilizations.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China Railway Express key link for China-Europe trade

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

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. The China-Europe Railway Express has now surpassed 110,000 trips, becoming a vital golden corridor linking Asia and Europe. The service currently reaches 229 cities across 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian nations. It is without a doubt a key engine of Eurasian trade. CGTN’s Huang Yaohui has more.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: President Xi on China-EU relations

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

    Editor’s note: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, calling for openness, cooperation and the proper managing of difference. With the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 25th China-EU summit both taking place this year, China.org.cn presents a selection of President Xi’s key remarks on China-EU relations.

    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   >  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cambodia, Thailand trade accusations

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

    Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday traded accusations following the escalating situation along the border areas.

    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

    In a letter to Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, whose country assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council for July, Hun Manet said that since early Thursday, Thai armed forces have launched attacks on Cambodian positions.

    The attacks violated fundamental principles of international law, he said.

    Hun Manet said Cambodia calls on Thailand to immediately cease all hostilities, withdraw its forces to its side of the border, and refrain from any further provocative actions which could escalate the situation.

    On Thursday, Thailand’s foreign ministry said the Thai government called on Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand’s sovereignty.

    Otherwise, said the Thai foreign ministry in a statement, the Thai side is prepared to intensify self-defense measures in accordance with international law and relevant principles.

    The Thai embassy in Cambodia has urged Thai nationals to leave Cambodia.

    The situation escalated following skirmishes which began Thursday morning when Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire at a disputed area.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump visits Fed headquarters, keeps calling for lowering interest rates

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

    U.S. President Donald Trump kept talking about lowering interest rates when visiting the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington on Thursday afternoon.

    Photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows the U.S. Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve on Thursday. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

    “We have to get interest rates lower … Our country is the hottest in the world right now,” Trump said in response to questions from the media after touring the Federal Reserve building. “People are pretty much unable to buy housing, because the interest rates are too high.”

    “We have no inflation, we have a lot of cash coming in … We should have the lowest interest rate of any country,” he added.

    “We can speak for everybody, frankly, we want to see interest rates come down. Our country is booming, and the interest rate is a final little notch,” Trump said.

    Trump said he had “a very productive talk” about rates with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. “He’ll be able to tell you at his next meeting, but I will say that he did say the country is doing really well,” Trump added.

    “I believe that the chairman is going to do the right thing. I mean it may be a little too late as the expression goes, but I believe he’s going to do the right thing,” he added.

    Local media all see Trump’s visit to the Federal Reserve as the Trump administration’s effort to step up pressure on Powell to lower interest rates. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel condemns France’s decision to recognize Palestinian state

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

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

    The French president wrote on the social media platform X earlier in the night that, “consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.”

    Macron added that he will make this “solemn announcement” before the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly

    In a statement from his office, Netanyahu said, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.”

    “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it,” he said.

    In a statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state, just as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip twenty years ago led to Hamas taking control of it.”

    Macron’s move follows his earlier declaration in April, saying that France would recognize the Palestinian state during an international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia in New York in June. But under pressure from the United States, the international conference has been postponed until the end of July. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll in Thailand rises to 14 in border clashes with Cambodia: Official

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

    Evacuated residents are pictured in Surin Province, Thailand, following Thailand-Cambodia border clash on July 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Fourteen Thai people were killed and 46 others injured in military clashes near the Thailand-Cambodia border as of 9:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health said.

    Cambodia had not released any information on its casualties as of Thursday evening.

    The situation escalated following skirmishes that began Thursday morning. Each of the two sides blamed the other side for violating international law.

    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the UN Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Milan agree deal with Flamengo for Emerson Royal

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

    Flamengo has reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign right-back Emerson Royal, according to media reports in Brazil.

    Jude Bellingham (R) of Real Madrid vies with Emerson Royal of AC Milan during the UEFA Champions League football match between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

    The 26-year-old will arrive in Rio de Janeiro for a medical on Saturday, having agreed in principle to a deal running until December 2028, local press said on Thursday.

    Flamengo reportedly agreed to pay nine million euros to release the defender, who had three years remaining on his Milan contract.

    Emerson made 26 appearances across all competitions for the Italian Serie A club following his August 2024 move from Tottenham.

    He is set to be the second signing for Flamengo since Brazil’s mid-season transfer window opened on July 10, joining former Spain international midfielder Saul.

    MIL OSI China News –