NewzIntel.com

Category: Russian Federation

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Calls for Establishment of High-Level Military Training Support System

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), has called for accelerating efforts to build a high-level military training support system.

    Zhang Youxia, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the call during a two-day inspection and seminar on the construction of combined arms training grounds held by the People’s Liberation Army from Tuesday to Wednesday.

    Zhang Youxia said efforts should be focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of training and enhancing combat capability.

    It is necessary to direct efforts to ensure combat training to comply with the standards and requirements of real combat operations, to support comprehensive joint training, to expand capabilities and increase efficiency through information technology, emphasized the deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission.

    He added that priority should be given to the construction of large training bases and the creation of conditions for training in new areas and with new quality, and also called for continuous improvement of the support system. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Vice Premier Calls for Stepping Up Efforts to Combat Desertification

    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

    HOHHOT, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for greater efforts and more pragmatic measures to achieve new important results in the Three Norths Program, the world’s largest forest planting program to combat desertification in northwest, north and northeast China.

    He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting on combating desertification in the Yellow River Bend area held in Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Tuesday.

    The Yellow River is the second longest river in China after the Yangtze. Areas near its bend are among the three key areas for combating desertification under the Three Norths program.

    The Vice Premier visited the areas of the water conservancy project, the Yellow River quicksand control project and the new energy storage project.

    Pointing out at the meeting that significant progress has been made in advancing the Three Norths program over the past two years, He Lifeng noted that the program is currently at a key stage, stressing the need to clearly understand the current situation and challenges, and steadily implement the important strategic instructions given by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The Three Norths program was launched in 1978 and is scheduled to be completed by 2050. Its goal is to restore greenery in desertification-prone areas in three northern regions of China.

    By 2030, the country aims to achieve significant results in combating desertification in three regions through the Three Norths program: the Hexi Corridor and Taklamak Desert, the Khorqin and Hongshandak sandy lands, and areas near the Yellow River bend. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia offers Ukraine to continue direct talks in Istanbul on June 2 — Russian Foreign Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Russia is ready to provide Ukrainian negotiators with its memorandum on the terms of the conflict settlement during direct talks on June 2 in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

    “Our delegation, headed by V. R. Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” reads a statement by S. Lavrov published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the memorandum sets out Russia’s “position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis.”

    “We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul,” concluded S. Lavrov. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Vice Premier Calls for Healthy Development of Platform Economy

    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

    SHANGHAI, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has stressed efforts to promote the healthy development of the platform economy and maintain a fair and orderly market environment.

    Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of the east Chinese city of Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday.

    During his visit to online retail, live streaming e-commerce and food delivery companies, Zhang Guoqing pointed out that the platform economy plays an important role in stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthening internal circulation. He called on relevant companies to devote more resources to providing high-quality products and services.

    When developing platform rules, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the principles of openness and honesty, decisively suppressing unfair competition using bargain prices and low-quality goods, the Deputy Prime Minister of the State Council pointed out.

    Zhang Guoqing said all platforms should use positive and beneficial algorithms while ensuring reasonable and transparent pricing standards. He called for stronger measures to crack down on violations, including price manipulation, false advertising and sales inflated prices.

    Zhang Guoqing called for more efforts to eliminate regulations and practices that hinder the establishment of a unified market and fair competition, and stressed the need to crack down on illegal extortion from enterprises to maintain a favorable market environment.

    In addition, the Vice Premier of the State Council called on market regulators to accelerate the implementation of new technologies, particularly in the field of big data and artificial intelligence, in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of regulation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Mullin to Hannity: Trump Strikes when the Iron is Ripe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
    “Trump is working all angles on this. This is why Trump makes the ‘Art of the Deal’ right?”
    Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Hannity to discuss the recent developments in the war in Ukraine and stress that Russia’s President would be a fool to underestimate President Donald J. Trump and America’s return to ‘Peace through Strength’ policies. Highlights below.

    Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
    On the consequences President Vladimir Putin faces if he continues down this path of killing:
    “He [President Trump] is trying to clean up a mess that he didn’t start. This war would have never taken place if Trump would have been in office, but now it is. He’s been very clear from day one he wanted the killing to stop. He’s tried to work with Putin, his patience is running thin, and you and I know both know President Trump personally. When he’s done with you, he’s done. If Putin continues to push this envelope the way that he is, he’s going to give Zelensky the tools that he needs to fight back with the full-scale, full support of the United States.
    On possible Russian sanctions:
    “Lindsey Graham, myself, and a few other senators led this sanction bill, but we’ve been holding off because President Trump wanted time to negotiate with Russia. Because the negotiations are breaking down, I can see as soon as soon as were ready to move this bill forward, we’ll be able to pass this in the Senate, we’ll be able to pass this in the House, and President Trump will sign it. The sanctions will cripple Russia’s economy. You’ll see the ruble crash. You’ll see the way they’ve been able to benefit from it, this won’t go.”
    On President Trump’s ability to protect American interests:
    “Trump is working all angles on this. This is why Trump makes the ‘Art of the Deal’ right? He’s able to back people in corners and because when he’s ready, and the iron’s ripe, he’s able to strike.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Shenzhou 20 crew members congratulate on International Children’s Day from Chinese space station

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — Ahead of International Children’s Day on June 1, the crew of the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft aboard the Chinese space station sent greetings to children across China.

    The 9th National Congress of the Young Pioneers Organization of China (YPC) opened in Beijing on Tuesday. Cosmonauts congratulated children across the country on this grand event and unfurled the YPC flag, which was delivered to the space station.

    The three-person crew, led by experienced astronaut Chen Dong, was launched into orbit on April 24 for a six-month mission.

    Chen Dong recalled his childhood dreams, which were born after he put on the red pioneer tie. “I remember deciding to become someone useful to society when I first put it on,” said Chen Dong, who has already been to space three times.

    Rookie astronauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, who are making their first space flight, recalled how their youthful interest in space shaped their future careers.

    Chen Zhongrui, who made his first spacewalk on May 22, shared how he watched the Shenzhou spacecraft launches on TV with glee as a child and was strengthened in his desire.

    Wang Jie mentioned the UPC anthem, a song that gave him strength as a child. He said the anthem encourages generations of Chinese pioneers to follow the glorious traditions of their predecessors. He hoped that children would continue the missions of space exploration.

    After arriving at the station, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts rotated with the Shenzhou-19 crew and carried out planned scientific experiments.

    On May 22, they successfully completed their first spacewalk, setting a record for the shortest time between a crew’s arrival in orbit and the first extravehicular activity since the space station’s completion. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Participants of the 2nd Cross-Strait Summit on Chinese Culture Stressed the Importance of Shared Heritage, Confidence in One’s Own Culture

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — The 2nd Cross-Strait Summit on Chinese Culture opened in Beijing on Wednesday, with participants stressing the importance of deep cultural ties between compatriots on both sides of the Strait and confidence in their own culture.

    The opening ceremony was presided over by Song Tao, Director of the CPC Central Committee Office for Work with Taiwan and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

    He expressed the hope that Taiwanese cultural figures, together with representatives from the mainland, will guide the efforts of Taiwanese compatriots to protect the great good of the Chinese nation, strengthen their confidence in their own culture, resolutely oppose separatist activities to gain “Taiwan independence” and external interference, and advance the cause of national reunification.

    Hong Xiuzhu, former Kuomintang Party chairwoman and chairwoman of the Taiwan-based China Qingyan Peace and Education Foundation, delivered a speech in which she drew attention to the shared cultural heritage across the Taiwan Strait.

    She proposed to jointly preserve Chinese classics, promote traditional culture and develop cultural industries. According to her, by leveraging the rich cultural heritage and modern creative potential, the two banks can enhance the global presence of Chinese culture and deepen its international influence.

    The summit included a main forum, where representatives of cultural and academic circles delivered keynote speeches on the joint development of Chinese culture. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China sees slowdown in COVID-19 cases

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — China’s COVID-19 cases are seeing a slowdown in growth, with most provincial-level regions having reached their peak or showing a downward trend, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration said Wednesday.

    As the department noted, the pathogenicity of the dominant strains of the virus and the clinical severity of the disease remain largely unchanged.

    The monitoring results show that the COVID-19 infection rate in the southern regions at the provincial level is higher than in the northern regions, while clinical cases are predominantly mild or asymptomatic.

    The number of visits to clinics for patients with elevated temperatures and the number of severe cases do not exceed previous peak values and do not have a noticeable impact on the normal operation of medical institutions.

    Since early March, China has seen low levels of influenza and other acute respiratory infections, while COVID-19 cases have been gradually increasing. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Central Asia Forum “Governance and Sustainable Development” Opens in Almaty

    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

    ALMATY, May 28 (Xinhua) — The China-Central Asia Forum on Governance and Sustainable Development opened in the Kazakh city of Almaty on Wednesday, with about 100 representatives from government departments, universities and enterprises from China and Kazakhstan attending the event.

    The forum was organized by Lanzhou University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University /KazNU/.

    Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Almaty Jiang Wei stated in her keynote speech that on the path of great national revival, China and the Central Asian countries have the same ideas, similar goals and interrelated interests. They should deepen the exchange of experience in public administration and sustainable development, work together, complement each other’s strengths and achieve common development. According to Jiang Wei, China fully respects the independent aspirations of the Central Asian countries for modernization and is ready to share development experience with them as sincerely as possible.

    Vice-president of Lanzhou University Sha Yongzhong pointed out that interconnectedness and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, is a historical choice for achieving prosperity and development in the region, and knowledge cooperation opens up new space for expanding cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in the spirit of “connected hearts.” Sha Yongzhong called such cooperation an important content and engine for promoting scientific and technological innovation and building a community with a shared future for China and Central Asia.

    KazNU Vice-Rector for Financial and Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Development Abdrakhman Tasybayev noted that the forum is an important platform for expanding exchanges and cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. As he emphasized, various topics discussed at the forum largely correspond to the topics of national strategic development.

    At the forum, experts and scholars from China and Kazakhstan will hold friendly, substantive discussions on four main topics: environmental governance, digital development, poverty alleviation, and regional cooperation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Gala concert dedicated to friendship between China and Uzbekistan held in Tashkent

    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

    Tashkent, May 28 /Xinhua/ — A gala concert “Dance of the Sea and Land. Fragrant Tea on the Great Silk Road” dedicated to the friendship between China and Uzbekistan was recently held in Tashkent with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Fujian Province /East China/ and the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (TSUOS).

    The event was attended by representatives of the embassy and the department, the rector of TSU and more than 700 cultural figures, media representatives and universities.

    Artists of the Fujian Opera and Dance Theatre, together with artists of the State Philharmonic of Uzbekistan, members of the Wushu Federation of Uzbekistan and the Children’s Dance Ensemble “Asal” of the “Barkamol Avlod” school, performed vibrant traditional dances, folk music and martial arts numbers, personifying the harmonious unity of Chinese and Uzbek cultures.

    Before the concert, guests were introduced to traditional Chinese culture in the interactive zones “Tea Unites the World” and “Hello, China!” They tasted tea, learned the art of paper cutting and tried on flower hairpins. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kyrgyzstan places sovereign Eurobonds on international capital markets for the first time

    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

    BISHKEK, May 28 (Xinhua) — Kyrgyzstan has successfully completed its debut placement of sovereign Eurobonds on international financial markets in the amount of 700 million US dollars at a coupon rate of 7.75 percent for a period of 5 years, the press service of the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan reported on Wednesday.

    As noted by the department, the total demand from investors at the peak amounted to over $2.1 billion, which ensured an oversubscription rate three times greater than the final volume of the deal. More than 100 international investors from the US, Europe and Asia took part in the placement process.

    “Kyrgyzstan views the successful entry into the Eurobond market as an important step in strengthening the country’s investment image, attracting long-term resources for the development of infrastructure and energy, and increasing the sustainability of public finances,” the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance said in a statement. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Have sanctions against Russia backfired? What apartheid-era South Africa tells us about who may be profiting

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Luiz, Professor of International Management and Strategy, University of Sussex

    There are no longer any golden arches logos in Russia, but is the firm hoping for a return? forden/Shutterstock

    Even as the war in Ukraine grinds on, some multinational companies are quietly positioning themselves for a thaw in relations with Russia.

    Many of those who rushed to divest from the country, selling off assets after the full-scale invasion in 2022, may now be reassessing their options. It’s also becoming clear that some of these companies never completely left to begin with.

    What is apparent is that divestment was, in many cases, provisional rather than permanent – with firms embedding “buy-back” clauses in their sales contracts, or structuring their exits in ways that would make future re-entry simple.

    This should not come as a surprise. Our research into foreign divestment from apartheid-era South Africa shows this is a well-trodden business path.

    In South Africa, sanctions inadvertently strengthened local white business elites aligned with the ruling regime. Multinationals sold their assets under pressure – often at discounts, often to the local companies of politically connected elites – and later bought them back at a premium.

    Today, the same dynamic could be playing out in Russia.

    When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, more than 1,600 multinational enterprises announced they were pulling out of the country. However, reports last year suggested that 2,175 foreign companies, including some who had announced they were pulling out, remained in Russia – and were becoming increasingly open about their operations.

    One CEO stated that investors did not “morally care” about doing business in Russia, and that if they pulled out, rivals would simply take their place.

    Even for those companies that did leave, many of these exits were more symbolic than substantial. Research has shown that even companies that claimed to have fully divested left behind options to return.

    Carmaker Nissan, for example, appears to have sold its Russian subsidiary to state-owned NAMI in 2022 with a six-year buy-back clause. In a statement at the time, the company said the terms allowed it “the option to buy back the entity and its operations within the next six years”.

    And fast-food giant McDonald’s can reportedly reacquire its Russian business within 15 years. A statement from McDonald’s in 2022 said that, for the first time in its history, it was “de-Arching” a major market – but suggested it hoped to return eventually.

    Such arrangements, often quietly written into exit contracts, allow multinationals to comply with sanctions in the short term – while keeping the door open for a future comeback.

    In many cases, the operations have continued seamlessly under new ownership. While the brand names may have changed in Russia, the staff and product designs remain almost identical. And sometimes, the foreign supply chains and intellectual property are still in play too.

    Who profits?

    The South African precedent is instructive. During the 1980s, foreign companies divested under pressure from shareholders, activists and governments over apartheid. But very few truly left. Most sold their operations to local elites – powerful business groups aligned with the ruling regime. They then continued to supply products, license trademarks and support operations through quiet back channels.

    The intention of sanctions is to weaken the sanctioned state. However, our study shows that the economic value created by foreign multinationals in South Africa did not disappear.

    The aim of sanctions against Russia is to weaken the economic position of the Kremlin.
    E.O./Shutterstock

    In Russia, foreign companies have sold assets at big discounts to Russian oligarchs and state-linked entities since 2022. In some cases, the buyers were longstanding local partners or franchisees. In others, they were entities unknown to consumers but which were thought to have close ties to the Kremlin.

    The consequences are predictable. Rather than weakening the regime’s economic base, sanctions may have consolidated it. As in South Africa, the departure of foreign firms appears to have strengthened domestic elites and allowed them to accumulate new assets and market power.

    Some companies that left Russia are reported to be reconsidering their decisions. Negotiations are taking place behind the scenes about how to ree-stablish operations should conditions shift. Their re-entry may be smoothed by structures – buy-back clauses, licensing deals or local partnerships – that firms put in place on their way out.

    This strategy mirrors what we found in South Africa. In the 1990s, once apartheid ended, foreign multinationals returned in large numbers. But they didn’t start from scratch. They repurchased their former assets, often at a much higher price, from the local elites.

    In short, in the case of South Africa at least, the period of supposed withdrawal was often one of careful preparation for re-entry. Meanwhile, our study also found that South African conglomerates used their windfalls to fund international expansion and entrench their power in the new economy.

    Unintended results

    Sanctions remain a key tool of international diplomacy. But our research shows their effectiveness depends heavily on how firms implement them – and who ends up with the assets that are divested. If those assets are consistently transferred to politically connected insiders, the long-term outcome may be to reinforce the very regimes the sanctions were intended to pressure.

    Sanctions policy should not just consider whether firms have divested, but how and to whom. Without that, even the most well-intentioned measures may end up producing unintended results.

    This means that governments should go beyond imposing sanctions and develop mechanisms to ensure transparency, monitoring and accountability in how corporate exits are structured.

    South African sanctions are generally seen as having played a useful role in ending apartheid. But as unemployment and inequality continue to plague the country along old institutional lines, the South African experience offers a clear historical warning. If sanctions are meant to promote accountability and change, it’s vital to pay close attention to what happens after the headlines fade.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Have sanctions against Russia backfired? What apartheid-era South Africa tells us about who may be profiting – https://theconversation.com/have-sanctions-against-russia-backfired-what-apartheid-era-south-africa-tells-us-about-who-may-be-profiting-257422

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is AI slop? Why you are seeing more fake photos and videos in your social media feeds

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jon Roozenbeek, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Cambridge

    Pikselstock/Shutterstock

    In May 2025, a post asking “[Am I the asshole] for telling my husband’s affair partner’s fiancé about their relationship?” quickly received 6,200 upvotes and more than 900 comments on Reddit. This popularity earned the post a spot on Reddit’s front page of trending posts. The problem? It was (very likely) written by artificial intelligence (AI).

    The post contained some telltale signs of AI, such as using stock phrases (“[my husband’s] family is furious”) and excessive quotation marks, and sketching an unrealistic scenario designed to generate outrage rather than reflect a genuine dilemma.

    While this post has since been removed by the forum’s moderators, Reddit users have repeatedly expressed their frustration with the proliferation of this kind of content.

    High-engagement, AI-generated posts on Reddit are an example of what is known as “AI slop” – cheap, low-quality AI-generated content, created and shared by anyone from low-level influencers to coordinated political influence operations.

    Estimates suggest that over half of longer English-language posts on LinkedIn are written by AI. In response to that report, Adam Walkiewicz, a director of product at LinkedIn, told Wired it has “robust defenses in place to proactively identify low-quality and exact or near-exact duplicate content. When we detect such content, we take action to ensure it is not broadly promoted.”

    But AI-generated low-quality news sites are popping up all over the place, and AI images are also flooding social media platforms such as Facebook. You may have come across images like “shrimp Jesus” in your own feeds.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    AI-generated content is cheap. A report by the Nato StratCom Center of Excellence from 2023 found that for a mere €10 (about £8), you can buy tens of thousands of fake views and likes, and hundreds of AI-generated comments, on almost all major social media platforms.

    While much of it is seemingly innocent entertainment, one study from 2024 found that about a quarter of all internet traffic is made up of “bad bots”. These bots, which seek to spread disinformation, scalp event tickets or steal personal data, are also becoming much better at masking as humans.

    In short, the world is dealing with the “enshittification” of the web: online services have become gradually worse over time as tech companies prioritise profits over user experience. AI-generated content is just one aspect of this.

    From Reddit posts that enrage readers to tearjerking cat videos, this content is extremely attention-grabbing and thus lucrative for both slop-creators and platforms.

    This is known as engagement bait – a tactic to get people to like, comment and share, regardless of the quality of the post. And you don’t need to seek out the content to be exposed to it.

    AI-generated images like this one are designed to get as much engagement (likes, comments and shares) as possible.
    Microsoft Copilot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    One study explored how engagement bait, such as images of cute babies wrapped in cabbage, is recommended to social media users even when they do not follow any AI-slop pages or accounts. These pages, which often link to low-quality sources and promote real or made-up products, may be designed to boost their follower base in order to sell the account later for profit.

    Meta (Facebook’s parent company) said in April that it is cracking down on “spammy” content that tries to “game the Facebook algorithm to increase views”, but did not specify AI-generated content. Meta has used its own AI-generated profiles on Facebook, but has since removed some of these accounts.

    What the risks are

    This may all have serious consequences for democracy and political communication. AI can cheaply and efficiently create misinformation about elections that is indiscernible from human-generated content. Ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, researchers identified a large influence campaign designed to advocate for Republican issues and attack political adversaries.

    And before you think it’s only Republicans doing it, think again: these bots are as biased as humans of all perspectives. A report by Rutgers University found that Americans on all sides of the political spectrum rely on bots to promote their preferred candidates.

    Researchers aren’t innocent either: scientists at the University of Zurich were recently caught using AI-powered bots to post on Reddit as part of a research project on whether inauthentic comments can change people’s minds. But they failed to disclose that these comments were fake to Reddit moderators.

    Reddit is now considering taking legal action against the university. The company’s chief legal officer said: “What this University of Zurich team did is deeply wrong on both a moral and legal level.”

    Political operatives, including from authoritarian countries such as Russia, China and Iran, invest considerable sums in AI-driven operations to influence elections around the democratic world.

    How effective these operations are is up for debate. One study found that Russia’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 US elections through social media were a dud, while another found it predicted polling figures for Trump. Regardless, these campaigns are becoming much more sophisticated and well-organised.

    And even seemingly apolitical AI-generated content can have consequences. The sheer volume of it makes accessing real news and human-generated content difficult.

    What’s to be done?

    Malign AI content is proving to be extremely hard to spot by humans and computers alike. Computer scientists recently identified a bot network of about 1,100 fake X accounts posting machine-generated content (mostly about cryptocurrency) and interacting with each other through likes and retweets. Problematically, the Botometer (a tool they developed to detect bots) failed to identify these accounts as fake.

    The use of AI is relatively easy to spot if you know what to look for, particularly when content is formulaic or unapologetically fake. But it’s much harder when it comes to short-form content (for example, Instagram comments) or high-quality fake images. And the technology used to create AI slop is quickly improving.

    One of these days, these bots are gonna walk all over you.
    Summit Art Creations/Shutterstock

    As close observers of AI trends and the spread of misinformation, we would love to end on a positive note and offer practical remedies to spot AI slop or reduce its potency. But in reality, many people are simply jumping ship.

    Dissatisfied with the amount of AI slop, social media users are escaping traditional platforms and joining invite-only online communities. This may lead to further fracturing of our public sphere and exacerbate polarisation, as the communities we seek out are often comprised of like-minded individuals.

    As this sorting intensifies, social media risks devolving into mindless entertainment, produced and consumed mostly by bots who interact with other bots while us humans spectate. Of course, platforms don’t want to lose users, but they might push as much AI slop as the public can tolerate.

    Some potential technical solutions include labelling AI-generated content through improved bot detection and disclosure regulation, although it’s unclear how well warnings like these work in practice.

    Some research also shows promise in helping people to better identify deepfakes, but research is in its early stages.

    Overall, we are just starting to realise the scale of the problem. Soberingly, if humans drown in AI slop, so does AI: AI models trained on the “enshittified” internet are likely to produce garbage.

    Jon Roozenbeek has received funding from the UK Cabinet Office, the US State Department, the ESRC, Google, the American Psychological Association, the US Centers for Disease Control, EU Horizon 2020, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Alfred Landecker Foundation.

    Sander van der Linden has received funding from the UK Cabinet Office, Google, the American Psychological Association, the US Centers for Disease Control, EU Horizon 2020, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Alfred Landecker Foundation.

    Yara Kyrychenko receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is supported by the Alan Turing Institute’s Enrichment Scheme.

    – ref. What is AI slop? Why you are seeing more fake photos and videos in your social media feeds – https://theconversation.com/what-is-ai-slop-why-you-are-seeing-more-fake-photos-and-videos-in-your-social-media-feeds-255538

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian dairy holding EkoNiva opened its first brand store in 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, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Russia’s largest dairy holding EkoNiva has opened its first branded store in China, the company’s press service announced.

    The outlet opened on Wednesday in the city of Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, where the company’s official representative office, the EkoNiva /Xi’an/ Dairy Co. trading house, is located.

    The EkoNiva store is the first imported milk store in Xi’an. Visitors can purchase EkoNiva’s ultra-pasteurized milk and coffee drinks made from the company’s dairy products at the store. In addition, live broadcasts and video materials are planned to promote dairy products on social media and online platforms.

    EkoNiva supplies to China ultra-pasteurized milk of various fat content of the classic line and the Professional Line, as well as ultra-pasteurized cream with a fat content of 10%. In the future, it is planned to expand the range of supplies, primarily due to semi-hard and premium hard cheeses, the company said.

    “Our main goal is to promote the growth of popularity of milk and dairy products in general, to increase the level of trust in Russian products and, of course, to develop our EkoNiva brand in China,” noted Stefan Duerr, President of the EkoNiva holding.

    Currently, EkoNiva’s dairy products are sold through retail chains in Northeast China, the provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and other regions. They are also sold through online e-commerce platforms in most regions of China, the company reported. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The discovery of archaeologists from China and Uzbekistan is included in the list of important achievements in the field of archaeometry and protection of cultural heritage

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — A discovery made by a joint Chinese-Uzbek archaeological team during excavations at the Munchaktepa site in Uzbekistan has been listed as an important achievement in archaeometry and cultural heritage protection, the Chinese Academy of History said on its Weibo microblogging site.

    The discovery at the Munchaktepa archaeological site and six other achievements were announced at a press conference organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CAS) in Beijing on Tuesday.

    The Munchaktepa settlement and burial ground, which were discovered in 1986, are located in the Namangan region of Uzbekistan, on the banks of the Syr Darya River. Since September last year, joint excavations have been conducted by researchers from the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences of China and the State Archaeological Center of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.

    Experts discovered bronze wushu coins /editor’s note: more precisely, wu-zhu, meaning “five zhu”, zhu is a unit of mass in ancient China/, a mirror with arched ornaments, and a fragment of twill brocade.

    Let us recall that the coins “wushu” were in circulation in the Celestial Empire from the 2nd century BC to the 7th century. Brocade is a complex patterned artistic and decorative fabric, usually with a silk base with metal threads with gold, silver or materials imitating them in the weft of the fabric. Its production was known at the beginning of our era in China, from where this art passed to the countries of Asia Minor and later to Europe.

    According to experts, a fragment of twill brocade found in Uzbekistan indicates that China may have mastered the method of producing such twill fabric a hundred years earlier than previously thought.

    The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that the results of the research at the Munchaktepa site provide new sources on cultural and material exchanges along the Silk Road from the 3rd to the 6th centuries. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chengdu and Yekaterinburg signed an Action Plan to develop sister city relations

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — A ceremony to sign the Action Plan for Further Development of Sister City Relations between Chengdu and Yekaterinburg for 2025-2027 was held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the Chengdu Daily reported on Tuesday.

    According to the document, the parties set the task of deepening bilateral friendly relations and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two cities. The priority areas of cooperation included economics, trade, culture, tourism, education, youth exchanges, training of specialists, urban development, ecology and environmental protection.

    Since the establishment of sister city relations between Chengdu and Yekaterinburg in 2024, mutual visits between the cities’ representatives have become more frequent, and there has been a constant deepening of their trade and economic cooperation.

    Before the ceremony, Chengdu Mayor Wang Fengchao met with a Russian delegation led by Yekaterinburg Mayor Alexei Orlov. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Funding for the scientific and technological development program from the Russian federal budget in 2025 has been increased by 14 percent.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Under the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation,” 14 percent more funds have been allocated from the Russian federal budget for science in 2025 than a year earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said at a general meeting of members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

    The increase amounts to 83.3 billion rubles. Of these, 50.1 billion rubles are allocated for additional funding of fundamental scientific research.

    According to D. Chernyshenko, the Russian government will continue to support the initiatives of the Russian Academy of Sciences, including in terms of developing fundamental research in Russia. According to him, it is important to ensure the continuity of fundamental science and applied solutions necessary for the creation of the most important science-intensive technologies. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cases of infection with a new variant of coronavirus have been identified in Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Four cases of infection with the new NB.1.8.1 coronavirus variant have been identified in Russia, Anna Popova, head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, told reporters.

    According to her, the disease proceeds in the same way as when infected with other known subvariants of the Omicron strain. There are no plans to introduce additional measures in the country in connection with the spread of the new genovariant.

    According to Vladimir Chulanov, a freelance specialist in infectious diseases at the Russian Ministry of Health, the risk to public health associated with NB.1.8.1 is assessed as low at the global level.

    According to the World Health Organization, cases of infection with the NB.1.8.1 genovariant have been reported in 22 countries. Current data do not indicate that it leads to a more severe course of the disease. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Number of listed companies in China reaches 5,420

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — There were 5,420 companies listed on China’s stock market as of the end of April 2025, according to data released by the China Association of Listed Companies.

    At the end of April, 2,284 companies were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, 2,871 on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and 265 on the Beijing Stock Exchange.

    The number of companies with state and non-state control is 27 percent and 73 percent, respectively.

    Three provinces – Guangdong (in southern China), Zhejiang and Jiangsu (both in eastern China) – account for 42.58 percent of the total number of companies listed on China’s stock market.

    There are 119 companies with a market capitalization of over 100 billion yuan (US$13.89 billion), and 1,398 companies with a market capitalization between 10 billion and 100 billion yuan.

    In April, 10 new companies launched IPOs on the domestic market, raising a total of RMB 8.27 billion; 4 companies were delisted. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China, UAE to Expand Cooperation on Cross-Border Payments

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — China’s cross-border interbank payment system CIPS and the United Arab Emirates’ central bank have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in cross-border payments, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), which acts as the regulator and administrator of CIPS, said Wednesday.

    According to a statement by the PBC published on its official website, the signing of the agreement is expected to improve the payment infrastructure and increase the efficiency of cross-border settlements.

    Under the agreement, CIPS and the UAE Central Bank will jointly develop a cross-border payment systems interconnectivity programme to provide foreign exchange clearing services to financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.

    As noted in the statement, the parties will deepen the exchange of experience in risk management and regulatory compliance, as well as enhance the security and stability of cross-border payment systems. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the XVI All-Russian Interuniversity Personnel Forum named after A.Ya. Kibanov have been summed up

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The XVI All-Russian Interuniversity Personnel Forum named after A.Ya. Kibanov “Innovative Personnel Management” was held at the State University of Management.

    More than 230 students, young scientists, authoritative teachers and experts in the field of personnel management took part in the forum’s in-person events. In total, over 450 people from different regions of Russia became participants in the event this year.

    The concept of the A.Ya. Kibanov Personnel Forum this year was based on the idea that HR specialists, like legendary Russian heroes, stand guard over the interests of the company and, armed with knowledge and skills, are ready to bring glory and prosperity to their organization, and create and strengthen its HR brand.

    Read about the opening and first day of the forum in this article.

    Participants discussed how to build effective and trusting communications within a company, which become the foundation for a cohesive and motivated team. Particular attention was paid to creating a unique and attractive employer brand for candidates, which would reflect the values of the organization and arouse genuine interest in talented specialists.

    Modern approaches to attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel were discussed, as well as strategies for increasing human capital through training, development and involvement. Experts shared practices for developing a corporate culture that helps to unlock the potential of each employee and create an atmosphere of mutual respect and support.

    The HR Forum became a platform for exchanging experiences and inspiration, where future HR specialists received new tools and ideas for creating a strong HR brand and building communications that can lead the company to sustainable growth and prosperity.

    Over the course of three days, the participants of the Student Olympiad immersed themselves in the world of HR: conducted analytical research, developed strategies, exchanged experiences, generated innovative ideas, fought in battle mode and presented their solutions to the expert jury. The victory went to the most goal-oriented and creative. In addition to the main assessment of the works by the expert jury, the Student Olympiad also included a Competition for the Audience Award, which was held in person: experts, speakers, teachers and jury members voted for the most liked homework from the teams participating in the Olympiad – the poster “HR-Bingo-Brand”.

    Also this year, the forum included an advanced training course on “Effective Methods of Training HR Specialists”, where 35 students studied and discussed current issues on the development of the use of effective methods in the process of training students in the field of “HR Management”.

    The XVI All-Russian Interuniversity Personnel Forum named after A.Y. Kibanov “Innovative Personnel Management” was held with the support of the Council for Professional Qualifications in Personnel Management, as well as with active interaction with such partners as: ANCOR, SuperJob, Roskachestvo, Aktion Students, Trivio, Perviy Bit, Independent Veterinary Laboratory “Chance Bio”, Educational Center Higher Veterinary School, City Clinical Hospital No. 67 named after L.A. Vorokhobov, Chernogolovka Group of Companies, SPILS.ART Creative Cluster, Aromapsychologist. Partner companies highlighted their nominations and provided participants and winners with valuable gifts and prizes.

    On the final day of the forum, the results were summed up, the winners were officially announced, and awards and gifts were presented.

    Results of the XVI All-Russian Interuniversity Personnel Forum named after A.Ya.Kibanov “Innovative Personnel Management”

    Correspondence competitions “Innovative personnel management – 2025”

    Competition “Best article on personnel management”

    1st place – Chulanova O.L., Savchenko A.Yu. (Surgut State University)

    Article “Tools for Overcoming the Shortage of Highly Qualified Personnel Based on the Bionic Approach and Sharing of Competencies”

    2nd place – Abdulova T.G., Gagarinskaya G.P., Khorovinnikova E.G. (Volga Region State Transport University)

    Article “Transformation of labor and human capital management in the context of digitalization: challenges, principles and trends”

    3rd place – Shumanskaya A.B., Obumova A.I. (Saint Petersburg State Technological Institute (Technical University))

    Article “Dependence of professional burnout on the social orientation of the profession and the level of empathy of the individual”

    Competition “Best article of a young scientist on human resource management”

    1st place – Zlobina N.K., Shanina E.V. (Penza State University)

    Article “Integration of Well-being approach into the organization’s personnel management”

    Scientific supervisor: Ekaterina Vladimirovna Shanina

    2nd place – Oglezneva E.E. (Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation)

    Article “Reverse Mentoring: Concept, Problems and Development Prospects”

    Scientific supervisor: Aleksashina Tatyana Viktorovna

    3rd place – Shkerina E.E., Goncharenko K.A. (Saint Petersburg State Technological Institute (Technical University))

    Article “Emotional intelligence of a manager as a factor in increasing the involvement of subordinates”

    Supervisor: Anna Anatolyevna Dorogovtseva

    Competition “Best educational and methodological development on personnel management”

    1st place – Lysenko E.V. INTERNATIONAL HR MANAGEMENT. Study guide for students studying in the direction 38.03.03 – Personnel Management (manuscript)

    2nd place – Learn to learn: features of working with information in the educational and scientific activities of university students: a teaching aid / E.A. Berezovskaya, O.V. Klimova, N.L. Krasnogor [et al.]; under the general editorship of I.Yu. Plotnikova; Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Ural Federal University. – Yekaterinburg: Publishing house of the Ural. University, 2024. – 260 p.

    3rd place – Fundamentals of project activities: textbook / Yu.A. Alekseeva, M.V. Gashkov, M.I. Imamverdieva; edited by O.L. Chulanova. – Moscow: INFRA-M, 2025 – 307 p.

    Competition “Best scientific work on personnel management”

    1st place – Milyaeva L.G. Modern technologies of personnel management: selected 2: monograph /L.G. Milyaeva. – Moscow: RUSAINS, 2024. – 212 p.

    Competition of innovative projects on personnel management and labor economics for students and postgraduates

    Winner in the nomination “Homo qui videt”

    Evseeva A.A., Le Thi My Linh, Petrishchev A.K. (Ulyanovsk State Technical University)

    Scientific supervisor: Natalia Mikhailovna Tsytsarova

    Project “Ageism in the Labor Market: A Modern View”

    Winner in the nomination “Homo aliena”

    Vdovichenko V.A., Fedchuk A.V., Potapova D.S. (Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation)

    Scientific supervisor: Natalia Valerievna Sakharova

    Project: “Animal ID. Paw HR”

    Winner in the nomination “Homo excitari”

    Gataullina A.I. (Surgut State University)

    Scientific supervisor: Chulanova Oksana Leonidovna

    Project: “Development of tools for motivating project teams”

    Winner in the nomination “Homo neiro”

    Dudnik E.V., Monul D.A., Fomenko M.V. (State University of Management)

    Scientific supervisor: Mitrofanova Alexandra Evgenievna

    Project: “Atlas of HR Professions”

    3rd place

    Smirnov D.R. (Surgut State University)

    Scientific supervisor: Chulanova Oksana Leonidovna

    Project: “Using a dashboard in working with the staff of the Admissions Office of Surgut State University”

    2nd place

    Kabanova Yu.I., Druzhinina S.A., Kutumova D.R. (National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky)

    Supervisor: Mariko Valeria Valerievna

    Project: “Chatbot for translation and explanation of Anglicisms “Info Motya””

    1st place

    Nikitina K.D., Druzhinina P.Yu., Nguyen Ngoc Ha Phyung, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Fastovskaya M.S., Makarkin M.M. (State University of Management)

    Scientific supervisor: Ph.D., Associate Professor Lobacheva Anastasia Sergeevna

    Project: “HR in the Heart”

    Grand Prix

    Krapiventseva A.A. (State University of Management)

    Scientific supervisor: Ph.D., Associate Professor Ekaterina Viktorovna Kashtanova

    Project: “Development of a board business game for student adaptation”

    Student Olympiad “Human Resources Management: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”

    Best homework

    Team: “Mafia HR”.

    Team members: Arustamyan Nane Armenovna, Bakhteeva Alina Fyaimovna, Drobysheva Victoria Vitalievna, Tkacheva Irina Olegovna, Churikova Kristina Maksimovna (State University of Management)

    Scientific supervisor: Illarionova Ekaterina Sergeevna

    The best case

    Command: “NEXT PROFI”. Team composition: Aminov Danila Fanilievich, Vedeneeva Polina Dmitrievna, Kabanova Yulia Ivanovna, Zubova Ekaterina (National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky)

    Scientific supervisor: Ulmaeva Liliya Nailevna

    The best quest

    Team: “Adepts of Human Resources”. Team members: Snezhana Evgenievna Batayeva, Georgy Mikhailovich Solomatin, Vladislav Denisovich Abrashnev (Moscow Automobile and Road State Technical University (MADI)

    Scientific supervisor: Olga Anatolyevna Peshkova

    3rd place

    Team: “Vedunya Kadrov” (Personnel Witches). Team members: Sokolovskaya Sofia Sergeevna, Sushkevich Yulia Dmitrievna, Chernikova Polina Vadimovna (Volga Region Institute of Management named after P. A. Stolypin – branch of RANEPA)

    Scientific supervisor: Moiseenko Natalia Vladimirovna

    2nd place

    Command: “Vector”. Team composition: Druzhinina Svetlana Andreevna, Negodnova Anastasia Sergeevna, Khakov Rinat Denisovich, Chabanyuk Elina Aleksandrovna, Kutumova Daria Romanovna (National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky)

    Supervisor: Mariko Valeria Valerievna

    1st place

    Team: “Polyanitsi”. Team members: Kvach Ekaterina Sergeevna, Kozhevnikova Darina Alekseevna, Sergeeva Polina Aleksandrovna (St. Petersburg State University)

    Scientific supervisor: Kulchitskaya Elena Valerievna

    Grand Prix

    Team: “Snake Icharych.” Team composition: AGlushkova Anastasia Sergeevna, Ishkova Olga Andreevna, Shchetinin Mark Alekseevich (State University of Management)

    Scientific supervisor: Ekaterina Viktorovna Kashtanova

    Detailed information about the Forum, its annual program, format and results is presented on the official website, and you can see more photos in the VKontakte community.

    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 United Kingdom: UK reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s self-defence, while President Putin rejects ceasefire as war deepens Russia’s economic and global isolation: UK Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UK reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s self-defence, while President Putin rejects ceasefire as war deepens Russia’s economic and global isolation: UK Statement to the OSCE

    UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says that Russia’s invasion shatters European security and undermines peace. Despite President Putin’s claims, continued attacks show absolutely no intent to negotiate. The UK urges an immediate, lasting ceasefire to enable real dialogue and end the humanitarian crisis.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. The United Kingdom remains resolute in its commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion. Our immediate priority is to secure a ceasefire as swiftly as possible – one that endures long enough to create the conditions necessary for meaningful negotiations toward a robust and lasting peace.

    President Putin claims that he is interested in peace, all the while Russian attacks increasingly escalate the humanitarian crisis. These are not the actions of a government seeking peaceful resolution, but of one determined to prolong suffering and instability. Over the weekend, Russia launched a massive aerial assault involving 69 missiles and 298 drones, targeting over 30 cities and towns across Ukraine. At least 12 civilians, including children, were killed, and dozens more were injured. Kyiv was among the hardest hit, suffering casualties and significant damage during its Kyiv Day celebrations. A symbolic, cynical and deliberate act of aggression.

    At last week’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), Russia accused NATO of ‘pumping up military budgets and militarising at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.’ As it continues to escalate the conflict, the economic toll on Russia’s own population is becoming increasingly severe: Interest rates in Russia have surged to 21%, reflecting deep financial instability; 40% of Russia’s federal government spending in 2025 has been committed to defence; for the first time in post-Soviet history, defence spending has exceeded social spending; Russia has depleted two-thirds of the liquid assets in its National Wealth Fund; and due to international sanctions, Russia has lost an estimated $450 billion USD in energy revenues. These figures reveal a government that clearly prioritises war over the welfare of its own citizens. The Kremlin’s choices are impoverishing Russia. We stand ready to ratchet up the pressure on President Putin with new sanctions if our calls for a ceasefire are not answered now.

    The UK stands by its economic and military support to Ukraine – a sovereign nation defending itself against an unprovoked attack. We would remind Russia, that alongside the billions already committed in aid and military assistance, the UK is also investing in Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction through non-military support. It is estimated that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction will require $524 billion USD over the next decade. It represents the cost of rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure destroyed by Russian aggression. It is a moral and strategic investment in the future of a free and democratic Ukraine.

    The United Kingdom condemns Russia’s illegal invasion in the strongest possible terms. We will continue to stand with Ukraine – militarily, economically, and diplomatically -until peace is achieved, and Ukraine’s sovereignty is safeguarded. Russia’s invasion is a flagrant violation of international law, of the United Nations Charter and the principles enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, to which Russia is a signatory. These principles include the sovereign equality of states, the inviolability of frontiers, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force. Russia’s actions have shattered the foundations of European security. Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Russia’s continued contravention of OSCE principles: UK Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Russia’s continued contravention of OSCE principles: UK Statement to the OSCE

    UK Counsellor, Ankur Narayan, says that in line with the OSCE Code of Conduct, the UK will continue to support Ukraine towards achieving a just and lasting peace, while continuing to urge Russia to return to full compliance – including withdrawing to within its own internationally recognised borders.

    Thank you, Madam Chair, for hosting this FSC Security Dialogue on the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security. Thank you also to the distinguished speakers for their interventions.

    My statement today will focus on the purpose of the Code, which democratic control is designed to ensure implementation of. Namely, the commitment of States to abide by the Helsinki Final Act and to respond when these principles are breached in the OSCE region.

    As per paragraph 1 of the Code, the “implementation in good faith of all commitments” are of “fundamental importance for stability and security”, and “consequently constitute a matter of direct and legitimate concern to all of them”. As we know, the Code spells these commitments out. Commitments such as “respect for each other’s sovereign equality and individuality”. Such as “the right freely to choose its own security arrangements … to belong or not to belong to … treaties of alliance”.

    The Code explicitly states: “No participating State will attempt to impose military domination over any other participating State”. This includes not stationing armed forces in the territories of other States without a freely negotiated agreement … in accordance with international law.

    Madam Chair, as detailed at the weekly FSC, Russia remains in breach of multiple commitments in the OSCE’s Zone of Application. Namely in Moldova, in Georgia and in Ukraine.

    The Code is clear about what States must do in response: “In the event of armed conflict, they will seek to facilitate the effective cessation of hostilities and seek to create conditions favourable to the political solution of the conflict.” It adds that States are determined to “act in solidarity if CSCE norms and commitments are violated” and to “facilitate concerted responses”. It provides that States will: “consult promptly … with a participating State seeking assistance in realizing its individual or collective self-defence”. It also provides that States will “consider jointly the nature of the threat and actions that may be required in defence of their common values.”

    In line with Code, we support Ukraine to defend itself, in line with the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act principles. In line with the Code, we commend Ukraine’s steadfast commitment to reaching a just and lasting peace. And in line with the Code, we keep on calling on Russia to withdraw fully and unconditionally, from the whole territory of Ukraine, to inside its internationally recognised borders. And to return to the path of peace, starting with an immediate, unconditional ceasefire.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China will not allow any force to turn Taiwan into “hell” – official representative

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said Wednesday that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and the country will not allow any force to turn the island into a “hell.”

    He made the statement in response to a media request to comment on a recent statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he proposed strengthening Taiwan’s “self-defense capabilities” to intimidate mainland China, as well as a statement by the US military about a plan to create a “hellish picture” on the island.

    The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair and does not allow outside interference, Chen Binhua stressed, noting that some people in the United States are inflating tensions in the Taiwan Strait as a pretext for interfering in Taiwan affairs to help the U.S. military-industrial complex make profits. Their actions will sow chaos in Taiwan and the island’s people will be used as “cannon fodder,” Chen Binhua warned.

    He called on the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces advocating “Taiwan independence”, so as to avoid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

    He also criticized the Democratic Progressive Party administration in Taiwan for putting the people of Taiwan in a dangerous situation by closely following the US agenda for its own selfish political interests. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Wang Huning Calls on CPPCC to Play Role of Special Advisory Body in Upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), called on the CPPCC to fulfill its responsibilities in formulating and implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

    Wang Huning made the remarks while presiding over the 36th meeting of the chairman and vice-chairmen of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

    Wang Huning called on the CPPCC to play its role as a special advisory body and deeply understand the importance of formulating and implementing the next five-year plan.

    Five-year plans serve as key strategic documents guiding China’s medium- and long-term development. They set out national goals, major tasks, and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.

    Wang Huning also called on CPPCC members to provide advice and suggestions on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing China’s modernization, and promote the implementation of the major decisions and plans of the Party and the country.

    Political advisers should continuously deepen their study and implement the Eight-Point Rules, Wang Huning said, adding that the CPPCC National Committee should make conscientious preparations to organize various events related to foreign affairs so as to better serve the overall foreign policy work of the Party and the country.

    At this meeting, draft amendments to the CPPCC National Committee’s rules on consultative work and the general provisions of the special committees of the CPPCC National Committee were also considered and adopted. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Orders from US buyers rise significantly after China-US trade talks: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — Since China and the United States held economic and trade talks in Geneva earlier this month, trade tensions between the two countries have eased, orders from U.S. buyers have increased significantly and shipping services are operating at full capacity, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday.

    “This fully reflects the major mutual needs of each side,” Mao Ning said at a regular departmental press conference.

    Mao Ning’s statement followed comments made by Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit in Beijing last week, in which Hart noted that China is both an important market for American goods and an important supplier of goods to the United States.

    The essence of China-US trade and economic relations is mutual benefit and win-win, Mao Ning said, adding that trade and economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies has brought tangible benefits to enterprises and consumers in both countries.

    Protectionism leads nowhere, Mao Ning continued, saying that China welcomes foreign enterprises, including American ones, to develop their businesses in China, deepen mutual cooperation, and jointly create favorable opportunities for a bright future. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s State Council to Oversee Investigation into East China Chemical Plant Explosion

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — The Industrial Safety Commission of the State Council will oversee the investigation into an explosion that occurred at a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

    The incident, which left five people dead and six missing, occurred in Gaomi City on Tuesday.

    The committee called for a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the explosion and bring those responsible to justice in accordance with laws and regulations.

    The Industrial Safety Committee, together with the Office of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commission, called on relevant departments and companies to learn from recent incidents, strengthen safety risk prevention during the upcoming Duanwu national holiday, and take decisive measures to prevent major incidents. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China reaffirms commitment to cross-strait exchanges and cooperation

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland will continue to actively promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in the interests of compatriots on both sides, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a briefing on Wednesday.

    Chen Binhua noted that the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, which advocates peace, development, exchanges and cooperation, cannot be ignored. “The desire of people on both sides of the Strait to increase exchanges and the enthusiasm of Taiwan compatriots to participate in the Taiwan Strait Forum and other similar events cannot be suppressed,” he said.

    According to him, preparatory work for the 17th Taiwan Strait Forum is currently in full swing, the specific agenda of which will be announced in the coming days, Chen Binhua said, stressing that the forum has already been held 16 times since 2009 and has become an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the strait.

    Chen Binhua criticized Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration for imposing restrictions on Taiwanese people’s participation in the forum, calling it another attempt to obstruct cross-strait exchanges.

    “This once again demonstrates their malicious intent to suppress cross-shore exchanges and proves that Lai Qingde’s statements about his readiness to engage with the Chinese mainland are nothing but lies and empty talk,” he said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to issue new local government bonds worth about 1.5 trillion yuan in January-April 2025

    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, May 28 (Xinhua) — Local governments across China issued new bonds worth about 1.49 trillion yuan (about 207.63 billion U.S. dollars) in the first four months of this year, data released by the Ministry of Finance showed Wednesday.

    The volume of targeted bonds issued amounted to over 1.19 trillion yuan, while ordinary bonds amounted to 302.3 billion yuan.

    As of the end of April, the remaining debt obligations of local governments across the country amounted to about 50.69 trillion yuan, according to data from the aforementioned department.

    China plans to take more proactive financial policies this year to support sustainable economic and social development. According to the government work report released this year, the country plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan of local government bonds this year, up 500 billion yuan from the previous year. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark Edele, Hansen Professor in History and Deputy Dean, The University of Melbourne

    United States President Donald Trump was “not happy” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week.

    For three consecutive nights, from Friday to Sunday, Russia launched about 900 drones and scores of missiles at Ukraine. At least 18 people were killed, including three children.

    “We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities,” Trump told reporters on Sunday, after Putin ordered the largest air assault on Ukraine’s civilians in its three-year war.

    Following up on his remarks, Trump posted on social media that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!”

    Putin is not crazy. He is a tactician with a long-term goal: to make Russia a great power again and secure his place in the history books as the re-builder of Russia’s imperial might.

    Trump announced after a phone call with Putin on May 19 that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire.

    With his latest air campaign on Ukraine, however, Putin is threatening to destroy the goodwill he’s built up in Washington, where Trump has been consistently soft on Russia and tough on his allies.

    So, what is Putin’s strategy? Why is he launching these massive air bombardments on Ukrainian civilians now?

    Putin sees weakness in the West

    One theory is these attacks are somehow preparations for a major offensive. That makes little sense.

    Attacking military facilities, weapons depots or even frontline troops are useful preparations for an impending attack. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians, meanwhile, is a sign of either desperation or impatience.

    Britain and the US bombed German cities during the second world war because they had no alternatives until they built up enough capacity to transport land forces across the sea to invade the continent.

    The US also sent bombers to Japan in the final stages of the war because the American public became tired of seeing their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers die on Pacific islands they had never heard of. The war had dragged on forever by this point, and there seemed no end in sight.

    Is Putin desperate or impatient? Likely the latter.

    From the perspective of the Kremlin, Russia’s strategic situation is as good as it has been for years.

    The US is trying to destroy itself through trade wars and boorish diplomacy. Trump clearly dislikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hopes the war will somehow end if he just demands it.

    Europe is continuing to back Ukraine. However, for the time being, it still needs US support because its entire security structure is built around NATO and US strength, both economic and military.

    What Putin sees when he surveys the international scene is weakness. In his thinking, such weakness needs to be exploited – now is the time to hurt Ukraine as much as possible, and hope it will crack. Analysts call this a “cognitive warfare effort”.

    Indiscriminate air war on civilians is the only means Putin currently has to pressure Ukraine. His army has been advancing, but painfully slowly. There is no breakthrough in sight, even once the spring muds dry and the summer fighting season starts in earnest.

    Russia has gradually advanced in Ukraine throughout 2024, but with no perceivable change in the overall situation. Putin does not command precision weapons or super spies, which he could use to take out Ukraine’s leadership.

    All he can do is rain death on women, children and the elderly from relatively cheap, unsophisticated weapons, such as drones. He now has these in large supply, thanks to ramping up military production at home.

    Bombing campaigns do not end wars

    A strategic air war on civilians seldom works, however.

    Japan’s surrender in 1945 is an exception, but it is misleading in many ways. The Americans had flattened Japan’s cities for a while already, just not using their new atomic weapons. Japan had already lost the war and the real question was if there would be a bloody US invasion or surrender.

    And as the US dropped its two nuclear bombs in August of that year, the Red Army joined the fight, racing across Manchuria to help occupy Japanese territories.

    In Germany, the British-American bombings from 1942 onwards certainly had an effect on war production, as they killed workers and destroyed factories. But they did not incapacitate the German army and certainly did not break morale.

    Instead, the bombings led to embitterment and a closing of ranks around the regime. German society fought to the last moment. It did so not just despite, but because of the air war. The German army was eventually defeated by the ground troops of the Red Army, who took Berlin in an incredibly bloody fight.

    Other historical failures are even more spectacular. The US air force dropped 864,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam during an air campaign of more than 300,000 sorties lasting from 1965 to late 1968. The North Vietnamese lost maybe 29,000 people (dead and wounded), more than half of them civilians. The Americans and their South Vietnamese allies still lost the war.

    Putin’s air war will likely follow the historical pattern: it has further embittered the Ukrainians, who know very well that what comes from the east is not liberation.

    Another summer of fighting lies ahead. Ukraine’s friends in the democratic world need to urgently redouble their efforts to support Ukraine. The misguided hopes that Putin would somehow “make a deal” lie under the rubble his drones leave behind in Ukraine’s cities.

    Mark Edele receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience – https://theconversation.com/is-vladimir-putins-indiscriminate-bombing-of-ukrainian-civilians-crazy-its-more-a-sign-of-impatience-257630

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –