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Category: Middle East

  • MIL-Evening Report: How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow in AI Accountability, Queensland University of Technology

    Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy & AI4Media, CC BY

    Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.

    The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.

    But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.

    This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.

    What is Grok?

    Grok is an AI chatbot with “a twist of humor and a dash of rebellion” developed by xAI, which also owns the X social media platform.

    The first version of Grok launched in 2023. Independent evaluations suggest the latest model, Grok 4, outpaces competitors on “intelligence” tests. The chatbot is available standalone and on X.

    xAI states “AI’s knowledge should be all-encompassing and as far-reaching as possible”. Musk has previously positioned Grok as a truth-telling alternative to chatbots accused of being “woke” by right-wing commentators.

    But beyond the latest Nazism scandal, Grok has made headlines for generating threats of sexual violence, bringing up “white genocide” in South Africa, and making insulting statements about politicians. The latter led to its ban in Turkey.

    So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.

    What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?

    Pre-training

    First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.

    GPT-3 was shown Wikipedia up to six times more than other datasets as OpenAI considered it higher quality. Grok is trained on various sources, including posts from X, which might explain why Grok has been reported to check Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics.

    Musk has shared that xAI curates Grok’s training data, for example to improve legal knowledge and to remove LLM-generated content for quality control. He also appealed to the X community for difficult “galaxy brain” problems and facts that are “politically incorrect, but nonetheless factually true”.

    We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.

    Fine-tuning

    The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.

    A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
    “AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.

    System prompts

    The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.

    To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.

    These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.

    Guardrails

    Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.

    Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.

    The transparency paradox

    Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?

    Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.

    Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platforms misfire spectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.

    This feels familiar. Grok resembles Microsoft’s 2016 hate-speech-spouting Tay chatbot, also trained on Twitter data and set loose on Twitter before being shut down.

    But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.

    The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.

    Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.

    In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.

    Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.

    – ref. How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training – https://theconversation.com/how-do-you-stop-an-ai-model-turning-nazi-what-the-grok-drama-reveals-about-ai-training-261001

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Aaron J. Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow in AI Accountability, Queensland University of Technology

    Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy & AI4Media, CC BY

    Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.

    The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.

    But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.

    This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.

    What is Grok?

    Grok is an AI chatbot with “a twist of humor and a dash of rebellion” developed by xAI, which also owns the X social media platform.

    The first version of Grok launched in 2023. Independent evaluations suggest the latest model, Grok 4, outpaces competitors on “intelligence” tests. The chatbot is available standalone and on X.

    xAI states “AI’s knowledge should be all-encompassing and as far-reaching as possible”. Musk has previously positioned Grok as a truth-telling alternative to chatbots accused of being “woke” by right-wing commentators.

    But beyond the latest Nazism scandal, Grok has made headlines for generating threats of sexual violence, bringing up “white genocide” in South Africa, and making insulting statements about politicians. The latter led to its ban in Turkey.

    So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.

    What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?

    Pre-training

    First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.

    GPT-3 was shown Wikipedia up to six times more than other datasets as OpenAI considered it higher quality. Grok is trained on various sources, including posts from X, which might explain why Grok has been reported to check Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics.

    Musk has shared that xAI curates Grok’s training data, for example to improve legal knowledge and to remove LLM-generated content for quality control. He also appealed to the X community for difficult “galaxy brain” problems and facts that are “politically incorrect, but nonetheless factually true”.

    We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.

    Fine-tuning

    The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.

    A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
    “AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.

    System prompts

    The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.

    To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.

    These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.

    Guardrails

    Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.

    Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.

    The transparency paradox

    Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?

    Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.

    Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platforms misfire spectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.

    This feels familiar. Grok resembles Microsoft’s 2016 hate-speech-spouting Tay chatbot, also trained on Twitter data and set loose on Twitter before being shut down.

    But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.

    The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.

    Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.

    In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.

    Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.

    – ref. How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training – https://theconversation.com/how-do-you-stop-an-ai-model-turning-nazi-what-the-grok-drama-reveals-about-ai-training-261001

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse committing to a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Andy. LIU/Shutterstock

    The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.

    Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.

    Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.

    The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.

    Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.

    ‘100 years of mateship’

    Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.

    It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.

    The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.

    However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.

    Goldilocks solution

    More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.

    This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.

    It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.

    Under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby who wants a clear sense of how Australia would act in a potential war over Taiwan.
    Supplied by US Department of Defence, CC BY

    Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.

    The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.

    In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.

    No guarantees

    Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.

    The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.

    The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:

    We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.

    Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:

    The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.

    A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.

    The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.

    So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?

    Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.

    The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.

    Strategic ambiguity

    Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.

    The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.

    As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.

    This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.

    China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.

    And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.

    But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.

    John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.

    – ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse committing to a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-right-to-refuse-committing-to-a-hypothetical-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • India Signs Long-Term Fertilizer Supply Agreements with Saudi Arabia During Minister JP Nadda’s Visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda concluded his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, securing crucial agreements that will significantly enhance India’s fertilizer supply chain and strengthen bilateral cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sectors.

    The visit, which took place from July 11-13 in Dammam and Riyadh, focused primarily on enhancing bilateral cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in chemicals and fertilizers. Nadda led a high-level delegation that included the Secretary and other senior officials from the Department of Fertilizers and Ministry of External Affairs.

    During discussions with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al Khorayef in Riyadh, both ministers witnessed the signing of long-term agreements between Maaden and Indian companies including IPL, KRIBHCO, and CIL. These agreements will supply an enhanced 3.1 million metric tons of Diammonium Phosphate fertilizer per annum for five years from 2025-26 onwards, with provision for further extension of five years with mutual consent.

    The agreements represent a substantial increase from current supply levels. India’s imports of DAP fertilizer from Saudi Arabia totaled 1.9 million metric tons in 2024-25, reflecting a 17 percent increase over the 1.6 million metric tons imported during FY 2023-24. The new agreements will boost this supply to 3.1 million metric tons from the upcoming fiscal year.

    Both sides emphasized their commitment to broadening bilateral relations to include other key fertilizers such as Urea along with DAP, aiming to further ensure India’s fertilizer security. Discussions also covered facilitating mutual investments, with focus on exploring opportunities for Indian Public Sector Undertakings to invest in the Saudi fertilizer sector and reciprocal Saudi investments in India.

    The ministers deliberated on avenues for collaborative research, particularly in developing India-specific customized and alternative fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. A joint team has been established led by Secretary Fertilizer on the Indian side and the Vice Minister for Mining Affairs in the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on the Saudi side to explore long-term collaboration in this sector.

    Nadda also held a bilateral meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy and co-chair of the Economy and Investment Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia, to discuss ways to enhance economic partnership between the two countries. The Prince hosted a lunch in honor of the Union Minister.

    In the health sector, Nadda met with Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih, Saudi Vice Minister of Health, in Riyadh to discuss enhancing cooperation in medical services, health care, pharmaceuticals, digital health solutions, and knowledge exchange. They noted the significance of the bilateral MoU on Health signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit to Saudi Arabia.

    The delegation visited Maaden facilities at Ras Al Khair and toured the Phosphate production plant. They were received by Hassan Al Ali, Chairman of Maaden Phosphate, and other senior officials. India represents a key export destination for fertilizers from Saudi Arabia, with Maaden being the leading company in this sector in the Kingdom.

    The successful conclusion of Nadda’s visit underscored the strong economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia, particularly in fertilizers, while opening new avenues for cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sectors. The long-term fertilizer agreements are expected to provide greater supply security for India’s agricultural sector and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

  • Israeli missile hits Gaza children collecting water, IDF blames malfunction

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in central Gaza when they went to collect water on Sunday, local officials said, in an Israeli strike which the military said missed its target.

    The Israeli military said the missile had intended to hit an Islamic Jihad militant in the area but that a malfunction had caused it to fall “dozens of metres from the target”.

    “The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians,” it said in a statement, adding that the incident was under review.

    The strike hit a water distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp, killing six children and injuring 17 others, said Ahmed Abu Saifan, an emergency physician at Al-Awda Hospital.

    Water shortages in Gaza have worsened sharply in recent weeks, with fuel shortages causing desalination and sanitation facilities to close, making people dependent on collection centres where they can fill up their plastic containers.

    Hours later, 12 people were killed by an Israeli strike on a market in Gaza City, including a prominent hospital consultant, Ahmad Qandil, Palestinian media reported. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack.

    Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that more than 58,000 people had been killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, with 139 people added to the death toll over the past 24 hours.

    The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its tally, but says over half of those killed are women and children.

    CEASEFIRE?

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he was “hopeful” on Gaza ceasefire negotiations underway in Qatar.

    He told reporters in Teterboro, New Jersey, that he planned to meet senior Qatari officials on the sidelines of the FIFA Club World Cup final.

    However, negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire have been stalling, with the two sides divided over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources said at the weekend.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to convene ministers late on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the talks, an Israeli official said.

    The indirect talks over a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire are being held in Doha, but optimism that surfaced last week of a looming deal has largely faded, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence.

    Netanyahu in a video he posted on Telegram on Sunday said Israel would not back down from its core demands – releasing all the hostages still in Gaza, destroying Hamas and ensuring Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel.

    The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages there are believed to still be alive.

    Families of hostages gathered outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem to call for a deal.

    “The overwhelming majority of the people of Israel have spoken loudly and clearly. We want to do a deal, even at the cost of ending this war, and we want to do it now,” said Jon Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was held hostage by Hamas in a Gaza tunnel and slain by his captors in August 2024.

    Netanyahu and his ministers were also set to discuss a plan on Sunday to move hundreds of thousands of Gazans to the southern area of Rafah, in what Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has described as a new “humanitarian city” but which would be likely to draw international criticism for forced displacement.

    An Israeli source briefed on discussions in Israel said that the plan was to establish the complex in Rafah during the ceasefire, if it is reached.

    On Saturday, a Palestinian source familiar with the truce talks said that Hamas rejected withdrawal maps which Israel proposed, because they would leave around 40% of the territory under Israeli control, including all of Rafah.

    Israel’s campaign against Hamas has displaced almost the entire population of more than 2 million people, but Gazans say nowhere is safe in the coastal enclave.

    Early on Sunday morning, a missile hit a house in Gaza City where a family had moved after receiving an evacuation order from their home in the southern outskirts.

    “My aunt, her husband and the children, are gone. What is the fault of the children who died in an ugly bloody massacre at dawn?” said Anas Matar, standing in the rubble of the building.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 14, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 14, 2025.

    Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly

    Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kinda Alsamara, Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland The end of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 has been broadly welcomed on the global stage – underscored by the fact the United States and European Union have now

    Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dave Carter, Associate Professor, School of Music and Screen Arts, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what’s already happening ? In

    Cycling can be 4 times more efficient than walking. A biomechanics expert explains why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Blazevich, Professor of Biomechanics, Edith Cowan University You’re standing at your front door, facing a five kilometre commute to work. But you don’t have your car, and there’s no bus route. You can walk for an hour – or jump on your bicycle and arrive in

    ‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University The way racism manifests itself may have changed over time, but it remains a persistent problem in Australia. The 2024 Reconciliation Barometer found a significant increase in racism against First

    Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University d3sign/Getty Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including

    What’s happened to Australia’s green hydrogen dream? Here are 5 reasons the industry has floundered
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute An official from German energy supplier Eon with Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest after inking a deal in 2022 to supply green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images As the world looks for

    Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages, new research shows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Whelan, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney GAS-photo/Shutterstock House prices continued to rise across Australia in June, recent data shows. Nationally, prices have risen about 38% in the past five years. Higher housing prices are simply one contributor, albeit a very important one, to the

    Can’t work out without music? Neither could the ancient Greeks and Romans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA These days when you see people exercising, they’re usually also listening to music, whether they’re at the gym, or out jogging on the street. It makes sense, as studies have

    The Bradbury Group features Palestinian journalist Yousef Aljamal, Middle East report and political panel
    Asia Pacific Report In the new weekly political podcast, The Bradbury Group, last night presenter Martyn Bradbury talked with visiting Palestinian journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal. They assess the current situation in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and what New Zealand should be doing. As Bradbury, publisher of The Daily Blog, notes, “Fourth Estate public broadcasting

    Author David Robie tells of outrage over sinking of the Rainbow Warrior 40 years ago
    RNZ News Nights Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage. Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 14, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 14, 2025.

    Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly

    Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kinda Alsamara, Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland The end of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 has been broadly welcomed on the global stage – underscored by the fact the United States and European Union have now

    Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dave Carter, Associate Professor, School of Music and Screen Arts, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what’s already happening ? In

    Cycling can be 4 times more efficient than walking. A biomechanics expert explains why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Blazevich, Professor of Biomechanics, Edith Cowan University You’re standing at your front door, facing a five kilometre commute to work. But you don’t have your car, and there’s no bus route. You can walk for an hour – or jump on your bicycle and arrive in

    ‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University The way racism manifests itself may have changed over time, but it remains a persistent problem in Australia. The 2024 Reconciliation Barometer found a significant increase in racism against First

    Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University d3sign/Getty Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including

    What’s happened to Australia’s green hydrogen dream? Here are 5 reasons the industry has floundered
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute An official from German energy supplier Eon with Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest after inking a deal in 2022 to supply green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images As the world looks for

    Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages, new research shows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Whelan, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney GAS-photo/Shutterstock House prices continued to rise across Australia in June, recent data shows. Nationally, prices have risen about 38% in the past five years. Higher housing prices are simply one contributor, albeit a very important one, to the

    Can’t work out without music? Neither could the ancient Greeks and Romans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA These days when you see people exercising, they’re usually also listening to music, whether they’re at the gym, or out jogging on the street. It makes sense, as studies have

    The Bradbury Group features Palestinian journalist Yousef Aljamal, Middle East report and political panel
    Asia Pacific Report In the new weekly political podcast, The Bradbury Group, last night presenter Martyn Bradbury talked with visiting Palestinian journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal. They assess the current situation in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and what New Zealand should be doing. As Bradbury, publisher of The Daily Blog, notes, “Fourth Estate public broadcasting

    Author David Robie tells of outrage over sinking of the Rainbow Warrior 40 years ago
    RNZ News Nights Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage. Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Andy. LIU/Shutterstock

    The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.

    Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.

    Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.

    The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.

    Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.

    ‘100 years of mateship’

    Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.

    It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.

    The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.

    However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.

    Goldilocks solution

    More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.

    This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.

    It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.

    Under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby who wants a clear sense of how Australia would act in a potential war over Taiwan.
    Supplied by US Department of Defence, CC BY

    Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.

    The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.

    In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.

    No guarantees

    Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.

    The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.

    The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:

    We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.

    Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:

    The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.

    A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.

    The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.

    So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?

    Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.

    The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.

    Strategic ambiguity

    Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.

    The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.

    As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.

    This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.

    China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.

    And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.

    But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.

    John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.

    – ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-right-to-refuse-being-dragged-into-a-potential-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Andy. LIU/Shutterstock

    The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.

    Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.

    Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.

    The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.

    Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.

    ‘100 years of mateship’

    Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.

    It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.

    The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.

    However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.

    Goldilocks solution

    More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.

    This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.

    It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.

    Under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby who wants a clear sense of how Australia would act in a potential war over Taiwan.
    Supplied by US Department of Defence, CC BY

    Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.

    The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.

    In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.

    No guarantees

    Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.

    The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.

    The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:

    We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.

    Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:

    The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.

    A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.

    The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.

    So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?

    Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.

    The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.

    Strategic ambiguity

    Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.

    The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.

    As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.

    This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.

    China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.

    And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.

    But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.

    John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.

    – ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-right-to-refuse-being-dragged-into-a-potential-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: M. Abbas called on Hamas to hand over weapons to the Palestinian National Authority

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    RAMALLAH, July 14 (Xinhua) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called on Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian National Authority.

    During his meeting with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Jordanian capital Amman, Abbas said that “Hamas will not rule Gaza in the post-war era,” the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

    He stressed that the only feasible solution for the Gaza Strip is a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and allowing the State of Palestine to fulfill its obligations with Arab and international support.

    According to WAFA, the meeting discussed the latest situation in the Palestinian territories, as well as political and humanitarian developments related to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

    The Palestinian President stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and prisoners and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

    During the meeting, M. Abbas condemned Israel’s unilateral measures, including the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and rejected any attempts to annex Palestinian territories, as well as repeated attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

    He also called for the launch of a political process to implement the principle of “two states for two peoples” based on the resolutions of the international community and the Arab Peace Initiative, proposing to hold an international peace conference in New York to achieve this goal. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pioneering energy storage system lights up ‘roof of the world’

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

    A quiet energy revolution is unfolding on the roof of the world, where air low in oxygen and merciless winters have long dictated the rhythm of life.

    The world’s first intelligent grid-forming photovoltaic and energy storage power station, tailored for ultra-high altitudes, low-temperatures and weak-grid scenarios, has been connected to the grid in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region.

    In a landscape with an average altitude of about 4,700 meters, this pioneering energy storage system developed by tech giant Huawei, based in south China’s Shenzhen, has rewritten the rules of power delivery in extreme conditions.

    Situated on the edge of the region’s power grid, Ngari has a high proportion of new energy installations but a weak grid — connected to the main grid 500 kilometers away via a single 110-kilovolt line.

    A 30MW solar power project’s output was previously capped at 1.5MW. Moreover, equipment cooling and operation are hampered by air pressure and thin oxygen. The innovative new battery system, notably, has stepped in where conventional power solutions have fallen short.

    As an engineering breakthrough, the station does not amount to mere storage units, but rather features digital power plants capable of creating stability — generating their own voltage and frequency signals to improve the local grid infrastructure.

    Now, the project’s photovoltaic output has increased from the previous maximum of 1.5MW to 12MW. “Over 10 days of monitoring, Huawei’s grid-forming energy storage maintained voltage and frequency stability through more than 40 major grid disturbances, achieving 100 percent reliability,” said Yang Mingsheng, general manager of the project.

    This grid-forming tech has taken off in Xizang, with 2,522 MWh of grid-forming energy storage capacity built there in 2024, marking China’s first large-scale application of such technology.

    Also, it has gained global recognition. In Saudi Arabia, the grid-forming system has enabled the world’s largest 100-percent new energy microgrid project — which has been operating stably for over 21 months and has supplied more than 1.5 billion kWh of green electricity.

    “Grid-forming technology has become essential for new energy power stations, crucial for ensuring grid stability and supporting the safe operation of modern power systems,” said Zheng Yue, president of Huawei Digital Energy’s grid-forming energy storage division. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Equipment manufacturers driving trade growth

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

    A drone photo shows the shipbuilding site of the subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp Ltd in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on March 20. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In early July, a shipyard along the Yangtze River in Jiangyin, East China’s Jiangsu province, was humming with the sounds of welding and hammering.

    In one berth, work on an oil tanker was nearing completion, while a hospital ship was undergoing a major retrofit. A little distance away, dry docks were operating at full throttle.

    CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Co, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, saw its export value surge by more than 28 percent year-on-year in the first five months. With orders lined up through 2028 and a growing appetite for high-tech vessels, this shipyard is powering full steam ahead.

    “We are steering toward transformation,” said Yang Haibo, the shipyard’s assistant president. “Take the 41,800-ton self-unloading vessel we built last year; its value hit $96 million, triple that of a conventional bulk carrier. We just secured an overseas order to build a 44,000-ton self-discharger in May.”

    As global demand shifts, Yang said Chinese shipyards are embracing greener and smarter solutions to remain competitive, including ramping up investment in next-generation shipbuilding technologies.

    Much like China’s new energy vehicle, industrial robot and energy storage sectors, the shipbuilding industry exemplifies how domestic manufacturers are adopting innovation and green development to rise above the challenges posed by unilateralism and geoeconomic fragmentation.

    In the process, they are playing a vital role in supporting the country’s foreign trade and industrial upgrade.

    As a high value-added sector, the equipment manufacturing industry has become a key driver of China’s export restructuring.

    The country’s exports of equipment manufacturing products amounted to 6.22 trillion yuan ($853.3 billion) between January and May, up 9.2 percent year-on-year, accounting for 58.3 percent of the country’s total exports, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

    Meanwhile, China’s exports of electric vehicles grew by 19 percent year-on-year, construction machinery by 10.7 percent, ships by 18.9 percent and industrial robots by an impressive 55.4 percent.

    Equipment manufacturing accounted for 73 percent of China’s export growth in the first five months, with the contribution rising to 76.9 percent in May alone, providing strong support for the steady growth of foreign trade, said Lyu Daliang, director-general of the administration’s department of statistics and analysis.

    The ongoing upgrade of China’s equipment manufacturing industry is not only fueling the growth of domestic manufacturers, but also delivering energy-efficient, high-tech and competitively priced products to its trading partners, said Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics’ Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing.

    This progress is accelerating the digital and green advancement of developed economies, while also supporting industrialization and urbanization in many developing and emerging markets, contributing to more balanced global development and long-term sustainability, said Chen.

    Among the key drivers of this momentum, industrial robots have rapidly become a standout export category. These multijoint robotic arms and other advanced robotic systems are widely used in sectors such as automotives, electronics, chemicals and consumer goods.

    As China’s production capabilities in this field continue to advance, a growing number of industrial robots are being exported to markets such as Thailand, Germany, the United States and the United Arab Emirates — underscoring the global appeal of the nation’s smart manufacturing solutions.

    At AgileX Robotics, a robotic arm manufacturer in Dongguan, Guangdong province, workers were busy packing robotic arms in late June. This batch of products, designed for data collection, plays a key role in the development and training of humanoid robots, and has gained strong traction in overseas markets.

    “We really can’t ship fast enough and demand is overwhelming. Our exports this year are expected to rise by 70 to 80 percent compared with 2024,” said Chen Peng, the company’s marketing director.

    Chen said that orders from overseas research institutions, particularly in the artificial intelligence field, are growing the fastest. These clients often require rapid delivery due to time-sensitive needs.

    This growth is not merely the success of a single robot manufacturer. Rather, it reflects a broader trend in Dongguan.

    The city’s exports of industrial robots, including industrial robotic arms, handling and welding robots, and robots with other functions, exceeded 190 million yuan during the January-May period, representing a year-on-year increase of 116.4 percent, data from Huangpu Customs showed.

    From an industrial chain perspective, China’s industrial robot sector has seen significant advancements over the past decade, especially in core components such as reducers, servo motors, controllers and control units, said Lei Lei, deputy secretary-general of the robotics branch of the Beijing-based China Machinery Industry Federation.

    Lei said Chinese industrial robot manufacturers are evolving their export models as they expand globally. This shift is already playing out among many companies in the sector.

    Xu Hongchun, vice-president of Suzhou JiBOT Technology Co, a Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based manufacturer of collaborative robotic arms and mobile robot platforms, said the company has already shifted toward providing customized end-to-end solutions for overseas factories and warehouses.

    “Our material handling robots are primarily used in the new energy and electronic semiconductor sectors,” said Xu. “Currently, more than 70 percent of our exports in this category include solution-based packages.”

    The Chinese company achieves this by integrating data from various robots into a centralized control system. A smart dispatching platform enables real-time coordination, allowing multiple robots to operate efficiently across different zones and meet the specific needs of its foreign clients.

    While industrial robots and intelligent automation are shifting manufacturing and logistics, traditional heavy industries are also embracing innovation and seizing more market opportunities across the world.

    In sectors such as mining and construction, Chinese companies are combining durable engineering with localization strategies to meet the needs of emerging markets.

    Sany Heavy Equipment Co, a mining and construction machinery manufacturer based in Shenyang, Liaoning province, has been actively expanding its presence in the African market. Its wide-body dump trucks, electric-powered dumpers and engineering excavators are widely used in countries including South Africa, Ghana, Angola and Zambia.

    “Africa is rich in mineral resources and has significant demand for mining machinery. Our mining equipment is built to withstand harsh operating conditions and is well-suited for the complex terrains found in mining areas,” said Sun Bo, head of the company’s sales unit.

    Sun said that Sany Heavy Equipment Co’s mining dump trucks have significantly improved operational efficiency and earned high praise from clients in countries such as Eritrea and Mozambique in recent years.

    The company’s exports amounted to 1.44 billion yuan in the first half, while its exports to Africa surged 230 percent year-on-year to 330 million yuan, the latest data from Shenyang Customs showed.

    Experts said the continued rise of China’s equipment manufacturing exports reflects both industrial progress and the country’s deeper integration into global supply chains.

    Zhao Ping, head of the academy of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that China is no longer just a source of affordable goods. It is increasingly a provider of complex, high-value equipment that meets the needs of developed and emerging markets alike.

    Zhao said that the combination of strong research and development capabilities, digitalized manufacturing processes and mature supply chains has enabled Chinese manufacturers to evolve from volume-driven to value-driven exports.

    “This transformation not only enhances China’s competitiveness, but also contributes to global industrial development and technological diffusion,” said Ji Xuehong, a professor at the School of Economics and Management at Beijing-based North China University of Technology.

    In the face of a complex and volatile external environment, China will steadfastly expand its high-standard opening-up and address the uncertainty of drastic changes in the external environment with the certainty of its own high-quality development, said Xiao Lu, deputy director-general of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Title favorites off to winning start at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup

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

    Strong title contenders China, Australia and Japan all got off to winning starts at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Sunday, with China and Australia notching lop-sided victories while Japan survived a stern test before ultimately edging Lebanon.

    All 12 players scored, including seven in double figures, as defending champion China sailed past Indonesia 110-59.

    Playing on home soil, China took the initiative from the opening tip, as starting center Han Xu scored seven points and substitute Zhai Ruoyun sank two 3-pointers in a 28-8 first quarter.

    Sara Blicavs (C) of Australia goes up for a layup during the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A 2025 Group B match between Australia and the Philippines in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

    Coming into the game with 6:26 remaining in the quarter for her senior debut in international major tournaments, China’s prodigy Zhang Ziyu soon made an impact with five straight points.

    Excelling on ball movement, the host team extended its lead in the second quarter, racing into a 49-20 at the halftime break. China handed out 14 assists in the first half, compared to just three for Indonesia.

    China’s advantage remained unassailable after the interval, giving coach Gong Luming the opportunity of trialing different line-ups. Zhang Ru’s 3-pointer earned China a 50-point lead early in the final period.

    18-year-old Zhang Ziyu shot five of seven from the floor for a team-high 13 points, tying with Yang Liwei and Luo Xinyu.

    “We treated this game as a practice. We want to try different line-ups and style of play,” Gong said after the game.

    Group A’s other opening match will be held on Monday between South Korea and New Zealand, with China facing South Korea on Tuesday.

    In Group B, Australia’s attacking prowess saw six players hit double figures in a 115-39 rout of the Philippines.

    As the highest-ranked team in the tournament, world No. 2 Australia scored 12 unanswered points after the tip-off and never looked back.

    Despite being ranked 45 places lower than Japan, 54th-ranked Lebanon showed great tenacity, leading by 10 points after the first quarter and keeping the suspense until the final stages, where Japan used its signature fast breaks and outside shots to prevail, and Kokoro Tanaka’s two free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining secured the win for Japan.

    “Our game started at 1:30 [p.m.], and I think we started at 2 p.m.,” joked Japan coach Corey Gaines, referring to his team’s slow start.

    Australia now leads the group ahead of Japan due to a superior points difference.

    Australia will now face Lebanon, while Japan squares off against the Philippines on Monday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kinda Alsamara, Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland

    The end of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 has been broadly welcomed on the global stage – underscored by the fact the United States and European Union have now lifted sanctions against the country.

    However, women have been marginalised by Syria’s new leadership. That’s a problem for Syrian women, of course, but it also puts at risk prospects for sustainable peace in Syria.

    A growing body of research, including our own, shows a direct correlation between gender equality and peace.

    Syria now stands at a crossroads. Will it ensure women’s meaningful participation and follow a path to peace? Or will things head in the other direction?

    This is more urgent than ever. Failure to grapple with women’s rights in Syria risks plunging the nation further into extremist violence.

    Women excluded both before and after Assad’s rule

    After decades in power, the harsh Assad regime was overthrown late last year by rebels led by Sunni Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

    But women – who were marginalised politically and economically under Assad – continue to be systematically excluded from decision-making in the new government.

    This is even though women played an essential role in the Syrian revolution. They organised protests and advocated for rights (often at great personal risk).

    They endured sacrifices such as imprisonment, torture, disappearance and displacement.

    Yet, only one woman was appointed to Syria’s immediate post-Assad caretaker government. She didn’t get a ministerial title.

    The caretaker government spokesman reportedly suggested women’s “biological and physiological nature” makes them unsuitable for certain government roles.

    Reports allege the man initially appointed as Syria’s new minister of justice previously oversaw executions of women accused of being sex workers.

    Some Syrian activists are concerned Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will enforce a gendered and conservative interpretation of Islamic law, which prevailed in its previous stronghold of Idlib (a city in northwestern Syria).

    Limited roles for women

    A key moment came when the new Syrian government held a “national dialogue conference” earlier this year. This conference was to establish a forward-looking “political identity” for Syria.

    Of the seven-member conference preparatory committee, only two were women.

    There was no representation on the preparatory committee from several of Syria’s diverse communities, including Kurdish, Alawite and Druze groups.

    Most members had strong ties with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or other Islamist factions.

    About 200 of the 1,000 delegates at the conference were women. However, their input in legislative and security committees was minimal.

    Only one of 18 conference recommendations referred (in a limited way) to women.

    Following the national dialogue conference, new Syrian President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa signed into force a constitutional declaration that set a five-year transition period and established the interim government.

    Senior figures in the new government described the declaration as guaranteeing women’s political and economic rights.

    Yet only one of Syria’s 23 ministers is a woman: Hind Kabawat, appointed as minister of social affairs and labour. This “soft” portfolio is commonly associated with gendered expectations around care and welfare.

    Key ministries were allocated to al-Sharaa’s all-male long-time comrades from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s base in Idlib.

    Change is possible

    A just and sustainable peace requires proactive measures to integrate women into leadership roles in Syria.

    Change is possible. For example, constitutional mandates could guarantee minimum representation for women in ministerial leadership and judicial positions, which would better reflect the diversity of Syrian society.

    Independent mechanisms could be established to investigate and address gender-based injustices. This would need to provide accountability for past abuses and protect women’s rights under the post-Assad system.

    As we have previously noted, there cannot be a “collective forgetting” of crimes Syrian women experienced in the past.

    Economic empowerment initiatives would also help foster women’s financial independence and participation in public life.

    Public awareness campaigns could also highlight women’s contributions to the revolution and their essential role in nation-building.

    Syria at a crossroads

    With the recent lifting of sanctions by the US and EU, and ongoing regional instability globally, Syria stands at a crossroads.

    The G7 Summit in May 2025 emphasised the global community’s renewed focus on women’s participation in peace processes.

    Influential middle-power countries can play a key role by reviewing sanctions and tying humanitarian aid to the promotion of human rights, gender inclusion and pluralistic governance.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins – https://theconversation.com/women-played-key-roles-in-syrias-revolution-now-theyve-been-pushed-to-the-margins-257358

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Andy. LIU/Shutterstock

    The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.

    Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.

    Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.

    The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.

    Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.

    ‘100 years of mateship’

    Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.

    It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.

    The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.

    However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.

    Goldilocks solution

    More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.

    This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.

    It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.

    Under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby who wants a clear sense of how Australia would act in a potential war over Taiwan.
    Supplied by US Department of Defence, CC BY

    Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.

    The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.

    In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.

    No guarantees

    Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.

    The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.

    The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:

    We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.

    Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:

    The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.

    A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.

    The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.

    So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?

    Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.

    The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.

    Strategic ambiguity

    Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.

    The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.

    As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.

    This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.

    China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.

    And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.

    But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.

    John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.

    – ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-risks-being-dragged-into-a-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Royal Thai Navy Vice Admiral Benjapon Rusakul Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, July 10, 2025 [Image 1 of 4]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (July 10, 2025) Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, left, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73), greets Vice Adm. Benjapon Rusakul, Director General Naval Supply Department, Royal Thai Navy, during a scheduled visit to Sembawang Naval Installation, July 10, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed maritime forces, along with regional Allies and partners, to sustain Western Pacific operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings/Released)

    Date Taken: 07.10.2025
    Date Posted: 07.13.2025 22:03
    Photo ID: 9177782
    VIRIN: 250710-N-YV347-1050
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    Size: 11 MB
    Location: SEMBAWANG PORT, SG
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Royal Thai Navy Vice Admiral Benjapon Rusakul Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, July 10, 2025 [Image 1 of 4]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (July 10, 2025) Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, left, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73), greets Vice Adm. Benjapon Rusakul, Director General Naval Supply Department, Royal Thai Navy, during a scheduled visit to Sembawang Naval Installation, July 10, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed maritime forces, along with regional Allies and partners, to sustain Western Pacific operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings/Released)

    Date Taken: 07.10.2025
    Date Posted: 07.13.2025 22:03
    Photo ID: 9177782
    VIRIN: 250710-N-YV347-1050
    Resolution: 5823×3882
    Size: 11 MB
    Location: SEMBAWANG PORT, SG
    Web Views: 1
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, Royal Thai Navy Vice Admiral Benjapon Rusakul Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, July 10, 2025 [Image 4 of 4], by PO2 Jordan Jennings, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

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  • MIL-OSI China: One month after Israeli surprise attack, Iranians stay vigilant

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

    This photo taken on June 29, 2025 shows the destruction at Evin Prison after the Israeli airstrike in Tehran, Iran. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Precisely one month ago, in the wee hours of June 13, Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

    One month after the attack, which triggered a 12-day war between the two countries, Iranian experts and politicians maintain that although it is unlikely that Israel would launch another attack against Iran soon, Tehran should enhance its readiness for any scenario that may unfold.

    Speaking in a recent televised interview, Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned that “it is possible that Israel … would decide to come back,” stressing that Iran should always be ready.

    In a recent interview with the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, an Iranian expert on West Asia issues and secretary-general of the Green Party, warned against any negligence, noting, “We should always be ready to defend the country and maintain our preparedness to confront the foe.”

    He highlighted the necessity to strengthen the country’s passive defense in the face of surprise operations by Israel and the United States, saying the war, in which Iran was engaged, was a hybrid one featuring the employment of offensive, cyber, security, military, economic and sanction systems by Israel and the United States as well as the U.S. NATO allies.

    Kanani Moghaddam highlighted the importance of ensuring Iran’s intelligence and anti-espionage agencies are well-equipped and focused on countering the “enemy.”

    He also stressed the necessity of establishing an independent intelligence and security organization dedicated to addressing threats from Israel.

    Iran’s deterrence power should be so tremendous that it makes Israel believe any “aggression” against the country would cost it heavily, he added.

    In another interview with ILNA, Ali-Asghar Zargar, an international relations expert, said that while the current ceasefire between Iran and Israel could be sustainable, Iran should take swift actions to strengthen its air defense and military might.

    Iranian lawmaker and former foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, also told the official news agency IRNA in a recent interview that “all of us, especially the Iranian armed forces, should be ready for a likely Israeli attack.”

    Iran’s military figures have been warning that should Israel seek to violate the ceasefire, Iran’s response would be “crushing.”

    In remarks to Defa Press, a news outlet affiliated with the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, spokesman of the Iranian armed forces Abolfazl Shekarchi said the country’s response to a likely Israeli attack would be “firm, serious, crushing, effective and regret-inducing,” emphasizing that the Iranian armed forces’ preparedness was at a high level. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Abbas urges Hamas to hand over weapons to Palestinian Authority

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

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called on Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

    During his meeting with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Jordanian capital Amman, Abbas said that “Hamas will not rule Gaza in the post-war era,” the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

    He stressed that the only viable solution for the Gaza Strip is Israel’s complete withdrawal from the strip and the empowerment of the State of Palestine to assume its responsibilities with Arab and international support.

    WAFA said the meeting addressed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, as well as political and humanitarian developments related to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

    The Palestinian president stressed the need to reach an immediate ceasefire, release all hostages and prisoners, and ensure the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

    During the meeting, Abbas condemned unilateral Israeli measures, including settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and rejected any attempts to annex Palestinian territories, as well as the repeated attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

    He also called for launching a political process to implement the two-state solution based on international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, proposing to hold an international peace conference in New York to achieve the goal. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart on SCO cooperation

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

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, July 13, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday in Beijing.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Lavrov to China to attend the Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States.

    China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to prepare for the Tianjin Summit, and promote the development of the SCO to a new level, Wang said.

    Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Wang said that both sides should also hold a series of commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II (WWII) and safeguard the correct historical narrative on WWII.

    Lavrov expressed willingness to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, and promote continuous new achievements in Russia-China relations.

    Russia will continue to fully support China in holding the rotating presidency of the SCO, enhance communication and collaboration within the framework of the SCO and others, and ensure the complete success of the Tianjin Summit, Lavrov said.

    The two sides also exchanged views on such issues as the Korean Peninsula, the Ukraine crisis and the Iranian nuclear issue. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows

    Source: United Nations 2

    Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports into the United States and will make the products made by factories outside the country more expensive – a situation which may drive down demand.

    The ILO’s Better Work programme, a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has supported garment factories, many of which export their products to the United States.

    The ILO’s Sara Park explained to UN News what could happen next.

    Sara Park: Better Work currently operates in the garment, textile and footwear sector in 13 countries around the world.

    It was set up 24 years ago in Cambodia to monitor the working conditions in garment factories and since then has focused on improvement and capacity building of factories and our constituencies in the sector, for example occupational safety and health.

    There are other elements that support the sector to promote social dialogue, safe and decent work which includes fair wages and working hours. The programme has also helped build productivity in those sectors.

    UN News: How is the ILO involved?

    Sara Park: The ILO is a tripartite organization, so we work with governments, employers, the unions who represent workers, usually Ministries of Labour, but also with ministries of trade or commerce because the programme focuses on exports.

    © Better Work/Aron Simeneh

    A worker at a factory in Ethiopia carries out an inspection on fire safety equipment.

    But what maybe makes us different from other projects is that we have a very close collaboration with major brands from the US, UK, Europe and Japan to promote responsible business practices.

    UN News: How successful has this programme been?

    Sara Park: Our studies show that at the factory level we’ve made significant impact, for example by increasing wages and supporting gender-equality related issues, women’s empowerment and women getting more supervisory roles.

    Over the quarter of a century of its existence, Better Work has lifted millions of people out of poverty and reduced the environmental impact of the apparel sector by creating decent work in sustainable enterprises.

    It’s still hard for unions as freedom of association remains a big challenge.

    © ILO/Aaron Santos

    A woman works at a Better Work-affiliated factory in Viet Nam.

    If you’re trying to develop a whole industry and make it competitive, it takes years if not decades; however, we have seen improvements in the factories where we work.

    Better Work-enrolled factories have also reported an increase in orders from buyers.

    UN News: So, this is good for business as well?

    Sara Park: This is good for business, and productivity in individual factories. Governments also tell us that the programme supports confidence and thus growth of the industry as a whole in participating countries.

    © Better Work/Marcel Crozet

    Garment employees work on a production line of an exporting clothing plant in Jordan.

    UN News: How has Better Work been affected by recent global changes in development funding?

    Sara Park: As we know from recent developments, the US Government has cut funding and that has affected our programmes in Haiti and Jordan, which were almost fully funded by the US. The other countries have not been affected, as we are lucky to have very diverse funding.

    UN News: Why is the ILO’s ongoing support needed once the relationship between factory and the buyer is set up?

    Sara Park: The buyers, which are often well-known companies, require a sustainable way of monitoring working conditions to ensure they are in compliance with international labour standards; this is important to eliminate risk from the buyers’ perspective.

    The Better Work programme supports improvements in factories, by conducting assessments, advisory and learning sessions and helps all parties to better understand compliance with the standards. It also works with governments, workers and employers to build capacity.

    © Better Work/Feri Latief

    Workers take their lunch break at a garment factory in Indonesia.

    UN News: Currently there is widespread uncertainty about tariffs, the taxing of imported goods particularly into the United States. How is the garment sector impacted?

    Sara Park: At the moment, we don’t know what the impact will be. Governments are monitoring the situation. Employers and, of course, the unions are worried.

    It is extremely challenging for factories as uncertainty means they cannot plan even for the short term, as they don’t know what orders they will have. They are also concerned about paying workers.

    Better Work-enrolled factories are providing primarily jobs in the formal sector; if they close, then those jobs may move to the informal sector where workers have fewer protections.

    In countries like Jordan for example, migrants make up the majority of the workforce in the garment industry, most of them come from South and Southeast Asia.

    UN News: How is this uncertainty impacting investment in the global garment industry?

    Sara Park: During periods of crisis or uncertainty, investment generally pauses. One concern is that factories stop investing in improving working conditions, which could affect occupational safety and health.

    For example, heat stress is a serious issue. Recently, in Pakistan temperatures reached 50 degrees Celsius so action needs to be taken to protect workers. This may not happen if investment dries up.

    UN News: What would you say to a garment worker who was worried about his or her job?

    Sara Park: We understand this is a worry for many workers. Yet the work of the ILO is continuing to ensure that workers are protected and the ILO remains in those countries and is committed to improving conditions for all workers across different sectors.

    We will continue to promote social dialogue because that’s how improvements can be made at factory, sectoral and national level.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Welch, Van Hollen Issue Statement of Solidarity with MK Ayman Odeh Following Expulsion Efforts from the Israeli Parliament

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, July 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today issued a statement of solidarity with MK Ayman Odeh, the chairman of the Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al party, after lawmakers in the Israeli Knesset House Committee voted to impeach him.
    We strongly condemn the effort to expel MK Ayman Odeh from the Israeli Knesset.
    All over the world, democracy is under assault. If Israel is going to call itself a democracy, it must tolerate peaceful dissent.
    For over a decade, MK Odeh has been a leading advocate for peace, justice, and Jewish-Arab partnership. The current expulsion effort is a direct response to MK Odeh’s outspoken and brave calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the occupation, and a political solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
    This effort is not merely a personal attack on one parliamentarian – it is a grave assault on democracy, pluralism, and freedom of expression. In any free society, elected representatives must be able to speak their conscience without fear of expulsion or punishment. Suppressing dissent does not strengthen a democracy; it weakens its legitimacy.
    And this expulsion effort sends a chilling message to millions of Palestinian citizens of Israel: that their representation is conditional and their rights revocable. Such a message has no place in any democratic society.
    We strongly condemn this anti-democratic maneuver and urge all members of the Knesset to reject the petition for MK Odeh’s expulsion.
    At a time when many remain silent or resort to inciting rhetoric, MK Odeh has continued to call for an end to the violence, the protection of innocent lives, and a just and lasting peace for both peoples. He deserves the support of all those committed to democracy and freedom of expression.
    We stand in solidarity with MK Odeh and with the right of all lawmakers, Arab and Jewish, to speak freely and without fear of political retribution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Welch, Van Hollen Issue Statement of Solidarity with MK Ayman Odeh Following Expulsion Efforts from the Israeli Parliament

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, July 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today issued a statement of solidarity with MK Ayman Odeh, the chairman of the Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al party, after lawmakers in the Israeli Knesset House Committee voted to impeach him.

    We strongly condemn the effort to expel MK Ayman Odeh from the Israeli Knesset.

    All over the world, democracy is under assault. If Israel is going to call itself a democracy, it must tolerate peaceful dissent.

    For over a decade, MK Odeh has been a leading advocate for peace, justice, and Jewish-Arab partnership. The current expulsion effort is a direct response to MK Odeh’s outspoken and brave calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the occupation, and a political solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

    This effort is not merely a personal attack on one parliamentarian – it is a grave assault on democracy, pluralism, and freedom of expression. In any free society, elected representatives must be able to speak their conscience without fear of expulsion or punishment. Suppressing dissent does not strengthen a democracy; it weakens its legitimacy.

    And this expulsion effort sends a chilling message to millions of Palestinian citizens of Israel: that their representation is conditional and their rights revocable. Such a message has no place in any democratic society.

    We strongly condemn this anti-democratic maneuver and urge all members of the Knesset to reject the petition for MK Odeh’s expulsion.

    At a time when many remain silent or resort to inciting rhetoric, MK Odeh has continued to call for an end to the violence, the protection of innocent lives, and a just and lasting peace for both peoples. He deserves the support of all those committed to democracy and freedom of expression.

    We stand in solidarity with MK Odeh and with the right of all lawmakers, Arab and Jewish, to speak freely and without fear of political retribution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers Discuss Cooperation in SCO

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on Sunday.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed S. Lavrov, who arrived in China to participate in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

    The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China hopes to work with Russia and other SCO members to properly prepare for the organization’s summit in Tianjin /Northern China/ and take the development of the SCO to a new level.

    Recalling that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang Yi stressed that both sides should also hold a series of commemorative events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II and uphold the correct historical interpretation of the war.

    S. Lavrov, for his part, expressed Russia’s readiness to work with China to deepen cooperation in various areas under the strategic leadership of the heads of the two states and to promote constant new achievements in Russian-Chinese relations.

    The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry assured that Russia will continue to fully support China’s rotating chairmanship of the SCO, strengthen communication and cooperation within the SCO and other organizations, and contribute to the successful holding of the summit in Tianjin.

    The sides also exchanged views on issues such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Ukrainian crisis and the Iranian nuclear issue. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (U.S. Rep. Greg Steube Announces Veterans History Project Interview Featuring Staff Sergeant Gerald Dombecki, United States Army (Desert Storm))

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    July 13, 2025 | Press Releases

    View the Video Here
    SARASOTA – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today released the latest installment in his ongoing Veterans History Project Series, honoring the military service of constituents from Florida’s 17th District. This interview features Staff Sergeant Gerald Dombecki, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1981 to 1993, including deployment to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
    “Staff Sergeant Gerald Dombecki’s story reflects the strength, sacrifice, and resolve of our American servicemembers,” said Rep. Steube. “From patrolling volatile regions overseas to navigating the long fight for care and recognition after returning home, his testimony is both inspiring and sobering. We are honored to preserve his service story for future generations.”
    In his interview, Dombecki recounts his early years in the Army as a Military Police Officer, his time guarding nuclear weapons in Korea, and the emotional experience of serving in Desert Storm. He shares stories of camaraderie, the challenges of reintegrating to civilian life, and the decades-long struggle to receive proper care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    “I’ve worked since I was 14. I didn’t want to stop working—I just couldn’t anymore,” said Dombecki, who was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s and COPD, conditions tied to his service but only recently recognized by the VA. “You shouldn’t have to fight so hard for something you earned.”
    Dombecki now resides in Florida with his wife, serves as a security liaison in his community, and advocates for fellow veterans who are navigating the VA system. His daughter is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, continuing the family’s proud tradition of military service.
    Please click here to watch the full interview.
    Be sure to check Congressman Steube’s YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.If you live in Florida’s 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: High-Level Political Forum 2025 – Opening | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    The HLPF will be held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.

    Opening
    Unlocking means of implementation: Mobilizing financing and STI for the SDGs (Townhall meeting)

    -How can countries and stakeholders advance a coherent framework for financing the SDGs? 
    -What are the key outcomes from the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) which can be addressed in the short-term?
    -How can promising science and technology solutions for the SDGs be scaled up? 
    -What innovative examples were highlighted at the 10th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on STI for the SDGs?

    —

    The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will be held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Monday, 21 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, as part of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC.

    The theme of the HLPF will be “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”

    Five Sustainable Development Goals would be the focus of HLPF 2025 

    SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
    SDG 5 – Gender Equality
    SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 14 – Life Below Water
    SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

    The 2025 HLPF is expected to bring together ministerial and high-level representatives of governments, as well as a wide range of expertise and stakeholders, including heads of UN entities, academics and other experts, and representatives of major groups and other stakeholders. 

    37 countries will present a Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) at the 2025 HLPF: Angola, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand.  

    Watch in 6 UN official languages: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1fv876o81

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FEcMRkKdGw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Gaza: WFP warns of worsening starvation as aid access remains blocked | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    World Food Programme (WFP) deputy chief Carl Skau said, “one in three people in Gaza goes for days without eating.” He once again called for a ceasefire and the access for humanitarian aid, the Programme has “enough food on the borders to be delivered to the entire population for some two months,” he said.

    The Deputy Executive Director briefed reporters today (11 Jul) in New York on his recent visit to Gaza.

    “Starvation is spreading,” Skau said, referring to the recent IPC report a few weeks ago pointing to the entire population being acutely food insecure and 500,000 people in starvation, he added, “it’s much worse now. Malnutrition is surging.”

    The senior WFP official also highlighted the displacement in the Strip. He said, “I’ve met families who have moved maybe two or three times. Now it’s a situation where I meet families who have moved two or three times in the past ten days. They have moved 20 or 30 times, and obviously every time they are able to bring less and the margins to survive become slimmer

    Skau also said that the Programme’s ability to response and assist as humanitarians “have never been more constrained.”

    “The first issue is obviously the amount that we are able to bring in. It’s just a fraction of what’s needed,” he explained, adding that the price of a kilo of wheat flour was over $25 during his visit last week.

    Skau described the operating environment for his team as “impossible.”

    He said, “Some 85 percent now of the territory, there are active military operations. Our teams get stuck in waiting for clearances and at checkpoints, often spending between 15 to 20 hours straight in the armored vehicles trying to escort our convoys.”

    “There’s not enough fuel. There are not enough spare parts to our vehicles. Most of the windows in our armored vehicles have been damaged, and we don’t have basic communication. Radio, antennas from our cars have been ripped off. And so, if you are more than 20 metres away from each other, we don’t have proper communication. And that, it is really an issue when you are in this kind of environment, he added.

    The Deputy Executive Director also informed the reporters that WFP has been “actively engaging with Israeli authorities over the past few weeks.”

    He noted that there were some agreements in terms of improving the conditions, but the implementation of the agreements is not yet enough.

    Skau reiterated that WFP has enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for some two months, “but obviously we need that ceasefire and we need conditions within that ceasefire.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFmi37nXRCk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Bradbury Group features Palestinian journalist Yousef Aljamal, Middle East report and political panel

    Asia Pacific Report

    In the new weekly political podcast, The Bradbury Group, last night presenter Martyn Bradbury talked with visiting Palestinian journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal.

    They assess the current situation in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and what New Zealand should be doing.

    As Bradbury, publisher of The Daily Blog, notes, “Fourth Estate public broadcasting is dying — The Bradbury Group will fight back.”


    Gaza crisis and Iran tensions.     Video: The Bradbury Group/Radio Waatea

    Also in last night’s programme was featured a View From A Far Podcast Special Middle East Report with former intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan and international affairs commentator Selwyn Manning on what will happen next in Iran.

    Martyn Bradbury talks to Dr Paul Buchanan (left) and Selwyn Manning on the Iran crisis and the future. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Political Panel:
    Māori Party president John Tamihere,
    NZ Herald columnist Simon Wilson
    NZCTU economist Craig Renney

    Topics:
    – The Legacy of Tarsh Kemp
    – New coward punch and first responder assault laws — virtue signalling or meaningful policy?
    – Cost of living crisis and the failing economy

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President El-Sisi Meets Angolan President in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Angolan President João Lourenço on the sidelines of the President’s participation in the seventh session of the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi lauded the current Angolan presidency of the African Union and Angola’s commitment to strengthening joint African action across various sectors.

    The Angolan president confirmed his appreciation for the President and Egypt’s central and historic role in the African continent and in working within the framework of the African Union.

    The meeting addressed the situation of peace and security in Africa, as well as ways to consolidate the foundations of stability across the continent. The meeting covered the issues of the Horn of Africa, Sudan, the Sahel, and the Nile Basin.

    The meeting also addressed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and explore broader prospects for cooperation in various fields, building on the momentum relations between the two countries have gained, in addition to keenness to achieve the aspirations of the two peoples for prosperity and development.

    – on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Afghanistan: UN warns of mass refugee returns amid crisis and rights concerns | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    “Since the spring of this year, first Pakistan, then Iran and now possibly others, such as Tajikistan, are fomenting the mass return of Afghan refugees,” a UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

    Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, addressed the press virtually from Kabul today (11 Jul), in New York on the country’s humanitarian situation, notably on the increase of Afghan returns in adverse circumstances

    He reported, “Since the spring of this year, first Pakistan, then Iran and now possibly others, such as Tajikistan, are fomenting the mass return of Afghan refugees. Some people are moving in a voluntary fashion, but others are not.”

    He said, “Of concern to us is the scale, the intensity and the manner in which returns are occurring. In terms of the scale, over 1.6 million Afghans have returned from both Pakistan and Iran this year alone, including 1.3 million from Iran.”

    He also said, “At the Iran Afghanistan border, where I just was a few days ago, and to which I’m heading again tomorrow, we are seeing peaks of over 40,000 people a day. And on the fourth of July, we actually saw 50,000 people coming across that border. Many of these returnees are arriving having been abruptly uprooted and having undergone arduous, exhausting and degrading journeys.”

    He highlighted, “And while they are from Afghanistan, they often appear to be not of Afghanistan. Often born abroad, with better education and different cultural norms. Their outlook is different from and often at all with present day in Afghanistan. We are particularly concerned about the fate of women and girls in a country in which their most basic human rights are at risk and not respected.”

    He continued, “What we are seeing with these returns is precarity layered upon poverty, on drought, human rights abuses and an instable region. In other words, we are having a deeply impoverished people coming to a country that is itself, while welcoming wholly unprepared to receive them.”

    He stressed, “Many will be left with a desperate choice: Do they flee, or do they fight? Do they do they come home find nothing to do and simply bounce back to Iran, to Turkey and on to Europe? Or if they are, particularly if they are working age men, are they going to be victims of those groups that are prowling the countryside looking for recruits for their various causes.”

    He concluded, “We are calling for restraint, for resources, for dialog and for international cooperation to stem an evolving chaotic situation and to foster a more stable outcome for all of us.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mb6ZnlqMU

    MIL OSI Video –