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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Republic of Lithuania: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 6, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC – June 6, 2025: Lithuania has proved resilient to multiple shocks in recent years. However, new challenges are emerging—including further increases in defense expenditure adding to the existing long-term spending pressures—while long-standing structural issues still require attention. Lithuania needs to reignite its reform momentum to boost productivity while addressing these challenges. A comprehensive strategy is needed to preserve fiscal space through revenue mobilization, enhanced spending efficiency, and limiting further spending pressures by strengthening the multi-pillar pension system. Structural reforms should focus on facilitating investments and accelerating the adoption of new technologies to boost productivity growth, supplemented by labor market policies, including reducing skills mismatches. Financial sector policies should continue to safeguard financial stability and integrity.

    Recent Developments, Outlook, and Risks

    The economy grew strongly in 2024. Growth accelerated to 2.7 percent—well above peers—driven by private consumption supported by significant real income gains. The recovery was broad-based across sectors, including manufacturing and high value-added services, despite sluggish productivity growth. While inflation remained low for the most part of the year, it has risen since late 2024, driven by higher energy prices and excise duties.

    While fiscal performance exceeded expectations, the deficit widened, and the debt ratio is increasing. The deficit almost doubled from 0.7 percent of GDP in 2023 to 1.3 percent of GDP in 2024, reflecting increased public wages and pensions. Higher revenues supported by robust aggregate wage growth and lower-than-anticipated expenditure, mainly from the accrual correction in defense spending, prevented the deficit from increasing further. However, pre-payments for additional orders of defense equipment and the continued buildup of the general government cash buffer contributed to an increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 37.3 percent in 2023 to 38.2 percent in 2024, for the first time since 2020.

    The banking sector remains financially sound, with high capitalization, ample liquidity buffers, and low non-performing loan (NPL) ratios. Banks continue to be highly profitable, although profitability eased in 2024 compared to the record high levels seen in the previous year, against lower interest rates driven by ECB monetary policy easing.

    There are signs of gradual financial expansion. Reflecting decreasing lending rates and recovering credit demand, loan growth to both non-financial corporations and households recovered in 2024 and early 2025, and credit-to-GDP ratios have increased moderately. House price growth stabilized in 2024, down from the 2022 peak. Nevertheless, house prices are likely not significantly above levels justified by fundamentals, given the recent robust demand while housing supply is increasing, and affordability has improved.

    The economy is expected to grow at 2.8 percent in 2025 while inflation will increase to 3.1 percent. Growth will be supported by private consumption and rising investment related to EU funds. External demand will remain subdued reflecting uncertainty regarding trade policies, despite the positive outlook of information and communication technologies (ICT) and professional activities. Increased excise duties and persistently high wage growth will keep headline and core inflation above pre-pandemic averages in the coming years. The labor market will tighten reflecting negative labor force dynamics affected by the normalization of migration flows.

    Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. As a small open economy, Lithuania is exposed to high uncertainty around trade policies and geopolitical risks. A severe downturn in its main trade partners would worsen the external performance and domestic activity. In the medium term, weaker demographics pose risks to labor supply which could add pressures on wages and competitiveness if productivity growth fails to accelerate. In the absence of sufficient measures, the fiscal position is subject to considerable medium-term risk with higher defense spending needs adding to the already high existing long-term pressures.

    Fiscal Policy

    A moderately less expansionary fiscal stance than currently expected would be helpful in 2025, and the strategy should shift to preserving fiscal space. The deficit is projected to rise to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2025, due to significant increases in pension spending and higher public sector wages. However, with a small and decreasing negative output gap under staff projections and considering mounting spending pressures in the medium term, going forward, a moderately tighter fiscal stance to reduce deficits and stabilize the debt-to-GDP ratio would be appropriate. With a view to safeguarding fiscal buffers and minimize the need for larger adjustments in later years, any unused spending or revenue overperformance this year should be saved to limit the deficit increase.

    A stronger fiscal adjustment will be required if defense spending rises notably from current levels. The envisaged increase in defense spending to 5-6 percent of GDP in 2026-30 from the current level of 3 percent would raise financing needs significantly. In the absence of additional fiscal measures, debt could reach 60 percent of GDP by 2030. The proposed tax policy changes to accommodate these spending needs are welcome, but the revenue yield is estimated to be modest. Greater efforts will therefore be needed to maintain debt dynamics on a sustainable path in the medium term to preserve fiscal space to absorb possible future shocks. An average annual adjustment of about 0.5 percentage points of GDP in the general government balance over 2026-30, with the majority of additional defense spending financed by front-loaded increases in tax revenues, would help stabilize debt at around 50 percent of GDP by 2030.

    Financing options for additional defense spending should be anchored by revenue mobilization. While temporary measures and productivity-enhancing capital expenditure could be deficit-financed, a sizable part of the additional defense spending is likely to be permanent, warranting higher revenues or lower spending in other areas. The tax policy change proposal appropriately targets a mix of taxes, but there is further scope to raise additional revenues while improving the system, including increasing progressivity and efficiency. This could include raising revenues through making the personal income tax (PIT) system more progressive and streamlining the tax schedules to prevent higher marginal tax rates for lower income earners, limiting exemptions in corporate income taxes (CIT) and property taxes, and reducing the value added tax (VAT) compliance gap while improving VAT efficiency.

    Revenue mobilization should be complemented by spending measures. Fiscal savings could be generated by improving spending efficiency, including in healthcare and education. Hospital network rationalization could enhance the quality of service while reducing costs. The teacher-student ratio is relatively high for secondary education and there is room to rationalize the school network while improving quality.

    Strengthening the multi-pillar pension system will limit some of the additional spending pressures in the medium-term. The current pension system implies significant increases in public pension expenditure over the next two decades, driven by adverse demographics, while replacement ratios will remain low. The Pillar II reform proposal under discussion, entailing participation to become voluntary and increased options to opt out and suspend participation, is likely to further reduce the replacement rate. These changes could have a material impact on the entire pension system and the public finances. Staff urges the authorities to allow sufficient time to carefully consider all potential ramifications, including through further thorough analysis of the social and fiscal sustainability of the broader pension system.

    Financial Sector Policies

    Financial sector policies should continue to focus on safeguarding financial stability. Bank profitability is expected to moderate further but to remain high in 2025. Financial conditions are likely to ease in 2025 due to declining ECB policy rates and increased competition in financial sector, such as from the increasing footprint of fintech companies. Solvency and liquidity stress tests conducted by the Bank of Lithuania suggest that banks can withstand adverse macroeconomic scenarios and unexpected liquidity shocks. While some smaller banks require enhancing capitalization and closer oversight, all in all, financial stability risks arising from the banking system are broadly contained. With an increased frequency of cyberattacks on banks in recent years, cyber resilience should continue to be strengthened, including the full implementation of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) regulation.

    The current macroprudential stance is broadly appropriate, but continued vigilance is warranted. Financial cycles including residential real estate and private sector credit so far have exhibited no major signs of overheating, but the sustained pace of expansion requires close monitoring and readiness to act in case early signs of an excessive financial expansion emerge. Despite the low exposure of banks, the commercial real estate market continues to require attention as risks of price corrections remain due to the persistent imbalance between supply and demand. In the event of a significant adverse financial shock with the potential to trigger widespread losses in the banking sector, the relaxation of capital-based measures would be appropriate to minimize credit supply disruptions and support lending to the economy.

    The AML/CFT framework has been strengthened significantly, but continued effective implementation is essential. The third national risk assessment identified virtual asset service providers (VASPs), and electronic money institutions (EMI), and payment institutions (PI) as posing significant ML/TF risks. The authorities should continue AML/CFT efforts to mitigate cross-border risks, including Bank of Lithuania’s oversight and market controls for newly licensed VASPs under MiCAR regime, supervision of payment service institutions, and AML/CFT measures for CENTROlink members.

    Structural Reforms

    Lithuania faces structural headwinds limiting productivity and long-term growth. The recent recovery has been largely driven by higher labor accumulation enabled by temporary net migration, while the contributions from capital and total factor productivity (TFP) growth remained smaller than those observed during earlier periods of faster income convergence. Given expected population declines in the coming years, structural reforms to facilitate greater capital deepening and higher productivity growth are essential.

    Higher investment is needed to support potential growth. Low capital intensity remains a key barrier to productivity growth and the transition towards a higher value-added oriented economy. Development of risk capital, co-financing and mechanisms for risk sharing tailored to enhance the flow of credit to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), targeted credit guarantee schemes and integrating digital solutions can help alleviate constraints related to the lack of access to finance experienced by some firms. In this context, the expanded role of the state-owned institution ILTE—previously INVEGA—can play a role, complementing the private banking sector in supporting investment in areas such as high value-added sectors, innovation, energy efficiency, and strategic infrastructures. To consolidate the institution’s role as a national development bank, it is essential to ensure effective monitoring and transparency of ILTE operations. More fundamentally, deepening the EU’s single market—combined with stronger incentives to develop domestic capital markets—would help support access to finance of corporates and further productive investments in the country.

    Inefficiencies in the education system contribute significantly to the persistent skills mismatches in Lithuania’s labor market. As one of the countries with the highest skills mismatches in Europe, Lithuania faces ongoing challenges despite measures including the government’ active labor market policies and their evaluation and the smart specialization multi-year program aimed at enhancing workforce skills. Critical shortages persist in essential sectors, including nursing, engineering, and scientific fields, highlighting the urgent need for strategic reforms in education and training to better align with market demands.

    Ensuring effective integration of migrants into the labor market is crucial to sustain the labor force. Recent immigrants have been successfully absorbed into the Lithuanian labor market and legislative amendments have enabled easier migration for high-skilled workers despite the reduction of the non-EU workers quota in 2025. Policies should focus on integrating migrants in the most productivity-enhancing way possible while facilitating the participation of foreign professionals in those sectors with the largest shortages.

    Further investment in digitalization and AI preparedness has the potential to boost productivity growth. Lithuania has invested significantly in digitalizing its economy in recent years, becoming one of the main fintech hubs in Europe. However, despite progress in digitalization and in AI preparedness, its digital infrastructure remains close to the EU average. To unlock possibly substantial productivity gains, policies should aim to facilitate technological diffusion, job transition and AI adoption among firms, while introducing measures to mitigate associated risks in terms of possible job replacements and inequality deepening. In this respect, the recent initiatives included in the START plan aimed at promoting digitalization and the deployment of AI both in the private sector and in public administration will support these efforts.

    Energy security has been reinforced in the last years. The Baltic countries joined the European electricity grid in 2025, completely disconnecting from the Russian electricity system. Moreover, Lithuania has diversified its energy sources and import dependency has been lowered through the intensification of domestic electricity production from renewable sources in the recent years. Still, being susceptible to risks associated with climate change, Lithuania needs to accelerate the green transition, particularly for adaptation. In this respect, future investment in new technologies and defense initiatives should not thwart efforts to reduce economy-wide emissions, such as the recently adopted policies in the context of the updated National Energy and Climate Action Plan (NECP) for the period 2021–2030.

    The IMF team is grateful for the warm hospitality of the Lithuanian authorities and would like to thank all its interlocutors in government, the Bank of Lithuania, the European Central Bank, the private sector, unions, and business associations for constructive and fruitful discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Boris Balabanov

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/06/mcs662025-lithuania-staff-concluding-statement-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on May 29, 2025 2025-06-06 Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025.

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

    By Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND)

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

    Zhang Xiaogang: Friends from the media, good afternoon, welcome to this month’s regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China

    I have a piece of news to release at the top.

    The PLA National Defense University (NDU) sent a delegation to attend the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) upon invitation on May 29. The visit is scheduled till June 2, during which the delegation will also have exchanges with military and civilian units in Singapore.

    Journalist: Not long ago, the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held in Beijing. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech. Could you please provide more details about military cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Recently, President Xi Jinping attended the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and delivered a keynote address. He summarized the best practices for developing China-LAC relations, and announced the launch of five programs of Solidarity, Development, Civilization, Peace and People-to-People Connectivity. In the speech, President Xi has charted the course for building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.

    China-LAC cooperation has withstood winds and rains, and transcended mountains and oceans across half a globe. The cooperation has bolstered economic growth and improved the livelihoods of the LAC region, bringing tangible benefits to the local people. In recent years, the Chinese and LAC militaries have had frequent high-level exchange, and conducted numerous working level meetings. Events such as the China-LAC States Defense Forum, China-LAC Military Medicine Forum and Seminar for Senior Military Officers from LAC Countries have been held multiple times. China-LAC defense cooperation has been productive, deepening our friendship and mutual trust. The Chinese side stands ready to work with the defense establishments and militaries of LAC countries to act on the Global Security Initiative, and deepen substantive cooperation in such areas as mutual visits, professional exchanges and personnel training. Together, we will promote sustained and solid progress in building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.

    Journalist: In his recent speech, Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan would continue to strengthen its defenses and avoid war by preparing for it. Will the PLA conduct military exercises as countermeasures as before?

    Zhang Xiaogang: As long as Lai Ching-te continues his provocations for “Taiwan independence”, there will be no tranquility in the Taiwan Strait and no stability for our Taiwan compatriots. We warn the DPP authorities that “Taiwan independence” separatists will come to no good end. The PLA will remain combat-ready at all times, enhance combat readiness, and safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Journalist: The US recently unveiled plans for the Golden Dome missile defense system, and announced that it would be completed in 3 years. May I have your comments on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The US presses ahead with the Golden Dome system and deploys space-based weapons, continuously expands its military build-up and stokes an arms race in outer space. Such acts violate relevant principles of the Outer Space Treaty, heighten the risk of turning the space into a war zone and triggering a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control regime. Its actions will once again open the Pandora’s box. This proves again that no country has done more than the US in militarizing the space and making it a battlefield. We urge the US side to stop expanding military build-up in space, and take concrete actions to uphold global strategic stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that Japan’s Defense Ministry recently announced that Chinese aircraft carrier PLANS Liaoning conducted take-off and landing operations of ship-borne aircraft in the East China Sea. Officials of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said that similar activities were conducted by Chinese aircraft carriers before, but this training occurred in waters closer to Japan. The Japanese Defense Ministry therefore decided to make it public and this is the first time for the Ministry to release such information. What’s your comment on this?

    The second question is that the US President Donald Trump recently said that the US was mass-producing hypersonic missiles. As one of the major countries that develop hypersonic technologies, how does the Chinese side view the impact on the global arms control regime caused by the US accelerating its deployment of such strategic weapons?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On the first question, the task fleet led by PLANS Liaoning conducted training in relevant waters, which does not target any specific country or entity and is in line with international law and practice. I think the Japanese side overreacted.

    On your second question, We pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, never engage in arms race with any other country, and are committed to global strategic stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that the US Carrier Strike Group led by USS Nimitz re-entered the South China Sea through the Singapore Strait on May 26 after its visit to Malaysia. What’s your comment on this?

    The second question is that reports suggest that the Indian side recovered an undetonated PL-15E air-air missile during the India-Pakistan conflict. Can you confirm this? Will this give the Indian side assess to relevant military technology?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, activities to flex its muscle and stir up troubles in the South China Sea will find no support. The Chinese side will firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

    On your second question, the type of missile you mentioned is for export and has also been exhibited in international and domestic defense expos multiple times.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first is the Commander of the US Army Pacific recently claimed that China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific had made the situation more dangerous. He said that no one would have imagined that Beijing would conduct drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan five years ago, but now such moves were commonplace. In addition, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command said that the Chinese side was conducting comprehensive exercises in preparation for recovering Taiwan and was increasingly active in other regions of the Pacific. May I have your comments on this?

    The second question is that according to Taiwan media reports, the DPP authorities have stepped up its procurement of the Patriot missiles, drawn personnel from its Marine Corps to form combat units for the “Greater Taipei Area”, and launched several drills on responses to the so-called “PLA attacks on Taiwan”. Public opinion in Taiwan believes that these actions are preparing for Lai Ching-te’s desertion in the face of war. Do you have any comment?

    Zhang Xiaogang: For your first question, Taiwan is part of China. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, which brooks no external interference. For the cross-Strait situation, there is no factor more destabilizing than the provocations made by the “Taiwan independence” separatists and the disruptions by foreign forces. It’s legitimate, necessary, lawful and justified for the Chinese side to take actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the US side to stop fanning the flames on the Taiwan question. Such behaviors would only backfire.

    For your second question. Don’t be fooled by Lai Ching-te’s reckless provocations now. When the day comes, people like him will be the first to run away. For the PLA, defeating military elements of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces is like shooting fish in a barrel. Those notorious separatists have no chance to escape.

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Journalist: I have two questions. Firstly, you just announced that the PLA NDU sent a delegation to attend this year’s SLD. Why didn’t the Chinese side send higher level military officials to attend the dialogue? The US Department of Defense has already announced its attendance at the dialogue, and said that the US was a more credible regional partner than China. What’s your comment on that? My second question is that this year marks the 80th year of the World Anti-Fascist War. Many European countries have held celebrations commemorating this victory. September 3rd marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Many people are expecting the Chinese side to hold a military parade to commemorate this anniversary. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, China consistently engages in constructive dialogues to articulate our vision and initiatives. We are committed to enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation through these exchanges, contributing Chinese wisdom to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The PLA NDU delegation attending this year’s SLD will have in-depth exchanges with participating parties to build more consensus.

    As for the second question, I have no information to release here.

    Journalist: What is the Chinese Ministry of National Defense’s assessment on the equipment supplied by the Chinese military to Pakistan in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan? An Indian official said that China provided satellite and air defense systems for Pakistan, but these systems performed below average. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Pakistan and India are neighbors who cannot move away from each other. We call on the both sides to keep calm, exercise restraint and avoid complicating the situation. China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

    Journalist: It’s reported that US Defense Secretary recently said that the US side would build up its military to meet China’s “threat” at every turn, and counter China in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Commander of the US Army Pacific said that the US army was building agile new units in response to potential conflicts with China. What’s your comment on

    Zhang Xiaogang: Conflict and confrontation should not be the choice of either side. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the right way for China and the US to deal with each other. The US side should stop conjuring up a powerful enemy for itself whether intentionally or unintentionally. Such imagination is not rational and extremely dangerous. The Chinese military will make all-out efforts to enhance our combat readiness, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

    Journalist: Some US and Israeli media outlets call on the US to stop its military assistance to Egypt, because of Egypt’s close cooperation with China. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: China-Egypt cooperation is not aimed at any third party, nor will it be interfered by any third party. The Chinese and Egyptian militaries will continue to deepen friendship, mutual trust and practical cooperation.

    Journalist: As China’s first aircraft carrier with catapult system, PLANS Fujian is undergoing a series of intensive sea trials. What kind of signal does that send out?

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Zhang Xiaogang: The sea trial is a necessary part for the construction of aircraft carriers. PLANS Fujian will conduct relevant tests as planned.

    Journalist: According to a satellite image revealed last week, H-6 bombers and a KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft were seen on Yongxing Dao of Xisha Qundao. What is the purpose of this deployment? Some experts suggest that it is to send signals to the Philippines and Vietnam. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: I am not aware of the information you mentioned. I want to emphasize that the Xisha Qundao is an inherent part of the Chinese territory. We oppose the hype about relevant military activities.

    Journalist: An African Young Officers Delegation visited China recently. Some commentary regarded the trip as one that combines culture, technology and friendship. Could you please provide more details on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The African Young Officers Delegation concluded its 10-day visit to China on May 15. During the visit, nearly a hundred military officers from over 40 African countries, including Egypt, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya, came to cities such as Beijing, Changsha and Shaoshan. They visited military units, academies and high-tech enterprises, attended themed lectures and seminars, toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China and the former residence of Comrade Mao Zedong, and had in-depth exchanges with their Chinese counterparts. Members of the delegation expressed how impressive and inspiring this visit was. This is the 4th African Young Officers Delegation invited to China by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. This visit deepened the traditional friendship between the Chinese and African militaries, and advanced the building of an All-weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that the US Indo-Pacific Commander reportedly said that China was outpacing the US in the production of warships and other equipment. He said that the rates of changes on the depth and breadth of PLA’s exercises was what kept him up at night. May I have your comments on this?

    The second question is that it’s reported that China’s third large hospital ship PLANS Ark Auspicious has been commissioned, marking the deployment of large ocean-going hospital ship to the Eastern Theater Command, South Theater Command and North Theater Command respectively. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, China does not engage in arms race with any other country. We develop our military to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests and to bring stability and positive energy to global peace and security.

    On your second question, PLANS Ark Auspicious is the third 10,000-ton-class ocean-going hospital ship domestically designed and built by China. It features a combat-oriented layout and is equipped with advanced medical equipment. PLANS Ark Auspicious, together with Ark Peace and Ark Silk Road, not only forms the backbone of medical support on the sea, but also executes tasks of international humanitarian medical services, emergency medical rescue in major disasters, and foreign exchanges and cooperation on military medicine. PLAN hospital ships will help the Chinese military materialize the vision of building a maritime community with a shared future and offer the world more public security goods of higher quality.

    Journalist: Does the Chinese delegation plan to meet with any other delegations on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue? Is there any planned meeting with the US delegation?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Regarding this, we will release information in due course. The Chinese side values our defense relations with the US military and is open to communications at different levels. We hope the US side will earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, work with us in the same direction, and promote the steady and sound development of military-to-military relations.

    Journalist: Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun recently visited France and Germany, and attended the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial. Please provide further details about this.

    Zhang Xiaogang:Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun led a delegation to visit France and Germany and attend the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin from May 11 to 17. Minister Dong held talks with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius respectively. The leaders had an in-depth exchange of view on international and regional issues of mutual interests, and reached consensus on strengthening substantive engagements and cooperation between the Chinese and French and the Chinese and German militaries. Minister Dong also met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix on the sidelines of the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial. In his speech delivered at the conference, Minister Dong emphasized that the Chinese side will work with different parties to act on the Global Security Initiative, uphold the core position of the UN, redouble efforts on the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs), support the training of professional peacekeepers, optimize the composition and capabilities of Chinese Peacekeeping Standby Force, advance continuous innovation of UNPKOs, and contribute more to UNPKOs.

    Journalist: Lately, official new media accounts of PLA theater commands and services and arms have been opened on the ‘China Bugle” app. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: China Bugle is the mobile flagship platform of information release launched by the PLA News Media Center. As of now, the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the PAP, as well as the PLA Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern and Central Theater Commands have opened their official new media accounts on this app. This demonstrates the deep integration of different forms of military media, and provides an important channel for the public to learn about defense and military development in an all-round manner. Going forward, more military units and media outlets will join the “China Bugle” app to form an integrated new media platform for military news.

    Journalist: The draft of the Japanese defense ministry’s Defense White Paper 2025 was revealed. The draft claims that China is ramping up its nuclear, missile, maritime and aviation capabilities; that PLA’s activities near Taiwan demonstrate that Beijing is trying to improve its combat capabilities; and strengthened China-Russia military cooperation is a concern for Japan. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: In the draft of its Defense White Paper, the Japanese side repeats its irresponsible comments about China’s military development, and points fingers at China’s legitimate military activities and external military cooperation. We are strongly opposed to this. This year marks the 80th year of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At this special historical juncture, it’s even more important for Japan to reflect on its behaviors, instead of making unfounded smears and accusations against others. We urge the Japanese side to follow the path of peaceful development, act prudently in the domain of military and security, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the international community with concrete actions.

    Journalist: Head of Taiwan’s defense authorities Koo Li-hsiung reportedly said in an interview that US forces and alliances across Asia was crucial for holding Beijing in check. He also expressed hope for the US to expedite arms sales to Taiwan to help Taiwan address military threats from China.What’s your comments on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no interference. We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and greatest effort. However, should the “Taiwan independence” separatists make provocations, challenge our bottom lines, or even cross the red lines, we will have to take decisive measures. The US side supports “Taiwan independence” separatists through arms sales. Such acts are self-defeating and will push Taiwan into the abyss of war.

    Journalist: Recently, the Chinese and Cambodian militaries successfully held the Golden Dragon 2025 joint exercise. Please provide more details.

    Zhang Xiaogang: The Chinese and Cambodian armed forces conducted the Golden Dragon 2025 joint exercise in Kampong Chhnang Province and the airspace and waters off the Sihanoukville Port from May 14 to 28. As the 7th iteration of the Golden Dragon series, this year’s exercise has three highlights. First, it focused on counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance operations, conducting drills on relevant subjects. Second, the China-Cambodia Joint Support and Training Center at Port Ream provided support for drills on the sea for the first time. Air force helicopters took part in the exercise for the first time. Land, naval, air and joint logistic support components from both sides conducted drills together. Third, the exercise consisted of two parts: naval & air operations and ground & air operations. Participating troops were organized into mixed groups to learn from each other during tactical training and comprehensive drills, which helped to enhance command coordination and emergency response capabilities of the two sides. During the joint exercise, the PLA contingent also donated school supplies and provided free medical services to the local community. China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries, and make greater contributions to building a China-Cambodia All-weather Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, and to preserving regional security and stability.

    Journalist: The Philippine Coast Guard said that the Coast Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Coast Guard conducted a joint patrol in waters off Palawan, which reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to maritime security and the “rule-based international order”. What’s your comment on this?

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Zhang Xiaogang: At present, the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable. The freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to all countries under international law has never been an issue. Some countries provoke confrontation in the name of cooperation, flex muscles under the guise of freedom, and create chaos with the pretext of order. They have become the biggest source of risks that undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea. We urge relevant countries to stop ganging up and stirring up troubles in the South China Sea, and stop harming regional peace and stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first question is about the PLA aircraft carrier Liaoning and its task fleet. They are currently off the southeast coast of Taiwan. The Taiwan authority said that they have taken joint intelligence means to monitor relevant operations throughout the whole process. Some people suggest that the PLA will probably conduct military exercises before or after the Dragon Boat Festival. Can you confirm whether the PLA has relevant plans? My second question. According to media reports, the CIA is about to release its annual report, suggesting that the Chinese mainland poses the greatest threat to the world and increasing menace against Taiwan. It also said that the rapid modernization of the PLA would prevent the US from entering the Pacific. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question. Relevant military activities organized by the PLA recently are routine arrangements according to our annual training plan.

    On your second question, as we all know, China is unwavering in our commitment to peace, development and international order. The biggest threat to the current cross-Strait situation comes from separatist activities for “Taiwan independence” and support from foreign forces. If relevant countries truly care about stability in the Taiwan Strait, they should abide by the one-China principle and unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence”.

    If there are no other questions, this concludes today’s press conference. Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic experts held a project session on the development of the RAU Development Program

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Polytechnic University continues active interaction with the development teams of Slavic universities. In the last week of May, SPbPU experts held a Project-analytical session at the Russian-Armenian University (RAU) to prepare the RAU Development Program for 2026-2030.

    Polytechnic Expert Group

    Nikita Golovin, Head of the Project Office “Slavic Universities”, Deputy Head of the UMS Natalia Ivanova, Chief Accountant, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics Elena Vinogradova, Director of the Department of Economics and Finance, Professor of the Higher School of Industrial Management Ekaterina Pavlova, Leading Specialist of the Department of Strategic Planning and Development

    The following representatives of RAU participated in the project session: Vice-Rectors Marina Khachatryan and Parkev Avetisyan, Financial Director Meruzhan Galstyan, and heads of the administrative, educational and scientific departments of the university.

    The work began with an introduction to the key educational and scientific departments of RAU and a discussion of the goals and objectives of the session with RAU Rector Edward Sandoyan. At the meeting with the Rector, Nikita Golovin briefly presented the format of the session and the expected results. The Rector described his vision of the directions of RAU development, existing barriers and ways to overcome them.

    Our university has very serious educational and scientific results. We have achieved a lot, including thanks to long-term partnership with leading universities, such as the Polytechnic University. But we also have huge potential for further development. We are confident that such joint project sessions not only facilitate the exchange of experience, but also create real opportunities for determining the priorities for the further development of science and education at RAU and, importantly, the formation of mechanisms and tools for achieving the goals set, – noted Edward Sandoyan.

    For three days, the SPbPU expert team and the RAU development team consistently built the future image of the university. The session participants were divided into four thematic groups – education, research, human capital and economy, infrastructure and digitalization. In three steps, the experts went from analyzing current results to forming an ambition and a target model for 2030. Each step began with an introductory speech by SPbPU experts, at which they defined methodological approaches to designing a development program, principles of interrelation between different university processes, tasks for the step and expected results. At each stage, SPbPU experts accompanied the group work, actively involving participants in the discussion, sharing their own experience and examples that could be taken into account when developing the university’s fundamental policies.

    Elena Vinogradova and Natalia Ivanova worked with the group on economic and infrastructure policy, as well as on human capital management policy. Ekaterina Pavlova joined the discussions of the educational policy of RAU, and Nikita Golovin built communication in the group on scientific research policy. He also accompanied the work of all four groups, encouraging colleagues from RAU to openly talk about current positions, barriers to development and ways to overcome them. After each stage of group work, the leaders of the thematic groups presented the results of their work at the plenary session and answered questions from their colleagues and Polytechnic experts.

    On the last day of the PAS, the groups presented summary reports in which they described the current positions of RAU in four areas of activity, the image of the target model of the university and the steps aimed at achieving it. Everyone was unanimous in the fact that RAU is a research classical university (educational, scientific and technological center) with a wide range of areas, having an interstate status. Of course, to achieve this goal, much still needs to be rethought, changed and launched. But RAU has all the necessary base and, most importantly, the desire of the team to change.

    Concluding the session, Nikita Golovin noted: One of the key tasks of our project-analytical session has been completed – we were able to launch internal communication between team members at RAU. The development team began to jointly form the image of the future of their university, find solutions to those tasks that will allow transforming RAU into a leading research university in both Armenia and Russia.

    Next comes the painstaking work of drafting the Development Program document, defining target characteristics and indicators. The presentation and defense of the Program at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation is planned for this fall.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University has become a platform for dialogue with leaders of nuclear science

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A meeting of students and teachers with representatives of the National Center of Physics and Mathematics (NCPM) and the Russian Federal Nuclear Center – VNIIEF (RFNC-VNIIEF) took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The event was held as part of an all-Russian series of meetings with scientific directors of RFNC-VNIIEF, organized with the support of the State Corporation Rosatom in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry.

    The delegation included leading experts from the nuclear industry and the scientific community:

    Svetlana Moskaleva, Head of the Department of Human Resources Management and Social Development Programs of the Directorate for the Nuclear Weapons Complex of the State Corporation Rosatom, presented a report entitled “Career Trajectories of the Nuclear Weapons Complex and the Nuclear Industry”; Vladimir Voevodin, Director of the Sarov Branch of Moscow State University, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, presented a lecture entitled “Supercomputer Technologies Changing the World”; Egor Davydov, Head of Department of RFNC-VNIIEF, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Executive Secretary of the Scientific and Technical Council of the NCFM, presented a report entitled “RFNC-VNIIEF — NCFM: Science and Scientific Personnel of the Future”; Andrey Grebennikov, Deputy Head of the Mathematics Department at RFNC-VNIIEF, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, spoke about “Mathematical Modeling and Supercomputer Technologies at RFNC-VNIIEF”; Evgeny Mikheev, Head of the HR Department at RFNC-VNIIEF, and Ksenia Kuzmina, Head of the HR and Educational Projects Department at NCFM, held a joint Q&A session on employment.

    RFNC-VNIIEF is one of the key scientific institutes of the Russian nuclear complex, located in Sarov. The center conducts fundamental and applied research in the field of physics, mathematics, modeling of complex physical processes, as well as the development and operation of supercomputers. As the lead organization in the framework of work to ensure the country’s defense capability, RFNC-VNIIEF actively develops scientific cooperation with leading universities and institutes of Russia. The center not only solves problems of national scale, but also acts as one of the flagships of high-tech developments in the civilian sector, including nuclear energy, materials of the future and digital technologies.

    The event was attended by the First Vice-Rector of SPbPU Vitaly Sergeev, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU Alexey Borovkov, Director of the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity Dmitry Zegzhda, Acting Director of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics Nikolay Ivanov, as well as students and postgraduates of the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity and the Institute of Physics and Mechanics.

    The meeting at the Polytechnic was part of a federal initiative to popularize science among students at the country’s leading technical universities. It not only allowed young scientists and engineers to become familiar with the cutting-edge areas of Russian science, but also emphasized the growing role of cooperation between universities, research centers, and industry in strengthening Russia’s technological independence.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientific Regiment. Tamara Smirnova: LISI first-year student and intelligence officer

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    Tamara Smirnova

    For her unparalleled courage and heroism, the nineteen-year-old first-year student of the construction department of the Leningrad Institute of Civil Engineering (now St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering), medical instructor of the Baltic Fleet Marine Brigade Tamara Smirnova was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Seriously wounded and bleeding, she crawled across the front line for 28 hours and was able to convey valuable information to the command. In 1942, the fighting Baltic delegated her to the All-Union Anti-Fascist Rally of Soviet Women.

    Tamara Smirnova went to the front as a volunteer marine. She received her baptism of fire in a landing operation: she rushed to attack across a river with the Red Navy sailors on a dark autumn night. Despite the cold, icy water, wet clothes and shoes, the group reached the opposite bank. Only then did the enemy notice them and open heavy fire. With the support of artillery and machine guns, the Red Navy sailors found themselves behind enemy lines, breaking through a line of pillboxes. Tamara was with them until the last minute of the battle.

    Tamara proved her fearlessness and impeccable performance of combat missions again and again. One frosty day, Tamara was assigned to track the location of fire weapons on the enemy’s front line. The girl made her way through the forest, crawled across all the open spaces and lay unnoticed all day a few steps from the enemy, and at night she went to the rear of the Germans with the Red Navy sailors. Our artillery struck the fire points she had marked, and our troops soon captured the enemy’s fortified lines.

    She was on the front lines and with scouts made her way under the German barbed wire, passed through minefields, and went behind enemy lines. Once, a group of sailors was conducting a night reconnaissance in force. The sailors-scouts needed to take a fascist bunker. The enemy was illuminating everything around with rockets, so the main thing was to seize the moment to attack. However, one fighter did not have enough patience, and he rushed forward… While bandaging the wounded, Tamara received serious wounds to the head, chest, thigh, and lay unconscious for several hours literally twenty meters from the fascists’ location. Having come to, overcoming the pain, she made her way to her own for another 28 hours.

    After the war, Tamara Smirnova completed her studies at the university and worked in her specialty in Belgorod. Her son also studied at our university.

    Other materials of the project “Scientific Regiment”

    Our graduate built the Road of Life

    The pioneering work of architect Alexander Nikolsky

    A scientist who developed science in besieged Leningrad

    Fights of student Klinov

    Engineer of the 3rd Belorussian Front

    The path of a volunteer: from front-line roads to space developments

    Ivan Solomakhin: “The most memorable battle is for this Devil’s Height!”

    Fiery Dnieper of the Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Prygunov

    Bringing Victory Closer

    Fyodor Komal’s Front: From the First Minutes of War to Victory

    Junior Political Instructor Boris Gubanov: “The shells whistled, and the earth flew up nearby”

    Viktor Kvyatkovsky – radio operator-intelligence officer of the Baltic Fleet

    How Chief Architect Nikolai Baranov “Hid” Leningrad from the Enemy

    Architect Nikolay Khomutetsky: Four years on the front lines

    Semyon Shifrin thwarted the Nazis’ plans to leave Leningrad without water

    LISI in the post-war years

    Nineteen-year-old machine gunner stormed Berlin

    Abdulla Mangushev: Four Years at the Front and a Life in Science

    The Zazersky architects built and defended the city on the Neva

    LISI graduate Mikhail Zherbin is a design engineer and composer

    He went from being a technical lieutenant to a galaxy of mathematicians

    Konstantin Sakhnovsky: from a cadet of the Russian Empire to an academician of the USSR

    Military architect of the front line of defense and engineering reconnaissance

    A world-renowned scientist, an outstanding engineer and a national champion

    An outstanding urban planner who lived and worked in besieged Leningrad

    Scientific Regiment. Projects of the architect Sergey Evdokimov: from defensive structures and city restoration to metro stations

    Volunteer Mikhail Laletin: “After the front – to university, and then, perhaps, to become an officer”

    Architect Alexander Sokolov preserved and restored cultural heritage

    Scientific Regiment. David Goldgor – architect and sapper

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The ecological environment in Xizang remained stable in 2024

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    LHASA, June 6 (Xinhua) — The ecological condition of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region has remained stable overall and continued to improve, and it still ranks among the regions with the best ecological environment quality in the world, according to an official report released by the Xizang Autonomous Region’s Ecology and Environment Administration on Thursday.

    According to the report, the air and water quality in Xizang was consistently good in 2024. Six national-level environmental monitoring stations were established in the region.

    There are 97 nature reserves in Xizang, covering a total area of 434,000 square kilometers, home to 246 species of wild animals under state protection. Notably, more than 80 percent of the world’s population of Tibetan antelope, wild yaks, and black-necked cranes spend the winter in Xizang.

    Luo Kaituo, an official from the aforementioned department, said that in 2024, Xizang’s forest area increased by 1.06 million mu (about 70,667 hectares). -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Perhaps it is better to let Russia and Ukraine fight for a while longer – D. Trump

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    WASHINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday it might be better to let Russia and Ukraine fight for a while longer, despite German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s call for more U.S. pressure on Russia.

    During a meeting with F. Merz at the White House, D. Trump said that “hostility” and “hatred” between the parties to the conflict will make it difficult to achieve a ceasefire in the near future. This statement by the American president contradicts his previous statement about the imminent end of the conflict.

    “Sometimes you let them fight a little bit. You see it in hockey. You see it in sports. The referees let them go on for a couple of seconds, give them a little bit of time before they break it up,” Trump said.

    According to F. Merz, America is again in a very strong position to end this war. “We would like to increase the pressure on Russia,” the Chancellor added.

    On Thursday, D. Trump also said that new sanctions against Russia are not expected. However, he hinted that he could impose sanctions against both Russia and Ukraine, because “it takes two to tango.”

    “When I see a point where this is not going away, we will act very tough,” Trump said. “And it could affect both countries.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China urges Syrian authorities to prevent chemical weapons from falling into terrorist hands

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) — China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang called on the interim Syrian authorities to prevent dangerous substances and chemical weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists at the Security Council on Thursday.

    Currently, there is instability in the security sphere in Syria, the danger of terrorism is high. There is a growing risk that terrorist organizations and extremist forces will take advantage of the current chaos to gain strength and regain lost positions, the diplomat warned.

    “The international community must remain highly vigilant against the potential scenario in which terrorist forces in Syria could produce, acquire or use chemical weapons,” he said.

    China is concerned about reports that foreign terrorist fighters based in Syria have recently been recruited into the Syrian army and calls on the Syrian interim authorities to fulfill their obligations in combating terrorism, Geng Shuang said.

    The interim authorities of Syria must take all necessary measures to combat all organizations and individuals included in the list of terrorists by the UN Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and prevent dangerous substances and chemical weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists, the deputy permanent representative said.

    The political transition in Syria is at a critical stage. China sincerely hopes that peace and stability will return to Syria at an early date, Geng Shuang said.

    To this end, China calls on all relevant parties in Syria to fully interact and consult with each other, achieve maximum consensus, and move forward with a broad and inclusive political transition in an orderly manner, he said.

    At the same time, the diplomat added, it is important to ease the humanitarian situation and begin economic recovery with the help of the international community. China supports the important role of the UN in this process, Geng Shuang summed up. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Happy Russian Language Day! Celebrate the holiday with GUU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Every year on June 6, Russia and the world celebrate Russian Language Day. This day was established in 2010 by decision of the UN General Assembly in honor of the birthday of the great Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin.

    The Russian language is not just a means of communication. It is the language of a rich culture, centuries-old history and great works of literature, philosophy and art that continue to inspire new generations around the world.

    The State University of Management congratulates all native Russian speakers on the holiday, especially the Department of Russian Language and General Disciplines of the State University of Management. On this special day, we wish you the desire to learn and love your native language. Let the study of the Russian language open up new horizons, allow you to understand Russian culture and traditions more deeply, and help you establish strong ties with people from other countries.

    We invite you to celebrate this day together with the SUM Scientific Library and the book club “Let’s Discuss?” and discuss the work of the great poet over a cup of tea, recall famous works, and read your favorite excerpts. SUM students from Guinea-Bissau will also take part in the event.

    We are waiting for everyone at 12:00 on June 6 in reading room No. 2 of the Scientific Library of the State University of Management.

    In addition, a festive quiz on the knowledge of the book preferences of Alexander Sergeevich himself will be held in the GUU telegram channel. Subscribe to the channel so as not to miss the start of the quiz and always be aware of the news of the first management.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New Development Bank, Bank of China and Haitong Unitrust Financial Leasing sign RMB 1.2 billion Syndicated Loan Agreement to Support Environmental Projects in China

    Source: New Development Bank

    The New Development Bank (NDB), Bank of China and Haitong Unitrust International Financial Leasing (HUIFL) have signed a syndicated loan agreement totalling RMB 1.2 billion to finance green leasing sub-projects that support China’s environmental goals and climate commitments.

    The signed loan agreement supports China’s transition toward a new growth model centred on low-carbon development, climate resilience, and environmental protection. Despite progress in recent years, environmental protection and climate change mitigation continue to be considered national priorities, and this Project aligns directly with that policy direction.

    Under the loan agreement, NDB will provide RMB 713.32 million, Bank of China will contribute RMB 500 million, and HUIFL will use the funds to acquire and lease equipment to lessees implementing sub-projects related to wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and metallurgical waste gas utilization for power generation. To promote balanced development, eligible sub-projects will be located outside China’s four Tier I cities, channelling investment into less-developed regions.

    This is the first time NDB mobilizes private capital in a syndicated operation, marking a significant evolution in the Bank’s development financing approach. Since the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in 2015, multilateral development banks have increasingly prioritized the mobilisation of private capital to help bridge the significant financing gap required to achieve the 2030 Agenda. In line with this collective commitment, NDB is scaling up private capital mobilization, and this transaction represents a concrete step in implementing that strategy, positioning NDB as a project orchestrator within its member countries.

    Aligned with NDB’s General Strategy for 2022–2026, this operation reinforces New Development Bank’s commitment to financing sustainable development projects using local currency instruments, while strengthening domestic financial markets and fostering private sector participation.

    “NDB is proud to partner with Bank of China and Haitong Unitrust Financial Leasing to finance green sub-projects that promote sustainable development and support China’s environmental goals and climate commitments. This initiative addresses the need for climate resilience and environmental protection and contributes to increasing investment in less-developed regions in China,” said Mr. Vladimir Kazbekov, NDB Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. “In helping to address the infrastructure financing gap, New Development Bank is playing a catalytic role in mobilizing resources from diversified funding sources, particularly from the private sector, in line with its General Strategy.”

    “The successful launch of this environmental protection syndicated loan represents not only a concrete initiative by Bank of China Shanghai Branch, NDB, and HUIFL to actively implement national strategies, but also an innovative collaboration among the three parties. Taking this opportunity, Bank of China Shanghai Branch will further leverage its global advantages and comprehensive strengths to provide more professional services to NDB and HUIFL, jointly injecting green and sustainable momentum into high-quality economic and social development,” said Mr. Xiao Wang, General Manager of Bank of China, Shanghai Branch.

    “Taking this cooperation as a starting point, Guotai Haitong Securities and HUIFL will leverage the group’s global resources and partner with NDB and Bank of China to proactively serve the national strategies, actively increase support to areas of environmental protection and energy efficiency and jointly address issues in green development,” said Mr. Yuxing Mao, Vice-President of Guotai Haitong Securities Company.

    Background Information

    New Development Bank

    NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development.

    For more information on NDB, please visit www.ndb.int

    Haitong Unitrust International Financial Leasing

    Established in 2004 and headquartered in Shanghai, HUIFL is a leading financial leasing company in China, with operations across sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy and environmental protection, construction, urban utilities and transportation & logistics. HUIFL is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has a strong track record in green leasing. In March 2025, the indirect controlling shareholder of HUIFL was changed to Guotai Haitong Securities Company, and the actual controller was Shanghai International Group.

    For more information on HUIFL, please visit www.utfinancing.com

    Bank of China

    Bank of China was established in 1912 and is the oldest continuously operating state-owned commercial bank in China. In 2011, it became the first global systemically important bank from an emerging economy, with its international standing, competitiveness, and comprehensive strength ranking among the top tier of global banks. It operates branches across the Chinese mainland as well as in 64 countries and regions overseas.

    For more information on Bank of China, please visit https://www.boc.cn/

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Orbital operation of Tianwen-2 probe is proceeding as normal – CNSA

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — China’s Tianwen-2 space probe has been operating in orbit for eight days without interruption as of the morning of June 6, reaching a distance of more than 3 million kilometers from Earth, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said Friday.

    Along with this, CNSA also released photos and video footage of the probe’s round solar panels being deployed.

    Tianwen-2 is designed to carry out a mission to extract and return asteroid samples to Earth. It was launched on May 29 of this year.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Resolutely Protects Legitimate Rights and Interests of Chinese Students and Scholars Abroad – MFA

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — China will resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Thursday.

    He made this statement at a regular departmental press conference, responding to a journalist’s request to comment on the recent US announcement of its intention to introduce visa restrictions for foreign students at Harvard University.

    According to him, educational cooperation between China and the United States is mutually beneficial and China has consistently opposed the politicization of cooperation in this area.

    The above-mentioned action by the United States can only damage the state image and international reputation of this country itself, the diplomat noted. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairwoman Te Ning Visits Brazil, Attends BRICS Parliamentary Forum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BRASILIA, June 6 (Xinhua) — Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Tie Ning led a delegation to Brazil to attend the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which was held in the capital of the Latin American country from June 3 to 5.

    During the visit, Te Ning met with the President of the Senate (upper house of parliament) of Brazil, Davi Alcolumbre, and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of parliament), Hugo Motta.

    During the talks with them, the vice-chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee said that under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state, relations between China and Brazil have reached the level of a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a fairer world and a more sustainable planet.

    The NPC is willing to deepen cooperation with the National Congress (parliament) of Brazil, working tirelessly to enrich the content of the China-Brazil community with a shared future, Tie Ning added.

    The Brazilian side, in turn, confirmed its commitment to the one-China principle and expressed its readiness to strengthen exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries and promote the stable development of relations with the PRC.

    In her keynote speech at the forum, Tie Ning noted that the BRICS countries, as the “first tier” of the Global South, have always advocated unity, cooperation and joint development and adhered to the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

    She also said it is necessary to firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system, continue to deepen economic and trade cooperation among countries in the Global South, and provide assistance for the development of emerging industries to write a new chapter in the history of high-quality development of “greater BRICS cooperation.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “GUU-SVOim” campaign: another humanitarian cargo sent to border regions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The State University of Management and the Moscow City Branch of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, whose headquarters are located on the territory of our university, sent another humanitarian aid to the area of the special military operation as part of the joint action “GUU-SVOim”.

    The rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev, vice-rectors Dmitry Bryukhanov and Vitaly Lapshenkov, as well as volunteers from the Moscow City Organization of the All-Russian Society of the Scientists and Scientists took part in loading the essential items.

    “The joint action of the GUU and VSKS “GUU-SVOim” has been going on for about a year and a half. During this time, we have made thousands of dry showers and trench candles with our own hands, purchased other useful things at the front of the special military operation with voluntary donations. VSKS volunteer rescuers help eliminate the consequences of terrorist attacks in the border regions, restore the infrastructure of new entities. Positive changes are evident, for example, in Mariupol. I thank our rescuers for their noble deeds and wish them a safe journey together with this humanitarian cargo,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    The humanitarian cargo includes surgical napkins, dry showers, trench stoves and candles, as well as other items needed for frontline use. In addition, the vehicle still needs to be loaded in Rostov-on-Don.

    The “GUU-SVOim” campaign started in January last year. The project is aimed at collecting humanitarian aid for military personnel performing tasks within the special military operation and civilians in border regions. The project is part of the people’s campaign of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation “Universities for the Front”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai hosts state banquet for President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  
    On the morning of June 5, President Lai Ching-te welcomed with full military honors President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife, who are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. In remarks, President Lai noted that over the past few years, bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has grown closer and more diverse, and said that moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, we will continue to promote programs in line with international trends, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. The military honors ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office. After a 21-gun salute and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, President Lai and President Arévalo each delivered remarks. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Last year, our two countries celebrated the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, providing mutual support all along the way. Especially over the past few years, bilateral cooperation has grown closer and more diverse. We have a long record of remarkable results, whether in terms of medicine and public health, education and culture, technological cooperation, or economic and trade exchanges. Moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote programs in line with international trends. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation for young people, as well as scholarship programs, and actively cultivate high-tech and information and communications technology industry talent, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. Although separated by a great distance, the peoples of both countries are closely connected by their ideals and values. I am confident that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will become closer and more diverse, beginning a very promising new chapter. I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he is honored to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan), this beautiful nation, and to receive full military honors, which reflects the mutual respect between our two nations as well as our solid friendship. Especially as this state visit comes as we celebrate 90 years of formal diplomatic ties, he said, he has brought the foreign minister, economics minister, private secretary to the president, and social communication secretary as members of his delegation, in the hope of our ties embarking on a new chapter. President Arévalo said that Guatemala-Taiwan ties have in recent years been growing steadily on a foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation, making significant progress, and that our peoples have also cultivated sincere friendships and cooperative relationships across many fields. Our nations are especially promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, he said, key fields which are conducive to economic and social development. He expressed his hope that on such good foundations of the past, we can further strengthen our bilateral ties for the future. President Arévalo stated that through this state visit they not only want to reaffirm the good bilateral ties between our nations, but that they also hope to define a trajectory for the future of our cooperation in the direction of expanding economic cooperation, building economic and trade alliances, and facilitating investment to foster a Taiwan-Guatemala relationship that benefits both peoples. He then expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for helping Guatemala over the past 90 years and reaffirmed the unwavering support of Guatemala for the Republic of China (Taiwan). On the occasion of this visit, he said, he hopes to extend a friendly hand to the people of Taiwan, adding that he looks forward to our nations continuing to take major steps forward on the road of mutual assistance and prosperity. Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

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    2025-06-03
    President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  
    At noon on June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, conferred a decoration upon President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and hosted a state banquet for President Heine and her husband at the Presidential Office. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations and speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. He also expressed hope for Taiwan and the Marshall Islands to work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges, and that together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. At the decoration ceremony, President Lai personally conferred the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on President Heine before delivering remarks, a translation of which follows:  The Marshall Islands was the first Pacific ally that I visited after taking office as president. When I arrived there, I was immediately drawn to its beautiful scenery. And I received a very warm welcome from the local people. This gesture showed the profound friendship between our two nations. I was truly touched. I also remember trying your nation’s special Bob Whisky for the first time. The flavor was as unique and impressive as the landscape of the Marshall Islands.  In addition to welcoming our distinguished guests today, we also presented President Heine with the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to thank President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations, and for staunchly speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. Both I and the people of Taiwan are profoundly grateful to President Heine for her friendship and support. Over the past few years, cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown ever closer. And this visit by our distinguished guests will allow our two countries to further expand areas of bilateral exchange. I have always believed that only through mutual assistance and trust can two countries build a longstanding and steadfast partnership. I once again convey my sincere aspiration that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges. Together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. In closing, I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for leading this delegation to Taiwan, which deepens the foundations of our bilateral relationship. May our two nations enjoy a long and enduring friendship. President Heine then delivered remarks, stating that she felt especially privileged to receive the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and humbly accepted the honor with the utmost gratitude, humility, and deep responsibility. This is a deep responsibility, she said, because she understands that since its inception in 1933, this order has been bestowed upon a select few. She then thanked President Lai for this great honor. President Heine stated that the banquet was not just a celebration of our bilateral friendship, but a true reflection of the generosity of the Taiwan spirit and a testament to the enduring ties between our nations, founded on shared values and aspirations, including a respect for the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and a deep commitment to democracy. President Heine stated that the Taiwan-Marshall Islands partnership continues to evolve through practical cooperation and mutual support. In recent years, she said, our countries have worked hand in hand across a range of vital sectors, including the recent opening of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telehealth Center and the ongoing and successful Taiwan Health Center, various technical training and scholarship programs, and various climate change adaptation projects in renewable energy, coastal resilience, and sustainable agriculture.   President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands continues to be a proud and vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations. Taiwan’s exclusion from these platforms, she said, is not only unjust, but is bad for the world, and the global community needs Taiwan’s voice and expertise.  President Heine also expressed sincere appreciation to all of the Taiwanese friends who have contributed their efforts to deepening bilateral relations, including government officials, healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and volunteers. The people of the Marshall Islands, she said, deeply appreciate and value everyone’s efforts and service. President Heine said that as we celebrate our partnership, let us look to the future with hope and determination, continue to work together, learn from one another, and support one another to champion a world where all nations can chart their own course based on peace and international law. Also attending the state banquet were Marshall Islands Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Finance David Paul, Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chairperson Joe Bejang, and Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  

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    2025-06-03
    President Lai and President Hilda C. Heine of Marshall Islands hold bilateral talks and witness signing of agreements
    On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Presidential Office following a welcome ceremony with military honors for her and her husband. The leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government and the Nitijela (parliament) of the Marshall Islands for their longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation and for voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. President Lai said that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to deepen its diplomatic partnership with the Marshall Islands and build an even closer cooperative relationship across a range of fields, engaging in mutual assistance for mutual benefits and helping each other achieve joint and prosperous development to yield even greater well-being for our peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I once again warmly welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and our guests to Taiwan. During my visit to the Marshall Islands last year, I said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family. When Vice President Hsiao and I took office last year, President Heine led a delegation to Taiwan. It is now one year since our inauguration, and I am delighted to see President Heine once again, just as if I were seeing family arrive from afar. Through my visit to the Marshall Islands, I gained a profound sense of the friendship between the peoples of our two nations, well-demonstrated by bilateral exchanges in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. And it is thanks to President Heine’s longstanding support for Taiwan that our countries have been able to further advance collaboration on even more issues, including women’s empowerment and climate change. In recent years, the geopolitical and economic landscape has changed rapidly. We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to deepen our partnership and build an even closer cooperative relationship. In just a few moments, President Heine and I will witness the signing of several documents, including a memorandum of understanding and a letter of intent, to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as sports, education, and transportation. Taiwan will take concrete action to work with the Marshall Islands and advance mutual prosperity and development, writing a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the government and Nitijela of the Marshall Islands. In recent years, the Nitijela has passed annual resolutions backing Taiwan’s international participation, and President Heine and Marshallese cabinet members have been some of the strongest advocates for Taiwan’s international participation, voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. Building on the pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, Taiwan will continue to work with the Marshall Islands and other like-minded countries to deepen our partnerships, engage in mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and help one another achieve joint and prosperous development. I have every confidence that the combined efforts of our two nations will yield even greater well-being for our peoples and see us make even more contributions to the world. President Heine then delivered remarks, and began by conveying warm greetings of iokwe from the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She said she was deeply honored to be in Taiwan for an official visit, and extended appreciation to President Lai and his government for their gracious invitation and warm welcome. President Heine stated that this year marks 27 years of diplomatic ties between our two nations, and that they are proud of this enduring friendship. This special and enduring relationship, she said, is grounded in our shared Austronesian heritage, and strengthened by mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems and our steadfast commitment to the core values of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. President Heine stated that Taiwan’s continued support has been invaluable to the people and national development of the Marshall Islands, particularly in the areas of health, education, agriculture, and climate change. She also expressed deep appreciation to Taiwan for providing Marshallese students with opportunities to study in Taiwan, and for the care extended to Marshallese who travel here for medical treatment. President Heine also announced that she would be presenting a copy of a resolution by the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands reiterating their appreciation for the support provided by the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and calling on the United Nations to take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people from the UN system. She added that she looked forward to the bilateral discussions later that day, and to continuing the important work that both countries carry out together. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Heine witnessed the signing of a letter of intent regarding sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft, marking the formal beginning of Taiwan-Marshall Islands air transport cooperation. The visiting delegation also included Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair Joe Bejang. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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    2025-06-03
    President Lai welcomes President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands with military honors  
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and her husband on the morning of June 3 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. The president said that over our 27 years of diplomatic relations, our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. And moving ahead, he said, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Heine each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great pleasure to welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. When I traveled to the Marshall Islands on a state visit last December, I was received with great warmth and courtesy. I once again thank President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share Austronesian cultural traditions, and we are like-minded friends. Throughout our 27 years of diplomatic relations, we have always engaged with each other in a spirit of reciprocal trust and mutual assistance. Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. This is President Heine’s first state visit to Taiwan since taking office for a second time. We look forward to engaging our esteemed guests in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern. And moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with the Marshall Islands across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. In closing, I thank President Heine, First Gentleman Kijiner, and their entire delegation for visiting Taiwan. I wish you all a pleasant and successful trip.  A transcript of President Heine’s remarks follows: Your Excellency President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, honorable members of the cabinet, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings of iokwe on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I wish to also convey my appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, for the hospitality and very warm welcome – kommol tata. This visit marks my seventh official state visit to this beautiful country. It’s a testament to my strong commitment to further deepening ties between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan). During this visit, I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with Your Excellency President Lai to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two nations and our peoples.  For over a quarter-century, Taiwan has been a strong ally and friend to the Marshall Islands. Our partnership has thrived across many sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. Through Taiwan’s generous support and collaboration, we have made significant progress in improving the lives of our people, empowering our communities, and fostering sustainable growth. The Marshall Islands deeply values our partnership with Taiwan and appreciates Taiwan’s support over the years. Despite our small size and limited voice on the global stage, the Marshall Islands deeply cherishes our friendship with Taiwan, and to that end, I wish to reaffirm my government’s commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In light of current constraints in global affairs, it is now more urgent than ever that the international community of nations recognize the fundamental rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people and recognize Taiwan’s aspiration to engage fully in global affairs. It is with this in mind that I wish to reiterate to Your Excellency President Lai, the Taiwanese people, and the world that under my government, Marshall Islands will continue to acknowledge Taiwan’s contribution on the global stage and urge like-minded countries to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in the international arena. In closing, may I once again extend our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for your warm welcome.  Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

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    2025-05-29
    President Lai attends 2025 Europe Day Dinner
    On the evening of May 29, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2025 Europe Day Dinner. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan looks forward to further establishing institutionalized mechanisms with Europe for our trade and investment ties and hopes to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. The president said that Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains, and noted that Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it is in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. He expressed hope to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: Chairman [Henry] Chang (張瀚書), thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your second term. I’m confident that under your leadership, the ECCT [European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan] will build even more bridges for cooperation between Taiwan and Europe. I would also like to thank EETO [European Economic and Trade Office] Head [Lutz] Güllner and all the European country representatives stationed in Taiwan. Your hard work over the years has helped deepen Taiwan-Europe relations and brought about such fruitful cooperation. Thank you. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. In 1950, then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to create a European federation dedicated to preserving peace. The declaration symbolized a new flowering in the post-war era of democracy, unity, and cooperation. As we face the geopolitical challenges and drastic economic changes of today’s world, the Schuman Declaration still speaks to us profoundly. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with our democratic partners, and will join hands with Europe to build a partnership of even greater resilience and mutual trust. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner. It is also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Last year, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Europe totaled US$84.7 billion. This demonstrates our vibrant economic and trade ties and reflects the high levels of confidence our businesses have in each other’s markets and systems. We look forward to Taiwan and Europe further establishing institutionalized mechanisms for our trade and investment ties. And we hope to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the EU, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. Today’s Taiwan has an internationally recognized democracy and a semiconductor industry vital to global security and prosperity. This enables us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic supply chains and the economic order. In particular, we see supply chains dominated by a new authoritarian bloc expanding their influence through non-market mechanisms, price subsidies, and monopolies on resources, as they seek global control of critical technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Their actions not only distort principles of market fairness, but also threaten the international community’s basic expectations for democracy, the rule of law, and corporate responsibility. In response, Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains. We will also introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. This is more than a proposal for economic cooperation; it is an alliance of shared values and advanced technology. Security in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability have always been issues of mutual interest for Taiwan and Europe. So here today, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to thank the EU and European nations for continuing to take concrete actions in public support of peace and stability across the strait. Such actions are vital to regional security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster itself to achieve real peace through strength, and will work with democratic partners to safeguard freedom and democracy, thereby showing our determination for regional peace. At this critical time, Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it’s in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. I look forward to our joining hands at this strategic juncture to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. Also in attendance at the event was British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.

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    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says it may be better for Russia-Ukraine conflict to last longer

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

    U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Russia and Ukraine keep on fighting for a while despite German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s call for more U.S. pressure on Russia.

    When meeting with Merz at the White House, Trump said that the “bad blood” and “hatred” between the sides would make it hard to reach a ceasefire any time soon, marking a shift from his earlier proclamation that the conflict would end quickly.

    “They fight, fight, fight,” Trump said. “Sometimes you let them fight for a little while. You see it in hockey. You see it in sports. The referees let them go for a couple of seconds. Let them go for a little while before you pull them apart.”

    During the meeting, Merz told Trump that “America is again in a very strong position of ending this war,” adding: “We are looking for more pressure on Russia.”

    On new sanctions on Russia, Trump said on Thursday that nothing was imminent. However, he hinted he might sanction both Russia and Ukraine because “it takes two to tango.”

    “When I see the moment when it’s not going to stop, we’ll be very tough,” Trump said. “And it could be on both countries.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Trump administration imposes sanctions on four ICC judges in unprecedented move

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court, an unprecedented retaliation over the war tribunal’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a past decision to open a case into alleged war crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

    Washington designated Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, according to a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

    “As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies,” Rubio said.

    The ICC slammed the move, saying it was an attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution that provides hope and justice to millions of victims of “unimaginable atrocities.”

    Both judges Bossa and Ibanez Carranza have been on the ICC bench since 2018. In 2020 they were involved in an appeals chamber decision that allowed the ICC prosecutor to open a formal investigation into alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan.

    Since 2021, the court had deprioritized the investigation into American troops in Afghanistan and focused on alleged crimes committed by the Afghan government and the Taliban forces.

    ICC judges also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri last November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. Alapini Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, Rubio said.

    The move deepens the administration’s animosity toward the court. During the first Trump administration in 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her top aides over the court’s work on Afghanistan.

    The measures also follow a January vote at the U.S. House of Representatives to punish the ICC in protest over its Netanyahu arrest warrant. The move underscored strong support among Trump’s fellow Republicans for Israel’s government.

    DIFFICULT TIME FOR ICC

    The measures triggered uproar among human-rights advocates. Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the punitive measures were a “flagrant attack on the rule of law at the same time as President Trump is working to undercut it at home.”

    Sanctions severely hamper individuals’ abilities to carry out even routine financial transactions as any banks with ties to the United States, or that conduct transactions in dollars, are expected to have to comply with the restrictions.

    But the Treasury Department also issued general licenses, including one allowing the wind-down of any existing transactions involving those targeted on Thursday until July 8, as long as any payment to them is made to a blocked, interest-bearing account located in the U.S.

    The new sanctions come at a difficult time for the ICC, which is already reeling from earlier U.S. sanctions against its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who last month stepped aside temporarily amid a United Nations investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct.

    The ICC, which was established in 2002, has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in member states or if a situation is referred by the U.N. Security Council. The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members.

    It has high-profile war crimes investigations under way into the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as in Sudan, Myanmar, the Philippines, Venezuela and Afghanistan.

    The ICC has issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of deporting children from Ukraine, and for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Neither country is a member of the court and both deny the accusations and reject ICC jurisdiction.

    (Reuters)

  • JP Nadda chairs high-level meeting to review availability, distribution of fertilisers in Kharif season

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, JP Nadda, chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the availability and distribution of fertilizers during the ongoing Kharif season. The meeting, held with officials from the Department of Fertilizers, focused on ensuring timely supply and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

    During the meeting, Nadda highlighted the vital role of agriculture in ensuring national food security and stressed the importance of making essential nutrients available to support crop productivity. He was briefed on the current status of fertilizer supply and preparations for Kharif 2025. Officials informed that domestic fertilizer production is being maintained at an optimum level, with diammonium phosphate (DAP) production reaching 3.84 lakh metric tonnes—the highest in recent months.

    To bridge the gap between demand and domestic supply, Indian fertilizer companies have secured agreements with key exporters, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Russia. These tie-ups aim to ensure consistent imports throughout the year. Nadda instructed officials to ensure fertilizers are promptly distributed across all states to meet farmers’ requirements. He also emphasised the need for close coordination with state governments, fertilizer companies, Indian Railways, and port authorities to streamline the supply chain.

    Expressing concern over the increasing reliance on chemical fertilizers, especially urea, the minister called for a renewed focus on sustainable agriculture. He directed officials to intensify the implementation of PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth). The initiative promotes balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternatives, and encourages organic and natural farming. States demonstrating a reduction in chemical fertilizer use will be eligible for incentives under the scheme.

    Nadda also underlined the need for strict action to curb the illegal diversion, hoarding, and black marketing of fertilizers. He called for coordinated efforts with state governments to prevent such practices and ensure fertilizers reach the intended beneficiaries.

    The meeting was attended by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, along with senior officials including Anita Meshram and Aparna S. Sharma, Additional Secretaries, and Abhay Sharma, Director (Movement).

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Japan’s iSpace Confirms Moon Landing Failure

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TOKYO, June 6 (Xinhua) — Tokyo-based ispace has officially confirmed the failure of its moon landing mission after losing contact with the descending lander early Friday.

    At a press conference held around 9:00 a.m. local time, ispace announced the end of the mission after determining that it was impossible to re-establish contact with the craft.

    The lander, launched from Florida in January, successfully entered lunar orbit and began its descent from an altitude of 100 km around 3 a.m. Friday. It was scheduled to make a soft landing at 4:17 a.m. on a plain near Mare Frigoris in the northern hemisphere of the moon. However, around 4:30 a.m., the company reported a loss of contact with the lander and began investigating the situation. Experts concluded that the craft failed to make a soft landing.

    iSpace’s previous attempt to land a lunar module in 2023 also ended in failure, with an altitude misjudgement leading to a crash. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China is committed to promoting healthy development of auto industry – Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — China will work to remove obstacles and restrictions that hinder the circulation and consumption of automobiles to promote the healthy development of the domestic auto industry, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian said Thursday.

    At the next departmental press conference, she emphasized that for the Chinese national economy, the auto industry is a strategic and supporting industry that plays an important role in ensuring stable growth and expanding consumption.

    In recent years, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China has deeply implemented such measures as the trade-in program for new cars and pilot reforms in the field of car circulation and consumption, which are designed to free up even more consumer opportunities in the car market and develop a new driver for consumption growth, He Yongqian noted.

    According to her, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China is ready, in coordination with other competent departments, to strengthen monitoring and studying the auto market, as well as to strengthen the political orientation of its development in order to better meet the diversified and individualized needs of the population.

    As for the current phenomena of “involutionary” competition in the auto sector, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China will actively assist the relevant authorities in tightening comprehensive control in order to ensure fair and honest competition in the auto market, He Yongqian assured. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China allocates 45 million yuan to eliminate consequences of natural disasters

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have allocated 45 million yuan (about 6.26 million U.S. dollars) to support disaster relief efforts in several regions across the country, the ministry said Thursday.

    Of the total, 15 million yuan will go to flood control in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, 10 million yuan will support rescue efforts after landslides in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, and the remaining 20 million yuan will help fight drought in northwest China’s Gansu Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

    According to the department, the funds will be used to minimize human and material losses from natural disasters, as well as to ensure the safety of life and property of the population in the affected areas. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: /Voice of the South/ Expert’s view｜The establishment of the International Mediation Organization is particularly relevant in the context of the current unstable situation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Author: Serik Korzhumbayev

    On May 30, a historic event took place in Hong Kong that could revolutionize the approach to international dispute resolution. Representatives of 32 countries signed the Convention Establishing the International Mediation Organization (IOM). Delegations from more than 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations, including the UN, also attended the ceremony. The IOM became the world’s first intergovernmental body created exclusively for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts through mediation. China was the main initiator of this initiative, demonstrating new strategic thinking focused on dialogue, mutual respect, and joint search for solutions. In this analytical material, we examine the significance of the new body, China’s role in its development, and the IOM’s potential to promote peace and global cooperation.

    The ceremony in Hong Kong’s Wanzai Business District was not just a diplomatic act, but a symbol of the beginning of a new era in international relations. In his speech, Wang Yi, member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and head of the PRC Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the IOM reflects the spirit of the UN Charter, in particular Article 33, which mentions mediation as one of the preferred instruments for the peaceful resolution of disputes. For a long time, the international community lacked a specialized legal framework focused on dialogue. The IOM fills this gap by offering a universal platform for states, investors and commercial organizations.

    The establishment of the IOM is particularly relevant in the context of the current unstable situation: growing geopolitical contradictions, trade wars, regional conflicts. In 2025, the world celebrates the 80th anniversary of the creation of the UN and the victory in World War II – it is symbolic that right now a mechanism is emerging that can replace confrontation with dialogue.

    China’s initiative is not accidental. In recent years, Beijing has confidently positioned itself as a supporter of peace and diplomacy, acting as a mediator in resolving crises in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The proposal to establish the IOM was put forward by China three years ago and became a logical continuation of the idea of a “community with a shared future for mankind” put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This idea has now received institutional embodiment – with its center in Hong Kong.

    China’s role in the creation of the IOM is not only a diplomatic success, but also a testament to its growing influence as a responsible global power. Unlike Western approaches, which often rely on coercion or rigid legal procedures, the Chinese model of mediation is based on principles of harmony, Confucian ethics, and consensus-seeking.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that mediation is a “natural continuation” of China’s historical tradition of resolving disputes through mutual respect. The effectiveness of this approach has been proven in practice. In 2023, China brokered a historic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was a breakthrough for the Middle East. Beijing has also played an active role in peace processes in Sudan, Myanmar and other countries, avoiding interference and relying on trust.

    The choice of Hong Kong as the IOM headquarters has symbolic and strategic significance. As Wang Yi emphasized, Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997 is an example of a successful diplomatic settlement. The city, with its Anglo-Chinese legal system, business infrastructure, and status as an arbitration center in Asia, is ideal for such a structure. According to the International Arbitration Review of Queen Mary, University of London, in 2025 Hong Kong tied with Singapore as the preferred jurisdiction for dispute resolution.

    The IOM also reflects China’s broader ambition to reform the global governance system. In a context of growing great power competition, China offers an inclusive, equitable order. The support of 32 founding members, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Serbia, and Cambodia, underscores the credibility of the Chinese initiative, especially among countries in the Global South.

    IOM’s mission is to create a universal platform for resolving interstate, investment and commercial disputes through dialogue and voluntary participation. Unlike courts, where one often wins at the expense of the other, mediation involves a win-win solution, strengthening trust and stability in the long term.

    IOM is based on the principles of equality, fairness and respect for sovereignty. The organization takes into account the specifics of different legal systems and offers a flexible approach that reduces the costs and time spent on dispute resolution. This makes mediation attractive not only for states, but also for businesses.

    The creation of the IOM also offers an alternative to existing Western institutions, such as the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration. While these bodies remain important, their procedures often exacerbate conflicts. China’s concept of a “culture of harmony” offers a different path – cooperation instead of confrontation, which is especially relevant in a context of global interdependence.

    Despite the bright start, IOM has a difficult path ahead. One of the main challenges will be to ensure trust from a wide range of countries, including Western powers. Some analysts are already expressing doubts about IOM’s ability to remain a neutral structure amid global turbulence. However, professional mechanisms are being created for this purpose – training of mediators, uniform protocols, procedures for implementing decisions.

    Ratification of the Convention by member states and expansion of membership, including major powers, will be of great significance. China has already promised to establish a team of high-level international mediators, which will give the organization credibility.

    IOM can be a key instrument for de-escalation in hot spots from the South China Sea to the Middle East. In Central Asia, where integration and sustainable development are important, mediation can be used to resolve disputes over trade, investment, water, and energy. Kazakhstan, as a strategic partner of China, can also benefit from such an approach.

    In closing, Wang Yi recalled the ancient Chinese parable of the “six-foot alley”: two neighbors each gave each other three feet to walk down a narrow street. The story is a metaphor for the IOM philosophy: the path to cooperation is through compromise. In a world where conflicts are becoming chronic, this idea sounds like a call to reason.

    The creation of the IOM under the auspices of China is not just a diplomatic victory. It is an invitation to the world to resolve disputes not from a position of strength, but through equal dialogue. And if this structure works effectively, it will become the basis for a new architecture of international relations – more just, peaceful and inclusive.

    Note: Serik Korzhumbayev is the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Business Kazakhstan”.

    The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Xinhua News Agency. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Musk-Trump breakup puts $22 billion of SpaceX contracts at risk, jolting US space program

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    About $22 billion of SpaceX’s government contracts are at risk and multiple U.S. space programs could face dramatic changes in the fallout from Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s explosive feud on Thursday.

    The disagreement, rooted in Musk’s criticism of Trump’s tax-cut and spending legislation that began last week, quickly spiraled out of control. Trump lashed out at Musk when the president spoke in the Oval Office. Then in a series of X posts, Musk launched barbs at Trump, who threatened to terminate government contracts with Musk’s companies.

    Taking the threat seriously, Musk said he would begin “decommissioning” SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft used by NASA.

    Hours later, however, Musk appeared to reverse course. Responding to a follower on X urging him and Trump to “cool off and take a step back for a couple of days,” Musk wrote: “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”

    Still, Musk’s mere threat to abruptly pull its Dragon spacecraft out of service marked an unprecedented outburst from one of NASA’s leading commercial partners.

    Under a roughly $5 billion contract, the Dragon capsule has been the agency’s only U.S. vessel capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station, making Musk’s company a critical element of the U.S. space program.

    The feud raised questions about how far Trump, an often unpredictable force who has intervened in past procurement efforts, would go to punish Musk, who until last week headed Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal government.

    If the president prioritized political retaliation and canceled billions of dollars of SpaceX contracts with NASA and the Pentagon, it could slow U.S. space progress.

    NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens declined to comment on SpaceX, but said: “We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the president’s objectives in space are met.”

    Musk and Trump’s tussle ruptured an extraordinary relationship between a U.S. president and industry titan that had yielded some key favors for SpaceX: a proposed overhaul of NASA’s moon program into a Mars program, a planned effort to build a gigantic missile defense shield in space, and the naming of an Air Force leader who favored SpaceX in a contract award.

    Taking Dragon out of service would likely disrupt the ISS program, which involves dozens of countries under a two-decade-old international agreement. But it was unclear how quickly such a decommissioning would occur. NASA uses Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft as a secondary ride for its astronauts to the ISS.

    SPACEX’S RISE

    SpaceX rose to dominance long before Musk’s foray into Republican politics last year, building formidable market share in the rocket launch and satellite communications industries that could shield it somewhat from Musk’s split with Trump, analysts said.

    “It fortunately wouldn’t be catastrophic, since SpaceX has developed itself into a global powerhouse that dominates most of the space industry, but there’s no question that it would result in significant lost revenue and missed contract opportunities,” said Justus Parmar, CEO of SpaceX investor Fortuna Investments.

    Under Trump in recent months, the U.S. space industry and NASA’s workforce of 18,000 have been whipsawed by looming layoffs and proposed budget cuts that would cancel dozens of science programs, while the U.S. space agency remains without a confirmed administrator.

    Trump’s nominee for NASA administrator, Musk ally and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, appeared to be an early casualty of Musk’s rift with the president when the White House abruptly removed him from consideration over the weekend, denying Musk his pick to lead the space agency.

    Trump on Thursday explained dumping Isaacman by saying he was “totally Democrat,” in an apparent reference to reports Isaacman had donated to Democrats. Isaacman has donated to some Republican but mostly Democratic candidates for office, according to public records.

    Musk’s quest to send humans to Mars has been a critical element of Trump’s space agenda. The effort has threatened to take resources away from NASA’s flagship effort to send humans back to the moon.

    Trump’s budget plan sought to cancel Artemis moon missions beyond its third mission, effectively ending the over-budget Space Launch System rocket used for those missions.

    But the Senate Commerce Committee version of Trump’s bill released late on Thursday would restore funding for missions four and five, providing at least $1 billion annually for SLS through 2029.

    Since SpaceX’s rockets are a less expensive alternative to SLS, whether the Trump administration opposes the Senate’s changes in the coming weeks will give an indication of Musk’s remaining political power.

    SpaceX, founded in 2002, has won $15 billion of contracts from NASA for the company’s Falcon 9 rockets and development of SpaceX’s Starship, a multipurpose rocket system tapped to land NASA astronauts on the moon this decade.

    The company has also been awarded billions of dollars to launch a majority of the Pentagon’s national security satellites into space while it builds a massive spy satellite constellation in orbit for a U.S. intelligence agency.

    In addition to not being in U.S. interests, former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said canceling SpaceX’s contracts would probably not be legal.

    But she also added, “A rogue CEO threatening to decommission spacecraft, putting astronauts’ lives at risk, is untenable.”

    (Reuters) 

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The NSU team took first place in one of the cases of the all-Russian hackathon “Smart Campus”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The All-Russian hackathon “Smart Campus” has recently ended in Nizhny Novgorod, in which more than 80 students from more than 20 regions of Russia took part. The competition was held by NEIMARK University as part of the international conference CIPR-2025. NSU was represented at the hackathon by a team of students Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics (MMF), they won one of the hackathon cases – the development of a communication service for deaf students.

    — Over the past three years, the Smart Campus hackathon has become a vibrant tradition that unites talented students and progressive ideas. Active participation of students helps create an effective educational ecosystem that ensures the successful functioning of the campus. The developments presented at the hackathon are already being implemented in campuses, a constellation of which is being created today in Russia, — noted Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Russia Andrey Omelchuk.

    More than 20 student teams gathered in Nizhny Novgorod, they were offered 5 cases to solve, not intersecting with each other. Thus, 4 teams worked on each case, for each of the tasks three prize winners were determined.

    The winning team from NSU included Timur Yenikeev, a 4th-year student of the Engineering School of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics of NSU, Maxim Yemelyanov, a 1st-year master’s student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics of NSU, Ivan Gudylin, a 2nd-year master’s student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics of NSU, and the team captain – Taisiya Uskova, a 1st-year master’s student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics of NSU.

    — I, like another member of our team, Maxim Yemelyanov, have participated in this event more than once. This year, the hackathon has changed dramatically — this concerns both the structure and the tasks. So, we solved only cases from partners. In addition, all the tasks were somehow related to inclusive education, which, in my opinion, is the main feature of this year’s hackathon, — said Taisiya.

    Over the course of two days, student teams developed education quality monitoring systems, created inclusive technologies for students with disabilities, and designed a universal mobile service for campuses. Participants also optimized digital educational interfaces and tried to integrate neurotechnology into the educational process.

    The NSU team worked on a case to improve the Yandex Conversation app, which is designed to help hearing-impaired people. This app recognizes speech and can read out messages written by the user.

    —Our task was to implement this application with the required design, which was provided by the customer-curators from Yandex. We had to propose a model and add the functionality of recognizing speakers and saving them, as well as develop other improvements. For example, we implemented functionality that allows the application to work offline, — Taisiya explained.

    According to Taisiya, the team’s perseverance, ability to quickly understand complex topics and work within tight deadlines helped them win.

    —The team was quite diverse, we didn’t have the necessary competencies for all the issues, but we managed. In two days, we figured out what we had never done before, and that’s why, in my opinion, we won, — Taisiya shared.

    Such events are aimed at developing the existing campus infrastructure and introducing new solutions in those campuses that are currently being built across the country as part of the national project “Youth and Children”. Therefore, it is important that students themselves propose and develop solutions that may be interesting and in demand on campuses.

    Thus, a modern NSU campus is currently under construction, the first stage was opened in 2024. In the fall of 2025, a new building of flow auditoriums is being prepared to receive students, which will also become a demonstration center for technologies in the field of artificial intelligence. For example, a “smart” library will operate there, students will be able to use self-service stations to check out books from the open collection, take them home and return them at any time.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exhibition dedicated to 100th anniversary of Gury Ivanovich Marchuk opened at NSU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    June 8 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous Russian mathematician Gury Ivanovich Marchuk. Part of his life was connected with Akademgorodok and Novosibirsk State University. The NSU History Museum together with the Scientific Library of NSU and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have prepared an exhibition of Gury Ivanovich’s memoirs about life on Siberian soil.

    — The preparation process was three-sided: we collaborated with our NSU Scientific Library, which selected literature for us, books by Gury Ivanovich himself and related to him; we used our own funds and open funds of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences — the result was a collection of unique interesting photographs of Gury Ivanovich, which can be seen at the exhibition. In addition, the stands present both general information about where he worked and studied, and his memories of Siberia. The exhibition carries such a coloring of memories — memories of Gury Ivanovich about his life in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, his work in the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences, — said Victoria Vybornova, keeper of the NSU History Museum.

    In 1962, Guriy Ivanovich Marchuk completed his project in Obninsk and came to Akademgorodok at the invitation of Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentyev. Here he began working at the Computing Center and, as was traditionally established, became a professor at Novosibirsk State University. As Mikhail Alekseevich’s successor, in 1975 he became president of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and later, in 1980, he moved to Moscow and became the last president of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

    — Despite the fact that he spent several years in Akademgorodok, he nevertheless retained very warm memories of our Siberian region, so the exhibition focuses on this period of his life. He had many friends and colleagues in Akademgorodok, and he was always concerned about the development of Siberian science.

    Of course, this is a great example for the younger generation to follow, because Guriy Ivanovich is a person full of energy, full of various ideas, initiatives. As a scientist, he was a man of the world, traveled a lot and was familiar with scientific communities of other countries. He saw how science was created all over the world. Guriy Ivanovich took the best, implemented it in our Siberian branch, and then in Moscow. This is a great example and a great image of a scientist of the Soviet period, who began his career creating a nuclear shield together with I.V. Kurchatov, with a large team. Later, he took up mathematical modeling in immunology, then ecology. He was always ahead of science, in its first ranks, so every student and employee of NSU, a resident of Akademgorodok will be interested to learn and be inspired by his story, – emphasized Victoria Vybornova.

    Until June 20, the exhibition will be located in the second-floor passage between the first and third blocks of the NSU Academic Building (1 Pirogova St.). Later, it will move to the skylight opposite Okladnikov Auditorium 2322 and will run until mid-July.

    Among the most interesting exhibits are photographs of Gury Ivanovich, his scientific works, personal memories of Siberia and memories of his contemporaries about him.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing hosts festive event dedicated to Russian Language Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Every year, June 6 marks the birthday of the great Russian writer, poet, prose writer and founder of modern Russian literature Alexander Pushkin, as well as International Russian Language Day. On this day, literary events are held around the world in honor of Pushkin Day, which are of great importance for specialists and scholars in the field of teaching Russian, students of Russian studies and all lovers of the Russian language.

    At this time of year, students of Russian language departments traditionally gather at the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing to celebrate this significant holiday together, socialize, and demonstrate their mastery of the Russian language.

    The day before, on June 5, the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing celebrated the Russian Language Day. More than ten universities and high schools from Beijing, Tianjin, as well as students of Russian language courses at the RCC gathered at the Center, giving the audience a real literary and musical holiday – beautiful Russian songs, poems were performed, and theatrical performances were presented!

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China successfully launches new low-orbit satellite constellation to provide internet access

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TAIYUAN, June 6 (Xinhua) — China on Friday successfully launched a new low-orbit satellite constellation to provide internet access from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.

    The group, the fourth of its kind, was launched at 04:45 Beijing time by a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket. The satellites successfully entered their designated orbits.

    This flight was the 580th for the Long March series launch vehicles.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Harvard University files lawsuit against US ban on foreign students

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NEW YORK, June 5 (Xinhua) — Harvard University on Thursday appealed in federal court a ban on foreign students entering the United States who plan to study there.

    The lawsuit was filed less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation banning foreign nationals from entering Harvard. The university argues that the administration’s actions are intended to circumvent an earlier court ruling that stripped the Department of Homeland Security of the ability to bar Harvard from admitting foreign students.

    “Thus, the President’s actions are not taken to protect the ‘interests of the United States,’ but to further the government’s vendetta against Harvard,” the lawsuit says.

    “The special treatment given to our institution in terms of admitting international students and collaborating with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the administration to get even with Harvard,” Harvard University President Alan Garber said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed.

    He added that the university is developing “contingency plans” to ensure that international students and scholars can continue their studies and work at Harvard this summer and into the next academic year. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel strikes buildings in southern suburbs of Beirut

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, June 6 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes on buildings in several areas of Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday evening after issuing an evacuation warning in anticipation of an attack on Hezbollah military infrastructure.

    Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NIA) reported that at least three rockets were fired at a southern suburb of Beirut.

    The Israeli army said it had struck “Hezbollah air force targets in the Dahiya neighborhood of Beirut.”

    The attack took place on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday. Less than two hours before the strikes, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for areas it said housed underground Hezbollah drone factories. IDF spokesman Avichai Adraei told the X website that Israel would target buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, urging residents to evacuate. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses concern over US travel ban from 12 countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    GENEVA, June 6 (Xinhua) — United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday expressed concern over the new travel ban imposed by the United States.

    In a statement sent to Xinhua, he said the broad and comprehensive nature of the new restrictions raises concerns “from the perspective of international law.”

    According to F. Türk, although international law allows states to regulate their borders sovereignly, they “have an obligation to ensure equal protection of all persons before the law and to prevent discrimination on any grounds, including nationality, origin, religion, migration or other status.”

    “We are also generally concerned that the extremely unfortunate official public statements containing disparaging assessments of those affected by these measures contribute to the stigmatization of people from the countries concerned both in the United States and abroad and may increase their likelihood of facing xenophobic hostility and harassment,” the High Commissioner added.

    US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday completely banning entry into the country for citizens of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea. The document will go into effect on June 9. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –