NewzIntel.com

Category: Middle East

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the 49th Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha – June 24, 2025

    Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has participated in the 49th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), held in Doha, under the chairmanship of HE Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly State of Kuwait, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, and in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC countries.

    During the meeting, the latest developments in the region were discussed, particularly the Iranian missile attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

    During the meeting, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, considering it a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter. He noted that Qatar will continue to deal with all developments wisely, in line with its commitment to the principle of good neighborliness and the promotion of security and stability in the region.

    He also expressed the State of Qatar’s gratitude to the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, who expressed their sister countries’ solidarity with Qatar following the Iranian attack, stressing that Gulf solidarity remains a crucial factor in light of common challenges.

    During the meeting, the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf expressed its full solidarity with the State of Qatar and its full support for the measures it is taking to preserve its security and stability.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Christopher Hui attends AIIB meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said today Hong Kong shares the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) mission of providing high-quality financial disclosures as a reliable player that builds trust with stakeholders.

    He made the statement during a side event at the AIIB’s 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors on “Implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) from the Ground Up: The AIIB Journey”.

    Mr Hui noted that while the AIIB is one of the first multilateral development banks to adopt the ISSB Standards, Hong Kong was also confirmed by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation earlier this month as among the initial set of jurisdictions having set a target of fully adopting the ISSB Standards.

    He said: “By aligning with a global standard, we ensure international comparability of our data. This not only boosts investor confidence but also creates a strong foundation for new opportunities.”

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work in collaboration with financial regulators and stakeholders to support the pragmatic implementation of the ISSB Standards through enhancing capacity building and promoting the use of technological solutions, Mr Hui added.

    In addition, Mr Hui also spoke on “Fostering Development and Infrastructure Connectivity” at the Governors’ Business Roundtable in the afternoon.

    He shared with delegations from other member states Hong Kong’s efforts in fostering development in sustainable finance as well as developing diverse and innovative financial products.

    The latter includes the roll-out of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and the issuance of infrastructure loan-backed securities by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) with the AIIB as an anchor investor. He told the delegations that a third issuance by the HKMC can be expected this year.

    At the AIIB President’s Reception and the Special Session of the Board of Governors’ meeting held yesterday, Mr Hui met AIIB President Jin Liqun and AIIB President-elect Zou Jiayi.

    He also met financial officials of other member states to update them on Hong Kong’s latest developments in green and sustainable finance, and the recent vibrant financial market situation.

    Additionally, Mr Hui held bilateral meetings separately with delegations from Egypt, Germany and Poland on the sidelines of the annual meeting to explore opportunities for further co-operation.

    During his stay in Beijing, Mr Hui met Industrial & Commercial Bank of China President Liu Jun and China Construction Bank Chief Financial Officer Sheng Liurong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Minovia Therapeutics Ltd. and Launch One Acquisition Corp. Announce Proposed Business Combination to Create Nasdaq-Listed Mitochondrial Therapy Company in $1 Trillion+ Mitochondrial and Longevity Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAIFA, Israel, and GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Minovia Therapeutics Ltd. (“Minovia” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing what it believes to be first-in-class therapies to treat mitochondrial diseases and combat age-related decline, and Launch One Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: LPAA, “Launch One”), a special purpose acquisition company focused on healthcare innovation, announce entering into a definitive business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”).   

    Transaction highlights:

    • The proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) will create a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing Mitochondrial Augmentation Technology (MAT) – a proprietary platform designed to address a broad spectrum of diseases driven by mitochondrial dysfunction, from rare pediatric disorders to common adult conditions.
    • Upon closing of the transaction, the combined entity will operate under the name Mito US One Ltd. and is expected to be listed on Nasdaq.
    • The transaction is expected to provide Minovia with additional capital to facilitate accelerating its growth and development pipeline. This includes potentially reaching clinical and regulatory milestones, technology transfer, and the eventual commercial launch of the Company’s longevity-focused offerings from its MAT platform.
    • The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and shareholder approvals.
    • Launch One’s trust account currently holds approximately $239.7 million in cash, a portion of which may be available to the combined company following the transaction, depending on the extent of redemptions by public shareholders.

    Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, Ph.D., Minovia Co-Founder and CEO commented, “Minovia is pioneering a new category of mitochondrial therapy that targets the root cause of disease and aging — mitochondrial failure. Our research has already demonstrated durable safety and life-changing impact in patients, including children with genetic mitochondrial disease and older adults with hematologic and kidney dysfunction. Supported by clinical data, FDA Fast Track Designation, and a clear path to pivotal trial, we believe our MAT platform is uniquely positioned to drive value across both rare disease and the fast-growing longevity market.”

    Unlocking a New Category in Regenerative and Longevity Medicine

    Mitochondria are the tiny powerplants inside human cells, generating the energy needed for everything from muscle movement and kidney function to immune defense and brain activity. When mitochondria break down, energy production collapses — contributing to a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and kidney disease, as well as muscle weakness, anemia, and immune system decline. Minovia’s MAT platform is designed to enrich diseased cells with healthy and functional mitochondria, effectively recharging the body’s cellular batteries and restoring the energy essential for healing, resilience, and long-term health. This approach is backed by a deep patent portfolio, scalable manufacturing, a decade of research and development, and supported by clinical data.

    To date, Minovia has treated 23 patients for a combination of Pearson Syndrome, low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), and neurological conditions such as Kearns-Sayre and Leigh syndromes. Patients have experienced significant outcomes — including increased body weight and growth, restored mobility, kidney function, and hematologic stability. The treatment demonstrated to be safe with no drug-product related adverse response. The Company believes these results differentiate Minovia from others in the field and support its regulatory strategy across multiple indications.

    Minovia’s lead product, MNV-201, supported by FDA Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Designations, is being developed under a Phase 2 trial for Pearson Syndrome, an ultra-rare pediatric disorder. In parallel, Minovia is also conducting a Phase 1b study of MNV-201 in low-risk MDS, a chronic blood disorder linked to aging and has launched compassionate use programs in neurological mitochondrial conditions. Across its pipeline, MAT has shown a preliminary consistent safety profile, multi-system benefit, and biomarker-driven evidence of mitochondrial restoration — supporting both accelerated regulatory pathways and broad clinical potential.

    Looking ahead, Minovia believes it is poised to become a leader in the $1+ trillion longevity and regenerative medicine market with the first clinical-stage mitochondrial cell therapy for aging-related dysfunction. Minovia plans to launch MAT-based offerings through global longevity clinic partnerships beginning in 2026. Minovia believes that the accumulated clinical data, as well as preclinical data showing that MAT reverses biological aging markers and improves cognition and mobility in aged mice, lay the foundation for a scalable mitochondrial regenerative medicine franchise.

    Chris Ehrlich, Launch One Acquisition Corp. CEO, added, “Minovia provides a clinical-stage platform with the potential to lead an entirely new category of cell therapy. FDA Fast Track designation, patient responses across multiple diseases, and a robust pipeline positions Minovia as a first mover in advanced mitochondrial medicine. The company is advancing toward pivotal trials and we expect it will be bringing U.S.-based GMP manufacturing online by the end of 2025, allowing it to scale both its rare disease and longevity programs globally.”

    Transaction Overview and Next Steps

    The Business Combination Agreement assigns Minovia a pre-money equity valuation of $180 million, which will be increased by additional proceeds into Minovia expected from a bridge financing of at least $5 million to be completed within 30 days of signing, payable to Minovia equity holders in newly issued shares of the combined company, and with the Minovia equity holders being eligible to potentially receive additional shares worth $57.5 million in the aggregate as an earnout after the closing of the Business Combination. In addition, the parties are currently anticipating at least $18 million in PIPE investments at closing of the Business Combination, in addition to remaining cash held in Launch One’s trust account after shareholder redemptions. The net proceeds will fund Minovia’s clinical milestones, regulatory approvals, and the commercial launch of longevity-focused offerings.

    The boards of directors of both Minovia and Launch One have unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and shareholder approvals.

    Additional information about the transaction will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and will be available at www.sec.gov. In addition, Launch One and Minovia intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form F-4 (the ”Registration Statement“), which will include a proxy statement/prospectus of Launch One. This communication is not intended to be, and is not, a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that Launch One and/or Minovia have filed or may file with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination.

    Advisors and Legal Counsel

    Locus Walk is serving as lead placement agent on the transaction. Bevilacqua PLLC is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Minovia. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP is U.S. legal counsel to Launch One.

    About Minovia Therapeutics Ltd.

    Minovia, chaired by John Cox, is a company working on treatments to augment defective mitochondria with new healthy mitochondria, helping people with mitochondrial diseases and fighting aging. Its lead product, MNV-201, is already being tested in clinical trials for Pearson Syndrome and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Minovia is also developing ways to potentially help people live longer, healthier lives. Based in Haifa, Israel, with a factory for its therapy, Minovia is expanding to the U.S. For more information, visit www.minoviatx.com.

    About Launch One Acquisition Corp.

    Launch One Acquisition Corp. is a company set up to merge with and take public an exciting business in healthcare or technology. Listed on Nasdaq under the ticker LPAA, Launch One is led by experienced leaders who want to support game-changing solutions. For more information, contact Jurgen van de Vyver at jurgen@launchpad.vc.

    Participants In the Solicitation

    Launch One, Minovia, and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Launch One’s stockholders with respect to the Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Business Combination of Launch One’s directors and officers in Launch One’s filings with the SEC, including, when filed with the SEC, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, amendments and supplements thereto, and other documents filed with the SEC. Such information with respect to Minovia’s directors and executive officers will also be included in the proxy statement/prospectus. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described below under the heading “Additional Information and Where to Find It.”

    Non-Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Launch One or Minovia, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about future events or Launch One’s or Minovia’s future financial or operating performance. For example, statements regarding the development and therapeutic benefits of MAT, the Business Combination and the anticipated timing of the completion of the Business Combination are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “project,” “strive,” “budget,” “forecast,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.

    These forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future results of Launch One and Minovia are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the development of MAT, the industry in which Minovia operates, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of Launch One’s management and Minovia’s management. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to, without limitation, (i) known and unknown risks, including the risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of Launch One relating to its initial public offering filed with the SEC, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Launch One; (ii) uncertainties; (iii) assumptions; and (v) other factors beyond Launch One’s or Minovia’s control that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. They are neither statements of historical fact nor promises or guarantees of future performance. Therefore, Minovia’s actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and Launch One and Minovia therefore caution against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Launch One and its management and Minovia and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and are inherently subject to risks, variability and contingencies, many of which are beyond Launch One’s or Minovia’s control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the Business Combination; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Launch One, Minovia, or others following the announcement of the Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (iii) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain consents and approvals of the shareholders of Launch One and Minovia, to obtain financing to complete the Business Combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing, or delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; (iv) changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; (v) projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, and the estimated implied enterprise value of Minovia; (vi) Minovia’s ability to scale and grow its business, and the advantages and expected growth of Minovia; (vii) Minovia’s ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of Minovia following closing of the Business Combination; (viii) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards in connection with, and following, the consummation of the Business Combination; (ix) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Minovia as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (x) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Minovia to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; (xi) costs related to the Business Combination; (xii) changes in applicable laws, regulations, political and economic developments; (xiii) the possibility that Minovia may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (xiv) Minovia’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (xv) the failure to realize estimated shareholder redemptions, purchase price and other adjustments; and (xvi) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the filings by Launch One and Minovia with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither Launch One nor Minovia presently know or that Launch One and Minovia currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Launch One or Minovia speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Launch One nor Minovia undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in their respective expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Business Combination, Launch One and/or Minovia intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement, which will include a proxy statement/prospectus of Launch One, and will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. This communication is not intended to be, and is not, a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that Launch One has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed transaction will be mailed or made available to stockholders of Launch One as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed transaction.

    Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and stockholders of Launch One are urged to carefully read, when they become available, the entire Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important information about Launch One, Minovia, and the proposed transaction. Launch One’s investors and stockholders and other interested persons will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, and all other relevant documents filed with the SEC by Launch One and/or Minovia in connection with the Business Combination, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Launch One or Minovia at the addresses set forth below.

    Contact

    Minovia Therapeutics Ltd.
    Natalie Yivgi Ohana, Co-Founder and CEO
    +972-74-7039954
    info@minoviatx.com 

    Launch One Acquisition Corp.
    Jurgen van de Vyver
    jurgen@launchpad.vc
    +1-510-692-9600

    Investor Relations
    Dave Gentry, CEO
    RedChip Companies
    +1-407-644-4256
    LPAA@redchip.com

    Investor Relations
    Jules Abraham
    Managing Director, Communications
    CORE IR
    1-917-885-7378
    Julesa@coreir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

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

    – ref. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

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

    – ref. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How your gut bacteria could help detect pancreatic cancer early

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Falk Hildebrand, Researcher in Bioinformatician, Quadram Institute

    SewCreamStudio/Shutterstock

    Whether you had breakfast this morning or not, your pancreas is working quietly behind the scenes. This vital organ produces the enzymes that help digest your food and the hormones that regulate your metabolism. But when something goes wrong with your pancreas, the consequences can be devastating.

    Pancreatic cancer has earned the grim nickname “the silent killer” for good reason. By the time most patients experience symptoms, the disease has often progressed to an advanced stage where treatment options become severely limited. In the UK alone, over 10,700 new cases and 9,500 deaths from pancreatic cancer were recorded between 2017 and 2019, with incidence rates continuing to rise.

    The most common form, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), develops in the pancreatic duct – a tube connecting the pancreas to the small intestine. When tumours form here, they can block the flow of digestive enzymes, causing energy metabolism problems that leave patients feeling chronically tired and unwell. Yet these symptoms are often so subtle that they’re easily dismissed or attributed to other causes.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Now researchers are turning to an unexpected source for early PDAC detection: faecal samples. While analysing poo might seem an unlikely approach to cancer diagnosis, scientists are discovering that our waste contains a treasure trove of information about our health.

    This is because your gut is home to trillions of bacteria – in fact, bacterial cells in your body outnumber human cells by roughly 40 trillion to 30 trillion. These microscopic residents form complex communities that can reflect the state of your health, including the presence of disease.

    Since PDAC typically develops in the part of the pancreas that connects to the gut, and most people have regular bowel movements, stool samples provide a practical, non-invasive window into what is happening inside the body.

    Pancreatic cancer explained,

    Global evidence builds

    This innovative approach has been validated in studies across several countries, including Japan, China and Spain. The latest breakthrough comes from a 2025 international study involving researchers in Finland and Iran, which set out to examine the relationship between gut bacteria and pancreatic cancer onset across different populations.

    The researchers collected stool samples and analysed bacterial DNA using a technique called 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Despite the complex name, the principle is straightforward: scientists sequence and compare a genetic region found in every bacterium’s genome, allowing them to both identify and count different bacterial species simultaneously.

    The findings from the Finnish-Iranian study were striking. Patients with PDAC exhibited reduced bacterial diversity in their gut, with certain species either enriched or depleted compared with healthy people. More importantly, the team developed an artificial intelligence model that could accurately distinguish between cancer patients and healthy people based solely on their gut bacterial profiles.

    The field of microbiome research is evolving rapidly. While this study used amplicon sequencing, newer methods like “shotgun metagenomic sequencing” are providing even more detailed insights. This advanced technique captures the entire bacterial genome content rather than focusing on a single gene, offering an unprecedented resolution that can even detect whether bacteria have recently transferred between individuals.

    These technological advances are driving a fundamental shift in how we think about health and disease. We’re moving from a purely human-centred view to understanding ourselves as “human plus microbiome” – complex ecosystems where our bacterial partners play crucial roles in our wellbeing.

    Beyond pancreatic cancer

    The possibilities go well beyond pancreatic cancer. At Quadram, we’re applying similar methods to study colorectal cancer. We’ve already analysed over a thousand stool samples using advanced computational tools that piece together bacterial genomes and their functions from fragmented DNA. This ongoing work aims to reveal how gut microbes behave in colorectal cancer, much like other scientists have done for PDAC.

    The bidirectional interactions between cancer and bacteria are particularly fascinating – not only can certain bacterial profiles indicate disease presence, but the disease itself can alter the gut microbiome, as we previously showed in Parkinson’s disease, creating a complex web of cause and effect that researchers are still unravelling.

    Nonetheless, by understanding how our microbial partners respond to and influence disease, we’re gaining insights that could revolutionise both diagnosis and treatment. Our past research has shown this to be incredibly complex and sometimes difficult to understand, but developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence are increasingly helping us to make sense of this microscopic world.

    For cancer patients and their families, this and other advancements in microbiome research offer hope for earlier detection. While we’re still in the early stages of translating these findings into clinical practice, the potential to catch this silent killer before it becomes deadly could transform outcomes for thousands of patients, but will require more careful and fundamental research.

    The microbial perspective on health is no longer a distant scientific curiosity – it’s rapidly becoming a practical reality that could save lives. As researchers continue to explore this inner frontier, we’re learning that the answer to some of our most challenging medical questions might be hiding in plain sight – in the waste we flush away each day.

    Falk Hildebrand receives funding from the UKRI, BBSRC, NERC and ERC.

    Daisuke Suzuki receives funding from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

    – ref. How your gut bacteria could help detect pancreatic cancer early – https://theconversation.com/how-your-gut-bacteria-could-help-detect-pancreatic-cancer-early-259220

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Iran’s history has been blighted by interference from foreign powers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simin Fadaee, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Manchester

    Iranians commemorate the 1979 revolution in Qom, central Iran. Mostafameraji via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    Israel’s recent surprise attack on Iran was ostensibly aimed at neutralising Iran’s nuclear programme, but it didn’t just damage nuclear installations. It killed scientists, engineers and senior military personnel.

    Meanwhile, citizens with no ties to the government or military, became “collateral damage”. For 11 days, Israel’s attacks intensified across Tehran and other major cities.

    When the US joined the attack, dropping its bunker-buster bombs on sites in central Iran on June 21, it threatened to push the region closer to large-scale conflict. Israel’s calls for regime change in Iran were joined by the US president, Donald Trump, who took to social media on June 22 with the message: “if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

    Trump’s remarks are reminders of past US interventions. The threat of regime change by the most powerful state in the world carries particular weight in Iran, where memories of foreign-imposed coups and covert operations remain vivid and painful.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    In the early 1890s, Iran was rocked by a popular uprising after the shah granted a British company exclusive rights to the country’s tobacco industry. The decision was greeted with anger and in 1891 the country’s senior cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi, issued a fatwa against tobacco use.

    A mass boycott ensued – even the shah’s wives reportedly gave up the habit. When it became clear that the boycott was going to hold, the shah cancelled the concession in January 1892. It was a clear demonstration of people power.

    This event is thought to have played a significant role in the development of the revolutionary movement that led to the Constitutional Revolution that took place between 1905 and 1911 and the establishment of a constitution and parliament in Iran.

    Rise of the Pahlavis

    Reza Shah, who founded the Pahlavi dynasty – which would be overthrown in the 1979 revolution and replaced by the Islamic Republic – rose to power following a British-supported coup in 1921.

    Autocrat: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

    During the first world war, foreign interference weakened Iran and the ruling Qajar dynasty. In 1921, with British support, army officer Reza Khan and politician Seyyed Ziaeddin Tabatabaee led a coup in Tehran. Claiming to be acting to save the monarchy, they arrested key opponents. By 1923, Reza Khan had become prime minister.

    In 1925, Reza Khan unseated the Qajars and founded the Pahlavi dynasty, becoming Reza Shah Pahlavi. This was a turning point in Iran’s history, marking the start of British dominance. The shah’s authoritarian rule focused on centralisation, modernisation and secularisation. It set the stage for the factors that would that eventually lead to the 1979 Revolution.

    In 1941, concerned at the close relationship Pahlavi had developed with Nazi Germany, Britain and its allies once again intervened in Iranian politics, forcing Pahlavi to abdicate. He was exiled to South Africa and his 22-year-old son, Mohammad Reza, was named shah in his place.

    The 1953 coup

    Mohammad Mosaddegh became Iran’s first democratically elected prime minister in 1951. He quickly began to introduce reforms and challenge the authority of the shah. Despite a sustained campaign of destabilisation, Mossadegh retained a high level of popular support, which he used to push through his radical programme. This included the nationalisation of Iran’s oil industry, which was effectively controlled by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company – later British Petroleum (BP).

    Mohammad Mosaddegh in court martial by Ebrahim Golestan.
    Ebrahim Golestan via Wikimedia Commons

    In 1953, he was ousted in a CIA and MI6-backed coup and placed under house arrest. The shah, who had fled to Italy during the unrest, returned to power with western support.

    Within a short time, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi established an authoritarian regime that governed through repression and intimidation. He outlawed all opposition parties, and numerous activists involved in the oil nationalisation movement were either imprisoned or forced into exile.



    Read more:
    Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain

    The 1979 revolution: the oppression continues

    The shah’s rule became increasingly authoritarian and was also marked by the lavish lifestyles of the ruling elite and increasing poverty of the mass of the Iranian people. Pahlavi increasingly relied on his secret police, the Bureau for Intelligence and Security of the State.

    Meanwhile, a scholar and Islamic cleric named Ruhollah Khomeini, had been rising in prominence especially after 1963, when Pahlavi’s unpopular land reforms mobilised a large section of society against his rule. His growing prominence brought him into confrontation with the government and in 1964 he was sent into exile. He remained abroad, living in Turkey, Iraq and France.

    By 1964 cleric Ruhollah Khomeini had become the focus for some anti-government protests in Iran.
    emam.com via Wikimedia Commons

    By 1978 a diverse alliance primarily made up of urban working and middle-class citizens had paralysed the country. While united in their resistance to the monarchy, participants were driven by a variety of ideological beliefs, including socialism, communism, liberalism, secularism, Islamism and nationalism. The shah fled into exile on January 16 1979 and Khomeini returned to Iran, which in March became an Islamic Republic with Khomeini at its head.

    But the US was not finished in its attempts to destabilise Iran. In 1980, Washington backed Saddam Hussein in initiating a brutal eight-year war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of Iranian lives and severely disrupted the country’s efforts at political and economic reconstruction.

    Iran and the US have remained bitter foes. Over the years ordinary Iranians have suffered tremendously under rounds of US-imposed sanctions, which have all but destroyed the economy in recent years.

    This new wave of foreign aggression has arrived at a time of significant domestic unrest within Iran. Since the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, which began in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police, there has been a general groundswell of demand for social justice and democracy.

    But the convergence of external aggression and internal demands has brought national sovereignty and self-determination to the forefront, as it did during previous major struggles. While world powers gamble with Iran’s future, it is the Iranian people through their struggles and unwavering push for justice and democracy who must determine the country’s future.

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

    – ref. Iran’s history has been blighted by interference from foreign powers – https://theconversation.com/irans-history-has-been-blighted-by-interference-from-foreign-powers-259700

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to work with other BRICS countries for peace, stability in Middle East: FM spokesperson

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

    China is ready to join hands with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

    Brazil, the BRICS chair, released the BRICS Joint Statement on the Escalation of the Security Situation in the Middle East Following Military Strikes on the Territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In response to a related query, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing that BRICS is a force for progress that champions global peace and stability and defends international fairness and justice.

    Following the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, BRICS released a joint statement calling for ceasefire, dialogue and consultation, which played a constructive role for deescalation of tensions in the region, Guo said.

    At last year’s BRICS Summit in Kazan, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that BRICS should be “committed to peace” and “act as defenders of common security,” Guo said, adding China stands ready to work with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Internet access in Iran returns to pre-war levels: minister

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

    Iran’s Internet access has returned to pre-war levels, the country’s communications minister said Wednesday, following a temporary shutdown during the recent conflict with Israel.

    Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s minister of Information and Communications Technology, made the announcement in a post on the social platform X, a day after a ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel, ending 12 days of fighting.

    Iran imposed restrictions on Internet access shortly after Israel launched a series of airstrikes across the country on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites. The strikes killed several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians, according to Iranian officials.

    In the wake of the attacks, pro-Israeli hackers also claimed that they launched cyberattacks on Iran’s banking system, disrupting services at several banks. Enditem

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Day of Prayer for peace in Korea: “Everyone must strive for reconciliation and unity”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Archdiocese of Seoul

    Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The plea for “authentic peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula” is at the heart of the initiative of the Korean Catholic Church, which annually celebrates June 25, the anniversary of the Korean War, as a “Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity.” At Myeongdong Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Msgr. Chung Soon-Taick, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, and President of the “Committee for reconciliation” in the Archdiocese, presided over a Mass attended by over a thousand priests, consecrated persons, and faithful, who prayed together for peace on the Korean peninsula.In his homily, the Archbishop recalled that “this year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and 80 years since the division of the country. North and South have lived in a state of division, nurturing hatred and hostility in a context of constant tension and confrontation.” He added: “North and South Korea have previously lived as one country, one nation, and one culture for centuries. To overcome conflict and division, we must first reach out, as Jesus told us: ‘Give them something to eat.’” Archbishop Chung also emphasized in this context that “a small but significant change has begun in inter-Korean relations.” He pointed out that “as soon as our government stopped broadcasting messages to North Korea over loudspeakers, North Korea immediately stopped broadcasting its messages over loudspeakers,” which he considers a reduction in tensions. “Peace on the Korean Peninsula and a new relationship between the two Koreas begins with the renunciation of hostility and hatred. Let us pray that each of us can be the one to bring about small changes.”Following the Mass, a symposium commemorating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the “Committee for Reconciliation in Korea” in the Archdiocese of Seoul was held at the Spirituality Center of Myeongdong Cathedral. Archbishop Chung Soon-Taick recalled the committee’s objectives and working methods: “The committee, established on March 1, 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, is intended to be the Church’s executive arm for national reconciliation and unity on the Korean peninsula and is committed to working on the basis of three main pillars: prayer, sharing and formation. “Since the first Mass for Reconciliation and Unity in Korea, celebrated on March 7, 1995, the Mass for Reconciliation has been celebrated every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The foundation of every pastoral activity of the committee is prayer,” the Archbishop added. He recalled Pope Francis’s call in the ncyclical “Fratelli Tutti” to be “peacemakers” and the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, who “calls for peace and denounces all violence and horror in the world.” “Every single member of our Church,” the Archbishop hoped, “must remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea and feel part of the efforts toward reconciliation and unity by reinventing the sense of solidarity based on fraternity.” He concluded with the hope that “our Church will take the initiative to overcome hostilities and promote mutual respect and understanding.” The committee’s vice-chairman, Fr. Chung Soo-yong, said: “Over the past 30 years, we have taken two steps forward and one step back: With the Gospel in mind, we must therefore find the strength to overcome divisions and conflicts and work for peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He added: “In the international context, given the armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and between Israel and Iran, it is fundamental that the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided for more than half a century, lays the foundations for peace.” Father Chung concluded with an appeal to the new generations: “Young people must now take the initiative, with discussions and activities on the practice of peace, also with regard to World Youth Day 2027.” In this spirit, the Archdiocese of Seoul organizes an annual youth pilgrimage to the demilitarized zone on the border between the two Koreas, entitled “The Wind of Peace.” Launched in 2012, the initiative, aimed at young people around the world, will take place next month as part of the Jubilee Year. Participants will walk along the border, also dedicating themselves to meditation and prayer. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/IRAQ – Patriarch Sako on the so-called “12-Day War”: “Regime change strategies can only worsen the situation”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Gianni ValenteBaghdad (Agenzia Fides) – The so-called “12-Day War” has also caused concern and fear in Iraq. This was confirmed by the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, in a brief interview with Fides. The Iraqi Cardinal sees recent events as a further sign of the crisis in the international order. Faced with the scenario of an “endless war” and the bombings justified as instruments to bring about regime change, the Cardinal recalls the Iraqi experience, emphasizing that “regime change is a matter for the citizens of the country” and that such “regime change” strategies “can only worsen the situation.”Bombs from Israel and the US on Iran, Iranian missiles against Israel and US military bases. Patriarch Sako, how do you view the events in neighboring countries or on the border with Iraq, and how are the Iraqi people experiencing all this?CARDINAL SAKO: What has happened is sad. We have all experienced difficult moments of worry and fear. The world has lost its international order. Now we must regain common sense and reject the discourse of hatred, violence, and war. It is a pity if we destroy life and what has been built. Peace is a gift; we must welcome it and preserve it with enthusiasm, making the defense of peace an authentic life commitment.In recent days, the bombing on Iran has been portrayed as an operation designed to weaken Iranian power and lead to the country’s collapse. What do you think of such hypothetical strategies, also in light of the experiences in Iraq?CARDINAL SAKO: The sovereignty of countries must be respected, and problems should be resolved through sincere and courageous dialogue. Regime change is a matter for the citizens of a country. Imposing another regime would only worsen the situation. Change must come from within, if the citizens deem it necessary. Twenty-two years after the fall of the regime in Iraq, there is still no true citizenship, no law, no security, and no stability. Corruption and sectarianism persist.What can Christians in Iraq place their hope in at this time and in the face of these scenarios?CARDINAL SAKO: Christians, like all Iraqis, have suffered greatly because of ISIS. Such suffering leads to exodus and emigration. To this day, we are marginalized, our villages are occupied by militias, and the parliamentary seats reserved for Christians are being usurped… For all these reasons, a better future for Christians seems elusive. But despite what we have suffered, we feel we have a vocation in this land, with our faith. Therefore, we can remain confident and look toward a better future. (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Wearable Devices Advances AI Health Monitoring Platform as U.S. HHS Embraces Wearable Tech

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Yokneam Illit, Israel, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wearable Devices Ltd. (the “Company” or “Wearable Devices”) (Nasdaq: WLDS, WLDSW), a technology growth company specializing in artificial intelligence (“AI”)-powered touchless sensing wearables, recently announced the expansion of its Large Motor Unit Action Potential Model (“LMM”) into new potential markets, such as predictive health monitoring and cognitive state analytics. This development will enable the broadening of bio-signal intelligence applications beyond wearables and will offer businesses and healthcare providers access to real-time physiological insights for monitoring health and wellness conditions.

    This strategic expansion into predictive health monitoring aligns with the rising interest in personalized wellness devices. This interest is now demonstrated at the federal level. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has recently advocated for wearable devices to enhance health monitoring and cognitive well-being, underscoring the public and institutional momentum toward real-time data-driven care.

    This announcement follows Wearable Devices’ recent introduction of LMM as a groundbreaking AI-driven bio-signal platform focused on gesture-based control in extended reality (“XR”) and neural interaction with digital devices. The Company’s LMM approach to analyzing muscle activity signals will support the expansion into the field of health monitoring, enabling users to enhance their performance across various domains.

    From Passive Monitoring to Proactive Intelligence

    Unlike traditional bio-sensors that collect data passively, LMM continuously learns and adapts, turning muscle activity signals from the wrist into actionable insights. The technology is now being evaluated in controlled environments for real-world applications, including:

      ● Predictive Health Monitoring – Detecting hidden patterns in muscle activity that may indicate early signs of health conditions before symptoms appear, revolutionizing preventive diagnostics and digital health tracking.
         
      ● Cognitive State & Performance Analytics – Monitoring focus, fatigue, and stress levels through muscle tone and micro-movements, optimizing work productivity and mental well-being.
         
      ● Exploring Predictive Analytics – Assessing whether continuous monitoring of neural data can improve AI-driven user behavior predictions.

    A Platform for Innovation: Opening LMM to Business Partners

    Recognizing the transformative potential of bio-signal intelligence, Wearable Devices is intending to make LMM available to enterprises, researchers, and developers. The Company’s AI-powered bio-signal data platform is expected to enable businesses to:

      ● Develop custom applications tailored to healthcare and sports for athletic performance optimization.
         
      ● Integrate real-time physiological insights into enterprise solutions to enhance safety, performance, and productivity.
         
      ● Leverage LMM’s AI engine to continuously refine predictive health and interaction models.

    Following the initial evaluation phase, Wearable Devices aims to accelerate commercialization and strategic partnerships across the health sector, reinforcing its position as a pioneer in bio-signal intelligence and neural interface technology.

    About Wearable Devices Ltd.

    Wearable Devices Ltd. is a pioneering growth company revolutionizing human-computer interaction through its AI-powered neural input technology for both consumer and business markets. Leveraging proprietary sensors, software, and advanced AI algorithms, the Company’s innovative products, including the Mudra Band for iOS and Mudra Link for Android, enable seamless, touch-free interaction by transforming subtle finger and wrist movements into intuitive controls. These groundbreaking solutions enhance gaming, and the rapidly expanding AR/VR/XR landscapes. The Company offers a dual-channel business model: direct-to-consumer sales and enterprise licensing. Its flagship Mudra Band integrates functional and stylish design with cutting-edge AI to empower consumers, while its enterprise solutions provide businesses with the tools to deliver immersive and interactive experiences. By setting the input standard for the XR market, Wearable Devices is redefining user experiences and driving innovation in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. Wearable Devices’ ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq under the symbols “WLDS” and “WLDSW,” respectively.

    Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss the benefits and advantages of our devices and technology, including the potential of LMMs, the potential to accelerate commercialization and strategic partnerships across the health sector, the rising interest in personalized wellness devices and entering markets that need real-time physiological insights. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the trading of our ordinary shares or warrants and the development of a liquid trading market; our ability to successfully market our products and services; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on March 20, 2025 and our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Michal Efraty
    IR@wearabledevices.co.il

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Ministry: China is ready to continue efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East together with BRICS countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The BRICS countries are progressive forces in maintaining world peace and stability and upholding international fairness and justice. China stands ready to continue efforts with other BRICS countries to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on a joint statement issued by Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency, in which the grouping countries expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the region following the military strikes on Iran.

    The BRICS countries, by calling in a joint statement for a ceasefire and ceasefire, dialogue and consultation, are playing a constructive role in de-escalating the situation in the Middle East, Guo Jiakun said.

    The diplomat cited the words of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who in his speech at last year’s BRICS summit in Kazan stated the importance of “promoting the BRICS peace agenda in the name of protecting common security.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China has promised comprehensive assistance to Taiwanese compatriots in evacuating from the Iran-Israel conflict zone

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland will make every effort to help evacuate Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots, affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Wednesday.

    The Chinese Embassy in Israel recently issued an announcement asking Chinese citizens, including Taiwanese compatriots, who hold a mainland entry card to register for evacuation assistance due to rising tensions in the region.

    Zhu Fenglian said at a press conference that some Taiwanese compatriots have now been safely evacuated to neighboring countries.

    “We always reach out to our Taiwanese compatriots in a timely manner to provide them with the necessary assistance, whether it is during natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes, or emergency evacuations related to conflicts and wars,” she stressed. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia is closely monitoring the situation around Iran and maintains contacts with it – D. Peskov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, June 25 /Xinhua/ — Russia is closely monitoring the situation around the conflict in the Middle East and maintains contacts with Iran, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on Wednesday.

    “We are closely monitoring this situation, but we also maintain contacts with our partners from Tehran,” TASS quotes him as saying.

    Asked whether Russia has information about the state of Iran’s nuclear facilities after the Israeli and US attacks, the Kremlin spokesman stressed that it is unlikely that anyone has realistic data at this time. “It is probably too early, we need to wait until such data appears,” he said.

    D. Peskov also noted that Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cannot but cause concern in Russia. At the same time, he considers this step by Tehran understandable. “Of course, such a decision is a direct consequence of the unprovoked attack on Iran that occurred, a direct consequence of strikes on nuclear facilities, which is quite unprecedented,” the press secretary said.

    According to D. Peskov, the IAEA’s inaction during the American attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has seriously affected the organization’s reputation. “Of course, the IAEA’s reputation has been seriously damaged,” he concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Unknown details of the poet’s biography. The Strochenovsky lecture hall opened in the S.A. Yesenin Museum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall has opened in the Moscow State Museum of S.A. Yesenin, where scholars talk about little-known pages of the poet’s biography. The first lecture by Professor Yaroslav Leontyev of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, which opens the cycle, is dedicated to Yesenin’s political quest in the 1910s.

    1918. At the height of the Civil War, Sergei Yesenin writes the poem “The Jordanian Dove,” which contains the following lines:

    The sky is like a bell,

    The moon is the language,

    My mother is my homeland,

    I am a Bolshevik.

    For many, such a statement comes as a surprise, but Professor Yaroslav Leontiev came to the conclusion that this was a peculiar attempt to obtain an indulgence from the victorious Bolsheviks.

    Unlike his peers, who were passionately interested in political ideas, Sergei Yesenin was not fanatical, but he did not escape the political temptations of the era. In his youth, he was close to the ideas of Leo Tolstoy, but this interest quickly faded away. Later, while working in the printing house of Ivan Sytin, the poet came into contact with social democrats, socialist revolutionaries, anarchists – and even came under police surveillance.

    Having moved to Petrograd, Yesenin found himself in the editorial office of Severnye Zapiski, a magazine with a liberal-populist orientation. Here he met Leonid Kannegiser, the publisher’s nephew, also an aspiring poet, who in 1918 would shoot the chairman of the Petrograd Extraordinary Commission, Moisei Uritsky. They became close friends – Kannegiser even came to visit Yesenin in Konstantinovo.

    Zinaida Reich is a career Socialist Revolutionary

    Another fateful meeting took place in the editorial office of the newspaper “Delo Naroda” (People’s Cause), the central organ of the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRs). Here Yesenin met Zinaida Reich, a technical employee of the editorial office. But she was not just a typist – already in high school, Zinaida participated in the SR circle, and in 1917 she headed the party distribution society.

    Through his wife, Yesenin found himself in the very center of the party’s activities, met its leaders, Maria Spiridonova and Boris Kamkov, and also spoke at rallies and published in Socialist Revolutionary publications. In his 1923 autobiography, Yesenin claimed: “I worked with the Socialist Revolutionaries not as a party member, but as a poet.”

    An unexpected political turn

    After the armed conflict between the Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the Bolsheviks in July 1918, Yesenin abruptly changed course. The very line “I am a Bolshevik” appeared, and the poet began to get closer to the communists – for example, he spoke with Lev Kamenev at the opening of a monument to the poet A.V. Koltsov. Yesenin even wrote an application to join the RCP(b), to which the journalist Georgy Ustinov persistently persuaded him. But at the last moment, Sergei Alexandrovich changed his mind and annulled the application. “He claimed that he was to the left of the Communist Party,” notes Yaroslav Leontyev.

    Trotsky, Dzerzhinsky and others

    Thanks to his acquaintance with Yakov Blumkin (a former Left Socialist Revolutionary who had gone over to the Bolsheviks and who had murdered the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach), Yesenin gained access to the highest echelons of power – he met with Lev Trotsky, Anatoly Lunacharsky, Mikhail Kalinin, Felix Dzerzhinsky, and the People’s Commissar of Food Alexander Tsyurupa.

    But the poet does not break old ties: he continues to perform in Left SR clubs, works on the poem “Pugachev”. Even abroad, traveling with Isadora Duncan, he clashes with representatives of the White émigrés, and in New York he visits an old friend – a member of the Central Committee of the Left SRs, Veniamin Levin.

    Decembrist parallel

    Of particular interest is Yesenin’s connection with the Decembrist theme. On December 14, 1917, he spoke at an evening in memory of the Decembrists, organized by the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. And his last visit, now to Leningrad, was in December 1925 – exactly 100 years after the uprising on Senate Square.

    “How can one not draw parallels between two national geniuses – Pushkin and his friendship with the Decembrists and Yesenin with his friends, who were actively involved in politics, and some of them even created it themselves,” Yaroslav Leontyev reasons.

    A New Look at the Poet

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall, named after the address of the house-museum on Bolshoy Strochenovsky Lane, is intended as a place where Yeseninists can share not only their knowledge of the poet, but also their Yesenin spirit. Museum director Oleg Robinov emphasizes: these are people for whom Yesenin is a guide in life.

    A poet understandable to everyone. The director of the S.A. Yesenin Museum talks about the updated main exhibition and immediate plans

    The poet’s political connections are just one of the pages of his biography that they plan to reveal in the new lecture hall. The next lectures will be devoted, for example, to his political contacts in the 1920s and other mysterious parallels with the Decembrists.

    You can attend the meetings of the Strochenovsky lecture hall with an entrance ticket to the museum. The first lecture will take place on June 26 at 19:00.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155824073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: ARKO Corp. Unveils its First Enhanced Food and Beverage Pilot Store in Ashland, VA, Launches New Food Concept fascraves

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RICHMOND, Va., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO), a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest convenience store operators in the United States, proudly announces the opening of its first food-focused remodeled store in Ashland, Virginia, located at 10030 Sliding Hill Rd. This milestone location also marks the debut of fas craves, ARKO’s innovative new food brand that will be a key feature of future store remodels across its nationwide network.

    This flagship location is the first of eight initial sites—six remodels and two new-to-industry builds—launched as part of a pilot program focused on delivering a relevant and delicious menu of hot and cold grab-n-go items. The new concept debuts a crave-worthy prepared food and dispensed beverage concept designed for today’s on-the-go consumer. Whether it’s a quick breakfast, a convenient lunch, or an afternoon snack, fas craves offers flavorful, satisfying options throughout the day.

    The new menu includes Hot and Cold Grab-n-Go, Roller Grill, Bakery, and Dispensed Beverages, with standout offerings like crispy chicken biscuits, zesty potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, jumbo chicken wings, the Ultimate Chicken Tender, Tyson® chicken sandwiches and Pub burgers. Beverage selections are equally enticing, featuring nitro cold brew, bean-to-cup always fresh hot and iced coffee, iced teas, lemonades, Frazil Slush and Café Tango frozen coffee.

    “This new food concept remodel and the introduction of fas craves represent a bold step forward in how we serve our customers,” said Arie Kotler, President & CEO at ARKO Corp. “We’re focused on transforming the convenience experience — not just with updated stores, but with food offerings that truly resonate with today’s on-the-go consumer.”

    The remodeled store is designed to attract new customers, with a layout that’s easy to shop and a product assortment shaped directly by customer feedback. It includes modernized features such as digital menu boards and a brighter, more contemporary interior design, creating a seamless and elevated shopping experience.

    To celebrate the first day of operation on June 25th, customers can enjoy special food deals including two savory crispy Ultimate Chicken Tenders and a small side of potato wedges for just $4.99, and any fountain drink, tea, or lemonade for only 99 cents.

    While the store opens on June 25th, a formal grand opening celebration is planned for July 16–29, featuring additional promotions and community-focused events.

    fas craves will continue to roll out alongside store remodels throughout ARKO’s network, bringing delicious and crave-worthy options to more customers nationwide.

    While customers are enjoying our new delicious food and beverage menu, they can take advantage of our exciting Fueling America’s Future promotion and save up to $2 off a gallon of gas by enrolling in our fas REWARDS loyalty program, purchasing participating products, and entering their phone number at the pump to watch the price get reduced and the savings add up!

    About ARKO Corp.

    ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) is a Fortune 500 company that owns 100% of GPM Investments, LLC and is one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, our highly recognizable Family of Community Brands offers delicious, prepared foods, beer, snacks, candy, hot and cold beverages, and multiple popular quick serve restaurant brands. We operate in four reportable segments: retail, which includes convenience stores selling merchandise and fuel products to retail customers; wholesale, which supplies fuel to independent dealers and consignment agents; fleet fueling, which includes the operation of proprietary and third-party cardlock locations, and issuance of proprietary fuel cards that provide customers access to a nationwide network of fueling sites; and GPM Petroleum, which sells and supplies fuel to our retail and wholesale sites and charges a fixed fee, primarily to our fleet fueling sites. To learn more about GPM stores, visit: www.gpminvestments.com. To learn more about ARKO, visit: www.arkocorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the Company’s expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “accretive,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to, among other things, changes in economic, business and market conditions; the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market; changes in its strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; expansion plans and opportunities; changes in the markets in which it competes; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those relating to environmental matters; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond its control; and the outcome of any known or unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    Media Contact
    Jordan Mann
    ARKO Corp.
    investors@gpminvestments.com

    Investor Contact
    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    Elevate IR
    (720) 330-2829
    ARKO@elevate-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Wallet Adds Digital Key Compatibility for Mercedes-Benz

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced that Samsung Wallet will support digital key compatibility for Mercedes-Benz vehicles starting in July 2025. With this new integration, Galaxy users1 can now experience a more seamless way to lock, unlock and start their Mercedes-Benz2 vehicle from their smartphone.
    “We’re excited to bring Mercedes-Benz drivers the incredible convenience that comes with Samsung Digital Key access,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz advances our vision of providing effortless access to tech-enabled experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem.”
    “Bringing convenience and luxury to our customers is our top priority as we strive to bring them the best vehicle experience possible,” said Stefan Blossey, Director of Body-/Comfort-E/E, UX Components at Mercedes-Benz AG. “Samsung Digital Key allows Mercedes-Benz to continue offering our customers convenient access and connectivity to their vehicles.”

    Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize digital keys, payment methods, identification cards, and more — all in one secure and easy-to-use application. Launched in June 2022, and backed by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox, Samsung Wallet smoothly integrates across the broader Galaxy ecosystem to offer powerful connectivity and fortified protection for users in their everyday lives.
    With the addition of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key on Samsung Wallet, users can experience a new level of convenience at their fingertips. Once inside the vehicle, Samsung’s Digital Key enables drivers to start their vehicle without using their physical key or even removing their smartphone from their pocket. Users can also securely share the digital key with friends or family, through an easy-to-use interface that lets owners grant or disable access as needed.

    The integration of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key in Samsung Wallet is also backed by Samsung’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and reliable mobile experience for users. Digital keys are securely embedded within the device, meeting rigorous EAL6+3 security standards for protection against unauthorized access. By utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, a standardized communication protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, the digital key provides precise functionality, significantly reducing the risk of unwanted attempts to access the vehicle.
    If a device containing the digital key in Samsung Wallet is misplaced or stolen, users can log in to the SmartThings Find service to remotely lock or delete the device, securing access to the digital key and further safeguarding their vehicle. With biometric or PIN-based user authentication requirements, Samsung Wallet helps to protect vehicles by keeping access private and secure.4
    Availability
    Digital Key functionality for select Mercedes-Benz vehicles will roll out starting July 2025 in select regions5 worldwide. Users can register their Digital Key through the Mercedes Me application.

    Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance
    Mercedes‑Benz AG is part of the Mercedes‑Benz Group AG with a total of around 175,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes‑Benz Cars and Mercedes‑Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes‑Benz brand with Mercedes‑AMG, Mercedes‑Maybach and G‑Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes‑Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars. In 2024 it sold around 2,4 million passenger cars and vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes‑Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes‑Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes‑Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
    1 Samsung Wallet Digital Key support is available on select devices, including: Galaxy S21 Ultra/S21+, S22 Ultra/S22+, S23 Ultra/S23+, S24 Ultra/S24+, S25 Ultra/S25+, S25 Edge, Note20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Fold Special Edition.
    2 Mercedes-Benz vehicles supporting Digital Car Key differ per region, in the US these include: E-Class Sedan W214, E-Class Wagon S214, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Z296, EQS Sedan V297, EQS SUV X296, EQE Sedan V295, EQE SUV X294, S-Class Sedan W223, S-Class Sedan Long V223, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Z223, Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé C192, Mercedes-AMG SL R232, Mercedes-Maybach SL Z232, C-Class Saloon W206, C-Class Estate S206, GLC SUV X254, GLC Coupé C254. For the full breakdown per region, please visit https://moba.i.mercedes-benz.com/baix/cars/dck-compatibility/landingpage/index.html.
    3 Evaluation Assurance Level6+, for which a product must be evaluated for specific protection against side-channel attacks or other advanced attack vectors, plus additional, more extensive testing and verification of the product’s security functions.
    4 Requires compatible device, SmartThings and Samsung account.
    5 Available regions include: Abu Dhabi, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and USA.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Wallet Adds Digital Key Compatibility for Mercedes-Benz

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced that Samsung Wallet will support digital key compatibility for Mercedes-Benz vehicles starting in July 2025. With this new integration, Galaxy users1 can now experience a more seamless way to lock, unlock and start their Mercedes-Benz2 vehicle from their smartphone.
    “We’re excited to bring Mercedes-Benz drivers the incredible convenience that comes with Samsung Digital Key access,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz advances our vision of providing effortless access to tech-enabled experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem.”
    “Bringing convenience and luxury to our customers is our top priority as we strive to bring them the best vehicle experience possible,” said Stefan Blossey, Director of Body-/Comfort-E/E, UX Components at Mercedes-Benz AG. “Samsung Digital Key allows Mercedes-Benz to continue offering our customers convenient access and connectivity to their vehicles.”

    Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize digital keys, payment methods, identification cards, and more — all in one secure and easy-to-use application. Launched in June 2022, and backed by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox, Samsung Wallet smoothly integrates across the broader Galaxy ecosystem to offer powerful connectivity and fortified protection for users in their everyday lives.
    With the addition of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key on Samsung Wallet, users can experience a new level of convenience at their fingertips. Once inside the vehicle, Samsung’s Digital Key enables drivers to start their vehicle without using their physical key or even removing their smartphone from their pocket. Users can also securely share the digital key with friends or family, through an easy-to-use interface that lets owners grant or disable access as needed.

    The integration of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key in Samsung Wallet is also backed by Samsung’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and reliable mobile experience for users. Digital keys are securely embedded within the device, meeting rigorous EAL6+3 security standards for protection against unauthorized access. By utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, a standardized communication protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, the digital key provides precise functionality, significantly reducing the risk of unwanted attempts to access the vehicle.
    If a device containing the digital key in Samsung Wallet is misplaced or stolen, users can log in to the SmartThings Find service to remotely lock or delete the device, securing access to the digital key and further safeguarding their vehicle. With biometric or PIN-based user authentication requirements, Samsung Wallet helps to protect vehicles by keeping access private and secure.4
    Availability
    Digital Key functionality for select Mercedes-Benz vehicles will roll out starting July 2025 in select regions5 worldwide. Users can register their Digital Key through the Mercedes Me application.

    Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance
    Mercedes‑Benz AG is part of the Mercedes‑Benz Group AG with a total of around 175,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes‑Benz Cars and Mercedes‑Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes‑Benz brand with Mercedes‑AMG, Mercedes‑Maybach and G‑Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes‑Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars. In 2024 it sold around 2,4 million passenger cars and vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes‑Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes‑Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes‑Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
    1 Samsung Wallet Digital Key support is available on select devices, including: Galaxy S21 Ultra/S21+, S22 Ultra/S22+, S23 Ultra/S23+, S24 Ultra/S24+, S25 Ultra/S25+, S25 Edge, Note20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Fold Special Edition.
    2 Mercedes-Benz vehicles supporting Digital Car Key differ per region, in the US these include: E-Class Sedan W214, E-Class Wagon S214, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Z296, EQS Sedan V297, EQS SUV X296, EQE Sedan V295, EQE SUV X294, S-Class Sedan W223, S-Class Sedan Long V223, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Z223, Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé C192, Mercedes-AMG SL R232, Mercedes-Maybach SL Z232, C-Class Saloon W206, C-Class Estate S206, GLC SUV X254, GLC Coupé C254. For the full breakdown per region, please visit https://moba.i.mercedes-benz.com/baix/cars/dck-compatibility/landingpage/index.html.
    3 Evaluation Assurance Level6+, for which a product must be evaluated for specific protection against side-channel attacks or other advanced attack vectors, plus additional, more extensive testing and verification of the product’s security functions.
    4 Requires compatible device, SmartThings and Samsung account.
    5 Available regions include: Abu Dhabi, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and USA.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Launches Management System Advisory Service to Support the Introduction of Nuclear Power, Conducts First Mission to Saudi Arabia

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An IAEA team of experts visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct the first IAEA Management Systems Advisory Service (IMSAS) mission. (Photo: DNEC).

    The IAEA conducted its first-ever management systems advisory service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 19 to 22 May 2025.

    The IAEA Management Systems Advisory Service (IMSAS) was established to support newcomer countries in developing robust and effective nuclear infrastructure, in response to findings from the Agency’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions that highlighted inconsistencies in the implementation of management systems among countries embarking on new nuclear power programmes.

    As part of the IAEA’s broader commitment to support countries in introducing nuclear power in their energy mix, IMSAS helps nuclear organizations develop and maintain management systems appropriate to the current phase of the nuclear power programme. A management system is a set of interrelated or interacting elements — including organizational structure, responsibilities, resources, and processes — established to achieve organizational objectives in an efficient and effective manner.

    Saudi Arabia is embarking on a nuclear power programme as part of its strategy to transition towards a diversified energy sector and building national capabilities in advanced energy technologies, all as part of its Vision 2030. In support of this plan, Saudi Arabia is following the IAEA’s Milestones Approach and actively cooperates with the IAEA through a coordinated Integrated Workplan to support its nuclear infrastructure development.

    In November 2024, Duwayhin Nuclear Energy Company (DNEC), which is designated as the owner/operator for the first nuclear power plant, requested the IAEA to conduct the IMSAS mission to review whether the current management system in DNEC is appropriate and adequate to support its current and planned activities.

    During its review, the IMSAS team – comprised of four external experts from Hungary, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as three IAEA staff members – reviewed documentation and conducted technical discussions with the DNEC in Riyadh.

    “The IMSAS team found that DNEC has a well-developed management system that effectively supports the organization in carrying out its current and future activities. We commend DNEC on the efforts undertaken to date to develop its management system, which will help support the safe and effective implementation Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power programme,” said Liliya Dulinets, Section Head of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section.

    In its draft final report, issued at the closing session, the mission team identified four good practices by DNEC. These included the development of its management system using a structured, project-based approach that ensures effective planning and coordination; the clear documentation of governance and management frameworks, which provides staff with a solid understanding of roles and responsibilities; and the transition to a fully electronic management system to enhance accessibility and usability.

    Two recommendations and four suggestions were also noted. These included opportunities for improvement related to enhancing the consistency of the management system documentation, formalizing the approach to process development, and elevating the level of ownership of the management system within the organization.

    “Our objective in requesting the mission was to have the IAEA conduct a cold-eye review of how we manage our day-to-day operations, particularly our management system,” said Khalid Al Gazlan, DNEC CEO. “The results of the mission were excellent, and the recommendations and suggestions provided will greatly support our continuous improvement efforts. We remain committed to cooperating with the IAEA through the Integrated Work Plan across all phases of our project, to ensure the establishment of a competent Owner-Operator; we thank the IAEA and the IMSAS team for this constructive and productive mission. This mission was a testament that the Kingdom is moving confidently towards building a sustainable civil nuclear program, supported by national competencies and strong international partnership.”

    The final mission report will be provided to DNEC within three months.

    About IMSAS

    IMSAS was established to support the review of management systems in countries embarking on new nuclear power programmes. It provides a structured approach for the self-assessment of the management systems of the regulatory body and owner/operator organization, as well as an independent review conducted by IAEA and international experts.

    IMSAS missions help organizations develop and maintain effective management systems consistent with the current phase of the nuclear power programme. It assists these organizations in aligning their management systems with IAEA standards and international good practices to support the implementation of current and planned activities. Additionally, IMSAS enables the identification of strengths and weaknesses through a combination of self-assessment and independent review, providing recommendations for improvement and highlighting good practices.

    The IAEA offers its Member States a wide array of review services. For the introduction of nuclear power, the Agency’s peer review service include, for example, the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) and the Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Service for Nuclear Power Programmes (SEAS).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Operation Sindhu: IAF brings 224 Indian nationals back from Israel

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Air Force on Wednesday successfully evacuated 224 more Indian nationals from Israel, taking the total number of citizens brought back safely to 818, under Operation Sindhu.

    Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje greeted the Indian nationals upon their arrival in New Delhi.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X, “Operation Sindhu update, MoS Ms. Shobha Karandlaje received 224 Indian nationals who returned to India from Israel on an IAF aircraft at 10:30 Hrs on 25th June. The safety and security of Indian nationals remain a priority for the government. To date, 818 Indian nationals have returned home from Israel as part of Operation Sindhu.”

    The IAF joined in the operations with its C-17 aircraft to evacuate the Indian nationals and the citizens of friendly nations, including Nepal and Sri Lanka, from war-hit Israel and bring them back home to safety.

    Earlier, the MEA had announced that the evacuation of Indian nationals from Israel under Operation Sindhu started on Monday, June 23, via Jordan, marking its first successful repatriation flight, with 161 citizens landing in New Delhi from Amman on Tuesday morning.

    Followed by a second flight on Tuesday itself, the IAF brought back 286 Indian nationals, who were residing in Israel, from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

    Meanwhile, a similar evacuation process continued in Iran with 282 more evacuees arriving in India. According to the MEA, so far 2,858 Indian nationals have been brought back home from Tehran and other affected regions.

    The Government of India launched Operation Sindhu, an evacuation mission Operation Sindhu following the hostilities between Iran and Israel.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Sensex, Nifty rise for 2nd day as geopolitical tensions ease, oil prices fall

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian stock markets extended their gains for the second straight day on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in media and technology shares.

    Investors were relieved after crude oil prices dropped and tensions between Iran and Israel eased following a ceasefire.

    The Sensex closed 700.4 points higher at 82,755.51, gaining 0.85 per cent. The Nifty also rose by 200.40 points to settle at 25,244.75, up 0.8 per cent.

    Titan Company, M&M, Infosys, Power Grid, TCS and Bharti Airtel emerged as the top gainers on the Sensex, with gains of up to 3.6 per cent.

    On the other hand, BEL, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank were the major laggards, falling as much as 3 per cent.

    The broader markets saw a positive trend as well. The Nifty MidCap index gained 0.44 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index jumped 1.5 per cent.

    Among sectoral indices, Nifty Media was the top performer with a 1.99 per cent rise, followed by Nifty IT which went up 1.64 per cent, and Nifty Consumer Durables which gained 1.43 per cent.

    Market sentiment improved due to the drop in oil prices and reduced geopolitical risk, which helped boost risk appetite among investors.

    Analysts believe that these developments have brought temporary relief to the markets, despite continued selling by foreign investors.

    Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services, said that the easing of tensions in the Middle East and the softening of crude oil prices have played a key role in the market’s recovery.

    “Indian equity markets have staged a recovery, supported by easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a moderation in crude oil prices,” Nair stated.

    He added that domestically, a favourable monsoon forecast, and moderating inflation are further underpinning the optimism.

    Meanwhile, the Indian Rupee traded flat near 86.10 after a sharp rally of over 0.75 seen in the previous session, taking a breather within a narrow range of 86.00-86.15.

    “Market participants are now eyeing upcoming triggers from the US, including the PCE Price Index and GDP data later this week. The Rupee is expected to trade in a range of 85.70 to 86.25,” Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities mentioned.

    (IANS)

  • Russia says it is too early to assess US bomb damage to Iranian nuclear facilities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it thought it was too early for anyone to have an accurate picture of the extent of damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear facilities by U.S. bombing last weekend.

    Asked if Russia had its own information on the degree of damage, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “No. I don’t think that anyone can have realistic data now. It’s probably too early, we need to wait until such data appears.”

    U.S. President Donald Trump said at the weekend that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    However, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment had determined that the attacks had set back Tehran’s programme by only a matter of months.

    Russia has condemned the strikes on Iran, with which it signed a strategic cooperation agreement in January, as illegal, unjustified and unprovoked.

    Peskov said Russia had indications that there were open communications channels between Washington and Tehran, adding that Moscow was closely monitoring developments and still talking to Iran itself.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ambassador of Belarus S.Terentiev meets the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    On June 24, 2025 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sergei Terentiev, met with the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt for European Affairs, Wael Hamed.

    The interlocutors considered the issues of preparation of bilateral events of the highest and high levels, as well as the next meeting of the Belarusian-Egyptian Joint Trade Commission. They stressed traditionally friendly relations between Belarus and Egypt, and the readiness to further strengthen them based on the principles of mutual trust and support were noted. 

    The sides welcomed the intensification of industrial cooperation between the two countries in 2025, including the creation of joint productions of Belarusian equipment in Egypt, as well as cooperation in the field of food security. 

    Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt expressed gratitude for organizing the next trip to Belarus for a group of Egyptian children for the rest in the “Zubrenok” children’s camp in July 2025, which is a part of the program implemented under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

    – on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Trump says damage from Iran strikes severe despite “inconclusive” intelligence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the damage to Iranian nuclear sites from missile strikes over the weekendwas severe, though he also acknowledged that the available intelligence on the matter was inconclusive.

    His comments followed reports by Reuters and other media outlets on Tuesday revealing that the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency had assessed that the strikes had set back Iran’s nuclear program by just a few months, despite administration officials saying the program had been obliterated.

    “The intelligence was very inconclusive,” Trump told reporters before joining a NATO summit in The Hague. “The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”

    Later, during the same round of comments, Trump argued that Iran’s nuclear deal had been set back “basically decades, because I don’t think they’ll ever do it again”.

    Trump was sitting alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who both also cast doubt on the reliability of the DIA assessment.

    Rubio said the U.S. was opening an investigation into the leak of the DIA report. He also suggested the report’s contents had been misrepresented in the media.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US started Iran nuclear crisis: Chinese envoy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — It was the United States that started the Iranian nuclear crisis, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said Tuesday in response to Iran’s accusations at a UN Security Council meeting.

    The Chinese side noted that some Security Council members do nothing but accuse Iran of violating non-proliferation obligations, trying to justify military actions by Israel and the United States, he noted.

    “China would like to remind these countries of the following basic facts: It was the United States that started the Iranian nuclear crisis,” Fu Cong said.

    He added that the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Washington has since reimposed and strengthened unilateral sanctions against Iran and adopted “maximum pressure” measures that have prevented Tehran from reaping the economic dividends provided by the agreement and forced Tehran to reduce its commitments under the deal.

    The United States also, to the detriment of its own authority, launched military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, undermining the negotiation process it had started and leading the Iranian nuclear issue to another dead end, which led to a sharp aggravation of the situation in the region, he said.

    Iran’s sincerity in resolving nuclear crisis should be appreciated, Chinese diplomat says

    He noted that Iran still continues to fulfill its non-proliferation obligations and the comprehensive safeguards agreement. Tehran has repeatedly stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.

    According to Fu Cong, Iran has held several rounds of professional and pragmatic negotiations with the US in a constructive manner and has never given up on its diplomatic efforts. However, some countries, by one-sidedly citing the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ignoring the positive aspects of Iran’s cooperation with the agency, sought to pass a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors without proper consultation. According to him, this jeopardizes the atmosphere of dialogue, increasing tension and confrontation. “These countries should carefully consider the negative consequences of their irresponsible move,” he said.

    Israel and the United States resorted to the use of force against Iran on the basis of “possible future threats,” which is a serious violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty. The attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards set a bad precedent that threatens the international non-proliferation regime. China once again unequivocally condemns this, the PRC representative noted.

    The above-mentioned actions have also undermined diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and created a high degree of uncertainty regarding the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2231. China is seriously concerned, Fu Cong concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Fuel shortages, fighting threaten Gaza water supplies – UN

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — United Nations humanitarian officials warned Tuesday that the death toll, including among children, will rise if the blockade of fuel supplies to Gaza continues, amid reports of continued shelling of Gazans at aid distribution sites.

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the death toll in Gaza continues to rise in the ongoing conflict with Israel, including cases of shelling of civilians near humanitarian aid distribution points outside UN control, as well as along routes designated by the Israeli authorities for the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said last week that if the current blockade of fuel supplies to Gaza, which has lasted for more than 100 days, is not lifted, children will begin to die of thirst.

    The number of children hospitalized for acute malnutrition increased by almost 50 percent in May compared to April, the organization said, highlighting the urgent need for drinking water as the infrastructure for its production has been largely destroyed.

    Humanitarian officials have also expressed grave concern about the mental health of children in Gaza.

    The UN and its partners have deployed more than 2,000 specially trained staff to provide psychological support, OCHA said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s UN envoy calls for return to political settlement of Iranian nuclear issue

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong called on the Security Council on Tuesday for a return to the path of a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

    China believes there is still hope for a peaceful resolution to the issue as diplomatic means have not been exhausted, he said.

    According to the Permanent Representative, all parties need to learn lessons from the crisis, resume dialogue on an equal basis and facilitate a return to the path of political settlement.

    First of all, the fighting should stop, he said, adding that China had taken into account the current events in the region and hoped for a real ceasefire.

    “The parties concerned must take practical measures to prevent the situation from escalating again. At the same time, the international community must make efforts to defuse the situation and promote dialogue and negotiations,” the diplomat said.

    To maintain a balance between nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of the atom, he called on Iran to continue to fulfill its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and on all other parties to fully respect Iran’s right as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

    Noting that China supports all efforts to resume talks, Fu Cong said the Security Council should play a constructive role in helping the parties build trust, overcome differences and create conditions conducive to the resumption of talks.

    He stressed that the countries concerned should refrain from threatening to return to sanctions against Iran on every occasion, as this would only exacerbate tensions and confrontation and put diplomatic efforts at further risk.

    “A proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue has a direct bearing on the credibility and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime and is of crucial importance to peace and stability in the Middle East,” Fu Cong stressed.

    “The situation in the region is currently at an important critical stage. China calls on all parties to act urgently and responsibly to de-escalate the situation and resume negotiations as soon as possible,” the diplomat added.

    As a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA), China will continue to adhere to an objective and impartial position, strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, enhance cooperation and advocate justice, so as to play a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East and advancing a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, the Permanent Representative concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Eastern Airlines Launches Xi’an-Istanbul Direct Flight

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ISTANBUL, June 25 (Xinhua) — A China Eastern Airlines flight carrying more than 200 passengers landed at Istanbul Airport at around 7:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, marking the launch of the airline’s new direct route between northwest China’s Xi’an and Istanbul, Turkey.

    This is the airline’s second direct route connecting China and Turkey, after Shanghai-Istanbul. According to the Shanghai-based airline, the new route is operated by a wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft three times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

    At the opening ceremony of the first return flight from Istanbul at the airport on Tuesday morning, China’s Deputy Consul General in Istanbul Wu Jian called the opening of the new route an important step in building a convenient “air Silk Road” between the two historic cities.

    According to him, the new route will undoubtedly give new impetus to the development of Chinese-Turkish economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, as well as the joint promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST looks for more co-operation opportunities with AIIB member states at its 10th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors in Beijing (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST looks for more co-operation opportunities with AIIB member states at its 10th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors in Beijing  
         Speaking at the side event on “Implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) from the Ground Up: The AIIB Journey”, Mr Hui noted that while the AIIB is one of the first multilateral development banks to adopt the ISSB Standards, Hong Kong was also confirmed by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation earlier this month as among the initial set of jurisdictions having set a target of fully adopting the ISSB Standards.
     
         He said, “By aligning with a global standard, we ensure international comparability of our data. This not only boosts investor confidence but also creates a strong foundation for new opportunities. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work in collaboration with financial regulators and stakeholders to support the pragmatic implementation of the ISSB Standards through enhancing capacity building and promoting the use of technological solutions.”
     
         This afternoon, Mr Hui also spoke on “Fostering Development and Infrastructure Connectivity” at the Governors’ Business Roundtable. He shared with delegations from other member states Hong Kong’s efforts in fostering development in sustainable finance as well as developing diverse and innovative financial products. The latter includes the roll-out of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and the issuance of infrastructure loan-backed securities by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) with the AIIB as an anchor investor. He told the delegations that a third issuance by the HKMC can be expected this year.
     
         At the AIIB President’s Reception and the Special Session of the Board of Governors’ meeting held yesterday (June 24), Mr Hui met with the President of the AIIB, Mr Jin Liqun, and the President-elect of the AIIB, Ms Zou Jiayi. He also met financial officials of other member states to update them on Hong Kong’s latest developments in green and sustainable finance, and the recent vibrant financial market situation.
     
         In addition, Mr Hui held bilateral meetings separately with delegations from Egypt, Germany and Poland on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting to explore opportunities for further co-operation.
     
         During his stay in Beijing, Mr Hui met with the President of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Mr Liu Jun, and the Chief Financial Officer of the China Construction Bank, Mr Sheng Liurong. He will return to Hong Kong tonight.
    Issued at HKT 17:41

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –