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Category: United States of America

  • MIL-Evening Report: First-hand view of peacemaking challenge in the ‘Holy Land’

    Occupied West Bank-based New Zealand journalist Cole Martin asks who are the peacemakers?

    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin

    As a Kiwi journalist living in the occupied West Bank, I can list endless reasons why there is no peace in the “Holy Land”.

    I live in a refugee camp, alongside families who were expelled from their homes by Israel’s violent establishment in 1948 — never allowed to return and repeatedly targeted by Israeli military incursions.

    Daily I witness suffocating checkpoints, settler attacks against rural towns, arbitrary imprisonment with no charge or trial, a crippled economy, expansion of illegal settlements, demolition of entire communities, genocidal rhetoric, and continued expulsion.

    No form of peace can exist within an active system of domination. To talk about peace without liberation and dignity is to suggest submission to a system of displacement, imprisonment, violence and erasure.

    I often find myself alongside a variety of peacemakers, putting themselves on the line to end these horrific systems — let me outline the key groups:

    Palestinian civil society and individuals have spent decades committed to creative non-violence in the face of these atrocities — from court battles to academia, education, art, co-ordinating demonstrations, general strikes, hīkoi (marches), sit-ins, civil disobedience. Google “Iqrit village”, “The Great March of Return”, “Tent of Nations farm”. These are the overlooked stories that don’t make catchy headlines.

    Protective Presence activists are a mix of about 150 Israeli and international civilians who volunteer their days and nights physically accompanying Palestinian communities. They aim to prevent Israeli settler violence, state-sanctioned home demolitions, and military/police incursions. They document the injustice and often face violence and arrest themselves. Foreigners face deportation and blacklisting — as a journalist I was arrested and barred from the West Bank short-term and my passport was withheld for more than a month.

    Reconciliation organisations have been working for decades to bridge the disconnect between political narratives and human realities. The effective groups don’t seek “co-existence” but “co-resistance” because they recognise there can be no peace within an active system of apartheid. They reiterate that dialogue alone achieves nothing while the Israeli regime continues to murder, displace and steal. Yes there are “opposing narratives”, but they do not have equal legitimacy when tested against the reality on the ground.

    Journalists continue to document and report key developments, chilling statistics and the human cost. They ensure people are seen. Over 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza. High-profile Palestinian Christian journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh was killed by Israeli forces in 2022. They continue reporting despite the risk, and without their courage world leaders wouldn’t know which undeniable facts to brazenly ignore.

    Humanitarians serve and protect the most vulnerable, treating and rescuing people selflessly. More than 400 aid workers and 1000 healthcare workers have been killed in Gaza. All 38 hospitals have been destroyed or damaged, with just a small number left partially functioning. NGOs have been crippled by USAID cuts and targeted Israeli policies, marked by a mass exodus of expats who have spent years committed to this region — severing a critical lifeline for Palestinian communities.

    All these groups emphasise change will not come from within. Protective Presence barely stems the flow.

    Reconciliation means nothing while the system continues to displace, imprison and slaughter Palestinians en masse. Journalism, non-violence and humanitarian efforts are only as effective as the willingness of states to uphold international law.

    Those on the frontlines of peacebuilding express the urgent need for global accountability across all sectors; economic, cultural and political sanctions. Systems of apartheid do not stem from corrupt leadership or several extremists, but from widespread attitudes of supremacy and nationalism across civil society.

    Boycotts increase the economic cost of maintaining such systems. Divestment sends a strong financial message that business as usual is unacceptable.

    Many other groups across the world are picketing weapons manufacturers, writing to elected leaders, educating friends and family, challenging harmful narratives, fundraising aid to keep people alive.

    Where are the peacemakers? They’re out on the streets. They’re people just like you and me.

    Cole Martin is an independent New Zealand photojournalist based in the occupied West Bank and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report. This article was first published by the Otago Daily Times and is republished with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Malcolm Turnbull on Australia’s ‘dumb’ defence debate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The Albanese government remains in complicated territory on the international stage. It has to tread carefully with China, despite the marked warming of the bilateral relationship. It is yet to find its line and length with the unpredictable Trump administration.

    Meanwhile, with the new parliament meeting for the first time next week, the federal Opposition remains in a tough spot, still reeling from a brutal election defeat. The Liberals have an untested leader and uncertainty over what policies they will keep and which they will scrap, with their future commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 yet to be reconfirmed.

    Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has personally navigated the highs and lows of these issues, and joins the podcast today.

    On AUKUS and national security, Turnbull says the debate has “never been dumber”.

    The fundamental problem with our debate about national security is a profound lack of patriotism, because not enough people are putting Australia first. I mean I’m not saying that our politicians should be like Donald Trump, in terms of his bravado and braggadocio – you know all that sort of stuff he goes on with – but they should be like Trump in the sense of putting Australia first.

    You know Donald Trump expects other countries to stand for themselves. Who is the foreign leader that is an ally that he respects the most? [Israel’s Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu. Bibi Netanyahu stands up for himself and brutally. And brutally. I mean, Netanyahu’s attitude is, if you’re in the Middle East, if you’re weak, you’re roadkill.

    On defence spending, Turnbull calls a proper review on what Australia needs, rather then spending a certain percent on defence.

    We’ve got to have a proper examination of what capabilities we need, and what capabilities we can afford. The point about submarines is, if you’re going have a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines – they’re literally the most expensive defence platforms in the world – then you’ve got to work out what else you need and then what that’s going to cost you. That will come to quite a lot more than [the current] 2% of GDP, I would estimate.

    Turnbull also warns of a “reckless” degree of “delusion” in Canberra about the risk of not getting nuclear-powered submarines from the US.

    On global affairs, Turnbull says the Albanese government has performed well in a time of uncertainty.

    It’s complicated, but they’re managing this disrupted global environment well. The directions they’re going in are correct. The need plainly is to strengthen partnerships, alliances, relations with countries other than the United States.

    […] There’s a degree of anxiety about China because we don’t share the same political values. It clearly wants to displace the United States as the hegemon in this region […] I think the government and certainly most Australians would recognise that the days of American primacy in this region are over and the outcome for us that we want to have is, as [a former Japanese prime minister] Shinzo Abe used to say, a free and open Indo-Pacific, a balance between the two powers. Indeed as [Foreign Minister] Penny Wong said, a region where no one dominates, nobody is dominated.

    On Albanese’s failure to meet yet with the US president, Turnbull says it doesn’t matter “a huge amount”.

    It is very important for the prime minister of Australia to have a good personal relationship with Donald Trump. It really is. When I was prime minister, my relationship with him got off to a very stormy start, but it was a very good one, because by standing up to his bullying, I won his respect.

    […] When he does meet with Trump, it’s got to be in a situation where he can have an extended discussion, where it’s a substantive meeting and they can really get to know each other. So I think it’s not just the timing of the meeting, but the quality of the meeting.

    On the Liberal Party, Turnbull is pessimistic about its chances of moderating its views, even with Sussan Ley, generally regarded as centrist, as leader,

    [Ley’s] problem, even if she was centrist, and even if was genuine about moving the party back to the centre, I would question whether she can do it. Because there are not many moderates left in the party room in Canberra. How many moderates are left in the branches anymore? Has there been a sort of self-sorting now? Essentially the party […] has moved off into that right wing.

    […] The leader has a lot of authority. However, there is the right wing of the party and you cannot separate it from the right-wing media. From the Murdoch media in particular, they’re joined at the hip. I mean, they’re almost the same thing. They operate in the context of the Liberal Party almost like terrorists. Or like terrorists in this sense: they don’t kill people or blow things up, but they basically are prepared to burn the joint down if they don’t get what they want. I mean, I experienced that.

    Despite reservations, Turnbull says quotas for women are the only way to the Liberal party to where it wants to be.

    Everything else has been tried and it’s failed […] My view is that the party has got to say, well, we recognise this is contrary to grassroots tradition. But unless we do something fairly draconian and directive, then we’re not going to be able to get to the parity of men and women that we want, that we’ve said we wanted for years, and which the electorate clearly prefers.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Malcolm Turnbull on Australia’s ‘dumb’ defence debate – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-malcolm-turnbull-on-australias-dumb-defence-debate-261178

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SETAF-AF highlights 173rd Airborne Brigade innovation at LANDEURO 2025

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drone-based blood resupply as part of the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) during Swift Response 2025 at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The Flying Basket drone delivers simulated blood to field care locations, enhancing survivability and speed in austere conditions. The exercise validates forward medical operations in a realistic, multinational environment, tactical medical evacuation, and damage control surgery from Role 3 to Role 1.

    U.S. units participating include the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 160th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD), 519th Field Hospital, 68th Theater Medical Command, and the 7384th Blood Detachment. NATO Role 2 Enhanced medical teams and Lithuanian Armed Forces medics conduct joint trauma lanes and mass casualty drills, building interoperability and combat medical readiness across the Alliance.

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

    (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Lora) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Lora)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drones-based blood resupply during the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) as part of Swift Response 2025, at camp Adrian Rohn, Pabrade, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The exercise marked a first for the brigade, using the TRV-150 drone and the Flying Basket drone to deliver simulated blood to field care locations. The goal: enhance survivability and speed in austere, contested environments where traditional medical resupply is high-risk.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photos by Elena Baladelli) (Photo Credit: Elena Baladelli)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drones-based blood resupply during the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) as part of Swift Response 2025, at camp Adrian Rohn, Pabrade, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The exercise marked a first for the brigade, using the TRV-150 drone and the Flying Basket drone to deliver simulated blood to field care locations. The goal: enhance survivability and speed in austere, contested environments where traditional medical resupply is high-risk.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photos by Elena Baladelli) (Photo Credit: Elena Baladelli)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drones-based blood resupply during the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) as part of Swift Response 2025, at camp Adrian Rohn, Pabrade, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The exercise marked a first for the brigade, using the TRV-150 drone and the Flying Basket drone to deliver simulated blood to field care locations. The goal: enhance survivability and speed in austere, contested environments where traditional medical resupply is high-risk.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photos by Elena Baladelli) (Photo Credit: Elena Baladelli)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drones-based blood resupply during the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) as part of Swift Response 2025, at camp Adrian Rohn, Pabrade, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The exercise marked a first for the brigade, using the TRV-150 drone and the Flying Basket drone to deliver simulated blood to field care locations. The goal: enhance survivability and speed in austere, contested environments where traditional medical resupply is high-risk.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photos by Elena Baladelli) (Photo Credit: Elena Baladelli)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, alongside multinational medical teams, integrated drones-based blood resupply during the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) as part of Swift Response 2025, at camp Adrian Rohn, Pabrade, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.

    The exercise marked a first for the brigade, using the TRV-150 drone and the Flying Basket drone to deliver simulated blood to field care locations. The goal: enhance survivability and speed in austere, contested environments where traditional medical resupply is high-risk.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photos by Elena Baladelli) (Photo Credit: Elena Baladelli)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Jacob Rosencrantz, right, and Sgt. 1st Class Elio Sauceda, paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, prime, or arm, a brazier charge with a M17A1 receiver and power on a first-person view (FPV) drone during exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25), at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 27, 2025. AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mariah Y. Gonzalez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Mariah Gonzalez) VIEW ORIGINAL
    8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and soldiers assigned to the 414th Contracting Support Brigade gathered for a visit to the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s FPV Drone Lab at Caserma Del Din, Italy, May 6, 2025. The visit showcased the lab’s latest capabilities and innovations in first-person view (FPV) drone technology.

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

    (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joskanny Lua) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Joskanny Lua)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and soldiers assigned to the 414th Contracting Support Brigade gathered for a visit to the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s FPV Drone Lab at Caserma Del Din, Italy, May 6, 2025. The visit showcased the lab’s latest capabilities and innovations in first-person view (FPV) drone technology.

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

    (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joskanny Lua) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Joskanny Lua)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    Back to

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

    VICENZA, Italy – Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s Bayonet Innovation Team (BIT) are set to participate in the inaugural LANDEURO Symposium and Exposition, taking place July 16–17 in Wiesbaden, Germany, to showcase tactical innovation and allied collaboration.

    Hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), LANDEURO is the leading international symposium dedicated to land forces in Europe. The event will convene senior military leaders from across the U.S., Ukraine and European partner nations to address emerging threats, regional cooperation and transformational warfighting capabilities.

    This year’s theme is “Transforming with Allies for the Future Fight,” which reflects a shared commitment to preparing for the next battlefield.

    The BIT will be present to discuss its collaborative efforts with units such as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) and the 56th Artillery Command (56th Fires), notably in establishing an in-house drone lab capable of rapidly producing low-cost unmanned aerial systems tailored to mission needs. This initiative strengthens expeditionary autonomy and supports scalable innovation at the unit level.

    The innovation teams from 173rd’s BIT, 2CR and 56th Fires were critical components in each other’s establishment, sharing code and best practices on a regular basis. Together, these units consulted with roughly 100 external entities to date on innovation.

    “You need to innovate to survive, to stay ahead and stay at the cutting edge,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre, the BIT director of robotics and autonomous systems. “The more we can do on our own, from procurement to manufacturing, the more autonomous we can be on the battlefield.”

    La Torre added that, this year alone, the BIT conducted its initial first-person view drone live-fire exercise on moving targets, completed its first live-munition drop with an M67 fragmentation grenade and created its own drone production lab in Vicenza.

    U.S. Army Col. Mark E. Bush, commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, will also attend the symposium. He emphasized the importance of this initiative.

    “The BIT’s efforts play a critical role in our brigade’s overarching endeavor to support the Army’s commitment to agile adaptation,” Bush said. “Our BIT Paratroopers, through staggering initiative, demonstrate daily what innovation and readiness look like in a complex, rapidly evolving security environment.”

    LANDEURO 2025 will begin with opening remarks from U.S. Army Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The event will feature more than 80 exhibits and panels addressing multi-domain operations, lessons from Ukraine and the evolving role of land forces across the continent.

    Additionally, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, will discuss battlefield innovation and digital modernization.

    The 173rd’s BIT is aligned with the Army Transformation Initiative and is part of a growing number of unit-based innovation organizations which rapidly develop and advance technology to support ever-changing battlefield demands. LANDEURO serves as the latest venue for sharing best practices.

    About 173rd Airborne Brigade

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, Africa, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

    About SETAF-AF

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

    Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US to impose 19 percent tariff on Indonesian goods – D. Trump

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    NEW YORK, July 16 (Xinhua) — Indonesia will pay a 19 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States, while American exports to Indonesia will be exempt from tariff and non-tariff barriers, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Tuesday.

    “I have completed a major deal with the Republic of Indonesia after speaking with its highly respected President Prabowo Subianto. This landmark deal opens the entire Indonesian market to the United States for the first time in history,” he wrote.

    As part of the agreement, Indonesia committed to purchasing energy resources worth $15 billion and agricultural products worth $4.5 billion on the American market, as well as 50 Boeing aircraft, the head of the White House added.

    According to D. Trump, as a result of the deal, the United States will for the first time gain full access to the Indonesian market, where more than 280 million people live. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump announced the introduction of a single tariff for small countries in the amount of slightly more than 10 percent

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    NEW YORK, July 16 (Xinhua) — The United States will impose a flat tariff of just over 10 percent on smaller countries, including many in Africa and the Caribbean, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.

    “We’ll probably put a single tariff on all of them,” he told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. That could be a duty of just over 10 percent on goods from at least 100 countries, the Associated Press quoted the president as saying.

    Earlier in the day, Trump announced a deal with Jakarta in which Indonesia will pay a 19 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States, while American exports to the Asian country will be exempt from tariff and non-tariff barriers.

    The White House chief recently sent letters to leaders of several countries, including a number of major US trading partners, announcing 20-50 percent tariffs effective August 1.

    D. Trump also said that he could announce tariffs on pharmaceuticals at the end of July. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel strikes Syrian forces in As-Suwayda

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 16 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday they had ordered the military to strike Syrian forces in Syria’s southern province of As-Suwayda, claiming to protect the local Druze population.

    The move came shortly after Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire in As-Suwayda after Syrian forces entered the area.

    In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz said they had ordered the military to “immediately strike” Syrian forces and weapons in the area to “prevent the Syrian regime from harming” the Druze because of their “deep fraternal alliance with the Druze citizens of Israel and their family and historical ties to the Druze in Syria.”

    The Israeli military said in a separate statement that it had targeted Syrian armored vehicles and rocket launchers. It said that columns of armored vehicles and tanks heading toward As-Suwayda were identified on Monday evening and their routes were also targeted in an effort to prevent them from reaching the area.

    The military added that they continue to monitor developments and are prepared for defense and various scenarios. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Trust and human-AI collaboration set to define the next era of agentic AI, unlocking $450 billion opportunity by 2028

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact: 
    Mollie Mellows
    Tel: +44 7342 709384
    Email: mollie.mellows@capgemini.com

    Trust and human-AI collaboration set to define the next era of agentic AI, unlocking $450 billion opportunity by 2028

    • AI agents are poised to deliver up to $450 billion in economic value by 2028 through revenue gains and cost savings, yet the path to scale is currently elusive
    • Confidence in fully autonomous AI agents dropped from 43% to 27% in the past year amidst privacy and ethical concerns
    • However, AI agents are expected to be involved in most business tasks within three years, with effective human-agent collaboration projected to increase human engagement in high-value tasks by 65%

    Paris, July 16, 2025 – Agentic AI is poised to deliver up to $450 billion in economic value by 2028 yet, despite strong momentum, only 2% of organizations have fully scaled deployment and trust in AI agents is declining. Organizations are discovering that AI agents deliver the greatest impact when humans remain actively involved. Nearly three-quarters of executives say the benefits of human oversight outweigh the costs, and 90% view human involvement in AI-driven workflows as either positive or cost-neutral. This is according to the Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report “Rise of agentic AI: How trust is the key to human-AI collaboration”, that finds trust and human oversight are critical factors in realizing the potential of agentic AI, and the gap between intent and readiness is now one of the biggest barriers to realizing the $450 billion opportunity.

    Agentic AI is one of the fastest-emerging technological trends, but organizations are still in the early stages of application. While nearly a quarter have already launched pilots and a small number have begun implementation (14%), the majority remain in planning mode. This steady progress stands in contrast to executive ambition – nearly all (93%) business leaders believe that scaling AI agents over the next 12 months will provide a competitive edge, yet nearly half of organizations still lack a strategy for implementing them.

    “The economic potential of AI agents is significant but realizing this value depends on more than just the technology, it requires a comprehensive and strategic transformation across people, processes and systems,” said Franck Greverie, Chief Portfolio & Technology Officer, Head of Global Business Lines, and Group Executive Board Member at Capgemini. “To succeed, organizations must remain focused on outcomes, reimagining their processes with an AI-first mindset. Central to this transformation is the need to build trust in AI by ensuring it is developed responsibly, with ethics and safety baked in from the outset. It also means reshaping organizations to support effective human-AI chemistry, creating the right conditions for these systems to enhance human judgment and help deliver superior business outcomes.”

    Organizations prioritize transparency as the agentic AI trust gap widens
    Trust in fully autonomous AI agents has dropped sharply, from 43% to 27% in the past year alone, with nearly two in five executives believing that the risks of implementing AI agents outweigh the benefits. Only 40% of organizations say they trust AI agents to manage tasks and processes autonomously, while most do not fully trust the technology.

    The report finds that as organizations move from exploration to implementation, trust in AI agents grows: for organizations in implementation phase, 47% have an above average level of trust, compared to 37% in exploratory phase. Therefore, organizations are prioritizing transparency, clarity around how AI agents make decisions, and ethical safeguards to drive greater adoption.

    Human-AI chemistry is key to lasting adoption
    The real promise of agentic AI lies in tackling core business challenges and reimagining how work gets done. Within the next 12 months, over 60% of organizations expect to form human-agent teams where AI agents function as subordinates or enhance human capabilities. This means that AI agents can no longer be considered tools, they are becoming active participants in the team.

    70% of organizations believe AI agents will necessitate organizational restructuring, prompting leaders to rethink roles, team structures, and workflows. Enterprises are discovering AI agents deliver most value when humans remain in the loop. With effective human-AI collaboration, organizations expect a 65% increase in human engagement in high-value tasks, a 53% rise in creativity, and a 49% boost in employee satisfaction.

    The time to scale is now
    The $450 billion dollar opportunity for AI agents to deliver new economic value by 2028 includes both revenue uplift and cost savings, driven by the implementation of semi to fully autonomous AI agents. Scaled adoption is found to hold far greater potential, as organizations with scaled implementation are projected to generate approximately $382 million on average over the next three years, while others may realize around $76 million.

    In the near term, AI agents are expected to see most extensive adoption in customer service, IT, and sales, expanding into operations, R&D, and marketing over the next three years. However, most deployments remain at early stages of autonomy with only 15% of all business processes operating at semi-autonomous to fully autonomous levels in a year. While this is expected to rise to 25% by 2028, most agents today function as assistants or copilots, supporting routine tasks rather than independently managing complex workflows.

    AI-readiness remains a challenge
    Today, most organizations are not equipped to scale agentic AI effectively cites the report. 80% lack mature AI infrastructure and fewer than one in five report high levels of data-readiness. Ethical concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and lack of explainability remain widespread, yet few organizations are taking decisive action. For example, privacy is the primary concern for over half of organizations (51%), yet only 34% are actively taking steps to mitigate it. Compounding this, only half of business leaders say they understand what AI agents are capable of, and even fewer can identify where these systems outperform traditional automation.

    To harness the full potential of AI agents, organizations must move beyond the hype, recommends the report – working toward redesigning processes and reimagining business models, transforming organizational structure, and striking the right balance between agent autonomy and human involvement.

    For more information and to download the full report, click here.

    Report methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute conducted a global survey of 1,500 executives at organizations each with more than $1 billion in annual revenue across 14 countries. Organizations operate across 13 sectors and all have started to explore Agentic AI. The global survey took place in April 2025. Executives surveyed are at director level and above, and of these, 60% are from data and AI functions, while 40% are from diverse business functions.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.

    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why is Israel bombing Syria?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    Conflict in Syria has escalated with Israel launching bombing raids against its northern neighbour.

    It follows months of fluctuating tensions in southern Syria between the Druze minority and forces aligned with the new government in Damascus. Clashes erupted in the last few days, prompting Israeli airstrikes in defence of the Druze by targeting government bases, tanks, and heavy weaponry.

    Israel Minister Amichai Chikli has called the Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa –

    a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay.

    Despite the incendiary language, a ceasefire has been reached, halting the fighting – for now.

    Syrian forces have begun withdrawing heavy military equipment from the region, while Druze fighters have agreed to suspend armed resistance, allowing government troops to regain control of the main Druze city of Suwayda.

    What do the Druze want?

    The Druze are a small religious minority estimated at over one million people, primarily concentrated in the mountainous regions of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan.

    In Syria, their population is estimated at around 700,000 (of around 23 million total Syrian population), with the majority residing in the southern As-Suwayda Governorate – or province – which serves as their traditional stronghold.

    Since the 2011 uprising against the Assad regime, the Druze have maintained a degree of autonomy, successfully defending their territory from various threats, including ISIS and other jihadist groups.

    Following Assad’s fall late last year, the Druze — along with other minority groups such as the Kurds in the east and Alawites in the west — have called for the country to be federalized.

    They advocate for a decentralised model that would grant greater autonomy to regional communities.

    However, the transitional government in Damascus is pushing for a centralised state and seeking to reassert full control over the entire Syrian territory. This fundamental disagreement has led to periodic clashes between Druze forces and government-aligned troops.

    Despite the temporary ceasefire, tensions remain high. Given the core political dispute remains unresolved, many expect renewed conflict to erupt in the near future.

    Why is Israel involved?

    The ousting of the Assad regime created a strategic opening for Israel to expand its influence in southern Syria. Israel’s involvement is driven by two primary concerns:

    1. Securing its northern border

    Israel views the power vacuum in Syria’s south as a potential threat, particularly the risk of anti-Israeli militias establishing a foothold near its northern border.

    During the recent clashes, the Israeli military declared

    The Israeli Defence Forces will not allow a military threat to exist in southern Syria and will act against it.

    Likewise, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has stated he will not allow Syrian forces south of Damascus:

    We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them [the Druze] and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.

    In line with these warnings, the Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive strikes against Syrian military infrastructure, targeting bases, aircraft, tanks, and heavy weaponry.

    These operations are intended to prevent any future buildup of military capacity that could be used against Israel from the Syrian side of the border.

    2. Supporting a federated Syria

    Israel is backing the two prominent allied minorities in Syria — the Kurds in the northeast and the Druze in the south — in their push for a federal governance model.

    A fragmented Syria, divided along ethnic and religious lines, is seen by some Israeli policymakers as a way to maintain Israeli domination in the region.

    This vision is part of what some Israeli officials have referred to as a “New Middle East” — one where regional stability and normalisation emerge through reshaped borders and alliances.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently echoed this strategy, stating:

    A single Syrian state with effective control and sovereignty over all its territory is unrealistic.

    For Israel, the logical path forward is autonomy for the various minorities in Syria within a federal structure.

    The United States’ role?

    According to unconfirmed reports, Washington has privately urged Israel to scale back its military strikes on Syria in order to prevent further escalation and preserve regional stability.

    The US is promoting increased support for Syria’s new regime in an effort to help it reassert control and stabilise the country.

    There are also indications the US and its allies are encouraging the Syrian government to move toward normalisation with Israel. Reports suggest Tel Aviv has held talks with the new Sharaa-led regime about the possibility of Syria joining the Abraham Accords (diplomatic agreements between Israel and several Arab states), which the regime in Damascus appears open to.

    US Special Envoy Tom Barrack has described the recent clashes as “worrisome”, calling for de-escalation and emphasising the need for

    a peaceful, inclusive outcome for all stakeholders – including the Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government, and Israeli forces.

    Given the deep-rooted political divisions, competing regional agendas, and unresolved demands from minority groups, the unrest in southern Syria is unlikely to end soon.

    Despite another temporary ceasefire, underlying tensions remain. Further clashes are not only possible but highly probable.

    Ali Mamouri 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. Why is Israel bombing Syria? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-israel-bombing-syria-261259

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why is Israel bombing Syria?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    Conflict in Syria has escalated with Israel launching bombing raids against its northern neighbour.

    It follows months of fluctuating tensions in southern Syria between the Druze minority and forces aligned with the new government in Damascus. Clashes erupted in the last few days, prompting Israeli airstrikes in defence of the Druze by targeting government bases, tanks, and heavy weaponry.

    Israel Minister Amichai Chikli has called the Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa –

    a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay.

    Despite the incendiary language, a ceasefire has been reached, halting the fighting – for now.

    Syrian forces have begun withdrawing heavy military equipment from the region, while Druze fighters have agreed to suspend armed resistance, allowing government troops to regain control of the main Druze city of Suwayda.

    What do the Druze want?

    The Druze are a small religious minority estimated at over one million people, primarily concentrated in the mountainous regions of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan.

    In Syria, their population is estimated at around 700,000 (of around 23 million total Syrian population), with the majority residing in the southern As-Suwayda Governorate – or province – which serves as their traditional stronghold.

    Since the 2011 uprising against the Assad regime, the Druze have maintained a degree of autonomy, successfully defending their territory from various threats, including ISIS and other jihadist groups.

    Following Assad’s fall late last year, the Druze — along with other minority groups such as the Kurds in the east and Alawites in the west — have called for the country to be federalized.

    They advocate for a decentralised model that would grant greater autonomy to regional communities.

    However, the transitional government in Damascus is pushing for a centralised state and seeking to reassert full control over the entire Syrian territory. This fundamental disagreement has led to periodic clashes between Druze forces and government-aligned troops.

    Despite the temporary ceasefire, tensions remain high. Given the core political dispute remains unresolved, many expect renewed conflict to erupt in the near future.

    Why is Israel involved?

    The ousting of the Assad regime created a strategic opening for Israel to expand its influence in southern Syria. Israel’s involvement is driven by two primary concerns:

    1. Securing its northern border

    Israel views the power vacuum in Syria’s south as a potential threat, particularly the risk of anti-Israeli militias establishing a foothold near its northern border.

    During the recent clashes, the Israeli military declared

    The Israeli Defence Forces will not allow a military threat to exist in southern Syria and will act against it.

    Likewise, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has stated he will not allow Syrian forces south of Damascus:

    We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them [the Druze] and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.

    In line with these warnings, the Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive strikes against Syrian military infrastructure, targeting bases, aircraft, tanks, and heavy weaponry.

    These operations are intended to prevent any future buildup of military capacity that could be used against Israel from the Syrian side of the border.

    2. Supporting a federated Syria

    Israel is backing the two prominent allied minorities in Syria — the Kurds in the northeast and the Druze in the south — in their push for a federal governance model.

    A fragmented Syria, divided along ethnic and religious lines, is seen by some Israeli policymakers as a way to maintain Israeli domination in the region.

    This vision is part of what some Israeli officials have referred to as a “New Middle East” — one where regional stability and normalisation emerge through reshaped borders and alliances.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently echoed this strategy, stating:

    A single Syrian state with effective control and sovereignty over all its territory is unrealistic.

    For Israel, the logical path forward is autonomy for the various minorities in Syria within a federal structure.

    The United States’ role?

    According to unconfirmed reports, Washington has privately urged Israel to scale back its military strikes on Syria in order to prevent further escalation and preserve regional stability.

    The US is promoting increased support for Syria’s new regime in an effort to help it reassert control and stabilise the country.

    There are also indications the US and its allies are encouraging the Syrian government to move toward normalisation with Israel. Reports suggest Tel Aviv has held talks with the new Sharaa-led regime about the possibility of Syria joining the Abraham Accords (diplomatic agreements between Israel and several Arab states), which the regime in Damascus appears open to.

    US Special Envoy Tom Barrack has described the recent clashes as “worrisome”, calling for de-escalation and emphasising the need for

    a peaceful, inclusive outcome for all stakeholders – including the Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government, and Israeli forces.

    Given the deep-rooted political divisions, competing regional agendas, and unresolved demands from minority groups, the unrest in southern Syria is unlikely to end soon.

    Despite another temporary ceasefire, underlying tensions remain. Further clashes are not only possible but highly probable.

    Ali Mamouri 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. Why is Israel bombing Syria? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-israel-bombing-syria-261259

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Open collaborative ecosystem needed to drive robotics, AI: Unitree CEO

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

    An open collaborative ecosystem is needed to spur the development of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Unitree Robotics, told a press conference on Tuesday.

    “The global vision for humanoid robotics technology and product development remains largely aligned, while countries may differ in cultural and industrial backgrounds,” he said, citing that China boasts strong capabilities in hardware and manufacturing, while the United States leads in AI software ecosystems.

    “These complementary strengths make international collaboration both necessary and beneficial,” he said.

    Unitree Robotics has made strides in open-sourcing its software, enabling many clients to develop a wide range of applications and innovations on the robotic platforms, Wang said, stressing that both robotics and AI still face significant challenges.

    The leading humanoid robotics firm, based in east China’s Hangzhou, last year released the humanoid robot G1, which has seen outstanding performance worldwide.

    Looking ahead, Wang said that general-purpose robots powered by artificial general intelligence will become a dominant trajectory in future technological development.

    The firm aims to integrate robots into a wide range of real-world scenarios, including industry, service and consumer markets, Wang added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prison (Amendment) Rules 2025 to be gazetted on Friday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government will publish the Prison (Amendment) Rules 2025 (Amendment Rules) in the Gazette this Friday (July 18), which will take effect immediately on that day.
     
         A spokesperson for the Security Bureau today (July 16) said, “According to the Decision of the National People’s Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security and the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has the constitutional responsibility to continue to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security steadily so as to continue to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security effectively. The Prison Rules (PR) have been in operation for many years. We need to review whether the PR can meet the needs of safeguarding national security and modern correctional institution management.”
     
         The spokesperson added, “Having reviewed the relevant law enforcement experience in the past in respect of custody of convicted persons in custody (PICs) and prisoners awaiting trial, potential national security risks and security threats that may be faced by correctional institutions in the future, and relevant law and practices in other jurisdictions (including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore), we propose to improve the extant PR, so as to ensure that we can effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security; continue to strengthen the legal basis for correctional officers in discharging their duties; maintain the security, good order and discipline of prisons; and facilitate the rehabilitation of PICs and protect their lawful rights and interests. We also put forward other amendments to strengthen the enforcement effectiveness of the Correctional Services Department. At the same time, we have reviewed and will amend other provisions with a view to making the PR more up-to-date and meeting the needs for the management of correctional institutions.
     
         “Amidst the present complicated geopolitical situation, national security risks still exist. It is necessary to amend the PR as soon as possible to prevent and resolve relevant risks in a timely manner, the earlier the better, for safeguarding national security effectively.
     
         “The Amendment Rules will be tabled at the Legislative Council (LegCo) for negative vetting on July 23. The Government will proactively facilitate the scrutiny work of the LegCo, with a view to further strengthening the solid defence in safeguarding national security.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Thousands of Afghans secretly moved to Britain after data leak

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain set up a secret scheme to bring thousands of Afghans to the UK after their personal details were disclosed in one of the country’s worst ever data breaches, putting them at risk of reprisals from the Taliban after their return to power.

    Concerns that individuals could be targeted by the Taliban led the previous Conservative government to set up the relocation scheme, involving thousands of people and estimated to cost the government about 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion).

    The leak by the Ministry of Defence in early 2022, which led to data being published on Facebook the following year, and the secret relocation programme, were subject to a so-called super injunction preventing the media reporting what happened, which was lifted on Tuesday by a court.

    British defence minister John Healey apologised for the leak, which included details about members of parliament and senior military officers who supported applications to help Afghan soldiers who worked with the British military and their families relocate to the UK.

    “This serious data incident should never have happened,” Healey told lawmakers in the House of Commons. ”It may have occurred three years ago under the previous government, but to all whose data was compromised I offer a sincere apology.”

    The incident ranks among the worst security breaches in modern British history because of the cost and risk posed to the lives of thousands of Afghans, some of whom fought alongside British forces until their chaotic withdrawal in 2021.

    Healey said about 4,500 Afghans and their family members have been relocated or were on their way to Britain under the previously secret scheme.

    But he added that no-one else from Afghanistan would be offered asylum because of the data leak, citing a government review which found little evidence of intent from the Taliban to seek retribution against former officials.

    The review, a summary of which was also published on Tuesday, said more than 16,000 people affected by it had been relocated to the UK as of May this year, though some of those had been relocated to the UK under existing schemes.

    News of the leak comes as Britain’s public finances are tight and the right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK political party leads in the opinion polls.

    SUPERINJUNCTION LIFTED

    The government is facing lawsuits from those affected by the breach, further adding to the ultimate cost of the incident.

    Sean Humber, a lawyer at Leigh Day who has acted for Afghan citizens affected by previous data breaches, said those affected were “likely to have strong claims for substantial compensation” for the anxiety and distress caused by the leak.

    British forces were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 following the September 11 attacks on the United States, and they played a major role in combat operations there until 2014.

    In early 2022, a spreadsheet containing details of Afghans who had worked for the British government prior to the Taliban takeover in 2021 and had applied for relocation to Britain was emailed to someone outside of government systems by mistake.

    The super injunction was first granted in 2023 after the Ministry of Defence, under the former Conservative government, argued that a public disclosure of the breach could put people at risk of extra-judicial killing or serious violence by the Taliban.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left government, which was elected last July, launched a review into the injunction, the breach and the relocation scheme.

    (Reuters)

     

  • Nvidia’s resumption of AI chips to China is part of rare earths talks, says US

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nvidia’s planned resumption of sales of its H20 AI chips to China is part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Tuesday, and comes days after its CEO met President Donald Trump.

    “We put that in the trade deal with the magnets,” Lutnick told Reuters, referring to an agreement Trump made to restart rare earth shipments to U.S. manufacturers. He did not provide additional detail.

    Nvidia said late on Monday that it is filing applications with the U.S. government to resume sales to China of its H20 graphics processing unit, and has been assured by the U.S. it will get the licences soon.

    The planned resumption is a reversal of an export restriction imposed in April that is designed to keep the most advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands over national security concerns, an issue that has found rare bipartisan support. It drew swift questions and criticism from U.S. legislators on Tuesday.

    The decision “would not only hand our foreign adversaries our most advanced technologies, but is also dangerously inconsistent with this Administration’s previously-stated position on export controls for China,” Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, ranking member of the House of Representatives Select Committee on China, said in a statement.

    Republican John Moolenaar, chair of that committee, said in a statement he would seek “clarification” from the Commerce Department.

    “The H20 is a powerful chip that, according to our bipartisan investigation, played a significant role in the rise of PRC AI companies like DeepSeek,” Moolenaar said, referring to a Chinese startup that claims to have built AI models at a fraction of the cost paid by U.S. firms such as OpenAI. “It is crucial that the U.S. maintain its lead and keep advanced AI out of the hands of the CCP.”

    Shares of Nvidia, the world’s most valuable firm, closed up 4% and were nearly unchanged in after-market trading. Nvidia had estimated that the curbs would cut its revenue by $15 billion.

    Nvidia’s plan to resume sales has set off a scramble at Chinese firms to buy H20 chips, two sources told Reuters. The chips that Nvidia will resume selling are the best it can legally offer in China but lack much of the computing power of the versions for sale outside of China because of previous restrictions put in place by Trump’s first administration and then President Joe Biden’s administration.

    But critically, H20 chips work with Nvidia’s software tools, which have become a de facto standard in the global AI industry.

    CEO Jensen Huang, who is visiting Beijing and set to speak at an event on Wednesday, has argued that Nvidia’s leadership position could slip away if the company cannot sell to Chinese developers being courted by Huawei Technologies with chips produced in China.

    The significance of the shift depends on the volume of H20 chips that the U.S. allows to be shipped to China, said Divyansh Kaushik, an AI expert at Beacon Global Strategies, a Washington-based advisory firm.

    “If China is able to get a million H20 chips, it could significantly narrow, if not overtake, the U.S. lead in AI,” he said.

    CHINA IS CRUCIAL

    “The Chinese market is massive, dynamic, and highly innovative, and it’s also home to many AI researchers,” Huang told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.

    China generated $17 billion in revenue for Nvidia in the fiscal year ending January 26, or 13% of total sales, based on its latest annual report.

    Internet giants ByteDance and Tencent 0700.HK are also in the process of submitting applications for H20 chips, the sources familiar with the matter said. Central to the process is an approved list put together by Nvidia for Chinese companies to register for potential purchases, one of the sources said.

    Tencent did not respond to a request for comment. ByteDance denied in a statement that it is currently submitting applications. Nvidia declined to comment on the approved list system.

    Asked at a regular foreign ministry briefing in Beijing about Nvidia’s plans to resume AI chip sales, a spokesperson said: “China is opposed to the politicisation, instrumentalisation and weaponisation of science, technology and economic and trade issues to maliciously blockade and suppress China.”

    China halted exports of rare earths in March following a trade spat with Trump that has shown some signs of easing. It dominates the market for rare earths, a group of 17 metals used in cellphones, weapons, electric vehicles, and more.

    Huang’s visit is being closely watched in both China and the United States, where a bipartisan pair of senators last week sent the CEO a letter asking him to abstain from meeting companies working with military or intelligence bodies.

    The senators also asked Huang to refrain from meeting with entities named on the United States’ restricted export list.

    Rival AI chipmaker AMD also said the Department of Commerce would review its licence applications to export its MI308 chips to China; it plans to resume those shipments when licences are approved, it said. Its shares gained 7% in trading on Tuesday.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: Qinghai pioneers green growth with ecology-first strategy

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

    Standing at the heart of a 609-sq-km photovoltaic park located in the Talatan Gobi Desert in Gonghe County, northwest China’s Qinghai Province, China Arab TV correspondent Ayoub Bechrouri enthusiastically began recording his report with his smartphone.

    Behind him stretches a captivating “blue sea” — an endless expanse of photovoltaic panels covering the landscape. Beneath these gleaming solar arrays, verdant grasslands thrive where flocks of sheep graze contentedly, showcasing the perfect harmony between renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

    “This is a good example of green energy development,” Bechrouri said. “I hope to see China-Arab collaboration bring Chinese technologies to Arab countries.”

    Hailing from Morocco, Bechrouri was part of a delegation of around 30 international journalists from countries including the United States, Germany, Japan and Spain on a three-day tour of Qinghai organized by China’s State Council Information Office. The media delegation experienced firsthand how this northwestern province is pioneering China’s ecological civilization drive through concrete green development projects.

    ECO-FRIENDLY ENERGY

    “In a sunny country like Spain, people have been paying attention to the ecological impact of the construction of large photovoltaic power stations,” said Alvaro Alfaro Ruiz-Alberdi, a journalist at the Spanish news agency Agencia EFE. “I find it interesting to examine how Qinghai maintains the balance between this energy development and environmental protection.”

    The Spanish correspondent found the answer at this very photovoltaic park, one of the highest-capacity solar power facilities globally, in Gonghe.

    The park’s innovative eco-industrial model — power generation atop solar panels, grass cultivation between panels, and sheep grazing beneath them — has restored vegetation coverage to 80 percent in an area that was once a dust-blown stretch of the Gobi Desert, according to Wang Anwei, director of the energy bureau of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which administers Gonghe.

    This agrivoltaic model has also boosted income for livestock farming, generating over 10,000 yuan (about 1,398 U.S. dollars) per mu (about 0.07 hectares), and has helped lift 173 neighboring villages out of poverty.

    “Now my flock has grown to about 800 sheep, and my income from grazing alone has doubled compared to before,” said Zhao Guofu, a herder who began grazing his sheep here six years ago.

    By the end of 2024, the total investment in clean energy in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture reached 16.18 billion yuan, with annual clean energy power generation amounting to 46.32 billion kWh. Notably, photovoltaic power generation was about 17.9 billion kWh, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.21 percent.

    IMPROVED BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

    In the summer, Qinghai Lake, located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, shimmers with azure waves, teeming with visitors. Brown-headed gulls wheel above the water surface, while vast schools of the lake’s unique species, naked carp, which is classified as vulnerable on the China Species Red List, glide beneath.

    “The naked carp constitutes over 90 percent of the lake’s total fish population and serves as the primary prey for birds such as brown-headed gulls. This species plays a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Qinghai Lake basin,” said Wang Shuning, with the protection and utilization administration of the Qinghai Lake scenic area.

    Due to overfishing and environmental deterioration, the population of naked carp sharply declined in the 1960s and 1970s. In order to protect the species and restore the Qinghai Lake environment, Qinghai banned naked carp fishing at the lake in 2001, following a series of temporary prohibitions from the 1980s onward.

    Between 2002 and 2023, the biomass of naked carp increased nearly 46-fold. Additionally, as the only habitat of Przewalski’s gazelles, an endangered antelope species, the Qinghai Lake basin has seen the total number of the species recover from fewer than 300 at the beginning of conservation efforts to approximately 3,400 currently. This remarkable growth reflects the concerted conservation efforts by both the Chinese government and local communities.

    The province has adopted a holistic approach to the protection and systematic governance of the symbiotic ecosystem of “water-grass-fish-birds-animals” in the Qinghai Lake basin. It has established monitoring platforms for ecological sensing and hydrological early warning, and has gradually set up over 300 ecological monitoring sites.

    Two years ago, local resident Dorje Tsomo became an ecological ranger at the Qinghai Lake scenic area. On duty, she always carries a camera to document environmental changes around the lake and a field manual compiling 98 species of waterbirds, which serves as her constant reference for learning their distinctive features, distributions and conservation statuses.

    “We also use a WeChat mini-program to document patrol routes, while nearby villagers promptly report injured birds. Together, we protect Qinghai Lake, the home we all share,” she said.

    According to Chen Dehui, deputy director of the protection and utilization administration of the Qinghai Lake scenic area, growing numbers of herders are voluntarily taking on new roles — as photographers capturing the lake’s natural beauty and as interpreters in ecological education programs — diversifying their income sources while sharing in the rewards of conservation.

    “Qinghai Lake’s ecological conservation is truly impressive,” said Furuta Natsuya, a journalist with Japan’s Hokkaido Shimbun who visited Qinghai for the first time. “Here, I witnessed a genuine model of human-nature coexistence and felt the profound connection between people and the natural world.”

    ECOLOGY-ENRICHED PROSPERITY

    In April this year, Kanbula, located in Jainca County of Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, was officially designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The park spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers with striking fiery-red Danxia landforms, towering jagged peaks, hidden caves and emerald lakes.

    “This world-class geological landmark not only enhances geo-conservation efforts, but also accelerates local infrastructure development, drawing global visitors to fuel cultural tourism revenues in the area,” said Hou Guangliang, a professor at Qinghai Normal University’s school of geographical sciences.

    In recent years, Dekyi Village, which is near the geopark, has become a living example of turning “ecological assets into economic gains.”

    “Thanks to government-sponsored training programs, our family now runs a homestay and agritourism business,” local villager Jorgyi said. “Last year, we earned over 70,000 yuan, and this year looks even more promising.”

    The village receives over 200,000 annual visitors, generating more than 1 million yuan in collective and individual dividends.

    “Like many regions in Hokkaido facing population decline, I’m particularly interested in rural revitalization. I hope to gain firsthand insights into how Chinese grassroots communities have experienced poverty alleviation and the tangible outcomes of government initiatives,” said Furuta.

    Both China and Japan are actively exploring sustainable development pathways, Furuta noted, adding that the Qinghai visit gave him profound insight into how both countries’ successful practices in community governance, ecotourism and cultural integration merit mutual learning. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Interim report for Q2

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Guidance for pre-tax profit lifted by DKK 100 million supported by a solid insurance service result and improvement in the underlying business in Q2

    • Guidance for the insurance service result is lifted by DKK 50 million to DKK 1.6-1.8 billion excluding H2 run-offs.
    • Guidance for the investment result is lifted by DKK 50 million to DKK 250 million.
    • The insurance service result was a profit of DKK 520 million in Q2 2025 (DKK 312 million), which is the highest result realised to date. The result was driven by highly satisfactory premium growth, an improved claims experience and favourable developments in the expense ratio.
    • Insurance revenue grew at a highly satisfactory rate of 8% to DKK 2,950 million (DKK 2,725 million), driven in particular by strong premium growth of 11% in Personal Lines.
    • The undiscounted underlying claims experience improved by 5.2 percentage points to 62.2, driven by growth in both Personal Lines and Commercial Lines and reflecting, among other things, the results of profitability-enhancing measures and synergy gains.
    • The combined ratio was 82.3 (88.5), driven by fewer major claims, an improved underlying claims experience and a lower expense ratio.
    • The expense ratio improved significantly to 16.7 (18.0), reflecting the group’s objective of lowering the cost level.
    • The implementation of synergy initiatives is progressing according to plan and generated a positive accounting effect of DKK 151 million in Q2 2025.
    • Highly satisfactory investment result of DKK 102 million (DKK 65 million), with shares and bonds contributing favourably to the result.

    CEO Rasmus Werner Nielsen on the Q2 financial results:
    “We recorded a satisfactory performance in the second quarter, assisting customers with building, contents and motor claims in particular, and providing insurance advice to more than a quarter of a million customers in a period characterised by uncertainty on several fronts.

    In the second quarter, we once again onboarded many new customers, which contributed to the strong growth we recorded in insurance revenue. At the same time, we are on track to realise our ambitious plan to create a more efficient organisation and thereby strengthen our competitiveness for the benefit of our customers. The Q2 financial results underline the Group’s resilience, supported by satisfactory Personal and Commercial Lines, both contributing to the favourable development.

    Although the second quarter was characterised by relatively mild weather conditions, we continue our efforts to advise and assist our customers with protection against severe weather conditions in the future. Most recently, with the support of Alm. Brand Foreningen 1792, we launched a new offer to assist customers previously affected by weather-related claims with climate-proofing their houses.”

    This interim report and related materials are available at Alm. Brand Group’s investor website: Q2 2025

    Webcast and conference call
     Alm. Brand will host a conference call for investors and analysts today, Wednesday 16 July 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The conference call and presentation will be available on Alm. Brand Group’s investor website:

    Conference call dial-in numbers for investors and analysts (PIN: 490681):

    Denmark: +45 89 87 50 45
    UK: +44 20 3936 2999
    USA: +1 646 664 1960

    Link to webcast: Alm. Brand Group Q2 2025

    Contact
     Please direct any questions regarding this announcement to:

    Investors and equity analysts:                          

    Head of Investor Relations & ESG                    
    Mads Thinggaard                                
    Mobile no. +45 2025 5469               

    Press:                                                                                               

    Head of Communications and Media Relations
    Mikkel Luplau Schmidt
    Mobile no. +45 2052 3883

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Richemont posts solid start to the year for its first quarter ended 30 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR

    16 JULY 2025

    RICHEMONT POSTS SOLID START TO THE YEAR FOR ITS FIRST QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

      
    Highlights for the quarter ended 30 June 2025

    • Group sales at € 5.4 billion, up by 6% at constant exchange rates and by 3% at actual exchange rates in a volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical context
    • Continued strength at Jewellery Maisons, up by 11% at constant exchange rates; softer sequential rate of decline at Specialist Watchmakers, down by 7%; ‘Other’, including Fashion & Accessories Maisons, at -1%
    • Double-digit growth in Europe, the Americas and Middle East & Africa; stable sales in Asia Pacific at constant exchange rates; Japan down on high comparatives in prior-year period
    • Consistent growth across all distribution channels, led by Jewellery Maisons
    • Robust net cash position at € 7.4 billion, after cash transferred to YNAP upon closing of the sales transaction with LuxExperience 
    April-June   2025 2024 Movement at:
        €m €m constant rates actual rates
    By region Europe 1 295 1 171 +11% +11%
      Asia Pacific 1 731 1 809 – -4%
      Americas  1 335 1 215 +17% +10%
      Japan  527 603 -15% -13%
      Middle East & Africa  524 470 +17% +11%
               
    By distribution channel Retail 3 734 3 631 +6% +3%
      Online retail  323 315 +6% +3%
      Wholesale and royalty income  1 355 1 322 +6% +2%
               
    By business area Jewellery Maisons 3 914 3 656 +11% +7%
      Specialist Watchmakers 824 911 -7% -10%
      Other 674 701 -1% -4%
    Total   5 412 5 268 +6% +3%

    Review of trading in the three-month period ended 30 June 2025 versus the prior-year period, at constant exchange rates

    Any long form references to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan within this company announcement are Hong Kong SAR, China; Macau SAR, China; and Taiwan, China respectively.

    At constant exchange rates, Group sales in the quarter ended 30 June 2025 rose by 6% in a volatile global macroeconomic and geopolitical context.

    The growth was led by double digit increases in Europe, the Americas and Middle East & Africa, more than offsetting Japan’s sales decline against high prior-year comparatives; sales in the Asia Pacific region remained stable. In Europe, sales grew by 11%, driven by robust demand from local clients and overall positive tourist spend, supported by successful high jewellery events. Almost all main markets in the region saw an increase in sales this quarter, with notable performances in Italy and Germany. In the Americas, sales growth remained strong at +17%, driven by supportive local demand across all business areas and markets. Sales in the Middle East & Africa region rose by 17%, led by the United Arab Emirates market as well as higher tourist spend. In Japan, sales declined by 15% against a demanding +59% comparative in the prior-year period, with a strengthening Yen strongly reducing tourist spend, most notably from Chinese clientele, whilst local demand remained positive. Asia Pacific sales were stable overall versus the prior-year period, as a 7% decline in China, Hong Kong and Macau combined was fully compensated by robust growth in almost all other Asian markets. Of note, sales in Australia and South Korea were up double digits.

    Growth was consistent across all distribution channels, each up by 6%, led by Jewellery Maisons. Retail sales accounted for 69% of Group sales, with growth across all regions excluding Japan. Wholesale sales growth was driven by solid increases in the Americas, Europe and Middle East & Africa. Online retail sales showed robust growth across almost all regions.

    The Group’s four Jewellery Maisons – Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier – recorded an 11% rise in sales, marking a third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, supported by both jewellery and watch product lines. All regions posted growth, except Japan that faced a very high comparative in the prior-year period. Specialist Watchmakers sales were 7% lower than the prior-year period, largely reflecting declines in sales in China, Hong Kong and Macau combined as well as in Japan, partly offset by double-digit growth in the Americas. The Group’s Other business area, which includes Fashion & Accessories Maisons, declined by 1% compared to the prior-year period. Notable highlights included continued solid momentum at Peter Millar and Alaïa, an encouraging performance at Chloé and robust growth at Watchfinder & Co.

    The Group’s net cash position at 30 June 2025 stood at € 7.4 billion (2024: € 7.3 billion) after accounting for the € 426 million cash-out upon completion of the sale of YNAP to Mytheresa on 23 April 2025.

    Corporate calendar

    The annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 September 2025 in Geneva. The interim results for the current financial year will be announced on Friday 14 November 2025. The Group’s corporate calendar is available on https://www.richemont.com/investors/corporate-calendar/.

    About Richemont
    At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

    Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, G/FORE, Gianvito Rossi, Montblanc, Peter Millar, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/ .

    Richemont ‘A’ shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. The ‘A’ shares are also traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Richemont’s secondary listing.


    Investor/analyst and media enquiries

    Alessandra Girolami, Group Investor Relations Director

    James Fraser, Investor Relations Executive

    Investors/analysts enquiries: +41 22 721 30 03; investor.relations@cfrinfo.net 

    Media enquiries: +41 22 721 35 07; pressoffice@cfrinfo.net; richemont@teneo.com 

    Disclaimer

    The financial information contained in this announcement is unaudited.

    This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Richemont’s forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. Our retail stores are heavily dependent on the ability and desire of consumers to travel and shop and a decline in consumers traffic could have a negative effect on our comparable store sales and/or average sales per square foot and store profitability resulting in impairment charges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Reduced travel resulting from economic conditions, retail store closure orders of civil authorities, travel restrictions, travel concerns and other circumstances, including disease epidemics and other health-related concerns, could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if such events impact our customers’ desire to travel to our retail stores. International conflicts or wars, including resulting sanctions and restrictions on importation and exportation of finished products and/or raw materials, whether self-imposed or imposed by international countries, non-state entities or others, may also impact these forward-looking statements. If international tariffs are imposed or increased, materials and goods that Richemont imports may face higher prices, which could lead to reduced margins or increased prices that could cause decreased consumer demand. As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Group’s control. Richemont does not undertake to update, nor does it have any obligation to provide updates of, or to revise, any forward-looking statements.

    © Richemont 2025

    This announcement does not contain full details and should not be used as a basis for any investment decision in relation to the Company’s shares. Please find the full announcement available in PDF below:

    Richemont FY26 – Q1 Sales PDF EN

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASML reports €7.7 billion total net sales and €2.3 billion net income in Q2 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ASML reports €7.7 billion total net sales and €2.3 billion net income in Q2 2025
    Full-year 2025 expected total net sales growth of around 15% with gross margin around 52%

    VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands, July 16, 2025 – Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2025 second-quarter results.

    • Q2 total net sales of €7.7 billion, gross margin of 53.7%, net income of €2.3 billion
    • Quarterly net bookings in Q2 of €5.5 billion2 of which €2.3 billion is EUV
    • ASML expects Q3 2025 total net sales between €7.4 billion and €7.9 billion, and a gross margin between 50% and 52%
    • ASML expects a full-year 2025 total net sales increase of around 15% relative to 2024, with a gross margin of around 52%
    (Figures in millions of euros unless otherwise indicated) Q1 2025   Q2 2025
    Total net sales 7,742   7,692
    …of which Installed Base Management sales1 2,001   2,096
    New lithography systems sold (units) 73   67
    Used lithography systems sold (units) 4   9
    Net bookings2 3,936   5,541
    Gross profit 4,180   4,130
    Gross margin (%) 54.0   53.7
    Net income 2,355   2,290
    EPS (basic; in euros) 6.00   5.90
    End-quarter cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments 9,104   7,248

    (1) Installed Base Management sales equals our net service and field option sales.
    (2) Net bookings include all system sales orders and inflation-related adjustments, for which written authorizations have been accepted.
    Numbers have been rounded for readers’ convenience. A complete summary of US GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations is published on www.asml.com.


    CEO statement and outlook
    “Our second-quarter total net sales came in at €7.7 billion, at the top end of our guidance. The gross margin was 53.7%, above guidance, primarily driven by higher upgrade business and one-offs resulting in lower costs.

    “We see continued progress in litho intensity, particularly in DRAM, and the introduction of the TWINSCAN NXE:3800E reinforces that momentum. Meanwhile, EUV adoption is advancing as planned, including High NA. This quarter, we shipped the first TWINSCAN EXE:5200B system.

    “Looking at 2026, we see that our AI customers’ fundamentals remain strong. At the same time, we continue to see increasing uncertainty driven by macro-economic and geopolitical developments. Therefore, while we still prepare for growth in 2026, we cannot confirm it at this stage.

    “We expect third-quarter total net sales between €7.4 billion and €7.9 billion, with a gross margin between 50% and 52%. We expect R&D costs of around €1.2 billion and SG&A costs of around €310 million. For the full year 2025, we expect a 15% increase in total net sales and a gross margin of around 52%,” said ASML President and Chief Executive Officer Christophe Fouquet.

    Update dividend and share buyback program
    An interim dividend of €1.60 per ordinary share will be made payable on August 6, 2025.

    In the second quarter, we purchased around €1.4 billion worth of shares under the current 2022–2025 share buyback program.

    Details of the share buyback program as well as transactions pursuant thereto, and details of the dividend are published on ASML’s website (www.asml.com/investors).

    Media Relations contacts Investor Relations contacts
    Monique Mols +31 6 5284 4418 Jim Kavanagh +31 40 268 3938
    Willem van Ewijk +31 6 2744 1187 Pete Convertito +1 203 919 1714
    Karen Lo +886 9 397 88635 Peter Cheang +886 3 659 6771
    Sarah de Crescenzo +1 925 899 8985  

      
    Quarterly video interview and investor call
    With this press release, ASML is publishing a video interview in which CEO Christophe Fouquet and CFO Roger Dassen discuss the 2025 second quarter and outlook for 2025. This video and the video transcript can be viewed on www.asml.com shortly after the publication of this press release.

    An investor call for both investors and the media will be hosted by CEO Christophe Fouquet and CFO Roger Dassen on July 16, 2025 at 15:00 Central European Time / 09:00 US Eastern Time. Details can be found on our website.

    About ASML
    ASML is a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry. The company provides chipmakers with hardware, software and services to mass produce the patterns of integrated circuits (microchips). Together with its partners, ASML drives the advancement of more affordable, more powerful, more energy-efficient microchips. ASML enables groundbreaking technology to solve some of humanity’s toughest challenges, such as in healthcare, energy use and conservation, mobility and agriculture. ASML is a multinational company headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, with offices across EMEA, the US and Asia. Every day, ASML’s more than 44,000 employees (FTE) challenge the status quo and push technology to new limits. ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. Discover ASML – our products, technology and career opportunities – at www.asml.com.

    US GAAP and IFRS Financial Reporting
    ASML’s primary accounting standard for quarterly earnings releases and annual reports is US GAAP, the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Quarterly US GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Consolidated Balance Sheets are available on www.asml.com.

    The Consolidated Balance Sheets of ASML Holding N.V. as of June 29, 2025, the related Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the quarter and six-month period ended June 29, 2025, as presented in this press release, are unaudited.

    Today, July 16, 2025, ASML also published its Statutory Interim Report for the six-month period ended June 29, 2025. The Statutory Interim Report is available on www.asml.com.

    Regulated information
    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This document and related discussions contain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to plans, strategies, expected trends, including trends in the semiconductor industry and end markets and business environment trends, expected growth in the semiconductor industry by 2030, our expectation that AI will be the key driver for the industry and the expected impact of AI demand on our business and results, our expectation that lithography will remain at the heart of customer innovation, expected demand, bookings, outlook of market segments, outlook and expected financial results including 2025 second-half outlook, expected results for Q3 2025, including net sales, Installed Base Management sales, gross margin, R&D costs, SG&A costs, outlook for full year 2025, including expected full year 2025 total net sales, gross margin, estimated annualized effective tax rate and expected IBM sales, expected full-year net sales growth percentage relative to 2024, current expectations relating to 2026 including expected drivers and uncertainties and preparation for growth in 2026, statements made at our 2024 Investor Day, including modelled revenue and gross margin opportunity for 2030, statements with respect to tariff announcements and the expected impact of such tariffs on our business and results, our expectation to continue to return significant amounts of cash to shareholders through growing dividends and share buybacks, statements with respect to our share buyback program, and statements with respect to dividends, statements with respect to expected performance and capabilities of our systems and customer plans, statements with respect to our ESG strategy and commitments and other non-historical statements. You can generally identify these statements by the use of words like “may”, “expect”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “potential”, “intend”, “continue”, “target”, “future”, “progress”, “goal”, “model”, “opportunity”, “commitment” and variations of these words or comparable words. These statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions, plans and projections about our business and our future financial results and readers should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and involve a number of substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to customer demand, semiconductor equipment industry capacity, worldwide demand for semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing capacity, lithography tool utilization and semiconductor inventory levels, general trends and consumer confidence in the semiconductor industry, the impact of general economic conditions, including the impact of the current macroeconomic environment on the semiconductor industry, semiconductor market conditions, the ultimate impact of AI on our industry and business, the impact of inflation, interest rates, wars and geopolitical developments, the impact of pandemics, the performance of our systems, the success of technology advances and the pace of new product development and customer acceptance of and demand for new products, our production capacity and ability to adjust capacity to meet demand, supply chain capacity, timely availability of parts and components, raw materials, critical manufacturing equipment and qualified employees, our ability to produce systems to meet demand, the number and timing of systems ordered, shipped and recognized in revenue, risks relating to fluctuations in net bookings and our ability to convert bookings into sales, the risk of order cancellation, delays or push outs and restrictions on shipments of ordered systems under export controls, risks relating to the trade environment, import/export and national security regulations and orders and their impact on us, including the impact of changes in export regulations and the impact of such regulations on our ability to obtain necessary licenses and to sell our systems and provide services to certain customers, the impact of the tariff announcements, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in tax rates, available liquidity and free cash flow and liquidity requirements, our ability to refinance our indebtedness, available cash and distributable reserves for, and other factors impacting, dividend payments and share repurchases, the number of shares that we repurchase under our share repurchase program, our ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property rights and the outcome of intellectual property disputes and litigation, our ability to meet ESG goals and commitments and execute our ESG strategy, other factors that may impact ASML’s business or financial results, and other risks indicated in the risk factors included in ASML’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings with and submissions to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report or to conform such statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Most Canadians Prefer Tough Approach in Trade Talks with Trump – Poll

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    OTTAWA, July 16 (Xinhua) — Nearly two-thirds of Canadians want their government to take a tough approach in trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a recent poll by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute.

    Sixty-three percent of respondents said Canada should take a hard line rather than a soft line. The researchers note that the data was collected both before and after Trump announced the new 35 percent tariff.

    “For Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian negotiating team, the approach appears to be to keep a low profile rather than to elbow each other. The Canadians appear to want a stronger pushback,” the institute said.

    Polsters defined a hard approach as refusing to make major concessions even at the cost of worsening trade relations with the United States, while a soft approach involves making serious concessions in order to maintain good trade relations with the largest partner.

    Canadians were divided on Mr Carney’s ability to get a deal done, with 46 per cent saying they trusted the prime minister and his negotiating team and 45 per cent expressing doubts.

    Only 11 percent of respondents said that D. Trump would act in good faith and strive for a win-win outcome in the negotiations. More than 84 percent of respondents called the US President an unscrupulous actor. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pat Fallon Statement on HASC Passage of FY 2026 NDAA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04)

    WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the House Armed Services Committee’s 55-2 vote in favor of passing the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04) commented:

    “The FY 2026 NDAA delivers on the principle of peace through strength that President Trump has made a cornerstone of his America First agenda.”

    “I am proud to have voted in favor of this bill that would spur innovation, acquisition reform, and the restoration of America’s defense industrial base. In order to deter the looming threats posed by adversaries such as China and Russia, the US warfighter needs to have the best tools and resources at their disposal.”

    “After all, the potential conflicts of tomorrow will be decided by whomever has the best access to accurate, timely information, which means this bill’s investments in AI and drone technology will prove vital. At the same time, the United States’ missile defense status quo is currently unsustainable. Therefore, this bill also serves as a down payment on President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system, dovetailing with key investments in hypersonics and the space domain.”

    “America’s national security cannot wait, and this bill’s passage from committee is a major step in the right direction.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Van Orden Applauds Committee Passage of FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin 3rd)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) released the following statement after voting to pass the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) out of the House Armed Services Committee: 

    “Under the Biden administration, the world was a much more dangerous place due to sheer incompetence and mismanagement. The Department of Defense (DoD) had gone so far off mission it put our servicemembers, national security, allies, and every single American at grave risk. 

    “With President Trump as our Commander-in-Chief and Secretary Hegseth leading the DoD, we are restoring readiness and lethality in our Armed Forces. Passage of this year’s NDAA is a critical step to delivering on President Trump’s promise of delivering Peace through Strength and ensuring our servicemembers have every tool and resource they need to meet any challenge and defend our interests at home and abroad.”

    Rep. Van Orden championed multiple provisions in the FY26 NDAA:

    • Inclusion of the Strengthening Our Servicemembers with Milk Act, which requires milk be available at dining facilities on military installations.
    • Inclusion of the TAP Promotion Act to provide veterans with information on Veteran Service Organizations who assist with the transition into civilian life and help navigate benefits available to servicemembers and their families.
    • Dental care coverage under TRICARE for reservists.
    • Codifying the DoD authority for joint task forces to support law enforcement agencies and other federal agencies conducting counterterrorism and counter transnational organized crime activities.
    • Codifying and expanding the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) as a centralized database of servicemembers’ occupational and environmental exposure data.
    • Prohibiting the use of DoD funds to promote or endorse CRT in military academies, servicemember training, or professional military education.
    • Establishing formal contracting goals for DoD in contracting with small businesses owned and controlled by veterans.
    • Requiring DoD to produce a briefing on the access levels and obstacles, and recommend improvements to ensure innovative companies can fully participate in national defense modernization.

    Other priorities of Rep. Van Orden in the bill include:

    Modernizing the Armed Forces:

    • $10 million for robotic training targets to enhance National Guard lethality.
    • $2.5 million for modernization and manufacturing of engines for traditional Collaborative Combat Aircraft platforms.

    Enhancing Air Force Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (SRT) Capabilities:

    • Requiring use of commercial data analytics to provide the Air Force with tactical SRT capability to the combatant commands.
    • Requiring the Air Force to establish the SRT commercial data analytics program as a program of record.

    Elevating Defense Technology:

    • Creating a pilot program to accelerate development and procurement of innovative technology and equipment to enhance operational capabilities of Special Forces.
    • Requiring briefing on enhancing operational lethality through AI-enabled unmanned systems. 

    Strengthening Cooperation Operations with Our Allies:

    • Establishing an emerging technology cooperation program with Israel and other partner countries.
    • Broadening the U.S.-Israel C-UAS cooperation to include unmanned systems in all domains and extends authority through 2028.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sara Jacobs Secures IVF Coverage Expansion in Committee-Passed NDAA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    July 15, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) passed her amendment that would establish TRICARE coverage of assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, for all active duty service members and their dependents through the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act in the House Armed Services Committee. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) passed a similar provision through the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. These two amendments are inspired by their bicameral legislation, the IVF for Military Families Act.

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Our military families are leaving the Armed Forces because they can’t access and afford the family-building services they need and want. About a quarter of active-duty service members and military spouses report infertility, and yet, TRICARE doesn’t automatically cover IVF. That leaves our service members with limited options: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. These options are unacceptable for those who bravely wear our country’s uniform, especially because Members of Congress and our staff got access to this exact same coverage earlier this year. That’s why I’m so proud that both Senator Duckworth and I passed our amendments that require TRICARE coverage of IVF through our respective committees. I will keep fighting until we get this over the finish line because that’s the least we can do for those who’ve sacrificed so much for all of us.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sara Jacobs Votes Against NDAA Due to Lack of Constraints on Military’s Role in Domestic Law Enforcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    July 15, 2025

    Following the lack of meaningful reforms and constraints to the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act, Rep. Sara Jacobs voted against the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House Armed Services Committee.

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Like so many Americans, I’m horrified and disturbed by President Trump’s abuse of the military to silence dissent, intimidate immigrant communities, and assist in domestic law enforcement. The military-civilian divide is a bedrock of our democracy, intended to protect civil rights and liberties and prevent the emergence of an authoritarian police state. In Los Angeles, we’ve already seen the military – at President Trump’s urging – use excessive force, commit questionable detentions, wield intimidation tactics, and violate people’s legal rights. This is only a glimpse of what could happen nationwide if President Trump invokes the Insurrection Act and turns U.S. troops on civilians. And our service members deserve better than to be used as political pawns in President Trump’s authoritarian games. 

    “The warning signs are here, and the American people are demanding that Congress do something. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee abdicated their responsibility to the Constitution and their constituents to rein in the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act. It’s wildly disappointing but sadly unsurprising that they would rather stay in President Trump’s good graces than stop the democratic backsliding that’s happening right before our eyes. While I’m proud of the provisions I secured to expand military access to child care, housing, and fertility services and ensure transparency and accountability of the Pentagon’s use of AI, I can’t in good conscience support a bill that fails to put guardrails on the use of our military in such unprecedented times.”

    Rep. Sara Jacobs secured the following provisions in the FY26 NDAA:

    Improving Military Child Care

    • Extends the “Child Care in Your Home” (CCYH) pilot program that provides financial assistance to eligible military families, especially those with non-traditional work hours, large families, or children with special needs, for in-home child care.
    • Urges the Secretary of Defense to create a grant program to cover up to 75% of the cost for eligible civilian child care providers to expand their infant and toddler child care capacity 
    • Establishes a pilot program to raise the military fee assistance provider cap for children 24 months or younger by 30% near installations that face high child care costs

    Improving Access to Affordable Military Housing

    • Studies how the Basic Allowance for Housing can properly represent densely populated, expensive cities and rural communities
    • Excludes the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the calculation of gross household income of an eligible member of the Armed Forces, so it doesn’t hurt their access to the Basic Needs Allowance
    • Requires Privatized Military Housing landlords to report on their insurance policies, including their costs, and the amount of money made through remedial payments to landlords.

    Strengthening Access to Fertility Services 

    • Establishes TRICARE coverage of assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, for all active duty service members and their dependents and creates parity between service member and Member of Congress fertility services

    Helping Military Families Make Ends Meet

    • Increases the Family Separation Allowance to a mandatory $400 to reflect the rising cost of living and burdens on military families

    Upholding Human Rights, Enforcing Domestic and International Laws, and Preventing Conflict

    • Requires a report from the Department of Defense on its implementation of the Global Fragility Act (GFA), planned funding levels, and challenges and lessons learned from GFA implementation 
    • Requires notification to Congress anytime the Department of Defense enters into a basing agreement with a foreign military that includes whether any unit of that military has committed gross human rights violations
    • Authorizes full funding, consistent with FY25 levels, for institutional capacity building of partner militaries through the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) and for humanitarian support and demining through Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA)
    • Requires JAGs to be stationed at all combatant commands to ensure military operations follow domestic and international laws
    • Reinstates the requirement that Military JAGs be at the rank of 3-stars, making sure they have a seat at the table where critical strategic decisions are made

    Ensuring AI Transparency and Accountability

    • Studies how AI could be used to reduce civilian casualties
    • Requires a report from the Department of Defense with support from the Department of Energy on any efforts to incorporate non-Department AI data centers onto Department of Defense land, its plans for doing so, and potential impacts and consequences
    • Requires a report from the Department of Defense about the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s contract with xAI to ensure transparency and accountability
    • Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress within 30 days of issuing any waiver under DoD Directive 3000.09 on autonomous weapons systems. The notice must include the rationale, description of the system, and expected duration. 
    • Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in coordination with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, to brief Congress on how the Department ensures humans authorize each use of force in autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems. The briefing must outline current policies, identify gaps, and describe steps being taken to maintain human oversight. 
    • Requires a report from the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer on how AI-enabled decision aides are being integrated into non-lethal, daily DoD operations. The report must include use cases, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling, training, and addressing ethical or cybersecurity issues, followed by a congressional briefing.
    • Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in coordination with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, to assess how AI models are influencing national security policy decisions, including risks like automation bias and lack of transparency. Requires a report and briefing covering current efforts, gaps in responsible AI integration, oversight of waivers from key AI policies, and a plan to address identified issues, including potential follow-up studies.
    • Establishes requirements for the Department of Defense to promote competition, data security, and responsible use of government data in contracts for AI, cloud computing, and data infrastructure. It also mandates public reporting on innovation and barriers in defense tech procurement and restricts the use of government data for training commercial AI without explicit authorization.

    Advancing Improved and Accountable Procurement at DoD

    • Opens up cloud and AI contracts to real competition and blocks vendors from training their commercial models on Pentagon-owned data without explicit permission.
    • Gives Congress a faster warning when a weapons program busts its budget by cutting the Nunn-McCurdy notification window to 30?days and requiring DoD to consider canceling runaway projects.
    • Requires every major weapons program to pinpoint parts that can shift to 3-D printing or other advanced manufacturing and deliver a plan to slash cost and lead time within two years.
    • Stops the Pentagon from labeling purchases of more than 500 units a “prototype,” ensuring that large purchases receive full competition and oversight.
    • Places significant “Other Transaction” projects under the same documentation and milestone reviews as traditional acquisition programs, shedding light on a growing loophole.
    • Delivers the Pentagon’s first-ever “Right to?Repair” for major weapons systems. Contractors must hand over the parts, tools, and technical data DoD needs to fix its own gear—breaking decades-old vendor lock-ins, slashing sustainment costs, and speeding repairs that keep jets flying and ships sailing.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • US launches probe into Brazil’s trade practices, digital payment services

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday he had launched an investigation into Brazil’s “unfair” trading practices, a week after President Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff on imports from Latin America’s largest economy.

    Trump’s trade war, launched since starting his second term in January, sets tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, aiming to reorder the global economy and end decades of what he calls discrimination against the United States.

    The USTR investigation, announced last week by Trump, will decide if Brazil’s treatment of digital trade and preferential tariffs, among others, is “unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restrict” U.S. commerce, Greer said.

    “At President Trump’s direction, I am launching a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s attacks,” he added in a statement.

    Among victims of such attacks he cited U.S. social media and other companies, as well as workers, farmers, and technology innovators he described as harmed by Brazil’s “unfair trading practices”.

    Following extensive consultations, Greer added, “I have determined that Brazil’s tariff and non-tariff barriers merit a thorough investigation, and potentially, responsive action.”

    Trump justified his 50% tariff from August 1, well above the rate of 10% initially proposed, with a demand for an end to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly plotting a coup.

    The high tariff for Brazil surprised many trade experts since its U.S. goods imports exceed its exports, and because Trump linked the rate so clearly to Bolsonaro’s trial.

    Brazil offered no immediate reaction to news of the U.S. investigation. On Monday, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said it had yet to receive a response from Washington to an offer it made in trade talks two months ago.

    During his first term, Trump used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify a spate of tariffs against China. It was also used to investigate other countries for digital services taxes on U.S. tech firms.

    In a statement, USTR said Brazil disadvantaged U.S. firms by setting lower tariffs on exports of other trading partners and accused it of failing to battle corruption.

    It added that Brazil also charged substantially higher tariffs on U.S. ethanol exports, and “appears to be failing” to enforce laws against illegal deforestation, which it said harmed the competitiveness of U.S. timber producers.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Well done to Course 81

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Today’s 25 graduates from the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Academy all bring something unique to the table, from experience in competitive boxing, and retail management to truck logistics and swim coaching.

    Course 81 members include 13 men and 12 women, who range in age from 19 to 46.

    The new police officers bring diverse skills from a variety of employment backgrounds, including in security, education, hospitality, retail, corrections, the Navy, pharmaceutical and disability sectors, and as a flight attendant, truck driver, gymnastics coach, Department for Child Protection worker and Police Security Officer.

    Some have journeyed from overseas and interstate, including from Switzerland, India, Sydney, Victoria and Tasmania.

    Probationary Constable Bagus has an Indonesian/Australian background and lived in Bali for five years before moving to Adelaide in 2017.

    Prior to joining SAPOL, he worked as a barista and competed in amateur boxing.

    “Competing in boxing helped me to have better situational awareness. In boxing matches, I constantly had to read the opponent’s body language and stay alert,” Bagus said.

    “This translates well to policing, especially for dynamic or unpredictable situations. Competing in boxing also gave me the ability to stay calm and keep composure in high-stress situations.”

    Fellow graduate, and single mother Sarah previously worked in retail, aquaculture, hospitality and truck logistics, and was most recently a lead cook at her local country hospital/aged care facility.

    “I am a single mother to one, and love country life, 4×4 driving, opal mining, bush hiking, but most of all spending quality time with my son riding horses, playing backyard cricket and football,” she said.

    “Being a single parent has taught me to be resilient, adaptable, understanding, patient, kind, forgiving and assertive – all qualities that a police officer requires.”

    Similarly, Lauren has developed impressive time management skills to reach graduation day while also being a mother.

    “Prior to joining SAPOL, I lived for two years in North Carolina, United States, where I was a waterfront director and lifeguard, and then I moved to Finland for a year before coming back to Australia to have my daughter,” she said.

    “Before becoming a police officer, I was a mum to my one-year-old and worked causally in retail and swim coaching.”

    Bradley worked in retail for 7.5 years, managing teams in different departments while also playing cricket, football, golf, and the guitar.

    “I felt like working in a team environment helped me throughout the academy, through interactions with course mates,” he said.

    “The customer-service aspect will be important for how I interact when on the road and dealing with various types of people.”

    Eventually, Bagus would like to work in SAPOL’s Security Response Section (SRS) and later Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR), while Sarah hopes her career will lead to theDog Operations Unit. Lauren has her sights set on working in the Major Crime Investigations Branch or Child and Family Violence Investigation Section, while Bradley aims to work anywhere in Forensic Services.

    All four graduates encouraged anyone interested in a SAPOL career to “take the leap” and prepare early for what is expected.

    Course 81 members will be stationed to metropolitan and regional postings, including Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, and Berri.

    SAPOL is currently recruiting and is keen to hear from people interested in an inspiring career with unmatched experiences and rewards.

    If you’re looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities visit Achievemore – Join Us (police.sa.gov.au)

    Sarah, Lauren, Bagus, and Bradley are among 25 new police officers to graduate today from the South Australia Police Academy.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Votes to Pass National Defense Bill, Delivering Military Strength and Wins on NM Priorities

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 15, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) – a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) – voted in favor of the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  

    “It is vital that we ensure America’s armed forces have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions,” said Vasquez. “This bipartisan bill includes my legislation to improve health care for our rural veterans, give our troops a pay raise, recognize New Mexico’s Downwinders, and add many additional provisions that support service members and their families across our state.”

    The Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA includes $882.6 billion in defense spending, national security investments, and support for our military. This includes funding for research and development, a 3.8% pay increase for our troops, and investments to support service members and their families. The bill passed out of Committee by a vote of 55-2 and will now head to the House floor for consideration. 

    Included in the NDAA are Vasquez’s TRICARE Travel Improvement Act and Downwinder Commemoration Act, which ensure New Mexicans’ needs are met and interests are reflected through the nation’s defense investments. 

    • The TRICARE Travel Improvement Act helps military families serving in remote areas access health care by reducing the travel reimbursement threshold under TRICARE Prime from 100 miles to 50 miles for active-duty service members and their families. Currently, families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who travel nearly 100 miles to El Paso for medical care are denied reimbursement due to being just under the threshold. This bill is a step toward fairness and affordability for New Mexico’s military families.
    • The Downwinder Commemoration Act recognizes the harm endured by New Mexico’s Downwinders following the 1945 Trinity Test — the first nuclear detonation in U.S. history. It directs the Departments of Defense and Interior to place commemorative monuments in publicly accessible areas at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. Despite their exposure to radioactive fallout, Downwinder families were excluded from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) until Rep. Vasquez’s successful push to reauthorize and expand RECA to include New Mexico’s Downwinders. This bill helps deliver long-overdue recognition by permanently commemorating their suffering while preserving their legacy for future generations. 

    In addition to these two measures, Rep. Vasquez secured the following priorities in NDAA:

    Infrastructure & Safety:

    • White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Power Grid: $38.5 million for power generation and a microgrid at WSMR under the Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP)
    • Kirtland Air Force Base Space HQ: $83 million for Space Rapid Capabilities Office Headquarters construction at Kirtland Air Force Base
    • Holloman Air Force Base Test Track: Report language highlighting the importance of Holloman’s High Speed Test Track and requiring a report on the timeline for constructing a new parallel track
    • Cannon Air Force Base Dorms: $90 million for dorms at Cannon Air Force Base
    • PFAS Cleanup: Language protecting mandated annual reports on DOD PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts, to ensure states like New Mexico have continued visibility into PFAS contamination
    • PFAS Technology: Report language requiring DOD to partner with universities like NMSU to develop cutting edge technology to detect and cleanup PFAS contaminants

    Unexploded Ordinance:

    • Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program: Report language holding DOD accountable for cleaning up unexploded ordinance (UXO) on Tribal lands like the Pueblo of Isleta

    Rural Issues:

    • Rural Housing: Report language requiring DOD to partner with local housing authorities in rural areas to address shortages of housing around remote and isolated installations like WSMR and Holloman Air Force Base
    • Specialty Healthcare at Rural Bases: Report language highlighting the challenges service members and families face at rural installations when accessing specialty healthcare and requiring a report on ways the Department can improve specialty provider accessibility
    • Holloman Air Force Base Childcare: Report language encouraging DOD to expand the in-home childcare pilot program to four rural installations, including Holloman Air Force Base

    National Labs/DOE:

    • Los Alamos: $1.55 billion for plutonium operations, including ensuring the capacity to produce 30 plutonium pits annually

    Other Bill Highlights:

    • Pay Raise: 3.8% pay raise for all service members
    • Housing: $1.5 billion for new construction of dorms, barracks, housing, and child development centers
    • Ukraine: $300 million for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
    • Environment: $460 million for environmental cleanup and $684 for the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program

    “As this critical legislation continues to make its way through the House, I will keep working to improve it,” Vasquez added. “To maintain U.S. military superiority, we cannot afford to politicize our policies for recruiting, developing, and retaining the best and brightest.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Colleagues Press Administration on Conflicting Orders Fueling Uncertainty for Afghans Living in U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) and 73 of their colleagues in pressing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for answers on the Trump Administration’s inconsistent policies regarding the legal status of Afghan refugees living in the U.S. – many of whom played important roles in supporting American service members during the war in Afghanistan over two decades. 

    In the letter, the lawmakers point out that the justifications for the decisions to implement a large-scale travel ban, which applies to Afghanistan, and terminate Temporary Protected Status conflict with one another. The lawmakers ask Secretary Rubio how the State Department arrived at these determinations and whether it can guarantee that Afghans who may be forced to leave the U.S. will not face danger upon their return to their home country – should the termination of Afghanistan’s TPS designation be upheld.

    The lawmakers quoted the determination that Secretary Rubio made upon consultation over the decision to include Afghanistan in the Administration’s travel ban proclamation, writing, “Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification: ‘The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.’”

    The lawmakers’ concerns over the safety of Afghan nationals who may be forced to leave the U.S. stem from a recent State Department human rights report covering Afghanistan finding that the Taliban has increased restrictions on freedom of expression and significantly eroded women’s rights. Additionally, Afghanistan remains gripped by violence and instability; the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties.

    “As you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States,” the lawmakers concluded.

    Read the full letter here.

    The first and only Latina senator, Senator Cortez Masto has consistently supported immigrant communities in Nevada, calling on both administrations to protect TPS holders and other immigrants, as well as leading commonsense legislation to fix our broken immigration system. Last month, the Senator helped introduce the SECURE Act to provide qualified TPS and DED recipients a path to legal permanent residency. She has worked to pass meaningful immigration reform that balances critical border security measures with a path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Trump sets 19% tariff on Indonesia goods in latest deal, EU readies retaliation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were coming, while offering fresh details on planned duties on pharmaceuticals.

    Trump announced the pact with Indonesia, a relatively minor U.S. trading partner, as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners and ways to shrink a huge U.S. trade deficit. Letters setting tariff rates for dozens of smaller countries were also coming soon, he said on Tuesday.

    The deal with Indonesia is among the handful struck so far by the Trump administration ahead of an August 1 deadline when duties on most U.S. imports are due to rise again. The accord came as the top U.S. trading partner – the European Union – readied retaliatory measures should talks with Washington fail.

    As that deadline approached, negotiations were under way with other nations eager to avoid more U.S. levies beyond a baseline 10% on most goods that has been in place since April.

    Trump’s roll-out of the policies has often been chaotic. His moves have upended decades of negotiated reductions in global trade barriers, unsettling international financial markets and threatening a new wave of inflation.

    Based on Trump tariff announcements through Sunday, Yale Budget Lab estimated the U.S. effective average tariff rates will rise to 20.6% from between 2% and 3% before Trump’s return to the White House in January. Consumption shifts would bring the rate down to 19.7%, but it’s still the highest since 1933.

    Trump outlined an Indonesia deal similar to a preliminary pact struck recently with Vietnam, with a flat tariff on exports to the U.S. roughly double the current 10% and no levies on U.S. exports going there. It also included a penalty rate for so-called transhipments of goods from China via Indonesia and a commitment to buy some U.S. goods.

    “They are going to pay 19% and we are going to pay nothing … we will have full access into Indonesia, and we have a couple of those deals that are going to be announced,” Trump said outside the Oval Office. Trump later said on his Truth Social platform that Indonesia had agreed to buy $15 billion of U.S. energy products, $4.5 billion of American farm products and 50 Boeing BA.N jets, though no time frame was specified.

    He told reporters the deal with Vietnam was “pretty well set” but said it was not necessary to release details.

    TRUMP: INDIA TALKS MOVING SAME WAY

    Indonesia’s total trade with the U.S. – totalling just under $40 billion in 2024 – does not rank in the top 15, but it has been growing. U.S. exports to Indonesia rose 3.7% last year, while imports from there were up 4.8%, leaving the U.S. with a goods trade deficit of nearly $18 billion.

    The top U.S. import categories from Indonesia, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from the International Trade Centre’s TradeMap tool, last year were palm oil, electronics equipment including data routers and switches, footwear, car tires, natural rubber and frozen shrimp.

    Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official with Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, told Reuters in a text message: “We are preparing a joint statement between U.S. and Indonesia that will explain the size of reciprocal tariff for Indonesia including the tariff deal, non-tariff and commercial arrangements. We will inform (the public) soon.”

    Trump had threatened the country with a 32% tariff rate starting August 1 in a letter sent to its president last week. He sent similar letters to about two dozen trading partners this month, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, laying out tariff rates ranging from 20% to 50%, plus a 50% tariff on copper.

    Speaking in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Trump said he favored blanket tariffs over complicated negotiations, but his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were keen to land more trade agreements.

    Upon his arrival back in Washington, Trump told reporters that letters would be going out soon for many smaller countries, suggesting they would face a tariff of “a little over 10%.”

    He said his administration would also announce tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the United States, probably at the end of the month, starting with what he called a low tariff rate to give companies time to move manufacturing to the U.S. before imposing a “very high tariff” in a year or so.

    The August 1 deadline gives targeted countries time to negotiate about lower tariff rates. Some economists have also noted Trump’s pattern of backing off his tariff threats.

    Since launching his tariff policy, Trump has clinched only a few “framework” agreements, falling short of earlier promises to land “90 deals in 90 days.”

    So far, such deals have been reached with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, and an interim deal has been struck with China to forestall the steepest of Trump’s tariffs while negotiations continue between Washington and Beijing.

    Trump said talks with India were moving “along that same line,” saying the agreement would give U.S. firms access to the large Indian market.

    EU READIES RETALIATION

    The breakthrough with Indonesia came as the European Commission, which oversees trade for the EU, prepared to target 72 billion euros ($84.1 billion) worth of U.S. goods – from Boeing BA.N aircraft and bourbon whiskey to cars – for possible tariffs if trade talks with Washington fail.

    Trump has threatened a 30% tariff on imports from the EU from August 1, a level European officials say is unacceptable and would end normal trade between two of the world’s largest markets.

    The list, sent to EU member states and seen by Reuters on Tuesday, pre-dated Trump’s move over the weekend to ramp up pressure on the 27-nation bloc and responded instead to U.S. duties on cars and car parts and a 10% baseline tariff.

    The package also covers chemicals, medical devices, electrical and precision equipment as well as agriculture and food products – a range of fruits and vegetables, along with wine, beer and spirits – valued at 6.35 billion euros.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists create a new type of endoscopic system for diagnostics and destruction of cancer cells

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The results of the Russian Science Foundation mega-grant competition for fundamental scientific research and exploratory scientific research under the supervision of leading foreign scientists have been summed up. 230 projects from 127 scientific organizations from 35 subjects of the Russian Federation applied for RSF support. The projects submitted for the competition are being implemented under the supervision of leading scientists with citizenship from 40 countries, including China, India, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the USA, Italy, and France. According to the results of the examination, 14 projects were declared winners. For 5 years, they will receive from 20 to 50 million rubles annually. If necessary, it is envisaged to extend the grant support for another three years.

    Among the winners is the project of scientists from the Laboratory of Nonlinear Optics of Waveguide Systems of Novosibirsk State University “The Kerr Self-Cleaning Effect of Multimode Beams in Specialized Optical Fibers and Its Application for Biomedicine”. This laboratory was created in May 2017 as a result of the victory of the project “Spatio-temporal Nonlinear Optics of Multimode and Multi-Core Fiber Systems” in the fifth competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia for receiving grants from the Government of the Russian Federation for state support of scientific research conducted under the supervision of leading scientists. Its head is a recognized world expert in the theory of surface waves, as well as an expert in nonlinear effects in fiber-optic communication systems Stefan Wabnitz. His research activity for more than 30 years took place in leading academic and industrial institutions in Europe and the USA.

    — Our project is aimed at creating an innovative endoscopic device that combines optical biopsy and low-temperature plasma therapy technologies. Its goal is to develop a unified system that provides the ability to both diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases, including oncological diseases, in real time, which will eliminate the need for lengthy histopathology and increase the accuracy of examinations. This device will combine two functions at once — diagnostics (using machine learning) and therapy (laser/plasma), minimizing damage to healthy tissues, — said Denis Kharenko, senior researcher at the laboratory.

    In current medical practices, ex vivo histopathology is used for accurate cancer diagnostics, during which laboratory studies of living tissue transferred from the body to an artificial external environment are carried out. It involves taking tissue from the patient, which leads to delays in the start of therapy and requires complex laboratory procedures and practically does not allow observing the course of the disease in dynamics. NSU scientists propose to solve this problem by introducing in-vivo diagnostics, which allows examining the body without taking material using optical endoscopic methods. It is important that this diagnostic method will be associated with the possibility of therapeutic intervention, which will not only significantly increase the area under study and the volume of data obtained, but also accurately identify the affected area during repeated examination, minimizing time and economic costs, as well as the risks of errors associated with the analysis of samples outside the body.

    — The new type of endoscopic system we are creating, in addition to diagnostics, will be able to precisely affect tumor cells using temperature-controlled laser radiation and low-temperature plasma, causing their apoptosis without excessive heating — a process of programmed cell death, in which the cell self-destructs, disintegrating into individual fragments, which are then absorbed by other cells without causing negative consequences. This leads to minimal damage to healthy tissue. This feature will reduce side effects, avoid fibrosis and vascular damage, which is extremely important for improving the quality of life of patients. The project is a significant step forward in the field of “optical biopsy” and endoscopic therapy, — explained Denis Kharenko.

    One of the main scientific tasks of the scientists will be to optimize the process of diagnostics and treatment of cancer using a multimode optical fiber, which implements the Kerr self-cleaning effect, providing high resolution (up to 0.66 µm) and resistance to mechanical impacts during the propagation of laser radiation. The integration of multiphoton fluorescence and Raman scattering will further expand the diagnostic capabilities of the device, allowing for spectroscopic studies of tissues and the detection of biomarkers characteristic of different stages of the disease with microscopic accuracy. According to the project participants, this technology will make the device a universal tool for both diagnostics and subsequent treatment.

    The project involves several stages. First, the scientists will design and test multimode fibers and high-repetition-rate lasers for the endoscopic system. The next step will be to test the device on biological samples, including lab-created organoids and cancerous tissue.

    — We are confident that our experimental setup with the ability to precisely control low-temperature plasma will allow localized impact on the affected areas of organs and tissues, which will create the basis for the application of the technology in clinical practice. We intend to create a flexible and highly effective visualization and therapy system, which will subsequently become established as a standard in the field of diagnostics and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, including oncological diseases in the early stages, — said Denis Kharenko.

    Material prepared by: Elena Panfilo, NSU press service

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Solidifies U.S. Position as Leader in AI

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    President Donald J. Trump is making America the undisputed world leader in artificial intelligence — and today marked a massive leap forward with the announcement of over $90 billion in groundbreaking AI and energy investments in Pennsylvania.
    Joined by leaders of the nation’s premier tech and energy giants, administration officials, and lawmakers, President Trump showcased the investments this afternoon at the first-ever Energy and Innovation Summit — underscoring the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to innovation, job creation, and American dominance.
    The announcement covered tens of billions of dollars in AI and energy investment, including Google’s $25 billion investment in data centers and infrastructure, Blackstone’s $25 billion investment in data centers and natural gas plants, and CoreWeave’s $6 billion investment in data center expansion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Solidifies U.S. Position as Leader in AI

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    President Donald J. Trump is making America the undisputed world leader in artificial intelligence — and today marked a massive leap forward with the announcement of over $90 billion in groundbreaking AI and energy investments in Pennsylvania.
    Joined by leaders of the nation’s premier tech and energy giants, administration officials, and lawmakers, President Trump showcased the investments this afternoon at the first-ever Energy and Innovation Summit — underscoring the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to innovation, job creation, and American dominance.
    The announcement covered tens of billions of dollars in AI and energy investment, including Google’s $25 billion investment in data centers and infrastructure, Blackstone’s $25 billion investment in data centers and natural gas plants, and CoreWeave’s $6 billion investment in data center expansion.

    MIL OSI USA News –