NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Global: After the smoke clears, a wildfire’s legacy can haunt rivers for years, putting drinking water at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ben Livneh, Associate Professor of Hydrology, University of Colorado Boulder

    Burned ground can become hydrophobic and almost waxlike, allowing rainfall to quickly wash contaminants downslope. Ben Livneh/University of Colorado

    Picture a wildfire raging across a forested mountainside. The smoke billows and the flames rise. An aircraft drops vibrant red flame retardant. It’s a dramatic, often dangerous scene. But the threat to water supplies is only just beginning.

    After the smoke clears, the soil, which was once nestled beneath a canopy of trees and a spongy layer of leaves, is now exposed. Often, that soil is charred and sterile, with the heat making the ground almost water-repellent, like a freshly waxed car.

    When the first rain arrives, the water rushes downhill. It carries with it a slurry of ash, soil and contaminants from the burned landscape. This torrent flows directly into streams and then rivers that provide drinking water for communities downstream.

    As a new research paper my colleagues and I just published shows, this isn’t a short-term problem. The ghost of the fire can haunt these waterways for years.

    Scientists explain how wildfires can contaminate water supplies and the ways they measure the effects, summarized in their 2024 publication. University of Colorado-Boulder.

    This matters because forested watersheds are the primary water source for nearly two-thirds of municipalities in the United States. As wildfires in the western U.S. become larger and more frequent, the long-term security and safety of water supplies for downstream communities is increasingly at risk.

    Charting the long tail of wildfire pollution

    Scientists have long known that wildfires can affect water quality, but two key questions remained: Exactly how bad is the impact? And how long does it last?

    To find out, my colleagues and I led a study, coordinated by engineer Carli Brucker. We undertook one of the most extensive analyses of post-wildfire water quality to date. The results were published June 23, 2025, in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

    We gathered decades of water quality data from 245 burned watersheds across the western U.S. and compared them to nearly 300 similar, unburned watersheds.

    A map of the basins studied shows the outlines of fires in red and burned basins in black. The blue basins did not burn and were used for comparisons.
    Carli Brucker, et al., 2025, Nature Communications Earth & Environment

    By creating a computer model for each basin that accounted for its normal water quality variability, based on factors such as rainfall and temperature, we were able to isolate the impact of the wildfire. This allowed us to see how much the water quality deviated after the fire, year after year.

    The results were stark. In the first year after a fire, the concentrations of some contaminants skyrocketed. We found that levels of sediment and turbidity – the cloudiness of the water – were 19 to 286 times higher than prefire levels. That much sediment can clog filters at water treatment plants and require expensive treatment and maintenance. Think of trying to use a coffee filter with muddy water – the water just won’t flow through.

    Concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were three to 103 times greater in the burned basins. These dissolved remnants of burned plants and soil are particularly problematic. When they mix with the chlorine used to disinfect drinking water, they can form harmful chemicals called disinfection byproducts, some of which are linked to cancer.

    More surprisingly, we found the impacts to be really persistent. While the most dramatic spikes in phosphorous, nitrate, organic carbon and sediment generally occurred in the first one to three years, some contaminants lingered for much longer.

    Contaminants including phosphorus, organic carbon and nitrates lingered in water supplies for years after wildfires. The charts show the average among all burned basins eight years before fires (light blue) and all burned basins after fires (orange). The gray bars show levels in the year immediately after the fire. The horizontal purple line shows levels that would be expected without a fire, based on the prefire years.
    Carli Brucker, et al., 2025, Nature Communications Earth & Environment

    We saw significantly elevated levels of nitrogen and sediment for up to eight years following a fire. Nitrogen and phosphorus act like fertilizer for algae. A surge of these nutrients can trigger algal blooms in reservoirs, which can produce toxins and create foul odors.

    This extended timeline suggests that wildfires are fundamentally altering the landscape in ways that take a long time to heal. In our previous laboratory-based research, including a 2024 study, we simulated this process by burning soil and vegetation and then running water over them.

    After mountain slopes burn, the rain that falls on them washes ash, charred soil and debris downstream.
    Ben Livneh/University of Colorado

    The stuff that leaches out is a cocktail of carbon, nutrients and other compounds that can exacerbate flood risks and degrade water quality in ways that require more expensive treatment at water treatment facilities. In extreme cases, the water quality may be so poor that communities can’t withdraw river water at all, and that can create water shortages.

    After the Buffalo Creek Fire in 1996 and then the Hayman Fire in 2002, Denver’s water utility spent more than US$27 million over several years to treat the water, remove more than 1 million cubic yards of sediment and debris from a reservoir, and fix infrastructure. State Forest Service crews planted thousands of trees to help restore the surrounding forest’s water filtering capabilities.

    A growing challenge for water treatment

    This long-lasting impact poses a major challenge for water treatment plants that make river water safe to drink. Our study highlights that utilities can’t just plan for a few bad months after a fire. They need to be prepared for potentially eight or more years of degraded water quality.

    We also found that where a fire burns matters. Watersheds with thicker forests or more urban areas that burned tended to have even worse water quality after a fire.

    Since many municipalities draw water from more than one source, understanding which watersheds are likely to have the largest water quality problems after fires can help communities locate the most vulnerable parts of their water supply systems.

    As temperatures rise and more people move into wildland areas in the American West, the risk of wildfires increases, and it is becoming clear that preparing for longer-term consequences is crucial. The health of forests and our communities’ drinking water are inseparably linked, with wildfires casting a shadow that lasts long after the smoke clears.

    Ben Livneh receives funding from the Western Water Assessment NOAA grant #NA21OAR4310309, ‘Western Water Assessment: Building Resilience to Compound Hazards in the Inter-Mountain West’.

    – ref. After the smoke clears, a wildfire’s legacy can haunt rivers for years, putting drinking water at risk – https://theconversation.com/after-the-smoke-clears-a-wildfires-legacy-can-haunt-rivers-for-years-putting-drinking-water-at-risk-259118

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Iran issues stark warning to Trump ‘the gambler’: We will end this war

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called U.S. President Donald Trump a “gambler” for joining Israel’s military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

    Since Trump joined Israel’s campaign by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.

    But while it has continued to fire missiles at Israel, it has yet to take action against the United States itself, either by firing at U.S. bases or by targeting the 20% of global oil shipments that pass near its coast at the mouth of the Gulf.

    “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said on Monday in English at the end of a recorded video statement.

    Iran and Israel traded another wave of air and missile strikes on Monday as the world braced for Tehran’s response.

    Trump’s administration has repeatedly said that its aim is solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, not to open a wider war.

    But in a social media post on Sunday, Trump openly spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 revolution.

    “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote.

    Experts surveying commercial satellite imagery said it appeared that the U.S. attack had severely damaged the site of Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant, built inside a mountain, and possibly destroyed it and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, although there was no independent confirmation.

    Trump called the strike a “Bullseye!!!”.

    “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran,” he wrote. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level.”

    MORE ISRAELI STRIKES

    Israel’s airstrikes on Iran have met little resistance from Iranian defences since Israel launched its surprise attack on June 13, killing many of Iran’s top commanders.

    The Israeli military said on Monday that about 20 jets had conducted a wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran and Tehran overnight. ⁠In Kermanshah, in western Iran, missile and radar infrastructure was targeted, and in Tehran a surface-to-air missile launcher was struck, it said.

    Iranian news agencies reported air defences had been activated in central Tehran districts, and Israeli air strikes had hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.

    Iran says more than 400 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, but has released few images of the damage since the initial days of the bombing. Tehran, a city of 10 million people, has largely emptied, with residents fleeing to the countryside to escape attacks.

    Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on Israel have killed 24 people, all civilians, and injured hundreds, the first time a significant number of Iranian missiles have ever penetrated Israeli defences.

    The Israeli military said a missile launched from Iran in the early hours of Monday had been intercepted by Israeli defences. Air raid sirens blared overnight in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel.

    LIMITED RETALIATION

    Beyond those missiles, Iran’s ability to retaliate is far more limited than a few months ago, since Israel inflicted defeat on Iran’s most feared regional proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose downfall was swiftly followed by that of Iran’s most powerful client ruler, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.

    Iran’s most effective threat to hurt the West would probably be to restrict global oil flows from the Gulf. Oil prices spiked on Monday at their highest since January. But they have not yet shot up to crisis levels, indicating that traders see a path out of the conflict that avoids serious disruption.

    Brent crude futures were down 0.5% to $76.64 a barrel as of 0830 GMT, after briefly jumping above $80 at the opening.

    Iran’s parliament has approved a move to close the Strait of Hormuz that leads into the Gulf, which would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Attempting to strangle the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy’s massive Fifth Fleet that patrols the Gulf from its base in Bahrain.

    “It’s economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

    As Tehran weighed its options, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.

    Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated. TASS news agency later quoted him as saying Iran and Russia were coordinating their positions.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Championship Kicks Off in Mongolia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ULAN BATOR, June 23 (Xinhua) — The 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Championship kicked off in Mongolia’s capital on Monday.

    The ninth edition of this prestigious basketball tournament will feature 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams from countries such as China, Mongolia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. They will compete for the right to become world champions.

    The competition, which runs until Sunday, promises exciting basketball matches with the best teams and players battling for glory. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly

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

    When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the United States attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth.

    Albanese told their joint news conference: “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. And we support action to prevent that. That is what this is.

    “The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran’s nuclear program. We don’t want escalation and a full-scale war. We continue to call for dialogue and for diplomacy. As I’ve said for many days now, we are deeply concerned about any escalation in the region and we want to see diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation.”

    At the news conference and in Wong’s media round beforehand, one big question was, why did they take so long to appear?

    The attack is a seismic event in the Middle East conflict. Yet on Sunday the government only put out a tepid statement attributed to a “spokesperson”, which did not endorse the American action.

    This suggests the prime minister and foreign minister are, at the very least, uncomfortable with the action.

    It is further evidence of the current distance between the Australian government and the Trump administration. Whether it affects Albanese’s attempt to get the now much-sought after bilateral remains to be seen.

    At every stage of the Middle East conflict, as the situation has progressively escalated, the Australian government has been urging restraint and/ or de-escalation.

    Albanese is caught between not wanting to repudiate the Americans, the conflicting pressures of domestic lobbies, and his Labor constituency.

    Over the years, Albanese has moved to the political centre. But he hasn’t taken down from his website a strong speech he made in 2003 opposing the Iraq war.

    “In the short term, the conflict that is now clearly about to start can only make things worse, perhaps much worse,” Albanese told parliament then. “Iraq does not represent a threat to Australia. We are, with this [Howard government] decision, supporting a pre-emptive strike, which changes forever the way that international politics works.”

    In that war and this war, some of the same issues are at play. Iraq was thought to have weapons of mass destruction – later it was found it did not. Iran has long been on the path to developing nuclear weapons, but there are varying intelligence assessments of how much progress it has made.

    One can’t help thinking Albanese probably has the same sort of reservations about the Iran strike that he did about the Iraq war.

    For Australia’s there is one big difference: there is no thought of involving Australian defence forces, as happened in Iraq.

    Former Labor senator Doug Cameron, in parliament from 2008 to 2019 and a firebrand of the left, on Monday recalled how then opposition leader Simon Crean opposed Australia’s support for and participation in the Iraq war. (Crean said, “Never allow our foreign policy to be determined by another nation. Never commit to unnecessary war when peace is possible.”)

    Cameron, now a national patron of Labor Against War, issued several tweets condemning the government’s stand, and saying “time for Labor backbenchers to speak up”.

    But the Labor backbench is far from what it once was. Hardly anyone speaks up to challenge anything. As for the left, it is a shadow of its old feisty self.

    “What has happened to the left?” Cameron asks. “To be honest I don’t understand it,” he admits to The Conversation.

    Cameron recalls how the left – and indeed the wider caucus – was up in arms when Bob Hawke in the mid-1980s wanted Australia to facilitate the Americans’ testing of MX missiles that would splash down in the Tasman Sea. Hawke had to back down.

    He wonders if it’s a matter of not wanting to contradict a “left prime minister, and a left foreign minister”. “Personal support and party solidarity have come before common sense.”

    There are many causes of the demise of the ALP left, as Cameron knew it. They include the loss of what power Labor’s rank-and-file once had, the splintering of the left more broadly to minor parties notably the Greens, and the decline of ideology within Labor (and generally). There is no current “Doug Cameron”-equivalent in the caucus. The factions no longer fight over ideas – they preside over spoils.

    Those who contest the thesis of the decline of the left argue the contemporary Labor left has been shaping the Albanese government’s agenda on key issues from within, for example on industrial relations, industry policy, climate policy, and gender issues.

    If the Albanese of 2003 could have foreseen what the caucus left of 2025 would be like, he’d have been surprised, and possibly shocked. As it is, he’s pretty pleased the left is so quietly behaved.

    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. View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-albanese-supports-us-bombing-reluctantly-258967

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Development Asia: Cooling Without Warming: Policy Solutions for Asia’s Rising Cooling Demand

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Develop an effective legislative framework for climate-friendly cooling.

    For developing Asia, establishing a robust legislative framework is essential to enable climate-friendly cooling. Best practices from advanced economies, such as the European Union (EU), Japan, and the United States, can inform the development of integrated energy conservation and clean air legislation to support commitments to carbon reduction and the phaseout of high-GWP refrigerants. A strong legislative foundation allows for the phased implementation of more specific policies and measures.

    Within such frameworks, several countries and regions have developed sector-level strategies and action plans. Examples include the EU’s Heating and Cooling Strategy and the PRC’s National Green Cooling Action Plan, which enforce targeted measures and standards. Others have launched directives and programs focused on deploying low-carbon cooling technologies in buildings, households, and appliances, such as California’s Building Energy Benchmarking Program, Home Energy Rating System, and Energy Partnership Program. Some jurisdictions have also integrated cooling sector policies with renewable energy initiatives, such as the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.

    Improve standards and labeling systems, and enhance compliance with efficiency standards.

    Governments across Asia should consider establishing minimum energy efficiency standards for cooling appliances and phasing out outdated or inefficient equipment. Japan’s Top Runner Program offers a valuable model—setting energy efficiency requirements based on the most efficient product currently available in the market. These standards should be regularly reviewed and progressively tightened. Benchmarking against the most stringent global standards and developing a clear timeline for alignment can help accelerate progress.

    Enforcing a mandatory labeling system is also highly beneficial. Energy labels provide consumers with essential information about the energy performance and refrigerant type of air-conditioning and refrigeration products, enabling more informed purchasing decisions. To be effective, this information should be prominently displayed and easily understood by the average consumer.

    Promote low-carbon cooling in public buildings.

    Governments can support this goal by implementing procurement policies that prioritize low-carbon cooling equipment in the public sector. For example, the government of the PRC maintains a catalog of recommended energy-saving products for government procurement, which includes high-efficiency air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Public institutions are encouraged to prioritize items from this list when purchasing energy-consuming equipment. Regular updates to the catalog are essential to ensure that selected products maintain optimal energy performance and continue to deliver environmental benefits.

    Governments can also introduce policies and pilot programs to integrate renewable energy into public sector cooling systems. For instance, regulations could require that a minimum percentage of available rooftop or surface area on public buildings be dedicated to photovoltaic (solar) power generation.

    Develop incentive policies to encourage behavior change.

    For low-carbon cooling projects that are not yet widely adopted but offer significant social and environmental benefits, governments should prioritize providing incentives and support to scale up their implementation. For example, the Japanese government has promoted the use of low-GWP natural refrigerants as alternatives to HFCs. However, adoption has been limited due to high upfront costs. To address this, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment offers subsidies covering a portion of the machinery and installation costs for companies that replace or install equipment using natural refrigerants, thereby encouraging the transition to more climate-friendly refrigeration technologies.

    Governments should design incentive policies that motivate individuals to adopt energy-efficient behaviors. The PRC, through its Green and High Energy Efficiency Cooling Action Plan, encourages local governments to introduce incentives for purchasing high-efficiency cooling appliances. These may include rebates for energy-efficient products and trade-in programs that allow consumers to exchange low-efficiency appliances for more efficient alternatives.

    Monitor and regulate refrigerants and cooling equipment from a life-cycle perspective

    Governments should require the registration of all stages of high-GWP refrigerant handling, including production, import, sale, and recycling. Additionally, mandatory regular leak inspections and maintenance record-keeping for existing cooling equipment should be enforced.

    Finance large-scale deployment.

    One effective strategy is to establish co-financing mechanisms through partnerships among the public sector, multilateral development banks, and private investors. By leveraging government incentive funds and concessional loans from development banks, these partnerships can unlock commercial capital and reduce financial barriers.

    Creating revolving loan funds dedicated to low-carbon cooling projects can also expand financing opportunities. These funds can provide continuous support for new initiatives by reinvesting repayments into future projects, thereby sustaining momentum and scaling up deployment across regions.

    Take an integrated approach and encourage collective efforts.

    Policy solutions for climate-friendly cooling should be designed as part of a holistic package. This means that regulations, policies, standards, and tools must be coordinated to support and reinforce one another, rather than functioning in isolation.

    For example, under its net-zero emissions commitment, the EU has implemented a suite of interconnected regulations including the Energy Efficiency Directive, Renewable Energy Directive, Industrial Emissions Directive, European Commission-mandated regulations, and governance regulations. These high-level frameworks are complemented by specific policy measures and initiatives that ensure effective implementation and alignment across sectors.

    Build capacity for low-carbon cooling.

    Capacity building and knowledge dissemination are key for promoting energy efficiency improvements. Governments in Asia can take policy measures (e.g., promoting the use of appropriate cost–benefit assessment tools) to help customers understand that the long-term economic losses from using low-efficiency equipment often outweigh the initial investment in high-efficiency alternatives.

    Poor operational management also contributes to unnecessary energy waste. Therefore, capacity-building efforts should focus on equipping users with the skills needed to manage and operate cooling equipment more efficiently.

    It is also necessary to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to address the financing gaps that hinder the adoption of low-carbon cooling technologies.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: City cruise into Club World Cup knockouts with 6-0 win

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

    Manchester City and Juventus reached the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday while Real Madrid moved closer with a gritty win over Pachuca despite playing nearly the entire match with 10 men.

    Pachuca, Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca joined previously eliminated Auckland City, Ulsan, Urawa Red Diamonds and Los Angeles FC in exiting the tournament in the United States.

    In Philadelphia, 20-year-old Turkiye international forward Kenan Yildiz scored twice as Juventus routed Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 4-1 to clinch a knockout phase spot with a game to spare.

    Abdelmounaim Boutouil gifted the Italian club the lead with a sixth-minute own goal and Yildiz doubled the advantage by thumping a 20-yard effort into the top-right corner.

    Thembinkosi Lorch narrowed the deficit, lifting a shot over goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio after Nordin Amrabat’s defense-splitting pass.

    The impressive Yildiz made it 3-1 as he wrong-footed Boutouil before calmly side-footing into the far corner.

    Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic put the result beyond doubt by converting a 94th-minute penalty after being fouled by Guilherme Ferreira.

    Juventus now has six points from its two games while Wydad is eliminated irrespective of its last group-stage fixture against Al Ain.

    “It was a different kind of match, also because of the [early] kick-off time and the tempo was lower,” Juventus manager Igor Tudor said afterwards. “They had prepared for us as well. We scored early and that helped us. But in football, you never know, you always have to stay alert.

    “I’m never calm, not even at 3-1 or 4-1. I always see danger. Credit to the boys, two good wins. Tonight they’ll have an evening off and a dinner out. They’ve earned it. Now we prepare for City, which will be a great challenge,” he added.

    In Charlotte, Real Madrid registered its first win of the tournament with a 3-1 defeat of Mexican side Pachuca.

    The Spanish giants were reduced to 10 men in the seventh minute after Raul Asencio was shown a straight red card for pulling down Salomon Rondon when the Venezuela international was through on goal.

    Despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Madrid took the lead through Jude Bellingham, who charged into the box after Fran Garcia’s pass before lashing low into the far corner.

    Arda Guler doubled the lead with a clinical finish after combining with Gonzalo Garcia and Federico Valverde made it 3-0 by volleying home at the far post following Brahim Diaz’s lofted pass.

    Pachuca pulled one back through Elias Montiel’s deflected strike 10 minutes from time.

    The victory lifted Real Madrid to the top of Group H with four points while Pachuca is last and cannot advance to the next stage.

    “We had to defend with one less player in a low block and in that situation you have to know how to suffer and have the humility to find the right moment,” Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said.

    “We weren’t able to show what we’ve been working on but the defensive line held strong and we had good periods of possession. We took a lot of positives from the game, especially the three points.”

    In Atlanta, Ilkay Gundogan struck twice as Manchester City trounced Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates 6-0.

    Claudio Echeverri, Oscar Bobb, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland were also on target – the latter from the penalty spot – as City secured its place in the next round.

    Al Ain had only 26% of the possession and managed only one shot on target, sealing its early exit from the competition.

    “We spoke a lot before the game about how to maintain our pressure so that we could score the goals that we did,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said.

    “The guys that played today took their opportunity. We are fortunate to have a lot of talented players that are waiting for their chance.”

    In Sunday’s other fixture, Austria’s RB Salzburg drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal at Audi Field in Washington D.C.

    Al Hilal had 58 percent of the total possession but managed only four shots on target while Salzburg had six attempts saved by Morocco international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

    The result leaves Salzburg second in Group H with four points, two ahead of third-placed Al Hila

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese AAA role-playing game eyes global release amid industry growth

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

    Riding the wave of global interest ignited by “Black Myth: Wukong,” another Chinese-developed AAA role-playing game, “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers,” is now set to step onto the international stage.

    Developed by Chengdu Lingze Technology Co., Ltd. based in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” is set for global release on July 24. The game soared to the top of Steam’s China bestseller chart on its pre-order debut this April and ranked eighth worldwide, drawing significant attention from players around the globe.

    Set in a mythic world inspired by ancient Chinese legends, “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” invites players to step into the shoes of a lone female warrior, embarking on a journey through towering mountains, ancient temples and forgotten ruins, in a quest to uncover lost memories and hidden truths.

    The game draws heavily from the ancient Shu civilization, a prominent culture in southwest China known for its distinctive bronze masks and archaeological sites such as Sanxingdui, according to Guo Xinyi, CFO of Lingze Technology.

    To authentically bring this world to life, the development team at Lingze Technology conducted six years of extensive field research, including 3D scanning at dozens of cultural and historical sites — like the Anyue Stone Carvings and Taoping Village in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The result is a vivid recreation of these ancient landmarks within the game.

    Drawing inspiration from classical texts such as “The Classic of Mountains and Seas,” the developers also integrated regional myths and local legends to craft a unique and immersive cultural atmosphere.

    The developers view the project as a fusion of gameplay and cultural narrative, ensuring it is both captivating and firmly grounded in Chinese tradition.

    “We wanted to make a game that is, above all, fun to play,” said Xia Siyuan, CTO and game producer at Lingze Technology. “We believe that only when players truly enjoy the game will they be motivated to explore the cultural stories behind it.”

    “The ancient Shu civilization was a natural foundation for us to build this world upon,” Xia added. “We want the world to see that Chinese culture is full of creative potential.”

    “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” is set to launch on major global platforms, including Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, the studio said. Industry insiders see the game as a potential milestone in China’s push to expand its footprint in the global AAA gaming market.

    AAA games, typically defined as requiring a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of resources, are high-cost, high-quality, large-scale single-player titles. The market has long been dominated by developers from countries such as Japan, the United States and France.

    The upcoming release of “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” is part of a broader trend toward diversification and rising quality in China’s gaming industry. Other highly anticipated Chinese titles include “Showa American Story,” “Lost Soul Aside” and upcoming downloadable content for “Black Myth: Wukong.”

    China is the world’s largest gaming market, with domestic sales revenue surpassing 325 billion yuan (about 45.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024. Also, the 2024 China gaming industry report showed that China had 674 million gamers, while domestically developed games achieved overseas sales of 18.56 billion dollars last year, indicating the increasing international influence of Chinese games. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Statement on President Trump’s Strikes Against Iran

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 22, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday released the following statement on President Trump’s illegal ordering of strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran without congressional authorization:

    “Donald Trump, a weak and dangerously reckless president, has put the United States on a path to a war in the Middle East that the country does not want, the law does not allow, and our security does not demand.

    “Our president knows nothing about history. And history tells us that the United States’ hubris about the efficacy of military action in the Middle East is almost universally wrong. Trump has been goaded into these strikes by the perpetual cheerleaders of war in the Middle East – the people who know how to start conflicts there but never know how to end them, and the people who profit – politically and financially – from endless war.

    “I’ve been briefed on the intelligence – there is no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. That makes this attack illegal. Only Congress can declare preemptive war, and we should vote as soon as possible on legislation to explicitly deny President Trump the authorization to drag us into a conflict in Middle East that could get countless Americans killed and waste trillions of dollars. All my thoughts tonight are for the safety of our personnel in the region.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s UN Ambassador Condemns US Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    “Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.

    According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

    Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.

    He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.

    “With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.

    “The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s UN Ambassador Condemns US Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    “Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.

    According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

    Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.

    He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.

    “With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.

    “The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on U.S. Military Action in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on President Trump’s unilateral military action in Iran:
     
    “Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization. I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the Administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US advises overseas citizens to exercise increased caution

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

    The U.S. State Department on Sunday issued a Worldwide Caution Security Alert, advising U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.

    “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” said the notice posted on the State Department’s website.

    “There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution,” it said.

    The United States struck three key nuclear facilities in Iran on Saturday, claiming that it had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program.

    Late Saturday night, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any retaliation by Iran against the United States “will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”

    The State Department last week warned U.S. travelers not to travel to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank because of armed conflict, terrorism and civil unrest.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Oil surges to five-month high after US hits Iran’s key nuclear sites

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest since January as the United States’ weekend move to join Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities stoked supply concerns.

    Brent crude futures were up $1.52 or 1.97% to $78.53 a barrel as of 0503 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.51 or 2.04% to $75.35.

    Both contracts jumped by more than 3% earlier in the session to $81.40 and $78.40, respectively, touching five-month highs before giving up some gains.

    The rise in prices came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had “obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites in strikes over the weekend, joining an Israeli assault in an escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself.

    Iran is OPEC’s third-largest crude producer.

    Market participants expect further price gains amid mounting fears that an Iranian retaliation may include a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global crude supply flows.

    “The current geopolitical escalation provides the fundamental catalyst for (Brent) prices to traverse higher and potentially spiral towards $100, with $120 per barrel appearing increasingly plausible,” said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of New Delhi-based research firm SS WealthStreet.

    Iran’s Press TV reported that the Iranian parliament had approved a measure to close the strait. Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait but has never followed through.

    Iran and Israel exchanged air and missile strikes on Monday, as global tensions rose over Tehran’s expected response to a U.S. attack on its nuclear facilities.

    “The risks of damage to oil infrastructure … have multiplied,” said Sparta Commodities senior analyst June Goh.

    Although there are alternative pipeline routes out of the region, there will still be crude volume that cannot be fully exported out if the Strait of Hormuz becomes inaccessible. Shippers will increasingly stay out of the region, she added.

    Goldman Sachs said in a Sunday report that Brent could briefly peak at $110 per barrel if oil flows through the critical waterway were halved for a month, and remain down by 10% for the following 11 months.

    The bank still assumed no significant disruption to oil and natural gas supply, adding global incentives to try and prevent a sustained and very large disruption.

    Brent has risen 13% since the conflict began on June 13, while WTI has gained around 10%.

    Given the Strait of Hormuz is indispensable for Iran’s own oil exports, which are a vital source of its national revenues, a sustained closure would inflict severe economic damage on Iran itself, making it a double-edged sword, Sachdeva added.

    Meanwhile, Japan on Monday called for de-escalation of the conflict in Iran, while a South Korean vice industry minister voiced concern over the potential impact of the strikes on the country’s trade.

    (Reuters)

  • US strikes on Iran leave hopes for nuclear diplomacy in tatters

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,In a bid to defuse the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, foreign ministers from Europe’s top three powers hurried to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva.

    Those hopes collapsed on Saturday when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran’s three main nuclear sites, in support of Israel’s military campaign.

    “It’s irrelevant to ask Iran to return to diplomacy,” Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, visibly angry, told reporters in Istanbul on Sunday, promising a “response” to the U.S. strikes. “It’s not time for diplomacy now.”

    Trump, who said the U.S. airstrikes “obliterated” the sites, warned in a televised speech on Saturday the U.S. could attack other targets in Iran if no peace deal was reached and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table.

    Reuters spoke to seven Western diplomats and analysts who said the prospect of negotiations was negligible for now, with an unbridgeable gap between Washington’s demand for zero enrichment by Iran and Tehran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program.

    “I think the prospects of effective diplomacy at this point are slim to none,” said James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank headquartered in Washington.

    “I’m much more worried about escalation, both in the short and the long term.”

    According to European diplomats, the three European allies – Britain, France and Germany – were not made aware of Trump’s decision to strike Iran ahead of time. French President Emmanuel Macron had promised on Saturday – just before the U.S. strikes – to accelerate the nuclear talks, following a call with his Iranian counterpart.

    One European diplomat, who asked not to be identified, acknowledged there was now no way of holding a planned second meeting with Iran in the coming week.

    In the wake of the U.S. military action, any European diplomatic role appears likely to be secondary. Trump on Friday dismissed Europe’s efforts towards resolving the crisis, saying Iran only wanted to speak to the United States.

    Three diplomats and analysts said any future talks between Iran and Washington would likely be through regional intermediaries Oman and Qatar, once Tehran decides how to respond to the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

    The attacks leave Iran with few palatable options on the table. Since Israel began its military campaign against Iran on June 13, some in Tehran have raised the prospect of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to signal Iran’s determination to accelerate enrichment, but experts say that would represent a considerable escalation and likely draw a forceful response from Washington.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said Iran’s most obvious means for retaliation is its short-range ballistic missiles, that could be used to target U.S. forces and assets in the region. But any military response by Iran carried the risk of miscalculation, he said.

    “On the one hand, they want a strong enough response that they feel the U.S. has actually paid a price. On the other hand, they don’t want to encourage further escalation,” he said.

    EUROPEAN EFFORT ENDED IN FAILURE

    Even before the U.S. strikes, Friday’s talks in Geneva showed little sign of progress amid a chasm between the two sides and in the end no detailed proposals were put forward, three diplomats said. Mixed messaging may have also undermined their own efforts, diplomats said.

    European positions on key issues like Iran’s enrichment program have hardened in the past 10 days with the Israeli strikes and the looming threat of U.S. bombing.

    The three European powers, known as the E3, were parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned three years later during his first term.

    Both the Europeans and Tehran believed they had a better understanding of how to get a realistic deal given the E3 have been dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme since 2003.

    But the Europeans have had a difficult relationship with Iran in recent months as they sought to pressure it over its ballistic missiles programme, support for Russia and detention of European citizens.

    France, which was the keenest to pursue negotiations, has in the last few days suggested Iran should move towards zero enrichment, which until now was not an E3 demand given Iran’s red line on the issue, two European diplomats said.

    Britain has also adopted a tougher stance more in tune with Washington and that was expressed in Geneva, the diplomats said. And Germany’s new government appeared to go in the same direction, although it was more nuanced.

    “Iran has to accept zero enrichment eventually,” said one EU official.

    A senior Iranian official on Saturday showed disappointment at the Europeans’ new stance, saying their demands were “unrealistic”, without providing further details.

    In a brief joint statement on Sunday, which acknowledged the U.S. strikes, the European countries said they would continue their diplomatic efforts.

    “We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program,” it said, adding the Europeans stood ready to contribute “in coordination with all parties”.

    David Khalfa, co-founder of the Atlantic Middle East Forum, a Paris-based think tank, said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s government had taken advantage of the Europeans for years to gain time as it developed its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.

    “The European attempt ended in failure,” he said.
    However, the Europeans still have one important card to play. They are the only ones who, as party to the nuclear accord, can launch its so-called “snapback mechanism”, which would reimpose all previous UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in violation of the agreement’s terms.

    Diplomats said, prior to the U.S. strikes, the three countries had discussed an end-August deadline to activate it as part of a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Tehran.

    “MULTIPLE CHANNELS” FOR U.S. TALKS

    In total, the U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions, including more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and more than 125 military aircraft in the operation against the three nuclear sites, U.S. officials said.

    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday warned Iran against retaliation and said both public and private messages had been sent to Iran “in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table.”

    Five previous rounds of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed after a U.S. proposal at the end of May called for Iran to abandon uranium enrichment. It was rejected by Tehran, leading to Israel launching its attack on Iran after Trump’s 60-day deadline for talks had expired.

    Iran has repeatedly said from then on that it would not negotiate while at war.

    Even after Israel struck, Washington reached out to Iran to resume negotiations, including offering a meeting between the Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Istanbul, according to two European diplomats and an Iranian official.

    That was rebuffed by Iran, but Araqchi did continue direct contacts with US Special envoy Steve Witkoff, three diplomats told Reuters.

    One of the challenges in engaging with Iran, experts say, is that no-one can be sure of the extent of the damage to its nuclear program. With the IAEA severely restricted in its access to Iranian sites, it is unclear whether Tehran has hidden enrichment facilities.

    A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow, the site producing the bulk of Iran’s uranium refined to up to 60%, had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack there.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said that – putting aside from the damage to its physical installations – Iran had thousands of scientists and technicians involved in the enrichment program, most of whom had survived the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
    “You can’t bomb knowledge,” said Acton.

    (Reuters)

  • US strikes on Iran leave hopes for nuclear diplomacy in tatters

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,Iran, Israel, United States, Donald Trump, missile strikes, nuclear sites,In a bid to defuse the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, foreign ministers from Europe’s top three powers hurried to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva.

    Those hopes collapsed on Saturday when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran’s three main nuclear sites, in support of Israel’s military campaign.

    “It’s irrelevant to ask Iran to return to diplomacy,” Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, visibly angry, told reporters in Istanbul on Sunday, promising a “response” to the U.S. strikes. “It’s not time for diplomacy now.”

    Trump, who said the U.S. airstrikes “obliterated” the sites, warned in a televised speech on Saturday the U.S. could attack other targets in Iran if no peace deal was reached and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table.

    Reuters spoke to seven Western diplomats and analysts who said the prospect of negotiations was negligible for now, with an unbridgeable gap between Washington’s demand for zero enrichment by Iran and Tehran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program.

    “I think the prospects of effective diplomacy at this point are slim to none,” said James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank headquartered in Washington.

    “I’m much more worried about escalation, both in the short and the long term.”

    According to European diplomats, the three European allies – Britain, France and Germany – were not made aware of Trump’s decision to strike Iran ahead of time. French President Emmanuel Macron had promised on Saturday – just before the U.S. strikes – to accelerate the nuclear talks, following a call with his Iranian counterpart.

    One European diplomat, who asked not to be identified, acknowledged there was now no way of holding a planned second meeting with Iran in the coming week.

    In the wake of the U.S. military action, any European diplomatic role appears likely to be secondary. Trump on Friday dismissed Europe’s efforts towards resolving the crisis, saying Iran only wanted to speak to the United States.

    Three diplomats and analysts said any future talks between Iran and Washington would likely be through regional intermediaries Oman and Qatar, once Tehran decides how to respond to the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

    The attacks leave Iran with few palatable options on the table. Since Israel began its military campaign against Iran on June 13, some in Tehran have raised the prospect of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to signal Iran’s determination to accelerate enrichment, but experts say that would represent a considerable escalation and likely draw a forceful response from Washington.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said Iran’s most obvious means for retaliation is its short-range ballistic missiles, that could be used to target U.S. forces and assets in the region. But any military response by Iran carried the risk of miscalculation, he said.

    “On the one hand, they want a strong enough response that they feel the U.S. has actually paid a price. On the other hand, they don’t want to encourage further escalation,” he said.

    EUROPEAN EFFORT ENDED IN FAILURE

    Even before the U.S. strikes, Friday’s talks in Geneva showed little sign of progress amid a chasm between the two sides and in the end no detailed proposals were put forward, three diplomats said. Mixed messaging may have also undermined their own efforts, diplomats said.

    European positions on key issues like Iran’s enrichment program have hardened in the past 10 days with the Israeli strikes and the looming threat of U.S. bombing.

    The three European powers, known as the E3, were parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned three years later during his first term.

    Both the Europeans and Tehran believed they had a better understanding of how to get a realistic deal given the E3 have been dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme since 2003.

    But the Europeans have had a difficult relationship with Iran in recent months as they sought to pressure it over its ballistic missiles programme, support for Russia and detention of European citizens.

    France, which was the keenest to pursue negotiations, has in the last few days suggested Iran should move towards zero enrichment, which until now was not an E3 demand given Iran’s red line on the issue, two European diplomats said.

    Britain has also adopted a tougher stance more in tune with Washington and that was expressed in Geneva, the diplomats said. And Germany’s new government appeared to go in the same direction, although it was more nuanced.

    “Iran has to accept zero enrichment eventually,” said one EU official.

    A senior Iranian official on Saturday showed disappointment at the Europeans’ new stance, saying their demands were “unrealistic”, without providing further details.

    In a brief joint statement on Sunday, which acknowledged the U.S. strikes, the European countries said they would continue their diplomatic efforts.

    “We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program,” it said, adding the Europeans stood ready to contribute “in coordination with all parties”.

    David Khalfa, co-founder of the Atlantic Middle East Forum, a Paris-based think tank, said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s government had taken advantage of the Europeans for years to gain time as it developed its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.

    “The European attempt ended in failure,” he said.
    However, the Europeans still have one important card to play. They are the only ones who, as party to the nuclear accord, can launch its so-called “snapback mechanism”, which would reimpose all previous UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in violation of the agreement’s terms.

    Diplomats said, prior to the U.S. strikes, the three countries had discussed an end-August deadline to activate it as part of a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Tehran.

    “MULTIPLE CHANNELS” FOR U.S. TALKS

    In total, the U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions, including more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and more than 125 military aircraft in the operation against the three nuclear sites, U.S. officials said.

    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday warned Iran against retaliation and said both public and private messages had been sent to Iran “in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table.”

    Five previous rounds of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed after a U.S. proposal at the end of May called for Iran to abandon uranium enrichment. It was rejected by Tehran, leading to Israel launching its attack on Iran after Trump’s 60-day deadline for talks had expired.

    Iran has repeatedly said from then on that it would not negotiate while at war.

    Even after Israel struck, Washington reached out to Iran to resume negotiations, including offering a meeting between the Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Istanbul, according to two European diplomats and an Iranian official.

    That was rebuffed by Iran, but Araqchi did continue direct contacts with US Special envoy Steve Witkoff, three diplomats told Reuters.

    One of the challenges in engaging with Iran, experts say, is that no-one can be sure of the extent of the damage to its nuclear program. With the IAEA severely restricted in its access to Iranian sites, it is unclear whether Tehran has hidden enrichment facilities.

    A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow, the site producing the bulk of Iran’s uranium refined to up to 60%, had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack there.

    Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment, said that – putting aside from the damage to its physical installations – Iran had thousands of scientists and technicians involved in the enrichment program, most of whom had survived the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
    “You can’t bomb knowledge,” said Acton.

    (Reuters)

  • Satellite images indicate severe damage to Fordow, but doubts remain

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commercial satellite imagery indicates the U.S. attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged – and possibly destroyed – the deeply-buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but there was no confirmation, experts said on Sunday.

    “They just punched through with these MOPs,” said David Albright, a former U.N. nuclear inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, referring to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bombs that the U.S. said it dropped. “I would expect that the facility is probably toast.”

    But confirmation of the below-ground destruction could not be determined, noted Decker Eveleth, an associate researcher with the CNA Corporation who specializes in satellite imagery. The hall containing hundreds of centrifuges is “too deeply buried for us to evaluate the level of damage based on satellite imagery,” he said.

    To defend against attacks such as the one conducted by U.S. forces early on Sunday, Iran buried much of its nuclear program in fortified sites deep underground, including into the side of a mountain at Fordow.

    Satellite images show six holes where the bunker-busting bombs appear to have penetrated the mountain, and then ground that looks disturbed and covered in dust.

    The United States and Israel have said they intend to halt Tehran’s nuclear program. But a failure to completely destroy its facilities and equipment could mean Iran could more easily restart the weapons program that U.S. intelligence and the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say it shuttered in 2003.

    ‘UNUSUAL ACTIVITY’

    Several experts also cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike early Sunday morning and could be hiding it and other nuclear components in locations unknown to Israel, the U.S. and U.N. nuclear inspectors.

    They noted satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showing “unusual activity” at Fordow on Thursday and Friday, with a long line of vehicles waiting outside an entrance of the facility. A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack.

    “I don’t think you can with great confidence do anything but set back their nuclear program by maybe a few years,” said Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. “There’s almost certainly facilities that we don’t know about.”

    Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat and member of the Senate intelligence committee who said he had been reviewing intelligence every day, expressed the same concern.

    “My big fear right now is that they take this entire program underground, not physically underground, but under the radar,” he told NBC News. “Where we tried to stop it, there is a possibility that this could accelerate it.”

    Iran long has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

    But in response to Israel’s attacks, Iran’s parliament is threatening to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the cornerstone of the international system that went into force in 1970 to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, ending cooperation with the IAEA.

    “The world is going to be in the dark about what Iran may be doing,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group.

    ‘DOUBLE TAP’

    Reuters spoke to four experts who reviewed Maxar Technologies satellite imagery of Fordow showing six neatly spaced holes in two groups in the mountain ridge beneath which the hall containing the centrifuges is believed to be located.

    General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that seven B-2 bombers dropped 14 GBU-57/B MOPs, 30,000-pound precision-guided bombs designed to drive up to 200 feet into hardened underground facilities like Fordow, according to a 2012 congressional report.

    Caine said initial assessments indicated that the sites suffered extremely severe damage, but declined to speculate about whether any nuclear facilities remained intact.

    Eveleth said the Maxar imagery of Fordow and Caine’s comments indicated that the B-2s dropped an initial load of six MOPs on Fordow, followed by a “double tap” of six more in the exact same spots.

    Operation Midnight Hammer also targeted Tehran’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, he said, and struck in Isfahan, the location of the country’s largest nuclear research center. There are other nuclear-related sites near the city.

    Israel had already struck Natanz and the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center in its 10-day war with Iran.

    Albright said in a post on X that Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery showed that U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles severely damaged a uranium facility at Isfahan and an impact hole above the underground enrichment halls at Natanz reportedly caused by a Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bomb that “likely destroyed the facility.”

    Albright questioned the U.S. use of cruise missiles in Isfahan, saying that those weapons could not penetrate a tunnel complex near the main nuclear research center believed to be even deeper than Fordow. The IAEA said the tunnel entrances “were impacted.”

    He noted that Iran recently informed the IAEA that it planned to install a new uranium enrichment plant in Isfahan.

    “There may be 2,000 to 3,000 more centrifuges that were slated to go into this new enrichment plant,” he said. “Where are they?”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University

    After the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear facilities on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said its objective was a “stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”.

    US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this justification, saying:

    The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interest posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defence of our troops and our ally Israel.

    Is this a legitimate justification for a state to launch an attack on another?

    I believe, looking at the evidence, it is not.

    Was it self defence?

    Under the UN Charter, there are two ways in which a state can lawfully use force against another state:

    • the UN Security Council authorises force in exceptional circumstances to restore or maintain international peace and security under Chapter 7

    • the right of self defence when a state is attacked by another, as outlined in Article 51.

    On the first point, there was no UN Security Council authorisation for either Israel or the US to launch an attack on Iran to maintain international peace and security. The security council has long been concerned about Iran’s nuclear program and adopted a series of resolutions related to it. However, none of those resolutions authorised the use of military force.

    With regard to self defence, this right is activated if there is an armed attack against a nation. And there’s no evidence of any recent Iranian attacks on the US.

    There have been incidents involving attacks on US assets by Iranian-backed proxy groups in the region, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah. In his address to the nation on Saturday night, Trump made reference to historical incidents the US believes the Iranians were responsible for over the years.

    However, none of these actions is directly related to the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    What about a preemptive strike?

    Another possible ground the US can use to mount a case for its bombardments is anticipatory or preemptive self defence.

    Both of these aspects of self defence are controversial. They have never been clearly endorsed by the UN Security Council or the International Court of Justice.

    The US has sought to assert a fairly wide-ranging, robust interpretation of the right of self defence over many years, including both anticipatory self defence and preemptive self defence (which is particularly relevant in the Iran strikes).

    The major point of distinction between the two is whether a potential attack is imminent. Anticipatory self defence is in response to an attack on the brink of happening, such as when armed forces are massing on a border. Preemptive self defence is a step further removed, before a genuine threat materialises.

    Famously, in 2002, the administration of President George W. Bush adopted what is known as the “Bush doctrine” following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

    This doctrine was framed around the notion of preemptive self defence justifying a strike on another nation. This was one of the grounds the US used to justify its military intervention of Iraq in 2003 – that Iraq’s alleged program of weapons of mass destruction posed an imminent threat to the US.

    However, this justification was widely discredited when no evidence of these weapons was found.

    Did Iran pose an imminent threat?

    With regard to Iran’s nuclear program, an imminent threat would require two things: Iran having nuclear weapons capability, and an intent to use them.

    On capability, there have been debates about Iran’s transparency with respect to its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    But, importantly, the IAEA is the body that has the authorisation and capability to make judgements about a nation’s nuclear program. And it said, at this point in time, Iran did not yet have nuclear weapons capability.

    As Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA told the BBC:

    […]whereas until the early 2000s there used to be […] a structured and systematic effort in the direction of a nuclear device, that is not the case now.

    Trump’s statement in which he referred to the US military operation against Iran’s “nuclear enrichment facilities” was particularly striking. There was no reference to weapons. So, even the language coming out of the White House does not make reference to Iran possessing weapons at this point in time.

    Trump’s address to the nation after the Iran strikes.

    Further, many states have nuclear weapons capability, but they’re not necessarily showing intent to use them.

    Iran has a long track record of aggressive rhetoric against Israel and the US. But the critical question here is whether this equates to an intent to strike.

    What about collective defence?

    Israel began its military campaign against Iran on June 13, also arguing for the need for anticipatory or preemptive self defence to counter the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.

    If Israel is exercising its right to self defence consistently with the UN Charter, as it claims, it can legitimately call on the assistance of its allies to mount what is known as “collective self defence” against an attack.

    On all the available evidence, there’s no doubt the Israelis and Americans coordinated with respect to the US strikes on June 22. At face value, this is a case of collective self defence.

    But, importantly, this right is only valid under international law if the original Israeli right to self defence is legitimate.

    And here, we encounter the same legal difficulties as we do with the US claim of self defence. Israel’s claim of an imminent attack from Iran is very dubious and contentious on the facts.



    Read more:
    Are Israel’s actions in Iran illegal? Could it be called self-defence? An international law expert explains

    A concerning precedent

    The overarching concern is these strikes can set a precedent. Other states can use this interpretation of the right of self defence to launch anticipatory or preemptive strikes against other nations any time they want.

    If this practice is allowed to go unchecked and is not subject to widespread condemnation, it can seen by the international community as an endorsement – that this type of conduct is legitimate.

    There are many states acquiring conventional weapons that could be seen to pose a potential threat to their neighbours or other states. And there are several states considering the acquisition of nuclear weapons.

    One example is Japan, where there has been some debate about nuclear weapons as a deterrence to future possible threats from China.

    So, how might Japan’s actions be seen by its neighbours – namely China and North Korea? And how might these countries respond in light of the precedent that’s been set by the US and Israel?

    Should Australia condemn the US strikes?

    Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has come out in support for the US action, saying “we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon”. She hasn’t, however, addressed the legality of the US strikes.

    The Albanese government should be discussing this. There’s an expectation, in particular, on the part of Labor governments, given former leader Doc Evatt’s role in the creation of the UN Charter, that they show strong support for the rules-based international order.

    Labor governments were very critical of the way in which the Howard government engaged in the US-led invasion of Iraq, asserting there was no basis for it under international law.

    Accordingly, there’s an expectation that Labor governments should be holding all states accountable for egregious breaches of international law. And, when viewed through the lens of international law, there’s no other way you can characterise the US strikes on Iran.

    Donald Rothwell receives funding from Australian Research Council

    – ref. Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent – https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-strikes-on-iran-are-illegal-and-can-set-a-troubling-precedent-259542

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Electronics Standards and Certifications Leader Unveils New Vision and Mission for Supply Chain Harmonization and Advocacy, Releases Global Trade Flows Study

    BANNOCKBURN, Ill., June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.

    “The Board’s support and approval of this transformation shows our collective recognition that the electronics industry has fundamentally changed. The Association has expanded well beyond its beginning in printed circuit boards – we’re enabling AI, autonomous vehicles, next-generation communications, and much more,” said Tom Edman, board chair of the Global Electronics Association and president and CEO of TTM Technologies. “As we chart our path forward with our new name, we will continue and elevate our efforts to build partnerships between governments and industries, foster new investment, drive innovation across the industry, and minimize disruptions in the electronics supply chain.”

    As part of its new mission, the Association is increasing resources to strengthen advocacy, deepen industry insights, and enhance stakeholder communications — all aimed at advancing and elevating the electronics industry. To champion a resilient and growing supply chain, the Association represents the entire ecosystem of diverse subsectors that contribute to this complex industry.

    “Electronics today are the backbone of all industries, which makes its supply chain crucial to economies, governments, and everyday life,” said Dr. John W. Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. “Our new mission and vision position us to work more deeply with industry and our members globally to advocate for the importance of electronics in our continuously changing world.”

    The Global Electronics Association will retain the IPC brand for the industry’s standards and certification programs, which are vital to ensure product reliability and consistency. The IPC Education Foundation is now known as the Electronics Foundation, continuing to focus on solving the talent challenges for the electronics industry.

    Global Electronics Trade Flows
    The Global Electronics Association also released a trade flows study of the global electronics industry, which now represents more than $1 in every $5 of global merchandise trade.

    Key findings include:

    • Electronics supply chains are more globally integrated than any other industry, surpassing even the automotive sector in cross-border complexity.
    • Trade inputs like semiconductors and connectors now exceed trade in finished products such as smartphones and laptops, with global electronics trade totaling $4.5 trillion in 2023, including $2.5 trillion in components alone.
    • Top exporters such as China, Vietnam, and India are among the fastest-growing importers of electronic inputs, underscoring the deep interdependence embedded in global electronics production.
    • This mutual reliance challenges the viability of reshoring and decoupling strategies, as rising export powers depend on components from across the world.

    Mitchell concluded: “Our trade flows analysis reinforces that resilience, not self-sufficiency, is the foundation of competitiveness in the electronics age. No single company or country can stand alone. The complexities of the electronics ecosystem require collaboration and partnership with others. The Global Electronics Association is here to help create a vital and thriving global electronics supply chain through industry, government, and stakeholder collaboration.”

    Global Operations Supporting Entire Value Chain
    The electronics value chain supported by the Global Electronics Association – from design to final product – encompasses original equipment manufacturers, semiconductors, printed circuit boards, assembly and manufacturing services, harnesses, materials, and equipment suppliers. The Association has operations in Belgium, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United States, and a presence across dozens more countries to support its members.

    About the Global Electronics Association
    The Global Electronics Association is the voice of the electronics industry, working with thousands of members and partners to build a more resilient supply chain and drive sustainable growth. We advocate for fair trade, smart regulation, and regional manufacturing, and educate on industry practices, actionable intelligence and technical innovations to empower the future. The Association collaborates with governments and companies worldwide to advance a trusted and prosperous electronics industry. Formerly known as IPC, the organization serves a $6 trillion market and operates from offices across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North and South America. Learn more at www.electronics.org.

    Contact:
    Michelle Leff Mermelstein
    Michellemermelstein@electronics.org  
    + 1 202-661-8092 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d245e078-4a14-42eb-b999-a98d2c7cdb94

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 23, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 230036

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0736 PM CDT Sun Jun 22 2025

    Valid 230100Z – 231200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
    THE GREAT PLAINS AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY…

    …SUMMARY…
    Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will continue this evening
    across parts of the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley,
    some of which could produce large hail, damaging wind gusts and
    tornadoes. Storms associated with marginally severe gusts and hail
    will also be likely across parts of the southern and central Plains.

    …Central and Northern Plains/Upper Mississippi Valley…
    A mid-level trough is evident on water vapor imagery over the
    northern Rockies, with southwest flow located over the northern
    Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. At the surface, a 997 mb low is
    located in far southeast North Dakota with a cold front extending
    southwestward from the low into eastern South Dakota and central
    Nebraska. Surface dewpoints ahead of the front are in the 70s F
    across the upper Mississippi Valley, with mostly 60s F located over
    parts of the mid Missouri Valley and central Plains. The RAP has
    moderate to strong instability analyzed ahead the front, with the
    highest instability in north-central Minnesota where MLCAPE is
    estimated to be near 4000 J/kg. Scattered thunderstorms are ongoing
    near the front in north-central Nebraska, and in the post-frontal
    airmass in western Nebraska. This activity is being supported by
    subtle shortwave trough moving through the central High Plains. As
    low-level flow ramps up this evening, storm coverage is expected to
    gradually increase, with the storms moving northeastward into
    southern and eastern South Dakota later this evening. Additional
    storms appear likely to develop over parts of Minnesota.

    Near the front from eastern South Dakota into northwest Minnesota,
    RAP forecast soundings suggest that 0-6 km shear will be mostly
    between 30 and 40 knots this evening. In addition, 700-500 mb lapse
    rates will be near 8 C/km. This environment should support
    supercells with large hail. Hailstones greater than 2 inches in
    diameter will be possible, mainly over west-central and northern
    Minnesota where the strongest instability is analyzed. Some
    short-term models also show potential for short intense line
    segments. If a line can become organized and remain persistent, the
    potential for severe gusts would be pronounced, with wind gusts
    above 70 mph possible. A tornado threat will also be likely with
    supercells, and bowing line segments.

    …Southern and Central High Plains…
    Southwest mid-level flow is evident on water vapor imagery over the
    southern and central High Plains. At the surface, a 998 mb low is
    located in far southwest Nebraska with a moist airmass located to
    the south and southeast of the low across much of the central and
    southern High Plains. Scattered thunderstorms are ongoing from
    eastern New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle. The storms are being
    supported by a subtle shortwave trough evident on water vapor
    imagery. The storms will continue to move eastward into the stronger
    instability this evening. The Amarillo 00Z sounding has very steep
    low to mid-level lapse rates, with surface dewpoints in the 60s and
    about 2000 J/kg of MLCAPE. This should support a threat for isolated
    severe gusts this evening. Hail will also be possible with the
    stronger cores. The severe threat could expand north-northeastward
    into western Kansas as low-level flow increases this evening.

    ..Broyles.. 06/23/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0600Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Mon Jun 23 04:02:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Mon Jun 23 04:03:06 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Iran weighs retaliation against U.S. for strikes on nuclear sites

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced on Monday for Tehran’s response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites and U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea of regime change in the Islamic republic.

    Iran vowed to defend itself on Sunday, a day after the U.S. joined Israel in the biggest Western military action against the country since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy from around the world.

    Commercial satellite imagery indicated the U.S. attack on Saturday on Iran’s subterranean Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged or destroyed the deeply buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but the status of the site remained unconfirmed, experts said.

    In his latest social media comments on the U.S. strikes, Trump said “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran.”
    “The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

    Trump earlier called on Iran to forgo any retaliation and said the government “must now make peace” or “future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”

    The U.S. launched 75 precision-guided munitions including bunker-buster bombs and more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles against three Iranian nuclear sites, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told reporters.

    The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said no increases in off-site radiation levels had been reported after the U.S. strikes. Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, told CNN that it was not yet possible to assess the damage done underground.

    A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow had been moved elsewhere before the attack. Reuters could not immediately corroborate the claim.

    Tehran, which denies its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful purposes, sent a volley of missiles at Israel in the aftermath of the U.S. attack, wounding scores of people and destroying buildings in Tel Aviv.

    But it had not acted on its main threats of retaliation, to target U.S. bases or choke off oil shipments that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Attempting to strangle Gulf oil supply by closing the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy’s massive Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf.

    Oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest since January. Brent crude futures rose $1.88 or 2.44% at $78.89 a barrel as of 1122 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.87 or 2.53% at $75.71.

    Iran’s parliament has approved a move to close the strait, which Iran shares with Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s Press TV said closing the strait would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Caine said the U.S. military had increased protection of troops in the region, including in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert for all U.S. citizens abroad, calling on them to “exercise increased caution.”

    The United States already has a sizeable force in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops and warships that can shoot down enemy missiles.

    The Israeli military reported a missile launch from Iran in the early hours of Monday morning, saying it was intercepted by Israeli defences.

    Air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel. Iran has repeatedly targeted the Greater Tel Aviv – a metropolitan area of around 4 million people – the business and economic hub of Israel where there are also critical military assets.

    Iranian news agencies reported air defences were activated in central Tehran districts to counter “enemy targets”, and that Israeli air strikes hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.

    REGIME CHANGE

    In a post to the Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump raised the idea of regime change in Iran.

    “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote.

    Trump’s post came after officials in his administration, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stressed they were not working to overthrow Iran’s government.

    Israeli officials, who began the hostilities with a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, have increasingly spoken of their ambition to topple the hardline Shi’ite Muslim clerical establishment.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.

    Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated.

    Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. attacks which it said had undermined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

    “The risk of the conflict spreading in the Middle East, which is already gripped by multiple crises, has increased significantly,” it said.

    The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the U.S. strikes as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.

    U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council the U.S. bombings in Iran marked a perilous turn in the region and urged a return to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: National Geographic screens heartfelt ‘Blink’ at Shanghai film fest

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

    National Geographic hosted a special screening of its documentary “Blink” on June 20 during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, with an executive outlining the brand’s vision for the Chinese market.

    A still from “Blink.” [Photo courtesy of National Geographic]

    Directed by Edmund Stenson and Daniel Roher, “Blink” follows French Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier and their four children — Mia, Leo, Colin and Laurent — after three of the siblings are diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare, incurable disease that causes vision loss. To help their children preserve a lifetime of visual memories, the family embarks on a yearlong bucket-list journey across 24 countries, ranging from Botswana and Mongolia to the United States.

    Minimizing air travel and choosing local stays, the family’s adventure includes hot air balloon rides, mountain sunrises and even sipping juice atop a camel. Despite facing an uncertain future, their trip overflows with love, emotional moments, healing and awe — showing that true brightness shines from the memories built on love and hope.

    At its core, “Blink” is a testament to resilience, human connection and living in the moment. The film also raises awareness of retinitis pigmentosa and offers a rare onscreen look at life with visual impairment.

    The Shanghai screening presented the film on the big screen to highlight its bold storytelling and National Geographic’s emphasis on fresh perspectives, Wang Yan, director of branded content at National Geographic, said.

    She added that the event aimed to inspire audiences, echoing the brand’s core message that the spirit of adventure is not just about distant places but also about finding beauty in everyday life through curiosity and kindness.

    “Blink” will have additional screenings during the Shanghai International Film Festival and has received a wave of positive feedback and rave reviews from audiences and critics.

    “This screening is not just about showcasing a film; it is National Geographic’s contemporary interpretation of the spirit of adventure,” Wang said. “We encourage everyone to become a ‘life adventurer’ — to see, discover, cherish, remember and ultimately protect the beauty of our planet.”

    Looking ahead, she said National Geographic will continue to use its lens as a bridge between the distant and the familiar, striving to balance adventure and healing as it opens a new chapter in exploration.

    Wang also outlined National Geographic’s brand strategy. She noted that since its founding in 1888, more than 137 years ago, National Geographic has been dedicated to expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. The organization has documented major scientific milestones, such as early 20th-century expeditions to the Arctic and the rediscovery of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu. 

    Today, as a globally influential documentary entertainment brand, National Geographic aims to continue connecting people and the world through high-quality content in China, awakening a sense of responsibility for the Earth and inspiring curiosity, Wang said.

    Wang Yan, director of branded content at National Geographic, speaks at a screening of “Blink” during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of National Geographic]

    Wang said National Geographic has consistently collaborated with top documentary creators worldwide. In the past two years, acclaimed theatrical releases such as “Fire of Love” and “Jane” have been introduced in China. The brand has also co-produced hundreds of hours of China-themed content with local partners.

    Documentaries including “Extreme China” and “Ancient China from Above” have been released on National Geographic’s global platforms. Nearly 1,600 hours of original overseas content have also been made available on major domestic streaming platforms such as iQiyi, Bilibili, Tencent Video and Youku, with new shows like “Underdogs” planned for the future.

    Additionally, National Geographic’s outdoor clothing brand entered the Chinese mainland market in 2023, offering products designed for both city life and outdoor activities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REP LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MILITARY ACTION IN IRAN

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement:

    “Our service members executed a dangerous mission and I’m relieved they have returned safely. The first priority is to ensure our service members and all Americans are safe from any potential retaliatory attacks by the Iranian regime and the terrorist organizations that they fund. 

    “While I strongly support the goal of preventing the Iranian regime from ever getting nuclear weapons, I believe military strikes ordered by President Trump on Iran need congressional authorization. From my first term in Congress until the present, I have consistently believed the Constitution means what it says: only Congress has the power to declare war. I publicly stated at the time that President Obama needed congressional authorization before striking Syria. My position that only Congress has the power to declare war has remained the same regardless of which party the President happens to belong to.

    “A world with fewer nuclear weapons is a safer one for everyone. The autocratic and theocratic Iranian regime—if it had nuclear weapons—could launch those weapons of mass destruction at U.S. military bases, other U.S. interests, and Israel. Preventing the Iranian regime from getting nuclear weapons has been a longstanding, bipartisan goal. 

    “There will be a bipartisan, classified briefing by the Administration this Tuesday. I urge the Administration to address what congressional authorization it relied on for the military strikes, if any. I also want the Administration to address many unanswered questions, such as if the strikes achieved their intended objectives, how the Administration intends to protect Americans and our service members from potential future attacks, and what the Administration’s plan is going forward.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Bean Hosts Tax Reform Roundtable in Duval County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) hosted a roundtable discussion with members of the First Coast Manufacturers Association to discuss the impact of expiring tax cuts, industry challenges, and how the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will provide real tax relief and drive economic growth in Northeast Florida. 

    After the roundtable, Congressman Bean said, “Northeast Florida manufacturers cannot afford the burden of higher taxes that would cripple growth and threaten jobs. Roundtable participants confirmed the success of the Trump tax cuts and their critical importance to their daily operations. During the roundtable, I heard directly from manufacturers about the challenges of finding workers, being competitive, accessing products, and the need for immediate relief. As the fight continues to preserve the Trump tax cuts, I’m taking their stories back to D.C. and will continue to advocate for policies that help our manufacturers expand, hire, and drive our economy forward.”

    BACKGROUND:

    The House has passed the One Big Beautiful Bill by a 215-214 vote, and now all eyes are on the Senate as President Trump urges swift approval before July 4th to deliver historic tax relief and economic growth for hardworking Americans. 

    For an overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill, click here.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Bean Hosts Tax Reform Roundtable in Duval County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) hosted a roundtable discussion with members of the First Coast Manufacturers Association to discuss the impact of expiring tax cuts, industry challenges, and how the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will provide real tax relief and drive economic growth in Northeast Florida. 

    After the roundtable, Congressman Bean said, “Northeast Florida manufacturers cannot afford the burden of higher taxes that would cripple growth and threaten jobs. Roundtable participants confirmed the success of the Trump tax cuts and their critical importance to their daily operations. During the roundtable, I heard directly from manufacturers about the challenges of finding workers, being competitive, accessing products, and the need for immediate relief. As the fight continues to preserve the Trump tax cuts, I’m taking their stories back to D.C. and will continue to advocate for policies that help our manufacturers expand, hire, and drive our economy forward.”

    BACKGROUND:

    The House has passed the One Big Beautiful Bill by a 215-214 vote, and now all eyes are on the Senate as President Trump urges swift approval before July 4th to deliver historic tax relief and economic growth for hardworking Americans. 

    For an overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill, click here.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: CPTPP Symposium, Opening statement

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

    [Acknowledgments omitted]

    The CPTPP is a symbol of what can be achieved through regional engagement in the face of global pressure.

    It is an agreement that is working every day to grow trade, make it easier, and spread the benefits of free and fair trade.

    It is an agreement that new countries want to join, and one that existing members continue to improve.

    A turn away from free and fair trade has emerged in some parts of the world in recent years.

    But all of us know the benefits of an open, rules-based global trading system.

    That doesn’t mean that our system is perfect, we know it needs work and some of the rules need to change.

    WTO rules can’t always be enforced, and its dispute resolution function has not been performing as it should.

    We will all prosper through improvements to the rules around how we trade and invest across international borders.

    Australia remains committed to reforming the WTO system in ways that both prioritises our national interest and supports a predictable, stable and transparent global trading environment.

    The United States has imposed tariffs on every nation in the world and we’re seeing firsthand the effect that is having on the global economy.

    Tariffs are a tax on consumers. They are an act of economic self harm.

    In this age of uncertainty, the CPTPP offers a model of fairness, sustainability and mutual benefit.

    Free trade is critical to our national security and prosperity, and Australia remains committed to it.

    As the 2025 CPTPP Chair, Australia will keep pushing for the evolution of a robust, rules-based global trading system, beyond the gold standard already set by this Agreement.

    As chair, our theme is “delivering sustainable trade and resilient growth”.

    We have three priorities.

    First, we want to increase trade.

    That might seem a simple goal, since we know that trade increases economic prosperity at all ends.

    But when people are talking about turning inwards , it only makes it more important that we focus on the opposite approach.

    An approach focused on improving market access opportunities for business, industry and communities.

    Second, we want to facilitate trade.

    We must always ask ourselves, as member economies, how do we make it easier for businesses and people to trade among our economies?

    And third, we want to spread the benefits of trade.

    We know that when women participate more in the economy, they drive growth.

    We want to see more female entrepreneurs active in trade across CPTPP members.

    We also want to see more businesses led by Indigenous Peoples trading in the region.

    And making the agreement more inclusive is another way CPTPP can show leadership to the world.

    While some are arguing that trade is a threat, we must show what trade delivers.

    We must show it delivers prosperity to the individual and the nation.

    So as the 2025 CPTPP Chair, we will be pleased to mark continued progress on the General Review of the CPTPP agreement.

    This is a great opportunity for all members to future-proof the agreement, so that it continues to deliver for our economies and remains resilient in the face of global pressures.

    The benefits aren’t hypothetical.

    The benefits are real, and many more are possible if we continue to engage, learn and shape this agreement to meet evolving needs.

    For our part, Australia isn’t just working through one mechanism to bolster trade.

    We take every opportunity to diversify our markets, strengthen our partnerships and open doors for business.

    In February, my department launched a new roadmap for Australia’s economic engagement with India backed by $16 million in trade accelerator funding and an additional $4 million for the Maitri program.

    This initiative deepens cultural and business ties through cooperation in education, research and continued advancements in technology and innovation.

    We have signed a new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, expected to generate $700 million in Australian exports to the Middle East.

    We have ratified the upgraded ASEAN-Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, supporting small businesses, digital trade and gender equality across the region.

    Nearly half a million Australian jobs are tied to trade with Southeast Asia, and through our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, we are ensuring that number continues to grow.

    And of course, we are continuing to work on a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.

    Friends, as the 2025 CPTPP Chair, Australia is focused on making sure we take a strategic approach to global trade issues.

    At the heart of that project is bolstering and strengthening the rules of the global trading system.

    The CPTPP is a gold standard agreement – and we are keen to work to maintain its credentials as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation and ambition across our region.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts today and I look forward to hearing about your insights.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 23, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 23, 2025.

    Illegal US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities came in spite of no evidence
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou, I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. The US struck three of Iran’s nuclear facilities overnight, entering the illegal aggression on Iran with heavy airstrikes despite no

    My kids only want to eat processed foods. How can I get them eating a healthier and more varied diet?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney If it feels like your child’s diet consists entirely of breakfast cereal, chicken nuggets and snacks that’d outlast the apocalypse, you’re not alone. Processed foods are the go-to for many kids, and for some,

    Defence Force to send plane to assist New Zealanders stranded in Iran and Israel
    By Giles Dexter, RNZ News political reporter The Defence Force is sending a plane to the Middle East to assist any New Zealanders stranded in Iran or Israel. The C-130J Hercules, along with government personnel, will leave Auckland on Monday. Airspace is still closed in the region, but Defence Minister Judith Collins said the deployment

    Trump’s decision to bomb Iran exposes fissures in US politics
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lester Munson, Non-Resident Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney US President Donald Trump’s strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which he foreshadowed on and off for the past few days, has revealed a surprisingly broad middle ground in US politics, even as it has provoked

    Leaders in US-affiliated Pacific react to surprise strikes on Iran
    By Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent Leaders in the US-affliliated Pacific Islands have reacted to the US strikes on Iran. US president Donald Trump said Iran must now make peace or “we will go after” other targets in Iran, after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said

    Global warming is changing cloud patterns. That means more global warming
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Jakob, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Monash University Caleb Weiner / Unsplash At any given time, about two-thirds of Earth’s surface is covered by clouds. Overall, they make the planet much cooler than it would be without them. But

    NZ’s changing diet: Māori bread and jackfruit join other new foods in the country’s nutritional database
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick William Smith, Associate Investigator in Nutritional Science, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Shutterstock/Alesia Bierliezova The latest update to the New Zealand food composition database, a comprehensive collection of nutrient data collated jointly by Plant & Food Research and the Ministry of Health, brings more

    How pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes is changing. Here’s what this means for you
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    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Illegal US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities came in spite of no evidence

    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem

    Kia ora koutou,

    I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground.

    The US struck three of Iran’s nuclear facilities overnight, entering the illegal aggression on Iran with heavy airstrikes despite no evidence that nuclear weapons are being developed. Israel continued its strikes attacking dozens of locations across Iran throughout the day. Three were killed in an Israeli drone attack on an ambulance in central Iran. At least 400 have been killed and 2000 injured, according to the latest Health Ministry figures.

    *

    Heavy Iranian retaliation strikes on Israeli territories saw about 27 injured.

    *

    At least 47 killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza today, 18 while seeking aid. Two killed and 15 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house west of Gaza city. The murder of firefighter Muhammad Ghurab brings the total Gaza civil defence casualties to 121, representing 14.3 percent of its employees.

    Today I met a 10-year-old kid called Hassan on the streets of Bethlehem. He was looking for work. His dad had recently stopped working, unemployed like many in Bethlehem; around 80 percent of jobs here depend on tourism. He lives in al-Khader village, an hour’s walk away, but without opportunities there he had walked all this way in an attempt to help support his family.

    Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank has suffocated the economy here for decades. Now, as the genocidal war on Gaza continues and Israeli aggression expands to Iran, drawing in the USA and threatening regional collapse, a 10-year-old boy takes to the streets of Bethlehem to find work.

    *

    Israel’s illegal siege across the West Bank continues. Large numbers of Israeli soldiers conducted extensive raids on Bethlehem’s Dheisheh camp including demolitions, arrests, and interrogations last night. Mass demolitions continue across Nour Shams camp in the north, and further arrests, demolitions, and incursions took place across the West Bank. Bethlehem’s gasoline shortages continue due to Israel’s ongoing siege.

    *

    Twenty five killed in a terror attack targeting Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria.

    Cole Martin is an independent New Zealand photojournalist based in the Middle East and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iranian president warns US of retaliation after strikes on nuclear sites

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

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that the United States must “receive the response to its aggression,” following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from his office. In response to Macron’s call for restraint, Pezeshkian said the United States must face consequences for its attacks on Iran.

    He described the U.S. strikes as a “clear symbol of its insincerity and the baselessness of its claims about favoring dialogue and seeking peace.”

    Despite this, Pezeshkian stressed Iran’s continued commitment to diplomacy with Europe, saying, “We have always announced our readiness for dialogue and interaction with Europe and have never abandoned the path of diplomacy, as we maintain that nobody would suffer any harm from dialogue.”

    Macron reiterated France’s willingness to pursue negotiations with Iran and said Paris would continue efforts to halt the conflict and restore stability, according to the statement.

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced on Truth Social that American forces had completed strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, namely Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

    The U.S. strikes followed Israeli attacks launched since June 13 on various targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

    Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. As of Saturday, more than 400 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in Iran, according to the Iranian Health Ministry. In Israel, authorities reported 24 fatalities. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese UN envoy condemns US strikes on Iran nuke sites

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

    China’s permanent representative to the United Nations on Sunday condemned the United States for its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

    “Yesterday (Saturday), the United States conducted attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the U.S. attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” said Fu Cong.

    The U.S. move seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. It has exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said.

    The international community must uphold justice and make concrete efforts to cool down the situation and restore peace and stability, he said.

    Fu called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the hostilities.

    “In the context of the abrupt escalation of tensions in the Middle East, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation getting out of control. The parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, should immediately cease fire to prevent a spiraling escalation and to resolutely avoid the spillover of the war,” he said.

    “The parties concerned should abide by international law, curb the impulse to use force, and avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to fire,” he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –