NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US Trade Court Bans Trump from Imposing Import Tariffs

    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

    NEW YORK, May 29 (Xinhua) — The New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency powers law.

    The ruling comes after a series of lawsuits alleging that Trump overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs on imports.

    A three-judge panel ruled that executive orders imposing fentanyl-related tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, as well as tariffs on countries around the world, announced April 2, “will be rescinded and permanently terminated.”

    The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize any of the orders, the court said.

    “The worldwide retaliatory tariff orders exceed any authority that IEEPA gives the President to regulate imports through tariffs. Tariffs imposed in response to smuggling do not work because they do not address the threats outlined in these orders,” the report concluded.

    The judges ruled on two lawsuits against the U.S. federal government filed by five companies on April 14 and by 12 states on April 23.

    “Unelected judges should not decide the appropriate response to a national emergency. President Trump has promised to put America first, and the administration intends to use every lever of the executive branch to address this crisis and restore America to greatness,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Italy: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 29, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Lone Christiansen and comprising Thomas Elkjaer, Gee Hee Hong, Yueling Huang, Alain Kabundi, and Sylwia Nowak, conducted discussions for the 2025 Article IV Consultation with Italy during May 14–28. At the end of the visit, the mission issued the following statement:

    • Outlook: The growth outlook remains highly uncertain amid ongoing global trade tensions. Persistently low productivity growth and demographic headwinds weigh on longer-term economic prospects.
    • Fiscal policy: A better-than-expected fiscal outturn in 2024 enabled a return to a primary surplus. Continuing the strong performance will be essential to place public debt on a downward trajectory.
    • Financial sector policy: The banking sector remains well-capitalized and liquid. Continuing to monitor asset quality and macro-financial linkages between the sovereign and financial institutions remains important to safeguard financial stability.
    • Structural policies: Medium-term challenges that are weighing on growth have become today’s pressing issues. A swift and effective implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will be key to support higher, lasting growth and should be complemented by a successor reform program to amplify the gains.

     

    Recent economic developments, outlook, and risks

    The Italian economy has continued to expand at a moderate pace. For the second consecutive year, economic activity grew by 0.7 percent in 2024, supported in part by infrastructure investment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and a positive contribution from net exports. The current account strengthened to a surplus of above 1 percent of GDP. Despite heightened global trade policy uncertainty, economic activity held up well in the first quarter of 2025, with real GDP growing by 0.3 percent quarter-on-quarter and employment reaching a record high. Credit to households has turned positive, and the contraction in credit to corporates has eased. Headline inflation gradually strengthened, reaching 2 percent in April. Nonetheless, the female labor force participation rate remains well below the EU average, productivity growth is weak, and regional disparities endure, with labor inactivity rates significantly higher in the South than in the North.

    Heightened uncertainty has dampened the near-term economic outlook, while subdued productivity growth and rapid population aging are expected to continue weighing on growth prospects. Timely and effective implementation of NRRP projects is expected to support near-term economic activity, while trade tensions are likely to provide a notable drag. Consequently, the April 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO) projected growth to moderate to 0.4 percent in 2025 before temporarily picking up to 0.8 percent next year, amid the peak in NRRP-related investments and positive trade spillovers from higher investment in Germany. Headline inflation is expected to average 1.7 percent this year, on lower energy prices and moderate wage growth, before converging to the ECB’s 2 percent target in 2026. Over the medium term, weak productivity growth and adverse demographics are projected to continue weighing on the outlook, keeping growth at around 0.7 percent.

    The outlook is subject to substantial uncertainty and risks. On the upside, the stronger-than-expected preliminary outturn for the first quarter presents mild upside risks to the April 2025 WEO forecast. A faster-than-expected acceleration in global growth, stronger productivity gains from public investments and reforms, and deeper EU integration could further support investment, exports, and productivity. However, downside risks remain significant, including from escalating trade tensions, an intensification of regional conflicts, and a further tightening of global financial conditions. Climate-related shocks, including extreme weather events, could also dampen growth and further constrain fiscal space. As digitalization advances, cyberthreats could become more pervasive and disruptive, particularly for the financial system. Delayed or inefficient NRRP implementation could undermine growth.

    Fiscal policy: Leaning into continued strong performance

    Maintaining strong fiscal discipline along with growth-enhancing reforms is critical to reduce the public debt ratio and will help reinforce resilience. A better-than-expected fiscal outturn in 2024, owing to continued improvements in tax compliance and a strong labor market, is welcome. Overall, the headline deficit was halved, the primary balance turned to a surplus, and the authorities envision further gradual deficit reduction. Staff recommends continuing the strong performance and reaching a primary surplus of 3 percent of GDP by 2027 to decisively reduce the debt ratio and help contain related vulnerabilities. Achieving this goal would require additional near-term efforts compared to what is already built into the authorities’ fiscal plans. However, the recommended cumulative adjustment path would entail a smaller effort over the medium term than a more gradual one in view of the projected worsening in the interest rate-growth differential and of spending pressures stemming from population aging. Along with such efforts, growth-enhancing reforms would help strengthen debt reduction and, over time, could reduce the needed adjustment.

    Several measures could be considered. Building on the progress made, reform efforts on tax evasion and tax compliance should continue. Rationalizing tax expenditures would help broaden the taxbase, bolster revenue, and reduce complexity. Eliminating the preferential flat-rate for income on self-employment would address equity concerns and prevent revenue loss. Given the robust labor market and high corporate profits, hiring subsidies should be replaced with productivity-boosting measures. Updating property values in the cadastre would increase revenue and could ensure more equitable tax treatment. These measures, by addressing distortions, are expected to have limited adverse effect on economic activity.

    In the event of new spending pressures or macroeconomic shocks, debt-reducing efforts should continue. Given the limited fiscal space, any new spending measures, including for defense, should be fully compensated by further savings elsewhere. Fiscal consolidation efforts combined with growth-enhancing reforms would need to continue even in the event of all-but-the-most-severe adverse macroeconomic shocks, rendering automatic stabilizers the primary counter-cyclical response. Resources from EU funds should be safeguarded for productivity-enhancing investments.

    Beyond the near term, it will be important to contain latent spending pressures. Pension-related spending pressures could be contained by avoiding costly early retirement schemes. At the same time, raising the effective retirement age would help boost labor supply. There is also scope to enhance transparency and monitoring of the net expenditure path within the Medium-Term Fiscal-Structural Plan (MTFSP), while maintaining comprehensive reporting of key fiscal indicators. Although the stock of public guarantees is gradually declining, it remains sizable, calling for continued prudent management, centralized monitoring, and adequate provisioning. In addition, publicly guaranteed loans should not substitute for on-budget spending, as such measures undermine budgetary discipline and distort resource allocation.

    Financial sector policy: Protecting financial sector resilience

    Continued vigilance will be important to safeguard financial sector soundness. Strong profitability, sound asset quality, and adequate liquidity and capital positions have helped strengthen the banking sector. In this respect, amid a still-negative credit gap, maintaining the current neutral countercyclical capital buffer remains appropriate, as does the continued implementation of the systemic risk buffer at 1 percent. In addition, maintaining close monitoring of loan quality is warranted, particularly given the uncertain outlook and risks to firms exposed to the potential impact of trade tensions. Regarding non-bank financial institutions, the rebound in life insurance premium income has helped mitigate risks in the life sector. While financial sector exposures to the domestic sovereign have declined from previous highs, they remain sizable and, hence, pose a vulnerability that requires continued monitoring.

    Continuing to address weaknesses among some less significant institutions (LSIs) remains a priority. Within the overall soundness of the banking sector, vulnerabilities exist among some LSIs. Further enhancing oversight—through targeted inspections, in-depth reviews of credit risk management practices and governance, and continued monitoring of nonperforming loans—would help address these risks. In this regard, the ongoing inspection program by the Bank of Italy to ensure compliance with IT security standards is welcome, and LSIs should continue to integrate cyber risks into their governance and risk management frameworks. Timely escalation of corrective measures for weak banks would support further improvements in capital adequacy and operational efficiency.

    Structural policies: Implementing reforms to boost growth

    To tackle persistent productivity challenges and unlock stronger potential growth, comprehensive and sustained reforms are crucial. The authorities’ ongoing efforts to advance their reform and investment agenda through the NRRP are welcome, as are their longer-term commitments under the MTFSP. With the NRRP window rapidly closing, continued efforts to ensure its full and timely delivery will be essential. Looking ahead, leveraging the design and implementation lessons from the NRRP will support successful execution of future reforms and help secure a durable lift to growth. More broadly, reforms should be clearly specified and prioritize strengthening human capital, expanding labor supply, and revitalizing the private sector’s capacity to innovate and adopt frontier technologies. Enhancing the workforce is vital to mitigate the impact of a shrinking working-age population and to meet the growing demand for high-skilled labor. Policies aimed at increasing female labor force participation—such as enhancing access to childcare and removing disincentives like tax credits for dependent spouses—should be further strengthened and would support both economic growth and pension system sustainability.

    Reviving private sector dynamism and innovation requires improved access to finance, especially risk capital, and greater policy predictability. Italian firms have long struggled to scale up and innovate. Eliminating tax incentives that favor small firms and facilitating the exit of unproductive firms, including through the timely implementation of the new insolvency code, would promote more efficient resource allocation and enable high-performing firms to grow. Deepening national capital markets—particularly by broadening access to risk capital—and ensuring a more predictable regulatory environment are crucial to support the investment needed for technological upgrades and the digital transition. At the European level, advancing the single market and making progress towards the savings and investment union will further help firms achieve economies of scale and improve access to capital. Industrial policies should be deployed cautiously, be targeted to specific objectives where externalities or market failures prevent effective market solutions, be coordinated at the EU level, and avoid favoring domestic producers over imports to minimize trade and investment distortions. 

    Accelerating the transition to renewables, adapting to a changing climate, and investing in resilient energy infrastructure are essential to reduce extreme weather impacts and energy import dependence. Climate-related risks and energy security are macro-critical for Italy, given the reliance on agriculture, tourism, and foreign energy supply. The 2024 National Energy and Climate Plan provides a strategic foundation but more ambitious action is needed to meet 2030 climate targets and improve energy security. Strengthening grid infrastructure, expanding storage capacity, and streamlining permitting processes are critical to support renewable integration. Deeper integration into EU electricity markets would enhance resilience, reduce price volatility, and improve the efficiency of renewable energy use.

    ****

    We are grateful to the Italian authorities and our other counterparts for their time, frank and open discussions, and warm hospitality.

    Desideriamo esprimere la nostra gratitudine alle autorità italiane e a tutti gli altri interlocutori per il tempo dedicatoci, per la franchezza e la disponibilità dimostrate nel corso dei colloqui e per la calorosa ospitalità.

     

     

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/28/05282025-mcs-italy-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USDA Heeds Pappas’s Call to Unfreeze Acer Grants, Critical Funding for NH Maple Industry

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    Following Congressman Chris Pappas’s (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Maple Caucus, call for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate grants delivered by the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer), funding for the Acer program has been released.

    “Acer provides important resources for strengthening the domestic maple syrup industry. I’m pleased that the Acer grants have been unfrozen, but our producers worked tirelessly this season. They should not have been left uncertain about whether they would receive funds that they were promised,” said Congressman Pappas. “We can’t ignore this recurring theme from the current administration in freezing or revoking funds for our communities that will have lasting negative impacts. We can work responsibly to reduce government waste and fraud without holding back the resources New Hampshire small businesses need.”

    Acer provides essential support to the maple syrup industry in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, and freezing these grants as the administration places tariffs on Canada, one of the U.S.’s closest allies, put the livelihoods of maple producers at risk. Much of the equipment used to produce syrup and other maple products is manufactured in Canada, and tariffs will raise prices in an unsustainable manner for New Hampshire’s maple producers. 

    Background: 

    Congressman Pappas leads the Fighting Budget Waste Act, which was the first bill he introduced in the 119th Congress. This bipartisan bill will save taxpayer dollars by requiring the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) annual report on federal programs with fragmented, overlapping, or duplicative goals from the prior year to address problems with those programs and reduce costs.

    Congressman Pappas is a small business owner and a former member of the House Small Business Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Pappas Speaks in Opposition to Republicans’ Proposal to Gut Medicaid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    This morning at 1:45 AM, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) delivered the following remarks on the House floor before voting against Republicans’ reconciliation bill: 

    “I rise tonight because health care is on the line, and so is the well-being and the dignity of the people I serve in New Hampshire. 

    The phones in my office won’t stop ringing because people I represent are beyond angry about the proposal to slash Medicaid. 

    Last week, I sat down with a constituent, Donka Facciolo of Laconia. She lives with a disability, and thanks to Medicaid, she receives skilled nursing, transportation, and employment support. Because of that help, she can live on her own. And another constituent that I met, Kevin Brett, told me the same. Without Medicaid, he’s not sure where he’d go. Parents of individuals with disabilities have told me that they could lose in-home care for their kids, and in doing so they’d be forced to quit their jobs. What kind of choice is that for these parents?

    Slashing Medicaid is cruel. It would take away Granite Staters’ ability to receive care, their chance to work, it would rob them of their independence. And we know that it’s all being ripped away in order to give big tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations.

    So I’m a no on this reckless scheme. I urge my colleagues to vote no as well.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pappas Continues to Fight for Veterans Put at Risk of Losing Their Homes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    Today Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and Mark Takano (CA-39), Ranking Member of HVAC, held a press conference with National Fair Housing Alliance Vice President Public Policy and Senior Counsel for Fair Lending, Maureen Yap and Senior Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, Alys Cohen to call attention to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ending of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program – the only VA program that guaranteed foreclosure avoidance for veterans experiencing severe financial hardship, helping them stay in their homes. 

    “It’s important to understand that 80,000 veterans at risk have been put at risk by the abrupt ending of the VASP program… I’ve heard from veterans directly that are concerned about their future,” said Congressman Pappas. “This isn’t about statistics, it’s not about hypothetical situations, it’s about real people. It’s about real veterans that swore an oath to give everything up to and including their lives for the United States of America who deserve our unwavering commitment to be able to provide them a roof over their head and to make sure they won’t get foreclosed on. So this shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is a moral issue, and something that we will continue to call VA on to address and to make sure that they are providing the kind of support that our veterans need, whether that’s in the form of a foreclosure moratorium or reimplementing VASP while we work on this partial claims program. We need a solution today so that veterans like Daniel in my district get the help and support that they deserve.”

    Watch Congressman Pappas’s remarks here or the full press conference here. 

    The VASP program was created as a “last-resort” option for veterans and their family members facing foreclosure on VA-backed loans following the expiration of pandemic programs, which when coupled with rising interest rates, increased the risk of default for thousands of veterans. Before its termination, VASP was the only program of last resort that existed for veterans facing immediate foreclosure, and helped over 17,000 veterans since the program launched in 2024. By abruptly ending this program on May 1 with no alternative in place, 80,000 veterans and their families now face the prospect of losing their homes with no relief mechanism in place.

    Background: 

    In April, Pappas spoke out forcefully against the administration abruptly ending the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase Program (VASP) during a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity markup. He joined a bicameral letter pressing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reverse his decision to abruptly end VASP. Earlier this month, in a HVAC markup, Pappas spoke out against the decision to end VASP, and in a HVAC hearing with VA Secretary Collins, Pappas rebuked the Secretary for ending the program. 

    In January, Pappas joined a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Secretary Todd Hunter demanding answers about how VA is implementing President Trump’s Inaugural Executive Order to freeze hiring across the executive branch and how it is hurting veterans’ access to the health care and benefits they earned. In March, Pappas condemned reports that the Trump administration is planning to cut 80,000 staff from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which could have catastrophic consequences for America’s veterans and cause significant delays and disruptions for those seeking medical treatment, as well as support for housing, addiction, mental health, and other lifesaving services. These firings would also result in job losses for thousands of veterans, who make up 25% of VA’s workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NH Delegation Demands Department of Education Deliver Federal Funding Notices to New Hampshire TRIO Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Senator Maggie Hassan in sending a letter to Education Secretary Linda E. McMahon and the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought demanding the Administration deliver the federal funding allocated to New Hampshire’s TRIO programs. 

    TRIO programs provide support to individuals from low-income backgrounds, students who would be the first person in their families to earn a college degree, students with disabilities, and other students to attend college. From personalized tutoring to personal mentoring and advising, to assistance applying for and identifying funding options, TRIO programs make a real difference in a student’s ability to attend and complete college. 

    “The TRIO Programs are a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to educational access and upward mobility,” the delegation wrote.“The ongoing delay in issuing GANs is already having real-world consequences in our home state of New Hampshire. We are particularly concerned about the damage being caused by the Department’s delayed notification to the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Upward Bound program. UNH’s program is slated to begin June 1. They only have enough carryover funding for roughly one month before they would need to lay off staff and shutter a program that has had such a significant positive impact on the lives of so many Granite Staters. We urge you to act without further delay to ensure that TRIO programs can operate on schedule and provide the services that New Hampshire’s students and those across the country are counting on.” 

    “TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, summer academies, and other supports necessary to help economically disadvantaged students enter college and graduate,” said Joshua Gagnon, President, NH Educational Opportunity Association. “We know that TRIO works – students who participate in Upward Bound are more than twice as likely to earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24 than their peers. If grant notices are not received by June 1, over 14,000 students nationally – including 114 students in NH – could miss out on this life-changing educational opportunity.”

    Read the delegation’s full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pappas, Shaheen Renew Bipartisan, Bicameral Push to Establish Nationwide Programs to Mitigate Impacts of Childhood Trauma

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    **The bipartisan bill would model proven programs like Manchester’s ACERT to allow local entities to receive grant funding to address adverse childhood experiences associated with exposure to trauma**

    Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and John Rutherford (FL-05) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today to reintroduce the bipartisan National Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT) Grant Program Authorization Act in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would establish a grant program to provide federal resources for communities across the country to address adverse childhood experiences associated with exposure to trauma by connecting law enforcement and first responders with local child specialists and professionals. The lawmakers’ legislation models successful programs like Manchester’s ACERT to mitigate the impact of traumatic childhood experiences.

    “Adverse childhood experiences can have lifelong impacts on our children and our communities. As we’ve seen in Manchester and across New Hampshire, ACE response teams, or ACERTs, have been key to preventing future incidents of childhood trauma and supporting our kids, no matter what is going on in their lives,” said Congressman Pappas. “ACERTs partner law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders with child advocates and health providers so that children are put on a path to receiving the care they need as quickly as possible after a traumatic incident. We have already seen the positive impacts that these programs have brought to our local communities in New Hampshire. I’m proud to once again join Senator Shaheen in introducing this bipartisan legislation to make ACERT programs available nationwide.” 

    “Experiencing trauma as a child can have damaging long-term effects on a person’s life – including on one’s physical, mental and emotional development. There’s more we can do to prevent and mitigate those effects early on, which is why I’m proud to introduce legislation with bipartisan support in the House and Senate to help do just that,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our bill would provide first responders and law enforcement with the tools they need to administer early intervention and trauma-informed care for affected families in the Granite State and beyond. The programs our legislation supports are crucial to ensuring children and families can break the cycle of trauma and lead healthy, successful lives.” 

    “We must ensure that we provide every necessary resource to combat childhood trauma for Tennessee communities in need,” said Senator Blackburn. “Due to trauma’s effects on brain development, early intervention is crucial to alleviate the effects of childhood trauma and prevent long-term harm. Tennessee is home to one of the leading Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) programs, Building Strong Brains, which serves as a national model for programs around the country. The National ACERT Grant Program Authorization Act would build on Tennessee’s progress by giving each state the tools they need to deliver services and care to children who have experienced trauma.”

    “As a former sheriff, I have seen firsthand the long-term negative effects trauma can have on a child and their family,” said Congressman Rutherford. “Responding to an emergency is just the first step, what happens after can shape a child’s future. The ACE Response Teams (ACERTs) program brings together law enforcement officers, first responders, mental health professionals, and child advocates to respond quickly after a traumatic incident and provide families with the services they need to help children heal and grow.” 

    ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are events in a child’s life which have a heavy impact on their future wellbeing, success in life and risk of violence. This legislation would allow for the creation of ACE Response Teams (ACERTs) which would provide services and care to children who have experienced trauma.     

    The legislation authorizes $10 million a year for four years for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a national ACERT program, modeled on the pilots here in New Hampshire. That Senate proposal would provide $10 million for DOJ and HHS to establish a national ACERT program, modeled on the pilots here in New Hampshire.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Coach Almada leaves Pachuca before Club World Cup

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

    Pachuca parted ways with Uruguayan manager Guillermo Almada on Wednesday, just three weeks before the club’s debut at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

    The decision comes after Pachuca was eliminated in the quarterfinals of Mexico’s Liga MX Clausura tournament earlier this month by Club America.

    “Manager Guillermo Almada concluded his brilliant tenure at the helm of our team today, bidding goodbye to players, staff, directors and collaborators with an emotional farewell,” Pachuca said in a statement.

    Almada led Pachuca to 72 wins, 39 draws and 45 losses after taking charge of the club in December 2021.

    The 58-year-old guided the club to the 2022 Liga MX Apertura title, the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup and a runner-up finish to Real Madrid at the 2024 Intercontinental Cup.

    “Today I close a wonderful stage of my life, and I do so with a heart overflowing with gratitude,” said Almada.

    Pachuca will begin its Club World Cup campaign against Red Bull Salzburg in Cincinnati on June 18 before also facing Al-Hilal and Real Madrid in the group stage.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Indian Parliamentary Delegation Strengthens Anti-Terror Ties During Saudi Arabia Visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party parliamentary delegation from India led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda is currently visiting Saudi Arabia from 27 to 29 May 2025 as part of India’s global diplomatic outreach following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.

    The delegation met with Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, to convey India’s firm stance against terrorism and seek continued cooperation in countering extremism. The Indian representatives emphasized that acts of terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and highlighted India’s zero-tolerance policy toward such activities.

    During their meetings, the delegation expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and underlined the need for coordinated global action to combat terrorism. This includes dismantling terrorist infrastructure, cutting off financing and safe havens, and rejecting any political justification for terrorist activities. The Indian side referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement: “This is certainly not the era of war, but this is also not the era of terrorism.”

    The delegation also engaged with Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, for discussions on India’s approach to counter-terrorism. The Indian representatives noted Saudi Arabia’s consistent support on counter-terrorism issues and expressed confidence in continued cooperation on de-radicalization and combating extremism.

    The delegation arrived in Riyadh early on Wednesday and interacted with India’s diplomatic mission before proceeding with their official engagements. They were also hosted by senior Saudi officials and members of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee.

    The visit forms part of India’s broader diplomatic initiative involving multiple all-party delegations traveling to over 30 countries to highlight India’s anti-terrorism resolve and garner international support following the Pahalgam attack. The attack led to military escalation between India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was declared on May 10.

    The Saudi visit concluded with interactions with prominent members of Saudi civil society, offering opportunities for further dialogue on counter-terrorism efforts and broader aspects of the India-Saudi Arabia bilateral partnership.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appeal to trace relatives of the late Jonathon Hutchingson

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Jonathon Edward Hutchingson, previously known as Jonathon Edward Glazebrook, was aged 63 and lived in the Pendeford area of Wolverhampton. He was originally from Brentwood, Essex.

    Anyone who is related to Mr Hutchingson or has any information which may help trace his relatives are asked to please call Protection and Funerals Officer Diane Washbrook on 07967 769826 or email diane.washbrook@wolverhampton.gov.uk as soon as possible.

    The council makes appeals of this nature as it believes that families and acquaintances of the deceased should be notified and be given the opportunity to get involved with the funeral arrangements, should they wish to.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Transformation of Adult Social Care delivering better outcomes

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    A report presented to members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet last week outlined a number of improvements that have been made, leading to reduced waiting times for support and greater independence for the residents of Wolverhampton.

    The council says that the transformation of Adult Social Care was needed to address the rising demand for care and the complexity of need, particularly as the city recovered from Covid-19 which had a significant impact – with demand increasing by 31% over the last 5 years.

    In that time, the budget for care packages has increased by £44.6 million, with a further £11 million increase approved for 2025 to 2026, making Adult Social Care the council’s highest area of spend.

    As part of the transformation programme, the council has been working with IMPOWER, a sector specialist organisation that supports local government with complex change and which helped the council successfully deliver its transformation of Children’s Services in 2016.

    Councillor Paula Brookfield, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “As a council one of our key priorities is ensuring that residents who need it are able to receive high quality care – and we know from our recent budget consultation that this is a top priority for the people of Wolverhampton too.

    “We are determined to ensure Adult Social Care services are the best they can possibly be, but we must also be mindful that the increase in costs which we have seen in recent years is not sustainable in the long term.

    “This is why we’ve embarked on an ambitious programme of transformation which will ensure the service is fit for purpose, can meet current and future demands, is sustainable and is able to support people to live safely and as independently as possible.”

    As part of the transformation, the council has completed a series of ‘test and learn’ programmes which have already delivered a number of improvements, including the establishment of a new ‘front door’ team which has simplified pathways and ensured that people receive support in a timelier manner, reducing wait times from months to less than 5 working days in most cases.

    In addition, the number of people requiring support from the locality social work teams has reduced by over half because the front door team has been able to resolve their issues.

    Meanwhile, work to improve people’s independence has seen a significant number of the people supported to make connections within their local area, meaning they are able to maintain their independence and get support from within their community, doing the things that are important to them, rather than having to rely on expensive long term care.  

    A focus on early support and connecting people to help and support at the first opportunity – sometimes while waiting for a formal assessment – has also helped prevent escalation of needs and therefore the requirement for long-term care.

    The council has also been working with West Midlands 5G (WM5G) and neighbouring authorities on a trial to show how Technology Enabled Care (TEC) can transform the lives of vulnerable residents in the city — empowering independence, improving wellbeing, and delivering value for public services.

    As part of the project, sensor devices and voice activated wireless technologies including fall detectors, smart speakers, smart doorbells and remote monitoring sensors are being used in people’s homes to help support individual care needs.

    Work is now underway to develop an outcomes based commissioning framework for residential and nursing placements, to ensure that people who require residential or nursing care receive support that will best meet their outcomes, rather than their needs being fitted to the support on offer.

    Councillor Brookfield added: “Already, the programme has delivered sustainable change and received positive feedback from staff and service users, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with IMPOWER as we continue our transformation journey.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Total Drawing”: Polytechnicians at the Olympiad in Engineering and Computer Graphics

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Students of the Polytechnic University took part in the first open Olympiad in engineering and computer graphics “Total Drawing”. The competition was held at the BSTU “Voenmekh” named after D. F. Ustinov. 44 teams from 16 universities of Russia and neighboring countries created complex 3D models and associative drawings, demonstrated proficiency in CAD systems, knowledge of ESKD standards and descriptive geometry.

    Students competed in two categories: “Young Specialists” (1st-2nd years) and “Specialists” (3rd-6th years). The jury included teachers of the Higher School of Design and Architecture Tatyana Markova, Elena Knyazeva and Anatoly Blinkovsky.

    In the junior league, the Voenmekh team won, ahead of Bauman Moscow State Technical University and the Mozhaisky Military Space Academy. Among senior students, the gold was also won by the hosts of the Olympiad, silver by the SPbPU team, and bronze was shared by the Tyumen Industrial University and the second team of the Polytechnic University.

    In the individual standings among senior students, first place was taken by third-year student of the Higher School of Automation and Robotics Aidar Ibragimov. The top ten included third-year students of the Higher School of Automation and Robotics Ilya Zhavoronkov (sixth place), Vyacheslav Ignatyev (seventh place) and Maxim Aksenov (ninth place).

    Matvey Leontyev, Vladimir Varga, Artemy Bazeltsev and Timur Galanin (all 3rd year students at the Higher School of Architecture and R), Alexander Basai and Artem Yurikov (2nd year students at the Higher School of Architecture and R), and 4th year students at the Higher School of Mechanical Engineering Alexey Yakovlev and Nikolay Yakovlev also showed good results.

    The debutants, first-year students of the Higher School of Architecture and Radio Engineering, also pleased. They took fourth place among 33 teams. The top 50 of the overall rating included Roman Ivasishin, Mikhail Obukhov, Petr Olenev, Anastasia Kuskova and Maria Butenko.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Influencer Andrew Tate is charged with a raft of sex crimes. His followers will see him as the victim

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Roberts, Professor of Education and Social Justice, Monash University

    British prosecutors have this week charged social media influencer Andrew Tate with a string of serious sexual offences, including rape and human trafficking, alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2015.

    This comes in the wake of an ongoing case in Romania. There, Tate and his brother Tristan face similar charges of coercing and exploiting women through what is sometimes described as the “loverboy method” of manipulation that is used to control and monetise women through webcam performances.

    A self-described misogynist, Tate is a widespread figure of notoriety for his views on women and his role in the internet “manosphere”. He has millions of followers globally, including ten million on X alone.

    This latest round of prosecutions will likely further entrench the loyalty of those followers: boys and young men who will see their leader as the victim of a corrupt system.

    Who is Andrew Tate?

    Tate is a British-American social media influencer and former kickboxer. He gained international notoriety for his violently misogynistic videos and pronouncements.

    He’s built a massive, loyal social media following through a brand that is part provocateur, part self-help guru and part conspiracy theorist.

    His rhetoric emphasises an aspirational masculinity geared towards extreme wealth and a physically fit body, combined with resentment towards women and so-called “feminised” societies. He has, for example, stated that women should “bear responsibility” for sexual assault.

    Tate is a leading ideological figurehead of what is often called the “manosphere” – a loose network of online communities and content creators who promote regressive ideas about masculinity, gender roles and male identity.

    Tate offers a template for many boys and young men to make sense of their place in the world, playing up ideas that boys are disenfranchised by social, economic, or cultural change.

    This is part of an emotional hook that provides belonging and clarity in a world his followers are told is stacked against them.

    Tate’s content involves both overt and, more often, insidious celebration of harmful gender norms and misogynistic ideologies.

    Research has found boys’ exposure to this content has contributed to a resurgence of a sense of male supremacy in classrooms. This then increases sexism and hostility towards women teachers and girl peers.

    Reinforcing the narrative

    Given this context, it is unlikely the new charges will erode his popularity.

    To be clear, he is not universally admired. In fact, the majority of boys reject what he stands for.

    However, for the significant minority who comprise his hardcore followers, these new charges will likely be used to reinforce a persecution narrative.

    In this way, Tate has paved the way for more violent and extreme misogyny to become standard, not rare.

    This was exactly the pattern when the Romanian charges first emerged. His followers flooded platforms with hashtags like #FreeTopG, reframing his arrest as proof that he was “telling the truth” and being punished for it.

    Figures like US President Donald Trump provide a relevant comparison. Trump has faced multiple criminal indictments and was found liable in a civil trial for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll.

    Yet, his popularity among his base has held firm.

    For many of his supporters, these legal challenges are not signs of wrongdoing, but evidence their champion is being unfairly targeted by corrupt institutions.

    Tate is similar in that his hypermasculine posturing and anti-establishment bravado ensures his audience see him the same way.

    Prompting more loyalty

    Given their previous responses, we can already predict how the Tate brothers will respond this time. They will deny the charges, of course, but more importantly, they will use the moment to deepen their mythos.

    We might expect to see talk of “the matrix” of shadowy elites, and the weaponisation of justice systems to silence truth-telling men.

    They will insist the charges are not about what they did, but about who they are: disruptors of a weak, feminised society. This victim-persecutor framing is central to their appeal and will remain so as this unfolds.

    Their followers will, then, likely respond with greater loyalty. For those already steeped in online misogyny and disillusionment, legal accusations such as these don’t raise doubt, but instead confirm the story they already buy into.

    This makes combating Tate’s influence a complex challenge. Simply “calling it out” is not enough.

    As our research shows, Tate’s brand thrives not in spite of controversy, but because of it.

    This is why we need a more strategic, long-term approach to address the harms Tate and other such figureheads represent.

    We need robust gender education in schools, stronger commitments to critical media literacy, and the elevation of alternative role models who can speak to the same emotional terrain without reinforcing misogyny.

    This can include other content creators, like Will Hitchins, but also youth workers or people of any gender from boy’s existing communities.

    A key lesson here is that, for the manosphere’s key figures, being charged or even found guilty of crimes (should that occur) might not signal their downfall or diminish their relevance.

    Steven Roberts receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Australian Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a Board Director at Respect Victoria, but this article is written wholly separate from and does not represent that role.

    Stephanie Wescott receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.

    – ref. Influencer Andrew Tate is charged with a raft of sex crimes. His followers will see him as the victim – https://theconversation.com/influencer-andrew-tate-is-charged-with-a-raft-of-sex-crimes-his-followers-will-see-him-as-the-victim-257805

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor gains Senate seats in Victoria and Queensland, and surges to a national 55.6–44.4 two-party margin

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    Buttons have been pressed to electronically distribute preferences for the Senate in Victoria, the ACT, Queensland and Western Australia. Labor gained a seat from the Liberals in Victoria, with the other two unchanged. I had a wrap of earlier button presses on Tuesday.

    Six of the 12 senators for each state and all four territory senators were up for election on May 3. Changes in state senate representation are measured against 2019, the last time these senators were up for election.

    Senators are elected by proportional representation in their jurisdictions with preferences. At a half-Senate election, with six senators in each state up for election, a quota is one-seventh of the vote, or 14.3%. For the territories, a quota is one-third or 33.3%.

    Labor has won three of the six Victorian senators, the Coalition two and the Greens one, a gain for Labor from the Coalition since 2019. That’s a 4–2 split from Victoria to the left.

    Final primary votes gave Labor 2.43 quotas, the Coalition 2.20, the Greens 0.87, One Nation 0.31, Legalise Cannabis 0.25, Trumpet of Patriots 0.18, Family First 0.13, Animal Justice 0.11 and Victorian Socialists 0.11.

    On the distribution of preferences, Labor’s third candidate defeated One Nation by 0.87 quotas to 0.81. Neither the third Liberal nor Legalise Cannabis were anywhere near One Nation at earlier exclusion points.

    On the exclusion of the Liberals, 50% of their preferences went to One Nation, 22% to Labor, 14% to Legalise Cannabis and the rest exhausted. At this point, One Nation led Labor by 0.73 quotas to 0.67 with 0.47 for Legalise Cannabis. On Legalise Cannabis’ exclusion, Labor won 42% of preferences, One Nation 19% and the rest exhausted, giving Labor its win.

    The third candidate on Labor’s Victorian Senate ticket was Michelle Ananda-Rajah, the former Labor member for Higgins before Higgins was abolished in a redistribution.

    Usually Labor only wins two Victorian senators with the Greens winning the third for the left. Ananda-Rajah would not have expected to be back in parliament, although in a different chamber.

    WA, Queensland and ACT Senate results

    The Western Australian Senate result is two Labor, two Liberals, one Green and one One Nation, a gain for One Nation from the Liberals. Final WA primary votes gave Labor 2.53 quotas, the Liberals 1.86, the Greens 0.90, One Nation 0.41, Legalise Cannabis 0.28, the Nationals 0.25 and Australian Christians 0.19.

    Until very late it had been expected that Labor would take the last seat instead of One Nation, but The Poll Bludger changed his model to give One Nation a slight lead owing to evidence of stronger Coalition flows to One Nation in other states.

    In Queensland, Labor won two seats, the Liberal National Party two, the Greens one and One Nation one. This was a gain for Labor from the LNP after Labor’s 2019 disaster, when they won just one Queensland senator.

    Final Queensland primary votes gave the LNP 2.17 quotas, Labor 2.13, the Greens 0.73, One Nation 0.50, Gerard Rennick 0.33, Trumpet of Patriots 0.26 and Legalise Cannabis 0.25.

    I will analyse the WA and Queensland preference distributions in a final Senate results wrap article that will be posted after the final state, New South Wales, has its button pressed. Labor is expected to gain a seat in NSW from the Coalition.

    Left-wing independent David Pocock and Labor were both re-elected in the ACT, with no change since 2022. Final primary votes were 1.17 quotas for Pocock, 0.95 Labor, 0.53 for the Liberals (just 17.8%) and 0.23 for the Greens. Labor crossed quota on the exclusion of second Pocock candidate with the Liberals and Greens still remaining.

    Labor’s national two party vote up to a 55.6–44.4 lead

    On May 5, two days after the election, I explained that we needed to wait for “non-classic” seats to have a special two-party count undertaken between the Labor and Coalition candidates. Non-classic seats are seats where the final two were not Labor and Coalition candidates.

    With the major party national primary votes so low at this election, 35 of the 150 House of Representatives seats were non-classics. Before the two-party counts in these seats started, The Poll Bludger’s national two-party estimate gave Labor a 54.6–45.4 margin and the ABC a 55.0–45.0 margin.

    This week the electoral commission has been counting the Labor vs Coalition two-party votes in the non-classic seats, and Labor currently leads by 55.6–44.4. The national two-party vote is still incomplete, but the large majority of non-classic seats have now had a two-party count undertaken.

    The remaining non-classic seats that are either uncounted or partially counted to two-party are favourable to the Coalition, so Labor will drop back a little, but will still win the national two party vote by about 55.4–44.6.

    Labor’s biggest wins on a Labor vs Coalition basis are seats where Labor and the Greens made the final two. For example in Wills, Labor defeated the Greens by 51.4–48.6, but the two-party count gives Labor a massive 80.9–19.1 win over the Liberals. Swings to Labor in non-classic seats have been bigger than swings in classic seats, so Labor’s two-party vote has increased.

    Labor’s big two-party win makes the pre-election polls look worse than they did on election night. Here’s the poll graph I was posting in all my pre-election articles updated with the estimated final two-party margin.

    Only one national poll was accurate: the Morgan poll published two weeks before the election that gave Labor a 55.5–44.5 lead. It’s a shame for Morgan that their final two polls “herded” back to a consensus that was wrong. I will have a full review of the federal polls once all results are finalised.

    Recounts in Bradfield and Goldstein

    A full recount is in progress in Liberal-held Bradfield, where the Liberal was ahead of Teal Nicolette Boele by eight votes after distribution of preferences. Four days into the recount, the Liberal leads by just five votes.

    A partial recount in Goldstein of the primary votes for Liberal Tim Wilson and Teal incumbent Zoe Daniel is also underway after Wilson led by 260 votes after distribution of preferences. Two days into this recount, Wilson leads by 259 votes and will win unless large errors are found that favour Daniel when corrected.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Labor gains Senate seats in Victoria and Queensland, and surges to a national 55.6–44.4 two-party margin – https://theconversation.com/labor-gains-senate-seats-in-victoria-and-queensland-and-surges-to-a-national-55-6-44-4-two-party-margin-257714

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • PM Modi celebrates Sikkim@50, calls Sikkim “pride of the nation,” promises visit soon

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the ‘Sikkim@50’ programme virtually. The event, held in Gangtok, marked the golden jubilee of Sikkim’s statehood under the theme “Where Progress Meets Purpose, and Nature Nurtures Growth.”

    Extending warm greetings to the people of Sikkim, the Prime Minister expressed his regret at not being able to attend in person due to adverse weather conditions. “I wanted to witness the fervor, energy, and enthusiasm of the people in person, but due to inclement weather, I could not be present. I promise to visit Sikkim soon and be part of your achievements and celebrations,” PM Modi said.

    Recalling the journey of the state over the past 50 years, the Prime Minister described the day as a moment to celebrate Sikkim’s many achievements. He lauded the efforts of Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and his team for organizing a grand and memorable event.

    “Fifty years ago, Sikkim charted a democratic future for itself. The people of Sikkim not only connected with India’s geography but also with its soul,” the Prime Minister remarked. He emphasized the power of inclusive democracy, saying, “When every voice is heard and rights are secured, equal opportunities for development emerge.”

    He noted the strengthened trust among Sikkim’s families and highlighted the nation’s recognition of the state’s progress. “Sikkim is the pride of the nation,” he declared, acknowledging the state’s transformation into a model of development in harmony with nature.

    “Sikkim has become a vast sanctuary of biodiversity, achieved the status of a 100% organic state, and emerged as a symbol of cultural and heritage prosperity,” the Prime Minister said. He further highlighted that Sikkim is now among the states with the highest per capita income in the country, a reflection of the people’s capabilities and hard work.

    The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the many stars from Sikkim who have illuminated India’s horizon, recognizing the rich contributions of every community toward the state’s cultural and economic prosperity.

    Since 2014, PM Modi said, his government has been guided by the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas — development for all, with collective support. “A developed India requires balanced progress, ensuring that no region is left behind while others advance,” he stressed.

    The Prime Minister underlined the special focus on the Northeast region over the last decade. “Every state and region of India has its own unique strengths. Keeping this in mind, the government has placed the Northeast at the center of development,” he stated, adding, “The government is advancing the ‘Act East’ policy with the spirit of ‘Act Fast’.”

    Recalling the recently held Northeast Investment Summit in Delhi, PM Modi said leading industrialists and investors announced significant investments across the region, including Sikkim. “These investments will generate numerous employment opportunities for the youth of Sikkim and the entire Northeast in the coming years,” he added.

     

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s speech at China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting published

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Xi’s speech at China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting published

    Xinhua | May 29, 2025

    Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum has been published as a booklet.

    The speech was titled “Writing a New Chapter in Building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.”

    The booklet, published by the People’s Publishing House, is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Love, loss, and song: Chinese animated film tugs at heartstrings

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

    “Endless Journey of Love,” a new and original Chinese animated film set for release during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, tells a poignant love story in a fantasy world centered on time manipulation and features a touching theme song performed by pop star Zhou Shen.

    A promotional image of Zhou Shen’s theme song for Chinese animated film “Endless Journey of Love.” [Image courtesy of Universal Music China]

    Zhou’s new song and music video, “Dreaming of You,” was released on May 26. His pure and delicate voice conveys the sense of destiny woven into the film’s narrative. Using “dreams” as metaphor key, the song unlocks the shared past of the film’s protagonists, Shi Qi and Qian Xiao, whilstexploring the universal themes of connection, farewell, and reunion. The song captures the human longing to control time, relive lost moments, and transforms unsaid goodbyes. into transcendent reunions across time.

    “This song can find its way into everyone’s life. Farewell is a mandatory lesson in life,” Zhou said, recalling several very important goodbyes in his life as he resonated with the film and song. “Many vivid stories may ultimately end at a gentle point. Just like the lyrics say, maybe one day we will meet again in a dream.”

    The theme song serves as the first single and beginning of a partnership between Universal Music China (UMC) and Brave Music, a label founded by the acclaimed Chinese composer and producer Qian Lei, who wrote and produced “Dreaming of You.” On May 26, the two companies announced a multi-year global distribution deal for UMC to distribute future releases from Brave Music, leveraging Universal Music Group’s global network. 

    Crew and voice cast pose for a group photo at the premiere of “Endless Journey of Love” in Beijing, May 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Bravo Entertainment]

    “Endless Journey of Love,” written and directed by the couple Yu Ao and Zhou Tienan, follows Qian Xiao, a seashore village girl in 1930s China. She gains control of time from a magical device called the “Wheel of Time.” As powerful forces pursue her, she meets Shi Qi, a cold-faced assassin who is also after the wheel. The two form a one-day partnership and embark on a thrilling, romantic and tear-jerking journey with plenty of twists. Their relationship shifts from rivals to allies as the wheel pursuers try to shape their fate. The stellar voice cast includes Karry Wang, Liu Xiaoyu, and singer Zhou Shen himself, along with movie stars Huang Bo and Jia Bing.

    The film is a blend of human nature, time control and the romantic courage to defy fate. The original plot offers a fresh idea, emotional depth, all amplified by a retro Shanghai-style setting. Directors Yu Ao and Zhou Tienan said that the five-year production tested their physical and mental endurance. From scriptwriting to voice acting and refining more than 2,000 shots, the team’s shared journey through time has brought the fantasy story to life.

    Director Yu Ao said at the premiere in Beijing on May 27: “farewell is the central theme of the entire film, yet being together ‘in this very moment’ gives us the courage to face parting.”

    According to co-director Yu, the inspiration for “Endless Journey of Love” came from an unexpected farewell to their beloved dog. Learning to let go of that pain, alongside the regrets, forged the starting point for their writing. Through a fantasy story about time, the creators aim to impart a much more important lesson to viewers, this being, to “seize the moment” and not waste time. 

    Sun Lingyu, the film producer who guided its development, said that “Endless Journey of Love” is a work infused with love and hope. These principles are in the the film’s very DNA. It is her hope that this film will help people reflect on their own lives and remember their loved ones.

    A poster for “Endless Journey of Love.” [Image courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

    The film is scheduled for nationwide release in China on May 30, ahead of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival and International Children’s Day holiday starting May 31.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Crisil pegs India’s GDP growth at 6.5% in fiscal 2026

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Crisil on Thursday forecast India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.5 per cent in fiscal 2026, adding that improving domestic consumption is likely to support industrial activity.

    “We expect domestic consumption demand to improve driven by healthy agricultural growth, easing inflation supporting discretionary spend, rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and income tax relief this fiscal,” the global ratings agency said in a note.

    The India Meteorological Department expects an above-normal monsoon this fiscal (106 per cent of long-period average), which bodes well for agricultural production and inflation.

    Furthermore, according to Crisil Intelligence, crude oil prices are expected to remain subdued this fiscal, averaging $65-$70 per barrel compared with an average of $78.8 per barrel in the previous fiscal.

    “We expect the MPC to cut the repo rate by another 50 basis points (bps) this fiscal, after 50 bps cuts until April. Bank lending rates have begun easing, which should support domestic demand,” according to the note.

    Overall, Crisil forecasts gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.5 per cent in fiscal 2026, with external headwinds posing downside risks.

    In the month of significant tariff announcements by the United States (US), IIP growth slowed in April. Production slowed in certain export-oriented sectors (including pharmaceuticals and chemicals), while front-loading exports benefitted others (machinery and readymade garments). Among consumer goods, durables performed better than non-durables.

    Industrial goods recorded a mixed performance, with output growth in capital goods picked up sharply along with a mild acceleration in intermediate goods.

    Performance of export-oriented sectors was mixed in April, despite the sharp improvement in merchandise exports (9.0 per cent in April in nominal terms vs 0.7 per cent in the previous month).

    There was also a 6.4 per cent increase in the production of consumer durables such as electronic goods, refrigerators, and TVs during November, reflecting the higher consumer demand for these items amid rising incomes, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics.

    The infrastructure sector clocked a growth of 4 per cent on the back of big-ticket government projects being implemented in the highways, railways and ports sectors.

    (IANS)

  • Deadly break in at UN warehouse as aid trickles into Gaza

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A United Nations warehouse in war-torn Gaza was broken into by “hordes of hungry people” on Wednesday as aid trickles into the Palestinian enclave on the brink of famine and the United States readies new terms for a possible truce between Israel and Hamas.

    The World Food Programme said initial reports were that two people had died and several more were injured at the central Gaza warehouse. The U.N. agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid “to reassure people that they will not starve.”

    Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident.

    Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues – the United Nations or the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

    U.N. Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the U.N. to deliver was “comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk” when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine.

    The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel – which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce – continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said.

    “We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today,” U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Wednesday. “The president is going to review it.”

    The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

    UN VS GHF

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel’s killing of Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar marked a turn towards the “complete defeat of Hamas”, adding that Israel was “taking control of food distribution” in Gaza.

    Israel has accused Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied stealing aid.

    At the United Nations, more than half the Security Council called on Wednesday for the 15-member body to act on Gaza. Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said some members are working on a draft resolution to demand unimpeded aid access.

    “Remaining silent is not an option,” he told the council.

    Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that Israel would allow aid deliveries “for the immediate future” via both the U.N. and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began aid deliveries on Monday.

    However, Israel ultimately wants the U.N. to work through the GHF, which is using private U.S. security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution by civilian teams at so-called secure distribution sites.

    “The U.N. should put their ego aside and cooperate with the new mechanism,” Danon told reporters before the council meeting.

    The U.N. and other international aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say the plan is not neutral.

    “This new scheme is surveillance-based rationing that legitimizes a policy of deprivation by design,” senior U.N. aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

    “The U.N. has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel’s broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza,” he said.

    WARNING SHOTS

    The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told Reuters it was “sad and disgusting” that the U.N. and other groups would not work with the GHF, describing the foundation’s aid distribution as “effective so far.”

    The Israeli military on Tuesday said it fired warning shots in the area outside a GHF distribution site, which was briefly rushed by people waiting for aid. Footage shared on social media showed fences broken down by crowds as private security contractors fell back before restoring order.

    “I am a big man, but I couldn’t hold back my tears when I saw the images of women, men and children racing for some food,” said Rabah Rezik, 65, a father of seven from Gaza City.

    The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday that 47 people had been injured on Tuesday while seeking aid from the GHF, citing information from partners on the ground. It could not give a specific location of where people were injured. The GHF said no one was injured at the distribution site.

    The foundation said aid distribution continued on Wednesday without incident as it opened a second distribution hub. Across the two sites it has so far given out the equivalent of 840,262 meals. The GHF said it is working to open four sites and expand further in Gaza in the weeks ahead.

    The United Nations said that since aid deliveries resumed last week Israel had approved about 800 truckloads of relief.

    But U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that fewer than 500 truckloads had made it to the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, “where we and our partners could collect just over 200 of them – limited by insecurity and restricted access.”

    Israel is under pressure over Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation. France, Britain, Canada and Germany have said they may take action if the military campaign is not halted. Italy on Wednesday said the offensive had become unacceptable.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Funding boost for local sporting clubs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Tuggeranong BMX Club in Kambah is one recipient of the Scheme.

    In brief:

    • The ACT Government offers the Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme.
    • The scheme is providing funding to 38 local sport, recreation and community clubs.
    • Clubs will use the funding to improve their facilities and get more Canberrans involved in sport.

    The latest round of the ACT Government’s Sport and Recreation Investment Scheme provides funding for 38 local sporting and recreation clubs.

    It will help clubs develop places for sport and active recreation that are:

    • fit for purpose
    • sustainable
    • accessible.

    The investment aims to help more Canberrans get involved in sport.

    2025 funding recipients

    The ACT Water Ski Association is one club to receive funding.

    It will use the funds to upgrade its water ski clubhouse facilities at Molonglo Reach.

    This will include a refurbished kitchen and bathrooms.

    The Tuggeranong BMX Club in Kambah will replace its BMX start gate.

    Belconnen Netball Association in Charnwood will build:

    • a new female and male toilet
    • change facilities
    • a fully accessible toilet with shower
    • better storage space.

    “We are delighted to receive this investment from the ACT Government to upgrade our off-court facilities at Charnwood to ensure they are a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all our participants and supporters,”President of Belconnen Netball Association Kim Clarke said.

    “Our current toilet and storage facilities are not suitable to cater for up to 2,000 users on competition days and this support will ensure a safe, accessible and welcoming environment for everyone to play and attend our netball activities and competitions.”

    More information on the program

    The Scheme offers four funding options. These are:

    • The Community Sport Facilities Funding Program. This supports the development of new high-quality, sustainable facilities. It also covers the upgrade of existing facilities. The goal is to help maintain or increase physical activity in the community.
    • The Club Enhancement Program. This helps sporting and recreation groups to further develop their local services and programs. It can include:
      • buying equipment
      • upskilling coaches and officials
      • supporting improvements to club governance.
    • The State Organisation Support Program. This provides funding through three-year agreements. Funds are for improving organisational capacity and capability.
    • The Industry Partnership Program. This allows the ACT Government to co-invest with state sporting organisations in projects that are:
      • innovative
      • collaborative
      • scalable
      • sustainable.

    For more information visit the Sport and Recreation website.

    Read more like this

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Partial Amendments of the Articles of Incorporation

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Partial Amendments of the Articles of Incorporation

    The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How the North West Shelf expansion risks further damage to Murujuga’s 50,000-year-old rock art

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Smith, Professor of Archaeology (World Rock Art), School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia

    Yesterday, new environment minister Murray Watt approved an extension for the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project. The gas plant at Karratha, Western Australia, will run until 2070.

    This expansion – and the pollution it will release – has led to a recommendation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites to defer UNESCO’s decision on the world heritage listing of the nearby Murujuga rock art.

    Two of the recommendations prior to renomination of the site are to “ensure the total removal of degrading acidic emissions” and “prevent any further industrial development adjacent to, and within, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape”.

    Murujuga has more than one million petroglyphs, some up to 50,000 years old.

    It has the oldest depictions of the human face in the world and records the lore and traditions of Aboriginal Australians since the first human settlement of this continent. It is strikingly beautiful and is of enormous cultural and spiritual importance to the Traditional Owners.

    Despite the immense significance of the site, a large industrial precinct has been built at its centre.



    Read more:
    Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070

    Concerns about the Murujuga Rock Art report

    On Friday, the Western Australian Government released the long awaited Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program Year 2 report. This report examines the effect of industrial pollution upon one of the world’s most significant rock art sites.

    We have conducted our own independent project into the impact of industrial emissions on Murujuga since 2018. Many of our findings support the details in this report but the government’s report summary and subsequent political commentary downplays the ongoing impacts of acidic emissions from industry on the world unique rock art.

    The most significant findings are the Weathering Chamber results. These subjected all rock types from Murujuga to the air pollutants released by industry. The results showed that all were degraded, even with relatively low doses of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

    The second highly significant finding is that “there is statistically significant evidence of elevated porosity of granophyre rock surfaces”. This is centred on the industrial precinct in Murujuga. The report acknowledges industrial pollution is the most likely cause.

    This degradation and elevated porosity of the rocks puts the survival of the petroglyphs at risk.

    On our research team, Jolam Neumann’s still to be published PhD thesis at the University of Bonn, Germany, considered the impacts of industrial pollution on Murujuga rocks.

    He used actual samples of gabbro and granophyre rock collected from Murujuga and simulated six years of weathering under current pollution conditions. He found elevated porosity in both rock surfaces. He also collected the residue to understand what was eroded from the rock and how.

    He found there was significant degradation of birnessite (manganese) and kaolinite (clay) from the surface. The dark red/brown surface of the rock became porous and started to break down.

    His work confirms industrial emissions are the cause of the elevated porosity in the report. His work shows the seriousness of the porosity: it is symptomatic of a process causing the rapid disintegration of the rock surface.

    Damage is ongoing

    With Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program report showing evidence of damage to the art from pollution, the state government chose to emphasise in their report summary that a defunct power plant from the 1970s and 1980s was likely the culprit.

    The report’s data suggests this power plant produced about 3,600 tonnes of NO₂ per year, and less than 400 tonnes of SO₂ per year. Current industry in the immediate area produces more than 13,000 tonnes of NO₂ per year and more than 6,500 tonnes of SO₂.

    If the old power plant damaged the art then contemporary industrial emissions will be damaging the rock art at least five times faster.

    Neumann also gained access to a piece of rock collected in 1994 by archaeological scientist Robert Bednarik, and stored in his office in Melbourne for the past 30 years.

    The area where this rock came from now has elevated porosity, but the Bendarik rock shows no signs of it. This means the bulk of the industrial damage is likely more recent than 1994 – and is ongoing.

    Losing 50,000 years of culture

    The rock art was formed by engraving into the outer thin red/brown/black surface of the rock, called rock varnish, exposing the blue-grey parent rock beneath.

    This rock varnish was made in a process that involved the actions of specialised microbes called cyanobacteria. They concentrate manganese and iron from the environment to form an outer sheath to protect themselves from the harsh desert environment.

    The rock varnish forms at an incredibly slow rate: 1 to 10 microns in 1,000 years (a human hair is about 100 microns).

    These organisms can only thrive when the rock surface acidity is near neutral (pH 6.5–7). Their manganese sheaths are crucial to the integrity of the rock varnish, it binds it together and holds it to the underlying rock.

    If you lose the manganese you lose the rock varnish and the rock art.

    Neumann found the proportion of manganese in the Bednarik rock sample was 18.4% by weight. In samples collected in the same area in 2021, the manganese content had fallen to 9.6%. The depth of the varnish was reduced, and the varnish layer was full of holes where the manganese had been degraded.

    The damage by industry over the last 26 years was clearly visible.

    Increased porosity is reducing the density of the rock varnish layer and leading to its eventual degradation. There is also an absence of cyanobacteria close to the industrial sites, but not at more distant sites, suggesting industrial emissions are eliminating the varnish-forming microbes.

    Where to next?

    Industrial pollution has degraded the rock art and will continue to do so until the industrial pollution levels at Murujuga are reduced to zero.

    There are two well-recognised ways to eliminate NO₂ emissions. One uses selective catalytic reduction to convert NO₂ to nitrogen and water. The second method is to replace all gas burning heat production processes with electricity.

    The use of such technologies should form part of the conditions to the ministerial approval of the North West Shelf extension.

    Benjamin Smith receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. Neither of these funding bodies provided funding for the research discussed here and the views expressed here may not reflect those of these funding bodies. The research upon which this Conversation piece is based was funded solely by private donations from concerned citizens. We received no funding for this research from either industry or government.

    John Black is retired and receives no government or industry funding. The research upon which this Conversation piece is based was funded solely by private donations from concerned citizens. We received no funding for this research from either industry or government.

    – ref. How the North West Shelf expansion risks further damage to Murujuga’s 50,000-year-old rock art – https://theconversation.com/how-the-north-west-shelf-expansion-risks-further-damage-to-murujugas-50-000-year-old-rock-art-257615

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on the U.S. Court of International Trade Overturning President Trump’s Tariff Taxes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the U.S. Court of International Trade overturning President Trump’s tariff taxes in a unanimous three-judge decision.

    “This unanimous verdict by judges appointed by Presidents Trump, Obama, and Reagan restores sanity and stability to our trade policies. Instead of raising costs by nearly $3,000 per family, we should bring relief to the American people who have faced higher costs and chaos for far too long under Trump’s tariff taxes. As the judges ruled, ‘The Constitution assigns Congress the exclusive powers to “lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,” and to “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations.”’ The President clearly overstepped his authority with these across-the-board tariffs.”

    In April, the Senate passed Klobuchar’s bipartisan resolution with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) to reverse President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods.

    Klobuchar joined Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to introduce the Trade Review Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would bring stability and accountability to U.S. trade policy by reasserting limits on the president’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Choreographed Demographic Alterations Driven by Political Motives, Aimed at Changing Geographies, Disrupt Social and Cultural Equilibrium: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>Weaponisation Of Faith Through Coerced Conversion Erodes Social Harmony, Says VP
    Peace Is Secured From A Position Of Strength, Says VP
    Democracy Cannot Prosper Without Security, Economic Resilience, And Internal Harmony, Stresses VP
    Caste-Based Census Is A Milestone Step Towards Equitable Development, Says VP
    Democracies Must Be Compassionate, But Democracy Cannot Afford To Be Complacent, Highlights VP
    Demography, Democracy, And Diversity Define The Soul Of New Bharat, Urges VP
    Vice-President Addresses The 65th And 66th Convocation Ceremony Of The International Institute For Population Sciences (IIPS) In Mumbai

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said, “There are choreographed, well-structured, ill-designed alterations aimed at changing the makeup of certain geographies. Young friends, these calculated alterations in our demography are often driven by political or strategic motives that are certainly not wholesome for our nation. These disrupt our social and cultural equilibrium. Such menacing trends require vigilant monitoring and decisive action to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of Bharat. These are the most worrying trends. In contrast to slow and long term demographic shifts, which is usual, natural, demographic changes take place. They have to take place, but they are usually slow and long term. Natural demographic shifts occur gradually, deliberate and orchestrated changes in the demographic composition of certain regions pose a significant concern.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1927729706813841451

    Addressing the 65th and 66th Convocation Ceremony of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the Chief Guest, Shri Dhankhar said, “Peace is quintessential, fundamental for survival of democracy. Never forget, peace is secured from a position of strength. Democracy can blossom and prosper only in peace that is earned through strength, effective security, economic resilience, internal harmony. History is proof of it. Invasions can be thwarted and peace secured only when we are ever ready for war. Bharat has sent a global message. No longer shall we tolerate terrorism. We will liquidate it and destroy the source of it. Peace is not absence of conflict. It is the presence of preparedness. Democracy is a delicate bloom in its fertile soil of security. Democracy cannot prosper if there is no security. The sunlight of economic opportunity and the steady reign of social harmony also require peace.”

    On matters of security and national fortitude, Shri Dhankhar declared, “Without peace, democracy withers into fear, mistrust, and chaos. But let us not mistake peace for passivity. Lasting peace is never given — it is earned and it is defended. A nation secures its borders by decisive policies, by being resilient in its economy — then the nation becomes a fortress of peace. We have to emerge as a powerful military force in the region. Emergence of recent combinations that were decisively defeated by us — we have to be ever cognizant of them. We must embrace the ancient wisdom. And mind you, India is a global treasure of knowledge because of our ancient scriptures. There is Shanti Mantra. If we believe in peace, the nation has never believed in expansion.”

    Turning to a transformative governance reform, the Vice-President commended the Government of India’s decision, “The recent decision by the Government of India — a game-changing decision, a milestone in governance — is to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming decadal census. This will be transformative. This will help us satisfy aspirations equitably to bring about equality and will be a decisive step towards social justice. This will also help us when data becomes available to enrich our understanding of inequalities. Because if inequalities are there, they generate and breed inequities. That is not the essence of governance. And therefore, these caste-based censuses, the data that will emanate, will guide us for targeted development. Development will reach in sectors where it is needed. I can say with pride, institutions like IIPS are uniquely positioned to play a crucial, critical role in interpreting such data and proposing inclusive solutions.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1927720771130179898

    He warned of deeply concerning trends threatening Bharat’s social fabric, “Bharat faces alarmingly cliffhanging situations with respect to demographic shifts, driven by unchecked illegal migrants, coupled with another sinister mechanism — alluring, manipulative conversions that distort our social fabric. These are not ordinary challenges. They are existential challenges that demand urgent, resolute, and effective national response. The time to act is now. Time to act with clarity and conviction, because this time bomb is ticking. We will have to demonstrate unwavering, unflinching, determined commitment to preserving the authenticity, the sanctity, and integrity of our civilization.”

    Highlighting the severity of orchestrated demographic interference, the Vice-President stated, “When demographic balances are manipulated not by organic evolution but by sinister orchestrated design, then it is no longer a question of migration — it is a question of demographic invasion. Bharat has suffered it. There are millions of illegal migrants. Can we suffer from them? We need people in this country who are committed to our civilisation, who believe in भारतीयता, who believe in our nationalism, who are prepared to lay down their lives for the nation.”

    He raised the alarm on conversion-based strategies that fragment societal unity, “Equally disturbing, worrisome, of deep concern is the weaponization of faith through coerced or induced conversion. Where belief is replaced by inducement, every belief has to be voluntary, optional. It is induced by Allurement! and choice by agenda. These are not isolated incidents. They erode social harmony, cultural coherence, and compromise of national security. Always remember, and Bharat is known in the world for this, democracies must be compassionate, but democracy cannot afford to be complacent.”

    The Vice-President passionately called for authentic public dialogue rooted in India’s civilisational values, “Authentic discourse is our core civilisational value. We cannot have rhetoric. We cannot have jingoism. Public discourse has to be authentic. Our heritage, drawn from Upanishads and Dharmashastras, celebrates dialogue over dogma, restraint over rage. I am pained sometimes when dogma and rage prevail. Youngsters in the country, the youth of the country, and the future of the country have to play a critical role in making public discourse more rational, sensible, and in sync with our civilisational ethos. Authenticity of communication with the public is fundamental. There are some exceptions, like security aspects, but for the rest, it is non-negotiable. Let us reaffirm the soul of democracy resides in honest, sincere, upright, factually balanced and correct dialogue.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1927730018429673900

    On India’s inclusive spirit and civilisational ethos, he reflected, “Which nation in the world can boast of inclusive growth, inclusive life and harmony? The Hinduism majority deeply rooted in the civilisational spirit has never been guided by majoritarianism. People mistake it. Hinduism majority is not majoritarianism. These impulses are antithetical to us. And see the difference in other traditions across the world. Level of their intolerance, level of their fundamentalism. They determine the mission to control through demographic explosion. Expansionism has no place in Hinduism, no place in Sanatan. This is a thought because we seek not to conquer, but to coexist.”

    In his concluding remarks, the Vice-President underscored the importance of population data for development, “Demography, democracy, and diversity. These three Ds define the soul of new bharat. These three pillars encapsulate the essence of India’s identity and aspirations. Demography represents the dynamic human capital that fuels the engine of progress. Democracy provides a robust framework for collective decision-making. In any other governance, there is no participation of the people in decision-making. Democracy, from that perspective, is unique. And diversity? India represents to the entire world what diversity is. We have a resplendent landscape, a spectrum of cultures, traditions, and perspectives that make our great ‘Bharat’ unique in the world. Understanding population dynamics, its growth, distribution, and composition, is fundamental to crafting policies that ensure sustainable development, economic growth, and social harmony. This aspect is critical for national security and harmony also. I know you are aware of the challenges. Your data will awaken those who need to address these challenges that have taken monstrous dimensions.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1927713635578908767

    Smt. Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt. of India, Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of (Protocol & Marketing), Maharashtra, Prof. D.A. Nagdeve, Director & Sr. Professor(Addl. Charge), IIPS and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: RASPP proposes to create a joint Russian-Chinese platform for trading in used cars

    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

    CHENGDU, May 29 (Xinhua) — The Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RAUIE) proposes to create a joint Russian-Chinese platform for trading in used cars, RAUIE Executive Director Georgy Ryabtsev said Wednesday at the first Sichuan fair to connect suppliers and buyers in the used car export sector.

    The event was held in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province (southwest China). It was attended by representatives of nearly 40 trade organizations and enterprises from 10 countries, including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Nigeria.

    “This is not only an important milestone in Sichuan Province’s entry into the global used car market, but also a key opportunity to rebuild the international automotive trade chain,” commented Ryabtsev, calling the event a “bridge” that connects the advantages of China’s supply chain with global market demand.

    “We are particularly pleased with the event’s focus on the used car market – one of the most promising areas for growth in Russian-Chinese economic cooperation,” he emphasized.

    According to him, today the automotive industry is undergoing large-scale changes: electric vehicles are transforming the global car market, and the rapid growth of sales of Chinese cars with new energy sources is opening up new prospects for the used car trade.

    “The Russian used car market is one of the largest in Eurasia. Last year alone, the volume of used car sales exceeded 5 million units,” explained G. Ryabtsev, noting the ever-growing interest in Chinese cars in Russia, as well as the growth in the import of used cars from China – both European and Chinese brands, which have already earned a reputation for being reliable, economical and meeting consumer demands.

    According to G. Ryabtsev, RASPP proposes to create a joint Russian-Chinese platform for trading in used cars. This initiative involves the creation of a single digital platform combining B2B and B2C models, with a unified legal, logistics and service infrastructure.

    “Russian consumers increasingly rely on digital channels: they are used to choosing, buying and even making transactions online. And the active development of electronic platforms, remote car diagnostic systems, logistics and legal services creates a favorable environment for the export of Chinese cars,” he added.

    On the sidelines of the fair, agreements were signed on seven major cooperation projects worth a total of more than 1 billion yuan (about 139 million US dollars).

    China began exporting used cars in May 2019, and will fully lift restrictions in this area in March 2024. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: /China Focus/ China Builds Satellite Constellations to Provide Intelligent Communications from Space

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — China is boosting its presence in low Earth orbit to support growing demand for smart device connectivity, launching four new satellites this month to expand its Tianqi constellation.

    On May 19, China successfully launched a commercial carrier rocket, CERES-1, from a platform in the sea off Shandong Province, east China, placing a group of four satellites in the Tianqi constellation into their planned orbit.

    Following SpaceX’s lead, a growing number of Chinese aerospace companies have begun building Starlink-style satellite networks in recent years. Some of these commercial space firms specialize in developing critical digital infrastructure for the Internet of Things (IoT).

    The Tianqi satellite constellation developed and operated by GuoDianGaoKe Technology has reached the first phase of deployment, with 37 satellites in orbit forming a global network providing services in the fields of smart cities, marine monitoring, emergency communications and environmental monitoring.

    The launch of four new satellites will reduce the constellation’s orbital period, a key factor for real-time data transmission, to five minutes, increasing operational efficiency by 37.5 percent.

    “Tianqi has filled the technological gap in China’s low-orbit IoT satellite field. Its technical systems, system performance and terminal performance have reached the world level,” said Lu Qiang, chairman of GuoDianGaoKe Technology.

    Tianqi is currently exploring the consumer markets for smartphones, smart cars and wearables. The second phase of the project involves developing and launching additional satellites to improve consumer-grade applications.

    Another commercial satellite constellation project, funded by a leading Chinese automaker, aims to revolutionize intelligent vehicle connectivity through space.

    Geely’s Future Mobility Constellation, developed by its space subsidiary Geespace, has deployed 30 satellites across three orbital planes.

    The deployment provided 90 percent global coverage, making Geespace the first Chinese commercial enterprise to offer low-orbit satellite communications services to international users.

    “The group focuses on intelligent driving, smart mobility and consumer electronics scenarios,” said Geespace founder and CEO Wang Yang.

    Geely’s Future Mobility Constellation project is divided into three phases: 72 satellites for global real-time data transmission (phase one), 264 satellites for direct smartphone connectivity (phase two), and 5,676 satellites for global broadband access (phase three).

    Thanks to the satellite constellation, Geely’s Zeekr and Galaxy electric vehicles are equipped with space communications, allowing users to send messages via satellite when terrestrial networks fail.

    In June 2024, Geely’s satellite constellation began international commercial operation in the Middle East, and is scheduled to expand to North Africa in 2025, marking a new milestone for Chinese commercial space companies on the global stage. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Launches New Satellite into Space

    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

    JIUQUAN, May 29 (Xinhua) — China’s Long March-4B carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:12 p.m. Beijing Time on Thursday, successfully sending the new satellite Shijian-26 into its designated orbit.

    The spacecraft will be mainly used in national land resources research, environmental management and other fields, providing information services to support national economic development.

    This flight was the 579th for the Changzheng series of launch vehicles. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Harvard University Should Set 15% Cap on International Students – D. Trump

    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

    WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the number of international students at Harvard University should be capped at about 15 percent, while continuing to press the university to submit its list of international students.

    “Harvard needs to show us their lists,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “They have international students. About 31 percent of their students are international. Almost 31 percent. We want to know where these students are coming from. Are they troublemakers?”

    D. Trump claims that many of these students were involved in disturbances “caused by the radical left-wing lunatics in this country.”

    “I think there should be a cap, about 15 percent, not 31 percent, because we have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools that they can’t go to because we have foreign students there,” the president said.

    Since returning to the White House, Trump has targeted many US universities, warning that those who do not adjust their policies will face funding cuts. The Trump administration’s top demands include rooting out anti-Semitism on campuses and ending diversity initiatives that favor minority groups.

    According to Harvard, international students accounted for more than 27 percent of the total undergraduate student body as of fall 2023. The university currently has about 6,800 international students and scholars from more than 140 countries and regions, most of whom are pursuing graduate studies. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump warns B. Netanyahu against actions towards Iran amid nuclear talks

    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

    WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any action that could jeopardize ongoing talks between the Trump administration and Iran on a new nuclear deal, media reported.

    “Well, I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did,” Trump said when asked if he warned Netanyahu against striking Iran to avoid disrupting the talks, The Hill reports.

    “I said I don’t think it’s appropriate. We’re having very good discussions with them, and I don’t think it’s appropriate right now,” the US president added.

    D. Trump also told reporters that the situation “could change at any moment — could change with a phone call,” CNN reports.

    “I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, I will save a lot of lives,” the message said.

    The fifth round of proximity talks between Iran and the United States ended last week in Rome with “some but not final progress,” said Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Relations between Brazil and the US are not unconditional – Foreign Minister

    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

    RIO DE JANEIRO, May 29 (Xinhua) — Brazil’s relations with the United States are not unconditional, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told a committee of the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, amid concerns that new U.S. restrictions could affect Brazilian citizens.

    The Foreign Minister expressed concern over the recent decision by the US government to suspend issuance of new visas to foreign students. “This is a worrying situation. We have a large number of Brazilian students at US universities, and we will have to monitor developments,” he said.

    The Minister stressed that, in accordance with international agreements, host countries are required to issue visas for participation in multilateral events, including those held by the UN or the Organization of American States (OAS).

    The US visa suspension has raised concerns in Brazil over the potential disruption to academic ties. Officials have warned that the move could hinder talent exchanges and slow scientific collaboration between the two countries.

    Access to higher education abroad remains a key element of Brazil’s labor force development and innovation strategy, said M. Vieira. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –