Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI: Duos Technologies Group, Inc. Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (“Duos” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DUOT) a provider of adaptive, versatile and streamlined Edge Data Center (“EDC”) solutions tailored to meet evolving needs in any environment, today announced that it is commencing an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents). The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

    The net proceeds from the offering will be used to expand, accelerate, and further commercialize the Company’s Edge Data Center business. With this funding, the Company is expected to be fully capitalized to execute on its substantial backlog and advance to Stage 2 of its EDC strategy, which is the development and deployment of more than 65 edge data centers.

    Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners, is acting as the sole bookrunner for the offering.

    The offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-272603) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 12, 2023, and declared effective by the SEC on June 21, 2023.

    A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may also be obtained by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at prospectus@titanpartnersgrp.com.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About Duos Technologies Group, Inc.
    Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Duos Technologies, Inc., Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation, designs, develops, deploys and operates intelligent technology solutions for Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) applications including real-time analysis of fast-moving vehicles, Edge Data Centers and power consulting. For more information, visit www.duostech.com, www.duosedge.ai and www.duosenergycorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things our expectations regarding the completion, terms, size, and timing of the public offering, and with respect to granting the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares, in addition to our plans, strategies and prospects — both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated,” and “potential,” among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include risks and uncertainties related to completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering and those set forth in reports or documents that we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to Duos Technologies Group, Inc. or a person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: HERE and EROAD Deepen Collaboration to Transform Trucking in Australia and New Zealand

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • EROAD to launch first-ever vehicle-aware navigation application in Oceania, powered by HERE’s advanced platform and vehicle-specific data.
    • Partnership addresses critical challenges in the freight sector, including safety, productivity and compliance.

    AustraliaHERE Technologies, a global leader in digital mapping and location data, is expanding its collaboration with EROAD, a leading provider of fleet management and telematics solutions, to power EROAD’s first vehicle-aware navigation application for Oceania. The solution will be available in Australia and New Zealand and is designed to enhance driver safety, fleet efficiency and regulatory compliance. The new solution will be built on the HERE platform, leveraging advanced routing services and truck-specific data. 

    This deepened partnership reflects both companies’ shared commitment to delivering innovative transport solutions tailored to the needs of commercial vehicle and fleet operators globally. By combining HERE’s location intelligence with EROAD’s operational expertise, the partnership aims to improve delivery accuracy, simplify route planning, and elevate the day-to-day experience for both drivers and fleet managers.

    Built for Fleets, Designed for Drivers

    EROAD’s new vehicle-aware navigation application draws on key capabilities from HERE WeGo Pro, a mobile-first, professional-grade application that transforms centrally planned routes into real-time, turn-by-turn guidance. Designed specifically for commercial fleets, the new solution offers:

    • Truck-specific routing that considers vehicle dimensions, cargo type and road restrictions.
    • Real-time traffic updates are refreshed every five minutes across the entire road network.
    • Multi-stop tour planning and predictive ETAs for SLA-compliant deliveries.
    • Offline functionality for uninterrupted service in remote areas.
    • Driver-centric design that reduces stress and supports retention.

    “Our partnership with EROAD is critical in shaping the future of truck-specific navigation in the region,” said Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific at HERE Technologies. “With the HERE platform at its core, the vehicle-aware navigation application enables fleets to gain real-time insights, optimised truck routes, and critical alerts to prevent incidents like bridge strikes. It also helps operators remain compliant with road regulations, avoid costly fines and reduce operational risks. This level of intelligent navigation empowers fleets to operate more efficiently while enhancing safety and elevating the driver experience.”

    Growing Demand in Oceania for Smarter, Connected Vehicle Technologies

    The launch comes at a critical time for Australia and New Zealand’s transport and logistics sector. According to a recent report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the installed base of fleet management systems in ANZ is projected to reach 2.7 million units by 20281, reflecting the growing demand for smarter, more connected vehicle technologies.

    Meanwhile, the industry faces mounting pressure from a looming driver shortage. A report by The International Road Transport Union highlights that 47% of Australia’s truck drivers are over the age of 55, with more than 21% expected to retire by 20292. The country is already short nearly 28,000 heavy vehicle drivers, underscoring the urgent need for tools that can support both new and experienced drivers on the road.

    “Oceania’s transport and logistics sector is under immense pressure – from driver shortages to rising delivery demands and increasingly complex compliance requirements,” said Mark Davidson, Chief Product Officer at EROAD. “With our expanded partnership with HERE, we’re equipping our customers with a solution that not only helps them navigate these challenges, but also positions them to operate more safely, efficiently, and competitively in a rapidly evolving market.”

    To learn more about HERE’s truck-optimised navigation capabilities, visit https://www.here.com/products/wego-pro

    Media Contacts 

    EROAD
    Rich Llewellyn
    027 523 2362
    richard@shanahan.nz

    HERE Technologies
    Vanessa Lee
    +65 9188 6199
    Vanessa.lee@here.com

    About EROAD

    EROAD (NZX/ASX: ERD) is a hardware-enabled SaaS company delivering safety, compliance, sustainability and efficiency solutions for complex fleets.
    Its connected platform is used by commercial and government operators across New Zealand, Australia and North America to manage vehicles, assets and drivers with greater visibility and control. EROAD supports demanding, highly regulated fleet operations, including those moving food, concrete and aggregates, enabling them to operate smarter, safer and more sustainably. EROAD’s platform is built on a foundation of regulatory expertise, having delivered the world’s first GPS-based road user charging system in New Zealand, where it remains the market leader today.

    About HERE Technologies
    HERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for 40 years. Today, HERE’s location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com.


    1Fleet Management in Australia and New Zealand – 9th Edition
    2Global Truck Driver Shortage Report 2024

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom strengthens local control in Los Angeles burn scar areas

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 30, 2025

    What you need to know: In response to concerns from local elected leaders and community members about the potential for widespread SB 9 development concentrated in areas rebuilding from destructive fires and crowding evacuation routes, the Governor today issued an executive order that will give local government the discretion to limit SB 9 development in very high fire hazard severity zones within the rebuilding areas.

    LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order providing local governments with stronger authority to limit Senate Bill 9 development in high fire hazard severity zones in Los Angeles County that fall within the burn scar areas. The executive order continues the Governor’s efforts to help respond to local concerns, provide tools to address rebuilding, and ensure that communities can recover safely. Read the executive order here.

    “We will continue to assist communities in rebuilding safely in ways that are responsive to local concerns. This executive order responds directly to requests from local officials and community feedback, recognizing the need for local discretion in recovery and that not all laws are designed for rebuilding entire communities destroyed by fires overnight.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The executive order remains in effect as long as the state of emergency remains active. The order:

    • Grants local governments authority to adjust rules for SB 9 development (lot splits and duplexes in single-family residential zones) in very high fire severity zones within the LA fire burn scars. This order affects the entire Palisades within the city of LA, the eastern foothills portions of Altadena, Sunset Mesa, and Malibu. 
    • Includes a seven-day pause on SB 9 development in these specific areas while locals develop their own standards. 
    • Provides local governments with the flexibility to tailor standards based on community needs. For example, local officials could add additional mitigation requirements or designate areas within the affected zones where SB 9 development is or isn’t allowed. It allows local officials to make determinations as to what best serves their community — balancing the needs of their community and fire-resilient, safe recovery.

    The executive order is consistent with the state’s commitment to increasing the state’s housing supply and its unwavering dedication to supporting local officials in rebuilding their communities. It leaves the SB 9 framework in place everywhere other than very high fire hazard severity zones in the burn scar, and within those zones allows local leaders discretion to ensure that SB 9 development in the rebuilding areas appropriately accounts for fire safety concerns.

    Helping communities rebuild

    Today’s announcement adds to recent orders by the Governor to help the Los Angeles community recover and rebuild, including another order fast-tracking rebuilding the homes and schools affected by the disaster by suspending permitting laws and building codes, which adds to earlier orders cutting red tape and streamlining the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. The Governor also issued an executive order removing administrative barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.

    California’s all-in efforts

    Since the first day these firestorms ignited, Governor Newsom has been on the ground leading an all-in state response and recovery. 

    The Governor deployed resources before the hurricane-force fires broke out – growing to over 16,000 boots on the ground at the peak of the state’s response. And in the hours that followed, Governor Newsom launched historic recovery and rebuilding efforts to help Los Angeles get back on its feet, faster. 

    Even before the fires were out, Governor Newsom worked closely with outgoing President Joe Biden to secure a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and then coordinated with the Trump Administration to ensure comprehensive federal support for Los Angeles. 

    That work has paid dividends as the current pace of debris and hazardous waste removal is months ahead of the cleanup timeline for the Camp, Woolsey, Hill fires in 2019 and Tubbs Fire in 2017/18, which at the time were themselves the fastest of their kind. 

    State and federal officials worked hand in glove to clear hazardous waste from 9,000 homes in less than 30 days. At the project’s peak, as many as 500 crews of expert heavy equipment operators from the Army Corps of Engineers worked around the clock to rapidly clear ash, soot, and fire debris from structures damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires. 

    By the numbers 

    • 16,000 first responders and recovery personnel deployed
    • $2.5 billion in Small Business Administration Assistance approved. 
    • $144.2 million in individual assistance disbursed
    • $100 million in dedicated community partnerships through LA Rises
    • 40,000 totals visitors to disaster recovery centers 
    • 30 days to clear properties of hazardous waste
    • 9,195 properties cleared of debris 
    • 2,300 homes cleared of debris 
    • 12,500 right of entry forms submitted 
    • 8 of 8 schools resumed in person instruction 
    • 9 of 9 water systems reactivated  

    Recent news

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:AB 17 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Elections: precinct maps.AB 377 by Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Clovis) – High-Speed Rail Authority: business plan:…

    News What you need to know: California is standing up for all Americans by challenging Trump’s unlawful tariff policy, which is slowing the national economy and raising prices for consumers.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today filed an amicus brief in support of…

    News What you need to know: California is taking targeted action to address the mental health crisis among young men and boys today with a new executive order focused on suicide prevention, behavioral health, and helping find purpose through education, family, and…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Life sentence for man who followed through on rap video murder threat

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been sentenced to jail for murdering a father in front of his young child in a barbershop in Leyton.

    Josh McKay, 33, was stabbed in the neck by Renai Belle in a targeted attack and died from his injuries at the scene. During the Metropolitan Police investigation, officers discovered a rap video showing Belle threaten Josh before the attack.

    Belle, 30 (20.02.95), of Swaythling Close, Edmonton was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Wednesday, 30 July at the Old Bailey. He was previously convicted for Josh’s murder and possession of a knife on Wednesday, 4 June.

    A man and woman were also convicted and sentenced for separate offences.

    Josh’s mother, Bash Kehinde said: “Today’s sentencing changes nothing for me and my family. I will never see my beautiful son. And his two children will now face life without their hero.

    “To all of the mothers of murdered children, I understand your pain, the sadness and sense of loss that is unbearable. It is made worse because it was all so senseless.

    “Josh was a beautiful happy kind man and an active and loving father. The world is less kind, less bright and less funny without him here.”

    Detective Inspector Chris Griffith, from Specialist Crime North, who led the investigation, said: “This was a savage and pre-planned attack, committed in broad daylight and with scant regard for passers-by. What took place left the local community reeling, and two young children without their father.

    “My heart goes out to Josh’s family and friends. He was a loving parent, whose life was ended in the most horrendous way.

    “I hope that today’s result provides Josh’s family with some closure, and allows the community to feel safer knowing that Belle is no longer free to commit such heinous crimes.”

    The court heard that Josh was at a barbershop on Lea Bridge Road with his son on Saturday, 6 July. Around 15:00hrs, as shown on CCTV seized by the investigation team, Belle entered the shop wearing a balaclava where he stabbed Josh in the neck in a pre-meditated attack following a long-standing dispute. Belle was then chased away by Josh.

    Members of the public rushed to Josh’s aid and attempted to provide medical treatment until the arrival of officers and paramedics. Despite their best efforts, Josh died from his injuries.

    A determined investigation began immediately in which officers painstakingly combed through more than 100 hours of CCTV footage to track Belle’s movements and understand what took place.

    Officers discovered that Belle was the passenger in a car being driven by his partner, Tenika Parker. Having seen Josh enter the barbershop, the pair drove to the address of man called Daniel Cooper. In doorbell footage later seized, Cooper was seen providing Belle with the balaclava and knife that would be used minutes later to murder Josh. Belle was then driven back to the barbers nearby before stabbing Josh. He was helped to escape by Parker in the waiting car.

    A manhunt led to the arrest of Belle at an address in Pincott Road, SW19 on Monday 8 July, 2024.

    As part of officers’ determination to further establish a watertight case against Belle, further enquiries led them to discover a rap video on YouTube showing Belle threaten Josh in advance of the attack, more proof that it was pre-planned.

    Parker was initially arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender on Sunday, 7 July in India Dock Road, Poplar. She was stopped by police while driving the car that had been identified as involved in the murder. During a search of Parker’s vehicle, officers found distinct black sliders Belle was seen wearing in CCTV footage, as well as traces of blood that officers sent for forensic testing. This provided a DNA match to Josh. Parker was rearrested on Wednesday, 2 October, and charged with perverting the course of justice after CCTV footage showed her attempting to clean her car after the attack to remove any evidence.

    Cooper was arrested after handing himself in to police on Thursday, 11 July. During a search at Cooper’s property, officers discovered two knives matching the branding of the weapon that was left at the scene of Josh’s murder. Forensic testing on the balaclava and knife discarded by Belle at the scene of Josh’s murder found DNA that matched with Cooper.

    On Wednesday, 4 June, Tenika Parker, 39 (21.02.86), of Canterbury Road, Leytonstone and Daniel Cooper, 22 (20.02.03) of Gosport Road, Leytonstone stood trial alongside Belle.

    Parker was convicted of possession of a knife and perverting the course of justice. On Wednesday, 30 July, she was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 2 years and 3 months years in prison.

    Cooper had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife but was acquitted of other offences. He was sentenced on Friday, 6 June for 7.5 months.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Cramer Led Priorities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    Members unanimously advanced two Cramer bills to increase veteran access to suicide prevention services in unserved states and support rural veterans’ transportation to health care appointments. 

    ***Click here for audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a markup today, which featured two pieces of legislation led by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the committee, to enhance rural veterans’ access to health care services. The committee advanced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, and language reflecting the Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act, which will now advance to the Senate floor for consideration.

    “It doesn’t matter where a veteran lives, every veteran has earned access to quality and timely health care,” said Cramer.These bipartisan bills do a couple of things. The one ensures veterans across rural America, including North Dakota, can travel to their medical appointments, whether it’s in their community or at a VA facility. And then, it allows every veteran across the country to be able to receive suicide prevention support if they need it. It’s time to pass this measure on the Senate floor. I know it will pass easily; we just need our leadership to put it up.”

    In April, Cramer and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the bipartisan Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act to provide priority consideration of SSG Fox SPGP applications to entities in states like North Dakota and Delaware, which have not previously received an award. Entities in five other states have also never received suicide prevention grants. The language is included as part of the Helping Optimize Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) for Heroes Act, which reauthorizes the SSG Fox SPGP, and increases the grant funding available to entities providing mental health support to veterans. Additionally, Cramer included similar language improving access to suicide prevention services in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package to ensure North Dakota veterans receive suicide prevention support.

    Cramer also passed the Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act out of committee. This bipartisan bill was introduced with U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in March. This legislation would permanently reauthorize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Highly Rural Transportation Grant (HRTG) Program, which provides free transportation services to VA-authorized healthcare appointments for veterans living in rural areas. It would also add Tribal Organizations and Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) as entities eligible to apply directly for the program and provide additional assistance for entities to purchase vehicles. Presently, 35 counties across North Dakota are served by the HRTG program, and this legislation ensures these essential transportation services will remain available for veterans while expanding access and resources for other veterans needing transportation services.

    During the markup, members of SVAC also passed two pieces of legislation cosponsored by Cramer. The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act would establish a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations and assist them in providing service dogs to eligible veterans. This legislation builds on the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act, a bipartisan bill Cramer introduced along with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), which authorized a pilot program to connect service dogs with veterans experiencing mental illnesses and was signed into law in 2021. Upon the passage of PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act in 2021, Cramer visited Service Dogs for America, an accredited nonprofit trainer of service dogs in Jud, N.D.

    The other legislation is the Veterans Cost of Living Adjustment Act, which would require the VA to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It would also raise the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: South East women stepping up

    Source:

    Trailblazing women across the south east region are stepping up into roles which have only ever been held by men.

    Deputy Chief Officer South East, Trevor Owen, said it was amazing to see dedicated women taking on the challenge of leadership roles.  

    “These women are bringing fresh perspectives, strength, and dedication to their positions and inspiring the next generation of female leaders in CFA,” he said.  

    In Golden Beach Paula Grosveld is stepping down as Captain of the brigade after 20 years and will be stepping into the role of Group Officer for Banksia Group.  

    Her new role will involve supporting the brigades in her group to deliver the best for their communities as well as supporting members to achieve their personal goals within CFA.  

    “I hope I can bring a real sense of respect, kindness, and commitment to the role so that all the brigades know that if they need anything from the group, we will be there to support them,” she said.  

    Paula has been involved with CFA for 39 years and throughout that time has held various roles.  

    Paula is passionate about young people getting involved and hopes she can inspire those coming through the ranks to step up into leadership roles.  

    “Hopefully I can just carry on from the last few group officers and build on what we already have,” she said.  

    Golden Beach sits in CFA’s District 10 in East Gippsland and Paula said she is really proud to be from an area that has over 90 group management and brigade management positions filled by women.  

    “In District 10 we have huge representation of women in Brigade Management Teams and in group management teams,” she said.   

    ‘It is just amazing that the women here put up their hand and they have a crack and it’s awesome to see these women grow and learn alongside them.” 

    Next door in District 11 Bronwyn “Bronnie” Jonkers from Wairewa brigade is the secretary, treasurer and now the fourth Deputy Group Officer of Orbost Group. 

    Bronnie is the first female DGO in Orbost Group. Bronnie has been a volunteer for just over five years, starting in Wairewa before moving to Stratford and then back to Wairewa.    

    Since then, Bronnie has been on a whirlwind of a ride, completing Women’s Challenge Camps, doing lots of training and was elected to the position of 4th Lieutenant at Stratford Brigade along with Fundraising Coordinator role before moving back to Wairewa. 

    As a mum of three kids Bronnie knows about keeping busy but hopes she can continue to learn and push herself in her new role.  

    “I have grown to love being able to help as much as I can,” she said.  

    “I signed up thinking I would just be a firefighter and fight fires but since being in CFA I have just continued to grow.” 

    She encourages all girls and women to think about getting involved in CFA.  

    “It is a great community to get involved in and you make a lot of new friends, all the women are supportive and you will be really supported in pushing yourself,” she said.  

    CFA’s District 8 is getting two new lieutenants, Alida Goodchild at Tyabb and Claire Maloney at Carrum Downs.  

    Stepping into the role of fourth lieutenant for the Tyabb brigade is an exciting new step for Alida Goodchild.  

    “There has never been a female lieutenant at Tyabb,” she said.  

    Alida said she is proud to be stepping into this role and hopes she can bring her strengths to the forefront. 

    “There are more women in the brigade than we have ever had,” she said 

    “I really want to lead by example and show that they too can enter these roles and step up in the brigade to take on leadership roles.”  

    In her role as fourth lieutenant Alida will be supporting the brigades mental health program, helping with fundraising and social events like brigade dinners, hydrant maintenance, and social media.   

    “They really tailor the portfolios to what you are good at and they move around depending on who is in the role so you can really thrive in your areas,” she said.  

    Claire Maloney is not only the first female lieutenant in the Carrum Downs brigade but she is the first fifth lieutenant the brigade has ever had.  

    On top of this she is stepping into the role of protective equipment manager, which is also a first for the brigade as they prepare to welcome a new breathing apparatus (BA) truck to their brigade.  

    “It’s fun to be at the decision table with the brigade management team and get a peek behind the curtain.” 

    Claire said over the years she has been involved with CFA, the desire to take on more challenges and leadership has developed. 

    “I don’t think I started off with that in mind but it has definitely grown on me,” she said.  

    The confidence Claire gets to take on leadership roles she attributes to developing and running a confidence course for crew trainers. 

    “I definitely learned lots through that and it helped me to get the confidence to step up into other roles.” 

    • Paula Grosveld
    • Claire Maloney
    • Bronwyn Jonkers
    • Alida Goodchild
    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Victory for vintage vehicles and private motorhomes

    Source: New Zealand Government

    From 1 September, commonsense changes will see vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes moving to annual vehicle inspections rather than six-monthly, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

    “Everyone loves spotting a beautifully kept vintage car out for a Sunday drive, and cruising around our beautiful country in a motorhome is a classic Kiwi dream,” Mr Bishop says.

    “There are about 128,000 vintage vehicles and 39,000 private motorhomes registered in New Zealand. Until now, their owners have had to front up for a Warrant or Certificate of Fitness inspection every six months – even though these vehicles are driven far less than your average modern car.

    “Evidence shows that vintage vehicles and motorhomes are half as likely to have a contributing fault in a serious crash – even after adjusting for how many of them are on the road. And when it comes to passing a WoF inspection, vintage vehicles actually perform better than vehicles under 40 years old.

    “In fact, once a vehicle hits 40, its pass rates go up – proof that hitting middle age isn’t all bad news.

    “Earlier this year, the Government consulted on reducing the frequency of those inspections to six-monthly. Public support was overwhelmingly in favour of making this change.

    “I’m pleased to confirm that from 1 September, vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes will only require annual inspections instead of six-monthly.

    “Owners of these vehicles can now spend less time on bureaucracy and queueing for a vehicle inspection, and more time where they’d rather be – under the bonnet or out on the road. 

    “For drivers of modern cars, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about you. The Government will also be reviewing WOF/COF frequency and inspection requirements for other light vehicles as part of the Land Transport Rules Reform Programme. We’ll have more to say on this soon.”

    Notes to Editor: 

    Attached: Photo of Transport Minister Chris Bishop in a 1964 Austin Healey MkIII

    From 1 September 2025:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on the proposal for a second toll point for Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    What do you think of the proposal to add a second toll point on the State Highway 2 (SH2) Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road?  NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) wants you to have your say.

    Public consultation is now live and runs through to 5pm Thursday 28 August 2025.

    NZTA is proposing an amendment be made to the toll scheme to allow for an additional toll point to be installed on the SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road. This enables motorists travelling between Domain Road Interchange and the Pāpāmoa East Interchange to be charged a toll price, contributing toward debt repayment for the construction of this state highway. 

    “Tolling is an important tool in our kete to support accelerated growth and economic productivity in the region,” says Susan Collins, Regional Manager of System Design for NZTA.

    “It’s already been used effectively in Tauranga to bring forward the construction of new roads such as the State Highway 2 Tauranga Eastern Link and State Highway 29 Takitimu Drive toll roads.

    “It was the intention of the existing toll scheme to ensure all Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road users make a direct contribution to the road they’re using. The location of the current toll gantry means users travelling between the Domain Road Interchange and the new Pāpāmoa East Interchange are not currently able to be tolled.

    By installing a new toll point, people travelling between the Domain Road Interchange and the new Pāpāmoa East Interchange would pay a lower toll price than the current toll, reflecting the shorter distance travelled. The proposed prices being consulted on are:

    • $1.10 for light vehicles 
    • $2.80 for heavy vehicles. 

    Vehicles travelling the full length of the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, between Domain Road Interchange and Paengaroa Roundabout, would continue to pay current toll prices $2.30 for light vehicles and $5.60 for heavy vehicles.

    The new toll point is expected to save $1.7 million in interest payments on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road loan and is estimated to bring the end date forward by 12 months.

    If you’d like to make a submission go to: nzta.govt.nz/teltolling

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI: Duos Technologies Group, Inc. Announces Pricing of $40 Million Upsized and Oversubscribed Public Offering of Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    With over $40 million in expected cash on hand, Duos is now fully capitalized to fulfill its $50 million revenue pipeline and advance deployment of an additional 65 Edge Data Centers

    Offering included primary participation from fundamental institutional investors, including a leading long-only mutual fund, several preeminent global investment managers, and existing investors

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (“Duos” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DUOT) a provider of adaptive, versatile and streamlined Edge Data Center (“EDC”) solutions tailored to meet evolving needs in any environment, today announced the pricing of its upsized and oversubscribed underwritten public offering of 6,666,667 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $6.00 per share, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 838,851 shares to cover over-allotments at the public offering price.

    With over $40 million in cash now expected on the balance sheet, Duos is now fully capitalized to fulfill its $50 million revenue pipeline and advance deployment of 65 additional Edge Data Centers. The offering included primary participation from fundamental institutional investors, including a leading long-only mutual fund, several preeminent global investment managers, and existing investors.

    The net proceeds from the offering will be used to expand, accelerate, and further commercialize the Company’s Edge Data Center business. With this funding, the Company is now fully capitalized to execute on its $50 million revenue pipeline and advance to Stage 2 of its EDC strategy, which is the development and deployment of 65 edge data centers.

    Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners, is acting as the sole bookrunner for the offering.

    “We are excited to announce this offering and the strong support from both new and existing investors,” said Charles Ferry, CEO of the Company. “Their commitment reflects confidence in Duos’ future and the transformational growth we are now positioned to unlock, with a strong cash position and accelerating demand from our Edge Data Center customers.”

    The offering is expected to close on or about August 1, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-272603) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 12, 2023, and declared effective by the SEC on June 21, 2023, and a registration statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, was filed with the SEC and became effective on July 30, 2025.

    A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. A final prospectus supplement will be filed with the SEC. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may also be obtained by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at prospectus@titanpartnersgrp.com.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About Duos Technologies Group, Inc.

    Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Duos Technologies, Inc., Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation, designs, develops, deploys and operates intelligent technology solutions for Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) applications including real-time analysis of fast-moving vehicles, Edge Data Centers and power consulting. For more information, visit www.duostech.com, www.duosedge.ai and www.duosenergycorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things our plans, strategies and prospects — both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated,” and “potential,” among others. Any statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein, including statements as to the completion of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering and the intended use of net proceeds from the offering, are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents that we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to Duos Technologies Group, Inc. or a person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE #2: Concern for welfare – Alice Springs Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force continues to hold serious concerns for the welfare of 26-year-old Gach, who has not been seen or heard from since 5:30pm on Monday 28 July 2025.

    Gach is described as a 6-foot-tall male of Sudanese appearance with a lean build, short curly hair, and was last seen wearing a red or orange puffer jacket, cream-coloured tracksuit pants, and dark-coloured runners.

    The NT Police Search and Rescue Section (SRS) is leading an intensive search operation, now into its third day, approximately 21 km west of Alice Springs. The operation is being supported by over 50 personnel, including members from local police units and partner agencies such as NT Emergency Services, NT Fire and Rescue Service, and Parks and Wildlife NT.

    The coordinated search effort includes foot teams, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), drones, and helicopter support, with more than 500 km² of challenging terrain already covered.

    Search Coordinator Acting Sergeant Chris Grotherr said, “Search efforts have been extensive, with significant contributions from local resources. These efforts will continue into day 3. However, forecasted sub-zero overnight temperatures over the coming days are increasing our concerns for Gach’s welfare.”

    Police are appealing to the public for any information that may assist search efforts.

    Anyone who may have seen Gach in the vicinity of Larapinta Drive, Standley Chasm, or Simpsons Gap on the evening of Monday 28 July, or who has any knowledge of his current whereabouts, is urged to contact police on 131 444.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in Accessible On-Demand Transit Across Grey and Bruce Counties

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Grey and Bruce Counties, Ontario, July 30, 2025 — Residents will benefit from improved accessible transportation services and transit system efficiency after a combined investment of more than $1.4 million from the federal government, Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (S.M.A.R.T.) a not-for profit organization which provides day-to-day transportation to the residents of Bruce and Grey counties for residents who have a disability.

    S.M.A.R.T. will receive an investment to purchase four accessible vans, eight accessible cars, and booking software to improve their on-demand transit service. S.M.A.R.T. will also receive funding in partnership with Home and Community Support Services of Grey and Bruce to complete a feasibility study to explore more efficient transit software systems, which will support better service delivery of their services.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: SDHG’s Lead in Electricity-Computing Integration Helps Market Cap Hit HK$100 Billion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • SDHG market cap hit HK$100 billion for the first time, as stock price surged 200+ percent in 2025
    • From 2021 to 2024, SDHG’s total assets more than tripled, from RMB 21.43 billion to RMB 66.17 billion
    • Dazzling success attributed to SDHG’s two-pronged strategy of smart investing in new energy and computing power
    • Electricity-Computing Integration model places SDHG in unique position to lead industry
    • SDHG’s outstanding ability to align key businesses with national policy priorities wins dedicated government support

    HONG KONG, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Ltd. (00412.HK) shares rose to HK$17.26 at closing on Monday, July 28, sending the market cap of the strongly growing company to HK$103.9 billion. SDHG market cap exceeded HK$100 billion for the first time on July 11. The fact that it has since remained steadily above the HK$100 billion mark indicates the market’s unequivocal endorsement of SDHG as a leader in Electricity-Computing Integration and AI-ready infrastructure.

    SDHG’s Lead in Electricity-Computing Integration Helps Market Cap Hit HK$100 Billion

    As global competition in AI innovation intensifies to a breakneck pace, the demand for computing power has skyrocketed, which led renewable energy and computing power to become critical battlegrounds for serious contenders in the field. SDHG, a pioneer strategic investor in Electricity-Computing Integration, is widely believed to lead the race.

    Pivot to AI infrastructure builder
    The demand for both computing power and the electricity to run the data centers in China is forecast to see exponential growth in the coming years. In 2025, data center electricity consumption is expected to account for 5 percent of China’s total electricity usage. The country’s intelligent computing power is projected to reach 1,037.3 EFLOPS in 2025 and to surge to 2,781.9 EFLOPS in 2028. The highly centralized GPU clusters required for intelligent computing centers will have to consume more power.

    On the eve of AI innovation booms, SDHG has made a strategic transition from primarily making financial investments toward becoming an investment holding platform focused on emerging industries. It has since emerged as China’s leading company owning premium assets in both renewable energy and computing power, creating a unique Electricity-Computing Integration model.

    In 2022, SDHG acquired Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Ltd. (SHNE, 01250.HK) and now owns 56.97 percent of the company’s stakes. In 2023, SDHG made a strategic investment worth US$299 million in VNET Group Inc. (NASDAQ: VNET). SHNE owns clean energy projects in more than 20 provinces in China and has been actively exploring international markets. VNET started focusing on selling data center services to retail clients in China and has grown to serve hyperscale customers including Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and Huawei Cloud.

    These and other smart investment moves have helped the company gain a strong foothold in traditional infrastructure as well as in new infrastructure.

    Alignment with national policy priorities
    SDHG has shown outstanding ability to align its key businesses with major national policy priorities, namely renewable energy and computing power. As a result, SDHG enjoys full policy dividends from such national projects as “East Data, West Computing” and secures dedicated government support in energy-rich provinces, especially support for its Electricity-Computing Integration model.

    Partnering with local governments and companies, SDHG has been able to achieve great success in experimenting with innovative business models that hand the company a unique advantage in both Chinese and international markets. The Ulanqab Source-Grid-Load-Storage Integration Project in Inner Mongolia is one of SDHG’s flagship projects and epitomizes the innovativeness of Electricity-Computing Integration.

    SDHG is building power generation and storage facilities (solar and wind) right next to AIDC and other computing power centers in grassland town Ulanqab. The model breaks down traditional power grid constraints by enabling direct electricity trading (“selling electricity across the wall”). It thus establishes an ecosystem of power generation, transmission, and consumption in the same physical space. This self-contained green ecosystem, with tremendous environmental and economic value, operates on the principles of:

    – Instant Utilization (power consumed immediately upon generation)
    – On-Demand Availability (guaranteed supply for computing facilities)
    – Market-Based Pricing (dynamic cost optimization)
    – Mutual Benefit (win-win for energy producers and computing operators)

    Upon completion, the SDHG Ulanqab project will generate approximately 860 million kWh of electricity annually, supplying a significant part of the power to run VNET’s 150MW computing centers in Ulanqab. When the 1GW Ulanqab III is in full operation and powered by SDHG, an additional RMB 1.3 billion worth of economic benefits will be created for the company.

    The SDHG Ulanqab project with its pioneering Electricity-Computing Integration model is set to play a major role in AI’s transformation of Chinese tech industry, the same way as Stargate and other mega projects contribute to the building of AI infrastructure in their respective countries.

    Reliable financing toolkit
    SDHG’s solid background in licensed financial transactions and ability to leverage Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center have also been crucial in its success in financing the new energy and computer power projects with a reliable world-class toolkit.

    In May 2024, SDHG issued US$900 million worth of perpetual bonds — the largest USD senior perpetual bond issuing by any Chinese issuer since 2021, which were subscribed by 280 institutional accounts across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In March 2025, SDHG’s portfolio company VNET Group Inc. completed a $430 million convertible preferred notes offering — the largest such issuance relative to market cap by a Chinese firm since early 2024 which secured foundational capital for its domestic expansion.

    Endowed with the above-mentioned advantages, SDHG has established itself as a market leader with proven operational excellence, attracting more and more major companies to become customers and partners.

    In May 2025, SDHG signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. to build projects driven by “green computing power and clean energy”, develop “zero-carbon smart parks”, and collaborate in the field of intelligent transportation, including vehicle-road coordination and large-scale intelligent driving models.

    The capital market has also reacted to SDHG’s new strategy and remarkable business performance enthusiastically. In June 2025, multiple brokerages issued initiating coverage reports with “Outperform” ratings for SDHG, including Soochow Securities (Hong Kong), Zhongtai Securities, Tebon Securities, and SXC Securities.

    “Through smart strategic maneuvers, SDHG has managed to build a complete ecosystem in new energy and new infrastructure, greatly enhancing the company’s core competitiveness,” the Zhongtai Securities report states.

    SDHG was incorporated as China New Financial Group Limited. The company was acquired by Shandong Hi-Speed Group in 2017 and adopted its current name in 2022. It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the same year and is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Composite Index. The company currently holds an Fitch “A-” Issuer Default Rating (IDR) with an ESG Entity Rating of “2” (Sustainable Fitch).

    SHDG has been on a phenomenal growth trajectory in the last 4 years despite macroeconomic challenges in the world and in the region. From 2021 to 2024, its total assets more than tripled — expanding from RMB 21.43 billion to RMB 66.17 billion. Its stock price has soared over 200 percent in 2025, while annual revenues are forecast to grow to RMB 6.59 billion, RMB 6.77 billion, and RMB 7.37 billion for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively. Net profit attributable to parent company shareholders is expected to more than double in the period, from RMB 216 million in 2025 to RMB 555 million in 2027.

    “We expect SDHG to keep its growth momentum in the coming years, benefiting from and contributing to national policy initiatives in new energy and computing power. In particular, SDHG’s Electricity-Computing Integration model powering AIDC will cement the company’s lead in the industry and help realize its full potential as a market innovator,” the Zhongtai Securities report concludes.

    Media Contact
    Company Name: Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group
    Contact: Stanley Shi
    Website: https://www.sdhg.com.hk/en/
    Email: stanleyshi@sdhg.com.hk

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19edaee3-12ec-4982-8ee3-ecf0bfa533d8

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Concern for welfare – Alice Springs Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force holds concerns for the welfare of 26-year-old Gach, who was last seen leaving his home in Alice Springs yesterday afternoon at 3:30pm.

    Gach last spoke to family later in the day at 5:30pm via phone, however he failed to attend work for a rostered shift that night.

    Gach was driving his red Mazda CX5 with NT registration CG05CH, which was located this morning by police 14.5km west of John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve on Larapinta Drive.

    He is described as being of Sudanese appearance, with dark skin and a slim build. He was last seen wearing cream tracksuit pants, a black t-shirt and black shoes.

    Police are urging anyone who may have been travelling along Larapinta Drive between 5:30pm Monday 28 July and 8:00am this morning that may have seen Gach or his vehicle, or has dash cam footage, to please contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2500075979.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Practical safety reforms welcome news for farmers – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today announced targeted consultation with farmers and the wider agriculture sector on health and safety rule changes.
    Many of the proposed changes reflect what Federated Farmers and its members have been calling for, health and safety spokesperson David Birkett says .
    “We’re really pleased the Minister has announced a raft of changes, and that she’ll be consulting directly with our sector to make sure any new rules are fit for the realities of farm life.
    “This commitment to targeted consultation is a good sign farmers will be properly heard.”
    Minister van Velden has announced the development of two new Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) – one on the roles and responsibilities in agriculture, and one on the safe use of farm vehicles and machinery.
    “We’re very pleased to see WorkSafe will be developing an ACOP to provide clearer guidance on overlapping duties and PCBU responsibilities in agriculture.
    “Farms are dynamic workplaces and we need greater clarity around who on the farm – whether it’s farmers, contractors or someone else – is responsible for particular health and safety duties, and how they can work together to manage risks.
    “It’s also great to see movement on quad bike safety, because this is where most fatalities are happening. If we’re going to reduce harm, that’s the place to start.”
    The Minister confirmed the Government will strengthen the ACOP model so businesses that comply with them have confidence they’re meeting their legal duties.
    “This is something we’ve been calling for, and it will give farmers clarity and confidence,” Birkett says.
    “We’re committed to working closely with WorkSafe throughout the process to make sure these codes are developed with farmers, not prescribed by Wellington bureaucrats.”
    The Minister also announced a review of the rules around children carrying out light chores on family farms, such as feeding animals and watering plants.
    “We strongly support clarification around what kinds of farm activities children can safely take part in,” Birkett says.
    “Family farms are unique in that they are both a home and a workplace, and kids can learn a lot when they’re safely involved.”
    Federated Farmers has worked closely with Minister van Velden since she first announced the health and safety review at the organisation’s Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays 2024.
    Since then, the Minister has joined Federated Farmers for a national webinar and visited farmers to hear firsthand about the practical challenges they face.
    “We’re proud to have played a meaningful role in helping get this reform process off the ground,” Birkett says.
    “Farm safety is absolutely vital, but the rules need to be grounded in fairness, practicality and common sense.
    “These proposals show we’re finally moving in the right direction, with clearer and more workable expectations for farmers.
    “That said, we know there’s still work needed to lift the bar in our sector. Our priority now is helping farmers feel supported and confident to engage with health and safety in a way that genuinely reduces risk on-farm – not just ticks boxes.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • Thailand-Cambodia border calm as military-level talks postponed

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The ThailandCambodia border, where fighting has raged since last week, was calm on Tuesday following a ceasefire deal and military commanders from both sides are set to meet for talks later in the day, acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said.

    Phumtham and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade following five days of intense fighting that killed at least 38 people, mostly civilians, and displaced over 300,000.

    The Thai army said in a statement there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations early on Tuesday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, and Thailand‘s military had retaliated proportionately.

    Phumtham played down the clashes, and said he had spoken with Cambodia‘s defence minister ahead of the talks between military commanders.

    “There is no escalation,” Phumtham told reporters. “Right now things are calm.”

    Thai military officials in two areas had met with their Cambodian counterparts, but commanders along the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict were yet to hold talks, Thai army spokesman Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree said in a statement.

    The parley had been scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), but it was postponed and no new time had yet been set, he added.

    Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, said at a briefing on Tuesday that there had been no new fighting along the border.

    Vehicular traffic and daily activity resumed in the Kantharalak district of Thailand‘s Sisaket province on Tuesday, about 30 km (20 miles) from the frontlines, where Thai and Cambodian troops remain amassed.

    Cars and motorbikes returned to the streets, which had been largely empty since the border clashes began on Thursday, with military vehicles among civilian traffic.

    Chaiya Phumjaroen, 51, said he returned to town to reopen his shop early on Tuesday, after hearing of the ceasefire deal on the news.

    “I am very happy that a ceasefire happened,” he said. “If they continue to fight, we have no opportunity to make money.”

     

    TALKS AND TRADE

    The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over their disputed frontier and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides and a full-blown diplomatic crisis.

    Monday’s peace talks came after a sustained push by Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued.

    Thailand and Cambodia face a tariff of 36% on their goods in the U.S., their biggest export market, unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the ceasefire deal was reached, Trump said he had spoken to both leaders and had instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks.

    Pichai Chunhavajira, Thailand‘s finance minister, said on Tuesday that trade talks with Washington are expected to be concluded before August 1, and that U.S. tariffs on the country are not expected to be as high as 36%.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday many people were starving in Gaza and suggested Israel could do more on humanitarian access, as Palestinians struggled to feed their children a day after Israel declared steps to improve supplies.

    As the death toll from two years of war in Gaza nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and fuelling international criticism of Israel over sharply worsening conditions.

    Describing starvation in Gaza as real, Trump’s assessment put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Sunday “there is no starvation in Gaza” and vowed to fight on against the Palestinian militant group Hamas – a statement he reposted on X on Monday.

    However, Netanyahu later on Monday described the situation in Gaza as “difficult”, saying his country was working to ensure aid delivery to the besieged strip.

    “Israel will continue to work with international agencies as well as the U.S. and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office.

    Trump, speaking during a visit to Scotland, said Israel has a lot of responsibility for aid flows, and that a lot of people could be saved. “You have a lot of starving people,” he said.

    “We’re going to set up food centres,” with no fences or boundaries to ease access, Trump said. The U.S. would work with other countries to provide more humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, including food and sanitation, he said.

    A White House spokesperson said additional details on the food centres would be “forthcoming.”

    ‘WHEN YOU GO TO BED HUNGRY, YOU WAKE UP HUNGRY’

    On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war’s death toll from hunger to 147, including 88 children, most in just the last few weeks.

    Israel announced several measures over the weekend, including daily humanitarian pauses to fighting in three areas of Gaza, new safe corridors for aid convoys, and airdrops. The decision followed the collapse of ceasefire talks on Friday.

    Wessal Nabil from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza described the struggle of trying to feed her three children. “When you go to bed hungry, you wake up hungry. We distract them with anything … to make them calm down,” she told Reuters.

    “I call on the world, on those with merciful hearts, the compassionate, to look at us with compassion, to be kind to us, to stand with us until aid comes in and ensure it reaches us.”

    Two Israeli defence officials said the international pressure prompted the new Israeli measures, as did the worsening conditions on the ground.

    U.N. agencies said a long-term and steady supply of aid was needed. The World Food Programme said 60 trucks of aid had been dispatched – short of target. Almost 470,000 people in Gaza are enduring famine-like conditions, with 90,000 women and children in need of specialist nutrition treatments, it said.

    “Our target at the moment, every day is to get 100 trucks into Gaza,” WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, Samer AbdelJaber, told Reuters.

    Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters the situation is catastrophic.

    “At this time, children are dying every single day from starvation, from preventable disease. So time has run out.”

    Netanyahu has denied any policy of starvation towards Gaza, saying aid supplies would be kept up whether Israel was negotiating a ceasefire or fighting.

    A spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, said Israel had not placed a time limit on the humanitarian pauses in its military operation, a day after U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said Israel had decided “to support a one-week scale-up of aid”.

    “We hope this pause will last much longer than a week, ultimately turning into a permanent ceasefire,” Fletcher’s spokesperson, Eri Kaneko, said on Monday.

    Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Compared to last week, U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said, there had only been a “small uptick” in the amount of aid being transported into Gaza since Israel started the humanitarian pauses.

    TRUMP SAYS HAMAS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH

    In his statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel would continue to fight until it achieved the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas and the destruction of its military and governing capabilities.

    Trump said Hamas had become difficult to deal with in recent days, but he was talking with Netanyahu about “various plans” to free hostages still held in the enclave.

    The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked communities across the border in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

    The Gaza health ministry said that 98 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours.

    Some of the trucks that made it into Gaza were seized by desperate Palestinians, and some by armed looters, witnesses said.

    The Hamas-run Gaza government said only 87 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Monday, with the majority of trucks looted due to what it described as “direct and systematic Israeli complicity”.

    “Currently aid comes for the strong who can race ahead, who can push others and grab a box or a sack of flour. That chaos must be stopped and protection for those trucks must be allowed,” said Emad, 58, who used to own a factory in Gaza City.

    The WFP said it has 170,000 metric tons of food in the region, outside Gaza, which would be enough to feed the whole population for the next three months if it gets the clearance to bring into the enclave.

    COGAT said more than 120 truckloads of aid were distributed in Gaza on Sunday by the U.N. and international organizations.

    More aid was expected on Monday. Qatar said it had sent 49 trucks that arrived in Egypt en route for Gaza. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies.

    Israel cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March in what it said was a means to pressure Hamas into giving up dozens of hostages it still holds, and reopened aid with new restrictions in May. Hamas accuses Israel of using hunger as a weapon.

    Israel says it abides by international law but must prevent aid from being diverted by militants, and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza’s people.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amra Lee, PhD candidate in Protection of Civilians, Australian National University

    Israel partially lifted its aid blockade of Gaza this week in response to intensifying international pressure over the man-made famine in the devastated coastal strip.

    The United Arab Emirates and Jordan airdropped 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies on Sunday. Israel has further announced daily pauses in its military strikes on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries.

    Israel reports it has permitted 70 trucks per day into the strip since May 19. This is well below the 500–600 trucks required per day, according to the United Nations.

    The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has characterised the next few days as “make or break” for humanitarian agencies trying to reach more than two million Gazans facing “famine-like conditions”.

    A third of Gazans have gone without food for several days and 90,000 women and children now require urgent care for acute malnutrition. Local health authorities have reported 147 deaths from starvation so far, 80% of whom are children.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed – without any evidence – “there is no starvation in Gaza”. This claim has been rejected by world leaders, including Netanyahu ally US President Donald Trump.

    Famine expert Alex de Waal has called the famine in Gaza without precedent:

    […] there’s no case of such minutely engineered, closely monitored, precisely designed mass starvation of a population as is happening in Gaza today.

    While the UN has welcomed the partial lifting of the blockade, the current aid being allowed into Gaza will not be enough to avert a wider catastrophe, due to the severity and depth of hunger in Gaza and the health needs of the people.

    According to the UN World Food Programme, which has enough food stockpiled to feed all of Gaza for three months, only one thing will work:

    An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone.

    Airdrops a ‘distraction and a smokescreen’

    Air-dropping food supplies is considered a last resort due to the undignified and unsafe manner in which the aid is delivered.

    The UN has already reported civilians being injured when packages have fallen on tents.

    The Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies, shared a story from a mother in Al Karama, east of Gaza City, whose home was hit by an airdropped pallet, causing the roof to collapse:

    Immediately following the impact, a group of people armed with knives rushed towards the house, while the mother locked herself and her children in the remaining room to protect her family. They did not receive any assistance and are fearful for their safety.

    Air-dropped pallets of food are also inefficient compared with what can be delivered by road.

    One truck can carry up to 20 tonnes of supplies. Trucks can also reach Gaza quickly if they are allowed to cross at the scale required. Aid agencies have repeatedly said they have the necessary aid and personnel sitting just one hour away at the border.

    Given how ineffective the air drops have been – and will continue to be – the head of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine has called them a “distraction” and a “smokescreen”.

    Malnourished women and children need specialised care

    De Waal has also made clear how starvation differs from other war crimes – it takes weeks of denying aid for starvation to take hold.

    For the 90,000 acutely malnourished women and children who require specialised and supplementary feeding, in addition to medical care, the type of food being air-dropped into Gaza will not help them. Malnourished children require nutritional screening and access to fortified pastes and baby food.

    Gaza’s decimated health system is also not able to treat severely malnourished women and children, who are at risk of “refeeding syndrome” when they are provided with nutrients again. This can trigger a fatal metabolic response.

    Gaza will take generations to heal from the long-term impacts of mass starvation. Malnourished children suffer lifelong cognitive and physical effects that can then be passed on to future generations.

    What needs to happen now

    The UN has characterised the limited reopening of aid deliveries to Gaza as a potential “lifeline”, if it’s upheld and expanded.

    According to Ciaran Donnelly from the International Rescue Committee, what’s needed is “tragically simple”: Israel must fully open the Gaza borders to allow aid and humanitarian personnel to flood in.

    Israel must also guarantee safe conditions for the dignified distribution of aid that reaches everyone, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The level of hunger and insecurity mean these groups are at high risk of exclusion.

    The people of Gaza have the world’s attention – for now. They have endured increasingly dehumanising conditions – including the risk of being shot trying to access aid – under the cover of war for more than 21 months.

    Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have just publicly called Israel’s war on Gaza “a genocide”. This builds on mounting evidence compiled by the UN and other experts that supports the same conclusion, triggering the duty under international law for all states to act to prevent genocide.

    These obligations require more than words – states must exercise their full diplomatic leverage to pressure Israel to let aid in at the scale required to avert famine. States must also pressure Israel to extend its military pauses into the only durable solution – a permanent ceasefire.

    Amra Lee 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. Air-dropping food into Gaza is a ‘smokescreen’ – this is what must be done to prevent mass starvation – https://theconversation.com/air-dropping-food-into-gaza-is-a-smokescreen-this-is-what-must-be-done-to-prevent-mass-starvation-262053

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Plastic Greenpeace report exposes petrochemical giants’ campaign to derail Global Plastics Treaty A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against… by Alexandra Sedgwick July 29, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against cuts to plastic production while generating massive profits from their growing plastics business. The report reveals that since the treaty talks began in November 2022, seven companies alone have produced enough plastic to fill 6.3 million rubbish trucks – equivalent to five and a half trucks every minute. 

    The report – ‘Plastics, Profits and Power: How petrochemical companies are derailing the Global Plastics Treaty’ draws on data obtained from industry sources. It finds that that since the start of the treaty process, Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron Phillips, Shell, SABIC and INEOS have ramped up their plastic production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes and sent a combined total of 70 lobbyists to negotiations, where they have also been represented by powerful industry front groups.  

    Dow alone has sent at least 21 lobbyists to negotiations whilst earning an estimated £3.4 billion from plastics. The report also states that INEOS, the UK’s largest plastics producer, has raised production capacity by more than 20% and is investing £3.5 billion in Project ONE, set to become Europe’s biggest plastics plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

    The Greenpeace UK report comes just days before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, in the final round of treaty talks. The report reveals the tactics used by lobbyists to dominate negotiations, influence delegates, and block progress. It also highlights the lobbying by powerful trade associations at the talks, pushing industry-friendly positions while shielding corporate members from scrutiny.

    Anna Diski, the report’s author and Senior Plastics Campaigner with Greenpeace UK, said:

    “We all want to see a strong Global Plastics Treaty that turns the tide on plastic pollution. Our research shows that those with the most to lose from meaningful regulation are working hardest to obstruct it. We can’t allow the corporations who profit from plastic pollution to write the rules or we’ll end up with a toothless Treaty. It’s time to ban lobbyists from the Talks and for UN Member States to stand firm and support a strong Treaty.”

    According to CIEL, 220 fossil fuels lobbyists attended the fifth round of treaty negotiations in 2024 held in Busan, South Korea which ended without agreement. This made lobbyists the single largest delegation at the talks – more than the EU and its member states combined, outnumbering the delegates from the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty by three to one. 

    Greenpeace is calling for at least a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040 and is demanding that a strong conflict of interest policy be embedded in the treaty to prevent undue influence; negotiations must also prioritise those most affected by the plastics crisis, with space guaranteed for independent scientists, Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and civil society groups, all of whom should all be able to play a role in shaping and implementing the treaty.  

    Ends.

    Contact:

    Greenpeace UK Press Office – press.uk@greenpeace.org or +44 7377 730878 / +44 20 7865 8255

    The report is available here 

    A photo gallery of images associated with the report is available in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes: 

    The INC5.2 summit to agree a Global Plastics Treaty will run from 5-14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. Greenpeace will be present with an international delegation of 30 people representing Africa, Southeast and East Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Canada, Colombia and the US.  The delegation will use its extensive policy and legal experience and government relationships to push for greater ambition in the treaty process, particularly on the critical issue of delivering legally binding cuts to plastic production. 

    Greenpeace UK’s analysis is based on estimated global production figures for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) for November/December 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years, for Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron, Shell, SABIC and INEOS, produced by Market Research Future (data available on request). This estimate covers two of the world’s most widely-used polymers, commonly found in packaging and consumer goods. It excludes other major plastic types such as PET and polystyrene, and excludes 2025 production data even as treaty talks continue into this year. As such, the final figure is presented as an underestimate of total plastic production during this time. To calculate the plastic volume in rubbish truck equivalents, Greenpeace UK used the standard capacity of a UK refuse truck, which holds approximately 12 metric tonnes of plastic waste.

    All of the companies mentioned in this report were given the opportunity to reply to the findings, none responded.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayors and Ministers back British manufacturers and greener buses

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Mayors and Ministers back British manufacturers and greener buses

    Government ministers and metro mayors commit to greener transport and greater job opportunities across the regions.

    • Transport Secretary, the Local Transport Minister, and Metro Mayors come together for UK bus manufacturing stocktake, promising to support highly skilled jobs that deliver the Plan for Change.
    • plans advanced to ensure a 10-year pipeline of zero-emission bus orders, with around 60% of zero-emission buses funded by government currently being built by UK-based manufacturers.
    • comes as the Bus Services Bill progresses through Parliament, with the government continuing to drive growth in the industries of the future and put passengers back at the heart of services

    Greener journeys, skilled jobs and stronger UK manufacturing were all on the agenda today (28 July 2025), as government ministers and metro mayors came together in Westminster to commit to greener transport and greater job opportunities across the regions.

    The fifth meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was chaired by the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, with wider attendance from mayors including David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Richard Parker (West Midlands), and Steve Rotheram (Liverpool), alongside Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill and the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop.

    The session focussed on the future pipeline of zero-emission bus orders, in order to give UK manufacturers the long-term certainty needed to invest and grow.

    The panel also committed to ensuring that new zero emission buses bring real social benefits to the communities they serve, and work to support local employment, sustainability, and inclusivity.

    Attendees also committed to ensuring that every pound of public money spent on zero emission buses provides the greatest social benefits for communities and the economy.

    The panel’s inaugural meeting took place in Sheffield earlier this year, and set out to ensure that the UK remains a leader in bus building while helping local authorities to deliver their transport ambitions.

    The government is working closely with local authorities to ensure new bus orders continue to support the UK supply chain and deliver cleaner, more reliable transport for passengers. Currently, around 60% of zero-emission buses funded through the government’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programmes are being built by UK-based manufacturers, and the panel is committed to supporting manufacturers as they undertake these new contracts, to ensure that they support regional growth and support opportunities that deliver the Plan for Change.

    Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, said:

    It was great to bring mayors together today for the fifth meeting of the bus manufacturing expert panel, where we committed to building a strong pipeline of future zero-emission bus orders.

    By mapping out future demand, we’re giving industry the certainty they need to grow – supporting jobs, delivering better buses for passengers, and accelerating our journey towards a cleaner, greener transport system, while delivering our Plan for Change.

    Earlier this year, the Government announced nearly £38 million to deliver 319 new zero emission buses across 12 cities in England by spring 2027, with each pound of funding matched by at least £3 of private investment. 

    Among the biggest beneficiaries were:

    • Nottinghamshire County Council, who are benefitting from £2.3 million to launch 42 new electric buses
    • Hull City Council, where £3.9 million has been allocated to provide 42 vehicles
    • West of England Combined Authority, who are receiving nearly £20 million for 160 buses

    The UK government has also recently allocated a further £28 million to deliver new zero emission buses in Sheffield and Bradford, to improve air quality on key city centre routes.

    The push for cleaner bus travel is also supported by the Bus Services Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. The Bill will give local authorities more control over how services are planned and delivered, while introducing new powers to end the use of new diesel buses in England from no earlier than 2030.

    Jason Prince, Director, Urban Transport Group, said:

    Investing in buses, especially greener, cleaner buses is good for our transport systems, our health and the economy. Government, operators and our members, working together through the manufacturing panel to unlock the full potential of greener buses will help realise these benefits for passengers and their local communities.

    Roads media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN sees only marginal improvement in humanitarian access in Gaza after restrictions eased

    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

    UNITED NATIONS, July 29 (Xinhua) — There has been only a slight increase in food aid reaching starving Gazans since Israel opened access routes, U.N. Secretary-General’s deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday.

    “It’s only been one day so far, so we need to see if the situation improves,” he said. “Compared to before, when several dozen trucks entered the sector in these days, there is a slight increase,” he added.

    Only about 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday, he said, about a fifth of what was supposed to be delivered.

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that of 17 missions requiring coordination with Israeli authorities on Sunday, only eight had been carried out, including collecting fuel and supplies. Four missions, including food deliveries, were hampered but completed.

    “Prolonged restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid have created an unpredictable environment in which people are uncertain whether aid will reach them,” OCHA said.

    UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher on Sunday welcomed Israel’s easing of restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying it would help ease the immense suffering of the starving population, adding that massive amounts of aid were needed to prevent famine and a catastrophic health crisis.

    OCHA said UN agencies and their partners also welcomed the decision.

    The World Food Programme said it had enough food in the region or on the way to feed the starving population for about three months, and the UN aid agency for Palestine refugees said 6,000 trucks in Jordan and Egypt were waiting to enter Gaza.

    The World Health Organization said July was the worst month for malnutrition-related deaths on record, with more than 85 percent of malnutrition-related deaths recorded in 2025. Nearly one in five children under 5 in Gaza City suffers from acute malnutrition.

    OCHA reiterated the need for an immediate, permanent ceasefire to ensure adequate aid and support. “The Israeli authorities must open all border crossings and corridors to ensure the delivery of aid in a fair and dignified manner,” the statement said.

    OCHA also said that only small amounts of fuel had entered Gaza in the past week, adding that fuel must be allowed in to continue aid operations, including for trucks to collect and distribute supplies. –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 News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Multi-agency road crash rescue simulation in Werribee

    Source:

    CFA members from Werribee joined Ambulance Victoria (AV) and Victoria Police for a large-scale road crash rescue training exercise on Friday (25 July).

    Now in its eighth year, the annual high-intensity simulation is designed to strengthen the collaboration and capabilities of all agencies in serious road incidents. 

    CFA crews responded to two simulated two-vehicle collisions involving patients mechanically trapped with critical injuries.  

    Werribee Fire Brigade Captain Michael Wells said the exercise is vital to ensuring agencies can operate seamlessly at real incidents. 

    “These training events allow our crews to practise advanced extrication techniques in realistic conditions,” Michael said. 

    “In times of crisis, training like this makes the response run much smoother. It also gives all agencies a greater understanding of what each service can bring to the scene. 

    “It’s more than just cutting up cars. There’s a lot involved in how we support AV and ultimately benefit the patient.” 

    Michael said the focus is on ensuring crews understand the full scope of road crash rescue operations. 

    “This exercise shows the complete picture of what our crews can do, what our equipment is capable of, and the timeframes involved at every stage,” he said. 

    “Road crash rescue is a vital part of the trauma care continuum. While paramedics provide pre-hospital medical care, CFA’s role is to create access so patients can be reached, treated, and transported as quickly and safely as possible.” 

    He said the collaboration also helps paramedics plan their interventions more effectively. 

    “If someone’s going to be trapped for 10 minutes versus an hour, that makes a huge difference in how AV manages the patient,” he said. 

    “These exercises also strengthen our relationships with hospitals. Last year, our brigade worked with The Alfred Hospital’s trauma fellows in similar training, showing the full continuum of care from the time of impact to hospital treatment.” 

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News

  • PM Modi expresses grief over death of Kanwariyas in Deoghar road accident

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district that claimed the lives of five Kanwariyas and left several others injured. The Prime Minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

    The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) expressed grief over the tragedy. In a post on X, the PMO said, “The road accident that occurred in Deoghar, Jharkhand, is extremely tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives in this incident. May God grant them the strength to bear this pain. Along with this, I pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”

    The accident took place early Tuesday near Jamuniya village under the Mohanpur block of Deoghar. A private bus carrying around 35 pilgrims collided head-on with a truck transporting gas cylinders. The vehicle was en route from Deoghar to the Basukinath temple during the ongoing Shravani Mela, when it lost control and hit a stack of bricks after the initial impact.

    According to Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Sadar Ravi Kumar, “The information about the accident was received around 4 to 5 am. A private bus, carrying pilgrims from Deoghar to Basukinath, lost control and collided with a truck. The bus then crashed into a pile of bricks. The driver died on the spot. Four more deaths have been confirmed. The injured have been admitted to Deoghar Sadar Hospital.”

    Inspector General of Dumka Zone, Shailendra Kumar Sinha, confirmed that the bus was carrying Kanwariyas from Mohanpur and that the collision involved a truck loaded with gas cylinders. “Five Kanwariyas have died in the incident. All the injured have been shifted to the district hospital for treatment,” he said.

    Santhal Pargana Zonal IG S K Sinha also confirmed the incident. “Five Kanwariyas have died in a road accident as their bus collided with a truck. Several others are injured. More details are awaited,” he told ANI.

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the incident and directed the district administration to provide all necessary medical aid and assistance. In a post on X, he said, “Extremely sad news was received this morning about the death of devotees in a bus accident near Jamuniya Chowk. May Baba Baidyanath grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the grieving families.”

    The site of the crash is located along the banks of the north-flowing Jamuniya River, near a prominent Shiva-Parvati temple. Eyewitnesses said the impact of the collision was severe, leaving the bus mangled and several passengers trapped. Emergency teams, including the police, medical personnel, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), responded promptly to carry out rescue and relief operations.

    Further investigation is in progress to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor pledges to unlock growth in Cornwall

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Chancellor pledges to unlock growth in Cornwall

    Rachel Reeves confirms up to 1,300 jobs could be created following a £28.6 million National Wealth Fund investment to support the reopening of South Crofty Tin mine.

    • Investment will help cement Cornwall’s role in supplying a nationally critical material, supporting the government’s Industrial Strategy to boost growth in priority industries as part of the Plan for Change.

    • Proposals to cut licensing red tape announced yesterday will breathe life into Cornwall’s pubs, clubs, restaurants, and cafes with more alfresco dining and longer opening hours on offer for residents and tourists, as part of the Small Business Plan.

    • Chancellor’s pledge to renew Cornwall follows the Spending Review which delivered record investment across the UK, creating jobs and delivering economic growth that puts money in people’s pockets.

    Rachel Reeves has pledged to unlock growth in Cornwall through investment, slashing growth-stunting red tape, and creating good jobs that will put more money in Cornish people’s pockets.

    While touring Cornish Metals in Redruth this week, the Chancellor confirmed that a £28.6 million investment delivered by the National Wealth Fund to help finance the re-opening of the South Crofty Tin mine could create 1,300 jobs for the region.

    As well as the project itself creating over 300 jobs, it is estimated that a further 1,000 jobs will be created more widely as the company uses more local suppliers like metal fabricators and electricians and the mine itself will fuel supply chains in in the UK.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    Despite having so much potential to grow, Cornwall has been neglected by successive governments, and its families and businesses have suffered as a result.

    Like in every part of the UK, I am determined to unlock growth that creates jobs and puts more money in Cornish people’s pockets.

    Our investment to revive Cornwall’s proud tin mining industry and the thousands of jobs it will create for years to come is one way we are renewing the county, and there is more to come in our Plan for Change.

    This supports the government’s Industrial Strategy to boost growth in the UK’s high-growth industries, including clean energy, as tin is a critical material used in a wide range of electronic products manufactured by the sector.

    As demand for its use in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, semi-conductors, and energy storage increases as Britain transforms into a clean energy superpower, Cornwall’s role in strengthening our domestic tin supply will be cemented. 

    The Chancellor pointed to this as an example of how the government will deliver renewal in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK after delivering record investment in our security, health, and economy in the Spending Review, leading to new jobs and economic growth – the number one mission of the Plan for Change.

    Don Turvey, CEO of Cornish Metals, said:

    We are honoured to welcome the Chancellor to South Crofty and proud to showcase the significant progress we’re making as we move toward production. The UK government’s £28.6 million investment via the National Wealth Fund is a powerful vote of confidence in our project and the future of Cornwall’s mining industry.

    Tin is a critical mineral for the clean energy transition, essential to electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable infrastructure. By reviving domestic production at South Crofty, we’re not only creating over 300 direct jobs but also supporting many more across local supply chains and regional businesses.

    Our focus remains on delivering long-term, sustainable value safely, responsibly, and with deep roots in the community. We’re proud to be playing a role in bringing responsible tin mining back to Cornwall and supporting economic renewal and industrial growth in the region.

    Ian Brown, Head of Banking & Investments at the National Wealth Fund, said:

    Cornish Metals have made excellent progress as they work towards re-opening South Crofty. Our financing is designed to help them crowd further investment into the region, bringing skilled, year-round job opportunities, and driving local growth.

    Stopping off for a spot of fish and chips on the seafront, the Chancellor also met with staff at Harbour Lights fish and chip shop on Arwenack Street in Falmouth to discuss the government’s proposals to rip up arduous regulations that have blocked restaurants like theirs from growing.

    Ensuring local councils are more lenient when considering licensing applications, making it easier for pubs to serve their customers outside and for longer, and binning the outdated rule that businesses need to pay to advertise in locally printed press if applying for a license are three of ten recommendations being considered by the government so the hospitality industry in Cornwall and further afield can thrive.

    A consultation on the proposals will be launched later this year and this follows the reform of planning rules announced in the Autumn, which will further free the hospitality industry from growth-stunting regulations, fuel the economy and reduce government borrowing by £3.4 billion. This comes ahead of the publication of the Small Business Plan, which will show how the Plan for Change will rejuvenate smaller businesses and put more money in people’s pockets.

    The Chancellor also visited APCL A&P Falmouth, where she saw at first hand, how the ship repair facility supports the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and commercial vessels.

    The Chancellor welcomed APCL’s plans to redevelop the docks. The proposed expansion would significantly increase the port’s capacity for supporting defence, offshore, ferries and cruise vessels.

    As well as hearing about the economic benefits the plans could deliver for Cornwall, she also discussed APCL’s contribution to the deployment of floating offshore wind infrastructure as the government works to boost the country’s homegrown, clean energy supply to bring down bills for families.

    Mike Spicer, Managing Director of APCL A&P Falmouth, said:

    APCL A&P Falmouth is a centre of excellence for the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, offshore vessels, cruise ships and ferries. The facility is also a busy working port, handling over 100,000 tonnes of product annually and welcoming 56 cruise calls this year. 

    APCL was delighted to welcome the Chancellor to our facility and demonstrate at first hand our capabilities.

    The visit also provided a platform to discuss our plans to expand our facility, which would significantly enhance the services we can offer to our defence, offshore and cruise customers and help fulfil Cornwall’s ambitious floating offshore wind agenda.

    In a separate engagement, the Chancellor met with Kensa, a Cornish-founded and headquartered manufacturer of ground source heat pumps that has manufactured and installed over 17,000 in the UK since its establishment in 1999.

    As the government has stepped up efforts to transform Britain into a clean energy superpower and support households to upgrade their heating and energy efficiency, Kensa aims to support this by expanding its operations significantly, increasing its workforce from 200 to 450 by 2030 and growing its heat pump production and installations from 2,500 a year to 25,000 a year.

    Tamsin Lishman, CEO of Kensa, said:

    Kensa sits at the heart of the government’s plans for green industrial growth, a proud Cornish manufacturer of ground source heat pumps and a nationwide installer of heat networks.

    Kensa has bold ambitions to invest and expand its workforce and operations over the next five years, increasing employment in Cornwall and the wider UK to 450 people and many hundreds more in our installation supply chains.

    I have been buoyed by the recent government announcements on the Future Homes Standard, major funding commitments for the Warm Homes Plan, and a clear plan to bolster heat pump manufacturing as part of the new Industrial Strategy. This is the policy platform we need for growth in Kensa and in Cornwall, and we look forward to working with the government to deliver it.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Moscow 2030 Forum invites children to the city economy festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    At the Luzhniki sports complex, children and their parents will be introduced to the work of utility workers and rescuers at the city services festival as part of the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030”. Master classes and other events will be held at Pavilion 1a in the Horseshoe zone and on the alley leading to the Grand Sports Arena.

    Together with the masters and representatives urban economy complex Children will weave talisman bracelets, paint shoppers and T-shirts, make bath bombs and a grass toy from sprouted seeds, and also make soap. At the master classes, they will be told what asphalt is made of and will be offered to design helmets for the capital’s gas workers.

    You can learn about electricity in a playful way in the “Electrical Safety Corner”, and conduct an experiment to determine the quality of water in class Museum of Moscow Municipal EconomyFor young researchers, specialists from PJSC MOEK have prepared a chemical and scientific show, which will take place at the forum-festival site every Sunday in August.

    You can find yourself inside a soap ball at the Mosvodokanal JSC station. And at the Moskollektor JSC site, children will be introduced to the work of the organization’s specialists and offered to clear the area with a small excavator. Mosvodostok State Unitary Enterprise invites you to an outdoor master class with radio-controlled boats.

    The Department of Capital Repairs installed a modern children’s playground with a spiral slide and swings on the festival grounds — such play areas are created in Moscow during the improvement of courtyards and public spaces. At the site of the State Budgetary Institution “Greening”, guests will get acquainted with the work of specialists who take care of the flower beds and flower gardens of the capital, and will make a bright chrysanthemum from felt. In addition, a large inflatable slide will be in operation.

    The capital’s rescuers have prepared a series of interactive activities for young visitors: the children will try on their clothes, help a victim played by a soft toy, and play fire tic-tac-toe.

    Races on models of municipal service vehicles will be held in the karting zone. And at the equipment exhibition, visitors will be able to sit in the cabins of real municipal and rescue service vehicles. The exposition will be open on the central alley near the Big Sports Arena for the entire duration of the forum-festival.

    To cover all the sites, you can join the excursion. The children will go on a journey on a steam locomotive, the carriages of which are designed in the style of special equipment of the city economy.

    “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” is an opportunity to get acquainted with the future on a citywide scale by trying out its technologies that are already being used in the capital today. Children and adults will be able to communicate with robots and artificial intelligence, watch modern unmanned transport in action, play on technologically advanced sports grounds, study new educational, medical and industrial innovations, immerse themselves in VR space and do much more.

    A large-scale forum-festival will be held within the framework of the project “Summer in Moscow”. From August 1 to September 14, dozens of venues will host cultural, sports, educational and other events dedicated to the development of one of the most modern megacities in the world. Information about the venues and a detailed program can be found at official website.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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 News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: [Testimonials] Samsung EEIP: Driving Measurable Growth in Black-Owned SMMEs

    Source: Samsung

    As part of Samsung’s R280-million worth Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) launched in 2019, in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic) – the partners recently opened the third call, inviting all suitable, black-owned ICT and Service Centre SMMEs to take part in this year’s Samsung EEIP Enterprise Development (ED) Programme.
     
    This Samsung ED programme which aims to empower black-owned ICT and Service Centre enterprises to boost the economy and create jobs through entrepreneurship and business support – involves initiatives like grant funding, specialist business development support and access to supply chain opportunities for black-owned and women-owned small, medium and micro enterprises. This programme’s efforts are aligned with the country’s transformation goals and aim to foster a more inclusive economy. 
     
    In an effort to inspire potential future participants coupled by Samsung’s need to measure the impact and effectiveness of its CSR initiatives – the company took the time to speak to two of the beneficiaries from the ED programme in the last few years. When asked how Samsung EEIP provided the participating SMME owners with the confidence and support needed to mean business about their businesses, this is what they had to say:
     
    One of the beneficiaries is Thoriso Rangata. He is a 32-year-old, businessman and the owner of KTO Digital, which focuses on Business Process Automation, Software Development Services and Background Screening Software as a Service (SaaS) solution provider. Thoriso says from being part of the programme, he gained the reassurance and confidence he needed.
     
    Thoriso based in Johannesburg, originally from Limpopo, became part of the programme when he responded to a public call for applications in 2020. At the time, his business, KTO Digital, needed support in order to meet the company’s growth objectives. Thoriso is a true example of how the programme is able to empowerment ICT entrepreneurship as well as stimulate job creation and assist in contributing to economic growth. 
     

     
    Since being part of the EEIP programme, Thoriso’s company won the Nedbank Business of the Year Award in 2022. In the same year, his company launched their own product and received accreditation as a credit bureau business.
     
    The support he received from the programme has allowed KTO Digital to create over 20 jobs between 2021 to date. This is in line with the programme’s objective of creating both direct and indirect jobs, with a particular emphasis on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and the development of township economy.
     
    These achievements demonstrate how the EEIP programme has provided Thoriso and his team the opportunity to pursue their passions as well as bringing security and stability – not only to his employees but also to their families’ livelihoods. Thoriso explains, “the other direct benefits that KTO Digital received from being part of the programme included: Grant Funding, Asset Financing as well as Continuous Business Mentorship – and this, is exactly what our business needed in order to move forward.”
     
    He added: “As a company, we strongly believe that the skills we acquired from this EEIP programme, which included Business regulatory governance structures and strategic business growth approaches/methods – have contributed to the success of our business to date. This programme has really helped us to achieve our goals, and it has taken our business to new heights.”
     
    Based in Sinoville, Tshwane, the second EEIP beneficiary is Dumisani Mkhwebane – a 38-year-old businessman who co-owns and runs TIA-Solutions – an IT company with Boitumelo Mkhwebane – a 36-year-old, businesswoman. Their business focuses on Secure Scalable IT Solutions by building cloud infrastructure through collaborative team efforts. This provides their customers with resilience from cyber-attacks and contributes to productivity, efficiency as well as business continuity.
     

     
    Dumisani explained further: “As TIA-Solutions, we partner with multinational vendors such as Microsoft, Fortinet and Veritas which allow us to give our customers end-to-end, tailor-made IT solutions that cater to their business needs.”
     
    He also elaborated on how the company entered into the programme, Dumisani said: “We saw an advert on LinkedIn in 2023 about the EEIP Enterprise ED and decided to enter. We then received Capital Investment to buy computer equipment for our internal operations as well as company vehicles. In addition, we received Business Training and Skills development for our employees as well as other vital skills that we needed which included: Business Management Skills, Marketing and how to better position our company.
     
    “The programme has both Financial and Non-Financial benefits for Business Growth and Sustainability,” Dumisani added. “It is for these reasons that we would like to encourage other SMEs to apply to be part of the programme. We strongly believe that the ED programme will help grow other SMEs like it did ours and it will help a great deal in upskilling their workforce.”
     
    Importantly, this Samsung ED programme seeks to inspire potential future participants by demonstrating how the EEIP can help them kick-start their businesses. The tangible results articulated by these beneficiaries are a confirmation of Samsung’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and providing a reliable support system to SMEs in the country.
     
    Nicky Beukes, Samsung South Africa EEIP Project Manager concluded: “It is clear from these testimonials that through the reassurance and confidence offered by this Samsung EEIP ED programme – we are slowly, but surely achieving our intention of shifting the perception of potential candidates from “I’m working on something” to “I run a successful business”. As Samsung, we are happy to be delivering according to our programme’s overall and multi-faceted objectives which include the creation of a more inclusive and prosperous society through strategic investments, skills development and entrepreneurial support.” 
     

     

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI: Eviden to deploy a 5G Mobile Private Network at Port of Ploče

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Eviden to deploy a 5G Mobile Private Network at Port of Ploče

    Ploče, Croatia – July 29, 2025 – Eviden, the Atos Group product brand leading in advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI, today announces that it has been awarded a strategic contract to deploy a 5G Mobile Private Network featuring key components of its Lifelink solution at the Port of Ploče in Croatia. This initiative marks a major step in the port’s digital transformation journey through the ambitious Smart Port project, aimed at modernizing logistics, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing security using cutting-edge 5G technology.

    The Port of Ploče serves as a critical logistics hub in Central and Southeastern Europe, and the deployment of a dedicated 5G network will enable seamless, real-time connectivity across port operations. The project is being delivered in collaboration with local partner Markoja.

    “This implementation is a pivotal move toward smarter, safer and more connected port operations to support the Port of Ploče’s digital agenda”, said Sandi Marušić, Head of Eviden, Atos Group, in Croatia.

    We are proud to bring our industry-proven Lifelink solution designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for mission-critical environments”, said Lionel Toullier, Global Head of Critical-Communication Solutions, Eviden, Atos Group.

    “Through this agreement, we will significantly enhance and digitalize processes within the port area. This will ultimately enable better traffic management, increase efficiency in the transport of goods and passengers, improve safety in cargo transport and port operations, and reduce pollution,” said Tomislav Batur, Director of the Port of Ploče Authority.

    The Lifelink 5G Mobile Private Network key components deployed by Eviden’s critical communications experts, support:

    • Real-time location system (RTLS): Enables accurate tracking of ships and vehicles, improves traffic, mooring and parking management within the port, and increases security by preventing unauthorized access.
    • Advanced cargo monitoring: Implementation of smart cameras and sensors for automated cargo identification and analytics, improving the safety and efficiency of terminal operations.
    • Incident prevention and management: Deployment of thermal cameras, fire sensors, and air and sea quality measurement sensors, along with a local weather station, to strengthen safety protocols and emergency response capabilities.
    • Drone surveillance: The 5G private network will also support real-time drone operations for cargo and infrastructure monitoring.

    About Lifelink:

    Eviden’s Lifelink solution is specifically designed for mission-critical environments. It offers:

    • Secure and resilient communication
    • Low-latency, high-throughput connectivity
    • Integration with IoT, AI, and edge computing
    • Custom engineering for complex operational landscapes

    Proven success of its Lifelink solution in defense, energy and utilities now leads Eviden to expand into large-scale infrastructure projects in the transport and manufacturing sectors.

    ***

    About Eviden

    Eviden is the Atos Group brand for hardware and software products with c. € 1 billion in revenue, operating in 36 countries and comprising four business units: advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI. As a next-generation technology leader, Eviden offers a unique combination of hardware and software technologies for businesses, public sector and defense organizations and research institutions, helping them to create value out of their data. Bringing together more than 4,500 world-class talents and holding more than 2,100 patents, Eviden provides a strong portfolio of innovative and eco-efficient solutions in AI, computing, security, data and applications.

    About Atos Group

    Atos Group is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 72,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion, operating in 68 countries under two brands — Atos for services and Eviden for products. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, Atos Group is committed to a secure and decarbonized future and provides tailored AI-powered, end-to-end solutions for all industries. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contacts

    Atos Group: Isabelle Grangé | isabelle.grange@atos.net | +33 (0) 6 64 56 74 88

    Eviden: Ivana Sotonica | ivana.sotonica@eviden.com | +385 91 2867 163

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Dead to Rights’ exposes Japanese cover-up of Nanjing Massacre

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

    Director Shen Ao’s new film “Dead to Rights” tells the true story of brave civilians who risked their lives to safeguard crucial photographic evidence of Japan’s wartime atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre, defying systematic cover-up efforts and staged propaganda by Japanese forces.

    A still from “Dead to Rights.” [Photo courtesy of China Film Group] 

    “On the battlefield where smoke rises from gunfire, we see weapons and bullets. But on the invisible front, another war rages over public opinion, propaganda and culture,” Shen said. “On this battlefield, each photo is like a bullet. Opposing forces clash, each advancing their own narratives, until the world finally sees the truth and distinguishes good from evil.”

    Starring Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye and Wang Xiao, the film is based on documented accounts of Japanese military atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre. The story follows civilians who take shelter in a photo studio and are forced to develop Japanese military film for survival. When they discover photographs from the massacre and the army moves to suppress the evidence, they must fight to survive while smuggling them out.

    The narrative is based on the true story of 15-year-old Luo Jin, who in 1938 was forced to develop Japanese military photographs in Nanjing. After discovering images of atrocities, he secretly compiled a set of damning prints into an album and hid it in a temple. His friend Wu Xuan preserved the album, which served as evidence at the trial of war criminal Hisao Tani, one of the primary perpetrators of the Nanjing Massacre.

    Shen Ao, director of “Dead to Rights,” at the film’s Beijing premiere, July 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group] 

    The true story inspired the 1987 film “Massacre in Nanjing,” which later motivated director Shen to create a new cinematic interpretation of these historic atrocities.

    Shen, a photography enthusiast who has collected vintage film cameras, learned traditional photo-developing skills in university — a foundation that informed his filmmaking. Intrigued by the photo studio’s role in documenting the war crimes, he and his crew spent three years conducting extensive research. They studied archival photos, documents and eyewitness records, including Japanese soldiers’ wartime images and American missionary John Gillespie Magee’s documentation.

    “Photographs, by their very nature, are meant to preserve life’s beautiful moments,” the director said. “Yet after the Japanese army occupied Nanjing, these same images were weaponized — twisted into tools of propaganda and trophies of conquest.”

    A poster for “Dead to Rights.” [Photo courtesy of China Film Group] 

    The film also depicts the Japanese military’s “goodwill photos,” staged images designed to present a sanitized version of the occupation. The occupiers’ grotesque merriment in these photographs stands in chilling contrast to the helplessness and despair of Nanjing’s civilians.

    “These ‘goodwill photos’ represent a propaganda battle,” the director said. “While we have many films depicting combat, I can’t recall any that focus on this information warfare aspect. I want to present a fresh cinematic perspective. Beyond the military actions, the Japanese army also created carefully orchestrated public relations materials in Nanjing to mislead local civilians and international observers. What struck me most was how many of these photos featured children, vulnerable subjects who were easily exploited for such propaganda purposes.”

    The film has earned an 8.5/10 rating on review site Douban, with audiences responding emotionally to its realistic portrayal of Nanjing’s wartime tragedy. 

    The release coincides with the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese people’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Shen said the film serves to promote “correct historical understanding, opposition to historical nihilism, and strict fidelity to factual records.”

    The cast and crew of “Dead to Rights” pose for a photo at the film’s premiere, themed “every Chinese person will not forget,” in Beijing, July 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

    “I hope the characters in this film can represent Chinese people from all walks of life during this war,” he noted. “Countless ordinary individuals never had their names recorded in history textbooks. This film aims to honor them. This wasn’t merely a military victory but a triumph of the people. Only through the united will of hundreds of millions of Chinese could this victory be achieved.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing to host smart vehicle conference in October

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

    The 2025 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference will be held Oct. 16-18 in Beijing at the Beijing Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center.

    The annual conference will focus on autonomous driving, smart vehicle interiors, vehicle-road-cloud integration and intelligent low-carbon transportation.

    Organizers say the event aims to deepen integration between intelligent connected vehicles and related industries while promoting global innovation in the sector.

    The conference will include three main sessions: an opening ceremony, general assembly and closing ceremony, according to organizers. Additionally, three special events are planned: an international automotive industry cooperation conference, an automotive industry policy roundtable and a Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development conference.

    Six forums will address policy governance, technological innovation, safety and security, AI applications, industry expansion and data systems.

    This year’s event will emphasize how information technology, big data and AI are transforming the automotive industry. Discussions will examine how intelligent connected vehicles can accelerate digital transformation and integrate the physical and digital economies.

    Attendees will be able to experience vehicles with various autonomous driving capabilities, vehicle-road-cloud integration systems and smart home connectivity features.

    The World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, established in 2018, is China’s first national-level conference for smart vehicles approved by the State Council. This will be the eighth edition of the event.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Gaza, famine and widespread starvation play out as conflict intensifies

    Source: United Nations 2

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) alert reveals that famine thresholds for food consumption have been breached across most of Gaza, with acute malnutrition llevels in Gaza City confirming aid agencies’ repeated warnings.

    “Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths,” the IPC assessment maintained.

    No food – for days

    The context to the alert is stark: one in three people is now going without food for days at a time, the IPC said. Hospitals are also overwhelmed and have treated more than 20,000 children for acute malnutrition since April. At least 16 children under five have died from hunger-related causes since mid-July.

    The alert follows a May 2025 IPC analysis that projected catastrophic levels of food insecurity for the entire population by September. According to the platform’s experts, at least half a million people are expected to be in IPC Phase 5 – catastrophe – which is marked by starvation, destitution, and death.

    The crisis is driven by nearly two years of conflict sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel in October 2023 that left some 1,250 dead and around 450 people taken hostage Heavy fighting has killed more than 59,500 people according to the enclave’s health authorities and destroyed 70 per cent of Gaza’s infrastructure. Echoing aid agencies’ longstanding concerns for non-combatants, the IPC assessment confirmed that displacement is rampant, with safe areas reduced to less than 12 per cent of the entire territory.

    Ceasefire now

    Gaza has a population of some 2.1 million people and 90 per cent have been displaced, many of them multiple times over. More than 762,500 displacements have been recorded since the end of the ceasefire on 18 March.

    Meanwhile, humanitarian access remains severely restricted, with aid convoys frequently obstructed or looted. On Sunday, Israel announced that it would begin daily humanitarian pauses in Gaza. More than 100 trucks of aid reportedly entered on Sunday, but the UN continues to uphold the need to flood Gaza with food, fuel and medicine.

    In line with international calls for an end to the war, the IPC platform also calls for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and the restoration of essential services. Widespread death is imminent without urgent intervention, the report warns.

    The food security experts also appealed for the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel and critical infrastructure including health, water, sanitation, roads and telecommunications networks.

    Key Points

    Famine confirmed: IPC thresholds breached for food consumption and malnutrition.

    Children at risk: More than 20,000 treated for acute malnutrition; 16 deaths reported.

    Infrastructure collapse: 70 per cent of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed.

    Displacement crisis: Safe zones now cover less than 12 per cent of the Strip.

    For more details on the IPC and its work tracking hunger and famine conditions follow this link:

    https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147661

    MORE TO FOLLOW…

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Learners injured in Gauteng scholar transport accident

    Source: Government of South Africa

    A scholar transport accident has left approximately 20 learners injured, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said.

    Confirming Monday’s incident, the department said the learners are from various Johannesburg schools.

    “The incident took place at approximately 7am along West Park Road, near the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg. According to preliminary reports, the vehicle was allegedly travelling at a high speed when the driver appeared to lose control, causing it to overturn along the bend near West Park Cemetery,” said the department in a statement on Tuesday.

    The GDE said the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation and that authorities were on the scene shortly after the incident to assist learners who were on board and begin assessing the circumstances. 

    “According to information at our disposal, the overturned vehicle was allegedly transporting learners from Greenside High School, Parktown Girls’ High School and Roosevelt High School. 

    “[There were] reportedly 13 learners from Greenside High School, ranging from Grade 8 to Grade 11; four learners from Roosevelt High School in Grades 8, 9 and 12, while Parktown Girls’ High School had three learners in Grades 8, 10 and 11.”

    Following the crash, learners were transported to various healthcare facilities, where they were assessed for injuries and received medical treatment. 

    “Fortunately, all learners were treated and discharged into the care of their families. A majority of learners have been booked off from attending school by medical practitioners for the remainder of this week. 

    “One learner from Greenside High School, however, remains hospitalised and is scheduled to undergo surgery,” the department explained.

    Meanwhile, the department has arranged psychosocial support for all learners and their families to assist with recovery and trauma management. Additionally, departmental officials were dispatched to each school and hospital to verify the condition of all affected learners and also interact with all affected families.

    “We are grateful that there were no fatalities, and we extend our gratitude to emergency personnel, respective school management teams and our officials who responded swiftly. We are continuing to engage with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident and ensure accountability. 

    “We urge all scholar transport drivers, whether public or private, to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of our learners remains a top priority at all times. We wish all learners a speedy recovery,” Education MEC Matome Chiloane said. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa