Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China section of China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline transports over 100 bln cubic meters
Category: Transport
-
MIL-OSI China: China section of China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline transports over 100 bln cubic meters
Engineers check facilities at a gas transmission pipeline station in Heihe, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, July 9, 2025. As of July 10, the cumulative gas transmission volume of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline’s China section has surpassed 100 billion cubic meters. The pipeline’s China section begins in Heihe, a city in the country’s northeast bordering Russia, and transports natural gas from Siberia all the way south to Shanghai, China’s economic and financial hub. [Photo/Xinhua] This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows a view of a gas transmission pipeline station in Heihe, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua] -
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police appeal for information following vehicle break-ins in Rolleston
Source: New Zealand Police
Rolleston Police investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in the community are appealing for information from the public.
Senior Constable Matt Barraclough says Police are aware of multiple reports of vehicles having been allegedly broken into in the early hours of Monday 8 July and Friday 11 July.
“These have occurred in the Arbor Green, Harrison Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Brenley Drive areas.”
Police are appealing for any information in relation to these incidents including CCTV or dashcam footage in the surrounding areas.
“Specifically, we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a person riding a scooter in the Brenley Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Harrison Drive areas at around 4am on Friday.”
To ensure their vehicle is not targeted, Police would like to remind the public to lock their vehicles, park in off-street parking or in a well-lit area, remove any valuables that may attract thieves, invest in a steering lock or wheel clamp, and install cameras around and in their vehicle.
If you have any information that may assist us in our enquiries, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250711/3587.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
-
MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch Introduce Bill to Ban Radical Gender Ideology in Schools
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to introduce the Say No to Indoctrination Act to codify President Trump’s executive order preventing taxpayer dollars from funding radical gender ideology in K-12 schools.
“Children should not be radicalized, indoctrinated or taught gender ideology in public elementary or secondary schools funded by federal tax dollars,” Crapo said. “This legislation places commonsense guardrails around the use of these dollars in public education, which will ensure schools are providing foundational instruction in subjects like mathematics and reading rather than divisive concepts of gender ideology.”
“Schools should prepare our children for the future, not promote radical gender ideology,” said Risch. “The Say No to Indoctrination Act puts an end to woke education practices in K-12 schools and makes President Trump’s commonsense policy permanent.”
The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). It has received support from Concerned Women for America and American Principles Project.
“For far too long, radical left-wing ideology has preyed on K-12 students in our nation’s school systems. It’s high time we put a stop to these woke lesson plans that take advantage of children and undermine parental rights,” said Budd. “I am proud to join Senator Risch and my colleagues to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding public schools that teach gender ideology.”
“As American students lag behind globally in math, reading and writing, the last thing our taxpayer-funded teachers and schools should be doing is teaching radical leftist nonsense like so-called gender theory,” said Marshall. “I’m proud to support this legislation to codify President Trump’s executive order, and ensure our children’s education is focused on meaningful, future-ready skills, not woke ideology.”
“Parents send their kids to school to learn the skills they need to succeed later in life, not to be indoctrinated with radical gender ideology. There are only two genders—male and female, and not a single penny of federal funds should go to schools that teach anything different,” said Schmitt.
“Our children go to school to be educated, not indoctrinated,” said Tuberville. “I’ve always said that education is the key to unlocking opportunity. But under Joe Biden, Democrats turned our children’s classrooms into woke propaganda HQ. Schools should focus on teaching kids to read, write and do math. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Say No to Indoctrination Act to get woke politics out of the classroom.”
The Say No to Indoctrination Act codifies the Executive Order President Trump issued on January 20, 2025, declaring that no taxpayer dollars be sent to K-12 schools that teach or promote radical gender ideology.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
-
MIL-OSI USA: Crapo: Jonathan Gould Ready to Lead the OCC
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, congratulated Jonathan Gould on his confirmation to be the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) by a vote of 50-45.
“Jonathan’s extensive background, including his firsthand experience at the OCC, means he’ll be ready to hit the ground running as Comptroller. I am confident in his ability to carry out the agency’s critical mission to ensure the safety and soundness of our banking system, and to ensure banks provide fair access to financial services. He has the experience, quality of character and demeanor to be an effective leader of the agency, and I look forward to working with him in this new role.”
-
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arts – Applications open for NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025 – A $10,000 Opportunity for Writers
Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ IncCalling for applications from writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama with a literary track record, who are currently working on a new project.
The Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship is awarded each year to a mid-career or senior writer to work on a project that shows a high level of literary merit and national significance and is donated by Peter Beatson. We thank Peter for his continuing and generous support of New Zealand writers.
In 2024, the fellowship was awarded to Dr Jacqueline Leckie, who used the funding to work on her biography with the working title Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.
Dr Jacqueline Leckie told us she was honoured to be the recipient of the 2024 Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship and the Fellowship would enable her to research and write the first book length biography of one of Aotearoa’s most original and memorable poets, Meg Campbell (1937–2007), provisionally titled ‘Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.’ Meg’s story has remained within the shadows of her renowned creative husband, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell.
Other previous recipients include: Laurence Fearnley, Tim Jones, Siobhan Harvey, Whiti Hereaka, Emma Neale, Michael Harlow, Tina Makereti, Jillian Sullivan, Sue Wootton, and Frankie McMillan.
Deadline for applications: Thursday 18 September 2025
To apply for the fellowship you need to be a member of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc). Membership is open to all developing and established writers.
New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori and its developing Youth writer’s network.To find out more and to access application forms: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=920fd027ce&e=466373ae7c
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc is the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. Founded in 1934, it advocates for the right to fair reward and creative rights, administers prizes and awards, works closely with the literary sector and runs professional development programmes for writers among other activities.
authors.org.nz -
MIL-OSI China: China’s innovative solutions propel global shifts toward smarter, greener industries
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A staff member sets parameters before welding at Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation Co., Ltd. in Huizhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, June 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
As global industries accelerate their transition toward intelligence and sustainability, China’s innovative solutions form vital components of international supply chains, driving cross-sector transformation.
Smarter factories
At Guangdong Lyric Robot Automation’s Huizhou facility in south China, an automated warehouse operates efficiently with only two staff members. Materials glide autonomously through storage systems, arriving precisely at workstations as needed. A central control screen displays real-time inventory levels, material usage frequency, and shelf capacity.
“This system cuts operational costs by over 30 percent while boosting productivity by 40 percent,” said Duan Yajie, general manager of Lyric subsidiary Shunchu Intelligence. Overseas orders for such integrated solutions now constitute over 40 percent of the subsidiary’s total business.
Lyric’s intelligent factories serve industry leaders across six countries. From battery plants in North America to a comprehensive automotive logistics center in Hungary, as well as sectors like renewable energy and AI computing, Lyric has supported clients in establishing digital factories using technologies such as intelligent sensing, precision control and execution systems.
With subsidiaries in 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States, Lyric has navigated cross-cultural challenges through co-developed standards. “Building consensus during the design phase helps prevent conflicts during implementation,” Lyric’s co-founder Lu Jiahong said.
“Once rare on European streets, electric vehicles are now increasingly common, reflecting the combined efforts of Chinese equipment, battery and auto manufacturers,” she added.
Powering energy revolution
EVE Energy Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese lithium battery company headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, is advancing its global manufacturing strategy with a new battery production base in Hungary’s Debrecen.
The facility represents a transformative industrial upgrade for the region, introducing advanced manufacturing systems where agricultural production once dominated the local economy.
“We’re bringing advanced industrial production to this region, creating employment while accelerating the energy transition,” stated EVE vice president Jiang Min. He added that the Debrecen base is scheduled to begin production in late 2026, while their overseas facility in Malaysia is already operational.
Ranked fourth globally in cylindrical battery shipments and second in energy storage capacity for 2024, EVE Energy operates 12 production bases across Asia, Europe and North America. Its power batteries supply premier global automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover.
According to Jiang, the company continues to expand investments in carbon-reduction technologies. It has recently established a comprehensive resource recovery ecosystem with over 10 partners. “Collaborative expansion across the industrial chain creates mutual benefits,” Jiang said.
A staff member operates a robot to perform synchronous action at a provincial embodied artificial intelligence robot innovation center in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, June 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Vision for intelligent machines
At Orbbec’s Shenzhen exhibition hall, a food-delivery robot navigates through display areas, skillfully avoiding obstacles.
This agility comes from its 3D vision sensors, powered by the proprietary “MX6600” chip, which measures about 9 square millimeters. This chip processes depth-sensing data to enable high-precision spatial mapping.
Currently, 7 out of 10 service robots in China use Orbbec sensors, while international clients grew by 77 percent year on year to 1,469 in 2024, including major companies like Nvidia and Microsoft.
“We concentrate on foundational technologies,” said Huang Yuanhao, founder of Orbbec. “We are one of the few companies worldwide to cover all major 3D vision perception technology approaches, serving global robotics enterprises across various sectors, such as smart factories, warehouse logistics, construction automation, and intelligent inspection,” he added.
Orbbec also offers rapid technical support to better serve its global users. “Some of our products have demanding technical service requirements, and excellent service is a major factor why overseas users choose us,” said Orbbec’s CFO Chen Bin.
China’s global engagement is transitioning from manufacturing exports to integrated technological empowerment, said Yang Boru, professor at the School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong. As these innovative solutions expand worldwide, they have become key drivers of intelligent and sustainable industrialization, he added.
-
MIL-OSI China: China-Vietnam freight train cargo volume sees sharp growth in H1
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Aerial photo taken on Aug. 23, 2022 shows a China-Vietnam freight train pulling out of Xi’an international port in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
In the first half (H1) of 2025, freight trains departing from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region heading to Vietnam, transported a total of 18,870 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of export goods, marking a year-on-year surge of 283 percent, according to the China Railway Nanning Group.
Staff with the Nanning Railway Logistics Center of China Railway Nanning Group said that during this period, outbound shipments of auto parts and fiberboard carried by these China-Vietnam freight trains from Guangxi had reached 2,528 TEUs and 4,580 TEUs, respectively, representing respective year-on-year growth of 100 percent and 398 percent.
Notably, auto parts and motorcycle parts from provinces such as Jiangsu in east China and Guangdong in south China, are transported by rail to Nanning International Railway Port before being shipped to Vietnam via China-Vietnam freight trains, thereby forming a new growth point for transport.
This year, the frequency of scheduled China-Vietnam freight trains has increased from five trips per week to 14, providing more transport options for China’s goods exports. Currently, the fastest end-to-end transit time for China-Vietnam trains from Nanning, capital of Guangxi, to Yen Vien in Vietnam is only 14 hours.
To date, China-Vietnam trains departing from Guangxi have transported over 380 varieties of export goods. Cargo sources span 25 Chinese provincial regions — including Jiangsu, Guangdong and north China’s Hebei.
The cross-border freight transport network now covers multiple ASEAN countries, such as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, creating a “fast track” for promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and ASEAN.
-
MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Whitehouse Introduce Bills to Slash Emissions From Ocean Shipping
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a pair of bills to reduce dangerous air pollution within the shipping industry.
Padilla’s Clean Shipping Act of 2025, led by Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42) in the House, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry to protect the health of port communities and address the environmental injustice impacts of the climate crisis. Padilla also co-leads the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act, led by Whitehouse in the Senate and Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07) and Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15) in the House. The bill aims to reduce emissions by imposing a pollution fee on large marine vessels offloading cargo at U.S. ports to fund decarbonization efforts in the U.S. maritime economy.
“California’s ports are the powerhouse of our country’s economy, moving critical freight and providing good-paying jobs, all while leading the nation’s decarbonizing efforts. But neighboring communities have been forced to shoulder the brunt of global shipping pollution for too long,” said Senator Padilla. “Our legislation would strengthen the sustainability of our shipping industry by reducing emissions in maritime transportation while simultaneously protecting coastal communities. The health of our communities and our planet requires us to be forward-looking and ambitious — we owe future generations nothing less than bold, transformative action.”
“As climate change destroys lives and drives up costs for families, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to avoid the worst consequences for communities, businesses, and the environment,” said Ranking Member Whitehouse. “Encouragingly, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has put forward a global carbon price on shipping emissions. This legislation reinforces that work, further cutting harmful emissions while supporting the maritime innovators that are pioneering clean technologies to protect public health and can help put us on course to climate safety.”
Globally, maritime shipping is a major source of climate-warming pollution, including climate-warming GHG emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) and harmful air pollutant emissions (oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter). According to the International Maritime Organization 2020 GHG Study, the global shipping industry emits approximately one billion tons of GHG emissions per year, roughly 3 percent of total anthropogenic global-warming carbon-dioxide emissions. The study projects in future scenarios that shipping’s GHG emissions could more than double between 2018 and 2050. These emissions are not only harmful for the environment, but jeopardize the air quality and public health of the nearly 40 percent of Americans who live within three miles of a port.
Clean Shipping Act
The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 would set a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all ocean shipping companies that do business with the United States. It would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set progressively tighter carbon intensity standards for fuels used by ships in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Specifically, the bill would direct the EPA to:
- Set carbon intensity standards for fuels used by ships. The bill sets progressively tighter carbon intensity standards for fuels used by ships consistent with a 1.5°C decarbonization pathway. These standards would require lifecycle carbon dioxide-equivalent reductions of 30 percent from January 1, 2030, 58 percent from January 1, 2034, 83 percent from January 1, 2040, 92 percent from January 1, 2045, and 100 percent from January 1, 2050 (based on a 2027 baseline).
- Set requirements to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 2035. By January 1, 2035, all ships at-berth or at-anchor in U.S. ports would emit zero GHG emissions and zero air pollutant emissions.
“Our nation’s ports, particularly the Port of Long Beach, are crucial parts of the economy that drive our supply chain at home. However, they’re also among the largest sources of pollution in our coastal communities,” said Representative Garcia. “Ship pollution is harmful for the health of people living near ports, and disproportionately affects low-income, working-class neighborhoods and communities of color. That’s why I’m proud to introduce a bill that addresses greenhouse gas pollution and creates a path to fully eliminate emissions. We must protect people’s health and stop our climate crisis, while ensuring good-paying jobs for the future.”
“In order to protect our ocean and stay competitive with the rest of the world, we need federal leadership to help modernize and clean up U.S. shipping. By driving the shipping sector to develop, scale and deploy zero-emission technologies, we can spur job creation, help tackle the climate crisis and help create cleaner air for the millions of Americans living near ports. We commend Representative Garcia and Senator Padilla for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working with members of Congress to make this bill a reality,” said Caroline Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s Shipping Emissions U.S. Policy Manager.
“The shipping industry has been polluting communities for decades, but we have the power to make shipping cleaner. Port expansions across the country have been especially devastating for communities living closest to the harbors where large ships spew toxic diesel exhaust that worsens air quality and contributes to the climate crisis. People living near ports deserve to breathe clean air, and the Clean Shipping Act will help make that a reality,” said Katherine García, Director of the Clean Transportation for All Campaign, Sierra Club.
“GreenLatinos endorses the urgently needed Clean Shipping Act, which protects Latino/e and other vulnerable communities from further exposure to port pollution and takes important steps to reduce harm from toxic ship fuels. 1 in 3 Latines live in the top 20% of most pollution-impacted communities. Pollution burdened communities are facing even more exposure as idling ships wait days to enter port and offload their cargo. We urge Congress to act swiftly in passing this vital legislation and protect our coastal communities from the harms of port emissions,” said Andrea Marpillero-Colomina, Policy Advisor, GreenLatinos.
“The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 will help us work toward a future where healthy port communities thrive and everyone benefits from leveraging the tremendous potential of the ocean and ocean industries as powerful sources of climate solutions. We are grateful for the leadership of Congressman Garcia and Senator Padilla for advancing this legislation for our ocean, climate, and communities,” said Sarah Guy, Executive Director, Ocean Defense Initiative.
“The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 will send a clear signal to the shipping industry that they must reduce their emissions by phasing out the use of fossil fuels and transition to a cleaner future. Technology-forcing policies like this legislation will enable large-scale investment in sustainable maritime fuels and technologies and establish a level playing field, minimizing the risk for manufacturers and suppliers. For far too long, dirty ships have brought significant levels of air pollution into U.S. port communities. We commend Representative Garcia and Senator Padilla for reintroducing this important bill and leading the effort to help protect communities disproportionately impacted by these harmful emissions,” said Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment.
The bill is supported by industry leaders including ABB, Evolve Hydrogen Inc., Maritime Battery Forum, and Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association, as well as NGOs including Breathe Southern California, CleanEarth4Kids.org, Don’t Waste Arizona, Environmental, Investigation Agency, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Intheshadowofthewolf, Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Ocean Conservancy, Ocean Defense Initiative, Pacific Environment, Restoring Earth Connection, San Pedro & Peninsula Homeowners Coalition, Seattle Cruise Control, Sierra Club, Sunflower Alliance, 350 Bay Area Action, 350 Sacramento, Turtle Island Restoration Network, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Full text of the bill is available here.
International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act
The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would:
- Impose a pollution fee on the largest marine vessels offloading cargo at U.S. ports, driving industry-wide decarbonization efforts and incentivizing the use and development of cleaner maritime fuels.
- Levy a $150 per ton fee on the carbon emissions of fuel burned on an inbound trip, as well as fees for the nitrogen oxides ($6.30/lb.), sulfur dioxide ($18/lb.), and particle pollution (PM2.5) ($38.90/lb.) that ships emit. The fees would apply only to those ships with 5,000 gross tonnage or more, excluding most of the domestic industry, and the fee on carbon emissions would sunset if the IMO implemented and enforced a fee on the greenhouse gas emissions of marine shipping that was equal to or greater than the $150 per ton fee levied in the bill.
- Provide critical funding to modernize the Jones Act fleet with low-carbon vessels, revitalizing and electrifying U.S. shipbuilding, and addressing and reducing pollutants in America’s port communities, along our coasts, and in our oceans.
The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act has been endorsed by EV Maritime, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, San Pedro & Peninsula Homeowners Coalition, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, and 350 Brooklyn.
Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) are cosponsoring the legislation.
Full text of the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act is available here, and a one-pager is available here.
Senator Padilla believes decarbonizing our ports is vital for powering economic growth and protecting public health. Last year, he announced over $1 billion in EPA funding across seven California ports to build zero-emission port infrastructure and implement climate and air quality management plans. The funding comes through the Clean Ports Program, which is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and aims to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality at ports across the nation. California ports will receive three of the largest seven grants nationwide, including over $411 million for the Port of Los Angeles, the biggest award in the country. In 2023, he announced $74.5 million from the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to decarbonize, upgrade, and rehabilitate key ports along California’s coast.
-
MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese initiatives to form a multipolar world order are based on a deep understanding of the current situation in the world – Russian expert
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 10 /Xinhua/ — China’s latest initiatives to form a multipolar world order, in particular the concept of a community of shared destiny for mankind and the Global Civilization Initiative, are based on a deep understanding of the current situation in the world, says Russian sinologist and associate professor at the Institute of Asian and African Countries at Lomonosov Moscow State University Maria Semenyuk.
In 2023, the Chinese side put forward the Global Civilization Initiative. “China’s latest initiatives aimed at forming a new, multipolar world order, including the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Global Civilization Initiative, are based on a deep understanding of the current international situation and meet the aspirations of not only the Chinese people, but also the peoples of many other countries,” M. Semenyuk said in an interview with Xinhua, adding that it is no coincidence that they have found a lively response not only in Russia, but also in many countries of the Global South.
According to the Russian expert, the significance of such concepts and initiatives lies in China’s constant and tireless efforts aimed at forming a new vector of development for countries and civilizations: without abandoning previous experience and its cultural essence in favor of renewal or assimilation, to carry out modernization based on historical experience and preserving cultural identity.
As the sinologist noted, exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations are a necessary condition for global mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, and the key to this is “closeness of hearts,” that is, humanitarian cooperation.
“I have been translating Chinese literature for over 15 years, as well as book and cultural projects in this area. I am pleased to see how more and more Chinese books of various genres are appearing on the shelves of our stores and that for our readers such books are no longer “exotic”, but something relevant and interesting,” M. Semenyuk emphasized, reporting that a decision has already been made to launch a number of new projects in the area of mutual translation, publishing and cultural exchanges between Russia and China. “We have already begun working on new lists of books for translation,” she added.
From July 10 to 11, the ministerial meeting of the Global Dialogue among Civilizations is taking place in Beijing. According to M. Semenyuk, this event will become a landmark in the current global situation.
“It will be a clear signal that the world’s civilizations are truly united by a common desire for peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom, and that instead of ideological confrontation, it is necessary to carry out concrete work on rapprochement, mutual exchange and the creation of a global network of dialogue in order to successfully confront the challenges of the new era,” the sinologist noted.
According to her, the current international situation is characterized by instability and contradictions. “In conditions when dangerous judgments about the so-called “civilizational superiority” are again gaining supporters, the principles of the Global Civilization Initiative – to promote dialogue among civilizations while respecting and protecting the diversity of world civilizations – and the principles of inclusiveness, mutual learning and harmonious coexistence of civilizations are especially relevant,” M. Semenyuk emphasized. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
-
MIL-OSI Russia: Georgian capital to upgrade metro with Chinese carriages
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tbilisi, July 10 (Xinhua) — Authorities in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi have announced the start of a large-scale modernization of the city’s subway system using cars manufactured by China’s CRRC Corporation, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said at a city government meeting on Thursday.
As the mayor noted, the winner of the completed tender was GT Group LLC, which, in cooperation with a Chinese manufacturer, will supply 111 modern metro cars to Georgia.
The purchase is being carried out with financial support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Over the next five years, Tbilisi will receive 14 four-car and 5 five-car trains. The new trains will be equipped with walk-through carriages, which will significantly increase the convenience and safety of passengers. The total cost of the project is 150 million euros.
According to K. Kaladze, the transition to five-car trains on the Akhmeteli-Varketili line, one of the busiest in the city, will increase the volume of transportation and improve the quality of service.
Today, the Tbilisi metro has 48 trains /192 carriages/. The process of purchasing carriages will continue in the future with the aim of completely replacing the current trains. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
-
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road closed, SH3, Mapara
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 3, north of Pukenui Road, Mapara, is closed following a serious crash.
At around 11:30am emergency services received reports of a two-vehicle crash.
The road is closed, and motorists should avoid the area and expect significant delays.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre.
-
MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Kelly Introduce Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today introduced the Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which would direct the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to Congress an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico:
“One innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep citizens in both countries safe.”
“To win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels. This effort with Republicans and Democrats will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico,” said Sen. Kelly.
Background:
The Counternarcotics Enhancement Act would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to the Congressional intelligence committees an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation with the government of Mexico that includes the following information from leaders of the Intelligence Community (IC):
A description and assessment of their relationship, if any, with any element of the government of Mexico, including an assessment of the counterintelligence risks of such relationship;
A strategy to enhance counternarcotics cooperation and appropriate coordination with each element of the government of Mexico they have a direct relationship with;
And recommendations and a description of the resources required to efficiently and effectively implement this strategy to further the national interest of the U.S. -
MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Kelly Introduce Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today introduced the Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which would direct the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to Congress an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico:
“One innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep citizens in both countries safe.”
“To win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels. This effort with Republicans and Democrats will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico,” said Sen. Kelly.
Background:
The Counternarcotics Enhancement Act would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to the Congressional intelligence committees an action plan to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation with the government of Mexico that includes the following information from leaders of the Intelligence Community (IC):
- A description and assessment of their relationship, if any, with any element of the government of Mexico, including an assessment of the counterintelligence risks of such relationship;
- A strategy to enhance counternarcotics cooperation and appropriate coordination with each element of the government of Mexico they have a direct relationship with;
- And recommendations and a description of the resources required to efficiently and effectively implement this strategy to further the national interest of the U.S.
-
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Guidance boosts safety with transport trailers
Source: Worksafe New Zealand
New guidance is plugging a critical gap for businesses which use transport trailers to shift heavy machinery, thanks to an agreement overseen by WorkSafe New Zealand.
It follows a 2019 death of Sean Smyth, who was killed when a trailer ramp fell on him at work in Te Kuiti. WorkSafe’s investigation culminated in an Enforceable Undertaking (EU), where Mr Smyth’s employer Inframax Construction committed funds to a range of mandatory health and safety improvements. One of these was sponsoring Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) to develop new guidance for the safe use and maintenance of low loader ramps.
The guide helps owners, operators, maintainers, and designers of these trailers manage ramp operation and maintenance risks.
WorkSafe is proud to have had an oversight role in bringing the new guidance about.
“We know industry is extremely keen for fresh guidance, and EUs can be a powerful way to deliver industry-led responses to identified risk gaps. Delivering guidance through an EU model has been a productive way to achieve our shared safety goals,” says WorkSafe’s Mark Horgan.
The guide had input from a range of industry bodies including Civil Contractors NZ, Transporting NZ, the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association, and the Truck & Trailer Manufacturers Federation.
“This guidance represents a vital step forward in making the transport and delivery of heavy machinery safer across New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sectors. Low-loader ramps are deceptively routine but present some of the highest-energy risks on site,” says CHASNZ spokesperson, Jon Harper-Slade.
“By bringing together technical insights from manufacturers, operators, and industry experts, and applying an evidence-based approach to high-energy hazard control, we’ve produced guidance that is practical, targeted, and grounded in what actually works on the ground. This resource will continue to benefit the sector for years to come.”
-
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing man in Wong Tai Sin (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police today (July 10) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.
Lam Wai-ming, aged 59, went missing after he left his residence in Fung Tak Estate on July 8. His family made a report to Police yesterday (July 9).
He is about 1.8 metres tall and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and is bald. He was last seen wearing a dark blue long-sleeved top, grey trousers, black slippers and carrying a light grey recycle bag.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0335 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
-
MIL-OSI USA: Paving, bridge repair projects to reduce westbound I-90 in Issaquah to one lane for up to 10 weekends
Source: Washington State News 2
Additional nighttime work to begin in July on eastbound I-90
ISSAQUAH – A series of construction projects will repair and replace aging pavement and repair several bridges along the Interstate 90 corridor in Issaquah and from Mercer Island to Bellevue.
People traveling through the area should expect weekend and nighttime I-90 lane reductions and ramp closures. This includes up to 10 weekends when westbound I-90 will be reduced to a single lane in Issaquah.
Starting in July, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin construction on three new projects, that will:
What to expect
Eastbound I-90 in Issaquah
Contractor crews will grind and replace more than 4 miles of eastbound I-90 beginning Sunday, July 13, between West Lake Sammamish Parkway (milepost 13) and East Sunset Way (milepost 18).
Construction is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday nights and from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights. This work will require closing up to three lanes of eastbound I-90, with occasional ramp closures at West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast/Lakemont Boulevard Southeast, 17th Avenue Northwest, Front Street North and East Sunset Way/Highlands Drive Northeast. To help create a safer space for workers, the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
People travelling in the area should watch for slower speed limits, occasional ramp closures with signed detours and traffic delays during overnight lane reductions. This project is expected to finish in fall 2025.
Westbound I-90 in Issaquah
Beginning in late July or early August, contractor crews will begin repair work on five bridges on westbound I-90 and grind and replace 2.5 miles of pavement between East Sunset Way/Highlands Drive Northeast (milepost 18) and Tibbets Creek (milepost 15).
During this project, crews will reduce westbound I-90 to a single lane for up to 10 weekends to repair pavement, waterproof protection and expansion joints on five bridges. These weekend lane closures will start at 7 p.m. Friday nights and continue through 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. Speed limits in the work zone will be reduced to 45 mph.
In addition to bridge work, paving is scheduled between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. nightly Saturdays through Thursdays. This nighttime work will require closing up to three lanes of westbound I-90 and occasional ramp closures at East Sunset Way/Highlands Drive Northeast, Front Street North and 17th Avenue Northwest.
People travelling in the area should expect significant traffic delays during weekend closures, slower speeds through the work zone and occasional ramp closures with signed detours during the project. Work is expected to continue through spring 2026.
Eastbound I-90 from Mercer Island to Bellevue
As early as fall 2025, contractor crews will begin a pavement and bridge repair project on eastbound I-90 between Mercer Slough (milepost 9) and 150th Avenue Southeast in Bellevue (milepost 12). Crews will perform crack sealing and grind and replace pavement along a nearly 2-mile section of road. They’ll also resurface the Richards Road Southeast bridge near the I-405 interchange and replace expansion joints.
During this project, crews will close up to three eastbound I-90 lanes overnight to grind and repair pavement, replace bridge joints and sensors, and seal cracks in the pavement. Crews will work Saturday through Thursday nights, with varying hours depending on how many lanes need to be closed. Nightly lane reductions could start as early as 8 a.m., and all lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. The HOV lane will be open to all vehicles during right lane closures.
Additionally, this project has up to four weekend-long lane reductions, including:
- Two weekend, two-lane closures from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- Two weekend, three-lane closures from 8 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, immediately followed by a two-lane closure until 2 p.m. Sunday.
Ramps along eastbound I-90 may close during portions of this work as needed, including the 150th Avenue Southeast/Southeast Eastgate Way off-ramp, 148th Avenue Southeast off-ramp, Richards Road Southeast/Factoria Boulevard off-ramp and 142nd Place Southeast HOV on- and off-ramps.
This project is expected continue through 2026. People travelling in the area should expect traffic delays and occasional ramp closures with signed detours.
Other nearby I-90 projects
In addition to these three projects, the I-90 Sunset Creek Fish Passage project in Bellevue also is expected to continue until 2027, and two other projects will begin shortly:
For the most up-to-date information on upcoming closures with these projects, please visit the project webpages. Real-time travel information is available from the WSDOT mobile app, the WSDOT Travel Center map or by signing up for WSDOT’s email updates.
-
MIL-OSI Submissions: School smartphone bans reflect growing concern over youth mental health and academic performance
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Margaret Murray, Associate Professor of Public Communication and Culture Studies, University of Michigan
New laws that ban smartphones or social media for youth are being introduced across several Western nations. SeventyFour/iStock via Getty Images The number of states banning smartphones in schools is growing.
New York is now the largest state in the U.S. to ban smartphones in public schools. Starting in fall 2025, students will not be allowed to use their phones during the school day, including during lunch, recess or in between classes. This bell-to-bell policy will impact almost 2.5 million students in grades K-12.
By banning smartphones in schools, New York is joining states across the country. The bans are happening in both traditionally liberal and conservative states.
Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia all passed legislation in 2025 that requires schools to have policies that limit access to smartphones. The policies will go into effect in the 2025-2026 school year. This brings the total to 17 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have phone-free school legislation or executive orders.
I’m a professor who studies communication and culture, and while writing a book about parenting culture, I’ve noticed the narrative around smartphones and social media shifting over the past decade.
A turning tide
Statewide cellphone policies are gaining momentum, with many states aiming to restrict use of the devices in classrooms.
Thomas Barwick/Digital Vision via Getty ImagesAccording to the Pew Research Center, 67% of American adults support banning smartphones during class time, although only 36% support banning them for the entire school day. Notably, a majority of Republican, Democratic and independent voters all support bans during class time.
More broadly, parent-led movements to limit children’s use of smartphones, social media and the internet have sprung up around the country. For example, the Phone-Free Schools Movement in Pennsylvania was launched in 2023, and Mothers Against Media Addiction started in New York in March 2024. These organizations, which empower parents to advocate in their local communities, follow in the footsteps of organizations such as Wait Until 8th in Texas and Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay in Massachusetts, which were formed in 2017.
The concerns of these parent-led organizations were reflected in the best-selling book “The Anxious Generation,” which paints a bleak picture of modern childhood as dominated by depression and anxiety brought on by smartphone addiction.
Phone-free schools are one of the four actions the book’s author, Jonathan Haidt, recommended to change course. The other three are no smartphones for children before high school, waiting until 16 for social media access, and allowing more childhood independence in the real world.
Haidt’s research team collaborated with The Harris Poll to survey Gen Z. They found that almost half of those age 18-27 wish social media had never been invented, and 21% wish smartphones had never been invented. About 40% of Gen Z respondents supported phone-free schools.
The Pew Research Center found that almost 40% of kids age 8-12 use social media, and almost 95% of kids age 13-17 use it, with nearly half of teens reporting that they use social media almost constantly.
Phone-free schools are also part of the larger trend of states and nations resisting Big Tech, the large technology companies that play a significant role in global commerce.
In May 2025, two U.S. senators introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, which would require mental health warnings on social media.
New laws that ban smartphones or social media for youth are being introduced across several Western nations. Australia has banned all social media for those under 16.
After a fatal stabbing at a middle school in eastern France on June 10, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the same day that he wants the European Union to set the minimum age for social media at 15. He argued that social media is a factor in teen violence. If the EU doesn’t act within a few months, Macron has pledged to enact a ban in France as soon as possible.
The impact on learning
Research suggests that students are less focused in class when they have access to cellphones.
isuzek/E+ via Getty ImagesAlthough this trend of restricting use of phones in school is new, more states may adopt smartphone bans in the future. Bell-to-bell bans are viewed as especially powerful in improving academic performance.
Some research has suggested that when children have access to a smartphone, even if they do not use it, they find it harder to focus in class. Initial research has found that academic performance improves after the bans go into effect.
Test scores fell across the U.S. during the pandemic lockdown and have not returned to prepandemic levels. Some states, such as Maine and Oregon, are almost a full year behind grade level in reading. Not a single state has recovered in both math and reading.
Statewide bans free local school districts from having to create their own technology bans, which can lead to heated debates. Although a majority of adults approve of banning smartphones in class, 24% oppose it for reasons such as wanting to be able to contact their kids throughout the day and wanting parents to set the boundaries.
However, 72% of high school teachers say that phones are a major distraction. Anecdotally, schools report that students like the bans after getting used to the change.
I signed the Wait Until 8th pledge mentioned in the article, promising not to give my kids a smartphone or social media until at least the end of 8th grade.
– ref. School smartphone bans reflect growing concern over youth mental health and academic performance – https://theconversation.com/school-smartphone-bans-reflect-growing-concern-over-youth-mental-health-and-academic-performance-259962
MIL OSI –
-
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three feral cats in one photo – monitoring shows predators aplenty on Rakiura
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Striking remote camera images show introduced predators are abundant on Rakiura/Stewart Island, and they need to be urgently controlled this winter to protect pukunui/southern New Zealand dotterel and other native species.
The feral cats in this neck of the forest are big and healthy and there’s lots of them. This trail camera captured three in one frame (bottom right corner has the ear of the third)! The third cat comes into frame more fully. Feral cats pose the greatest threat to the critically endangered pukunui/southern New Zealand dotterel. See more photos below. The most extensive study of predators on Rakiura
Nearly 300 trail cameras have been set up across approximately 3,000 hectares to monitor the abundance of feral cats, rats and possums before, during and after an upcoming aerial predator control operation. This action is part of the Department of Conservation’s Pukunui Recovery Project.
With only 105 pukunui left, the operation aims to save the native bird from extinction by controlling predators, especially feral cats, across approximately 43,000 hectares. It’s the largest predator control operation ever on Rakiura. It will also be the most extensive study of predators on the island.
Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) has also established a network of trail cameras to gather data about rats and deer to inform future Predator Free Rakiura operations.
Thousands of images were taken in the first round of monitoring over a two-week period in May this year within the pukunui operational area. As expected, they show high numbers of introduced predators, as well as tokoeka kiwi and white-tailed deer which are also being monitored as species of interest.
Tītī/sooty shearwater were also observed and in one instance you can see a feral cat chasing one of the native sea birds and another shows a dangerously close interaction. See the striking photos below.
The first phase of the pukunui operation is complete, and the second phase is scheduled to run from late July / early August, prior to the pukunui breeding season when the birds head up into the mountains to nest.
How do the cameras work and where are they?
The trail cameras are programmed to take bursts of photos when they sense movement, and a lure is set up in front of each camera to attract animals. The lure usually consists of fresh rabbit meat wrapped in a wire cage along with two terracotta tubes with a rabbit scent inside them. The photos are processed and sorted, with the help of AI, to identify and group photos of individual species and their locations.
The cameras are set up from sea level at Doughboy Bay up and over the tops of the Tin Range where one of the last pukunui breeding grounds is located. There are also trail camera grids outside of the operational area at East Ruggedy and towards Mason Bay beach at Kilbride to serve as comparison sites.
The camera grids will stay in place throughout the year, and images will be processed every three months or so to assess changes in the abundance of target predators and help measure the results of the operation.
Learn more about the Pukukui Recovery Project. Preparing for a new generation of ‘underbirds’ on Rakiura | Conservation blog
Trail camera photo gallery
Take a look at some of the photos from the first round of camera monitoring. DOC will continue to share more images and data as it becomes available.
Rakiura tokoeka kiwi marching home after a long night’s work. They are doing well on Rakiura because there aren’t any stoats. They will be even safer once we get feral cat numbers down and their habitat will improve with less rats and possums around eating forest food and plants. Possums are abundant and not only do they eat the eggs and young of native birds, but they eat and kill trees like the iconic Southern Rātā. The health of the forest depends on us getting rid of them. We were surprised but excited to see a tītī here. There could be a lot more of them on mainland Rakiura if predators are removed. 20 minutes later, a feral cat turns up at the same spot. Like pukunui, juvenile tītī are no match for feral cats. See an example of a cat hunting tītī further down. An older trail camera photo on Rakiura that shows a feral cat with a pukunui in its mouth taken from a nest. These are big Norway rats! They are the biggest species of rats, and they eat the eggs of native birds, lizards and invertebrates, as well as seeds which puts them in direct competition with native wildlife. The cameras also picked up ship rats and likely kiore. Kiwi and white-tailed deer are being monitored as species of interest. Deer are not a target species for the operation. A tītī from earlier this year observed by one of ZIP’s trail cameras. You can see the tip of a feral cat’s ear at the bottom of the frame. This next frame reveals that the tītī is being chased by a feral cat. Feral cats are known to prey upon tītī eggs, chicks and adult birds, especially when they are nesting or vulnerable on the ground. -
MIL-OSI: South Bow Announces Timing of Second-quarter 2025 Results and Conference Call and Webcast
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
CALGARY, Alberta, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Bow Corp. (TSX & NYSE: SOBO) (South Bow or the Company) will release its second-quarter 2025 financial and operational results after the close of markets on Aug. 6, 2025.
Conference call and webcast details
South Bow’s senior leadership will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company’s second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 7, 2025 at 8 a.m. MT (10 a.m. ET).
Register ahead of time to receive a unique PIN to access the conference call via telephone. Once registered, participants can dial into the conference call from their telephone via the unique PIN or click on the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly on their telephone.
Visit www.southbow.com/investors for the replay following the event.
Forward-looking information and statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements). In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including timing of the release of financial and operational results and the related conference call and webcast and replay. The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that South Bow has made regarding, among other things: market conditions; economic conditions; and prevailing governmental policies or regulatory, tax, and environmental laws and regulations. Although South Bow believes the assumptions and other factors reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and factors will prove to be correct and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: the regulatory environment and related decisions and requirements; the impact of competitive entities and pricing; actions taken by governmental or regulatory authorities; adverse general economic and market conditions, and other factors set out in South Bow’s public disclosure documents. The foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof. South Bow does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
About South Bow
South Bow safely operates 4,900 kilometres (3,045 miles) of crude oil pipeline infrastructure, connecting Alberta crude oil supplies to U.S. refining markets in Illinois, Oklahoma, and the U.S. Gulf Coast through our unrivalled market position. We take pride in what we do – providing safe and reliable transportation of crude oil to North America’s highest demand markets. Based in Calgary, Alberta, South Bow is the investment-grade spinoff company of TC Energy, with Oct. 1, 2024 marking South Bow’s first day as a standalone entity. To learn more, visit www.southbow.com.
Contact information
-
MIL-Evening Report: What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Clarence, Law Lecturer, RMIT University
During the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping routes.
Would that be possible, and what effects would it have?
The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is used to transport about 20% of global daily oil consumption.
Iran effectively controls this crucial shipping route because it is a coastal state bordering this narrow stretch of water. The strait is too narrow to avoid navigating waters claimed by Iran. This raises thorny legal questions about whether it is really possible for Iran to block the strait, and what recourse other states have if it does.
This geographical reality is far from new, and the legal frameworks governing international maritime activity have developed over centuries. At its heart is the lex mercatoria — the “law of merchants” — a body of transnational commercial law that emerged organically from the practices of traders operating across borders.
Within this broader framework sits the lex maritima, or customary maritime law, which has long adapted to the hazards of shipping across vast oceans.
The lex maritima originated from the shared practices of seafarers and merchants. Its purpose? To manage the unpredictable nature of maritime trade that demands coherent and stable rules.
One of the most enduring principles of this legal tradition is the idea of mare liberum, or “the free sea”, set out by Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius in 1609. He argued the high seas should remain open to all for peaceful navigation and trade. This conveniently legitimised the ambitions of European colonial powers, granting them unfettered access to global maritime routes at a time when control over sea-based trade promised immense economic and strategic advantage.
The shifting boundaries of maritime law
One of the most fundamental questions in maritime law is: where do a nation’s territorial waters end, and the high seas begin?
After the second world war, a series of conferences culminated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), where the customary 3 nautical miles (5.56km) of territorial waters states could claim as their own was extended. This narrow limit was rooted more in historical naval range – the so-called “cannon shot rule” – than in modern geopolitical or environmental realities.
In 1959, Iran took the unusual step of unilaterally extending its territorial sea to 12 nautical miles, despite not being a party to UNCLOS. Two decades later, following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the US Embassy hostage crisis, Washington grew increasingly anxious about the security of oil flows from the Persian Gulf. These concerns intensified during the Iran-Iraq War, especially as Iran began using small islands in the Strait of Hormuz to deploy military forces and threaten commercial shipping.
UNCLOS and the new rules of the sea
One of the key compromises of UNCLOS was an extension of territorial waters for states that ratified the treaty. In exchange, UNCLOS replaced the older concept of “innocent passage” – which allowed only surface navigation through territorial seas – with the broader notion of “transit passage”. Under this regime, vessels and aircraft from other states are granted the right to travel not only on the surface, but also under the sea and through the air above straits used for international navigation.
While 169 states have ratified UNCLOS, both Iran and the United States remain notable holdouts. This means Iran does not enjoy the broader 12-nautical-mile limit recognised under UNCLOS, and the US cannot claim the agreement’s protections for transit passage through strategic choke points.
While the geopolitical and legal tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz may seem far removed from the world of private commerce, the global economy continues to function thanks to a powerful legal tool: the contract. Contracts offer a predictable framework that allows trade across borders without parties needing to trust one another personally.
The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by active, assertive states such as Iran, which means the potential for interstate conflict is relatively high. This doesn’t mean commercial contracts are irrelevant to the recent dispute in the Strait of Hormuz — far from it. But their influence is more indirect.
What can be learned?
Without significant political change in Tehran, it’s unlikely either Iran or the US will shift its position on adopting UNCLOS. Yet despite Iran’s repeated threats to close the strait, it has never followed through — and the US Navy continues to maintain a steady presence in the region. For now, a fragile but persistent equilibrium holds.
Belinda Clarence does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-strait-of-hormuz-and-why-is-it-so-important-for-global-shipping-260920
-
MIL-OSI China: China’s Lin advances on three fronts at WTT US Smash
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese paddler Lin Shidong overcame the demands of playing three matches in one day to advance in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash on Wednesday.
Lin had little difficulty in defeating Feng Yi-hsin of Chinese Taipei 11-8, 11-4, 11-8. The world No. 1 was joined in the last 16 by teammate Xiang Peng, who beat Indian qualifier Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in four games.
Lin Shidong returns the ball during the men’s singles second round match against Feng Yi-hsin at the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash in Las Vegas on July 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of WTT)
Third seed Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan was pushed to the limit in a five-game battle but prevailed over Nigerian ace Quadri Aruna, winning 11-1, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5. However, Sweden’s fifth seed Truls Moregard was eliminated after a full-distance loss to Japan’s Yuta Tanaka.
In doubles action, Lin teamed up with Huang Youzheng to reach the men’s quarterfinals by defeating American brothers Sid and Nandan Naresh in straight games. They will next face fellow Chinese duo Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun.
Lin also partnered with Kuai Man in mixed doubles, cruising into the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro and Giulia Takahashi.
In women’s singles, China’s Wang Manyu and Wang Yidi delivered solid performances. Second seed Wang Manyu overcame South Korea’s Lee Eun-hye 11-4, 11-9, 11-9, while fourth seed Wang Yidi dispatched Portuguese veteran Fu Yu 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.
“I kept patient and was focused on my own game when facing crucial points,” said Wang Manyu.
Wildcard Xu Yi was unable to join them in the last 16, falling to German veteran Han Ying 9-11, 7-11, 9-11.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Mima Ito and Satsuki Odo, along with South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin, all advanced with straight-game victories.
Also on Wednesday, Chinese women’s pairs Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, and Wang Yidi and Kuai Man, progressed to the quarterfinals in doubles.
-
MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Rosen Calls Out Senate Republicans for Blocking Bipartisan Fix to Repeal New Tax Burden on Gaming Losses
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Senator Rosen Joined Senator Cortez Masto In Trying to Pass Their Bipartisan FULL HOUSE Act to Reverse the Provision of the Extreme “Big Beautiful Bill” That Harms Casino Visitors and Nevada’s Economy—Republicans Blocked It
Watch Senator Rosen’s Full Remarks HERE.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) took to the Senate floor to condemn Senate Republicans for imposing a new tax burden on casino players who lose money gaming, and for blocking the passage of her bipartisan bill to fix it. Senator Rosen criticized the recently enacted extreme Republican tax law for including a damaging provision that limits Americans’ ability to deduct gaming losses, threatening jobs and economic growth in Nevada. Senator Rosen joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in an effort to seek unanimous consent to pass the FULL HOUSE Act, bipartisan legislation they introduced to fully repeal the harmful provision. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans blocked the effort.
Below are excerpts of Senator Rosen’s floor remarks:
I want to start out by thanking my friend and colleague, Senator Cortez Masto, for leading the effort to fix this terrible provision.
I have to say I’m extremely disappointed in what just happened. Senate Republicans are once again showing that they couldn’t care less about the impacts of their new extreme law.
Last week, President Trump signed into law Republicans’ disastrous “Big Beautiful Betrayal,” which among all the terrible cuts to health care and food assistance, and all of the rest, the “Big Beautiful Betrayal” included a damaging provision that will impose a higher tax burden for people who play games at casinos, casinos not just in Nevada but all around this country, and lose money.
So you heard that right. Under Republicans’ new law, individuals who play blackjack or poker, they’re on vacation, or any other games at casinos, will now owe taxes to the government on money they lost.
That’s because the Republicans’ extreme law placed a new limit on the amount of gaming losses that Americans can deduct.
So what does this actually mean? This means if someone wins a big jackpot in Las Vegas and then loses that one jackpot later on, they would still be liable for ten percent in taxes on gaming “income”, even though they had not brought home anything! Their loss equals their win. They had no winnings at all!
How can that be right? How does it make sense? I don’t know, it’s Senate Republican math. That’s what they seem to use in their “Big Beautiful Betrayal” bill.
That’s not just bad math, it’s bad policy.
So, what makes this even worse is that Senate Republicans snuck this provision in a terrible bill so they can collect more money from people so they can pay for more tax giveaways to billionaires, because that’s exactly what’s happening. It’s shameful.
This is going to hurt people who visit casinos and hurt Nevada’s gaming industry more broadly, which supports nearly a third of jobs in our state and generates billions of dollars for the local economy.
That’s why Senator Cortez Masto and I agree that we must pass our FULL HOUSE Act and eliminate this new tax burden.
I’m extremely disappointed that Washington politicians are refusing to fix a terrible policy they enacted that is going to hurt my state, our state, and our economy.
We need to restore the full wagering loss deduction and bring fairness back to our tax system, and I won’t stop working, won’t stop pushing, until this gets done. -
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road Transport Workforce Report released
Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
National road freight association Transporting New Zealand has released the landmark 2025 Road Transport Workforce Report, in collaboration with Teletrac Navman.The report explores how the demographic makeup of New Zealand’s road freight industry evolved between 2013 and 2023, drawing from previously unreleased census data.The detailed snapshot of New Zealand’s trucking workforce revealed key insights around age, gender, nationality and ethnicity.Drivers aged over 65 made up more than 10 per cent of the workforce in 2023. This finding echoed that of the recent 2025 National Road Freight Survey, in which almost half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that “up to 25 per cent” or more of their staff would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.The workforce report also found that the number of female truck drivers increased by 240 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Female drivers made up six per cent of the truck driving workforce in 2023.Migrant workers are also playing an increasingly important role with almost 25 per cent of drivers being born overseas as of 2023.Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says the report provides a valuable insight into the truck driving workforce.“Truck drivers make up 1.2% of New Zealand’s total workforce, making it the 11th most common occupation in the country.”“With nearly 93% of New Zealand’s total freight tonnage moved by road, the demand for road freight services will only increase as our population continues to grow. Ensuring that the sector is staffed with skilled, capable drivers is more important than ever.”“As the workforce gets older, more truck drivers will reduce their hours or retire, leaving severe skill shortages. The road freight industry and the government must work together to ensure new entrants are supported through the driver development pipeline”.“The report sets out how Transporting New Zealand has been responding to these challenges, and how the road freight industry can develop, recruit and retain a diverse and resilient workforce.”“We’re very grateful to Teletrac Navman for supporting the Road Transport Workforce Report, as part of the multi-year Te ara ki tua Road to Success workforce development programme.”The full 2025 Road Transport Workforce Report can be viewed here: https://www.transporting.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Road-Transport-Workforce-Report.pdfAbout Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New ZealandIa Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. -
MIL-OSI USA: ICE Del Rio, federal partner investigation results in the sentencing of an illegal alien from Honduras for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
DEL RIO, Texas – A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the U.S. was sentenced July 9 for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries. The investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Del Rio, with the assistance of various federal and state law enforcement agencies in South Texas.
Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, 34, of Olancho, Honduras, was sentenced July 9 by a federal judge to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain. He was also ordered to pay a $4,500 fine. Mejia-Zuniga pleaded guilty to three counts of bringing an alien to the U.S. for financial gain and aiding and abetting.
Co-defendants Monica Hernandez-Palma, 33, of Mexico, and Allyson Elsires Alvarez-Zuniga, 26, of Honduras, entered guilty pleas on April 7, and Aug. 21, 2023, respectively, and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Genyi Arguenta-Flores, 32, of Comayagua, Honduras was sentenced to five years in prison on May 12. A final co-defendant is in custody in Mexico pending an extradition request from the U.S.
“Mejia-Zuniga and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars off the backs of thousands of people whom they smuggled into the U.S,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti “This case represents the epitome of the ruthless and sophisticated criminal organizations that exploit our borders for personal financial gain. The Criminal Division will not stop investigating these cases until all human smuggling organizations are eradicated and the criminals who operate them are prosecuted.”
“In an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia-Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the U.S,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “His actions put our national security at risk. However, thanks to our many federal law enforcement partners, Mejia-Zuniga will no longer be allowed to enrich himself to the detriment of this country.”
“This sentence sends a clear message to those who exploit our immigration system for personal profit,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “For more than three years, these individuals operated a transnational smuggling ring driven by greed, moving illegal aliens from 11 countries in blatant disregard of the law. The sentencing in this case is a testament to HSI’s commitment to upholding national security. Human smuggling undermines the security of our borders and disrupts lawful immigration processes. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to protect our national security.”
“U.S Border Patrol’s Intelligence and Information Task Force played a critical role in supporting Operation Red Tide through extensive research and analysis,” said Chief of USBP Law Enforcement Operations Directorate Scott Good. “Our team’s exploitation of subpoena returns, and identification of key financial patterns helped bring these smugglers to justice. The USBP will continue working with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad to dismantle criminal networks and secure our nation’s borders.”
According to court documents, from November 2020 through March 2023, the Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization smuggled aliens from Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Colombia, through Eagle Pass, Texas. Aliens primarily contracted with a Pakistani smuggler based in Brazil to be transported to the U.S. In turn, the Brazilian-based smuggler worked with Mejia-Zuniga, who was based in San Antonio, Texas, to facilitate travel of the aliens from South America to the U.S. Mejia-Zuniga directed operations of the ASO and paid drivers, armed “coyotes,” and stash house operators.
Mejia-Zuniga admitted to smuggling between 2,500 to 3,000 aliens into the U.S in just two years. The organization charged between $6,500 to $12,000 per alien. Mejia-Zuniga admitted that he made $30,000 for every 10 illegal aliens who made it to the Rio Grande River and another $30,000 if those 10 illegal aliens made it to San Antonio.
One of the smuggled aliens reported paying the organization $20,000 to be brought illegally into the U.S along with his brother. The Mejia-Zuniga ASO directed that alien to a stash house in Monterrey, Mexico, where it housed him with 10 other aliens. The ASO later moved the same alien to a stash house in Piedras Negras, Mexico, with another 20 to 25 aliens. Ultimately, an armed coyote guided the group of aliens across the Rio Grande River. Once across the Rio Grande, the Mejia-Zuniga ASO transported the aliens to a hotel in San Antonio.
In addition to witness statements, other evidence gathered during the investigation included wire transfers, customer ledgers, foreign identification documents, and photographs of members of the Mejia-Zuniga ASO with firearms.
HSI Del Rio engaged in an extensive, years-long investigation in Operation Red Tide, which led to the development of this case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector, HSI Monterrey, HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The investigation and arrests of the defendants in Operation Red Tide were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 390 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 350 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing the online tip form.
For more information about HSI San Antonio and its public safety efforts in Central and South Texas, follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio.
-
MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey and Rep. Barragán Introduce Resolution to Confront Rising Public Health Threats from Climate Change
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Resolution Text (PDF)
Washington (July 10, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44) today introduced a resolution recognizing climate change as a growing threat to public health and calling for a coordinated federal strategy to protect communities from worsening climate-fueled harms. The resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to lead a whole-of-government effort to protect public health and improve resiliency against climate-related threats throughout the health sector. Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) co-led the resolution in the House.
The climate crisis is here. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 climate disasters that caused more than a billion dollars each in damage. Increasingly frequent and extreme events—like wildfires, floods, and heat waves—are driving spikes in illness, displacement, and death. More than 150 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy air, and people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to die or be injured in climate-related disasters. Frontline workers in agriculture, construction, delivery, and manufacturing face growing health risks from extreme heat and poor air quality on the job.
“With deadly extreme weather disasters, devastating heat waves, and pollution that triggers asthma and other health crises all on the rise, climate change is a full-blown public health emergency—and we need to treat it that way,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution calls on our government to protect the people most at risk from climate-related threats—those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, including Black and Indigenous communities, low-income families, and workers, especially those in construction, delivery, manufacturing, and warehouses. While Republicans pass bills that kick people off their health care, we are fighting for a resilient health system that helps everyone survive a warming and increasingly chaotic world.”
“The climate crisis affects us all, but especially economically disadvantaged communities, communities of color, and other marginalized communities,” said Representative Barragán. “Now more than ever, we see families across the country facing significant health risks as a result of climate disasters such as extreme heat, excessive flooding, and unpredictable storms. Yet the Trump Administration has dangerously chosen to ignore the threat of climate change to our public health – firing staff and canceling programs that were focused on improving our resilience to harmful environmental exposures, such as the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. That is why I am proud to lead this bicameral resolution with Senator Markey and Representatives Carbajal, Matsui, and Schneider to acknowledge the federal government’s responsibility to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the health and well-being of all Americans.”
Specifically, the resolution:
- Demands the release of funding appropriated by Congress that would help to address climate-related health threats that has been held up by Federal agencies;
- Details the public health dimensions of the climate crisis, including increased risks of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health stressors, pregnancy complications, infectious disease outbreaks, and disaster-related displacement;
- Highlights the disproportionate health burdens on children, people with disabilities, low-income households, communities of color, Tribal nations, and workers in high-risk occupations;
- Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to lead cross-agency coordination to strengthen health system climate resilience, support frontline providers, close gaps in climate-health data, and help the health sector lower its own environmental impact;
- Affirms the importance of engaging environmental justice and community-based organizations in local climate-health preparedness and response efforts;
- Urges the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt a national worker heat protection standard; and,
- Calls for annual public reporting on federal climate-health resilience investments and progress.
The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
The resolution is endorsed by Health Care Without Harm, Center for American Progress, Climate Justice Alliance, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Climate and Community Institute, Earthjustice Action, Public Citizen, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the American College of Physicians.
“Health Care Without Harm applauds Senator Markey for introducing this important resolution and is pleased to endorse it,” said Jenny Keroack, Director of Program Strategy & Management in the U.S. Climate Program. “Climate change is causing more severe and frequent storms, wildfires, and extreme heat events, creating safety and public health crises across our country. Our government must have a science-based, coordinated approach to prepare for and respond to these growing threats, and the Department of Health and Human Services has an indispensable role to play as the guardian of our nation’s health and well-being. Vital programs have been attacked, including a grant program that assists families with energy costs so they can afford to cool and heat their homes, funding that helps hospitals stay open and operational when the grid goes down, and research on how best to protect farmworkers from increasing heat waves. Such programs and the expert civil servants who help protect our communities from environmental health threats like climate change must be immediately reinstated and supported. Now is not the time to retreat.”
“With climate change and extreme weather events driving illness, injury, and death across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services must harness its resources, leverage its authorities, and coordinate its expertise and action to prepare for and respond to the health and financial impact,” said Jill Rosenthal, Director of Public Health at the Center for American Progress.
“This resolution is crucial because climate change isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a public health crisis hurting families right now,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance. “Low-income communities bear the brunt – suffering more asthma attacks, heatstroke, and toxic exposure. But these communities also have the answers! They’ve developed practical, replicable solutions. We need bold action: stronger environmental safeguards, smart investments in resilient infrastructure, and policies that prioritize everyone’s health and safety, no matter where they live. Let’s protect our families and build a healthier future for all.”
“The International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) strongly endorses this resolution,” said ITRC Founder and Coordinator Bob Doppelt. “We do so because the climate crisis is a public health crisis that requires significant leadership, support, and investments by the federal government to prevent and heal the accelerating climate-generated mental health, psychosocial, and physical health issues experienced by newborns, young children, adolescents, working age, and older adults nationwide.”
“Our hospitals and clinics are already seeing the devastating health effects of climate change every day – from children struggling to breathe polluted air to seniors collapsing in extreme heat,” said Ranjani Prabhakar, Legislative Director of Healthy Communities, Earthjustice Action. “Over 200 medical journals have called climate change the greatest threat to human health this century, and Senator Markey’s resolution affirms this data by putting health at the center of environmental solutions. Recognizing this crisis for the public health emergency that it is, is essential to protect our families and communities.”
“As the planet enters a period of increasing climate chaos, our collective response will either deepen disparities or address the drivers of climate breakdown and health inequity together,” said Batul Hassan, Labor Director at the Climate and Community Institute. “This resolution from Senator Markey establishes the urgent need for coordinated action across health and public health systems to ensure all people and generations to come can thrive in a warming world.”
-
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New study investigates miscarriage prevention guidance Researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh are looking into the use of progesterone for early pregnancy bleeding in Scotland.
Source: University of Aberdeen
Researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh are looking into the use of progesterone for early pregnancy bleeding in Scotland.
Bleeding in the earliest stages of pregnancy is known as threatened miscarriage. It affects 1 in 5 pregnant women and whilst many pregnancies will continue normally, up to a third of women with early pregnancy bleeding may go on to lose the pregnancy. The hormone progesterone has been shown to reduce the risk of pregnancy loss in women experiencing bleeding who have had one or more previous miscarriages.
In 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) made the decision to recommend that women with early pregnancy bleeding, who have had an ultrasound scan confirming ongoing pregnancy, and have had at least one miscarriage should be offered progesterone to protect against early miscarriage. However, research shows that progesterone is not equally effective in all women and appears to be more beneficial to those who have had several previous miscarriages. In addition, as with any medication used in pregnancy, the benefits of treatment need to be balanced against any possible unforeseen effects on babies.
The PROTEA Study, funded by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office, and led by Dr Andrea Woolner, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen who is also an Honorary Consultant Obstetrician and Early Pregnancy Lead at NHS Grampian, is now underway across all Scottish health boards to fully evaluate this approach. The team will find whether the current ‘blanket’ approach is the most appropriate and understand how progesterone treatment is implemented in practice.
As well as whether miscarriage is prevented, the team will also look at any impact in later pregnancy and early neonatal life as well as the costs associated with the current approach.
They will use routinely collected NHS data to study what happens to pregnancies for women who present with early pregnancy bleeding and are appealing to all early pregnancy unit staff in all 14 Scottish Health Boards to keep helping them collect data on early pregnancy information until the study closes in 2027.
The information collected will explore whether progesterone treatment affects the risk of other complications in pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia and if it has any effect on babies.We will monitor for any other effects progesterone might have, be that beneficial or potentially harmful, on the rest of the pregnancy and babies.” Dr Andrea Woolner
Professor Colin Duncan, from the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh who is collaborating with Dr Woolner on the project, said: “We all want to ensure the best possible outcomes for women and babies.
“This study allows us to explore the uptake, effectiveness and impacts of progesterone supplementation in threatened miscarriage in the real world by looking outcomes from the whole of Scotland.
“The impressive record system within Scotland means we are ideally placed to carry out this important research.”
Dr Woolner said: “We believe it is critical that this research is undertaken to follow up on the important findings from the clinical trials investigating this treatment to understand how progesterone may work in real-world settings and provide much-needed information on the benefits, safety, and consequences of progesterone use is made available as this treatment becomes part of normal care.
“We will use routine data collected within Scottish hospitals to observe how well progesterone works in terms of preventing miscarriage when used across the population and what additional NHS resources are needed to support this service. We will monitor for any other effects progesterone might have, be that beneficial or potentially harmful, on the rest of the pregnancy and babies.”
Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at the Miscarriage Association, said: “Miscarriage can be an incredibly painful and isolating experience, and research like this is vital to ensuring that care and treatment are grounded in strong, evidence-based guidance.
“We’re pleased to be working alongside researchers and patients on this important study.”Related Content
Related Links -
MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes to optimize trade and expand cooperation with Egypt – Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China /more details/
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CAIRO, July 10 (Xinhua) — China is willing to work with Egypt to advance the optimization and development of bilateral trade and create more bright spots for cooperation and new economic growth points, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Cairo on Thursday.
As Li Qiang noted during talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the two countries can expand cooperation in emerging areas such as new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
The Premier stressed that China always prioritizes developing relations with Egypt in its diplomacy in the Middle East.
He recalled that in 2024, China and Egypt jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership relations, and the two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi set guidelines for the future development of bilateral ties.
In 2026, China and Egypt will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As Li Qiang pointed out, at this important juncture, China hopes to maintain close high-level exchanges with Egypt, strengthen strategic dialogue, deepen political mutual trust and practical cooperation.
The Chinese leader called on both sides to support each other on the path to modernization, bringing more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
The Premier of the State Council said that China is willing to work with Egypt to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand and increase investment and cooperation within the framework of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, and effectively implement projects to improve people’s well-being.
As Li Qiang noted, the two sides should intensify cultural and humanitarian exchanges and mutual learning, deepen cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, media, youth and at the local level, strengthening public support for friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese side supports Egypt in strengthening its role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Egypt within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to implement genuine multilateralism, uphold economic globalization and the international economic and trade order, safeguard the common interests of a wide range of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world, the Chinese premier added.
M. Madbouly, for his part, noted that Egypt and China have long-standing and deep relations, and traditional friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the peoples of both countries.
Pointing out that in recent years, under the leadership of the two heads of state, the Egyptian-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership has shown strong momentum and is experiencing the best period in history, M. Madbouly stressed that Egypt firmly adheres to the one-China principle, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC, resolutely supports China’s position on issues related to Taiwan, Xi Jinping and Hong Kong, and is categorically opposed to any interference in China’s internal affairs.
He expressed gratitude to China for its assistance in Egypt’s socio-economic development and said that his country is willing to work with China to deepen political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as trade, investment, finance, industry and infrastructure, expand cooperation in emerging sectors including new energy, green economy and space, intensify cultural and people-to-people exchanges and promote ever-new achievements in African-Chinese and Arab-Chinese cooperation.
According to Madbouly, Egypt highly appreciates China’s fair and just position on Middle East issues and is willing to strengthen coordination with China within the UN, BRICS and other multilateral platforms to protect common interests and maintain peace and stability in the region.
Following the talks, the heads of government of the two countries attended the signing of a number of documents on cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, finance and healthcare. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
-
MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes to optimize trade, expand cooperation with Egypt – Premier of the State Council 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CAIRO, July 10 (Xinhua) — China is willing to work with Egypt to advance the optimization and development of bilateral trade and create more bright spots for cooperation and new economic growth points, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Cairo on Thursday.
As Li Qiang noted during talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the two countries can expand cooperation in emerging areas such as new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
The Premier stressed that China always prioritizes developing relations with Egypt in its diplomacy in the Middle East.
He recalled that in 2024, China and Egypt jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership relations, and the two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi set guidelines for the future development of bilateral ties.
In 2026, China and Egypt will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As Li Qiang pointed out, at this important juncture, China hopes to maintain close high-level exchanges with Egypt, strengthen strategic dialogue, deepen political mutual trust and practical cooperation.
The Chinese leader called on both sides to support each other on the path to modernization, bringing more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
The Premier of the State Council said that China is willing to work with Egypt to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand and increase investment and cooperation within the framework of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, and effectively implement projects to improve people’s well-being.
As Li Qiang noted, the two sides should intensify cultural and humanitarian exchanges and mutual learning, deepen cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, media, youth and at the local level, strengthening public support for friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese side supports Egypt in strengthening its role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Egypt within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to implement genuine multilateralism, uphold economic globalization and the international economic and trade order, safeguard the common interests of a wide range of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world, the Chinese premier added. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
-
MIL-Evening Report: Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Draper, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canterbury
The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable.
Headgear was originally designed to protect players from cuts and abrasions. But players still hope it will offer them a degree of protection against the collisions they experience in the game. Some players adopt it after previous concussions.
We’re now seeing increasing numbers of professional players opting in. The Irish men’s team, for example, field up to five players each match sporting headgear. In Japan, it’s mandatory for juniors. And more parents in New Zealand are making their children wear it, too.
The exact specifications for rugby match kit – boots, shorts, shoulder pads and
headgear – are regulated through World Rugby’s Law 4 and Regulation 12. In 2019, the governing body launched a trial enabling players to wear headgear with new technical specifications in training and matches.The specifications have meant manufacturers can take advantage of novel “isotropic” materials that can potentially reduce the impact forces experienced by players.
Conventional headgear is composed of soft foams that flatten when a player’s head collides with the ground or another player. As such, they can only minimally absorb those collision forces.
Isotropic materials behave differently. They can absorb impacts from multiple directions and may offer a level of protection against the effects on a player’s head of a tackle or other collision event.
Given these changes, and in light of recent research, we may need to change the narrative around rugby headgear: while it may not prevent concussion, it might reduce the total contact “burden” experienced by players in a game and over a whole season. And this could have benefits for long-term brain health.
Impacts across seasons and careers
Contact in rugby – through tackles, at the breakdown, and in scrums and lineouts – leads to players experiencing a number of collisions or “head acceleration events”. This contact is most commonly head to ground, head to body or head to head.
By having players use “smart” mouthguards with embedded micro-accelerometers and gyroscopes to capture head movements, researchers can now measure each collision and each player’s contact load in a game – and potentially over a career.
A player’s total contact load is found by adding together the magnitude of the impacts they experience in a game. These are measured as “peak linear accelerations” or “peak rotational accelerations”.
While past research and media attention has focused on concussion, it has become clear the total contact burden in training and matches – the total “sub-concussive knocks” through head acceleration events – may be as important, if not more so.
One of our own research projects involved following 40 under-16 players wearing smart mouthguards for all training and matches across one season. Peak Linear accelerations are measured as a g-force (g). Activities such as such as running, jumping and shaking the head would measure under 8g, for example, whereas heading a soccer ball might measure 31g.
The results of our study showed the players differed greatly in their cumulative exposure over a whole season, from 300g to nearly 14,000g. These differences would be amplified further over an entire rugby career.
Some of the variation is likely due to a player’s team position, with loose forwards having a greater burden than others. But it also seems some players just enjoy the contact aspects of the game more than others.
Rugby is an impact sport: the Ireland and England women’s teams clash in 2025.
Getty ImagesPotential benefits of new headgear materials
Researcher Helen Murray at the University of Auckland has highlighted the need for more research into the burden of collisions, rather than just concussions, over a rugby career. In particular, we need to know more about its effect on future brain health.
We hope to contribute to this by following our existing cohort of players through their careers. In the meantime, our research has examined the potential of existing rugby headgear and new isotropic materials to mitigate peak accelerations in rugby collisions.
Using the field data collected from male and female players over the past four seasons, we have designed laboratory testing protocols to compare the conventional and newer materials.
The results suggest the new forms of headgear do have the potential to reduce the impact burden for players.
We found 55–90% of head acceleration events do involve direct contact with the head. As such, collision-mitigation headgear could be beneficial. And our laboratory testing produced an estimated 30% reduction in peak linear accelerations with the headgear compared to without.
The nature of concussion is complex and related to the size of an impact as well as its direction and angle. For instance, we observed the concussions experienced by the junior players occurred between 12g and 62g – well below the male threshold of 70g requiring professional players to be removed from the field for a head injury assessment.
Currently, it seems unlikely headgear can prevent concussion. But it does appear new headgear materials could significantly reduce the total impact burden for players during their careers. And this may help safeguard their future brain health.
Nick Draper receives funding from the Health Research Council, Cure Kids, the Neurological Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Pacific Radiology Group, the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the UC Foundation.
– ref. Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career – https://theconversation.com/rugby-headgear-cant-prevent-concussion-but-new-materials-could-soften-the-blows-over-a-career-258912
-
MIL-OSI China: China ready to optimize trade, expand cooperation with Egypt — premier
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly in Cairo, Egypt, July 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] CAIRO, July 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday that China is willing to work with Egypt to optimize the development of bilateral trade and create more highlights of cooperation as well as new drivers of economic growth.
The two countries can expand cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and digital economy, Li said during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly.
China has always prioritized developing relations with Egypt in its Mideast diplomacy, Li said.
In 2024, China and Egypt jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership and the two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi provided guidance for the future development of bilateral ties, Li said.
In 2026, China and Egypt will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. At this pivotal juncture, China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Egypt, strengthen strategic dialogue, consolidate political mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation, Li said.
He called on both sides to support each other on the path to modernization and bring greater benefits to their peoples.
Li pointed out that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Egypt, expand and enhance investment and cooperation within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and effectively implement livelihood improvement projects.
The two sides should enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual learning, deepen cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, media, youth and local affairs, and further strengthen the public support for friendly cooperation between the two countries, he said.
China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Egypt within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard economic globalization and international economic and trade order, defend the common interests of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world, Li added.
For his part, Madbouly noted that Egypt and China have been enjoying long-standing and profound relations, with traditional friendship deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.
In recent years, under the leadership of the two heads of state, the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership has shown a strong momentum, and is at its best in history, he said, adding that Egypt firmly upholds the one-China principle, respects China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, firmly supports China’s stance on the Taiwan question and issues related to Xizang and Hong Kong, and resolutely opposes any interference in China’s internal affairs.
Expressing gratitude for China’s assistance in Egypt’s economic and social development, Madbouly said the country is willing to expand political mutual trust with China, strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as trade, investment, finance, industry and infrastructure, expand collaboration in emerging fields including new energy, green economy and space, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote more achievements in Africa-China and Arab-China cooperation.
Egypt highly appreciates China’s just and fair stance on Mideast issues and stands ready to strengthen coordination with China within the United Nations, the BRICS and other multilateral frameworks to safeguard common interests and uphold regional peace and stability, he said.
After the meeting, Li and Madbouly jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in such areas as e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, finance and health.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly in Cairo, Egypt, July 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
