China is deploying a large fleet of civilian cargo ships and ferries in exercises off its coast, rehearsing scenarios for a possible landing in Taiwan, according to a Reuters investigation based on satellite images and ship tracking data.
According to Reuters, in the summer of 2025, at least 12 civilian vessels — six car ferries and six deck cargo ships — took part in landing maneuvers on a beach near the town of Jieshen in Guangdong province. Satellite images captured the unloading of hundreds of military vehicles directly on the coast via ramps, without the use of port infrastructure.
Experts interviewed by the agency note that the civilian fleet could be a key element in a possible operation against Taiwan: according to current estimates, the PLA Navy and Marine Corps currently have enough of their own landing ships and boats to transport approximately 20,000 troops with equipment. The investigation indicates that the use of civilian vessels is part of a broader “shadow fleet” strategy, which allows the PRC to dramatically increase its landing and transport capabilities while simultaneously complicating the situation for the US Navy.
The investigation indicates that the use of civilian vessels is part of a broader “shadow fleet” strategy that allows the PRC to dramatically increase its landing and transport capabilities while making it more difficult for intelligence to assess the scale of preparations. According to Reuters, more than 100 civilian vessels have been tracked that are involved in military exercises or belong to companies that regularly participate in such maneuvers.
The article cites assessments by former Taiwanese Armed Forces Commander Li Shimin and other military experts who call the rehearsal of landings involving the civilian fleet a “significant step” toward the formation of real invasion plans. At the same time, Taiwanese officials point to the vulnerability of such ships to anti-ship and portable missiles and view the demonstrative exercises as part of a “cognitive war” aimed at putting psychological pressure on Taipei and its partners.
Reuters emphasizes that, despite the build-up of capabilities, it remains unclear whether the PLA is ready for a real amphibious operation across the Taiwan Strait: the scale of the invasion is difficult to conceal, and weather conditions, the island’s coastal terrain, and the potential response of the US and its allies make such a scenario extremely risky.
Reference from Experts Club: Comparison of the military capabilities of China and Taiwan (estimates for 2025)
According to open estimates (GlobalFirepower, Taiwan Ministry of Defense, budget data): Number of active military personnel
China: approximately 2.0–2.1 million (active PLA personnel).
Taiwan: nearly 230,000.
Ratio: approximately 8–9 to 1 in favor of China.
Reserves and mobilization resources
China: approximately 510,000 reservists + large paramilitary formations.
Taiwan: approximately 2.3 million reservists with a significantly smaller population, relying on mass reserves.
Air Force (general aviation)
China: about 3,300 aircraft, including about 1,200 fighters.
Taiwan: about 760 aircraft, about 280–300 fighters.
Fighter ratio: about 4–5 to 1 in favor of China.
Navy (combat ships)
China: about 750 ships and boats, including 3 aircraft carriers, dozens of destroyers and frigates, and over 60 submarines.
Taiwan: about 100 ships and boats, no aircraft carriers, with a limited number of destroyers, frigates, and submarines.
Ratio of fleet units: approximately 7–8 to 1 in favor of China, with an even more significant gap in total tonnage.
Defense budgets (2025)
China: approximately $245–270 billion per year according to official data.
Taiwan: approximately $20–21 billion (about 2.45% of GDP).
Ratio: China spends more than 10 times more on defense than Taiwan.
These figures are estimates based on open sources, but they generally reflect China’s significant quantitative advantage, while Taiwan focuses on technological saturation, defense doctrines, and alliances with the US and other partners.
Source: https://expertsclub.eu/kytaj-zadiyuye-czyvilni-sudna-v-navchannyah-po-tajvanyu-zmi/
The Central, Ingulets, and Northern Mining and Processing Plants (M&P) of Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group, transformed into United Mining and Processing Plant, paid UAH 3.8 billion in taxes in January-September 2025, which is 19.1% less than in the same period last year (UAH 4.7 billion).
According to the company’s press release, the largest deductions of the United Mining and Processing Complex for the first nine months of 2025 were subsoil use fees, unified social security contributions, and personal income tax. Land fees and military levies also accounted for a significant share of deductions.
“Since the start of the full-scale war, Metinvest’s mining and processing enterprises have remained among the largest taxpayers. We are working in new conditions, focusing on daily changes, but we are not giving up on our long-term prospects, because we are still committed to achieving all of our strategic goals. Metinvest continues to systematically support Kryvyi Rih and Ukraine, implementing the most important social and infrastructure projects in communities and helping the front,” said OGZK CEO Igor Tonev.
As reported, in the first nine months of 2025, OGZK’s total iron ore concentrate production decreased by 4% compared to the same period last year to 11.713 million tonnes, as operations at the Ingulets open pit were suspended in July 2024. This was partially offset by increased production at the Hannivskyi quarry. Production of commercial iron ore products remained almost unchanged on an annualized basis at 11.456 million tons, taking into account a 6% decline in iron ore concentrate production and a 9% increase in pellet production.
Ingulets GOK suspended operations in the summer of 2024.
The group’s mining and processing plants increased their tax payments 2.6 times to UAH 5.7 billion in 2024.
Earlier, Metinvest’s CFO Yulia Dankova, explaining the group’s financial performance, stated that the dynamics were not positive mainly due to the shutdown of production facilities, particularly in Pokrovsk.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine – in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions – as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
In October of this year, Ukrainian metallurgical companies increased steel production by 7.3% compared to the same period last year, from 604,000 tons to 648,000 tons, but decreased by 5.9% compared to the previous month (611,000 tons).
In the ranking of global producers of this product, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Ukraine ranked 21st among 70 countries.
According to Worldsteel, in October 2025, there was a decrease in steel production compared to October 2024 in most of the top ten countries, except for India, the US, Turkey, and Iran.
The top ten steel-producing countries in October were as follows: China – 72 million tons (down 12.1% compared to October 2024), India – 13.563 million tons (up 5.9%), the US – 6.989 million tons (+9.4%), Japan – 6.853 million tons (-1%), Russia – 5.250 million tons (-6.2%), South Korea – 5.093 million tons (-5.8%), Iran – 3.316 million tons (+12%), Turkey – 3.208 million tons (+3.1%), Germany – 3.127 million tons (-3%), and Brazil – 2.988 million tons (-2.7%).
Overall, steel production in October this year decreased by 5.9% compared to the same period last year, to 143.340 million tons.
Based on the results of the first ten months of this year, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China – 817.870 million tons (-3.9% compared to January-October 2024), India – 135.987 million tons (+10%), the United States – 68.376 million tons (+2.8%), Japan – 67.327 million tons (-4.1%), Russia – 56.536 million tons (-4.9%), South Korea – 51.144 million tons (-3.6%), Turkey – 31.277 million tons (+1.2%), Germany – 28.505 million tons (-9.9%), Brazil – 27.988 million tons (-1.8%), and Iran – 25.442 million tons (-1%).
Over the first ten months of this year, Ukrainian steel companies reduced steel production by 4.9% compared to the same period last year, from 6.487 million tons to 6.172 million tons. The country ranked 22nd.
In general, global steel production in January-October 2025 decreased by 2.1% compared to the same period in 2024, to 1 billion 517.589 million tons.
As reported, at the end of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries among 71 countries were as follows: China – 1 billion 5.090 million tons (-1.7%), India – 149.587 million tons (+6.3%), Japan – 84.009 million tons (-3.4%), the United States – 79.452 million tons (-2.4%), Russia – 70.690 million tons (-7%), South Korea – 63.531 million tons (-4.7%), Germany – 37.234 million tons (+5.2%), Turkey – 36.893 million tons (+9.4%), Brazil – 33.741 million tons (+5.3%), and Iran – 30.952 million tons (+0.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 839.449 million tons of steel last year, which is 0.9% less than in 2023.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 7.575 million tons of steel in 2024, which is 21.6% higher than in 2023 (6.228 million tons). The country ranked 20th in 2024.
In 2023, China produced 1 billion 19.080 million tons (at the level of the previous year), India – 140.171 million tons (+11.8%), Japan – 86.996 million tons (-2.5%), the US – 80.664 million tons (+0.2%), Russia – 75.8 million tons (+5.6%), South Korea – 66.676 million tons (+1.3%), Germany – 35.438 million tons (-3.9%), Turkey – 33.714 million tons (-4%), Brazil – 31.869 million tons (-6.5%), and Iran – 31.139 million tons (+1.8%). In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% less than in 2022. The country ranked 22nd in 2023.
At the end of 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China – 1.013 billion tons (-2.1%), India – 124.720 million tons (+5.5%), Japan – 89.235 million tons (-7.4%), the United States – 80.715 million tons (-5.9%), Russia – 71.5 million tons (-7.2%), South Korea – 65.865 million tons (-6.5%), Germany – 36.849 million tons (-8.4%), Turkey – 35.134 million tons (-12.9%), Brazil – 33.972 million tons (-5.8%), and Iran – 30.593 million tons (+8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
According to the results of its operations in January-September of this year, PJSC “Production Association ”Stalkanat” (Odessa) increased its net profit by 4.5 times compared to the same period last year – to UAH 504.626 million from UAH 113.016 million.
According to the company’s interim report, which is available to Interfax-Ukraine, profit in the third quarter amounted to UAH 201.052 million.
Over the nine months of this year, the company increased its net income by 26.5% to UAH 4 billion 33.007 million.
Undistributed profit at the end of September 2025 amounted to UAH 791.920 million.
As reported, in 2024, the company reduced its net profit by 34% compared to the previous year, from UAH 280.060 million to UAH 184.808 million. At the same time, it increased its net income by 33.3% to UAH 4 billion 436.786 million. Last year, the plant shipped 90,089 thousand tons of metal products. The share of exports was 48% in physical terms. Capital investments last year amounted to UAH 226.445 million.
The average number of employees in 2024 was 1,056 thousand people, and the average income per employee was UAH 34,632 thousand.
In 2023, Stalkanat reduced its net profit by 13.8% compared to 2022, from UAH 325.073 million to UAH 280.060 million, but increased its net income by 3.1% to UAH 3 billion 328.170 million. In 2023, the company shipped 72,593 tons of metal products, with exports accounting for 53% in physical terms. Capital investments in 2023 amounted to UAH 164.815 million.
Stalkanat is one of the largest manufacturers of steel ropes and reinforcement bars in Eastern Europe and a leader in the production of metal products in Ukraine.
According to the NDU for the third quarter of 2025, David Nemirovsky owns 50% of the shares, Anton Mikhalenko (non-resident) – 23.7%, and Maria Kondratyuk – 23.1%. Earlier, the company reported that Vitaliy Dubovich, a natural person, owns 3.199998% of its shares.
The authorized capital of PJSC Stalkanat currently amounts to UAH 17.736 million, with a share par value of UAH 0.17.
Ukrainian banks earned UAH 119.4 billion in net profit in the first nine months of 2025, which is 1.9% more than in the same period of 2024, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported on Friday.
“In the third quarter, active lending remained a key factor supporting banks’ profitability,” the regulator said on its website, according to which net profit for the third quarter was the same as in the first two: UAH 39.9 billion against UAH 40.0 billion in the second quarter and UAH 39.5 billion in the first.
As noted by the NBU, net interest income grew by 15.0% over the first nine months of this year to UAH 198.42 billion, while net commission income grew by 9.9% to UAH 45.94 billion.
At the same time, the result of the revaluation of government bonds and currency purchase and sale transactions decreased by almost 31% to UAH 21.37 billion, while total administrative expenses increased by 19.7% to UAH 93.64 billion.
Over the first nine months of last year, banks increased their provisions by UAH 1.81 billion, while over the same period this year, they more than tripled to UAH 5.87 billion.
In the overall structure of banks’ income and expenses for the first three quarters of this year, the share of interest income increased to 71.1% from 68.7% a year earlier, while the share of interest expenses decreased to 33.5% from 33.7%.
As for the share of commission income, it also increased over the nine months of this year to 21.5% from 21.3% a year earlier, with the share of commission expenses decreasing to 14.7% from 14.8%.
At the same time, the share of general administrative expenses increased to 31.0% from 29.8%.
Income tax for the reporting period amounted to UAH 11.50 billion, compared to UAH 13.40 billion a year earlier.
“Despite sufficient capital levels, banks may face additional risks due to the introduction of an increased income tax rate in 2026,” the National Bank noted.
As reported, on October 21, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading bill No. 14097 on the return of the increased tax rate on bank profits at the level of 50% during 2026. 262 people’s deputies voted for the corresponding decision.
OpenAI has begun a phased rollout of an age verification system for ChatGPT users, in which some accounts are asked to confirm their age using a passport or other government-issued ID, according to company reference materials and user reports.
According to OpenAI’s new guidelines, ChatGPT uses an age prediction model to assess whether an account belongs to a user younger or older than 18. If the system determines that the user is under 18, additional restrictions on sensitive content are automatically applied to the account, and adults who have been mistakenly classified as teenagers can restore full access by verifying their age with a document.
In the published article Age prediction in ChatGPT, OpenAI specifies that in the event of an erroneous classification as under 18, an adult user can undergo verification by uploading a photo of their passport or other government-issued ID and a selfie via a Persona partner: after age confirmation, the account is switched to standard “adult” mode. The company separately notes that the feature is “rolling out gradually and may not be available yet” in some countries.
A separate help article, Why am I being asked to verify my age? describes an additional scheme for jurisdictions where age verification is required by law: when logging into ChatGPT, such users are shown a banner asking them to complete verification within 60 days, otherwise access will be blocked until the procedure is completed. For these checks, OpenAI uses a third-party service called Yoti, which, depending on the method chosen, may request a selfie, document upload, or verification via a mobile app.
The company explains that the development of the age prediction system and document checks is related to stricter requirements for the protection of minors when using AI services. In September, OpenAI announced the creation of a “separate experience” for users under the age of 18, where ChatGPT should not engage in flirtatious conversations or discuss topics related to causing harm, and in cases of clear threat to a teenager’s life, the system may notify parents or authorities.
OpenAI does not disclose the full list of countries and languages where the system is already active, limiting itself to the phrase “gradual implementation.” At the same time, users of English-language forums are reporting en masse that ChatGPT is asking them to provide ID and selfies, with some of them finding their access to the full functionality of the service restricted until verification or confirmation of their age is complete.
