NewzIntel.com

Category: Military Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI: Deepnight Raises $5.5M To Disrupt Night Vision Industry Using AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Deepnight, the first and only company to use AI software for military night vision, announced today it raised $5.5M in funding. Led by Initialized Capital, additional participants include Y Combinator, renowned scientist Vladlen Koltun (co-author of Learning to See in the Dark), angel investor Kulveer Taggar, Brian Shin, a former partner at In-Q-Tel, and Matthew Bellamy, lead singer of the band Muse.

    Deepnight will use the funds to continue to develop its AI-based night vision technology and hire for key roles in computational imaging research.

    “What the Deepnight team has been able to accomplish using AI is truly revolutionary for night vision and will have broad implications for improving safety in low light environments, whether that’s defense, agriculture, or environmental research,” said Kim-Mai Cutler, Partner at Initialized Capital. “We are excited for Deepnight to advance its technology making digital night vision devices more affordable and accessible.”

    Combining low-light cameras with a novel AI image processing algorithm, Deepnight achieves superior low-light imaging performance to existing military night vision created by industry incumbents like L3Harris.

    Right now, state of the art military night vision goggles cost around $13K because they use rare metals and bespoke manufacturing processes. The high cost is attributable to the highly precise manufacturing, as opposed to the mass manufactured CMOS sensors found in digital camera systems. Deepnight instead uses a digital approach: by leveraging the ubiquity of silicon manufacturing, in both sensors and AI chips, Deepnight will mass produce higher performing digital night vision goggles at a fraction of the cost of their analog counterparts.

    In less than a year, Deepnight has earned $4.6M in contracts with the federal government including the Air Force and the Army as well as with companies like Sionyx and SRI International.

    “We are thrilled to work with our investors, which include experts in the fundamental science that we use, to advance our AI model and replace analog night vision with digital cameras enabled by algorithms,” said Lucas Young, Co-Founder and CEO of Deepnight. “This market was very overdue for a disruption and now with advances in AI we can deliver a complete night vision solution to these industries at a much more affordable price point.”

    “What impressed me most about Deepnight is how they’ve fundamentally reimagined night vision technology,” said Kulveer Taggar. “By combining AI with digital sensors, Lucas and his team aren’t just drastically reducing costs, they’re actually delivering superior performance to traditional systems. Securing millions of dollars in government and defense contracts in their first year demonstrates the clear market demand for this breakthrough approach.”

    About Deepnight

    Deepnight is making advanced night vision accessible to everyone, transforming how the world sees after dark with groundbreaking AI-driven solutions. The company has disrupted the market with a digital approach and will mass produce higher performing digital night vision goggles at a fraction of the cost of their analog counterparts. Deepnight’s customers currently include the Air Force, the Army and companies like Sionyx and SRI International. The company is backed by Initialized Capital, Y Combinator and prominent investors and is headquartered in San Francisco. To learn more visit http://deepnight.ai.

    Kerry Metzdorf
    Big Swing Communications
    978-463-2575
    kerry@big-swing.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d8fcea9-8251-4470-a531-f8fa2bc17ff3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to plotting to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, purportedly on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    Xuanyu Harry Pang, 38, of North Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States. The guilty plea was entered on Nov. 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and ordered unsealed today.

    According to court records filed in the case, in the summer of 2021, Pang communicated with an individual in Colombia about potentially assisting with a plan involving Iranian actors to conduct an attack against the United States to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, a general of the IRGC Quds Force who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The Quds Force is a branch of the IRGC that conducts unconventional warfare and intelligence activities outside of Iran.

    A covert FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, subsequently communicated online with the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack. The individual in Colombia put the covert FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed and residing at Naval Station Great Lakes. The pair communicated online through an encrypted messaging application about possible targets for the attack, including Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in the Chicago area. Pang and the individual in Colombia agreed to help the covert FBI employee and his purported associates with their operation to conduct the attack in the United States, court records state.

    On three occasions in the fall of 2022, Pang personally met with another individual working with the FBI who was posing as an associate of the covert FBI employee. The first meeting took place outside of the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and the two other meetings were held at a train station in Lake Bluff, Illinois. During the meetings in Lake Bluff, as the plot coalesced into an attack on the Naval Station, Pang displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station. He also provided two U.S. military uniforms – for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack – and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator.

    Pang is currently detained without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force – which is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond, Vikas Didwania, and Brandon Stone for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to plotting to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, purportedly on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    Xuanyu Harry Pang, 38, of North Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States. The guilty plea was entered on Nov. 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and ordered unsealed today.

    According to court records filed in the case, in the summer of 2021, Pang communicated with an individual in Colombia about potentially assisting with a plan involving Iranian actors to conduct an attack against the United States to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, a general of the IRGC Quds Force who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The Quds Force is a branch of the IRGC that conducts unconventional warfare and intelligence activities outside of Iran.

    A covert FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, subsequently communicated online with the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack. The individual in Colombia put the covert FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed and residing at Naval Station Great Lakes. The pair communicated online through an encrypted messaging application about possible targets for the attack, including Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in the Chicago area. Pang and the individual in Colombia agreed to help the covert FBI employee and his purported associates with their operation to conduct the attack in the United States, court records state.

    On three occasions in the fall of 2022, Pang personally met with another individual working with the FBI who was posing as an associate of the covert FBI employee. The first meeting took place outside of the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and the two other meetings were held at a train station in Lake Bluff, Illinois. During the meetings in Lake Bluff, as the plot coalesced into an attack on the Naval Station, Pang displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station. He also provided two U.S. military uniforms – for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack – and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator.

    Pang is currently detained without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force – which is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond, Vikas Didwania, and Brandon Stone for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Opening Statement in Hearing to Advance Chavez-DeRemer Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered an opening statement at the committee’s second hearing to consider the advancement of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor. 
    We are in an unusual and dangerous moment in American history. 
    We have a situation where, today, we have more income and wealth inequality then we have ever had in the history of this country. Three people on top have more wealth the bottom half of American society and the gap between rich and poor is growing wider. 
    We have a situation where people all over this country understand that joining a trade union is a way to get better wages and working conditions. Millions of workers all over this country say, “I want to join a union.” And yet we have large corporations acting illegally to deny workers the right to join unions, which is why one of my major priorities and the priority of many members on this side of the aisle is to pass the PRO Act. 
    Today, tens of millions of American workers are earning starvation wages. $12, $13 an hour. Nobody in any part of this country can survive on $12, $13 dollars an hour. And yet the minimum wage – the federal minimum wage of $7.25 – has not been raised in a very, very long time. 
    So what we need is a Secretary of Labor who is going to stand up and say we are going to take on powerful special interests. We are going to stand with the working class of this country. 
    Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, Ms. Lori Chavez-DeRemer is not that person. 
    And the most important point of this hearing is: Today, we are not voting on who the next Secretary of Labor is. The next Secretary of Labor, the next Secretary of Education, the next Secretary of Housing, the next Secretary of the Treasury is Elon Musk. Let us understand that reality and not play along with this charade. 
    Does anyone here really think that any Secretary of Labor, any Secretary of Education, is going to make decisions by himself or herself? 
    Just yesterday, the president held a meeting with his cabinet. And who was the star of the meeting? Was it the Secretary of the Defense? Was it Secretary of State? 
    No, it was an unelected official who happens to be the wealthiest person on Earth. It was Elon Musk. 
    And at that meeting, President Trump asked his cabinet, “is anybody unhappy with Elon? Well, if you are, we’ll throw them out of here.”
    In other words, if any cabinet official has courage to stand up to Mr. Musk and disobey his edicts, they are gone. So, Mr. Chairman, my request to you is a simple one. Let’s be honest. The American people understand it, and it’s time that we understood it as well.
    If you want to discuss policies in the Department of Labor, let’s bring in the real secretary. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request that this committee bring Elon Musk before this committee so that we can really hear what’s going on with the government. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ANNVILLE – Governor Shapiro to Swear-in John R. Pippy as 55th Adjutant General of PA

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 28, 2025 – Annville, PA

    ADVISORY – ANNVILLE – Governor Shapiro to Swear-in John R. Pippy as 55th Adjutant General of PA

    John. R. Pippy will be sworn in as the 55th adjutant general of Pennsylvania and promoted to Major General. Pippy was unanimously confirmed as adjutant general by the Pennsylvania Senate on Feb. 4, 2025.

    In this capacity, Pippy assumes command of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the third largest in the country, and is head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The DMVA provides programs and services to nearly 700,000 veterans, the fifth largest veteran population in the country.

    NOTE: This event is available by stream to the general public at https://pacast.com/live/dmva. Media is invited to attend in person.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Adjutant General John R. Pippy

    WHEN:
    Friday, February 28; 10:15 AM

    WHERE:
    Bldg. 8-80, Bearty Ave., Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA

    DIRECTIONS AND DETAILS FOR ACCESS:

    All visitors must enter through the main gate. All other entrances and exits to Fort Indiantown Gap are permanently closed.

    Take I-81 North and get off at exit 85B Indiantown Gap. This will put you on 934 North to the main gate. You must show a state- or federally-issued identification card to enter the installation.
    Continue through the access point to the first light, and take a right onto Service Rd. Next, take a right onto Bearty Ave. Then turn right on Bellamy Ave. to Bldg. 8-80. More information here: https://www.ftig.ng.mil/Gate-Construction/.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Angela Watson: Watsona@pa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hegseth Visits Guantanamo Bay, Engages With Troops

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, yesterday, where he took time to speak to service members who are currently supporting the illegal alien holding operations being led by the Department of Homeland Security. 

    This wasn’t Hegseth’s first visit to Cuba, as then-Army 2nd Lt. Hegseth was deployed to Guantanamo Bay from 2004 to 2005 with the New Jersey National Guard. 

    “I was here 20 years ago … I’ve been where you are, for a year, [and] I relate to the dynamics — the push and pull — and the sway of an operation; I get it,” Hegseth told the service members. 

    “The message that I have from [President Donald J. Trump] … to you is, we have your back. We’re going to back you up on what you have to do on behalf of the country,” Hegseth said.  

    He added that — in addition to hot meals, the opportunity to exercise and the availability of hot showers — what he valued most when he was stationed there 20 years earlier was the support from his chain of command.  

    Stating that the president was elected with “a mandate to get 100% operational control of our southern border,” Hegseth said the holding operations at Guantanamo Bay play a significant role in that process. 

    “Part of that [process] is mass deportations of folks — wherever they came from — who came here illegally, and Guantanamo Bay is a big part of that,” he said.  

    In explaining the vast breadth of the U.S. border enforcement mission, Hegseth told the service members that the character of the overall mission starts with them. 

    “The way you operate and the way you execute sets the tone for how the entire U.S. government and the American people are represented, so thank you on behalf of a grateful nation,” he said. 

    Hegseth also addressed the negative sentiment surrounding the Guantanamo Bay holding mission. 

    “We know what’s real, we know you’re professionals, we know how you operate, and we’re going to have your back in the execution of this mission across the spectrum,” he added. 

    Hegseth told the troops that their efforts were recognized throughout the chain of command. 

    “When you send the data and the stats up, and you wonder where [they go], it lands on my desk every day. I see and understand and know what you are doing here,” Hegseth said. 

    “That’s how important it is to the president and to [DOD, DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection] as we ramp up and execute this mission,” he added. 

    Hegseth also said that the work being done at Guantanamo Bay is central to the current administration’s overall message concerning the border. 

    “From our view, [Guantanamo Bay holding operations are] central to what we’re doing and [to] the message we’re sending to the world — which is that our border is closed,” he said, adding that the current administration “means business,” and that the service members at Guantanamo Bay are at “the tip of the spear” to make that happen. 

    “[So], keep executing [and] keep driving on with the professionalism that I know you will display,” he said. 

    Hegseth announced that Guantanamo Bay would be used for illegal alien holding operations Jan. 29, 2025, following a presidential announcement earlier in the day.  

    According to the U.S. Southern Command, more than 150 Marines and soldiers were at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay supporting holding operations as of Feb. 3, 2025. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Stands with Service Members in Constitutional Challenge to Transgender Military Ban

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general today filed a brief supporting transgender service members in their constitutional challenge to the President’s Executive Order banning transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military. Attorney General James and the coalition filed an amicus brief in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington supporting a group of current and prospective service members’ request for a preliminary injunction that would block the administration from implementing the ban. The attorneys general argue that the Order is unconstitutional, harms national security, and discriminates against transgender individuals honorably serving in our nation’s military, including members of the National Guard in every state.

    “All service members deserve our utmost gratitude for their bravery and sacrifice. We should be honoring their commitment, not degrading it with exclusionary policies,” said Attorney General James. “This ban cruelly targets the transgender Americans who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms. I want all transgender service members and veterans to know that we see you, we respect you, and we will always fight for you. Your service is invaluable, and we will not allow this bigoted attack to diminish your service to our country.”

    On January 27, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled, “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” directing the Secretary of Defense to implement sweeping restrictions on transgender people in the Armed Forces. Attorney General James and the coalition assert that the president’s order violates the fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution by denying service members equal protection and due process. The attorneys general also argue that the proposed ban would weaken the military, harm state emergency and disaster preparedness efforts, and deprive the military of experienced and qualified soldiers during an extremely challenging time for recruitment. The coalition also notes that the discriminatory ban violates state laws protecting transgender individuals’ right to participate fully in society. 

    Today’s amicus brief is the second Attorney General James has filed opposing the transgender military ban. On February 14, 2025, Attorney General James and 16 other attorneys general filed a brief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia supporting the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction in Talbot v. Trump. 

    Transgender people have served in the military for years. A 2014 study found that approximately 150,000 veterans, active duty servicemembers, and members of the National Guard or Reserves identified as transgender. The President’s Executive Order would require the military to discharge transgender members and turn away potential recruits solely because they identify as transgender. The military has already concluded twice following comprehensive reviews that allowing transgender individuals to serve consistent with their gender identity is in the nation’s best interest. Reinstating the ban simply cannot be justified by reference to costs, unit cohesion, or overall readiness. 

    Attorney General James and the coalition also argue that this ban will negatively impact the safety and security of their states. The National Guard is critical to ensuring states’ security and disaster preparedness, and banning transgender individuals from service will harm their recruitment efforts. As a result, this ban stands to jeopardize the fundamental security operations and readiness of states across the nation. After the first, longstanding ban on transgender individuals in the military was lifted in 2016 – and again when the Trump Administration’s first attempt to ban transgender service was reversed in 2021 – transgender National Guard members came out to their superiors and peers with no negative impact on the Guard’s functions. 

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: H2C Safety Pipe, Inc. Welcomes Peter Miller as Environmental Policy Director

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — H2C Safety Pipe, Inc. announces that Peter Miller has joined the company as Environmental Policy Director. In this role, Miller will engage with environmental stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance regulatory standards that help ensure hydrogen pipeline safety and integrity, supporting the global transition to clean energy.

    Miller brings over 35 years of experience in environmental policy, clean energy advocacy, and regulatory development. Most recently, he served as Director of the Western Region Climate and Clean Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he played a pivotal role in shaping California’s renewable energy policies, energy efficiency programs, and carbon reduction initiatives. His extensive background includes collaborating with public, private, and nonprofit sectors to develop innovative environmental solutions.

    Miller was drawn to H2C Safety Pipe by its mission to address one of the most critical challenges in hydrogen infrastructure: minimizing hydrogen leakage to maximize public safety and environmental benefits. “The transition to a clean energy economy depends not only on expanding hydrogen infrastructure but ensuring that it is deployed responsibly,” said Miller. “H2C Safety Pipe’s innovative technology provides an essential solution to a key problem—controlling hydrogen leakage while keeping costs affordable. I’m excited to bring my expertise to this team and help shape the policies that will make an industry standard a reality.”

    Robert Shelton, President of H2C Safety Pipe, said, “We are at a pivotal moment in the clean energy transition, and ensuring that hydrogen pipelines meet the highest safety and environmental standards is critical to long-term success. Millions of miles of natural gas pipelines have taught us that gas pipelines invariably leak, and we know hydrogen poses even greater challenges. Peter will be instrumental in building support for strong, science-backed standards that will ensure future hydrogen pipelines are safe and leak-free. His leadership will help us establish a sustainable framework for the future of hydrogen infrastructure.”

    The addition of Miller follows H2C Safety Pipe’s November 2024 announcement that Nick Gaines has joined the company as Director of Legislative Affairs. Gaines brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and community development. Together, Miller and Gaines will engage with regulators, legislators, and the environmental community to champion a zero-leakage hydrogen standard in California that advances a responsible transition to a clean energy future.

    About the H2C Safety Pipe™Technology
    H2C Safety Pipe, Inc. is revolutionizing hydrogen transport and distribution with its proprietary Safety Pipe™ technology. Designed to address leakage concerns and enhance safety, this technology allows for the cost-effective, scalable and environmentally responsible distribution of hydrogen, particularly in densely populated areas. By retrofitting existing infrastructure, H2C’s pipe-within-a-pipe solution significantly reduces the costs and complexities associated with deploying new hydrogen pipelines, thus accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources. For more information about H2C Safety Pipe and its groundbreaking hydrogen pipeline technology, visit H2Csafetypipe.com.

    Media Contact:
    Lisa Murray
    Trevi Communications, Inc.
    lisa@trevicomm.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d780016d-d0b5-4e98-a52a-5a7ea11bf42f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: “Soliciting US support for independence” is dead end: Defense Spokesperson 2025-02-27 “The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference. We firmly reject any form of US military contact with and US arms sale to China’s Taiwan region,” said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference on Thursday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

      BEIJING, Feb. 27 — “The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference. We firmly reject any form of US military contact with and US arms sale to China’s Taiwan region,” said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference on Thursday.

      The spokesperson made the above remarks when responding to the related news reports. According to reports, the US government will soon unfreeze $870 million in “security aid” for Taiwan and the DPP authorities are considering another arms purchase from the US worth between $7 billion and $10 billion in the hope of gaining the so-called support from the Trump administration. 

      ” ‘Soliciting US support for independence’ is a dead end. Diverting taxpayers’ money that should have been used to benefit the public into the endless abyss of ‘harming and ruining Taiwan’ will surely lead to self-inflicted disasters for the DPP authorities,” said the spokesperson. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Philippines should stop rights-infringing actions and false narratives：Defense Spokesperson 2025-02-27 “The fact about this incident is very clear. The Philippine public service aircraft, with many journalists aboard, barged into China’s territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao to provoke and play the victim,” said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

      BEIJING, Feb. 27 — “The fact about this incident is very clear. The Philippine public service aircraft, with many journalists aboard, barged into China’s territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao to provoke and play the victim,” said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

      It is reported that the Philippine side claimed that a Chinese PLAN aircraft took dangerous maneuver against its public service aircraft, posing serious risk to the safety of its pilots and passengers.

      When being asked to share comment on this, the spokesperson made the above remarks and added that the Philippines’ provocation posed threats to China’s helicopter which was on a routine patrol, and was the real cause of air and maritime safety risks in this encounter.

      He also pointed out that intruding into other countries’ territorial airspace in breach of international law is more reckless and irresponsible than anything else and urged the Philippine side to immediately stop its rights-infringing actions, stop spreading false narratives, and work with the Chinese side to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Drones Becoming Smaller, Lighter, More Reliable Allowing Them to Perform Broader Range of Tasks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Due to the advancements in software and artificial intelligence, the increasing use of drones is making it easier to control and automate them. They play a crucial role in improving farming techniques. Improving productivity, and are used for environmental monitoring, disaster relief, and search & rescue operations. Drones are becoming smaller, lighter, and more reliable, which allows them to perform a broader range of tasks. Their growing popularity stems from benefits such as improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety. The increase in precision farming needs, aiming to boost crop productivity, drives market growth. Drone OEMs are investing in R&D for thermal cameras, multispectral sensors, and LiDAR, improving drone efficacy in monitoring fields, creating vegetation maps, and detecting issues such as disease and irrigation irregularities. Thus, it drives the market growth during the forecast period. Agricultural drones, flying at a specific altitude with sensors, provide crucial analytical data for controls crop health, treatment, exploration, field soil analysis, and yield assessments, aiding farmers in making informed decisions and reducing time and costs. According to a report from MarketsAndMarkets “Commercial drones can be provided wireless coverage during emergency cases where each drone serves as an aerial wireless base station when the cellular network goes down. They can also be used to supplement the ground base station to provide better coverage and higher data rates for users. Drones can also assist various terrestrial networks, such as device-to-device and vehicular networks. For instance, due to their mobility and LOS Communications, drones can facilitate rapid formation dissemination among ground device. Furthermore, drones can potentially improve the reliability of wireless links in D2D and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications while exploiting transmit diversity.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS).

    MarketsAndMarkets continued: “Flying drones can help broadcast common information to ground devices, thereby reducing interferences in ground networks by decreasing the number of transmissions between devices. Based on operational mode, the commercial drone market has been classified into remotely piloted, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous. The remotely piloted segment is projected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period, driven by the cost-effective usage of remotely piloted UAVs in several applications ranging from defense operations to surveys. Fully autonomous drones significantly enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs across various end use such as agriculture, transport, logistics & warehousing, and Oil & Gas. Based on function, the Commercial Drone market has been segmented into passenger drones, inspection & monitoring drones, surveying & mapping drones, spraying & seeding drones, cargo air vehicles, and others. Passenger Drone segment is projected to record the highest growth during the forecast period with emergence of drone taxis as convenient means of aerial transportation of passenger at high speed.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Advances IQ Square Drone to Manufacturing Stage for Outdoor Applications Including Inspections, Surveys, and the Fast-Growth Power Washing Sector – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its subsidiary ZenaDrone has moved its first batch of IQ Square multifunction drones from prototype to manufacturing stage. This drone was designed for outdoor applications for operator line-of-site inspections such as for building and construction inspections, short-range land surveys, power washing and other business and government applications. The IQ Square is also expected to be a key part of ZenaDrone’s multifunction drone inventory for its Drone as a Service or DaaS business, which enables business and government users to hire a turnkey drone service and drone pilot through a local store for easy subscription-based or pay-as-you-go access to drones for various uses.

    “The IQ Square’s rapid progression from the prototype stage, initiated in 2022, to the manufacturing and assembly stage is a testament to our hardware and engineering team’s dedication and hard work. We see many commercial and government applications for the IQ Square, which we also envision will be central to powering our future DaaS operations as a versatile multifunction drone for multiple outdoor uses requiring line-of-site including fast growth uses like power washing,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    The IQ Square will be equipped with a power wash system for use in larger-scale cleaning jobs such as stadium seating, building exteriors, and public spaces; drones eliminate the need for scaffolding, lifts, or manual labor by providing a more efficient, safe, and cost-effective solution. Tethered to a ground-based water and a power source, it is designed to maintain a continuous supply of high-pressure water needed to clean large areas without the weight limitations of onboard tanks.

    The mold and drone body frames of the first batch of IQ Square drones are currently being completed, after which they will be assembled, integrated, and tested at the company’s Sharjah, UAE production facility. The Company will oversee the integration and quality inspection of electronics, battery and propulsion systems, software, and sensor installation and calibration, concluding with final flight testing.

    According to QYResearch, the global market for drone cleaning services, including applications such as water hose-tethered power washing for stadium seats and public areas, is projected to reach approximately $53.89 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.3%.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service or DaaS business model enables government agencies, building developers, entertainment facilities, farmers, environmental firms, etc. to conveniently access a turnkey drone solution via a local store on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis rather than having to buy the entire drone hardware and software solution. Like Amazon Web Services, where Amazon owns computer equipment platforms and hires the personnel, with the DaaS model, ZenaDrone owns the drones, hires the pilots and ensures regulatory compliance to enable the cost savings, precision and efficiency of drones over existing legacy methods. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) recently confirms through recent sales activities its positioning and preparedness to support the enhancement of border security amid evolving global trade and security uncertainties and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Highlighting recent sales activities with policing agencies, Draganfly continues to strengthen its position to support border security with advanced drone technology solutions.

    “Recent global trade challenges, tariff uncertainties, and security concerns underscore the critical importance of secure borders and resilient supply chains,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly Inc. “Our recent sales activities with policing agencies is a testament to our ability and readiness to provide drone technology and services in support of border security solutions.”

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH) recently announced a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (“JAC Motors”) and Hefei Guoxian Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Guoxian Holdings”). Under this agreement, cooperation will focus on establishing a joint venture in Hefei to invest in the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing base for low-altitude aircraft. The facility will integrate advanced technology, standardization, and automation to produce intelligent and pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (“eVTOL”).

    The strategic cooperation signing ceremony was attended by key officials including Fei Yuan, Standing Committee Member of Hefei Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Hefei; Xingchu Xiang, Chairman, and General Manager of JAC Motors; Xingke Yin, Vice General Manager of JAC Motors; Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang; and Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang. They were joined by other distinguished guests in witnessing the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement, marking a new milestone in the high-quality development of China’s low-altitude economy ecosystem.

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) recently announced that its Black Widow drone and FlightWave Edge 130 were included on the list of 23 platforms and 14 unique components and capabilities selected as winners of the Blue UAS Refresh. The platforms will undergo National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) verification and cyber security review with the ultimate goal of joining the Blue UAS List.

    Over the coming months, the Blue UAS List and Blue UAS Framework will expand with new additions. The inclusion of the Black Widow and Edge 130 as winners of the Refresh further validates Red Cat’s commitment to delivering NDAA-compliant unmanned systems for defense and government applications.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced its participation in the inaugural XPONENTIAL Europe trade show in Dusseldorf Germany held February 18-20, 2025. AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Invaluable visibility was achieved at XPONENTIAL Europe as AgEagle further strengthened its leadership role in the worldwide UAS marketplace. Our entire product line was presented to a prominent and influential audience both directly by AgEagle and through our industry-leading partners. Notably, major European defense contractor Rheinmetall, presented AgEagle’s eBee VISION as an integral part of their offering as did Dronivo and MKS Servo. The diverse needs of European nations both commercially and defense-wise were reviewed with high-value insight provided by the congregation which included representatives from NATO. AgEagle remains committed to consistently expanding the capabilities and global footprint of our best-in-class UAS products as we continue to build long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

    XPONENTIAL Europe offered a unique combination of trade fair, live demonstrations and a top-class conference program. Daily keynotes by internationally renowned speakers before the start of the trade fair brought exhibitors and visitors together and provided important impetus for the future of autonomy. The tradeshow is the very first event put on by Messe Dusseldorf in partnership with AUVSI. Various members of the drone customer community were present, such as the German Bundeswehr and the U.S. Army, along with members of the press and industrial community.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Navy Chaplain Strengthens Warfighter Resiliency at NMRTC Rota

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    ROTA, Spain – As the military faces increasing operational demands, ensuring warfighter resiliency is paramount. Navy chaplains play a vital role in enhancing force readiness providing spiritual, moral, and personal support to service members and their families.

    At Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Rota, Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Brady Rentz, better known as “Chaps,” is strengthening the commands resiliency efforts ensuring Sailors are prepared to meet mission requirements across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

    “Serving in the Navy allows me to serve the warfighters of our nation,” said Rentz. “I am able to dedicate my pastoral skills and abilities to those that are called to do some of our nation’s most difficult work.”

    Chaplains serve as force multipliers, helping military personnel navigate high-stress environments, operational deployments, and the mental demands of servicer. They provide confidential counseling, ethical advisement, and crisis intervention, and help ensure service members remain mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready for any contingency. At overseas military hospitals, Navy chaplains work closely with medical staff to provide holistic care to all patients and staff.

    Since arriving in the fall of 2024, Rentz has spearheaded several resiliency-building efforts to include a monthly newsletter, “Warfighter Equipped.” In the newsletter Rentz, shares leadership highlights, mental toughness strategies, and highlights Sailors who exemplify resilience and high-performance standards. Additionally, as a key member of the commands Expanded Operational Stress Control team — a Culture of Excellence initiative – Rentz applies evidence-based practices to build resiliency through peer support, self-care, and connectedness.

    “Each day, I have the ability to meet people where they are,” says Rentz. “I can be present and serve each individual’s spiritual needs and follow up helping them navigate a particular season in their life.”

    “Regaining a chaplain billet is a game changer for our warfighters,” said commanding officer, Capt. William Scouten. “Spiritual resilience is a key component to operational success, and Chaps is dedicated to our Sailors and Marines, providing them the support they need to stay in the fight.”
    NMRTC Rota will further soon expand its spiritual support team with the arrival of Religious Program Specialist Third Class Eduardo Aldana, further strengthening the commands ability to prepare Sailors and civilians for increased demands.

    As the Navy continues to navigate complex, global missions, chaplains will play an increasingly vital role in supporting warfighters, building leaders, and strengthening the force. Rentz work at NMRTC Rota serves as a model for how spiritual resilience directly enhances combat readiness and mission effectiveness.

    Reflecting on his past experience, Rentz recalled one of his proudest moments while deployed aboard USS Arlington (LPD 24) where he supported Sailors and Marines in an expeditionary environment.

    “Seeing God work in their lives—offering protection, comfort, and strength in difficult times—was inspiring,” said Rentz. “In most challenging environments, I’ve witnessed how faith and resilience empower warfighters to push forward and accomplish the mission.”

    Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Rota’s strategic location in the Iberian Peninsula makes it a critical asset in supporting global medical missions throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, ensuring readiness and expertise for any contingency.

    Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Healthier Hearts and Brighter Smiles at Naval Hospital Bremerton

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    It was a heartfelt occasion worth smiling about.

    Naval Hospital Bremerton recognized February as American Heart Month and National Children’s Dental Health Month by combining the two into one educational event, February 13, 2025.

    What do these two awareness campaigns have in common?

    “We engaged with the children in participating in activities designed to teach them how to brush and floss their teeth and how to identify foods, which are not only good for their teeth, but for their heart as well,” said Patricia Skinner, Health Promotion and Wellness coordinator.

    American Dental Association studies show poor oral health increases the number of bacteria in your mouth. Along with tooth decay, bacteria can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. If the bacteria reach someone’s heart, the risk becomes higher of suffering from such debilitating illnesses as endocarditis, atherosclerosis, and stroke.

    Skinner said that connecting dental health and heart health education in youth, “can be challenging when we don’t have enough resources to make an impact.”

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Oral Health, more than half of children 6 to 8 years old have had at least one cavity. If untreated, tooth decay can cause cavities, toothache, gum disease, and tooth loss.

    “We want to help them discover how beautiful their smiles are when their teeth are healthy,” said Skinner.

    The good news is that cavities and associated health problems are preventable. Here are suggestions from the CDC to support oral health:
    Practice good oral hygiene:
    • Brush twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride.
    • Floss daily.
    • Replace toothbrush every three months
    Regular dental visits:
    • Pregnancy increases the chances of gum disease and cavities. Visit the dentist before the baby’s arrival.
    • Children should visit a dentist by their first birthday.
    • All family members should discuss with their dentist how frequently they must schedule their dental checks.
    • Ask the dentist about water fluoride where you live, dental sealants, and mouthwashes.
    • Avoid negative or scary comments about dental visits. Help children develop a pleasant attitude toward dental care.
    Eat healthily:
    • Maintain a balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains.
    • Avoid sticky and hard foods that can harm teeth.
    • Limit sugar intake.

    By promoting good oral and heart health habits, NHB is helping young beneficiaries grow up to live healthier lives, one smile – and healthy heart – at a time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Discusses Illinois’ Leadership In Quantum Computing With IBM

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 26, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM Quantum, to discuss Illinois’ position as a leader in quantum computing.  During their meeting, Durbin received an update on IBM’s plans to join the Illinois Quantum Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on the South Side of Chicago.  IBM plans to build a commercial quantum computer at the park and train the needed quantum workforce through the National Quantum Algorithms Center. Illinois has invested $500 million to scale-up quantum computing and microelectronics research and development (R&D) by attracting companies, researchers, suppliers, and users to IQMP.  The quantum park is currently anchored by PsiQuantum, with plans for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to join the site soon.

    Durbin and Dr. Gambetta also strategized about a path forward for Durbin’s bipartisan Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act.  The legislation, which earned the endorsement of IBM, aims to reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing more than $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years— well above the $625 million for DOE-related programs laid out in the now-expired National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. 

    “Illinois is poised to be a global hub for quantum computing, and it’s critical that we continue to invest in R&D to keep the momentum going,” Durbin said.  “I sat down today with Dr. Jay Gambetta from IBM Quantum to hear about the company’s plans to join the IQMP campus.  We also discussed ways to garner more support for my bipartisan DOE Quantum Leadership Act.  We are on the path to lead the quantum revolution, and I will continue to be a champion for the quantum technology that will advance the medical, financial, and materials industries, among countless others.”

    A photo of the meeting is available here.

    Durbin has been a strong supporter of advancing quantum research.  Last July, he visited MxD in Chicago to discuss integrating quantum technology into manufacturing processes.  He also joined Illinois leaders to announce the new partnership between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Illinois—Quantum Proving Ground—to promote quantum computing research, development, and manufacturing in the state.  In June 2024, Durbin met with Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director of  DARPA, to discuss Illinois’ role in R&D in the defense industry.

    Last summer, Durbin joined Illinois leaders in celebrating the newly-announced location of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park’s (IQMP) location at USX on the South Side of Chicago and the announcement of the quantum campus’ first anchor tenant, PsiQuantum. Illinois plans to invest $500 million into the new quantum campus to attract Fortune 500 companies and startups in quantum computing.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Navy Optometrist Recognized for Excellence in Vision Readiness

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    The U.S. Navy recognized Lt. Aidan Stubbs, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Rota, as the Junior Navy Optometrist of the Year for her exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to vision readiness—an essential component of operational effectiveness.

    Navy Optometrists provide both routine and acute eye care to military personnel, their families, and other beneficiaries worldwide.

    “Lt. Stubb’s relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering commitment directly enhance the vision readiness of our warfighters, and ensure they are prepared for any mission,” said Cmdr. Ann MacDonald, Navy Optometry Assistant Subspecialty leader.

    Before arriving in Rota, Stubbs was recognized as the 2023 Optometry Extern Program Director of the Year for her role in training future optometrists. She also presented at the 2024 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) conference, highlighting Naval Hospital Rota’s success in reducing eyeglass fabrication time for helicopter squadrons from weeks to just days—vastly improving mission readiness.

    In her role as Optometry Department Head, Stubbs leads a highly skilled team that provides comprehensive eye care. As a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Optometrists, she is considered as an expert in her field.

    “Serving as a Navy Optometrist has been such a fulfilling career,” said Stubbs. “Whether on land, at sea or in the air, optimal vision is mission critical. Clear sight can mean the difference between mission success or failure.”

    Located on the Iberian Peninsula, NMRTC Rota serves as a critical hub for global medical mission, supporting operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, ensuring readiness and expertise for any contingency.

    Navy Medicine – comprising of more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Lingokids Introduces “Theater” Mode: A Safe, Ad-Free Video Experience for Kids

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lingokids, the #1 learning app for kids, has introduced a new feature, Theater, in selected markets. This dedicated space within the app offers a curated, ad-free video experience designed to provide children with high-quality educational and entertaining content.

    Previously known as Video Mode, this new Mode of Use “Theater” is now completely available for all users in Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Colombia, where families can explore a library of engaging videos tailored to support early learning and development.

    A Safe and Educational Alternative to Streaming Platforms

    Lingokids Theater is designed as a safe and controlled environment where young learners can access age-appropriate content created by educators. The feature includes:

    • Animated stories, songs, and puppetry that introduce key early learning concepts in a fun and engaging way.
    • Activity-based videos such as drawing, dance, yoga, and interactive storytelling that encourage creativity and self-expression.
    • Educational video series developed to reinforce cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

    Unlike traditional streaming platforms, Lingokids Theater ensures a 100% ad-free experience, prioritizing a safe and educational space that aligns with parents’ expectations for quality screen time.

    “Our goal is to offer families a dedicated space where children can enjoy enriching, educational content in a safe and engaging way,” said Rhona Anne Dick, Education & Child Development Lead at Lingokids. “Theater is designed to complement our Playlearning™ approach, giving young learners access to a variety of carefully selected videos that entertain while reinforcing important skills.”

    Currently, Theater is available only in these selected test markets within the Lingokids app. Further updates regarding its availability in other regions will be announced in the future.

    About Lingokids

    Lingokids is an innovative educational platform committed to reimagining early learning. By integrating traditional education with essential life skills, Lingokids’ Playlearning™ approach places children at the heart of an expansive educational ecosystem. Through +2,000 interactive activities across various media formats, the app empowers children to navigate topics such as engineering, empathy, literacy, and resilience. Lingokids is dedicated to preparing children for a well-rounded future that balances academic excellence with personal growth.

    For more information about Lingokids and its educational offerings, visit www.lingokids.com and follow us on social media @Lingokids.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d336fb6b-8c74-4e04-a691-31e7b2c5019a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China warns US against ‘sneaky tricks’ on Taiwan affairs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense on Thursday warned individuals of the U.S. side that playing sneaky tricks on Taiwan would only backfire.

    Wu Qian, the spokesperson, commented on recent remarks made by the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) concerning Taiwan as well as media reports about the participation of INDOPACOM officers in the table-top phase of a military exercise in Taiwan.

    Noting that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same Chinese family, Wu reiterated the will to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost effort.

    “But we make no promise to renounce the use of force, which is targeted at the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference,” he said.

    Responding to a media query about Taiwan authorities’ plan for another arms deal with the United States, Wu strongly opposed U.S. arms sales to China’s Taiwan region and military contacts between the two.

    Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities have poured taxpayers’ money, which should have been used to benefit the people, into the bottomless pit and will ultimately suffer the consequences of their own actions, Wu said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Say HELLO to HIMARS!

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    : DMD

    About the U.S. Army:
    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.mil
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #HIMARS

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hppt44FcczM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Remembers Long-Time Civil Servant John Boyd

    Source: NASA

    John Boyd, known to many as Jack and whose career spanned more than seven decades in a multitude of roles across NASA as well as its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), died Feb. 20. He was 99. Born in 1925, and raised in Danville, Virginia, he was a long-time resident of Saratoga, California.
    Boyd is being remembered by many across the agency, including Dr. Eugene Tu, director, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, where Boyd spent most of his career.
    “Jack brought an energy, optimism, and team-based approach to solving some of the greatest technological challenges humanity has ever faced, which remains part of our culture to this day,” said Tu. “There are few careers as wide-ranging and impactful as Jack’s.”
    In 1947, Boyd began his career at the then-called Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in Moffett Field, California, as an aeronautical engineer working to design and test various wing shapes using the center’s 1-by-3-foot supersonic wind tunnel. Boyd continued conducting research in wind tunnels, testing designs that led to dramatic increases in the efficiency of the supersonic B-58 bomber, as well as the F-102 and F-106 fighters.
    In 1958, just before Ames became part of a newly established NASA, Boyd recalled thinking, “Maybe someday we’ll go out into the far blue yonder, and if we do, what are we going to fly? How are we going to bring it back into the atmosphere safely?” He and a team of engineers turned their attention to studying the dynamics of high-speed projectiles in hypervelocity ranges, filled with different mixtures of gases to mimic the atmospheres of Mars and Venus, in preparation for sending spacecraft out into space and safely back again or to the surface of other worlds.
    By the mid-60s, Boyd was promoted into leadership and tapped to become deputy director for Aeronautics and Flight Systems at NASA Ames. In the late 1960s, as America was redefining its space exploration goals and sending humans to the Moon, Boyd served as the center’s lead to assist NASA Headquarters in Washington consolidate and create new research programs.
    In 1979, Boyd served as the deputy director at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center (now known as NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center) in Edwards, California, and prepared the center for its role as a landing site for the space shuttle. He briefly returned to Ames before heading to NASA Headquarters to be associate administrator for management under James M. Beggs. Boyd left government service in 1985, taking a position as chancellor for research and an adjunct professor of aerodynamics, engineering, and the history of spaceflight for the University of Texas System.
    Boyd returned to NASA and California’s Silicon Valley in 1993,inspiring students through educational outreach initiatives, and serving as the senior advisor to the director, senior advisor for history, and the center ombudsman until his retirement in 2020.
    Boyd credits his interest in airplanes to a cousin who was a paratrooper and gave him a ride in a biplane in the 1940s. In 1943, he enrolled and became the first in his family to earn a degree with a bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, the NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal, the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Command Medal, and the NASA Headquarters History Award. He also was a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Sloan Fellow at Stanford University.
    “The agency and the nation thank and honor Jack as a member of the NASA family and the highest exemplar of a public servant who believed investing in others is the greatest contribution one can make,” added Tu. “He will be deeply missed.”
    For more information about NASA Ames, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/ames
    -end-
    Cheryl WarnerHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
    Rachel HooverAmes Research Center, Silicon Valley650-604-4789rachel.hoover@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INMAS organizes International Radio Biology Conference on Biological Effects of Space Radiation, Heavy Ions and Human Space missions

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 27 FEB 2025 4:36PM by PIB Delhi

              Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), the Delhi based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is hosting the International Radio Biology Conference on Biological Effects of Space Radiation, Heavy Ions and Human Space missions – Mechanisms & Biomedical Counter measures at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi during 27th February, 2025 to 1st March 2025.  Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, who was the Chief Guest, inaugurated the conference today on 27th February, 2025. Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO was the Guests of Honour.

              Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood in his inaugural address complimented INMAS for organising the event and said that one of the most significant challenges that in space exploration is the issue of space radiation, which poses a considerable risk to the health and well-being of astronauts during long duration space flights. He appreciated the efforts being made by INMAS in addressing these challenges.

              Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO in his address said the challenges associated with space radiation require an integrated approach, combining the expertise of various scientific disciplines. The conference, he said, serves as a unique and important forum for the exchange of knowledge between radiobiologists, physicists, engineers, and medical researchers, among others. It is through such interdisciplinary collaboration that we can develop the innovative technologies and solutions necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of astronauts in the harsh conditions of space, he added.

              Dr Samir V. Kamat said that exploring the Outer Space for the benefit of mankind has become a major necessity in modern times. Significant strides have been made, such as long-term human presence on the International Space Station (ISS) and missions to the Moon, which demonstrate our growing ability to sustain life in space. By developing effective strategies and protective measures, the country would be able to ensure the safety and well-being of astronauts, paving the way for successful long-term missions to Mars and beyond.

                       The three day conference will deliberate upon the topics in line with its theme “Biological Effects of Space Radiation” through theme areas namely, Biomarkers of Exposure/ Susceptibility, Chronic Effects/Carcinogenesis, Combined Stressors (Microgravity, Confinement, Circadian Misalignment, Isolation and Space Radiation), Acute & Late/ Chronic Effects of Heavy Ions, Mathematical Modelling and Simulation, Medical Countermeasures, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Muscle & Bone Loss, Degenerative  Diseases/ Cognition, Heavy Ions Radiation Chemistry.

    ******

    SR/GC

    (Release ID: 2106625) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh releases first edition of MoD’s bi-annual Hindi magazine ‘Sashakt Bharat’

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 27 FEB 2025 2:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released the first edition of Ministry of Defence’s bi-annual Hindi magazine ‘Sashakt Bharat’ at South Block, New Delhi on February 27, 2025. The magazine comprises poems on the valour, patriotism and sacrifices of the Armed Forces personnel as well as articles on the policies of the Government written by the personnel of the Ministry, irrespective of their ranks, showcasing inclusivity and unity in diversity.

     

    Raksha Mantri appreciated the efforts of the MoD wing of the Department of Official Language towards promoting Hindi. He stressed on the need to adopt and increase the use of Hindi, describing the language as the thread that binds the social and cultural fabric of India.

    The objective of ‘Sashakt Bharat’ magazine is to highlight the creative talent of the employees of MoD and encourage them to carry out their day-to-day activities

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • Lviv’s St Luke’s Hospital has been upgraded to provide better medical care and a more resilient environment for patients, visitors and healthcare workers amid wartime challenges.
    • Preschool No.7 in Truskavets has been renovated to improve energy efficiency to provide a stable learning space for children and educators, including those displaced by the war.
    • These projects are part of the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, aimed at rebuilding essential social infrastructure in Ukrainian communities.

    As Ukraine marks three years of Russia’s full-scale war, the European Union continues to support the reconstruction of the country’s vital infrastructure. Two public buildings in Lviv Oblast – St Luke’s Hospital in Lviv and preschool No.7 “Dzvinochok” in Truskavets – have officially opened after renovations. Supported by the European Union and its financial arm, the European Investment Bank (EIB), these projects are part of the broader Ukraine Early Recovery Programme that funds the restoration of essential social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, water and heating systems and social housing. As war-affected communities continue to face immense challenges, these investments help ensure access to critical services and create more resilient spaces.

    Lviv’s St Luke’s Hospital, a key emergency and specialised care centre, has undergone a €940 000 renovation to improve services for its 50 000 annual patients. Home to western Ukraine’s largest burn unit, it plays a crucial role in treating severe injuries. The upgrades, in particular facade insulation and energy efficiency improvements, enhance the hospital’s resilience while creating a more comfortable space for patients, including internally displaced persons.

    A €330 000 renovation of preschool No.7 “Dzvinochok” in Truskavets, Lviv Oblast, has created a more energy-efficient and welcoming learning space for pupils including for children displaced by the war and for staff. The project significantly increased the appeal of the building, while increasing its energy efficiency and reducing energy costs. With improved insulation the preschool is now more resilient and sustainable.

    In Lviv Oblast, two facilities have already been renovated and six are undergoing reconstruction under the EIB recovery programmes, with a total investment of over €15 million. This includes six educational institutions and two medical facilities, improving access to education and healthcare in the region. 

    EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who is responsible for the Bank’s operations in Ukraine, said: “From day one of Russia’s full-scale war and throughout these three difficult years, the EIB has stood by Ukraine, providing vital support to help the country withstand, recover and rebuild. The reopening of renovated hospital and school in Lviv Oblast is a testament to this ongoing effort, bringing tangible improvements to people’s daily lives.”

    EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said: “Every rebuilt hospital, school, and kindergarten sends a clear message: the EU stands firmly with Ukraine. Together with the EIB, we are not only helping to repair what has been damaged but also laying the foundations for a stronger, safer Ukraine that is ready to thrive as part of the EU.”

    Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba said: “Together with the EIB, EU Delegation and UNDP, we are modernising outdated and war-damaged infrastructure across Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians already benefit from renovated schools, hospitals and kindergartens. We have recently launched the first phase of the Ukraine Recovery III programme, paving the way for additional impactful initiatives that will enhance communities and improve the lives of Ukrainians thanks to the EU support.”

    Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko said: “Rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure is crucial for strengthening resilience and improving living conditions for our people. With the support of the EU, we are delivering critical projects that enhance healthcare, education and public services. The three EIB-backed recovery programmes, worth €640 million, play a key role in this effort, helping communities rebuild and move forward despite ongoing challenges.”

    Head of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration Maksym Kozytskyi said: “The EU bank’s investment in Lviv Oblast is strengthening our region’s infrastructure at a critical time. With many communities hosting large numbers of displaced people, improving healthcare, education and essential services is more important than ever. These projects help ensure that our cities and towns remain functional, resilient and able to meet the needs of all who live here.”

    Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi said: “Restoring and strengthening our city’s infrastructure is essential to supporting both our residents and those who have found refuge here due to the war. With the support of the EU, we are rebuilding vital facilities to ensure Lviv remains a city of resilience, opportunity and hope. Today, we inaugurated a renovated hospital, with many other projects underway to improve daily life and build a stronger future for our community.”

    Mayor of Truskavets Andriy Kulchynsky said: “We are grateful to the EU for this investment in our community. The renovation of Preschool No.7 creates a warm, modern and energy-efficient space where our children can learn and grow.”

    UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine Jaco Cilliers said: “Behind every rebuilt hospital and renovated school, we see renewed hope for Ukrainian families and communities. UNDP’s partnership with local authorities isn’t just about infrastructure – it’s about restoring essential services that affect people’s daily lives. Working alongside the EU and EIB, we’re helping transform technical recovery projects into tangible improvements for children seeking education, patients needing care and citizens rebuilding their futures.”

    Background information

    EIB in Ukraine 

    The EIB Group has been supporting Ukraine’s resilience, economy and efforts to rebuild since the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In 2024, the Bank supported projects aimed at securing Ukraine’s energy supply, repairing critical infrastructure that has been damaged, and ensuring that essential services continue to be delivered across the country. This brings the total amount of aid the EIB has disbursed since the start of the war to over €2.2 billion.

    EIB recovery programmes in Ukraine

    Renovations of a hospital and kindergarten in Lviv Oblast were carried out under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme (UERP), a €200 million multisectoral framework loan from the EIB. Overall, the Bank finances three recovery programmes, totalling €640 million, which are provided as framework loans to the government of Ukraine. Through these programmes, Ukrainian communities gain access to financial resources to restore essential social infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, housing, heating, and water systems. These EIB-backed programmes are further supported by €15 million in EU grants to facilitate implementation. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees the programme implementation, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to local communities, supporting project implementation and ensuring independent monitoring for transparency and accountability. More information about the programmes is available here.

    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
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    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
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    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
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    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
    Ukraine: Renovated hospital and preschool open in Lviv Oblast with EU bank support
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Missions – SEDE mission to Ukraine – 25-26 October 2024 – 25-10-2024 – Committee on Security and Defence

    Source: European Parliament

    SEDE_flags Ukraine and EU.jpg © Adobe Stock

    The eight-member delegation from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) was in Kyiv on 25 and 26 October 2024. This mission was the first in the new parliamentary term and allowed the Members to express a strong message of solidarity and unwavering support to Ukraine and its citizens in the face of Russia’s unjust and illegal war of aggression.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Eugene Doyle: Yellow Peril!  Red Peril! ‘We cannot hide anymore’. Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea. 

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle

    The Western media went into overdrive this week to work the laconic Kiwis into a mild frenzy over three Chinese naval vessels conducting exercises in the Tasman Sea a few thousand kilometres off our shores.

    What was really behind this orchestrated campaign?

    The New Zealand government led the rhetorical charge over the Hengyang, the Zunyi and the Weishanhu in mare nostrum (“Our Sea”, as the Romans liked to call the Mediterranean).

     “We cannot hide at this end of the world anymore,” Defence Minister Judith Collins said in light of three Chinese boats in the Tasman.

    Warrior academics were next . “We need to go to the cutting edge, and we need to do that really, really fast,” the ever-reliable China hawk Anne-Marie Brady of Canterbury University said, telling 1 News the message of the live-firing exercises was that China wants to rule the waves.

    The British Financial Times chimed in with a warning that “A confronting strategic future is arriving fast”.

    Could this have anything to do with the fact we are fast approaching the New Zealand government’s 2025 budget and that they — and their Australian, US and UK allies — are intent on a major increase in Kiwi defence funding, moving from around 1.2 percent of GDP to possibly two percent? A long-anticipated Defence Capability Review is also around the corner and is likely to come with quite a shopping list of expensive gear.

    The New Zealand government led the rhetorical charge over the Hengyang, the Zunyi and the Weishanhu in mare nostrum (“Our Sea”, as the Romans liked to call the Mediterranean). Image: www.solidarity.co.nz

    What’s good for the goose . . .
    It is worth pointing out that New Zealand and Australian warships sailed through the contested Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the South China Sea as recently as September 2024. What’s good for the goose is good for the Panda.

    And, of course, at any one time about 20 US nuclear submarines are prowling in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. Each can carry missiles the equivalent of over 1000 Hiroshima bombs — truly apocalyptic.

    Veteran New Zealand peace campaigner Mike Smith (a friend) was not in total disagreement with the hawks when it came to the argy-bargy in the Tasman.

    “The emergence apparently from nowhere of a Chinese naval expedition in our waters I think may be intended to demonstrate that they have a large and very capable blue water navy now and won’t be penned in by AUKUS submarines when and if they arrive off their coast.

    “I think the main message is to the Australians: if you want to homebase nuclear-capable B-52s we have more than one way to come at you. That was also the message of the ICBM they sent into the Pacific: Australia is no longer an unsinkable aircraft carrier.”

    According to the Asia Times, China fired the ICBM — the first such shot into the Pacific by China — just days after HMNZS Aotearoa sailed through the Taiwan Strait with Australian vessel HMAS Sydney.

    Smith says our focus should be on building positive relationships in the Pacific on our terms. “Buying expensive popguns will not save us.”

    China Scare a page out of Australia’s Red Scare playbook
    For people good at pattern recognition this week’s China Scare was obviously a page or two out of the same playbook that duped a majority of Australians into believing China was going to invade Australia. They were lulled into a false sense of insecurity back in 2021 — the mediascape flooded with Red Alert, China panic stories about imminent war with the rising Asian power.

    As a sign of how successful the mainstream media can be in generating fear that precedes major policy shifts: research by Australia’s Institute of International & Security Affairs showed that more Australians thought that China would soon attack Australia than Taiwanese believed China would attack Taiwan!

    Once the population was conditioned, they woke one morning in September 2021 with the momentous news that Australia had ditched a $90 billion submarine defence deal with France and the country was now part of a new anti-Chinese military alliance called AUKUS. This was the playbook that came to mind last week.

    There are strong, rational arguments that could be made to increase our spending at this time. But I loathe and decry this kind of manipulation, this manufacturing of consent.

    I also fear what those billions of dollars will be used for. Defending our coastlines is one thing; joining an anti-Chinese military alliance to please the US is quite another.

    Prime Minister Luxon has called China — our biggest trading partner — a strategic competitor. He has also suggested, somewhat ludicrously, that our military could be a “force multiplier” for Team AUKUS.

    We are hitching ourselves to the US at the very time they have proven they treat allies as vassals, threatened to annex Greenland and the Panama Canal, continue to commit genocide in Gaza, and are now imposing an unequal treaty on Ukraine.


    Australia’s ABC News on Foreign Minister Winston Peter’s talks in China. Video: ABC

    Whose side – or calmer independence?
    Whose side should we be on? Or should we return to a calmer, more independent posture?

    And then there’s the question of priorities. The hawks may convince the New Zealand population that the China threat is serious enough that we should forgo spending money on child poverty, fixing our ageing infrastructure, investing in health and education and instead, as per pressure from our AUKUS partners, spend some serious coin — billions of dollars more — on defence.

    Climate change is one battle that is being fought and lost. Will climate funding get the bullet so we can spend on military hardware? That would certainly get a frosty reaction from Pacific nations at the front edge of sea rise.

    The government in New Zealand is literally taking the food out of children’s mouths to fund weapons systems. The Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme provides nutritious lunches every day to a quarter of a million of New Zealand’s most needy children.

    Its funding has recently been slashed by over $100 million by the government despite its own advisors telling it that such programmes have profound long-term wellbeing benefits and contribute significantly to equity. In the next breath we are told we need to boost funding for our military.

    The US appears determined to set itself on a collision course with China but we don’t have to be crash test dummies sitting alongside them. Prudence, preparedness, vigilance and risk-management are all to be devoutly wished for; hitching our fate to a hostile US containment strategy is bad policy both in economic and defence terms.

    In the absence of a functioning media — one that showcases diverse perspectives and challenges power rather than works hand-in-glove with it — populations have been enlisted in the most abhorrent and idiotic campaigns: the Red Peril, the Jewish Peril and the Black Peril (in South Africa and the southern states of the USA), to name three.

    Our media-political-military complex is at it again with this one — a kind of Yellow Peril Redux.

    New Zealand trails behind both Australia and China in development assistance to the Pacific. If we wish to “counter” China, supporting our neighbours would be a better investment than encouraging an unwinnable arms race.

    In tandem, I would advocate for a far deeper diplomatic and cultural push to understand and engage with China; that would do more to keep the region peaceful and may arrest the slow move in China towards seeking other markets for the high-quality primary produce that an increasingly bellicose New Zealand still wishes to sell them.

    Let’s be friends to all, enemies of none. Keep the Pacific peaceful, neutral and nuclear-free.

    Eugene Doyle is a community organiser and activist in Wellington, New Zealand. He received an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian award in 2023 for community service. His first demonstration was at the age of 12 against the Vietnam War. This article was first published at his public policy website Solidarity and he is a regular contributor to Asia Pacific Report and Café Pacific.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Albanese falls victim to a Chinese burn

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

    As the Albanese government struggles to stay on its political feet, who would have thought the China issue would suddenly insert itself into the campaign, leaving the prime minister looking, at best, flat-footed?

    Improving and stabilising what had become a toxic bilateral relationship under Scott Morrison has been one of the Albanese government’s major pluses in its foreign and trade policy.

    China has taken off all of the roughly $20 billion in barriers it had enacted on Australian exports. Australian lobsters are back on Chinese menus. And who can forget the PM’s visit to China, when he was lauded as “a handsome boy”.

    But now, almost on the eve of the election campaign, a Chinese military exercise in the Tasman Sea has not just reminded Australians of Chinese military power, but has left the PM appearing poorly informed. Or not wanting to offend the Chinese.

    Of course, China did not set out to force Anthony Albanese into what were publicly misleading comments. That was all his own doing.

    The China incident was on the morning of Friday last week, when its navy commenced the live-fire exercise.

    Albanese was briefed on Friday afternoon. Later in the day, a reporter asked him about an ABC report of “commercial pilots [being] warned about a potential hazard in airspace” where three Chinese warships had been sailing.

    The PM said: “China issued, in accordance with practice, an alert that it would be conducting these activities, including the potential use of live fire”. This told, at best, a sliver of what was a rather alarming story.

    The government says the Chinese had acted in accordance with the law but the amount of notice they’d given (which was not provided directly to Australia) was inadequate. Representations about this were made by Foreign Minister Penny Wong to the Chinese.

    It took evidence before Senate estimates hearings this week to paint a full picture of what happened.

    On Monday, Rob Sharp, CEO of Airservices Australia (the country’s civil air navigation services provider) told senators: “We became aware at two minutes to ten on Friday morning – and it was, in fact, a Virgin Australia aircraft that advised one of our air traffic controllers – that a foreign warship was broadcasting that they were conducting a live firing 300 nautical miles east off our coast. So that’s how we first found out about the issue.”

    Initially, “we didn’t know whether it was a potential hoax or real”.

    Meanwhile, a number of commercial planes were in the air and some diverted their routes.

    On Wednesday, Australian Defence Force Chief David Johnston was asked at another estimates hearing whether Defence was only notified of what was happening from a Virgin flight and Airservices Australia 28 minutes after the Chinese operation firing window commenced. Johnston’s one-word reply was “Yes”.

    Australia does not know whether the Chinese ships, which proceeded towards Tasmania, intend to circumnavigate the continent, or whether they have been accompanied by a submarine.

    Relations with China won’t be a first-order issue with most voters at this cost-of-living election. But these events play to the Dutton opposition, for whom national security is home-ground territory.

    They reinforce the broader impression, which has taken hold, of Albanese being poor with detail.

    Dutton said on Sydney radio on Thursday, “I don’t know whether he makes things up, but he seems to get flustered in press conferences. You hear it – the umming and ahing, and at the end of it, you don’t know what he’s actually said.

    “But what we do know is that he is at odds with the chief of the Defence force, and he needs to explain why, on such a totemic issue, he either wasn’t briefed, that he’s made up the facts, that he’s got it wrong.”

    Wong hit back, “We have been very clear China is going to keep being China, just as Mr Dutton isn’t going to stop being Mr Dutton – the man who once said it was inconceivable we wouldn’t go to war is going to keep beating the drums of war.

    “The Labor government will be calm and consistent; not reckless and arrogant.”

    There’s one political complication for Dutton in seeking to exploit the China issue. Despite his natural hawkishness, in recent times he has been treading more softly on China, with an eye to the importance of voters of Chinese heritage in some seats.

    The Trump administration has dramatically increased the uncertainty of the international outlook that the Australian government, whether Labor or Coalition, will face during the next parliamentary term.

    Defence Minister Richard Marles this week talked up the US administration’s policy in the region. “We are very encouraged by the focus that the Trump Administration is giving in terms of its strategic thinking to the Indo Pacific.”

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who was in Washington lobbying for a tariff exemption was also, declared that “the alliance and the economic partnership between Australia and the US is as strong as it’s ever been.”

    Whether we get that exemption will be an early indication of where we stand in terms of the special relationship with the US. But who knows what the US might want in return.

    A volatile world and perhaps pressure from the US may push Australia into spending more on defence, which on present planning is due to tick past 2% of GDP.

    Dutton has already said he would put more funding into defence, although, like most other aspects of opposition policy, the amount is vague. The Coalition says when it produces its costing (which will be in the last days before the election) there will be more precision.

    We’ve yet to see how the crucial US-China relationship evolves. That trajectory will have implications for Australia, positive or negative. On the very worst scenario, if China, encouraged by US President Donald Trump’s benign attitude to Russia, moves on Taiwan, the security of which the president has refused to guarantee, that could produce a dire situation in the region.

    Australia remains confident of continuing American support for AUKUS. But if Trump becomes even more arbitrary and adventurous, AUKUS could become a lot less popular not in America but in Australia.

    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. Grattan on Friday: Albanese falls victim to a Chinese burn – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-albanese-falls-victim-to-a-chinese-burn-251029

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: MND Comment on China-Cambodia Relations: Unbreakable Military Relations and Rock-Solid Brotherhood 2025-02-27 Trust is like a tree rooted in the soil of mutual support. China-Cambodia relations have withstood the tests of changing international landscape. No attempt to malign the bilateral ties will ever succeed.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

      Question: A small number of we-media accounts painted a bleak picture about China-Cambodia relationship. May I have your comments on this? What are the programs of engagement the Chinese and Cambodian armed forces will have for this year?

      Wu Qian: Relevant remarks are sheer slanders and not true. China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends who share weal and woe and always support each other. Our two militaries enjoy unbreakable relations and rock-solid brotherhood. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the PLA and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have had close high-level interactions and productive and substantive cooperation in various areas. The two sides successfully held Golden Dragon joint exercise for six times and also conducted Peace Angel military medical service exercise. Exchanges between military academies and cooperation on de-mining and military publicity have continued to deepen. Not long ago, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense conferred medals upon the Chinese medical expert team and academic expert team in Cambodia. Going forward, the Chinese military will join hands with the Cambodian side to deliver on the important consensus between the leaders of the two countries, and grow our military-to-military relations from strength to strength.

      Trust is like a tree rooted in the soil of mutual support. China-Cambodia relations have withstood the tests of changing international landscape. No attempt to malign the bilateral ties will ever succeed.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UK PM makes defense pledge before US trip

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech during 2024 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Britain, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to meet United States President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday after having pledged to increase British defense spending in the face of what he called a “generational” security challenge.

    The decision to raise military expenditure to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, and 3 percent by 2033, was announced on Tuesday, with Starmer saying he had “hard choices” to make in ensuring that the “defense and security of the British people must always come first”.

    But his decision to partly fund it by a cut in overseas aid has been criticized by charities and some members of his own governing Labour Party.

    “Through those choices, as hard as they are, we must also seek unity — a whole society effort that will reach into the lives, the industries, and the homes of the British people,” Starmer explained.

    The timing of the announcement was notable, coming as it did just before his visit to the White House and at a time when security links between Europe and the U.S. are under great strain.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed Starmer’s decision, calling it a “strong step from an enduring partner”.

    Trump has long been critical of European members of the NATO military alliance for not contributing enough to the communal defense budget. The current requirement, met by most members, is for 2 percent of GDP to be spent on defense, but Trump has said it should be as high as 5 percent, even though the U.S. itself is currently only the third-highest proportionally contributing member nation, with 3.37 percent of its GDP.

    According to data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2023 the UK was the world’s fifth-largest international aid donor.

    Writing in The Guardian newspaper, Foreign Minister David Lammy insisted the “most vital programs in the world’s worst conflict zones of Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan” would not be affected, “but there can be no hiding from the fact that many programs doing vital work will have to be put on hold”.

    Former Labour Party foreign secretary David Miliband, who is now head of the International Rescue Committee charity, called the aid cut “a blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader”, while Nick Dearden, director of campaign group Global Justice Now, said it was “a day of shame for Britain” with the move being taken “to appease Trump”.

    The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF and the charity Oxfam were also heavily critical of the decision, while Labour Party member of parliament Sarah Champion, who is chair of the parliamentary International Development Select Committee, spoke out against her own party leader, saying: “Aid vs defense isn’t a realistic narrative for keeping the world safe.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump’s Systemic Takedown of CFPB is Making U.S. Consumers Less Safe & Increasing Financial Risks for Military Families and Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Despite the fact that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has returned over $21 billion to American consumers who were ripped off by abusive and illegal financial activity since 2011, the Trump Administration is working to dismantle the watchdog agency. 

    The Trump White House has moved to dismiss the agency’s entire workforce, canceled the lease for the agency’s headquarters, suspended supervision of big banks, and dismissed open-and-shut cases against predatory lenders for deceiving consumers into paying usurious interest rates.  Two weeks ago, President Trump said in the Oval Office that his goal is for the CFPB to “be totally eliminated.”  Billionaire tycoon Elon Musk—a White House employee who donated $288 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign could personally benefit from rolling back the CFPB’s oversight capabilities— proposed “deleting” the agency.

    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says millions of Americans are more likely to be scammed and ripped off by junk fees after the Trump Administration took recent steps to incapacitate the CFPB, which was set up after the last major financial crisis.  And Reed, who created CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs to help protect military families from financial fraud, says the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the CFPB increase financial risks to service members.

    “Apparently the Trump-Musk administration thinks consumers never get the short end of the stick from unscrupulous businesses, but that’s not the experience of families.  Billionaires don’t have to worry about having enough money to pay the mortgage and feed their kids, but the vast majority of Americans do.  The CFPB exists so that every American has a strong consumer watchdog looking out for their financial well-being, preventing scams, stopping special interests from running amok, and holding offenders accountable.  This is especially true for servicemembers, veterans, and their families, who are disproportionally targeted by predatory lenders and abusive mortgage, debt collection, payday lending, and auto lending schemes and often face greater financial risks than civilian borrowers due to the nature of their military service,” said Senator Reed.  “Since the CFPB was created, it has made real progress taking on special interests, rooting out scammers, and punishing financial abuse, from deceptive mortgages to unfair credit card terms to unscrupulous payday lenders.  We should be building on that progress, not tearing it down and empowering bad actors.”

    The Trump Administration’s short-sighted decision to stop supervision, enforcement, and litigation eliminates key Military Lending Act (MLA) protections that prevent servicemembers from being exploited. The financial and legal protections in these bipartisan laws–most notably a cap on interest rates on mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans–are critical to national defense and military readiness. Troops should focus on their service obligations while on active duty, rather than worrying about making ends meet at home.

    U.S. service members submitted approximately 84,600 complaints to the CFPB in 2023, a 27 percent increase over the previous year.

    Many elderly veterans are targeted for fraud and deceptive schemes, including scams operated by unaccredited veterans benefits claims agents, who charge exorbitant fees for illegitimate assistance with claims.

    At a special CFPB forum in Washington, DC this week, Senator Reed had a chance to speak with Stacey McCall, an Army veteran who was trapped in a doom loop with an auto lender, unable to transfer her title back home after her assignment overseas ended and being unfairly charged for a Toyota vehicle she couldn’t drive.  She worked for nearly a year to resolve it, unsuccessfully, until the CFPB came to the rescue.

    Senator Reed noted his own experience in uniform and how he saw fellow Army soldiers unfairly treated by unscrupulous car dealers: “I discovered how soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians are used by financial companies a long time ago.  I was the executive officer of a parachute company in the 82nd Airborne Division, and I spent a lot of time talking to my troops and wondering why they signed a contract to buy a car with 250 percent interest. I thought that was a little outrageous.  But more importantly, why would anyone try to exploit a soldier serving the nation and defending the nation?  So, it got me a little bit upset and put it in the back in my mind.”

    Reed cited his experience in the military as one of the reasons for supporting a regulator whose mission is to focus on consumer protection and military families.

    “Whether serving stateside or abroad, U.S. military personnel and their families and veterans deserve financial protection and a watchdog that actively looks out for their financial well-being.  The CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs has been staffed by real people who have done outstanding work providing personalized assistance to those in need.  The Trump Administration is cutting that service off and as a result, more troops will lose their hard-earned paychecks and more families will fall victim to abusive and predatory financial practices,” said Reed.

    The Senate Banking Committee plans to hold a confirmation hearing Thursday for Jonathan McKernan, President Trump’s nominee to lead the CFPB.  Senator Reed says he plans to ask Mr. McKernan about his plans to protect consumers, including military families, and take meaningful enforcement actions against predatory lending.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Colleagues Demand Answers on VA Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed is teaming up with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA), to demand answers on how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will ensure veterans receive the health care and benefits they earned amidst the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate firing of recently hired VA employees.

    Senators Reed and Ossoff were joined by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) in pressing VA Secretary Doug Collins for answers after the Department fired doctors, nurses, and crisis hotline staff, despite the agency claiming otherwise.

    “VA recently announced the firing of ‘more than 1,000 employees’ and claimed in its press release that ‘mission-critical positions’ were exempt. This claim is false. Clinicians, researchers, and Veterans Crisis Line employees were fired, apparently solely on the basis that they were recent hires,” the Senators wrote.

    “We hope it goes without saying that clinical staff who provide medical care and employees who field calls from suicidal veterans are indeed ‘mission-critical,’” Senator Reed and the group continued. “VA’s indiscriminate termination of such personnel is self-defeating and risks the immediate disruption of veterans’ health care and services. The potential consequences — delayed clinical appointments or neglected phone calls from veterans in crisis — could be life threatening.”

    As part of the inquiry, Senator Reed and the group requested specific answers from Secretary Collins about the locations, positions, and veteran status of staff impacted by the Trump Administration’s Hiring Freeze Executive Order and mass firings, in order to determine whether veterans in Rhode Island will be impacted by the actions.

    Additionally, the Senators asked for data on the termination of VA researchers who were in active and ongoing clinical trials for veterans dealing with cancer, burn pit exposure, opioid addiction, and more.  

    Earlier this month, Senator Reed joined colleagues in pressing Secretary Collins to protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    The VA’s mission is to help veterans successfully transition to civilian life and assists them in their post-service journey by ensuring they have access to the benefits they earned.  The VA offers veterans and their families a wide range of services, including healthcare, housing, education, training, disability compensation and pension assistance, and more.

    Read the full text of the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington stands with trans military personnel in multi-state amicus filing

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE – The president’s discriminatory ban on transgender military service members undermines state and national security, attorneys general in 21 states argued in a brief filed Wednesday in support of personnel who filed suit seeking to overturn the order.

    Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-authored the amicus brief that says the president’s order “not only violates the Constitution…but it will also weaken our nation’s military, including the National Guard, and undermine the Amici States’ institutions and efforts to protect their communities.”

    The brief was filed in Shilling v. Trump, which was brought by lead plaintiff and decorated U.S. Navy Commander Emily Shilling. Shilling, who has served for over 20 years and flown over 60 combat and high-risk missions, is transgender and wants to continue working for the American public.

    The amicus brief describes how the president’s action deprives the state’s National Guard units of experienced and qualified soldiers at a time when recruitment is especially challenging. Trump’s blatantly discriminatory policy is also fundamentally at odds with state laws protecting transgender individuals.

    Washington was joined by the attorneys general of 20 other states in the filing, which was co-authored by Brown’s office and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. The other states joining are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

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    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the State of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

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    MIL OSI USA News –