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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IAEA Mission Observes Commitment to Safety at Research Reactor in Malaysia, Recommends Further Improvement

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    An IAEA team of experts visited Malaysia’s nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI, during an Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission. (Photo: Nuklear Malaysia)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Malaysia is committed to the safe operation of its sole nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP). The team also identified the need to further enhance the effectiveness of the reactor’s safety committee, the management of refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components, and operating procedures.

    The five-day Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors (INSARR) mission to the RTP facility, which concluded on 20 June, was conducted at the request of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia). The mission team comprised three experts from Slovenia, South Africa, and Thailand, and two IAEA staff.

    RTP is located in Bangi, Selangor, about 30 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur. Two INSARR missions were conducted at RTP in 1997 and 2014. Since then, the reactor has undergone modifications, including replacement of the rotary rack, refurbishment of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and the upgrading of the stack monitoring system.

    RTP was constructed in 1979 and began operation in 1982. RTP was designed for various fields of nuclear research, education and training, and it incorporates facilities for neutron and gamma radiation studies, as well as isotope production and sample activation.

    The INSARR team visited the reactor and its associated facilities and met with the research reactor staff and management. “Nuklear Malaysia has shown a commitment to safety by requesting an IAEA INSARR mission,” said Kaichao Sun, team leader and Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “Ageing management of reactor systems and components that are important to safety can be challenging. Effective application of the IAEA safety standards, including the establishment of effective leadership and management for safety and the utilization of operating experience feedback, helps address this challenge.”

    The mission team made recommendations and suggestions to Nuklear Malaysia for further improvements, including the need for:

    • Improving the reactor safety committee’s oversight of all activities important to safety, including reactor modifications and operational safety programmes such as refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components;   
    • Strengthening procedures to respond to abnormal situations and events, such as loss of electrical power, fire and earthquakes;      
    • Establishing procedures for learning from operating experience; and     
    • Strengthening radiological protection practices by improving the classification of different areas of the workplace.  

    “The INSARR mission is a valuable opportunity for us to engage in a peer-review process,” said Julia Abdul Karim, Director of Technical Support Division at Nuklear Malaysia. “It enables us to benchmark our programmes and activities against the IAEA safety standards and the international best practices and to strengthen our operational safety of our research reactor.”

    Background

    INSARR missions are an IAEA peer review service, conducted at the request of a Member State, to assess and evaluate the safety of research reactors based on IAEA safety standards. Follow-up missions are standard components of the INSARR programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission. General information about INSARR missions can be found on the IAEA website.

    The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IAEA Director General Grossi’s Statement to UNSC on Situation in Iran

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    (As prepared for delivery)

    Attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran have caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security in Iran. Though they have not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public, there is a danger this could occur.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency has been monitoring closely the situation at Iran’s nuclear sites since Israel began its attacks a week ago. As part of its mission, the IAEA is the global nerve centre for information on nuclear and radiological safety, and we can respond to any nuclear or radiological emergency.

    Based on information available to the IAEA, the following is the current situation at Iran’s nuclear sites. Which I offer as a follow up to my most recent report to this Security Council.

    The Natanz enrichment site contains two facilities. The first is the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. Initial attacks on the 13th of June targeted and destroyed electricity infrastructure at the facility, including an electrical sub-station, the main electric power supply building, and emergency power supply and back-up generators. On the same day, the main cascade hall appears to have been attacked using ground-penetrating munitions.

    The second facility at Natanz is the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. It consists of aboveground and underground cascade halls. On the 13th of June the above-ground part was functionally destroyed and the strikes on the underground cascade halls were seriously damaging.

    The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact on the population or the environment.

    However, within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination. It is possible that Uranium isotopes contained in Uranium Hexafluoride, Uranyl Fluoride and Hydrogen Fluoride are dispersed inside the facility. The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if inhaled or ingested. This risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory devices. The main concern inside the facility is chemical toxicity.

    Fordow is Iran’s main enrichment location for enriching uranium to 60%. The Agency is not aware of any damage at Fordow at this time.

    At the Esfahan nuclear site, four buildings were damaged in last Friday’s attack: the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor-fuel manufacturing plant, and the enriched uranium metal processing facility, which was under construction.

    No increase of off-site radiation levels was reported. As in Natanz, the main concern is chemical toxicity.  

    The Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor under construction in Arak, was hit on the 19th of June. As the reactor was not operational and did not contain any nuclear material, no radiological consequence is expected. The nearby Heavy Water Production Plant is also assessed to have been hit, and similarly no radiological consequence is expected.

    As stated in the IAEA’s update of the 18th of June, at the Tehran Research Center, one building, where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested, was hit. At the Karaj workshop, two buildings, where different centrifuge components were manufactured, were destroyed. There was no radiological impact, internally or externally.

    Let me now refer to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack could be most serious. It is an operating nuclear power plant and as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. Countries of the region have reached out directly to me over the past few hours to express their concerns, and I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment.

    Similarly, a hit that disabled the only two lines supplying electrical power to the plant could cause its reactor’s core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment. In their worst-case, both scenarios would necessitate protective actions, such as evacuations and sheltering of the population or the need to take stable iodine, with the reach extending to distances from a few to several hundred kilometres. Radiation monitoring would need to cover distances of several hundred kilometres and food restrictions may need to be implemented.

    Any action against the Tehran Nuclear Research Reactor could also have severe consequences, potentially for large areas of the city of Tehran and its inhabitants. In such a case, protective actions would need to be taken.

    I will continue to provide public updates about the developments at all these sites and their possible health and environmental consequences.

    The Agency is, as madame Undersecretary kindly reminded, and will remain present in Iran and inspections there will resume, as required by Iran’s safeguards obligations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement, as soon as safety and security conditions allow.

    In this context, let me restate that the safety of our inspectors is of utmost importance. The host country has a responsibility in this regard, and we expect every effort to be made to ensure that their security and their communication lines with the IAEA headquarters will be maintained.

    As stated in my most recent report to the Agency’s Board of Governors and based on inspections conducted at the relevant facilities since then, Iran’s uranium stockpiles remain under safeguards in accordance with Iran’s comprehensive safeguards agreement. You may recall that more than 400kg of this stockpile is uranium enriched up to 60% U-235. It is essential that the Agency resumes inspections as soon as possible to provide credible assurances that none of it has been diverted.

    Importantly, any special measures by Iran to protect its nuclear materials and equipment must be done in accordance with Iran’s safeguards obligations and the Agency.  

    Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the Agency’s inspectors are allowed to verify that all relevant materials, especially those enriched to 60%, are accounted for. Beyond the potential radiological risks, attacks on such materials would make this effort of course more difficult.

    Madame President,

    The IAEA has consistently underlined, as stated in its General Conference resolution, that armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place, and could result in radioactive releases with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked.

    I therefore again call on maximum restraint. Military escalation threatens lives and delays indispensable work towards a diplomatic solution for the long-term assurance that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.

    Madame President,

    The presence, support, analysis and inspections of technical experts are crucial to mitigating risks to nuclear safety and security – that is true during peacetime and even more so during military conflict.

    For the second time in three years, we are witnessing a dramatic conflict between two UN and IAEA Member States in which nuclear installations are coming under fire and nuclear safety is being compromised. The IAEA, just as has been the case with the military conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, will not stand idle during this conflict.

    As I stated in this chamber just a few days ago, I am ready to travel immediately and to engage with all relevant parties to help ensure the protection of nuclear facilities and the continued peaceful use of nuclear technology in accordance with the Agency mandate, including by deploying Agency nuclear safety and security experts, in addition to our safeguards inspectors in Iran, wherever necessary.

    For the IAEA to act, a constructive, professional dialogue is needed. I urge the Members of this Council to support us in making it happen sooner rather than later.

    The IAEA must receive timely and regular technical information about affected nuclear facilities and their respective sites. I urge in this regard the Iranian regulatory authorities to continue a constructive dialogue with the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre, which has been operating 24/7 since the beginning of this conflict.

    Nuclear facilities and material must not be shrouded by the fog of war.

    Yesterday there was an incorrect statement to the media by an Israeli military official that Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant had been attacked. Though the mistake was quickly identified and the statement retracted, the situation underscored the vital need for clear and accurate communication, and the Agency’s unique role in providing it in a technically accurate and politically impartial way is obvious.

    Let me conclude by assuring the international community of the IAEA’s continued support at this very grave time.

    A diplomatic solution is within reach if the necessary political will is there. Elements for an agreement have been discussed. The IAEA can guarantee, through a watertight inspections system, that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran.  They can form the basis of a long-standing agreement that brings peace and avoids a nuclear crisis in the Middle East. This opportunity should not be missed. The alternative would be a protracted conflict and a looming threat of nuclear proliferation that, while emanating from the Middle East, would effectively erode the NPT and the non-proliferation regime as a whole.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Arrangements for IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, 9-13 June 2025

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors will convene its regular June meeting at the Agency’s headquarters at 10:00 CEST on Monday, 9 June, in Board Room C, Building C, 4th floor, in the Vienna International Centre (VIC). 

    Board discussions are expected to include, among others: Annual Report for 2024; strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities: Technical Cooperation Report for 2024; Report of the Programme and Budget Committee; verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015); staff of the Department of Safeguards to be used as Agency inspectors; Safeguards Implementation Report for 2024; application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic; NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran; nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine; transfer of the nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT; designation of members to serve on the Board in 2025–2026; provisional agenda for the 69th regular session of the General Conference; restoration of the sovereign equality of Member States in the IAEA; and representation of other organizations at the 69th regular session of the General Conference.

    The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press. 

    IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the meeting with an introductory statement, which will be released to journalists after delivery and posted on the IAEA website.  

    Press Conference 

    Director General Grossi is expected to hold a press conference at 12:30 CEST on Monday, 9 June, in the Press Room of the M building. 

    A live video stream of the press conference will be available. The IAEA will provide video footage of the press conference and the Director General’s opening statement here and will make photos available on Flickr.  

    Photo Opportunity 

    There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman of Ghana, before the start of the Board meeting, on 9 June at 10:00 CEST in Board Room C, in the C building in the VIC. 

    Press Working Area 

    The Press Room of the M building’s ground floor will be available as a press working area, starting from 09:00 CEST on 9 June.

    Accreditation

    All journalists interested in covering the meeting in person – including those with permanent accreditation – are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans. Journalists without permanent accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office by 14:00 CEST on Friday, 6 June. 

    We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna. 

    Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check. 

    The time for the press conference was updated from an earlier version. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Arrangements for IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, 16 June 2025

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    The IAEA Board of Governors will convene a meeting at the Agency’s headquarters starting at 10:00 CEST on Monday, 16 June, in Board Room C, Building C, 4th floor, in the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

    The meeting is convened by the Chair of the Board following a request from the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation for “an urgent session of the IAEA Board of Governors on the matter related to the Israeli attacks against the Iranian nuclear facilities that are under the IAEA safeguards”.

    The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press.

    Photo Opportunity 

    There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman of Ghana, before the start of the Board meeting, on 16 June at 10:00 CEST in Board Room C, in the C building in the VIC. 

    Accreditation and Press Working Area:

    The Press Room on the M-Building’s ground floor will be available as a press working area starting from 9:00 CEST on 16 June.

    Journalists are requested to register with the Press Office by 08:00 CEST on Monday, 16 June. Please email press@iaea.org.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IAEA Director General’s Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    (As prepared for delivery)

    As the armed conflict in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the nuclear safety and security situation throughout the country continues to be highly precarious. The presence of the IAEA at all Ukrainian nuclear facilities has been and continues to be an invaluable asset to the international community and must be preserved.

    The IAEA remains present at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant facilities. Difficult conditions have in the past month complicated and delayed one rotation of experts, which was safely completed in recent days. Back in December, a drone hit and severely damaged an IAEA official vehicle during a rotation. As I reported to you in the special Board meeting shortly afterward, staff survived this unacceptable attack unharmed, but the rear of the vehicle was destroyed. Other episodes followed, confirming the dangerous situation.

    Around Ukraine, the Khmelnitsky NPP, the Rivne NPP and the South Ukraine NPP, continue to operate amid serious challenges, including on the electricity infrastructure, a major risk to the reliable and stable supply of power crucial for the safe operation of NPPs. The electrical grid’s ability to provide a reliable off-site power supply to Ukrainian NPPs was further reduced by damage sustained following military attacks in November and December 2024, a mission of IAEA experts that visited and assessed seven critical electrical substations concluded late last year. Considering the seriousness of the situation, I visited the Kyivska electrical substation last month to observe the damage sustained first hand. On what was my 11th visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, I also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterating the IAEA’s commitment to supporting nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and our readiness to support the country’s plans to expand nuclear power at Khmelnytskyy NPP. Consultations with Moscow have also taken place and will continue, in the interest of nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

    At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where the 6 reactor units are in cold shutdown, the status of the off-site power supply remains extremely vulnerable. For about one week ZNPP had to rely on a single off-site power line following the loss of its only remaining back-up line, confirming the extremely fragile situation. 

    Last month at the Chornobyl site a drone caused significant damage to the structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor damaged in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards. Although this attack did not result in any radioactive release, it nevertheless underlines the persistent risk to nuclear safety during this military conflict.

    Since the Board gathered for its last regular meeting in November 2024, the Agency has arranged 31 deliveries of nuclear safety, security and medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine, bringing the total so far to 108 deliveries valued at more than EUR 15.6 million. The Agency also has initiated the first phase of its support on safety and security of radioactive sources in Ukraine.

    We are grateful to all 30 donor states and the European Union for their extrabudgetary contributions, and I encourage those who can, to support the delivery of the comprehensive assistance programme, for which EUR 22 million are necessary.

    As reflected in my latest report to the Board on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine, I would like to reiterate that all the IAEA’s activities in Ukraine are being conducted in line with relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and of the IAEA policy-making organs.

    Madame Chairperson,

    In February, I travelled to Fukushima to participate in collecting water samples off the coast of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. I did this together with scientists from China, Korea and Switzerland as part of additional measures to promote transparency and build trust in the region during the ongoing release of ALPS-treated water from the plant. Additional measures focus on expanding international participation and transparency, allowing hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water. This work is conducted within agreed parameters set by the IAEA in its role as an independent, impartial and technical organization.  IAEA officials and experts from laboratories from China, France, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland also sampled ALPS -treated water – prior to dilution – from measurement/confirmation tanks on the premises at the site. The IAEA has maintained its independent monitoring and analysis efforts, confirming that tritium concentrations in the discharged batches remain far below operational limits.

    In December 2024, an IAEA Task Force concluded that the approach TEPCO, and the Government of Japan are taking continues to align with international safety standards.

    While in Japan, I also visited facilities where soil removed after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident is safely stored, managed, and recycled, an effort the IAEA has been supporting by working to ensure it meets international safety standards.

    You have before you the Nuclear Safety Review 2025 and the Nuclear Security Review 2025. Both documents present, in their respective areas, an analytical overview, the global trends, and the Agency’s main activities in 2024. They also identify the top priorities for the years ahead.

    This month the inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Security Working Group established under the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative’s Regulatory Track will identify nuclear security topics of common interest amongst participating States and share regulatory approaches, good practices and lessons learned in ensuring the security of SMRs.

    Our preparatory work in advance of the launch of Atomic Technology Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) later this year is progressing. ATLAS will provide a framework to enable the peaceful maritime uses of nuclear technology, a prospect that is generating significant interest.

    Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Joint Convention) later this month will participate in the 8th Review Meeting to study National Reports with the aim of improving safety in radioactive waste and spent fuel management.

    December saw the start of a new project supporting the establishment of sustainable regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety and the security of radioactive material in Central East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

    In June, Romania will host ConvEx-3, the IAEA’s highest level and most complex emergency exercise. In the event of an incident with transboundary implications, Member States will be called upon to implement a harmonized response and therefore this exercise will have a particular focus on regional collaboration.

    The International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response will be held in December in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Madame Chairperson,

    Today, 417 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries make up almost 377 gigawatts of installed capacity, providing just under 10 per cent of the world’s total electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon supply.

    It is clear that countries are turning more and more to nuclear energy. In the IAEA’s high case scenario, global nuclear electricity generating capacity is seen increasing two and a half times by 2050.  Delivering on that promise will require public support. That is why the first IAEA International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes will gather governments, industry and practitioners from around the world in the final week of May. Mayors of municipalities with nuclear power facilities from around the world will share their experiences. No one is better placed to assess the impact and contribution to the community of nuclear facilities than those living there.

    Following our first Nuclear Stakeholder Engagement School, hosted by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy last November, we are now planning two more later this year. In addition, we have also established a new Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Service, which will help countries assess and strengthen their stakeholder engagement programmes.

    The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and growing in all spheres of life, including in nuclear science and technology. AI data centres require a lot of energy and nuclear reactors provide clean, reliable, and adaptable options, including in the form of SMRs and micro reactors.  Meanwhile, the integration of AI into the nuclear sector offers the chance to streamline operations across the nuclear power project life cycle. In this context the IAEA will host the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy this December. We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to this important and first-of-a-kind event here at the Agency’s headquarters.

    Within the Secretariat we are also intent on making the most of AI while mitigating its risks, therefore we have established official guidelines, a portal and a community of practice.

    Our work on fusion continues apace with the publication of Experiences for Consideration in Fusion Plant Design Safety and Safety Assessment.

    Madame Chairperson,

    The Nuclear Technology Review before you highlights key advancements in nuclear applications that support Member States in addressing critical priorities. This year’s review places particular emphasis on innovations in food safety and authenticity, energy security, early disease detection and cancer treatment, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

    In November, the IAEA hosted the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme. The Ministerial Declaration recognized both the critical role of nuclear science, technology, and applications in tackling global challenges, and the important role of the Technical Cooperation programme as a key mechanism in transferring, expanding and further accelerating Member State access to nuclear technology, materials, equipment and expertise for peaceful purposes.

    I am pleased to report the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme achieved an implementation rate of 86% in 2024. We provided our emergency assistance to Türkiye and Syria, assessing damage to civil structures following the earthquakes and building the capacities of Turkish and Syrian experts in non-destructive testing. We initiated procurement to reinstate X-ray and laboratory services in Grenada and Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Sara, and we aided oil-spill clean-up efforts in Trinidad and Tobago.

    In 2024, the Rate of Attainment for contributions to the TC Fund was 95%, underscoring Member States’ commitment to our work. To ensure resources for the TC programme are sufficient, assured and predicable, I urge Member States to contribute on time, and in full, to the TC Fund.

    Our flagship initiatives are making progress across the globe. Under Atoms4Food, about 27 countries from all regions have officially requested support. Member States have pledged almost EUR 9 million, two thirds of which was contributed by Japan to support livestock production in Côte d’Ivoire, food safety in Mauritania, and molecular laboratories in Vietnam, among other projects.

    Our network of international partnerships has grown with Memoranda of Understanding having been signed with Anglo American, CGIAR, and the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). The partnership with Anglo American focuses on combating soil salinization through climate-smart agricultural practices.

    While I was in Japan last month, I signed a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest integrated trading companies, to cooperate particularly in the area of sustainable uses of nuclear related technologies for multiple areas, including healthcare, shipping, fusion and capacity building efforts.  

    Under Rays of Hope, the Anchor Centre in Argentina held its first capacity-building event to strengthen paediatric radiotherapy services in Latin America and the Caribbean, creating a regional network for knowledge exchange and support.

    In January 2025, the IAEA conducted its first national-level quality assurance audit in diagnostic radiology, reviewing 16 hospitals in Qatar.

    The International Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology (ICARO-4) will take place in the first week of June, focusing on emerging radiotherapy techniques to address global health challenges.

    Under the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), a novel surveillance technology for high-risk pathogens was transferred to the IAEA’s Animal Production and Health Laboratory in November and will soon be passed on to Member States. New funding pledges from the Republic of Korea, Portugal, and Japan are supporting ZODIAC’s coordinated research projects in Asia and Africa, as well as the development of AI-driven platforms for zoonotic disease monitoring.

    Under NUTEC Plastics 104 Member States are engaged in microplastic monitoring, with 42 developing recycling technologies. Four countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America have validated radiation-based upcycling technology at lab scale, with private sector collaboration helping to build up operations. China is developing a pilot-scale facility, bringing the total number of countries promoting the technology to nine.

    In November this year, the International High-Level Forum on NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC-Plastics): Scaling Solutions and Partnerships for Global Impact will take place in the Philippines. I thank the Philippines Government for hosting this important milestone.

    The Global Water Analysis Laboratory Network (GloWAL) baseline survey has received 85 responses from 65 countries, informing future activities. Its first coordination meeting for the Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean is underway.

    Under ReNuAL 2, the construction of new greenhouses in Seibersdorf is nearing completion and the modernized laboratories will be ready to welcome staff soon.  

    Madame Chairperson,

    Regarding the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, you have before you my latest report on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

    Following my last report, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U‑235 has increased to 275 kg, up from 182 kg in the past quarter. Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon State enriching to this level, causing me serious concern.

    It has been four years since Iran stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including provisionally applying its Additional Protocol and therefore it is also four years since the Agency was able to conduct complementary access in Iran.

    You also have before you my report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran says it has declared all nuclear material, activities and locations required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. However, this statement is inconsistent with the Agency’s findings of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at undeclared locations in Iran. The Agency needs to know the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or of contaminated equipment involved.

    There is also a discrepancy in the material balance of uranium involved in uranium metal production experiments conducted at Jaber Ibn Hayan Mutlipurpose Laboratory, for which Iran has not accounted.

    Having stated it had suspended such implementation, Iran still is not implementing modified Code 3.1, which is a legal obligation for Iran.

    I am seriously concerned that the outstanding safeguards issues remain unresolved. They stem from Iran’s obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

    I deeply regret that Iran, despite having indicated a willingness to consider accepting the designation of four additional experienced Agency inspectors, did not accept their designation.

    There has been no significant progress towards implementing the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023. I call upon Iran urgently to implement the Joint Statement through serious engagement.

    In response to the Board’s request in its resolution of November 2024, I will produce a comprehensive and updated assessment on the presence and use of undeclared nuclear material in connection with past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

    High-level engagement is indispensable to making real progress. My visit to Tehran last November, and meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicate that there may be room for constructive compromises. I hope to see them again soon and pursue effective dialogue and tangible results.

    The Board has before it for approval a draft Additional Protocol for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    I have made it a priority to strengthen the legal framework for safeguards. Since the last Board meeting in November, Oman, Mongolia, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Zambia have amended their original Small Quantities Protocols and Saudi Arabia has rescinded its original SQP. The number of States with safeguards agreements in force remains 191, and 143 of these States have additional protocols in force. I call upon the remaining three States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without comprehensive safeguards agreements to bring such agreements into force without delay. I also encourage States that have not yet concluded additional protocols to do so as soon as possible, and I reiterate my repeated calls for the remaining 14 States with SQPs based on the original standard text to amend or rescind them as soon as possible. Let me assure you that I will continue to use my good offices to strengthen the indispensable legal framework on which the continued peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology rest.

    The IAEA continues to monitor the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme.

    The Agency has observed that the 5MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon resumed operation in mid-October 2024, following a shutdown period of approximately 60 days. This shutdown is assessed to be of sufficient length to refuel the reactor and start its seventh operational cycle. Strong indicators of preparations for a new reprocessing campaign, including the operation of the steam plant serving the Radiochemical Laboratory, have been observed.

    In late-January 2025, the DPRK released photographs of General Secretary Kim Jong Un visiting “the nuclear material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute”. The depicted centrifuge cascades and infrastructure are consistent with the layout of a centrifuge enrichment facility and with the structure of the Yongbyon Uranium Enrichment Plant. This development follows the DPRK’s publication in September 2024 of photographs of an undeclared enrichment facility at the Kangson Complex. The undeclared enrichment facilities at both Kangson and Yongbyon, combined with General Secretary Kim’s call for “overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials,” are of serious concern. There are indications that the uranium enrichment plants at Kangson and Yongbyon continue to operate, and there are indications that the light water reactor (LWR) at Yongbyon continues to operate. Additions to the support infrastructure have been observed adjacent to the LWR.

    There were no indications of significant changes at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, which remains prepared to support a nuclear test.

    The continuation and further development of the DPRK’s nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable. I call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of its NPT Safeguards Agreement and to resolve all outstanding issues, especially those that have arisen during the absence of Agency inspectors from the country. The Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme.

    Concerning the safety of the LWR, we lack the necessary information to make an assessment. Safety should always be a paramount consideration when operating a reactor. Nuclear safety is a sovereign responsibility of the State and the IAEA supports the States in this area.

    Following the change of Government in the Syrian Arab Republic towards the end of 2024, I have written to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. I requested cooperation with the Agency to enable us to fulfill our obligation to verify nuclear material and facilities under Syria’s safeguards agreement. I conveyed the importance of continuing and reinforcing cooperation between Syria and the Agency to address unresolved issues. Clarifying these issues remains essential to Syria demonstrating its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and international peace and security.

    I hope to be able to engage with the new government soon. Bringing total clarity to the situation regarding past activities in this field in Syria is indispensable to the realization of current efforts to modernize the country and put it on a firm path to peace and development.

    In April and May, the IAEA will participate in the Third Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York.

    Madame Chairperson,

    The IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska‑Curie Fellowship Programme has been expanding the talent base for the nuclear field since 2020 with 760 female students and graduates from 121 Member States so far having been supported in studying in 72 countries. In the current, fifth cycle, we selected 200 candidates from 109 countries. I would like to thank Member States that have contributed so far. For this programme to continue accepting new fellowship candidates it urgently needs further support. I ask those who can, to support this endeavor. 

    This year, we have planned three Lise Meitner Programme cohorts, in Argentina, Canada and Japan. They are focused on nuclear power, advanced nuclear technologies and research reactors.

    I am happy to report that we have reached parity, women now make up half the staff in the professional and higher categories. This is up from about 30% when I took office in 2019.

    I thank Member States who have paid their regular budget contributions, including some who paid in advance. It is important that all Member States pay their contributions in a timely manner. This will ensure liquidity of the regular budget throughout the year, allowing the Agency to carry out its activities effectively.

    You recently received for your consideration my proposed programme and budget for the 2026-2027 biennium.

    It has been prepared with due consideration of the constraints of the prevailing financial environment. Despite increasing demands and higher operational costs, I have decided for the third time in a row to propose a zero real growth budget. The proposal maintains balance among the different programmes and emphasises my commitment to ensuring our resources are managed with discipline, efficiency and restraint so that we maximize the impact of the Agency’s work.

    This being our first Board meeting of 2025, I want to conclude by saying that I look forward to making 2025 a successful year in which the IAEA benefits all Member States as we advance our common goals of peace and development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HarmonyOS Attracts Over 8 Million Developers

    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

    SHENZHEN, June 22 (Xinhua) — The ecosystem of China’s self-developed operating system HarmonyOS is expanding rapidly and currently has more than 8 million developers, Chinese tech giant Huawei said Friday at the Huawei Developer Conference held in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province.

    According to Huawei, more than 30,000 HarmonyOS apps and meta-services are in development or receiving updates, covering nearly 20 sectors including government, healthcare, and industrial applications. More than 100 major productivity platforms such as DingTalk and Feishu have been adapted for HarmonyOS, serving nearly 38 million enterprises.

    On September 25, 2023, HarmonyOS apps were fully launched, marking the beginning of the development of an independent operating system ecosystem.

    At the conference, Huawei unveiled the beta version of its next-generation operating system, HarmonyOS 6, for developers. In addition, the company introduced the Harmony Agent Framework (HMAF) for its HarmonyOS ecosystem, which aims to create a revolutionary AI ecosystem with autonomous decision-making and collaborative capabilities.

    HarmonyOS, or Hongmeng in Chinese, is an open-source operating system designed for a variety of devices and scenarios, including smart screens, tablets, wearables, and cars. It was first launched in 2019. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump threatens Iran with new strikes if “peace does not come quickly”

    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, June 22 (Xinhua) — Iran will face new military strikes if peace does not come soon, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

    Addressing his fellow citizens on television, Trump said Iran’s key nuclear facilities had been “completely and utterly destroyed,” adding that future attacks would be “much bigger and much simpler.”

    “If peace does not come quickly, we will attack other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be destroyed within minutes,” the US leader said after the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites.

    “Our goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” he said, calling the bombing an “impressive” success. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Modern Trenches, Modern Threats: Combat Engineering in the Drone Age

    Source: United States Navy

    SKRUNDA, Latvia – As part of exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2025, U.S. Navy Seabees, U.S. Marines from 8th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), and Latvian Army engineers are constructing a fortified trench network designed for survivability in a drone-contested battlespace. The project serves both as a realistic rehearsal and a proof of concept for how modern combat engineers support maneuverability, concealment, and endurance in multi-domain operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Guterres warns US bombing of Iran can catastrophically get out of control

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the “dangerous escalation” of the Iran conflict through US bombing of nuclear sites in the country can catastrophically get out of control.

    In a statement minutes before US President Donald Trump’s address to the nation on Saturday night, Guterres said the attack was “a direct threat to international peace and security.”

    He said he was “gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today” and warned that “there is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”

    Trump said his “military carried out massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan.”

    “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” he said.

    The US and Israel, Trump said, worked “as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before.”

    He warned, “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.”

    There are more targets that the US can hit in Iran, he said.

    “But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

    However, in an earlier Truth Social post, Trump also said, “Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

    “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close,” he added.

    Israel had started attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13, and Iran retaliated with missiles and drones, some of which managed to penetrate Israel’s defence.

    Trump, who had been vacillating between restraint and joining Israel, had said on Thursday that he would decide whether to attack in a two-week frame, but it came two days later.

    The US attack followed an apparently failed last-minute diplomatic effort by foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France, along with the European Union representative, to de-escalate the situation.

    Two of the three sites that Trump said had been hit had been attacked earlier by Israel.

    They were Fordo and Natanz, which are uranium enrichment facilities where the element is refined to ultimately reach bomb grade.

    The third facility attacked was a storage for the enriched uranium.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a ‘bunker buster’? An expert explains what the US dropped on Iran – and what might happen now

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Dwyer, Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania

    The jagged silhouette of a B2 stealth bomber seen during a 2015 flyover in the US. Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

    Late on Saturday night, local time, the United States carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, marking its open participation in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

    The US says it fired 30 submarine-launched missiles at the sites in Natanz and Isfahan, as well as dropping more than a dozen “bunker buster” bombs at Fordow and Natanz.

    The kind of bomb in question is the extremely destructive GBU-57 Massive Ordance Penetrator, or MOP, which weighs around 13.5 tonnes.

    The attacks raise a lot of questions. What are these enormous bombs? Why did the US feel it had to get involved in the conflict? And, going forward, what does it mean for Iran’s nuclear ambitions?

    What are ‘bunker busters’, and why are they used?

    Bunker busters are weapons designed to destroy heavily protected facilities such as bunkers deep underground, beyond the reach of normal bombs.

    Bunker busters are designed to bury themselves into the ground before detonating. This allows more of the explosive force to penetrate into the ground, rather than travelling through the air or across the surface.

    Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan are built deep underground. Estimates suggest that Fordow for example could be 80m beneath the surface, and capped with layers of reinforced concrete and soil.

    What is the MOP?

    The bunker buster used in this particular operation is the largest in the US arsenal. Leaving aside nuclear weapons, the MOP is the largest known buster buster in the world.

    Weighing some 13.5 tonnes, the MOP is believed to be able to penetrate up to 60 metres below ground in the right conditions. It is not known how many the US possesses, but the numbers are thought to be small (perhaps 20 or so in total).

    We also don’t know exactly how many were used in Iran, though some reports say it was 14. However, it is likely to be a significant portion of the US MOP arsenal.

    Why does only the US possess this capability?

    The US is not the only state with bunker-busting weaponry. However, the size of MOP means it requires very specialised bombers to carry and drop it.

    Only the B2 stealth bomber is currently able to deploy the MOP. Each B2 can carry at most two MOPs at a time. Around seven of America’s 19 operational B2s were used in the Iran operation.

    There has been some consideration whether large transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules could be modified to carry and drop the MOP from its rear cargo doors. While this would allow other countries (including Israel) to deploy the MOP, it is for now purely hypothetical.

    Why has the US (apparently) used them in Iran

    The Trump administration claims Iran may be only a few weeks from possessing a nuclear weapon, and that it needed to act now to destroy Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. This claim is notably at odds with published assessments from the US intelligence community.

    However, Israel lacks bunker busting weaponry sufficient to damage the deeply buried and fortified enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

    An F-15E Strike Eagle releases a GBU-28 ‘bunker buster’ laser-guided bomb, a smaller equivalewnt of the 13,600 kg GBU-57 ‘Massive Ordnance Penetrator’ believed to have been used in Iran.
    Michael Ammons / US Air Force

    Only the MOP could do the job (short of using nuclear weapons). Even then, multiple MOPs would have been required to ensure sufficient damage to the underground facilities.

    The US has claimed that these sites have been utterly destroyed. We cannot conclusively say whether this is true.

    Iran may also have other, undeclared nuclear sites elsewhere in the country.

    Iran’s reaction

    The US has reportedly reached out to Iran via diplomatic channels to emphasise that this attack was a one-off, not part of a larger project of regime change. It is hard to say what will happen in the next few weeks.

    Iran may retaliate with large strikes against Israel or against US forces in the region. It could also interrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which would affect a large portion of global oil shipments, with profound economic implications.

    Alternatively, Iran could capitulate and take steps to demonstrate it is ending its nuclear program. However, capitulation would not necessarily mean the end of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

    The value of nuclear weapons

    Perhaps a greater concern is that the attack will reinforce Iran’s desire to go nuclear. Without nuclear weapons, Iran was unable to threaten the US enough to deter today’s attack.

    Iran may take lessons from the fate of other states. Ukraine (in)famously surrendered its stockpile of former Soviet nuclear weapons in the early 1990s. Russia has since felt emboldened to annex Crimea in 2014 and launch an ongoing invasion in 2022. Other potential nuclear states, such as Iraq and Gadaffi’s regime in Libya, also suffered from military intervention.

    By contrast, North Korea successfully tested its first nuclear weapon in 2006. Since then there has been no serious consideration of military intervention in North Korea.

    Iran may yet have the ability to produce useful amounts of weapons-grade uranium. It may now aim to buy itself time to assemble a relatively small nuclear device, similar in scale to the bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

    Depending on what facilities and resources have survive the US strikes, the attack has likely reinforced that the only way the Iranian regime can guarantee its survival is to possess nuclear weapons.

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

    – ref. What is a ‘bunker buster’? An expert explains what the US dropped on Iran – and what might happen now – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-bunker-buster-an-expert-explains-what-the-us-dropped-on-iran-and-what-might-happen-now-259508

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China sends emergency supplies to help flood victims in Hunan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) — China’s disaster relief and strategic reserve department said Saturday that emergency supplies have been dispatched to flood-hit central China’s Hunan Province.

    According to the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the State Food and Material Administration of China, the aid includes more than 81,500 daily necessities such as tents, folding beds, blankets and mattresses. In addition, effective assistance will be provided to relocate the affected residents and meet their basic living needs.

    Hunan Province has been hit by severe floods in recent days, with Zhangjiajie City and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture hit hardest.

    Let us recall that China has adopted a four-tier emergency response system for flood-related emergencies, with level 1 being the highest. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Task Force 66 applies lessons learned from the Black Sea Battle Lab to exercise BALTOPS 25 alongside NATO partners

    Source: United States Navy

    UTSKA, Poland – Commander, Task Force (CTF) 66, U.S. 6th Fleet’s purpose-built all-domain task force with the mission of integrating Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) into fleet operations, is participating in Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS) June 5-20, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: CNO Franchetti Speaks at 2024 Paris Naval Conference

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti spoke during a panel while at the Paris Naval Conference in Paris, France on Jan. 24, 2024. The panel was “Future Challenges and Perspectives for Navies.” Speakers included: Chief of the French Navy Adm. Nicolas Vaujour; Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom Adm. Sir Ben Key; Adm. Enrico Credendino, Chief of the Italian Navy; and Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China’s opening-up drive

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

    An immigration officer processes entry procedures for personnel attending the 2025 Blue Bay LPGA at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, March 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

    For Canadian visitor Stephanie Wing See Yau, the therapy experience at a care center in Bo’ao, a coastal city in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan, felt more like “a vacation.”

    “This place is top-notch. They cater to so many aspects of wellness, not just physical, but mental too,” she told Xinhua during her stay in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, which hosts over 30 top-tier domestic and international medical institutions.

    Thanks to special policy support, the pilot zone has introduced 485 cutting-edge medicines and medical devices that are licensed abroad but not yet available in the domestic market. The policy has benefited more than 130,000 patients, including individuals like Yau.

    Her four-day experience — blending advanced health screenings, traditional therapies, tea ceremonies, and cultural immersion — offers much more than just a chance to relax. It showcases a tangible outcome of a key move in China’s opening-up strategy: the transformation of Hainan into a Free Trade Port (FTP).

    As the Hainan FTP is set to begin independent customs operations by the end of the year, it is poised to become not only a tourist haven but also a pivotal gateway for China’s opening-up drive.

    Frontier for free-flowing factors

    A central component of this transformation is the Lecheng medical tourism pilot zone. A total of 25 medical tourism routes have been rolled out to cater to a wide range of needs, including traditional Chinese medicine, chronic disease care, luxury diagnostics and cosmetic rehab, garnering popularity among visitors from countries such as Indonesia, Russia, Spain, and beyond.

    In 2024, the medical special zone attracted over 410,000 medical visitors, up 36.76 percent year on year.

    Lecheng is only one part of Hainan’s wider push for opening up. Beyond the medical sector, the province has been fast-tracking foreign access across sectors ranging from finance and education to communication and high-tech industries, as China aims to build an FTP with global top-tier trade standards.

    Hainan, supported by the country’s vast domestic market and its strategic positioning, stands as a vital hub that connects the world’s second-largest economy with global markets.

    The FTP is gearing up to be “a pivotal gateway leading China’s new era of opening-up,” said Chi Fulin, head of the China Institute for Reform and Development.

    With independent customs operations imminent, the FTP’s policy framework, underpinned by features like zero tariffs, low tax rates, simplified tax systems and facilitated factor flows, has taken shape.

    For firms in Lecheng, a zero-tariff policy on medical imports has saved nearly 8.2 million yuan (about 1.14 million U.S. dollars) in duties since December 2024.

    The start of independent customs operations will represent a concrete step toward building a major gateway for China’s high-level opening-up, Chi said.

    Institutional opening-up luring foreign capital 

    As Hainan FTP has prioritized institutional integration and coordination across trade, finance and regulatory systems, experts believe this will create a powerful driving force for the development of the FTP and contribute to China’s high-standard opening up strategy.

    Official data showed that so far, the province has rolled out a total of 158 institutional innovation cases. These reform measures include technology-empowered public tendering, one-stop business licensing, and a specialized IP zone to support the seed industry.

    Hainan FTP serves not only as a testing ground for free-flowing goods, services and data, but as a frontier for the innovation of regulations and mechanisms, said Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

    With its optimized business environment, Hainan has emerged as a premier foreign investment destination, ranking among China’s top performers. In 2024, the number of foreign-invested enterprises in Hainan rose 19.2 percent year on year, while its foreign direct investment volume climbed to the tenth spot nationally.

    To date, Hainan has attracted investment from 158 countries and regions, while its economic openness ratio — the ratio of total trade to GDP — more than doubled from 17.3 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024.

    High-profile events held in the province like the BFA, a premier platform advocating openness and multilateral cooperation, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region, offer global investors dynamic gateways to observe the country’s evolving openness agenda.

    DFS, the travel retail company of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, in 2024 sealed its largest single investment in 60 years to launch a landmark complex in Yalong Bay of Sanya, the well-known tropical resort city in Hainan. The project will merge luxury retail, hotels and entertainment, with the goal of building a top destination for luxury shopping and tourism.

    “Hainan FTP embodies China’s commitment to high-standard openness,” said Nancy Liu, president of DFS China.

    China’s special economic zones, like Hainan FTP and the 21 pilot free trade zones, serve as pivotal engines for industrial transformation and opening up, Chi noted, highlighting their role as “growth accelerators for both regional and global economies.”

    When the independent customs operations begin, Hainan FTP will create key opportunities for international enterprises to access China’s domestic market more efficiently, and play a greater role in enhancing market connectivity with global markets through service trade-focused regulatory alignment, he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Europe freight trains on full timetables surpass 1,000 trips

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

    A freight train loaded with auto components, LED monitors and other goods on Saturday departed from Xi’an, a city in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, bound for Duisburg in Germany, marking a significant milestone as the number of China-Europe freight trains operating on full timetables has now exceeded 1,000.

    The full timetable service, first launched in October 2022, enables China-Europe freight trains to run according to pre-arranged schedules, including designated train numbers, routes, departure times and arrival times across countries along the route.

    To date, the number of routes operating under fixed timetables has expanded to 11, featuring 17 trains running on a regular weekly schedule. With more fixed timetable trains added to the schedule, the China-Europe Railway Express is expected to deliver its cargo with even greater reliability.

    This service has also become a preferred option for transporting high-value-added goods, including photovoltaic panels, solar modules and marine diesel engine parts. Notably, the average value per container transported by these trains is approximately 41 percent higher than that of other services, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    Currently, over 98,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo have been transported via full timetable China-Europe freight trains, the company said.

    China-Europe freight trains have evolved into a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative — promoting trade and connectivity between Europe and Asia. At present, a total of 128 Chinese cities have launched China-Europe freight train services, reaching 229 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: 3d Multi-Domain Task Force changes command on historic Palm Circle

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to the 3d Multi-Domain Task Force stand in formation during the unit’s change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro)

    (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3d Multi-Domain Task Force conducts a change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025, marking the formal transition of leadership from Brig. Gen. Michael D. Rose to Col. Wade A. Germann through the traditional passing of the unit colors. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3d Multi-Domain Task Force conducts a change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025, marking the formal transition of leadership from Brig. Gen. Michael (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro) VIEW ORIGINAL
    4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3d Multi-Domain Task Force conducts a change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025, marking the formal transition of leadership from Brig. Gen. Michael D. Rose to Col. Wade A. Germann through the traditional passing of the unit colors. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro)

    (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Michael D. Rose relinquishes command of the 3d Multi-Domain Task Force to Col. Wade A. Germann during a change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro) VIEW ORIGINAL
    6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Wade A. Germann assumes command of the 3d Multi-Domain Task Force during a ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro) VIEW ORIGINAL
    7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, presides over the 3d Multi-Domain Task Force change of command ceremony on historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 18, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Perla Alfaro) VIEW ORIGINAL

    FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The U.S. Army’s 3d Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF) held a change of command ceremony June 18, 2025, on historic Palm Circle, as Brig. Gen. Michael D. Rose relinquished command to Col. Wade A. Germann. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a transformative and impactful command under Brig. Gen. Rose and the start of a new chapter for the Army’s cutting-edge multi-domain force operating in the Indo-Pacific.

    Brig. Gen. Rose, who assumed command of 3MDTF in June 2023, played a crucial role in enhancing the Task Force’s readiness and integration with Joint and regional partners and allies across all domains. Under his leadership, 3MDTF participated in key exercises across the theater as part of OPERATIONS PATHWAYS, demonstrating the synchronization of long-range precision fires, cyber, space, and information operations to project combat power across the Indo-Pacific Theater.

    Presiding over the ceremony, Gen. Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, commended Brig. Gen. Mike Rose for his exceptional leadership and contributions to the 3d MDTF.

    “I’m exceptionally grateful for the tremendous efforts of our outgoing commander, Brigadier General Mike Rose,” said Clark. “You have generated lethality through tough and realistic training and applied exquisite effects with land forces who can fight on and from the land in combined, joint, and multi-domain environments.”

    Clark highlighted several Army firsts executed by 3d MDTF, including the first employment of the Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (AML) and first Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) live fire west of the international dateline.

    During his tenure, Brig. Gen. Rose emphasized experimentation, interoperability, and speed, driving the 3MDTF to implement concepts crucial for deterrence and joint campaigning. His time in command accelerated the integration of Australian and United Kingdom personnel, transforming 3MDTF into a combined headquarters to become an embodiment of AUKUS Pillar 2 agreements. Furthermore, the unit’s participation in major exercises, such as Talisman Sabre, Yama Sakura, and Valiant Shield, highlights its expanding operational reach and its ability to coordinate effects in real-time across the Indo-Pacific.

    During his speech at the ceremony, Rose said, “We’ve gone from a concept to a campaign-ready force in record time. We’ve planned, rehearsed, and executed operations to span thousands of miles. We’ve operated across every domain — land, sea, air, space, and cyber — and we’ve integrated with every service in the Joint Force.”

    Emphasizing the importance of 3MDTF’s integration with the Joint Force, partners, and allies, he continued, “We’ve trained and deployed with our allies and partners across the region — from Japan to the Philippines to Thailand, Korea, Singapore, India, and more. And most importantly, we’ve done our part to contribute to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, creating new dilemmas — dilemmas for our adversaries — deterring aggression, and assuring allies and partners that the Army stands ready.”

    Col. Germann assumes command with more than two decades of operational and strategic experience. His prior assignments include roles in joint and combined environments, and his leadership will continue to advance 3MDTF’s mission in support of integrated deterrence and dynamic campaigning.

    After taking the podium, Col. Germann expressed his gratitude.

    “I’m humbled to lead and work with the incredible men and women of the 3d Multi-Domain Task Force who stand before us today on this field and represent not just those here, but many others who are not here because they’re currently out on mission across the Indo-Pacific.”

    Established in 2022, 3MDTF is the Army’s newest Multi-Domain Task Force and the second assigned to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Area of Operation. Headquartered at Fort Shafter, 3MDTF increases lethality of the Joint Force through the layering of kinetic and non-kinetic effects across multiple domains, enhancing deterrence and strengthening regional security.

    The 3MDTF’s unique structure and capabilities reflect the Army’s modernization priorities and commitment to campaigning in competition, crisis, and conflict, and assuring partners and Allies throughout the Indo-Pacific.

    “The change of command ceremony is a defining moment in the life of any organization, and the 3d MDTF is no different. But as leadership changes, our mission remains the same. We will continue to present complex dilemmas to our adversary across multiple domains to prevent war,” said Gen. Clark.

    3MDTF remains ready to fight and win across all domains — anytime, anywhere.

    HUNT FORWARD!

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The President of Belarus and the US President’s Special Envoy for Ukraine met in Minsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    MINSK, June 22 (Xinhua) — A meeting between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg took place in Minsk on Saturday. The conversation took place at the Palace of Independence with the participation of members of the delegations. The corresponding information was published by the press service of the Belarusian head of state on the same day.

    The agenda of the talks included international issues and the overall situation in the world, regional issues and Belarusian-American relations. “I am very glad, Mr. General, to meet with you. I very much hope that our conversation will be very sincere and open,” A. Lukashenko noted.

    In turn, K. Kellogg thanked the Belarusian side for the hospitality and the meeting. “We live in a very dangerous time, when the crises we face can sharply escalate, grow, if we are not wise and fair,” he said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US Attacks Three Iranian Nuclear Facilities – 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, June 21 (Xinhua) — The United States has completed its attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, U.S. President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social page on Saturday.

    According to him, “all aircraft are now outside Iranian airspace. The full complement of bombs was dropped on the main target, Fordow.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

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

    Caitlin Johnstone: Israel supporters will be despised for the rest of their lives
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Do Israel’s supporters know it’s over for them? Like, they know they’re going to be despised for the rest of their lives, right? That they will never, ever live down the fact that they supported a live-streamed genocide? And that it will

    Another Iraq? Military expert warns US has no real plan if it joins Israel’s war on Iran
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, held talks with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom yesterday in Geneva as Israel’s attacks on Iran entered a second week. A US-based Iranian human rights group reports the Israeli attacks have killed at least 639 people. Israeli war planes have

    Israel blocks Gaza aid organisations’ access to fuel, hospitals running out
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou,  I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. Sixty nine people killed in Gaza, 12 while seeking aid, and 221 injured (172 seeking aid). 11 killed by Israeli

    Analyst dismisses ‘lie by rogue’ Netanyahu over Iran’s nuclear programme
    Asia Pacific Report A leading Middle East analyst has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s dismissal of the conclusion of his own national intelligence chief, who said in April that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, said in an interview that Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 21, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 21, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: USS Mount Whitney Hosts DV Day during BALTOPS 25

    Source: United States Navy

    GDANSK, Poland – U.S. and NATO flag and general officers gathered for a Distinguished Visitor (DV) Day as part of Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 25 aboard the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on June 17.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: CNO Franchetti Participates in Paris Naval Conference Media Availability

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti participates in a media availability following the Paris Naval Conference with Chief of the French Navy Adm. Nicolas Vaujour; Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom Adm. Sir Ben Key; Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Day of Remembrance and Sorrow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    June 22, 1941 is a day that will forever remain in the memory of our people.

    At 4:15 a.m., when the world was still asleep, Nazi Germany, violating all agreements, unleashed a war against the Soviet Union. This moment marked the beginning of the Great Patriotic War – one of the most tragic periods in the history of our country.

    Alarms woke people up. Many could not believe what was happening. The morning skies turned fiery as German planes began bombing towns and villages. The world that seemed stable collapsed in a second.

    Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians found themselves in the epicenter of horror. Bombing, destruction, fear, death – all this became a reality that people had to face.

    But despite heavy losses and terrible suffering, the people showed incredible resilience.

    From the first days of the war, people gathered in self-defense units, signed up for the army, prepared to defend their homeland. This day marked the beginning of a long and difficult journey, in which everyone united from the southern seas to the polar region, regardless of gender, age, nationality or profession.

    The Moscow Engineering and Economic Institute (today GUU) contributed to the common Victory. Many employees went to the front, fought in the 7th division of the people’s militia, the 3rd Moscow Communist Division and other formations. During the war years, the university continued to work on training specialists who were needed by the country’s economy more than ever. When the enemy approached the capital, university representatives participated in defense activities: they built fortifications, worked in logging, and organized subsidiary farming.

    June 22, 1941 is not just a date. It is a symbol of courage and unity that became the basis for victory in a war that took millions of lives but did not break the spirit of the people.

    We remember and honor those who fought, who gave their lives for freedom and independence. Eternal memory to the heroes!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Statement on Recent Developments in the Middle East

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    As a father, my heart aches for families in Israel living in fear of an attack that may harm them and their loved ones. The Iranian regime’s threat remains real, and as the Senate considers its annual funding legislation, I will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself. For the safety of our ally, Israel, and the region, and for our own national security, the Iranian regime must not have a nuclear weapon.

    As a Senator for one of the largest military states and as a pastor who has, on many occasions, prayed with parents who lost a child through military service, I remain hopeful that we can reach peace through diplomacy. I call on the Trump administration to leverage American leadership in the vigilant pursuit of peace and I urge the Iranian regime to immediately return to the negotiation table—for the safety of all of God’s children. It’s critical the Administration respect Congress’s constitutional responsibility to carefully review any proposed use of American forces in yet another conflict in the Middle East.

    My casework team remains available to coordinate with the State Department if any American faces obstacles leaving Israel or Iran. My casework team is available at (770) 694-7828 and casework@warnock.senate.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Active tourist exchanges link Beijing and Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) — According to statistics, the number of visits to the recently held Moscow Seasons in Beijing festival exceeded 2.85 million people, the press service of the Moscow City Tourism Committee reported.

    The event took place from June 12 to 15 in the Chinese capital in honor of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of sister-city relations between Beijing and Moscow. At the festival site, the Russian tourist information pavilion became one of the most attractive sites.

    Cutting-edge technologies such as 3D modeling offered Chinese visitors innovative ways to experience Russia. A digital twin of Moscow allowed the public to immerse themselves in the Russian capital, showing details of the city’s architectural assemblies, utility networks, and transportation systems.

    “This device gives an incredibly realistic effect. It’s a fantastic way to see iconic Russian landmarks from afar,” said Chinese visitor Hou Wen after enjoying the panorama of Red Square.

    “Chinese tourists have shown a huge interest in Russia,” said festival volunteer Oksana Yakimashenko, who is also a Moscow-based Chinese-speaking guide, helping visitors put on VR goggles for a fascinating virtual tour of Moscow.

    Oksana also introduced Xu Bo, a Beijing native who plans to take an in-depth tour of Russia with his wife after retiring in two years, to Russia’s tourist routes. “We prefer to travel by train rather than by plane because we don’t want to miss any of the scenery along the way,” Xu Bo said, adding that he will definitely visit Moscow and St. Petersburg.

    According to Oksana, in recent years she has received more and more travelers from China, many of whom consider Moscow a beautiful city.

    The close ties between the two cities are clearly reflected in the growing number of tourist exchanges. According to available information, China ranks first among foreign countries in the number of tourists visiting the Russian capital. In 2024 alone, Moscow was visited by more than 420,000 guests from China.

    According to the Beijing City Administration of Culture and Tourism, Beijing received 293,000 tourists from Russia last year, and over 175,000 Russian tourists visited the Chinese capital in the first five months of this year. Among foreign travelers who visited Beijing during the same period, Russians ranked first.

    As noted by the First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee Evgeny Kozlov, in order to increase the attractiveness of Moscow as a tourist destination, the multifaceted strategy includes significant investments in the development of transport infrastructure, urban navigation, hotel services and the digital environment for the sake of a comfortable stay for tourists.

    According to E. Kozlov, in order to raise awareness of Moscow among Chinese travelers, we actively promote the capital’s official accounts in popular Chinese social networks – Douyin, WeChat, Xiaohongshu and Weibo. An important step was the opening of an official page on the Ctrip platform in 2024, where both individual and group tours to Moscow are presented, he added.

    Zheng Fang, deputy director of the Beijing City Culture and Tourism Bureau, said Beijing is offering foreign tourists the Beijing Pass, a card designed to enhance their tourism experience in the Chinese capital.

    The card, which can be purchased at the Beijing Service counters at Beijing Capital and Beijing Daxing International Airports, facilitates the process of paying for public transportation, purchasing tickets at tourist attractions, and shopping at shopping malls. In addition, foreign visitors can use it to purchase tickets to 30 popular tourist attractions in Beijing, including parks such as Yiheyuan, Tiantan (Temple of Heaven), and the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

    “I am confident that in the future, tourism exchanges between Beijing and Moscow will be able to steadily expand and demonstrate an even stronger development trend,” Zheng Fang concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCED promotes Hong Kong’s advantages as wine and liquor trading hub in Bordeaux, France (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SCED promotes Hong Kong’s advantages as wine and liquor trading hub in Bordeaux, France  
    On June 20 (France time), Mr Yau held a business roundtable and met with representatives of the trade of Bordeaux wine, Cognac and Armagnac to exchange views on the latest developments of the trade and enhance co-operation on promoting wine and liquor trading.
     
    Mr Yau first shared with the trade the business opportunities brought about by the strong growth in the demand of wine in the vast market of Asia Pacific. He said market research revealed that China’s wine market generated approximately US$31 billion in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach US$54 billion in 2030, reflecting an annual growth rate of almost 10 per cent. He added that with Hong Kong’s wine duty abolished in 2008, the city is now an international wine trading hub and one of the world’s top three wine auction centres.
     
    Turning to liquor, Mr Yau said that France remains one of Hong Kong’s top liquor trading partners, In 2024, Hong Kong imported US$831 million worth of liquor, and France was Hong Kong’s second-largest import market, accounting for 30 per cent of the total. Brandy continued to be a leading category, particularly through high-end retail channels catering to the Mainland market.
     
    Mr Yau added that last October, Hong Kong took another step by introducing a two-tier liquor duty system under which the duty rate was reduced from 100 per cent to 10 per cent for the portion above HK$200. As a “super connector” linking the East and West, Hong Kong with its strategic location and unique advantages plays a pivotal role in the global liquor trade as a gateway to the fast-growing Asia and Mainland markets. Between 2013 and 2023, imports of spirits in Asia grew 79.3 per cent, a significantly faster rate than the global increase of 42 per cent in the same period. The Mainland is now the third-largest importer of Cognac.
     
    Mr Yau added that Hong Kong’s signature events, such as the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair and the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, along with biennial events such as ProWine Hong Kong and Vinexpo Asia, provide French producers with unparalleled platforms to promote their brands to international buyers, distributors and liquor enthusiasts.
     
    Mr Yau said that coupled with its premier location, free flow of capital and free port status, Hong Kong, as the world’s freest economy and the third-most competitive economy globally, is the best partner for the Bordeaux wine and liquor sector to tap into the tremendous opportunities in the Asia market, notably the Mainland.
     
    On June 21 (France time), Mr Yau took the opportunity to visit vineyards in Bordeaux to learn about their operations and promote Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s wine and liquor trading hub.
    Issued at HKT 9:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Delivering sustainable finances

    Source: Scottish Government

    Strategy to be published after ‘disappointing’ UK Spending Review settlement.

    A Medium Term Financial Strategy will be set out next week in the aftermath of a “disappointing” UK Spending Review and welfare reforms that will reduce Scotland’s budget.

    Finance Secretary Shona Robison will outline the five-year strategy and accompanying action plan to ensure public money is focused on Scottish Government priorities.

    The Finance Secretary said:

    “This government has delivered a balanced budget every year while taking steps to improve the overall sustainability of our finances. This is despite a deeply challenging financial situation caused by rising global instability, persistent higher inflation and over a decade of UK austerity.

    “Our disappointing settlement at the recent UK Spending Review has made the situation worse, short-changing the Scottish Government by £1.1 billion in our day-to-day funding compared with UK Government departments. This comes on top of reductions in our funding worth hundreds of millions of pounds as a result of the UK Government’s proposed welfare reforms and failure to fully fund its employer National Insurance increase.

    “In this context, it is important that we take action to maximise funding targeted at frontline services such as our NHS.” 

    Background

    The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) will outline the approach to ensuring Scotland’s finances remain on a sustainable footing. It will be accompanied by a Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, setting out the actions being taken in support of the MTFS. Both documents will be presented by the Finance Secretary in a statement to Parliament on Wednesday 25 June.

    Under the UK Spending Review the Scottish Government’s day-to-day spending is set to grow by 0.8% over the next three years, compared with 1.2% average growth for UK Government departments. Had this funding grown in line with UK Government overall spending, the Scottish Government would have £1.1 billion more to spend on day-to-day priorities over the next three years.

    The Scottish Spending Review and a new infrastructure pipeline will be published alongside the 2026-27 Scottish Budget later this year.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Aggravated Burglary – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested 5 youths after they allegedly forced their way into a Palmerston home and stole 2 vehicles early this morning.

    At 1:16am the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received information that a number of offenders armed with edged weapons had entered a home in Rosebery.

    Earlier the victims had locked themselves in a bedroom before the offenders smashed the bedroom door with a machete and demanded money and keys to 2 vehicles.

    After locating the keys the offenders left the scene and a short time later they allegedly burgled a shop at Frances Bay where they stole a large quantity of alcohol.

    General Duties officers attended the Rosebery home and a crime scene was established.

    Members from Strike Force Trident and the K9 unit were also called out before the stolen vehicles were located on police CCTV and tracked.

    Police then engaged in a short pursuit in Palmerston before the offenders stopped the vehicles and ran.

    The K9 unit then tracked the offenders to an address in Moulden where police arrested a 15-year-old male, 17-year-old male and three 16-year-old males.

    Investigations are continuing.

    Police are urging anyone who may have information about the incidents to contact police on 131 444 as soon as possible and quote reference number P25167478.

    Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Cause that Hits Close to Home: Georgia Local 2917 Walks to Raise Cancer Research Funds

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Local 2917 members recently hit the track to raise much needed donations for the Relay For Life 2025. The annual event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society at multiple sites around the world, gives teams an opportunity to raise money for medical research to end cancer. It has raised billions of dollars for cancer research since its first event in 1985.

    IAM Local 2917 members raised nearly $2,000 with their walk.

    “The Local could have just made a donation with a check, but the Women’s Committee and the Veterans Services program challenged our members to step up and walk,” said IAM Local 2917 Recording Secretary Margie Smith. “And we did more than walk! It was truly a great challenge and team effort.”

    Smith recently completed the Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters, or IAM LEADS course.  She brought the enthusiasm from that course back to Eastern Georgia to rally her brother and sister union members to come together to form a team for this event.  

    Local 2917 represents Service Contract Act workers at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield just over 40 miles from Savannah, Ga. It is home to the 3rd Infantry Division, and one of the largest military mobilization points on the East Coast.

    Local 2917’s team won the award for “Best T-Shirt” for the 80’s-themed event by combining the image of the “Walk This Way” record with a “Back to the 80’s” logo.

    IAM Local 2917 members have participated in the Relay for Life event for three years, raising thousands of dollars each year. 

    The team was honored to walk this year in memory of late Local 2917 President Ray Caywood, who passed away from cancer unexpectedly this past February. Current Local 2917 President Colleen Brutton is also fighting cancer, and was at the event to inspire her members.

    “These are the types of activities that warm my heart,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “We always come together when one of our own is in a fight, and cancer is a fight that we can’t see. Union members, like our brothers and sisters at 2917, are doing great work in their communities and supporting each other.  I am honored to make a donation to their cause on behalf of the Southern Territory and the Executive Council.”

    Anyone can still donate now at the link here to support this year’s donation from the Fighting Machinists of Local 2917.

    The post A Cause that Hits Close to Home: Georgia Local 2917 Walks to Raise Cancer Research Funds appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour government not just complicit – they are active participants in genocide, says Polanski

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Deputy leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, spoke at today’s National March for Palestine in London attended by tens of thousands of people.

    Polanski said:

    “Today, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of our capital with one clear message: the Genocide in Gaza must stop – now. I was proud to stand alongside so many others who refuse to look away from the horror and injustice unfolding before our eyes.”

    “We have to be clear and say this loud – our government is not just complicit but active participants. Entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. Hospitals targeted. Children buried beneath collapsed buildings

    “The many thousands on the street today were clear: this is not self-defence, this is collective punishment. The UK must immediately end arms sales to Israel, support an urgent and permanent ceasefire, and back a full international investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

    “The people of Gaza need more than our solidarity – they need action. That’s why I marched today, and why Greens across the country will continue to speak out until justice, safety, and freedom are secured for all Palestinians and Israelis alike.”

    “We cannot allow political cowardice to stand in the way of human rights. The world is watching – and history will remember where we stood.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yemen’s Houthis Vow to Attack US Ships in Case of US Strike on Iran

    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

    SANAA, June 21 (Xinhua) — Yemen’s Houthi rebel movement said in a statement on Saturday that it would attack American ships if the United States launched military action against Iran.

    “If America takes part in the attack and aggression against Iran … the armed forces /of the Houthis/ will attack American ships and military vessels in the Red Sea,” warned the official representative of the Houthi armed groups, Yahya Saria, on the air of the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel.

    “We are monitoring and controlling all movements in the region … and we will take the necessary measures,” he said, adding: “We support Iran … We will not allow America and its criminal entity to implement its plans in the region.”

    US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he had given Iran a maximum of two weeks to return to the negotiating table on its nuclear program.

    Last week, Israel launched a campaign of airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior Iranian leaders, destroying several infrastructure sites and killing dozens of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against various targets in the Jewish state.

    The Houthi movement, which controls much of northern Yemen, began shelling Israel in November 2023, weeks after the war between Israel and Hamas began in the Gaza Strip, in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –